First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

[Marrer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Marrer]

Hi all, we have just completed our first trip in our first ever Prado up through Bourke, Camerons Corner, Innaminka, down to Lyndhurst, up the Oodnadatta and across to Coober Pedy. The biggest lesson - get a roofrack next time, don't pack a hairdryer ( my wife's not mine!) and get some sort of drawer or stacking box system. As it was, we crammed everything in the back and at the end of the 12 days, found we have put two holes in the inside ceiling :cry: ( firewood we picked up and squashed in the back which poked through) ripped the tinting off the back window in about 10 places ( firewood again) jammed the fishing rods in the back door as it closed ( and bent the plastic facing around the door) but the worst part is the damage to the surface of the plastic trim all around the inside of the back door and inside of the rear compartment. How on earth do people avoid this when we carefully packed each day? Is there anything I can do to improve the appearance again of this rubbed off surface and try to prevent it happening again. Any comments would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Marrer

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

I learnt the hard way with the tinting on our previous Tarago where a Christmas present had no bag to go into so it was loose. Somewhere along the way in between Syd and Adl, it made it's way to the side rear window and began chipping away at the tint. This is all highway driving.

Since then, I've kept hard surfaces away from the windows and brought thick foam pads with me. There are EVA foam flooring tiles available from Supersheap, Rays Outdoors, Kmart, BigW which you can use to keep the luggage away from the trim.

Also pack into regular shapes like those storage boxes with lids and strap down loose items.

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

Not much you can do other than replace the trim. In future, either invest in drawers or like me, get a spacecase and tie it down. Also like you said, roof racks are the go, but expect a drop in economy as a result.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

Most people who have been through this ( like me) will now have some sort of storage system and cargo barrier in the back.
Either commercial or home made. The storage unit then takes the battering rather than your car.
I have a simple one made from exterior ply screwed/glued together. If designed right they can slip in and out quickly so you can have the normal space when not on holidays

Anything that is likely to come in contact with the trim we pack it in soft bags ( save all those old computer bags, schoolbags, daypacks etc). You can stuff these in all the nooks and crannies. A good going over with Armourall on all the plastic trim I find does help protect it ( although others will disagree )

A roof rack would be a good investment if you're going to be collecting firewood. I cringe when I see people stuffing it in the back of their cars. What we normally do is set up camp, clear the roof rack, and then go out and look for firewood.

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

Hi Wayne,
Can you post a pic of your storage system.
Cheers

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: First trip and damaged plastic throughout the back - HELP!

Hi Wayne,
Can you post a pic of your storage system.
Cheers

Maybe not here as this is a 150 area - I'll put something in the Rig Build Up area.