Running cables from roof to engine bay, and cabin (2024 LC76 Manual)

[Aurelian]

Hi all,

I currently have a Prado 150, but have just purchased a 2024 LC76 (manual, if it matters).

I don't have the new truck yet so haven't been able to do an eyes-on investigation for ideas, but I see immediately there are differences in potential options for getting cables from the roof into the cabin or engine bay.

e.g., between the Prado bonnet and wind screen there is a 3" wide plastic strip the length of the bonnet that can easily be drilled and cables run through that. On the 70 series as best I can see from photos the bonnet and body are body steel panels with just the 2-3mm clearance gape between them. No room to clearly run a cable through it without it getting impacted/bed/rubbing paint etc.

As it's a brand new car, I reeeeally don't want to be drilling holes anywhere in the body work to facilitate cables.

1) Looking to run a cable from the roof solar panel into the engine bay.

2) And from the UHF antenna on the roof to the cabin. (via the engine bay, or other route is fine)

3) Also after how one would run a cable from the roof via the rear, into the cabin.

Any help and info much appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[coldtaco]

you might get more responses in one of the Facebook groups in Australia, like Troopcarries of Australia and others 70 series groups.

 

[janyyc]

If you run a cable down the gutter on the A pillar to your battery, then you can route one from there to your UHF radio via firewall.
There’s no other way. Both my LC78 and LC76 had holes in the roof drilled for antenna’s and power (siren and lights in the case of the 78, antenna for the 76). I agree drilling holes isn’t great, but it might be your only option.

 

[Aurelian]

Yep, for the forseeable future I just don't think I'm going to be able to bring myself to drill a hole in the body work at all.

My other thought was the scuttle, though I don't know exactly where/what space this leads to.

I could live with doing it to the scuttle panel as, unless I'm mistaken, this is easily replaces with a factory one if I wanted/needed to restore it to as new.

Drill a hole here and line with a grommet to protect the corregated tubing and cable going through.

That said, I don't exactly know where beneath the scuttle leads to. I'm hoping it's relatively open below and I can just run the cables down then forward into the engine bay to come out at the battery there.

 

[AirheadNut]

Underneath that panel leads to the cabin air intake. You could drill a second hole through the upper firewall to bring the cables out into the engine bay, as I don't think the hood hinge opening leads to that space (and it probably wouldn't be a good idea to try and sneak electrical wiring past the hood hinges). I can totally sympathize with not wanting to drill holes in the bodywork, though in this case there probably aren't many other options. What gauge wire are you planning to use? There isn't much space in the rain gutters coming down the A pillars.

I'm assuming you don't have a snorkel or raised air intake? Otherwise you could run wiring down the inside of that and into the engine bay.

 

[janyyc]

All modern Australian 70’s have snorkels. So yes that’s a good option too.