Prado -vs- 70 Series LC

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Nice looking rig...!! Love how the new lift and wheels look!! Like the first pic of it in action.. So is there a 4x4 club in bogota, or do you go on your own?? Where do people get their 4x4 parts from?>??? I didnt know that they ran 3F engine in the old 70 Series, have you ever thought about upgrading to the 4.5L?? I bet it would be very cheap to do.
 
I have thought about upgrading but like i said, the upgrade could buy you a lot of gas money and i dont really use it all that much so i opted against it. If i were to do an upgrade i would go for the diesel conversion, but its pretty pricey... about 12 million pesos!!

There are a bunch of 4x4 clubs here in bogota, i go out with 4x4xcolombia.com but there are tons of nice sites. As far as i can tell, www.travesias4x4.net are the ones that go out most often. Other clubs are www.fullsizes4x4.com, http://www.saltamontes4x4col.com/, www.paisastrochando.com... there's a whole bunch of them.

As far as accessories, i have imported everything myself because the stores here are MAAAD expensive. The authorized retailer for ARB, WARN, and most of the good brands for 4x4 is 4x4pickup center and they are crazy with the prices. Just the OME lift for my car was 6.3 million pesos!!! I would recommend bringing your own accessories with time and looking for the right car off the bat so you dont have any regrets on engine choices like i sometimes get. Let me know when you get here and i can help you out with whatever you need.

Here's a few pics of a run we did on a track on saturday. The white rig is my friends... FJ73 with the same 3F engine (colombian built).

Later,
Albertom
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I Have heard of 4x4Pickup center and I just didnt know that they are so expensive... I wonder how much an ARB ullbar for an 80 would cost through them.... I cant belive that the lift for your rig cost you that much...Think about it you were half way to your diesel conversion....

Once again the pictures are awesome.. I have always loved the terrain In colombia it is alot funner. I really want to do an expedition trip to "el Vichada" we have a farm in Villaviciencio..

I cant wait to get my rig, and start wheeling with you guys, i might even take my 80 from here and ship it down for a couple of months, while i get mine or if i find a wrecked 80 i can find a body shop who can perform some nice vin transplants........LOL Mine is also a 3FE, in need of a new heart (engine) might do a FZJ conversion run me about 2500USD in colombia or a Diesel Conversion.... Dont know it all depends if i cant figure out a way to keep my rig in colombia permanently...

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FloridaFJ80 we actually did that trip a while back, we went all the way to Vichada through the pto gaitan side... it was amazing, 10 day trip. we crossed over from Orocue via a ferry to San Luis de Palenque... awesome trip! We're planning on doing a trip to Pto Carreño (really close to Venezuela over 800km's of horrible off road one way, and then you have to come back, most likely through the same route.) Here's a couple of pics... it was in Semana Santa of this year so my car didn't have the snorkel, lift or tires. Friends rigs were a red FJ40, green LR Defender 110 Tdi and a mitsubishi montero rag top...

As far as the Bull Bar, i can tell you exactly how much the ARB costs in 4x4 PC, 2.8 million... my friend with the white FJ73 bought it a month back. (too rich for my blood) but could be in your ball park.

As far as all the mod's i have done to my car... everything has been purchased in Miami, brought in, and installed by me.. my lift cost me less than 2k usd. As far as your rig being permanently in colombia, i really dont think its possible... your best bet might be purchasing another 80 here and shipping all your used stuff for your car here :confused:.

Anyway, here are some pics of the vichada trip...
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ALBERTOM - seems like you had a blast. I would love to go with you guys to PTO Carreno I bet that would be an awesome trip.. do you guys have any dates set??How many people are going? Hopefully then I will have something in the meantime to atleast go along with...

When you bought your stuff in Miami did you have an issues getting it into the country??? Man I cant wait to go wheeling and meet everybody... Thanks for the pics the look awesome!!!!
 
Yeah, it was a great trip.. As far as the Carreno trip, no dates planned... maybe this summer if something happens i'll let you know. As far as the accessories, most of the stuff you carry along wont have any problem as long as they don't feel like wanting to charge you for taxes on things. Problem is, most of the things are pretty big to bring yourself but there are a few ways to make it LESS EXPENSIVE (note: not cheap)

lemme know when you're coming so we can set something up.
 
Sounds good Alberto, I will be in Cali from the 9th til the 20th of July, then I will be in Bogota. So I will be calling you then....
 
Frank, this is the prado I had:



Sold it a couple of months ago, it's, as any Toyota, very reliable and capable, FYI, a friend of mine won a couple of years ago the championship of rally raid "rueda libre x colombia" in a stock 3 door prado outperforming 40s, 70s, 80s and other brands.

Pros (compared to the 70): less fuel consumption, softer ride, more comfortable interior.

Cons: IFS, not very powerful engine (but can fit a supercharger and get significant power and torque improvement).

We all know the 70 is way more powerful and strong, price is about the same for new 90's or 70's, so if fuel consumption and comfort are not issues, get the 70.

Or why don't get an 80 (I just got one and I'm very proud and happy).




As Alberto said, buy your stuff in the US and bring it here, it's way cheaper than going to the few local shops in Bogota, PM me and I (am sure Alberto knows also how) can tell you how to bring stuff easier, faster and less expensively.

Frank and Alberto, it would be nice to meet you guys, PM me and hopefully we can get to know each other and go wheeling.

Saludos,
 
ALVARO - Its a pleasure to meet you.. That is a great looking 80...!!!! What year is it? Is it Japanese or Venezuelan? I have pondered on getting another 80 since I have one here.. I know for what I intend to build my rig for (expedition) the 80 would be the best bet.

The Prado you had looks very awesome, love the pic in the river. As for bringing in the parts, I would love to learn the secrets, especially when hearing that an ARB bull bar for an 80 is around 1300USD in Colombia... Did you buy yours in Colombia or the US.?

I cant wait to get to Bogota to meet you and Alberto. I love this forum, I have met a whole lot of awesome people, People I can call my friends.. I am sure this time it wont be any different.
 
hey Alvaro, i would have to agree with you with the 80... ive been drooling over for quite some time now. They are sort of hard to get, especially considering the one everyone wants is the Japanese version with factory lockers, dual tanks, dual air, fridge, etc... Nice looking ride BTW!!! There are a bunch of 80's i would look at before buying a 70 but if price is of any concern, it might be a problem. The 80's seem to be riding on their success and their price is steadily rising!!! A decent 80 with the stuff we all want and a 4.5L carb engine will run you around 45-50 million, that can get you an awesome 70 with a bunch of accessories...

But once again, if you are planning on an expedition rig more than a trail rig (trochitas) the 80 is MUCH better suited for that sort of stuff...and i would not hesitate to get one of those.

Cuando quieran salimos! Saludes...
 
FloridaFJ80 said:
ALVARO - Its a pleasure to meet you.. That is a great looking 80...!!!! What year is it? Is it Japanese or Venezuelan? I have pondered on getting another 80 since I have one here.. I know for what I intend to build my rig for (expedition) the 80 would be the best bet.

The Prado you had looks very awesome, love the pic in the river. As for bringing in the parts, I would love to learn the secrets, especially when hearing that an ARB bull bar for an 80 is around 1300USD in Colombia... Did you buy yours in Colombia or the US.?

I cant wait to get to Bogota to meet you and Alberto. I love this forum, I have met a whole lot of awesome people, People I can call my friends.. I am sure this time it wont be any different.
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Pleasure is mine Frank, my 80 is a 1994 japanese, carburated, 183.000 km, dual air, fuel sub tank, 3rd row seats, sunroof, fridge, no lockers, limited slip diff, had a factory winch but removed it, the ARB bar wouldn't fit so I had to get a Warn 12000. If you are planning on an expedition vehicle then we all know the 80 is for you, I can actually sell you mine if you're interested, I mean I'm VERY happy with it but anytime I get a decent offer I would sell it and buy another to mod it.

I loved my Prado but space was not enough for long trips with family and friends, our 10-month-old daughter's stuff takes most of the space of the 80 now :).

The only thing I bought locally was the snorkel and it was actually an exchange not a purchase. Bull Bar, winch, suspension, tires, lights, in dash and overhead DVD players were purchased in the US and brought here. Depending on what and where you buy, I would say savings range from 20 to 40% comparing with local prices.

See you soon,
 
FloridaFJ80 said:
This is probably the one that I would get... Its got the fridge, factory winch, dual tanks, dual a/c... Mileage is a little high but is an 80, mine here has 277k miles.

http://www.tucarro.com.co/anuncios/carros/beb-500.html

Let me know what you guys think....
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This one is basically the same as mine, only difference I can see is the roof rack, everything else looks like the same. Could be an option.

Regards,
 
albertom said:
hey Alvaro, i would have to agree with you with the 80... ive been drooling over for quite some time now. They are sort of hard to get, especially considering the one everyone wants is the Japanese version with factory lockers, dual tanks, dual air, fridge, etc... Nice looking ride BTW!!! There are a bunch of 80's i would look at before buying a 70 but if price is of any concern, it might be a problem. The 80's seem to be riding on their success and their price is steadily rising!!! A decent 80 with the stuff we all want and a 4.5L carb engine will run you around 45-50 million, that can get you an awesome 70 with a bunch of accessories...

But once again, if you are planning on an expedition rig more than a trail rig (trochitas) the 80 is MUCH better suited for that sort of stuff...and i would not hesitate to get one of those.

Cuando quieran salimos! Saludes...
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Hey Alberto, you're right, many of us want the japanese 80s and just a few are for sale, I searched for mine for several months, but as I said in a previous post I would sell it and start looking for another, I like searching for cars :idea:.

See you soon, saludos,
 
Alvaro said:
Pleasure is mine Frank, my 80 is a 1994 japanese, carburated, 183.000 km, dual air, fuel sub tank, 3rd row seats, sunroof, fridge, no lockers, limited slip diff, had a factory winch but removed it, the ARB bar wouldn't fit so I had to get a Warn 12000. If you are planning on an expedition vehicle then we all know the 80 is for you, I can actually sell you mine if you're interested, I mean I'm VERY happy with it but anytime I get a decent offer I would sell it and buy another to mod it.

I loved my Prado but space was not enough for long trips with family and friends, our 10-month-old daughter's stuff takes most of the space of the 80 now :).

The only thing I bought locally was the snorkel and it was actually an exchange not a purchase. Bull Bar, winch, suspension, tires, lights, in dash and overhead DVD players were purchased in the US and brought here. Depending on what and where you buy, I would say savings range from 20 to 40% comparing with local prices.

See you soon,
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ALVARO - Nice to hear that your willing to part with your rig...;) PM Me a price so I can ponder it... From the looks of it I am going to have to be coming to states quite often to get parts for my rigs.. I would really like to know the "secrets" Since I am moving there I am seeing that 2 suitcases wont be enough to get there with the bare minimum. I have to take a Plasma TV also. So any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
FloridaFJ80 said:
ALVARO - Nice to hear that your willing to part with your rig...;) PM Me a price so I can ponder it... From the looks of it I am going to have to be coming to states quite often to get parts for my rigs.. I would really like to know the "secrets" Since I am moving there I am seeing that 2 suitcases wont be enough to get there with the bare minimum. I have to take a Plasma TV also. So any help will be greatly appreciated.
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Just sent you a PM.

Regards,
 
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