CUSTOM TOYOTA PRADO

By Unsealed 4X4 10 Min Read

Four-wheel drivers come in all shapes and sizes, and their approach to modifying their beloved fourbies is just as varied – which is why we love checking them out so much. There is no one correct way – for some folk who are time poor or less handy with tools, the best option is to drive into the aftermarket shop as often as the budget allows and have them fit some more cool kit.

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While seeing all the latest gear rounding out a production rig provides a few ideas for our own wish list, there’s something even more inspirational about someone who doesn’t need the latest model off the showroom floor or a gizmo just for the sake of a gadget. Especially when they’ve built their own unique off-road conqueror. As Richard Nicholls, the owner of this tidy Prado, told me: “Building a 4X4 isn’t about bolting lots of bits together, it’s about understanding how one part affects another and adding them to fix some of the vehicle’s limitations and complement its already great capabilities.”

Couldn’t agree more, mate!

For images and the full Unsealed experience, CLICK HERE.

 

THE OWNER

There’s plenty of reason to respect Richard’s quietly voiced but clearly thought out opinions. He’s worked professionally to build and modify four-wheel drives for off-roading racing and expeditions, and was a regular competitor at UK events. And he’s managed to turn his love of off-roading into a permanent career – transferring his knowledge and expertise to hundreds of people attending either nationally accredited or recreational training courses – most recently for his own company ‘Adventure Offroad Training’ in Perth.

 

Despite growing up in the UK where the farm Land Rover tried to sink its tyres deep into his DNA, Richard is pretty much a Toyota tragic. That farming lifestyle instilled Richard’s love of off-roading from the age of eight, and his first 4X4 was a Toyota HiLux – that he was customising and modifying at the age of 19. He’s since owned a total of four HiLuxes, three 4Runners and three Prados. So he knew exactly what he wanted for his latest steed … and just how to get the most out of it.

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THE 4×4

Richard’s current ride is a 2009 Toyota Prado VX 3.0L D4D auto that has been lovingly and painstakingly modified since he drove it off the dealership floor. For Richard, the Prado is one of the best mid-sized all-round capable off-roaders you can buy; when you weigh up the whole package of chassis design, suspension configuration and body style. Plus Richard didn’t have the luxury of multiple vehicles in the garage – he needed a vehicle that he could use when running training that would be a mobile office doubling as a recovery demonstrator. Plus it needed to transport the family and be able to carry all the gear for safe and enjoyable trips away.

 

Richard did grimace a little – while the relatively compact Prado can manoeuvre neatly in tight spaces, it’s similarly compact inside. With space at a premium, every modification has been considered from all angles to squeeze in as much as possible – and then re-engineered to shoehorn in a few more essentials.

 

 

THE MODIFICATIONS

From top to toe, Richard has tweaked the Toyota starting with Kumho KL71 mud tyres on the latest FJ Cruiser rims – which gives him a 30mm wider track than the standard wheels, helping to avoid tyre rub from the chunky muddies on full lock. Richard gave twin thumbs up to his third set of these tyres – they work well on many different surfaces and he’s yet to puncture one (hopefully those don’t prove to be famous last words).

 

While retaining a standard engine, transmission and driveline – with just a little bit of help from front and rear ARB Air Lockers – Richard’s done some major upgrades to the suspension. Relying on many years of modification experience he chose to custom import Icon and Total Chaos suspension from the US of A. His choice was a good one with both on-road and off-road handling dramatically improved from OEM due to extended travel shocks with adjustable compression and rebound damping, upper control arms and hydraulic bump stops.

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Richard’s fabrication expertise shows up down under. He custom-built his own near-on impenetrable under-body protection for full cover from foremost to rearmost, with integrated rock sliders and Adventure Products recovery points front and back. While happy with a stock ARB deluxe winch bar to hold up ARB Intensity LED spots and a Warn Zeon S10 electric winch, Richard tweaked the ARB 80 series rear wheel carrier to suit the slight differences in the Prado frame. This gave him a matched sense of style but offered fast access to the rear Tanami drawer system – as the bar incorporates slam locks rather than the patience-testing over-centre latch design.

 

Not totally happy with the original modifications and always seeking improvement, Richard added 100 Series side wings that come all the way through to the wheel arches. Rounding out the exterior look is an ARB aluminium roof rack carrying four MaxTrax – although Richard is now thinking a flat platform rack would work better (yep, the Prado is, and always will be, a work in progress). And despite getting a great ride from his custom suspension, he’s thinking the new Old Man Emu BP51 bypass shocks would now be his first choice.

 

Richard has removed part of the split second row seats to extend the three-drawer lightweight extruded aluminium drawer system to a platform at the rear of the driver’s seat. In front of the drawers lives an ARB 60L fridge with a Front Runner 40L water tank alongside. Having the fridge right up front allows passengers to pass out the cold drinks without needing to stop the vehicle.

Very handy. Richard’s focus on safety shows in the first aid kit and large fire extinguisher easily accessible from the driver’s side passenger door.

 

Richard deliberately refers to his banks of switches as ‘cockpit controls’ – and there’s plenty of buttons up front. For directions, there’s an in-dash Toyota nav system plus a Hema HN7 and a 10in android tablet running Ozi-Explorer on a ram mount. Given he carries a back-up map book behind the seat, I don’t like anyone’s chances of successfully telling Richard to get lost. He’d have no problem hearing the suggestion with an Icom 80-channel radio remote-mounted under that handy fridge platform, and matching 80-channel handheld with neatly concealed charging station in an otherwise unused rear cup holder.

 

In the forward centre console are four switches to control the planned cameras for all-round vehicle viewing – reducing the need for lazy passengers to get out and footprint on anything but the gnarliest terrain. Richard happily points out his three ‘lights of success’ for front, rear and centre diff locks. Plus there’s the control for the Redarc Tow-pro electronic brake controller. Neatest of all is a set of eight micro switches that have a remote-mounted controller that can be programmed to operate all his accessories – from the winch to the spotlights. In case you were wondering … yep, there is a second battery (with a Redarc BCDC1225 control unit).

 

But if you were trying to guess just what this awesomely-designed and well-rounded rig has set Richard back, then my lips are sealed. Although Richard’s better half probably has a fair idea, there’s no need to upset the marital bed by putting any big numbers in print. Especially when Richard is still working on adding in a remote winch controller, those surround car cameras, and maybe an exhaust upgrade.

 

Words and photography by Ray Cully


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