120 Prados - Cracks

i got to wonder where you have got your research from. i was only just reading a write up on these models on friday and nowhere under the heading "cons" did this get mentioned. the write up was very favourable for this model. i am pretty sure if it was common to "crack in just about every panel imaginable" as you refer we would be reading about it on here and elsewhere all the time. my brother has no dramas with his and sister in law none with hers (but has since sold it, but no wotties at all - she actually has commented about being sorry she sold it). if you have spent "many hours driving a 120 and really like them" surely a big problem llike this would have become obvious to you at the time. i am sure that out there somewhere in the world there is one 120 sitting there with the problems mentioned, but i would have to wonder about the treatment it got from that owner. if you go to purchase one i am sure such defects would be obvious before you bought it and it would pay if you still have doubts to get a pre-purchase inspection done first. why not ask over at the pradopoint forum

My biggest mistake was selling my old prado (petrol). After 2 years of not having one we had to fork out a lot more dough to get another one. I still see my old one around town every now and then. The guy who owns lives out bush and it sees some rough roads and he doesn't have problems with cracking; dual battery, steel bull bar, winch and all.

Had the 2006 model almost 3 years; hasn't seen the same work as the old one, but no dramas there either. I talk to a lot of prado owners, no one has mentioned this problem to me.

This is a common problem on the Prado and contary to what Toyota say it is absolutly nothing to do with having a bull bar fitted. There ahve been quite a few that have cracked with no bars fitted.
Black toyota in dalby have had several vehicles come in to them that have had this problem.
The problem is the soft front body mounts that allow the body to move around too much and stress cracks form on the firewall and the radiator surround.

We operate a 2005 V6 which has done just over 60000km off bitumen and is heavily modified for remote area tours and training.
It is fitted with twin batteries weighing in at 27.6 kg each, an Ox 10000lb winch, bull bar and uprated suspension and a full drawer unit in the back. All up weight without the touring kit is 2350kg.

No cracks.

Yes I've seen two with cracks in the LHF guard and that's it. Whilst there is plenty of discussion regarding these vehicles there is very little knowledge on how these vehicles are configured and driven.

Early dual battery systems were poorly designed and did cause cracking in that area. That problem has been fixed.

Rear door problems? Only seen when vehicles have been overloaded and over driven. Suspension setup and tyre pressures can also go a long way to reducing wear and tear, along with driving to the conditions. We regularly see 4WD of all makes being driven too fast for the conditions so are rarely surprised to find their owners complaining about some product failure which is definitely not their fault.

If you buy one with a log book service history and which hasn't been flogged to death by a minng company then you should have a happy ownership experience

Regards

RobA

Hi Kroozer,

Couple of Prados in our 4wd club - well, used to be... only one now.

The older model (not sure of the designation) seems fine, however, the chap with the later model had several cracks around the radiator and also around the firewall area somewhere. Had it repaired (over $3000) then traded her in.

Both vehicles have regularly been bush, but certainly neither of the guys are rough on their vehicles.

The problems you mention certainly do occur, just gotta be unlucky I think.

Cheers
Gerry

Hi Kroozer,

I have hit some pretty serious dips and dunes with mine over 5 years and am yet to see any evidence of cracking. It has a dual battery installed and has the Toyota alloy bar.

At least twice I have had forward progress impeded swiftly enough that I feared the airbags were about to be deployed directly into my snoz!

Once was a dip on the Weipa to Cairns run that I didn't see in the dark at 4am (saw the other 700 or so) and we hit that at 80 with a 1500kg trailer on the back - front end was airborne after the hit and I was just waiting for the trailer to enter via the back door. No damage thankfully.

Other occasion was piling it into a sand dune after bouncing the front end off line on a hairy angled approach. This one was enough to mould the number plate into the shape of the winch cradle behind it and give me another close up of the logo in the centre of the steering wheel.

I have read a few accounts of cracks in 120's, particularly in sides of the engine bay/front guards - so they do happen - but I don't think it is as often as you make out. Toyota at one point was selling between 15 and 20 thousand Prados a year so with about 100,000 of them on Aussie roads they are pretty popular. If even 5% developed cracking as you describe there would be a hue and cry akin to Nissan ZD30's blowing up.

Buy one and enjoy it. They are a great 4WD if it also has to double as your daily driver.

Cheers
Muddy

Kroozer



Bloke I know bought a Prado. Lives in Derby and has a shack up the Cape Leveque Road.

He is very disappointed with his Prado as it is falling to bits. He has previously owned Landcruisers, Hi-lux and Rodeo and did not have the same problems with them.

I have also driven Prado's at work and I am unimpressed.




Tjilpi