The Isuzu D-MAX has long been a favourite with four-wheel drive tourers and those who tow vans and the like thanks to its rugged simplicity and great reputation for reliability. 

For my money, the D-MAX LS-M crew cab ute is the pick of the range for those tasks as it is mechanically identical to the higher-grade models but is more affordable and fitted with off-road friendly 17-inch wheels instead of 18s. You should be able to pick up a new D-MAX LS-M crew cab for around $61K drive away, depending on your location and colour preference.

Notably, the LS-M isn’t fitted with factory side steps that you would likely bin anyway in favour of aftermarket steel ones, and it isn’t fitted with a factory tow hitch, which you would need to get rid of if you fitted an aftermarket rear-step tow bar, which offers the added bonus of protecting the rear bodywork when dropping off rock shelves or exiting steep gullies.

The D-MAX LS-M is powered by a proven 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that makes a claimed 140kW and 450Nm, and while no match for the class leaders, it still offers decent performance and is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission.

A part-time 4×4 system with high and low ratios and a rear diff lock is complemented by an effective traction control system, which provides decent off-road capability, and the D-MAX LS-M offers the class standard 3500kg maximum braked towing capacity.

It might be one of the lower grade D-MAX models but even in LS-M spec it is loaded with standard convenience and safety equipment including emergency brake assist, lane keeping assist, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, eight air bags, blind spot monitor, emergency brake assist, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, hill descent control and more. 

It gets a smaller 4.2-inch (instead of seven-inch) multi instrument display than higher grades and a smaller eight-inch (instead of nine-inch) touchscreen, as well as single-zone manual air conditioning instead of dual-zone climate control.

Thanks to its 17-inch wheels, you can easily (and economically) go up from the standard 255/65R17 tyres to a set of LT285/70R17 all-terrains or mud-terrains at around $400 to $500 a pop. You can also fit an aftermarket suspension kit tailored to the accessories you will fit to your D-MAX and the load you expect it to carry. If you’re intending on 4×4 touring, or even towing a van around the country, those accessories should include a bull bar ($1500-$3000), under vehicle protection ($300-$600), side rails and steps ($500-$2500) and the aforementioned rear step tow bar ($1000-$2000).

A quality 9000lb to 12,000lb winch ($1200-$3000) will help get you out of any strife when driving off-road, while some decent LED driving lights ($700) will hopefully give you enough warning that you won’t have to test the strength of your new bull bar.

How you kit out the tub of your D-MAX will depend on what you need to use it for. If you still want the convenience of an open tub for carrying stuff to the tip on the weekends then a lockable roller shutter ($1300-$2000) or a hard lid ($1500-$3500) is a good idea, as you’ll have a secure and weatherproof load space when you need it. Bear in mind that you might need to fit a dust-seal kit around the tailgate ($70-$100). If you don’t need that ute versatility, a fibreglass canopy ($3000-$5000) or an aluminium or steel tub topper ($2000-$3000) is a good option that will provide a large and secure storage space.

Although the D-MAX LS-M has a decent payload capacity of 1070kg, a towing capacity of 3500kg and a GCM of 6000kg, those who want to tow very large caravans or other big trailers while carrying weight in the vehicle might want to consider a GVM/GCM upgrade, which is best fitted prior to the vehicle’s initial registration. This will set you back around $6K installed, but really is a good investment for those with heavy hauling in mind.

Other than that, you will need the usual 4×4 touring accessories such as a decent snorkel ($600-$1000), a dual battery system and lithium battery ($1500+) and perhaps a roof platform ($1500-$2000) for extra gear and awning fitment.

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