New 150 Prado 3rd row seats

[Lski Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lski]

Hi, I am waiting on delivery of my new GXL Prado which I will receive in Feb. This gives me time to plan my mods!

I am going to put a fridge slider in the back on a false floor and wanted to know if anyone knows if the 3rd row of seats can be removed and what do the mouldings/factory carpet etc look like underneath the 3rd row of seating assembly? Will it essentially look like a GX in the back once the seats have been removed? I asked the Toyota sales rep and he was clueless...

Cheers
Luke.

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

I am assuming that the facelift is the same as the earlier GXL. The seats come out in about an hour. The floor is bare steel with the odd piece of insulation. Plenty of posts in this section if you want to have a look. The GX has different plastics in the back so it is a little more work in the GXL but still very doable. If you click the link in my signature you can see what I did for mine. I will look for the seat removal post and add it later.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...t-modification

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...de-and-storage

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-system-part-1

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...DRIFTA-Drawers

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...Rear-Floor-GXL

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...lide-Installed

Have a read through these. The first has a quoted link to the seat removal. Go to the site, select LC150 and build year 2013 on and then Installation Manuals and Towing Hitch Wiring Kit. Then follow the steps. From memory the bolts are M10x1.25 so you will need a specialist bolt shop if you need new bolts. I used Allen head socket screws.

Any questions post them up.

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

Hi, I am waiting on delivery of my new GXL Prado which I will receive in Feb. This gives me time to plan my mods!

I am going to put a fridge slider in the back on a false floor and wanted to know if anyone knows if the 3rd row of seats can be removed and what do the mouldings/factory carpet etc look like underneath the 3rd row of seating assembly? Will it essentially look like a GX in the back once the seats have been removed? I asked the Toyota sales rep and he was clueless...

Cheers
Luke.

Hi Luke, I can't answer your question directly I'm sorry, but I looked very carefully into getting a GX or a GXL. We have just sold our GXL Prado, but we didn't use the rear seats for the last couple of years....so this time we have decided to go with a GX version. It wont suit everyone I know, and there are a few differences between the GX and the GXL...one being the rear area..... The GX rear cargo area in the new 2.8l GD Prado is not only lower in floor height but also wider in cargo space, as there are no large "bulges" in the side trim where the third row cup holders in the GXL are located. We thought about getting a GXL and removing the rear seats, but in the end we ordered a GX (and will add rock sliders, bull bar, rhino platform etc....but we are looking forward to touring again with a larger rear cargo area and lower floor height in the rear cargo area. You will have to keep in mind that when you sell the car you should be able to replace the rear seats (its to do with roadworthy and compliance etc I believe). So no, I don't believe it will look like a GX in the rear when you remove the rear seats, for a couple of reasons, the middle row seats in the GX are different to the GXL...in the GX the middle row seats tumble forward, and the seats lay basically flat with the cargo area...in the GXL the middle row seat squabs fold down on top of the middle row seats, so the floor height between the rear cargo area and the middle seat area, with seats folded down, will be quite different in height once you remove the 3rd row seats....this may or may not have any impact on what you plan, just worth noting/mentioning I guess (because it wasn't something that I was expecting). Also the interior side wall trim is different in profile/dimensions, being much "fatter" in the GXL" It was difficult for us to find a 2.8Litre GX model to look at and inspect, as they are not in large supply or demand. We found a new GX model at Sunshine Toyota and had a very close look at the rear and middle seat areas.

Anyway, you have ordered a GXL now, so the best thing will be to get in a have a go at pulling out the rear seats I guess, others have done it in the previous model Prado, I suppose it worth just keeping in mind that you are making a "compliance" modification (altering seating capacity/seat belts, albeit temporarily), so there can be implications, but so long as its restored to the original configuration on sale it may not be an issue in the mean time.
We really enjoyed our previous Prado, but this time we started looking at changing to a Hilux or a Fortuner, but in the end we believe we (two of us and no kids at home now) will do better (for long range outback touring and camping and off-roading etc) with a new GX Prado...and will come out of it about $9,000 better off compared to the GXL.

My challenge now (like yourself I guess) is deciding how to set up the rear area and also the second battery..but I enjoy the challenge....but boy, since we sold our pevious Prado I really miss not having it...like yourself, ours isn't due for delivery until February...and we strangely miss our Prado...we miss the space, the ride height, and I hate driving a small car on the highway (trucks and other cars tailgate and seem to try and intimidate a small car) and we have also missed having our car fridge in the car over Christmas...we've had to resort carting Christmas ham and Christmas puddings in an esky...how primitive

[Lski Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lski]

Thanks allot for the replies they are certainly helpful. I think I will do a smilier set up as Brucester's with some slight changes.

Brogers, I went through the dilemma of GX vs GXL also, but in the end the wife and I were keen on the few extra's of the GXL. I also have the advantage of a fleet discount so am getting the GXL 16 build at a pretty good price. I also enjoy building up the 4x4, I'm coming out of a PB Challenger that I've built up from new into a respectable 4x4, but I think the Prado is a whole new level, maybe not so much in 4x4 ability (fairly comparable IMO), but certainly in style, reliability, quality etc etc..

Cheers
Luke.