1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado OVERLANDING transformation - start to finish!

Visit Big Country's website: www.bigcountry.co.za/
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I've always loved overlanding, but because my 1997 3L KZ-TE Turbo Diesel Toyota Land Cruiser Prado didn't have any overlanding extras, I couldn't visit the wild places I had dreamed of...not without towing a bush trailer, anyways.
But recently, I drove down to Kempton Park in Johannesburg where the amazing team from BIG COUNTRY completely transformed my Prado into my dream overlanding vehicle. They fitted a roof rack, and Ostrich Wing awning, a twin drawer system, a fridge slider with dual compartment fridge/freezer, and a double battery system, along with other important things like water tanks, a high-lift jack, jerry can- and gas bottle brackets, a wood box and a spade.
The Prado also got a facelift with some stunning new body stickers. It doesn't just look the part; it's 100% ready for overlanding now and I can't wait to share my new 4x4 adventures with you!
Watch to the very end of the video if you want to see what I've named it. Believe me, it's a good one! :)
Enjoy, like and subscribe good people.
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[@handyvickers]

Brilliant, Villiers!! Here's wishing you many many miles of great cruising and photography. We will follow you keenly as you go! Bon voyage!

[@TheSafariExpert]

Thank you so much. I look forward to sharing my adventures with you!

[@nqumthemba]

Love your genuine sense of Gratitude

[@isotechimages.9130]

Looking good.

[@TheSafariExpert]

Thanks so much!

[@tristanhall5971]

That looks like a lot of weight up high on the car. Great looking vehicle still.

[@andriesdutoit1071]

Morning Villiers, I agree the cruiser look great and I know u will have some more great trips with your Toyota Prado Enjoy👌

[@TheSafariExpert]

Thanks so much, Andries!

[@jeremydirksen3741]

Awesome Video! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@regmarkides567]

Great Idea. Oldschool mechanicals easier to self repair. I am busy with my 2021 Toyota Condor awd.

[@user-yf2cc9vd5y]

I love your work

[@tobiasjfmostert]

Baie dankie vir die Inspirerende Video... nou soek ek ook al daai cool goed op my Prado. Ek het heelhartig saamgestem met die "wasted space" agter in die Prado. Baie moeilik om te pak. Baie veilige en lekker myle vir jou!

[@abdcish]

Congrats. Looks great! Just a small tip: check out the upper and lower ball joints if you have never changed them. One if the weak points on the 95 as.we found out!

[@TheSafariExpert]

I have had to change them 🙏🏻😜

[@TOYOTA.Overland]

Nice, enjoy it. LC95 is good car.

[@romulusoverland314]

The Skycamp Mini 3.0 RTT would work very well with your setup. Just a pitty that it costs just as much as your vehicle 🥲

[@TheSafariExpert]

...and it takes up waaaaay too much space! 😛

[@romulusoverland314]

@@TheSafariExpert what camping setup will you be going with? Or is that coming in the next episode? I had a KZ Prado too. Very angry with myself for selling it. Awesome vehicle

[@ZIPTRAVELS]

Great video, awesome car. What size tires are those?

[@GreaseAndGravel]

Awesome vid dude!! I can't wait to see more of the Prado :) And join you in mine! ;)

[@TheSafariExpert]

Thanks Francois! We must, must, MUST start traveling more together! :D

[@GreaseAndGravel]

@@TheSafariExpert 💯!!

[@mraverage2525]

Great name😂

[@nixferguson7323]

Tom cruiser 👌👍👍👍👍😁

[@TheSafariExpert]

😜

[@cdizzle2812]

Way too much weight up there dude. both your roof rack and prado roof will have 2 different ratings static and dynamic just the weight accordingly, id recommend finding out the dynamic rood rating of your roof rack (should be half of the static load rating) and the prado roof weight rating and just according to the lowest. On a bumpy offroad track you have a higher chance of ripping off your roof rack, bending your prados pillars and an increased chance of rolling the vehicle. My recommendations: Get rid of the high lift jack, there's slim chance you'll ever use it, it weighs heaps and is wildly dangerous if you dont know how to use it properly. If, your worried about getting bogged, buy some recovery tracks (maxx tracks are expensive, there are cheaper alternatives) they're lighter and far more useful Get a foot well water tank, water is a heavy necessity and keeping it lower and centered is a must, you can find some 40-60L tanks for less than 3000 rand. Get a jerry can holder for the rear, either on the door or on the rear bar. 80L is excessive, just keep enough on board so you have a 1000km range.

[@TheSafariExpert]

The day you travel without the high-lift jack, second spare wheel or extra water, is the day you need it. The places I'm planning to go, I'll also need that 80L of extra fuel. But noted - I will definitely do some research about how much weight is too much.

[@wesselbotha3928]

​​@@TheSafariExpert just make sure you got high lift jacking points. 40L water tank can go inside (on drawer), and maybe bags on top. Rest looks mint! Happy travelling!

[@TheSafariExpert]

@@wesselbotha3928, for sure - jack point to be added soon. Agree about the extra water tank and also, I’d only ever fill all four jerrys in extreme situations when I’d be driving at game drive speed most of the time anyways. But I’ll definitely check all the ratings and pack accordingly - no sense making it too heavy.

[@wesselbotha3928]

@@TheSafariExpert great job, and agree one want to overland not spend your whole budget on gear. One nice accessory would also be adding a cargo barrier. Enjoy your travels!

[@noel.hutchinson]

Love the set-up! Approximately how much did this set-up cost? I would love to do the same with 80 series.

[@TheSafariExpert]

Noel, the setup was sponsored by Big Country, so I don’t have an exact figure, but what I can say, is that their service was incredible and the products are as good in the field as I had hoped for! Perhaps reach out to them directly for a quote 🙂

[@mattedwoods]

I have 1996 Prado just like yours and after owning it 19 years I am changing it from dads taxi to a overland/camper truck but with a complete Pedder suspension replacement I still find it bottoms out and struggles with the weight of the gear . how is yours coping and any tricks

[@TheSafariExpert]

Mine only bottoms out when it’s very heavily laden, but it’s still on my to do list to add some air-helpers to the suspension 🙌🏻

[@unwoke1652]

Filmmaker wat ek ken moes video maak oor hoe om 'n voertuig te herwin as dit vasval met 'n boswoonwa agter. Daardie dag BAIE drama gehad met die 90 Prado. Geen 4x4 vaardigheid wou werk nie. Die 90 wou eenvoudig nie vasval in diep, los sand nie. Ekself verkies die 90 en die FJ bo al die ander.

[@GreaseAndGravel]

Ja, dis 'n probleer met die Prado 90s. Ek't 'n 1997 gekoop om self aan die ding te werk, maar hy wil nie breek nie.

[@TheSafariExpert]

Nou't ek lekker gelag! 😂 Ek't self nog nooit vasgeval met my 90 Prado nie!

[@IanJob]

How much does the extra weight affect fuel mileage?

[@TheSafariExpert]

Ian, in my case it hardly affected it at all. I’ll only really know over time, so keep an eye out for my Kgalagadi series later this year. I’ll be driving 4000+ km and should have a better idea then.

[@maphirimutshutshu2128]

😂hahaha ha. Nice name

[@VOLTRON999]

i love the young woman in this video and i want to marry her tell her to contact me now or give me her contact details i want to contact her now