WOW! What a great forum, I had been searching around the 4x4 forums to get a bit of info on setting up a duel battery system for my 2006 SR Ute, and somehow stumbled on to this site. I am glad that I did because I was having a hard time finding late model Hilux information; I was adapting information from Prado sites, as I considered that the charging circuit had to be very similar to the Hilux system. Dealerships (Stealerships) never seem to be too forthcoming with accurate info, I have found. I wish that I had found this site a couple of weeks back while I was trying to install a UHF radio. I will address these topics under the technical section of this forum.
I never thought too much about my Username when I registered and never realized that any posts that I made would display my registered name, otherwise I would of chosen something cool like “Snatchstrap” or “Bogged to the Rails”, so I’ll probably change my Username soon, but I’ll re-introduce myself then.
I had some big plans for my “Beauty” when I first got it last May, I was looking around for something to use for a Simpson Desert run that I had been invited to participate in later this June, so when I spotted this late 2006 tray back Ute on the second hand lot of my local Toyota Dealership, it was love at first sight. It already was fitted with a long range fuel tank, Toyota Bulbar, driving lights and had a sturdy steel tray fitted. I was currently driving a 1989 Suzuki Sierra, which I was also very fond of, but had realized that no matter how much money I spent on it, the Suzuki would not quite suite my needs; it was just too small to fit in all the gear that I wanted to take, it was a lost cause. Needless to say a deal was struck almost immediately and the Suzuki was traded in.
I had opened a special savings account so as I could put away a little bit each week towards buying bits and pieces for my planned trip, and had saved just enough to buy some new rubber and a set of alloy wheels, the Hilux had steel wheels and was shod in ordinary radials, which were not even light truck tyres. The Ute looked much better with its new Speedy Territory rims and 265/70R 16 Bridgestone Dueler A/T radials. The next item that I was planning for was an Old Man Emu suspension upgrade, but just as I managed to save the funds to do this, I fell ill.
It was discovered that I had two brain tumors, and I was immediately rushed off to hospital for some surgery. This of course totally side lined me and any plans that I had for a desert run. I was off work from August to February this year getting poked and prodded, irradiated, chemoed and generally undergoing all those fun things that go along with cancer. I have somehow managed to survive all this, and am now in remission and back at work. I’ll get a clearance to drive again next week and my Desert run is back on track, though the list of goodies I had planned for my Ute has been shortened to just the essential items.
Any way great site, I have already discovered the link to the Hilux Service manual, what resource that is, I am sure that I will discover many more pleasant surprises in the threads of this forum.
