Flat Tailgate vs Wheelback Prado 150 // Detailed Comparison and Why You Should CHOOSE CAREFULLY!
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- This video compares the similarities and differences between a 2021 flat tailgate Prado GXL vs a 2022 wheel back Prado GXL. Mark will discuss why the flat back suits him and David will discuss why the wheel back is a better option for him.
Have you seen my followup video after owning these vehicles for over 8 months? Here is part 2: ua-cam.com/video/0oFSAhQ170s/v-deo.html
Your Dad is absolutely intelligent. Very organized. I love how he carefully and patiently brought forward his ideas ✅
Thanks mate! I will pass on this feedback. He’s going to be stoked 😃
I'm with Dad 100%. I read somewhere that Toyota made the change to flat back due to the 150's increasing popularity as an urban driver, and to accommodate lady drivers who may find the wheel mounted door a bit heavy. However, it seems easy enough to operate and looks better too.. The extra tank is a huge feature to pass up...
I think it does give it more of an urban appeal. A bit better around town as it is shorter than the wheelback and the back door doesn’t need opening when loading in tight spots. Thanks for the comment and for subscribing 👍
The flat back had existed since the 120 though.
Hellow. Freind.
A Mourice Matinde
A nursing student at Egerton university in Kenya.
I needed please your help 🙏🙏
Exactly. Here in Europe the long wheelbase Prado only comes with the flat back meanwhile in Africa they only sell the wheel back. Land Cruisers should be tourers, not shopping cars.
Awww... nice having your Dad on screen....ensure you do more videos with him... it's rare in the industry
I will definitely get him in the videos more! He’s definitely a budding UA-cam star 💫
Both cares are great, however I think that I'd find extra tank more useful for my current driving situation. Excellent review! Thank you for explaining the difference between two types of Prado.
I’m glad it was helpful 👍 Thank you for taking your time to write a comment. It means a lot 🤙
G’day everyone! What do you think is the better option? Flat back or wheel back and tell us why. The comment section is about 50/50 right now. Thanks for watching legends!
I do prefer the flatback look but the deal breaker was spare wheel size cannot be increased from factory size, just no room in there. Also if we're thinking of getting a kaymar, they don't fit either.
I'm 0
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@@peterdsdoyle
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Flat back for looks, non flat back for easy access to spare wheel and extra fuel.. It always a personal reference.
Me. I like extra fuel for long range thats it.
Bro, your Dad’s Prado wins. I myself have the 150 2013, so the previous model lights and dashboard. But I’d prefer the extra tank and easy to change wheel.
Having extra fuel capacity is the number one reason I purchased the Prado, deal breaker for me. Plus storage of bin bags on the rear spare tyre etc
Great point! For some, fuel storage is the deciding factor. Thanks for commenting and subscribing 👍
Absolutely, and the Prado was the segment leader of the comfortable SUV/4WD with that massive tank I believe. Toyota's own 300 has only 110L, 76 and 79 dual cab have 130L, only 78 and 79 single cab have 180L. The wheelback Prado is amazing!
Nice looking cars both of them. My 22 year old VZJ95 is still going strong at 394,500 km, can't believe mine was once as new as your dad's one!
Those things rock! Great vehicles and 22 years from now, I’ll be saying the same about our Prado’s. Thank you for commenting and subscribing 👍
Thanks. A few good insights here. Im looking at the Prado as an upgrade from my old 100 series. Will check out your other Prado videos. 👍
Nice Family & the Best Trucks ever. You are really to be proud of your Dad!
Godspeed to both of you. Respect & Honor.
Thank you. Very kind of you. I love him very much 👍
Hi Mark. As per my previous comments posted here on your channel, I went for the 2022 VX Prado with the additional fuel tank which, recently receiving official word from the stealership, will FINALLY be delivered mid-May 22 (on order since Aug 21).
Straight up, my reason for particularly going for the extra fuel tank option is that I intend to tow either a camper trailer or a hybrid van in the future to explore this big beautiful country of ours with my young family - including outback Oz.
A few other general points (some of which had been mentioned in your video) that I’d like to share as follows:
a) extra fuel tank allows for bulk purchase of diesel when and where it happens to be cheaper;
b) you don’t need to drive around with a full tank ALL the time especially if remaining in areas with ready access to reliable fuel sources;
c) the weight on the tailgate is significantly more than the flat tailgate to the point where it tends to drop slightly from wear and tear over time in the much older Prado’s which Kaon have come up with a solution for;
d) you can get a Kaon bracket to relocate the reversing camera attachment to the number plate mount (so the wheel cover can be permanently removed) which also changes the view inside the car when reversing but still good enough;
e) I’m told (by Kaon) that you can fit a Kaon 30L stainless steel water tank under the vehicle where the spare wheel would normally sit but ONLY if you fit the factory Toyota towbar (e.g. won’t fit with a TAG towbar);
f) Kaon also make a bracket which fits to the hinge mount of the rear barn door to allow fitment of a UHF aerial (instead of the bullbar);
g) the only opening option of the big ‘barn door’ can be tricky in tight spaces e.g. when reversed into underground shopping centre carparks;
h) I reckon the wheel on the back looks ‘tougher’ especially with aftermarket wheels.
I think that’s about it ... the above info comes from doing some fairly solid research into tourer/camper builds for the past two years towards which your channel has given me some additional ideas. Luv your work!!! 🤙
All great points! I glad you have a date for your Prado too. Can’t wait to hear more about it when you get it 👍 That’s a good point about not needing to fill it up all the way. The flexibility is endless with the larger tank and is gives more options. We will definitely look into relocating the camera if the off centre view becomes a challenge. Thanks for comment as always 😊
The wheel back looks so much better and its one of the distinct features of the prado
Thanks for the comment! Interesting you should say that. It’s 50/50 at the moment with people liking each Prado. The wheel on the back is an iconic feature for sure. I didn’t think of that. Thanks for commenting and subscribing 👍
I love your Dad way of seeing things ❤very natural indeed , by the way i taught you would talk about the long term effect of having a back tire model cause compared to the 200 series with back tire the fact that it’s directly attached to the door doesn’t have any bad effect on the long term compared to your flat one , i hope you understand my concern 😂
Thank you my friend! No down sides to the wheel on the back yet. Everything is going well. I think they fixed this problem with the new Prado. The old ones used to sag 👍
Great video mate! I have the wheel back prado model. And I agree with all your Dad’s points. Although, flat back looks more sexy.
Thanks! Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. Probably more practical for most people having the wheel back model but I love the look of my flatback 👍
I like both, but the boys and I settled on the fact that having the spare wheel on the back makes a prado a prado. We love it especially the 1KD motor ones. We do see the appeal of the flatback but just love the classic spare on back
That’s awesome Tommy! The wheel on the back is iconic and I completely understand your point of view. Thank you for your comment and subscribing 👍
I agree. The spare wheel on the back makes it look more badass..at least in my book.
Thanks for the comparison - the Prado's a great tourer. Re: GVM - the extra weight you're talking about is assuming he's filled up the tank :) And if you need the extra capacity to carry a whole lot of other stuff, you're probably on a long/remote trip, in which case you still need to carry the extra fuel, in which case you have to carry the same weight in fuel, but in Jerry Cans :) Re: centre of gravity - if you have more fuel down low, that's going to offset the higher position of the wheel somewhat. Just my two cents! Personally, I'd still take the wheel back version for that built in extra fuel capacity which is great for touring.
All great points which we will cover again in a later video. I appreciate the comment James. The jerry cans is a good point. We will do some testing with the 2 Prado’s to see how balanced they. It will be interesting to see how they go!
Great video and great explanation of everything. I agree the flat back looks alot better. But having the extra fuel tank is worth the rear looking a bit uglier. Also havung the spare tyre up higher is better for water crossings. When spare tyres are underneath a car then can make them more likely to float.
Great video cheers nate.
Wheel back prado looks more masculine and aggressive.
Great presentation mate.
Thanks you! Thanks for commenting and subscribing 👍
What about the convenience of the larger fuel tank on the wheel back? It's fantastic having a decent/fairly long fuel range (even in the suburbs) and fuelling up less often. You even have the option of driving past fuel stations if fuel seems overly expensive, or filling up if it seems reasonable.
GVM should be compared like for like, with the same fuel load (because for long trips you'd carry extra fuel in jerry cans as you mentioned).
All good points Craig. The extra fuel tank does give extra options and that extra kms to play with. I guess it depends if you need the extra fuel all the time. Carrying around an extra 50kgs all the time could be seen as a bad thing in terms of weight, stopping distance, GVM etc. that’s why this argument is so interesting. What seems like a straight forward decision (wheel back) becomes more complicated if you consider more technical aspects. As always, I appreciate the comments and thanks for the subscribe Craig 👍
In UAE we get 4L V6 and 2.4L V4 Petrol only.
We have both with spare at rear and at bottom.
After watching many videos from Australia, I realise our SUVs are quite similar.
We have Prado 150
LC 200
LC 300
Patrol Y61
Patrol Y62
And these all sell like hot cakes here.
Very true! I often look for parts in other countries like America because they have more product development than us here. That’s a good selection of SUV’s. Are they popular there for a particular reason? Thanks for commenting and subscribing 😊
@@NorthOz yeah very popular coz of sand dune bashing, desert driving, rocky mountains, long distance travel, camping and so much.
Good points. Sounds like Australia really haha 😂
4 Cylinders don't have a V Engine configuration but rather a straight type
@@kanevivalakane3699 are all the Prados in UAE gas engines?
You will find the rear camera on the tyre will not quite allow you to see the tow ball when hitching up the caravan. The tyre cover blocks the view. Thanks for posting. It was something I considered for our new Prado. But the extra fuel tank won out
Thank you for the feedback! We will do a towing test with both cars as the flatback will be getting a tow bar too. Thank you for the comment and feedback. Have you already got yours?
@@NorthOz yes our new Prado arrived months earlier than expected 👍
Yes, it is a pity. I stick my Go Pro in the back when hitching and watch it on my iPhone screen.
I picked myself up a 2015 Kakadu Prado with the rear mount. I do a lot of highway driving, about 45-50,000km a year. Currently running a largish tyre 285/70/R17, Maxxis Razr At811. The reason for the rear mount was simply because I plan on stepping up to a 305 or 315 and didn't want that hung up on trails offroad. Keep a full sized spare on the rear with no door sag yet. Gets used offroad heaps as well as plenty of onroad use. Next suspension upgrade with include a superior engineering 3 inch lift with gvm upgrade.
A very nice setup. Is that tyre setup on stock rims still? That’s a lot of Km’s a year! But you have the right car for it. I will look into that suspension setup. That extra height would be nice. Thanks for subscribing and commenting 👍
Nah stock rims are an 18 inch on the Kakadu. Ended up with the Method 703's in a 0 offset. They're a 17x8.5. The 285 gives a little poke outside the factory guards which is great fun in the mud. 😂
Haha you are a brave man going with 0 offsets. I would love to see the side of your Prado after fun in the mud 😂
Well our 2015 prado has only been driven like 63000km in 7 years
Hi, you don't have any rubbing problems with those tires size? Or have you done any BMC (body mount chop) work? I have a 2016 VX Prado with 265/70/17 KO2s with SCS -10 mm offset rims and I have a little rubbing when cornering, even with a 2” OME suspension and UCAs.
Flat back looks better for sure, but......practically rear mounted is more convenient, easier to remove & you can carry bags on there while off roading. undermounts are a pain if you get a flat in the mud, dont wana be crawling around in the mud when you are miles from anywhere messing about putting a tool kit together that you probably left at home. Being 50 odd years old, experience counts here for sure , thanks for the video , love your dads input too , hi from great britain
Thanks for your thoughts mate! Absolutely spot on and our thoughts exactly 👍
I'm on your dad's side. I love the way he explains....I love Prado with wheelback which makes it a proper SUV.....
Thanks mate! I will pass on the feedback to him 👍 It definitely is an iconic look. Thanks for subscribing and commenting 😃
The flatback are very rare to see on Aussie roads so I had to look twice first time I saw one to check it was actually a prado. I wouldn't want to be without the extra fuel capacity myself but I can see the appeal of the rear door setup on the naked model. I have a 90 series so there was no choice, but I've always thought the wheel underneath is a soccer mums shopping trolley vs a real tourer.
Definitely not many of them around which is something I like about it as it is different. Fair point about the mums car haha. Thanks for the comment and subscribing 👍
@@NorthOz fair enough mate 👍 end of the day it's all about what suits you and what you like and want out of it. Nice video and well explained 👌 they are designed for the market who don't need extra fuel capacity and easier access to the back hence it would appeal to a lot of families in general and look a lot more like a regular SUV
The only thing you might face is the fuel carrying issue going long distance but if you plan well it might not be an issue. Worst case scenario you will just need to get a roof rack and carry Jerry's
Absolutely. I have plans for a rear bar with dual jerry holder to fix that problem and give flexibility for water and fuel. It might ruin the back look but it might look cool haha
@@NorthOz rear bar bar adds a lot of weight but by the sound of it you're all over the weight factor 👍 I had no idea about how much weight is a factor in a car and hadn't even heard of GVM before I built my drawers and I'm struggling with it a bit now and in the process of tweaking it a bit but it's a big challenge if you don't factor it in as a high priority 🤟😜
Hi mate love the video comparison. We are looking at a new prado and are torn between the flat back or tyre rear. We are leaning towards a flat back due to the cleaner look and we won’t be towing a caravan.
Is there an aftermarket option to get a bigger fuel tank on the flat back? I.e 100L?
It appears it’s 2 to 1 for the normal back. So you think this would affect resale ?
Thanks again
G’day! How exciting 😁 They are terrific cars. When you say resale, are you concerned about what you’ll get on trade or privately? Privately, you’ll get what people are willing to pay and are wanting to buy. Trade in wise, you’ll get the same for a flat back as you would for a wheelback as long as you have a trustworthy dealer. Always check with them if you aren’t sure. For me and my dealer, I’m not worried about resale. No aftermarket tanks available as far as my knowledge goes, I rung around and asked. If you want extra fuel capacity, get a rear bar and carry dual jerry cans. It’ll do the same thing. A good policy, buy the car you want not the car someone else wants to buy in the future. Of course, if you are using it for a year or 2, you can’t go wrong with the wheelback. I love my flat back and it looks like a Landcruiser should 👍 Thanks for commenting and subscribing. I have heaps of Prado videos that will help you out on your journey
Hi there, great content. Thank you. Does Toyota offer Prado without air suspension? I’m not fan, because I don’t have faith in air suspension to last long if I wanna keep it for many years to come.
Correct. There is no air suspension in the Prado’s. Just spring and shock design. Thank you for watching 👍
excellent review. I never knew about the extra fuel tank feature. I used to think the wheel back has more center of gravity than the flat back.
I’m glad I was able to help you out 🤙
You can always replace the rear door tyre with a frame mounted rear bar dual tyre carrier, extra fuel is more important.
Love you 2. Very great review. Love the tire on the back. Tjats what drew me to the Prada series...to me its not a Prada without the tireback
Thank you for the kind words. The tire back is absolutely iconic
@@NorthOz yessss Indeed
I also was leaning towards flat back, because it looked like a Land Cruiser… but didn’t know about the extra fuel tank. That makes me want to change my mind.
The fuel tank is a handy option if you are doing a lot of remote travelling. Otherwise. Take some jerry cans with your flatback and it will do the same thing 👍
I prefer the wheel back. The larger fuel tank is useful for a long trip without the caravan and very useful when towing the van as fuel consumption nearly doubles.
The offset rear view camera gives you a parallax error when reversing up to the towbars.
Hi William. That’s a good point about the fuel. Can you elaborate a bit please on the parallax error? Thanks for commenting and subscribing 👍
@@NorthOz As you line up the grid on the reversing camera to get onto the towball the closer you get you find yourself off line and have to correct. I use a Mc hitch so I can see where I need to be to couple up.
That sounds good. I will look into that!
Hey mate, can I ask you a more personal question, Im 26, trying to buy my first Prado but they ain’t cheap, did your dad buy yours for you? If so you’re really fortunate!
Good goal mate 👍 I loved my prado. To answer your question, I would’ve loved to have dad buy this for me and I’m sure he would have loved to have bought me a prado but unfortunately not. I have been working 2 jobs for 17 years and only in the last 4 years have I actually been buying newer cars. I drove a 2005 Mitsubishi lancer from 2010-2020. I’m making a video about how I am able to buy the vehicles I have and my house so keep an eye out for that as I’ll have much more detail in there
@@NorthOz Nice dude, I've done the same. subbed and looking forward to it!
Good comparison. I agree with most of advantages that your dad mentioned and myself have one like his but I do wonder whether he has tried to dismount and mount the spare tyre? I have tried it once and boy it’s so hard to lift it up to the door as it’s very heavy to the point that I’m dreading having a flat tyre. I know that with the flat back mounting and dismounting involves lots of bending but still I feel it needs much less body strength. Anyway I hope neither of you get a flat tyre but perhaps this can be a topic for a video to continue the rivalry? 😀
Hi Shayan. I agree with what you think. We have discussed this in more recent videos and the under mounted tire (like the 200 series) is definitely a good thing. Maybe a dedicated video will address this 👍
@@NorthOz 👍🏻👍🏻
Congratulations! How long do you have to wait for the delivery?
I only had to wait 3 weeks 👍
Loved the insights 🔥 thought of doing same review here in Fiji 🇫🇯.
You should! I would watch it. Thanks for watching 👍
I pray one day God bless me with this Prado with the wheel on the back. Always ma dream car
Keep working hard and you’ll get there! What do you do for work?
My pet hate with wheel back Prados is the visible indent on the door when you get a dual wheel carrier. I have no need for such a hard core tourer but if I did I'd get the flat back and spec an after market fuel tank and dual wheel carrier
That would be the ideal setup. Flatback with additional fuel tank. I agree 👍
Interesting views; heard some things that I did not thin about. I had always wanted the wheelback Prado but got the 2022 Flatback instead. I feel that once I am driving my dream car (a Prado), it doesn't matter which. I absolutely love my Prado!
They are such a great and congrats on your purchase! We love ours and enjoy sharing this with you 😊
Hey mate do you know what size tyre you could fit underneath the flat back model? Also I think your dad mentioned being able to put a rubbish bag on the spare tyre, I’m pretty sure that would cover the camera 🤷🏼♂️
That’s a great question. These vehicles can’t fit a very big tyre on them anyway so you should be safe when upgrading. If you aren’t sure, ask your tire shop to put a tire on a rim and fit it underneath before going any further 👍 Hope this helps 😊
Hey Mate, did you end up finding out about the tire size? I was thinking the same thing, ill want to upgrade the tyres when i get one
I go for the flat back, wanna be unique and try something new also larger on reversing.
That’s the spirit. I felt the same way 👍
Waiting for me my flat and it's being 12 months. I love the flat tail. 87L is good enough. It looks awsome without tye wheel at the back. Both are great cars
Congrats mate! I love the look of the flat back and there aren’t many around either
One thing you did not mention ..... is there a noticeable difference in opening the back door with and without the tyre on it? In other words, does the extra weight with the tyre on make the door harder to open and close?
Hey mate. Dad did mention at 3:20 how easy it is to move the door. We didn’t really talk about it as a comparison as they are almost the same to move. I have a suspicion that Toyota puts a bigger strut in the wheel back to compensate. Good pickup and someone probably had a similar question 👍
I love both explanations! Thumb up to both of you. 👍👍 I will subscribe to your channel for more insights🤝
Now!
My worry is sometimes that the back tire may loosen the door hinges with time!! 🙆🙆 Unless this doubt is cleared I will go with the flat back.
Again the question of extra large fuel tank for the back tire Prado is not an issue for me because, now days there are fuel feeling stations everywhere.😋
Thank you! If the hinges do wiggle free, there are companies that make shims to remove that play in the hinge. I wouldn’t worry about that too much. Get the one you want or like the look of 😊
@@NorthOz Thank you! I pray to God that some years to come I own one. Oh God help me🙏🙏🙏
well the reverse camera is mounted on the rear wheel mount not on the spare wheel cover so it will not be affected in case the cover fall out
Ah! That would make sense. We haven’t popped it off so we wouldn’t know 👍
Hi, would my question be whether these two different doors can be swapped? Are they compatible with each other? I have a 2021 TLC 150. Unfortunately, the Flat tailgate. I'd like to replace it with a wheelback. If I get such a door can I easily replace it? Thank you in advance for your answers! András from Europe!
That’s a great question. I just had a chat with someone about converting from a wheelback to a flat back. Your conversion might be simpler if you can find a wheelback crashed prado. You should be able to swap it out in theory. The only thing I worry about is the fuel measuring correctly with adding a sub tank and if the the electrics will still work such as the auto locking rear door. Depends if the connectors are the same. Very interesting thought you have and worth looking it so you don’t have buy another car just for the sake of the door. May I ask why you are wanting to convert?
@@NorthOz Thank you!!!!
The cars are good but the better thing I see here is that a father and a son are doing something together.
Thanks mate. We have been filming a few more videos together recently. We enjoy making these together 👍
Hi mark, super interesting video, haven’t seen a comparison like this before so well done. Just so you’re aware, the reversing camera is not attached to the spare wheel cover, it’s attached to the mount. We recently upgraded our tyres and wheels and with increased tyre size the wheel cover no longer fit. We were worried about losing the camera but found it was no issue. Hubby also adjusted the camera angle to get a better view when hitching up the boat or camper 👍
Thanks Melanie! Very kind of you. That would explain why KAON sell relocation mounts. We will definitely be moving it in the future for towing. That’s good to know if can be done 👍 Thank you for commenting and subscribing 😊
The wheel back looks much better and more powerful
Thanks for the feedback! Very interesting. Thanks for subscribing and commenting 😊
Love the tailgate option. Thanks, very informative!
Me too! Thank you for the nice comment 👍
Well guys I had a Nissan safari with the spare wheel on the back and what a pain it was 1 it blocks your rear view
2 it makes the door really heavy and hard to open . Luckily the Nissan had a split door systems. But it’s to heavy and your Toyota whole door systems would be really heavier. 3 and backing was a real pain and the fibre glass cover was a pain to deal with also and lifting the spare off and back on is really heavy as well . But thanks for your presentation and views 👍👍🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
Very true. Thanks for your input. I have similar observations of the spare wheel on the back. Given the option, I’d still go with the flat back as the wheel on the back affects the hinge system over time and rough roads
Getting my VXL on 19th this month. Can you let me know which roof rack can be fixed to carry some luggage -considering the sunroof that comes with vxl?
I don’t believe any of the roof racks that I looked at make a rack specific to the trim (I.e GXL, VX). The roof rack shouldn’t interfere with the sunroof but your roof rack will stop light coming in if you want light to come in through the sunroof. Congrats on getting your Prado! You’ll love it 👍
What is the maximum spare wheel size under GXL 150 with flat tailgate package? Can we put a bigger tyre than the standard?
That’s a great question. I never increased the size of my wheel so I wouldn’t know. I will do some research and let you know 👍
Which one would be better to drive through the flowing water like river crossings?
They are identical. The only difference is the back of them 👍
I wonder if you and your dad could both look at your reverse camera at night. I had a Prado like your dad with rear wheel, now i have yours. The reverse lights reflect into the camera im assuming its because it is more recessed into the body than the one that goes on the rear wheel cover. Would love your feedback and if you think its an issue.
Hmmm I haven’t noticed it Brett. I find my flat back is slightly clearer than the wheel back camera at night but I am happy to have a look at them side by side and let you know for sure
@@NorthOz yeh its what you see on the screen inside on the head unit, shows some of the rear of the car and when lit by reverse lights you can barely see 60% i reckon. thanks i appreciate your feedback.
I have a December built 21 flat roof but they call it a 22 I love my gxl same colour and I love the flat tailgate as I can still get in the boot through the back window
Very handy in tight spots like grocery stores too! Thanks for commenting and subscribing. Have you done much to yours?
Wow I like presentation and reasons for both
Thank you mate. Much appreciated 👍
Very nice video. Greetings from Spain for both.
Thank you for watching 👍
Hello sir, this is Jack who was your P.E student
LEG DAY! I hope you are well. We miss you buddy
Good video. Mine is flat because most are where I am.
Oh really? Where do you live? Would you prefer the wheel back do you think? Thanks for the comment and for subscribing
@@NorthOz currently in Eastern Europe mate. I would take the back wheel for the larger fuel tank. But looks wise I prefer the flat back.
My thoughts exactly. Wow! That’s a long way away. It’s cool that you are so far away and enjoying the content ✌️
Flat back disadvantage is you don't know you've lost your spare until you need it, reduced fuel capacity / range, I wouldn't be recommending filling a few cans of spare fuel and travelling with them in the back!
Also not so easy to change wheels in the dark and wet weather or off road. Weight distribution is a very weak advantage when off roading as uneven surfaces often determine weight distribution. The side walls of the under-slung spare wheel's tyre are exposed to sharp snags and rocks etc when off-roading.
I prefer the tried and tested wheelback option thanks. The flat tailgate is good for shopping and picking up the kids - looks nice around town.
Thank you for sharing 👍 I’d go a flatback model again. They look too good
I like the only only with spare wheel at rear..I have the same 2013 V6 petrol beige color.
Makes it more masculine
They do look great with the wheel on! Especially with the cover off and an AT tyre. Thanks for commenting and subscribing. Enjoy your v6 beast 👍
@@NorthOz by the way did you get the 2" lift?
I am going for Dobinsons IMS 2" this week.
Not yet. I’m hoping to get them shortly. The dobinsons seem to be the way to go. Let me know how they are. I feel like a small lift will do me a world of good
With or without all the explanations, for me, Wheelback all the way. It looks more Masculine than the flat back.
Hmmm. At the moment it’s 50/50. Some like the flatback and some like the wheel backs 🤔
Great comparisson but you didn't mention how the underslung spare on the flat back gets you stuck in sand. I have a 200 and these owners know to put the spare inside when soft sand driving. The 200 spare also dips down at the front to act like sand brake. Even if the Prado spare is not too low, you cannot release it when bogged as sometimes you need it to help recovery. Otherwise my pick is the square-back
Interesting. You’d have to be pretty bogged to get the spare to be hung up haha. I didn’t have these issues luckily when I got bogged. I could see how it could happen if you get bogged down to your diffs
I’ve staked spare tyres underneath a 100 series
Here in Japan, we only have the flat tailgate. I would prefer the wheel on the back and a larger fuel tank, but not possible to choose, so I have a 2022 with the flat tailgate.
I like the look of the flat tailgate but the wheelback is a lot more practical for long distance trips like you said 👍
I prefer the wheel back version instead of the Flat back. You can put the bigger tires that way and also can put an Auxiliary tank Underneath the trunk area. Love the LC prado!
Thanks for commenting mate! When you say bigger tyres, is that while driving or for storage? I thought they could fit the same in their storage. Correct me if I’m wrong 😊
I prefer the look of the flatback and probably could survive without the tank, but would resale on flatback be poorer given so many are bought second-hand for touring?
Not sure. I’m seeing more and more of these around now. To be honest, I would trade it in at my local Toyota dealership and they give me the same for it compared to the wheelback
The big + of no wheel in the back is that you can open the back glass without having to open the door
Very true. Just like the fj cruiser
another good one. i love the flatpack but i love having 150 litres and wheel at the back. if the prado had a 200 series drop tail i would in a heart beat. in 2013 there was only on variant in australia. take the plastic off under your dads reverse camera for more viewing area for the camera
I will try that plastic tip 👍 The drop down tail gate would be the way to go for sure
Aren’t flat tailgate prados v4 and wheel back ones are v6?
I believe in some countries they are but here we have only 1 engine option which is the 4 cylinder direct injected turbo diesel (2.8L) regardless of door or model configuration 😊
Wow😊Wonderful representation to us
dad and sun doing grate job
Thanks mate!
Land Cruiser is a great ride. I drive a 1996 model with a back wheel. No regrets so far.
They are great vehicles in any model year. Very underrated. Thanks for commenting and subscribing 😊
What's the fuel economy in normal driving ( not towing)?
Hi mate. It depends. Check my on road and off-road review video. Combined on and off-road is around 9L/100km
I don't know but for some reason I like the spare wheel on the back. Makes the car look so badass and huge
True. It does make it the longest truck in the Toyota lineup with the wheel on the back
I’d go the flat, with the extra tank and a dual wheel carrier on the back.
That would be ideal! Thanks for the comment and for subscribing 👍
Wish I could get my hands on a rear door with wheel mount for my Lexus GX 460.
I have thought for a long time how to get the flatback on the wheelback Prado. That way, extra fuel and spare tyre up high. But I can understand why you want to do it the other way
One important thing is the weight in the back side of the vehicle. It’s not the same have the weight in the rear middle area than the weight under the car . The stability is better with flat panel .
Absolutely. That rear tire placement makes a big difference off-road. Thanks for the comment and for subscribing 👍
22l per 100km towing? Is that accurate? Seems very high. Some Discovery’s getting aroun 13/100 towing over 3T.
New videos coming out over the next 2 months with towing performance reviews. Subscribe if you want to find out 👍
I like the masculine look of the wheelback prado
That’s a common view. It does look good!
I love my 2011 Kakadu, but I HATE the tyre on the back door. Always have. Hated it on my 90 series, my 120 and now my 150. They’re heavy, always rattle, impractical, and just plain ugly, but I can’t justify buying a whole new car just for the flat rear door, so I wonder how hard it would be to convert mine? I can’t see the door being an issue
as I assume it’s the same hinge and latch setup, but the spare tyre is an issue. I wonder if it’s possible to pull the rear fuel tank out and retrofit the tire under there. Any ideas?
I for sure wouldn’t get a new car just for this but a modification could work. If you could find a wrecked Prado I think you could make it work. The fuel tanks could be tricky with upsetting sensors but I’m sure there is a way to flash the ecu to make it match the flatback. The imprint for the tire underneath should be there and all you would need is hardware I would say. Very interesting idea Phil!
Thx for replying. Could be a video topic. “Has anyone tried fitting a flat back to their 150?” 😅
Haha that’s definitely eye catching!
Nice cars, you can always not fill to top the fuel tanks if you need to carry more weight.
An excellent point Rodrigo! Thank you for the comment and for subscribing 👍
I like the Dad's Prado for the extra petrol tank.
Hey son take care of your nice Dad.
Big Hi from Algeria
That extra tank is very handy. I will look after him 👍 Thanks for the comment and for subscribing 😊
Is it possible to swap the doors?
Good question. I have had this one before. It would be very difficult to as it would require a new key fob, probably an ecu retune so it knows there is a new folding window section and there is the issue of not having a place for the spare tire because the sub tank occupies the space where the tire goes on the flatback. I hope this helps. Most likely could do it but I see there could be some issues
@@NorthOz Yeah makes sense. Thanks man. I’m getting into a Prado soon and you’re vids are big inspiration! Keep it up 🤙
Thanks mate 👍 That means a lot to me 😁
Getting a wheel on rear is good for me any time.You get extra fuel for safaris
Great point. Very helpful for those situations! Thanks for commenting and subscribing 👍
I just checked which is upsetting no tyre pressure monitor have to go aftermarket
Are you saying you need to get a tire pressure monitor as an aftermarket option? I don’t believe Toyota offer one from the factory 😊
@@NorthOz yes correct aftermarket
I did road test Isuzu mux factory fitted I actually liked it
Oh really? Did you try the fortuner as well? Similar category of vehicle. I would compare the MUX with the Prado as they are very different. You pay a bit extra for the Prado and you get more features in the MUX. But you will find the Prado is exceptional off-road and will stand the rest of time. Proven by the fact this current model has been around for over a decade (time for a change Toyota haha!). MUX are a great car but make sure you consider everything 👍
@@NorthOz definitely going with Prado road tested twice now love it
Door trims still look cheap on the mux
Not happy two dealerships only offers 30 min test drive either
That’s ridiculous regarding the test drive times. You won’t be disappointed with your choice
A flat back prado where the door doesn’t open upwards is the most ridiculous thing. Imagine losing aux fuel tank to make the door light but it doesn’t open upwards with +/-auto setting. It is very handy if you are towing say a small trailer or a fold down bike rack. You can still open the door without taking bikes or the trailer off.
Absolutely. 200 series has it figured out 👍
The wheel back forces you to stay further away from the tow bar so less chances of sheen injuries
Hey! I never thought of it like that before 🤔 I’ll add it to the list. Thanks for watching and subscribing. We will be doing a follow up video on this for sure!
you guys are awesome enjoy
Thanks legend!
love my 2022 flattailgate kakadu...looks different to the rest..definitely a headturner.. pumps are everywhere U can never run out of fuel, anyone going extreme remote would definitely tow and in that case carrying a few jerry cans is a non issue.
Great points. I haven’t seen many flat back Kakadu’s. That’s a great choice! Congrats on your purchase. Anyone hauling camper trailers would pack jerry cans like you said 👍 Thanks for comment and subscribing 😃
Here in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 prados are mostly imported from Japan Domestic market. And around 75% of vehicles have spare tyre on Tailgate!!
That’s interesting! I had no idea. Thanks for sharing that with us. It’s actually similar here with most Prado’s having the wheel back model 👍
Love my flat back Prado. Wheel cover no good if you go bigger rubber/wheels. Flat back looks better/cleaner. Also easier to clean. Back window access is great (just like my previous car FJ Cruiser). 80L is fine for 95% of the driving most people do in a year. Finally, I’ve yet to see a rear door with a wheel mounted on it that has not sagged on it’s hinges. They all eventually sag after 5-10 yrs. I hate that aspect.
The rear door sag is a great point. Although shims can be put in, it is another thing to do. I agree with the cleaner looks but the comment section so far has been 50/50. Thanks for the comment and subscribing. I would love to do an FJ build in the future
Also, what size wheel and tires are you running? Thanks again. Mark.
@@NorthOz Only 2 months old, so still stock. My other reason for choice was the GVM aspect. Gives a little more leeway with weight. Accessories add up.
They sure do!
Had my Prado new since January 2013. Love my Prado and my rear door has not sagged on it hinges!
Nice Video, greetings from Germany 🤗🤪
Hi Ronald! Thanks for the comment and subscribing. See you next video 👍
I want that Prado
I think wheelback prados and landcrusiers look cool
They do look cool. Especially with no wheel cover
I had a 2013 150 Prado with the spare mounted on the tail gate. it was a pain in the back side. The camera is offset and gives an error when hooking the caravan. The rear view is obstructed by the wheel. I got a flat on a motor way. With my Wife we had huge trouble getting the tyre off and back on the car. The tail gate is like opening a garage door , far to heavy. Why do you need to carry 150 litres of fuel in Aust today, diesel is available in every town and on the highway. I sold the car and recently purchased a 2022 Prado with the flat tailgate. All the above mentioned faults are now rectified. We carry 87 litres of fuel still more than Isuzu and other SUV,s.
You make a lot of great points and people don’t quite get that 87L on this car will get them over 1000kms on the highway. Worst case scenario bring some jerry cans. There are more and more people going with the flat tailgates. I see more of them every day!
Has anyone thought about ordering the flat back and fitting the extra fuel tank. Maybe moving spare tire somewhere else.
Yes I have looked into swapping the under wheel for a fuel tank and mounting the wheel to the back through a rear bar. Unfortunately, no company makes a sub tank for the flat back prado
I definitely prefer the aesthetics of the flat gate.
That’s interesting. I will do a poll to see what everyone thinks. A lot of people don’t order the flatback for fuel carrying reasons so many people don’t consider it. Thanks for the comment and subscribing. What do you drive out of interest?
@@NorthOz I can understand the practicalities of the fuel capacity. It’s definitely a consideration but if I don’t like the look of my vehicle then I don’t want it. I don’t drive a Prado but am strongly considering buying one. I drive a Santa Fe, quite a different vehicle of course but having hired Prados over in New Zealand on holidays and going off road over there I fell in love with their abilities. I also think they’re a nice looking vehicle and unfortunately in my opinion you can’t say that about many vehicles today.
Completely agree. A lot of people try to compare Prado’s with other companies that are cheaper but I would like to see their cars do what I do stock. They are a great vehicle and I highly recommend one living with it day to day. I enjoy the look of my car and take photos of it everywhere. It often annoys those in my convoy haha
But can you fit 3 car seats? These are the burning questions 😂
I feel like it's going to be a tight squeeze
Haha I don’t have babies yet so I’ll let you know when that day comes 😂 It is a massive interior though. If you can’t fit 3 in here, you won’t fit them anywhere 🤷♂️ Thanks for commenting and subscribing
Wheel all day. So good for a bag on the back
I am very jealous of those that can do that. Looks tough too. Thanks for the comment and for subscribing 👍
@@NorthOz ye I’ve got a 95 series Prado and have a crash pad on the back. I rate it a lot, but the new prados do look very slick.
They sure do. I like the boxy look of the older Prado’s too. Classic Toyota 👌