Running cables from roof to engine bay, and cabin (2024 LC76 Manual)

[Aurelian]

Hi all,

I currently have a Prado 150, but have just purchased a 2024 LC76 (manual, if it matters).

I don't have the new truck yet so haven't been able to do an eyes-on investigation for ideas, but I see immediately there are differences in potential options for getting cables from the roof into the cabin or engine bay.

e.g., between the Prado bonnet and wind screen there is a 3" wide plastic strip the length of the bonnet that can easily be drilled and cables run through that. On the 70 series as best I can see from photos the bonnet and body are body steel panels with just the 2-3mm clearance gape between them. No room to clearly run a cable through it without it getting impacted/bed/rubbing paint etc.

As it's a brand new car, I reeeeally don't want to be drilling holes anywhere in the body work to facilitate cables.

1) Looking to run a cable from the roof solar panel into the engine bay.

2) And from the UHF antenna on the roof to the cabin. (via the engine bay, or other route is fine)

3) Also after how one would run a cable from the roof via the rear, into the cabin.

Any help and info much appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Shayne]

New car I'd be thinking more about the rear door/tailgate a cable by the hinge won't stop it shutting .

 

[Aurelian]

Hey Shayne,

By "by the hinge" on the rear, do you meant there's a grommet going into the cabin at the hinge, or you mean just shut it in the door seal?

 

[Gr8Yota]

Are you planning on fitting a snorkel? If so then that makes a neat route down the A pillar. I ran all light cables etc this route on my 70. You can run them inside the snorkel but I just tucked them in to the gap between snorkel and pillar then though the gap between scuttle and wing. On my 78 (and my FJ) I drilled a hole in the roof and used a gland to seal

 

[Aurelian]

I'll be replacing the factory snorkel with a one piece unit in due course, yep. A Safari unit, I expect.

Running a few things down that could be an option for that side of the vehicle.

You mention the scuttle... This was my other thought. For the foreseeable future drilling holes in the roof or body work is just going to be a hard 'no'.

But I could live with doing it to the scuttle panel as, unless I'm mistaken, this is easily replaces with a factory one if I wanted/needed to restore it to as new.

Drill a hole here and line with a grommet to protect the corregated tubing and cable going through.

That said, I don't exactly know where beneath the scuttle leads to. I'm hoping it's relatively open below and I can just run the cables down then forward into the engine bay to come out at the battery there.

Is that the case? Or does the scuttle lead to a closed space?

Cheers.

 

[Shayne]

I reckon we often make things more difficult for ourselves with reluctance to cause damage . Drill a hole on the roof and one day maybe 10 years from now when you decide to sell the truck you will likely let the solar set up go with it . If not just stick one of those shark fin antenna things over the hole .

 

[shamal]

Hi all,

I currently have a Prado 150, but have just purchased a 2024 LC76 (manual, if it matters).

I don't have the new truck yet so haven't been able to do an eyes-on investigation for ideas, but I see immediately there are differences in potential options for getting cables from the roof into the cabin or engine bay.

e.g., between the Prado bonnet and wind screen there is a 3" wide plastic strip the length of the bonnet that can easily be drilled and cables run through that. On the 70 series as best I can see from photos the bonnet and body are body steel panels with just the 2-3mm clearance gape between them. No room to clearly run a cable through it without it getting impacted/bed/rubbing paint etc.

As it's a brand new car, I reeeeally don't want to be drilling holes anywhere in the body work to facilitate cables.

1) Looking to run a cable from the roof solar panel into the engine bay.

2) And from the UHF antenna on the roof to the cabin. (via the engine bay, or other route is fine)

3) Also after how one would run a cable from the roof via the rear, into the cabin.

Any help and info much appreciated.

Cheers.

I'd just use a scan strut gland and then go down the a-pillar to the firewall grommet.