Prado Walkthrough - Setup For Family Adventures

[@ColBlackburn]

Hi Dan, onya mate. I have a 1999 petrol Prado, best car ever made! Simple and reliable. Keep yours as long as you can! Cheers

[@OTWD]

Thank you Sir. They really are a great vehicle. Unfortunately, the Grey Dingo's engine packed it in at about 470,000km, and we took ownership of the Iron Emu - 2002 TX model in ~September 2023 - there's some videos on that one too if you want to check it out. Cheers!

[@brendanmaguire9909]

Dan Really enjoyed that! Nice to see a lad who doesn't try bullshit the review. I drove all over oz in my Prado and then drove from Ireland to Australia in it. It was very stock standard snorkel, dual diesel tanks, dual battery system, 2" lift on the back. 40 country's! Keep the weight down ya will fly. There a brilliant machine and I hope it serves you well

[@davidlovell4390]

Get video, always good to see other peoples set ups . A cargo barrier is a must , l have had in all wagons and they work ! Given the “COVID Tax” on 4x4’s and the fact Toyota aren’t taking any new orders for 300 series, l reckon keep the Grey Dingo and give it birthday. I have the ARB alloy tradie rack on my ute and it’s brilliant. Very light, super strong , l have used it as a work platform , lots of tie down points and Australian made.Very happy with it. LITHIUM is the way to go for your 2nd/house battery. I have a 100amp lithium power station, the battery and distribution are combined into one unit. Plenty of power , runs the fridge and travel buddy no problems, light weight ( 11kg approx) and transportable. Mine is. Nomad PDU from a WA company, it works well . I have had this unit for over 3 years now, no problems . There are other on market now. Keep up the good work , l will check out your PLB video . Thanks for all your efforts, Mr & Mrs Dan.

[@OTWD]

Hi David, It's a simple setup but it works for us. The more we think about it, the more we think to keep the Grey Dingo a bit longer. You are right, with the market on its head its just not the right time to buy unless you have no other option. Thanks for sharing your ute setup! Tradie racks are so versatile I reckon - wondering how the Aluminium has held up? What ute do you have? Do you run any solar to the lithium or is it not needed? The portable batteries seem like a good option because they can potentially outlive the car - I'd hate to spend a heap on wiring it up then have to say bye if we decide to sell the vehicle early. I'm going to check out the Nomad PDU. Thanks for watching the PLB video. Great to have you onboard the channel. Cheers

[@davidlovell4390]

@@OTWD Hi Dan, I have a 2019 Ford Ranger XLT with the Tech pack. Pretty happy with so far. The alloy rack has worn very well so far. I have carried everything from firewood, plywood sheets, hardwood timber,ladders, pop up marquees, swags, max tracks, bikes, tools and naughty children ( joking). I have used it for a work platform and a viewing platform and so far no problems. Oh and niece use it as a climb gym/ monkey bars. Just be aware they do increase the height of vehicle. I have no “ dog in the fight” but very happy to reckon this alloy rack. It works for me My battery pack (bp) is solar capable, but l don’t have solar. I tend to camp and move on the next day , so the dcdc charger keeps the bp topped up. But am looking at folding solar panels for an upcoming trip , which will involve a lot of base camping and day walks. I had an auto elec run a cable from the engine to to the tub and l have a 25 amp dcdc charger for the bp this works very well. I also have an ac charger which l charge/top the bp as required. I reckon a bp would be ideal for your set up. Hope that helps. Keep up the go work. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. Thank you.

[@jpc443]

Hey Dan!! I'm delighted to finally find a down to earth, non 'Yahoo' 90 series specific chanel!!! I love the videos and appreciate the advice and direction. These are precisely the kind of adventures that we pursue. Thank you. ❤️

[@OTWD]

Thanks for taking the time to comment JP C and I’m equally delighted the videos are resonating with you! No nonsense, simple camping is the way I reckon, too much glamour and frills out there already :) great to have you aboard

[@matthewng7232]

Thanks Dan. My first car is a 97 prado that I'm super keen to go touring with

[@OTWD]

What a great first car! Best wishes. Well maintained they are touring weapon. Make sure you spend plenty time in it before you decide to spend all your cash on mods! Thanks for watching Mate!

[@Jer0tube]

Great video mate, there's nothing wrong with the older 4x4's in fact I think they're so much better than anything newer.

[@OTWD]

Agree. Simpler design than today's vehicles makes it favourable for outback travel. And I'm happy to accept the pin stripes I get on the tracks! Not sure I would accept it with a vehicle that cost 10 times the price. Thanks for watching Sir!

[@HLsab]

I’d keep the dingo for the next few years , those motors are super reliable and you should get over 600k if it’s serviced regularly. Can’t help you with a cargo barrier but I bought a steering wheel cover from Aldi 4 or 5 years ago and it’s still going strong.

[@OTWD]

Thanks Luke. Appreciate the comment mate. Will keep my Aldi eyes out !!!

[@Lanatbardushmanezahra]

Own a 98 Prado myself and it’s my first 4wd and I enjoy it I’m using it as my off-road adventure vehicle as well as my daily drive lol but this babe is lit

[@OTWD]

Hey mate! My wife uses our beloved Grey Dingo as a daily driver too. Hopefully you don't have to drive too far each day - not sure I could afford to run it with the price of diesel at the moment! Sounds like we love our prados as much as each other - they were really built to last, 1000% better value than buying a new vehicle in 2022. Happy adventures and thanks for watching :)

[@mylot8842]

Hai Dan... Salam from Borneo... i had a 97 Prado before .. very reliable and fun driving off-road.... i like your humble video.... keep it up....

[@OTWD]

Salam from Australia! Thanks heaps for the kind words of encouragement. Why did you sell the 90? Maybe yo can get a new one 😬 Cheers.

[@mylot8842]

i traded it for a honda civic but later got stolen.... i will get a prado soon... thinking of going overlanding... i love watching video about Australia... i hope can go there someday....

[@samhouston2192]

Hi Dan We have a 1999 90 series 1kzte with a 5 speed the manual is quite rare here in newzealand just hit 400000 km the only major repair has been the injection pump just recently She has taken us on many great trips All stock with a good set of tires Love the channel

[@OTWD]

Hi Sam, glad you are representing the 90 over there! Are the manual's more sought after than the autos because they are less common? In Aus it seems the auto is more sought after. Are you changing oil every 5000km? It's amazing where you can go with a suitable all-terrain tyre. Cheers, Dan

[@thepitcrew8477]

@@OTWDyes the manual is way more sought after

[@stephentan6302]

Awesome! We're a family with 2 young boys and this is just the video we needed to see. Love how you've kitted out the car!

[@OTWD]

Hi Stephen, you guys are exactly who I was hoping this video would reach! Keeping it simple is the way. Best wishes on your adventures and I hope you stick around for more of my videos to come? PS. How old are the boys - are you out of child car seats ? Best wishes.

[@stevobadmoonster]

Dan, my boys are 8 and 3. The elder one’s in a booster seat.

[@OTWD]

​@@stevobadmoonster What a great age gap, that must keep it interesting! A bit more space in the back soon then! Thanks for taking time to comment. Cheers Stevo

[@stevobadmoonster]

Looking forward to more content from you Dan. And hope to pick up more Prado overlanding tips too!

[@locodriver601]

Hi I have a colorado 1997 with 195000 miles on it. I have owned it for 14 years. I have replaced the rear axle casing due to top radius brackets rusting away. Keep the maintenance going and it will going. Regards from the UK. Paul

[@OTWD]

Regular maintenance is the key isn't it. There's something great about owning and maintaining an older vehicle. Wishing the Colorado another happy 195000 miles. 😬

[@danielkemp4187]

Awesome and honest, just stumbled upon Dans vid looking up prado’s now following. Good on ya mate

[@OTWD]

Hi Daniel, Glad you found the channel mate - do you have a 90 yourself? Be sure to check out my new wheels too, I bought another similar one in September 2023 when the Grey Dingo's engine broke😔. Appreciate the encouragement. Cheers.👍🍻

[@Turk320]

I love the 90 series ,keep up the good work mate

[@OTWD]

The 90 series is hard to beat. Thanks Turk!

[@timothymichael6549]

Great video dan! We had a 2001 V6 Prado. Had to part ways at 400k!

[@OTWD]

400k is pretty good life for the petrol I reckon - Did you do some big trips in it? Thanks for watching Tim!

[@MidnightSmileZ]

I just bought mine at 387k

[@gabrielhattingh4003]

loving the support of my fellow South Africans haha! great video :)

[@OTWD]

What can I say - it's great gear! Thanks for watching mate 😬

[@mozzah]

Love it! Own a 1997 V6 myself as a first 4wd, about the same Kms as yours and still going well even though it’s been abused. You’ll be enjoying it for a while

[@OTWD]

Thanks for watching Mitchell and glad you enjoyed. Sounds like you love the old prados as much as I do. I haven't driven one of the V6s but I keep hearing great things.

[@dronepilot1333]

Exactly the vehicle I am looking to buy now

[@OTWD]

It's a great vehicle! Punches well above its price tag with the grande's traction control. Prado mid wheel base and width is excellent for offroad travel. Best wishes mate. Let me know what you end up with. Cheers.

[@stevenlippis5488]

We've got a 90 series too. Love it. I've decided against drawers as we use it for our every day vehicle too. What I'm planning is to pull out the existing tie down points and put in some anchor railing to strap the fridge down better and let us put some straps or even a net over our loose gear.

[@OTWD]

Thanks for watching Steven and taking time to comment! Rails sound like a great idea. I've searched far and wide for a cargo barrier and come up short - in particular the Grande seems to struggle to fit because of the leather seat being slightly oversize. And tieing down a load isn't easy in the boot - so rails would help! I'm waiting on delivery of a lithium battery power station, and am intending to make a simple false floor to secure things to. You've given me some good fuel for thought. Happy adventures mate.

[@stevenlippis5488]

@@OTWD yeah I've not found a barrier. Not sure i want one full time either. Might be able to rig up a cargo net. Also highly recommend sheepskin seats and steering wheel cover. I live in outback Queensland. Seats and steering wheel are never hot!

[@OTWD]

@@stevenlippis5488 When the car is fully loaded I feel slightly safer that if the car rolls things may stay roughly in place, but when I have my heavy recovery gear, compressor etc, sitting there with mostly air above it - that's when I wish I had the cargo barrier - it's so dangerous. I tried to strap it down as best I can. But I also see how it creates limitations. Thanks for the sheep skin tip. I'll certainly keep that in mind! Cheers

[@leondrawbridge6586]

Love the video. Love the mighy 90 too!

[@OTWD]

Cheers Leon, thanks for watching mate!

[@locodriver601]

Hi Dan Just to add make sure you keep the radiator in good condition also make sure you don't get a build up of grass or leaves between the radiators.. Regards Paul from the UK.

[@OTWD]

Hi Paul, its great knowing my videos are reaching the other side of the globe. Thanks heaps for watching, and I'll keep that advice in mind! Cheers mate. Happy exploring.

[@marcomac8824]

Really enjoy your videos.

[@OTWD]

Hi Marco! Thanks heaps for this kind comment. Glad to have you part of it :)

[@b_e_a_t_i_n_g_h_e_a_r_t_]

great video mate! prados are underrated

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps for watching! They certainly are! :D

[@motherslove686]

Nice info thanks!

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps! You are welcome. Great vehicle 😀

[@craigparker4108]

You should use all 6 tires in rotation now to extend their longevity.

[@OTWD]

Great idea Craig, I'll consider this! Thanks for watching😬

[@PapadumGeek]

Great tour. Hope to see some more content?

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps for watching. More coming on the Prado - 12V power setup, how I set it up for solo adventures, and a number of other videos in planning :) I see you are a fellow nerd with interests in tech and gaming. I appreciate ;) and Subbed.

[@rustygum553]

Hi Dan, I have a 2002 90 series Prado. I recently bought a steering wheel cover from Repco for $36. It fits snuggly (with effort). It's made of genuine leather and doesn't smell too bad like the ones from Supercheap Auto. I thought I just add this info here in case you're still looking for a cover.

[@OTWD]

G'Day Rusty, appreciate the tip mate. I ended up getting one on amazon which is working out nicely, not too slippery, not too grippy. Will do another Prado video soon...unfortunately she's out of action temporarily though...might be expensive 😅 Hope your 90 is treating you well?

[@JXM777CG]

I love your presentation style and I'm always keen on watching the older 4bys get out there looking forward to following through your adventures mate! I had a coworker with a 1kz at 720k KMs so I think you've got a solid way to go

[@OTWD]

Hi J M, Sorry for the delayed reply mate its been a busy time. Glad you are enjoying the channel and my style resonates - great feedback. Will talk more about the Prado in 2023 - and yep we are hanging onto it for now. 720k is nearly to the moon and back......Cheers

[@elekn711]

Same colour as mine 😊

[@OTWD]

It's a nice colour - I prefer it to the goldy/champagne colour which was a common alternative. Thanks for watching elekn 😬Be sure to subscribe, I think you'll appreciate my next few months of videos! Cheers

[@elekn711]

@@OTWD I sure will and looking forward to it 😊

[@OTWD]

The Grey Dingo has served us well. Reckon it's worth holding onto for more extended trips? Any advice on finding a cargo barrier or quality steering wheel cover ?

[@MohiHash]

How to engage/disengage diff locks. I have got the diff lock light on for the same model and I don't know how to disengage it.

[@OTWD]

Hello, hopefully you haven't driven on too much road/bitumen with the centre diff locked - you could get transmission wind up. Put the car in neutral(stationary), then there is a button to the right of steering wheel near the mirror adjustment buttons. It looks like a car with a cross in the centre between the wheels. Should flash lights on the dash for a moment then turn off.

[@MohiHash]

@@OTWD Thanks a lot. I was able to fix the issue the next day, I don't remember how exactly but all good now. Thanks for getting back to me though :) I have a 70 series land cruiser and this Prado. It is in black color and in pristine condition. Too good for mall coasting hahaha. I also take pride in the fact that people take photos with both of my cars haha.

[@jwbarker81]

can you add Cruse Control to the 1KZ-te prado 95 version?

[@OTWD]

I understand the late models had it standard. I have read you can buy the parts to convert them if yours doesnt already have it. Could be expensive? Cheers

[@aeroelastic6736]

Hi good video! I am based in the UK but has the same car from the Japanese Import market. Same engine as well. I also had a slow coolant lost, so replaced the head gasket and scheme the head, after reassembled, the coolant lost is still there but less. Have you ever found out the cause of your coolant lost?

[@OTWD]

Hi Aero Elastic, thanks for watching mate and appreciate you taking the time to comment. Are they a common vehicle over there? Sorry to hear that you went to the $ and effort replacing the head gasket and it did not entirely fix it! I wish I could help more, but I don't know for sure either. My mechanic thought a weeping head gasket could be to blame (which doesnt help your situation anyway), or some other compression issue in the engine. We used a copper compound in the coolant which appeared to help but not fix, this is designed to settle into any cracks and seal them. We decided to 'wait and see' knowing at some point we may need to pull it all apart. I'll definitely reply again if I learn more. Hope you are enjoying your Prado :) Cheers

[@jdmcarandmotorcycle]

Maybe has small crack in head cylinder between two valve !!! Check compression leak !

[@OTWD]

@@jdmcarandmotorcycle Thanks for the tip! This seems plausible and reasonable!

[@aeroelastic6736]

@@OTWD Hi some updates, i have removed my head again and this time focusing on finding internal crack, as my coolant lost persisted. Upon closer look, i found coolant traces within the Inlet Port of cylinder 3! It is a rare and unusual place to crack. No visible crack between valves but inside the valve port. Anyway, i bought a new aftermarket head and put it back, now the coolant stays! Only downside is now the engine has rough idle during first cold start in the morning (UK Winter morning), still trouble shooting. Suspect sensors or glow plugs related. Once warm up everything is smooth. Good day.

[@Jay-mm1kw]

Hi what's your opinion on the 4 cylinder gas version?

[@OTWD]

Hi Jay, sorry mate, I'm not that familiar with the gas variant. Best wishes!

[@Jay-mm1kw]

@@OTWD No worries you as well!

[@OTWD]

I since bought another 90 Prado - engine needed rebuilding and I decided to buy another instead. Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYnXgGBnpKmprtE

[@AugustineMarkaugustinemarx]

Any ball joint issues on this series?

[@OTWD]

Yep, Iconic problem of the 90. I replace mine proactively.

[@martinkuhn623]

Check out the Fourby4Diesel utube channel, maybe even talk to the prado doctor himself, to understand what might be the cause of the water leak, but also a great way to learn what needs regular inspection n monitoring on your prado, and at what intervals you could expect to see issues or need to replace parts.

[@OTWD]

Appreciate that advice Martin, have not come across that channel before. I'll check it out! Good advice there - inspect and monitor and learn the triggers for replacing things.

[@crazylongbar]

the dash board also classis weak point..making noise

[@OTWD]

Good call - mine has had some rattles from time to time!