It looks like it is possible from this diagram.
Land Cruiser Prado 90 RZ Import & Refresh (and maybe build...) (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter apexwerks
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Re: roof rack. I was thinking about removing the factory rack and replacing with Yakima tracks and plus nuts. Just an idea.
- Thread starter
- #123
Have you seen that done elsewhere? Will the Yakima tracks handle being curved?
It's what Yakima recommends for permanent track installs. I haven't seen it done yet, but I'm willing to try it. I feel pretty confident that any curvature to that section of the roof is minimal enough for the feet to sit securely.
I've installed them on my fiberglass canopy and a pop-up tent trailer.
JDM Journeys
Moderator
I've put rails/tracks on a few different vehicles over the years and had zero issues. It's a really good option if you are careful with the install. I used a very good quality nutsert. Some tracks come with rivets, which are load rated but I felt a nutsert was more secure.
Spreads the load, lowers COG. Win/win imho..
Spreads the load, lowers COG. Win/win imho..
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- Thread starter
- #126
Great feedback… never would have thought of this approach without you guys!
Won’t get it installed till right at the end of the year, but I found a Frontrunner platform locally that a guy had taken off his camper shell - so it came with six legs for tracks. Ordered a set of 60” Thule tracks. Intending to pull the factory side rails, cut the tracks to the same length and install the whole shebang after Christmas. I’m hoping I can drill the Thule tracks to line up with the captive nuts from the side rails, and potentially throw in a couple of rivnuts in between the three mount points.
I may end up having to trim the platform rack.. the width is right but it’s a few inches longer than the side rails (56” for the side rails, 61.5” for the rack). We’ll see how the overhang works once it’s in place and go from there.
JDM Journeys
Moderator
I made circles of silicone around each hole, just for extra water protection. Blue loctite on rivnuts.
There are also well nuts, which were an option I found afterwards. Maybe something else to consider?
There are also well nuts, which were an option I found afterwards. Maybe something else to consider?
JDM Journeys
Moderator
Oh... One other thing... On both the pajeros I fitted tracks to, the roof had a slight sweep down as it went forward. I added a very subtle curvature over my knee before install, to lessen the pull on the rivnuts. Went down the roofline perfectly...
- Thread starter
- #129
Awesome, thank you. I'l give this a shot when we get back from Christmas trip... should be fun.
TexasPrado95
SILVER Star
Do you still have your OEM Bull bar laying around?
- Thread starter
- #132
No, it was in pretty rough shape. It’s long gone.
- Thread starter
- #133
Making some progress over here. Finally found time this weekend to knock down the Front Runner platform install. We had wanted to do the Gamiviti setup, and while I’m sure it’s worth the money in the long run, it’s just so darn expensive. Most of the other off the shelf options are for the LWB Prado, not the SWB, so those are out. Front Runner has a setup for the SWB, but it’s too tall to clear my garage door opening- they’ve specced the rain gutter feet tall enough to clear the stock roof rack rails.
Found a guy locally that was selling a platform he’d taken off of his truck cap, and the dimensions seemed about right for the SWB Prado. Most importantly, it was cheap! I found a set of Thule tracks (thanks for the tip, @ekim113 and @JDM Journeys ) on Amazon Warehouse for $115, bringing the total to $395.
You were right, @javelinadave - the stock roof rack rails were held on by 5 10mm bolts underneath plastic covers. Popped the covers off with a trim tool, pulled the bolts and the rails popped right off.
Used rivnuts to attach the Thule tracks to the roof. Thule calls for a bolt in every other hole, but we went belt and suspenders and did every hole - that’s 12 per side. I used marine sealant on each hole, and said a quiet prayer against water intrusion.
The platform ended up fitting perfectly. It’s the 49” X 54” Slimline II, and I used the 60” Thule tracks.
We need to get the fit dialed in perfectly, and mount the batwing awning and a couple of pod lights.
Found a guy locally that was selling a platform he’d taken off of his truck cap, and the dimensions seemed about right for the SWB Prado. Most importantly, it was cheap! I found a set of Thule tracks (thanks for the tip, @ekim113 and @JDM Journeys ) on Amazon Warehouse for $115, bringing the total to $395.
You were right, @javelinadave - the stock roof rack rails were held on by 5 10mm bolts underneath plastic covers. Popped the covers off with a trim tool, pulled the bolts and the rails popped right off.
Used rivnuts to attach the Thule tracks to the roof. Thule calls for a bolt in every other hole, but we went belt and suspenders and did every hole - that’s 12 per side. I used marine sealant on each hole, and said a quiet prayer against water intrusion.
The platform ended up fitting perfectly. It’s the 49” X 54” Slimline II, and I used the 60” Thule tracks.
We need to get the fit dialed in perfectly, and mount the batwing awning and a couple of pod lights.
- Thread starter
- #135
Awning mounted… Getting the rig ready for warm weather. Actually here in NC it’s pretty darn warm already, but I’m going by the calendar, not the thermometer. My patient and loving wife got me an awning for Christmas - I wanted a freestanding 270 that wouldn’t break the bank and was reasonably short to fit on my shorty, so we went with the Ironman Deltawing.
Like everything else topside on this project, the #1 priority is making sure it clears the garage door opening. I mounted the awning with the brackets inverted - we’re assuming that the design spec calls for tension and compression in both directions to account for wind gust, so the mount will serve in either orientation. Plus the install guide doesn’t specify which way to mount it, and that’s good enough for me. With the mount flipped, it rides almost exactly flush with the platform rack. I used some old mild steel leftovers and cut a 3/8” spacer that drops the brackets down exactly where I wanted them.
The awning itself went on pretty easily. The lower front bolt was a bit fiddly to get to, but we got it done.
With the barn door open and the awning extended, it’s a pretty nice place to be.
Summer here we come!
Like everything else topside on this project, the #1 priority is making sure it clears the garage door opening. I mounted the awning with the brackets inverted - we’re assuming that the design spec calls for tension and compression in both directions to account for wind gust, so the mount will serve in either orientation. Plus the install guide doesn’t specify which way to mount it, and that’s good enough for me. With the mount flipped, it rides almost exactly flush with the platform rack. I used some old mild steel leftovers and cut a 3/8” spacer that drops the brackets down exactly where I wanted them.
The awning itself went on pretty easily. The lower front bolt was a bit fiddly to get to, but we got it done.
With the barn door open and the awning extended, it’s a pretty nice place to be.
Summer here we come!
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When we stop for lunch at this year‘s 70 Series Meet & Greet I’ll know where to go for shade. 
love this thread- as i am hunting for a 90 series 3 door myself
Did you find inter cooler couplings in the states?
No... I get OEM's from Partsouq.com
Do you happen to have a photo of the connector for the Idle up switch? I'm looking at doing a similar thing with my KZJ95. When cross referencing the electrical diagrams in the manual, it points toward 2 different black connectors with 2 different pin configurations for the idle up switch. I did a quick look under my dashboard for the connector, and this is the only black connector I could find that could match the diagram on the manual.
