Suspension requirements

I owned a Prado from new for 8 years - therefore not your model - but you may be interested.
Have taken 1998 Prado into the simpson and other places with toyota suspension (front springs upgraded at delivery due to bullbar fitment) and after warranty went for OME springs and shocks all round. So it did travelled about 120,000 on factory fit and then 150,000 on OME.
At 15000 I returned from a simpson mid-summer trip with noisey rear shock which was replaced under warranty. A front shock - 60,000 replaced under warranty.
I had great expectations that the OME would transform the feel of the Prado - just like the ads and experts said. But alas noticed no difference in handling.
BUT the OME gave a 50mm lift which is greatly appreciated.
In the undulations and heat of the simpson the shocks can get a fair workout and performance even of the OME does fall off noticably. My mate in another Prado travelled with me on very demanding route and then across Simpson. His had no modifications, is still on factory fit - but it did break auxiliary fuel tank bash plate bracket - I believe due to insuffient clearance, load and heat.
In all the OME gave me greater clearance and with gentle driving have performed admirably.
Incidentally I also used standard fit skinny Grandtrek tyres and these were great. However for the last 80,000km I was on BFG AT and would definitely choose them again.

Wiggo,

There have been several threads recently indicating that this year there is extra soft sand sitting on top of the dunes. This has been reported by several sources including Ruth from the Birdsville Caravan Park.

This information alone would strongly suggest a suspension lift to try and lift the sump etc higher leaving your diffs as the most likely drag point in the sand.

A 2 inch lift is definitely possible with a Prado however your choice of suspension suppliers is wide and varied. OME do make a good product (complete lift kit) that is sufficient for most drivers ( I have a kit from them fitted to my 99 Prado: Cost $1200 gave me at least 50 mm lift all round). However I know one member of this website who did a double crossing of the Simpson in a 2002 Prado with an OME kit and he stated that the kit was basically exhausted at the end and the handling of the vehicle was quite poor. He subsequently has fitted Lovell springs and Bilstein shocks and struts which he claims provide a superior ride to the OME kits.

The Lovell / Bilstein combination is now the preferred setup for most of the Prados within the LCOOL ACT (Landcruiser Owners Online) group.

You state that you don't want to change unless you have to. Is this because you don't want to part with the cash or because you are happy with the vehicle's handling with the stock suspension package ? I can tell you from personal experience that the stock package is not that good offroad. Prado's are renowned for being way to soft in the front end and I would be surprised if you haven't encountered that issue already in the dirt. My OME kit has made a huge difference to vehicle handling and the front end is much more capable of handling large dips etc without dragging the bullbar through the mud.

Because of the load you will be carrying in the rear airbags are highly recommended to assist in keeping your steering wheels pressing into the dirt. If you look at my members rig photo's you will see a pic of my Prado towing a trailer. There is less than 300 kg sitting on the towball yet you can distinctly see how the nose is pulled up into the air, effecting steering, traction and visibilty as your headlights are looking at the possums in the trees.

I am aware of two main choices as far as airbags go. Polyairs and Firestones. I purchased a set of polyairs about a month ago online (brand new) for $220 delivered to my door. I am returning to Australia the day after tomorrow ( woohoo ) so they will be fitted shortly along with a heap of other new kit.

So there you have it: my opinion for what its worth. But..... I have not done a Simpson crossing yet....There are many others on this Forum with vastly more experience than I and who have crossed the Simpson numerous times.

Hope you have a great trip ( but for around $1500 I am betting it will be a lot better trip with far less recoveries required).

Cheers.....Taz

Can't speak for the rest of the Lcool-ACT group, but I have OME, and an happy with them did have a problem with the rear end sagging when I first put in the cargo draws/fridge etc.

Turned out I had standard springs in the back, when I'd requested heavy duty, since these have been swapped the suspensions been great.

Off to the Cape next week, fully loaded and we'll see how the different set ups go.
We have two Prado's one with OME and one with Ridepro. The only prado I know that had the Lovell / Bilstein combination came to a sad end in a river and doesn't exist anymore, but up until then the owner was happy with the set up. The owner now has a 105 series and I believe has put the Lovell / Bilstein combination on that one and is happy with it.

Just be prepared that once you have installed your chosen suspension, another one will appear on the market and be better!! Sometimes it all seems a bit like fashion and different brand in vogue each year.

So long as it does the job you need and you can afford then I think that makes it the best (for you).

Steve

My turn now ;-)

(and my thoughts only - OMMV)

1: Think entry, departure and ramp over angle - 2" lift will change this a lot. I had a 90 series Prado, and did many trips on standard suspension but lightly loaded - as soon as I was fully loaded, I sagged. I put HD OME on, and by the time I returned from a double crossing of the Simpson (in fact half way across the first), I was on the bump stops across every dune. Shock fade was apparent after 10 min, and after the trip, sag was inevitable every time I put more than my tent in the back. I took them back to ARB, who pumped my tyres up and said I was fine.... I went to Bilsteins and Lovells and never hit the bump stops again. To describe the difference in ride was from a roller coaster ride (including all the bumps!), to a magic carpet ride. Speed I could do a bumpy track almost doubled.

2: Phil G had a 90, and swears by std shocks - and they did a number of Simpson crossings.

3: Still the same angles - I'd be improving them.

4: Ditto

5: First I've heard of it - and seen many lifted - look at www.lcool.org (land cruiser owners online)

6: I've been told that OME are 70% advertising and 30% shock absorber. Bilstein have an edge on performance, Koni have an edge on longevity (how much advertising do you see them do??)- dunno about TJM.

I think there is a heap of advice in the above posts for when you want to spend money - I think your real question is "can my standard Prado do a Simpson crossing" - I think a lot of that depends on how heavily loaded it is... (mine was a family of five, with biggest kid with 1 carton under his feet, 2nd biggest with 2 cartons and smallest kid with 3 cartons.... - and the kitchen sink as well). If you are by yourself and lightly loaded, you might have half a chance - otherwise, you probably need to spend some $$. Tyres are also something that you will want after market - Grand Treks aren't going to cope with getting there (gibber plains etc)

My turn now :-))) And up front I don't own a 120series Prado.

Like Ivan said I have been a fan of the standard factory Toyota shocks. They are quality Japanese made Tokico and in my experience of taking groups on desert trips, they are the most reliable. Some of those popular aftermarket brands are prone to bush failures, breakages, fade and generally don't have the stone protection that the factory shocks have. Factory springs are usually way too soft for a desert trip, and on the two Prados I owned, I simply upgraded with aftermarket HD, lifted springs (cost $300 + fitting).

If you don't overload your vehicle, you can easily do a Simpson crossing on factory suspension. And on the Simpson desert tracks, the Prados have enough clearance. Its all soft sand on the top, and a little bottoming out doesn't matter. With an IFS Prado, the front end lifts as you climb a dune anyway.

Cheers
Phil