From factory to touring weapon: This Prado 250 Series is a serious build

The Toyota Prado has been a mainstay of the Australian 4×4 scene for more than 30 years.

It’s a right-size 4×4 wagon that suits many users – from families in the city to those roaming the wide brown land. Add in that legendary Toyota four-wheel drive reputation and you can see why it’s been the chosen rig for so many Australians.

When a vehicle is popular in this market, our vibrant aftermarket industry quickly jumps on it to give owners the accessories and modifications they want and need. When Toyota launched the 250 Series Prado in 2024, Australian aftermarket players were scrambling to get their hands on one and start developing touring products.

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The 250 Series delivered a bigger and better-equipped Prado that improved on its predecessor in most ways, but it also came with a major design flaw that the aftermarket was only too happy to rectify.

The 250 Series uses Toyota’s 48-volt starter-generator system and the components for that are mounted under the floor in the cargo area. This means the floor now sits higher than it normally would and, if your Prado has third-row seating, the seats fold on top of the floor instead of into it like they did on previous models.

This design has serious consequences for a touring 4×4 where you might want to mount a fridge, drawer system or other accessories in the back – let alone simply carrying gear there. This is where the aftermarket comes to the rescue.

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Razed Products has been designing and manufacturing clever storage accessories in its Melbourne factory for several years, and false floors and cargo fit-outs are among its specialties. Developing a solution for the back of the 250 was a priority when the model was released, and the team soon had a vehicle to work with and developed solutions for both five- and seven-seat Prados, as well as the Lexus GX550.

Designing and developing the cargo solution was only part of the plan for this Prado. Owner Rob wanted to turn his GXL Prado into a fully equipped touring rig with all the best gear on board.

Protection, touring hardware and rear-end integration 

Starting with protection equipment, Rob turned to another innovative Melbourne company for front and rear bars.

Raslarr Engineering used Rob’s Prado to develop products for the 250 Series. The Raslarr ‘Dallas’ bullbar is a full-bar design made using 3mm and 6mm steel and incorporates a winch cradle, recovery points, fog lights, driving-light mounts and provisions for factory ADAS sensors and cameras. The bars are ADR-compliant and proudly made in Melbourne.

The winch fitted is a Carbon 12K unit, while a pair of Stedi Evo Quad driving lights provide long-range illumination and suit the squared-off styling of the Prado.

Moving to the back of the vehicle we find more of Raslarr’s handiwork with the rock sliders and rear bar. The rear bar works with the factory towbar and retains the original sensors and cameras while adding steel protection across the rear and lower quarters. It also incorporates a swing-out spare-wheel carrier, a jerry can holder and the ability to carry a tyre up to 35-inches. Raslarr powder-coated the bars to match the Prado’s white paintwork.

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While looking at the rear bar it’s also worth mentioning the Razed Products spare-wheel tray, which creates a flat platform for carrying gear and offers additional storage options, including gas bottles and the Rotopax water tank seen on this vehicle.

Underbody protection again comes from Razed, with 5mm aluminium plates protecting the engine sump, radiator, front diff, driveshaft, transmission, transfer case and AdBlue tank. Diving further underneath we find a full Dobinsons MRR remote-reservoir suspension setup designed to keep the wheels and tyres in check and the body under control on rough tracks.

Up top there’s a Rhino-Rack Reconn platform developed specifically for the 250 Series. Razed also produces a range of handy attachments and tie-down points for securing gear to roof racks and you can see a few of them fitted here. The Maxtrax mounts are also from Razed and, cleverly, the mounting pins fold flat against the rack when you’re not carrying recovery boards.

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A fully integrated cargo and electrical system 

The height of Razed’s innovation is found in the back of the Prado.

This GXL started life as a seven-seat model, so the appropriate kit was used. After removing the plastic floor Toyota fits, along with the side storage bins and the metal cover over the 48-volt system hardware, a steel frame is fitted around the electronics. A carpet-covered 17mm timber floor is then installed, along with aluminium storage bins and infills to replace the original plastic units.

That’s simplifying the process somewhat, but the kit is designed so it can be installed by anyone reasonably handy with tools. The floor leaves space underneath for auxiliary 12-volt system hardware, and mounting the floor to the steel frame gives it the strength and stability needed to securely attach items such as fridges and drawers.

In this build there’s a Razed ‘Altitude’ drawer on the driver’s side. Underneath sits the 12-volt setup comprising a Lifetek Lithium LiFePO4 (310Ah) battery, Victron Orion XS 50A DC/DC charger, Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 charger, and an Invicta 2000W 12V–240V inverter. Also tucked neatly out of sight is an ARB air compressor mounted in the quarter panel on a Razed bracket, with an outlet at the rear of the cargo area.

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A showcase of Australian aftermarket capability 

The Australian aftermarket accessories industry is known globally for producing some of the best products for four-wheel drive vehicles, and Rob’s Prado is a prime example of that ingenuity and clever design. By teaming up with innovative local manufacturers and working with the Razed team, Rob has taken what is already regarded as one of the best 4×4 wagons on the market and improved it in almost every way. 

All accessories and products

• Raslarr ‘Dallas’ bullbar
• Carbon 12K winch
• Stedi Evo Quad driving lights
• Raslarr rock sliders
• Raslarr rear bar (swing-out spare wheel carrier, jerry can holder, sensor integration)
• Razed Products spare-wheel tray
• Rotopax water tank
• Gas bottle mounting provision (spare-wheel tray system)
• Razed 5mm aluminium underbody protection plates
• Dobinsons MRR remote-reservoir suspension system
• Rhino-Rack Reconn platform
• Razed roof rack attachments and tie-down points
• Razed Maxtrax mounts
• Maxtrax recovery boards
• Razed false floor / cargo fit-out system (7-seat Prado kit)
• Steel cargo frame system (integrated 48V hardware housing)
• Carpet-covered 17mm timber cargo floor
• Aluminium storage bins and infills
• Razed ‘Altitude’ drawer system
• Lifetek Lithium LiFePO4 310Ah battery
• Victron Orion XS 50A DC/DC charger
• Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 solar charger
• Invicta 2000W 12V–240V inverter
• ARB air compressor (quarter panel mounted)
• Rear cargo area air outlet system (Razed bracket)