Where can a standard 2012 Prado D4D take you?

[Khoa Member Find all posts View Profile Close Khoa]

Hi all

Our 2012 Prado D4D is the first diesel car we've ever own.

While it's being use as Mr Reliable & Safe for the wife to drive around town (our old bmw X5 let us down), i bought it with other plans in my mind.

I really want to take the family & the dogs for a long, remote, offroad camping or interstates one day .............. anyway, long story short ..........

How far can a stock as a rock Prado 150 take you?

If a standard Prado can't take you far, What's consider as minimum standard modification required? (Snorkel, 2" lift?)

Do i need to join a 4WD club to learn how to go offroad? I do see a few 4WD clubs around town.

Is there a LIGHT 4WD track somewhere in Melb that i can take the Stock As A Rock Prado to for some weekend bush bash?

Thank you

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

My stock 120 without traction control took me all over the Victorian High Country. Your stock 150 will take you most places you want to go (and probably further than your newbie abilities to cope safely).

Personally I'd change the tires to decent All Terrains with Light Truck construction at a minimum if you are going to be going out a lot. The rest is debatable and depends on what you are planning on doing.

You don't need to join a 4WD club. Plenty of training organisations around to teach you the basics, correctly, as well. But clubs have the social factor.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yeah your standard 150 will likely well exceed your own abilities at this point if you haven't been off road before.

A snorkel is good insurance if you are likely to venture into deepish water crossings, if you fit a snorkel for water crossings then extended diff and gearbox breathers are also advisable.

Add a set of AT tyres and a 2" lift and you will go just about anywhere.

Honestly though I would just get out on the tracks and see what it can do and then decide what mods you might need, your not going to be doing anything hard core to start with, so what you have will be fine, as your experience grows you will work out what mods will suit your needs.

Joining a 4wd club was one of the best things I ever did, both the formal and informal training we got from people with 20, 30, 40, or 50+ years of experience off road can't be gotten from a weekend course and reading on the internet.

Cheers Andrew

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

I'm a noob in a stock 150 (plus 2" lift) and have recently joined a club to gain some experience. The 2-day driver training was excellent. It clearly showed that the problem is mostly behind the wheel and not in front of it. The car already at stock level can take you up and down places you probably don't want to go while your family is accompanying you. I think it is prudent to first drive and upgrade later if you ever feel the need to.
From first hand experience I know now that a stock Prado goes up something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQPJ40SNaLA
Lucky me that my wife wasn't there.

[bdee Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdee]

I'm a noob in a stock 150 (plus 2" lift) and have recently joined a club to gain some experience. The 2-day driver training was excellent. It clearly showed that the problem is mostly behind the wheel and not in front of it. The car already at stock level can take you up and down places you probably don't want to go while your family is accompanying you. I think it is prudent to first drive and upgrade later if you ever feel the need to.
From first hand experience I know now that a stock Prado goes up something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQPJ40SNaLA
Lucky me that my wife wasn't there.

Great video. Here is my Prado going for a swim.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...-the-prado.mp4

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

It will take you everywhere the Tasmania GTG 2015 will go. A shameless plug for the event.

On a serious note you will be very surprised where you will go. They are a very capable vehicle and with some carefull wheel placement can go quite a few places.

[Ian Reid Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Reid]

It will take you everywhere the Tasmania GTG 2015 will go. A shameless plug for the event.
.

I hope so i haven't had much of a chance to start mods on mine yet


Sent from my iGizmo using Tapatalk

[evltoy Member Find all posts View Profile Close evltoy]

Top thread khoa. I'm watching this thread as I'm in the same boat.... want to take the family for a day trip around vic and do some pleasant fun 4x4ing. We have a 2yr so safety is paramount.

No talks about having a bullbar to increase the aproch angle... is it a must?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

No talks about having a bullbar to increase the aproch angle... is it a must?

Bullbars often as not can make the approach angle a little worse, certainly not a must to get off road.

Cheers Andrew

[evltoy Member Find all posts View Profile Close evltoy]

Thanks for that Andrew. I was holding off on trips especially to Vic high Country until I fitting my bar.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Bullbars often as not can make the approach angle a little worse, certainly not a must to get off road.

Cheers Andrew

Yeah my factory sov bulbar certainly sufferers compared to ARB and TJM bars. I actually think its worse compared to stock, but never measured it tbf.

[Khoa Member Find all posts View Profile Close Khoa]

I'm a noob in a stock 150 (plus 2" lift) and have recently joined a club to gain some experience. The 2-day driver training was excellent. It clearly showed that the problem is mostly behind the wheel and not in front of it. The car already at stock level can take you up and down places you probably don't want to go while your family is accompanying you. I think it is prudent to first drive and upgrade later if you ever feel the need to.
From first hand experience I know now that a stock Prado goes up something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQPJ40SNaLA
Lucky me that my wife wasn't there.

Looks as much fun as hitting the Apex at Winton or Philip Island .

[Khoa Member Find all posts View Profile Close Khoa]

Very encouraging replies guys, thanks a lot.

Anyone in Vic that can shed some more light, as in which 4wdclub do you participate with or some fools proof 4wd track for us to start off with?

[evltoy Member Find all posts View Profile Close evltoy]

Could there be a tag along newbe trail adventure in the future

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Thanks for that Andrew. I was holding off on trips especially to Vic high Country until I fitting my bar.

Too many people hold of on doing trips because they think they need a heap of gear they don't, just get out and do it, if you come to an obstacle that you think is beyond you or your cars capabilities then give it a miss and come back another time.

Cheers Andrew