Hello from Canberra

[gary]

Hi all,

Have just clicked over the 5000km mark with my Crusade manual. Done some basic mods;

Toyota Bullbar, side steps and brush bars.
Toyota Towbar
Warn/Toyota winch
Toyota Cargo Barrier
BF Goodrich AT KO2 tyres 265/70/17
King Rebel Alloy Wheels
Aux battery System. Ultimate 80AH, ARB tray, Redarc LV charger, Solar panel connector on bullbar, 50A anderson in back of wagon and second mounted to trailer plug for compressor.
Light force LED driving lights.
Icom IC-450 UHF radio

I think that's pretty much all I've done to date...

Next mods planned are rear shelving/drawers, Full length pioneer platform (when available) and Suspension...

Cheers and Beers

Gary

[Lrulz]

Looks Sweet and kind of mean all black and white

I am looking into the bullbar and side bars at the moment but first will be the dual battery system.

Going to take out the 3rd row seats as soon as i get the car to make more room too.

[Psykamaholik]

Got some close up pics of the winch?

[gdg70]

Looks great
Did the Toyota bar come with a mount for the two way antenna?
Also were you able to use the original light mounts on the bar or are the spot lights spaced out from the grill.
I picked up some second hand drifta drawers from a Prado 120 and the are a pretty good fit, only drama is the lack of tie down points in the rear floor area.

[gary]

I've had a few requests for some winch pictures, I'll post them up in the next day or two.

I have the Toyota genuine steel winch bar, It has one antenna mounting tab. The light mounting points are very close and provide limited mounting options. I had to drill two new mounting holes for my lights, this allowed me to bring them forward to provide room behind the lights and spread the two lights wider.

My other issue with the Toyota bar is that there are no winch/recovery points on the bar. I know that most bar shackle attachment points are not snatch recovery rated/approved but they more than adequate for winching with a double line pull. Although the front tow points are very substantial, I notice a thread discussing the merits of using these as recovery points, I will use for these for winching until ARB or Road Safe release bolt on recovery points.

Also no hi lift jack points on the Toyota bar.

For anyone looking at a steel winch bar now, I would personally wait for the ARB and TJM models as they must be very close to release.

gdg70, how do you find the drifta drawers? Do you know the weight of the drawers? They are at the top of my list but they haven't done a Fortuner yet. I've been chatting to Beechy (Drifta drawers guy) who has invited me (or anyone with a Fortuner) to drop into Drifta HQ for custom fit/measure/install. Biggest issue I see for the Fortuner is GVM, and metal drawers can add significant weight, the Drifta option appears to be much lighter.

[gdg70]

I have been waiting for the arb bar but was hoping to get something before a trip in May.
The Toyota one will have a weight advantage I think which is important on the Fortuner I reckon. Did Toyota upgrade the front springs when the bar and winch were fitted?

I am really happy with the drifta drawers I think they are about 30 kgs. The rear seats that I have removed were 17 kgs each.

[Psykamaholik]

When I was discussing getting the toyota winch added to mine the dealer said the winch kit was also suspension upgrade in the front, no such upgrade for just the toyota bar though

[Kiat]

I like the Lightforce driving lights 👍👍

[jarid]

Hi Gary I've noticed that you changed from 18 to 17 on your replacement rims. Have you noticed a difference in the ride?
Cheers john

[gary]

yes big difference. A lot worse on the road and a lot better off the road. BFG AT KO2's are surprisingly slippery on wet roads, similar feel to a mates muddies but a lot quieter. I run them 20-25 psi in the bush (rock and dirt no sand) and they are really good, really happy with their greassy and muddy performance for a AT.

The original tyres gripped better and weren't as "flexy/squirmy" under power or cornering. But then I didn't buy this car for going round roundabouts... I haven't noticed much difference in the ride comfort between the two tyres, the 17's are maybe a bit smoother? (larger rolling diameter plus a 70 sidewall)

[jarid]

Thanks Gary good to hear. Ive got a Crusade but taken off the original rims and fitted as set of different Toyota alloys but still in 18. Car is getting fitted out with all genuine Toyota bits as I type should have photos uploaded in a few days or so. so should look similar but in graphite

[bdzy88]

This looks grouse, actually starting to sway towards the white now, anyone done this to a blue one?

[Eddo83]

I'm getting a blue one and will be kitting it out with all tjm stuff. Should hopefully have it in about a month maybe less. They had a big touch screen tv at the toyota dealer that you could use to put all the accessories on and see what it looked like and it looked awesome. Was gonna go white but the blue looked better and its a bit different, every second car is white.

[gary]

Apologies for the slow response re some winch install pictures... It is actually pretty hard to get any good pictures of the winch mounting as its all hidden behind the bullbar and number plate. Not sure if what I have uploaded helps. If there is any particular detail anyone is interested in let me know and I'll see what I can photograph.

[jarid]

Out of interest is the controller wireless on the Toyota winch? Ive asked Toyota but they can not answer me. Go figure

[gary]

Winch controller is wired. I believe warn do a wireless add on option?

[deeman111]

/do you use the hook holder or just jeave it hanging off the rollers? i have a rope for my winch so it bends easy but i dont know if the cable has enough flex to use the holder?

[gary]

I usually leave it hanging off the rollers as the number plate doesn't sit down properly with the cable out.

[Deeds]

Missed this build somehow, great stuff!