Nan’s Still Got It: The 80 Series That Refuses to Retire.

In relation to achieving the roadworthy, all that was left was the headlights had previously been fitted with an aftermarket LED kit. This specific kit was too bright and threw out unusual artifacts of light different to the standard halogen bulb, regardless, without extensive leg work, wasn’t getting the green tick.Once the roadworthy certificate was acquired and registration complete, some general drives were to make sure everything was running smoothly and planning the shopping list ahead of “essential” modifications. A smart place to start is generally recovery as the tracks intended were not your leisurely cruise and there was no doubt she’d be caked in mud in no time. Forgetting to mention the old ARB bull bar prior, this specific model has a narrow cradle to allow for a winch and the Warn EVO, to this day, is yet to be pulled from the 120 Prado and dropped into the 80 series. Surely it will happen one day… For the time being to make sure not just any puddle of mud will be the undoing of the 80, recovery straps, shackles, a Rhino-Rack shovel, and a pair of MaxTrax Pro recovery boards are more than enough considering there are very few times the 80 series will be running solo.In the rare event options of getting unstuck dwindle away and all hope fades, there are both an in-cab GME UHF antenna and handheld making sure communications between all the unstuck 4wd’s surrounding is possible. These 2 UHF’s also see endless amount of use during content shoots and any convoy travel. Although storage on the inside is well catered to, the exterior (more specifically, the roof) presents a whole realm of potential solutions when tackling the larger trips where every square inch of room becomes crucial. Being that the 120 Series had already been fitted up with one, it was the kind of accessory that became a necessity and not ideal to say goodbye to when jumping up to the next vehicle. Opting for the Rhino-Rack Platform Pioneer 6 ensured easy installation, no wind noise, endless accessories, additional space, and most importantly, good looks. The option of the roof rack allowed for the easy storage and access to both the MaxTrax recovery boards and the shovel being within arm’s reach when in strife. Whilst on the topic of the roof rack and being the car sees more camping during the winter wet seasons, shade/shelter from the rain was high in the list of requirements. Previous experience with a DARCHE 2.5 x 2.5m awning did present mild inconvenience when travelling solo so this round it was an easy push up to the Rhino-Rack 180° freestanding awning makes set up and pack down simple and a one man job.The next phase became a bit more on the side of desire vs. require. Again, having previously had the fitted to the prior vehicle, it made sense to bring them back this time, with the addition of the rear roof rack spoiler. A set of weather shields never go astray. In terms of functionality, not sure there is a whole lot to them but in terms of looks, it’s the nice little touch that are more personal than anything. Not to mention they seemed to align with the nan visor stretched across the front window.