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How ASG 4x4 and Touring Solutions Australia convert LandCruisers into tour-ready rigs

After converting more than 1000 LandCruiser wagons into touring-ready utes, ASG4x4 and Touring Solutions Australia are back under original ownership – and sharper than ever

03 Oct 2025 11:00 AM

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Australian travellers take to the road in everything from midsize utes to LandCruiser and Patrol wagons, and more recently full-size American pick-ups.

Yet despite the variety, there’s still no one-size-fits-all solution. Many of us are looking for something bespoke – a rig built to suit our individual needs and carry the gear we can’t leave behind.

For many travellers, mainstream 4×4 utes feel too agricultural, while LandCruiser and Patrol wagons lack the load space and flexibility of a pick-up. Full-size US pick-ups have become a popular alternative, but despite their bulk, limited payload capacity often restricts their usefulness.

ASG 4×4 has been addressing this conundrum since 2012 and, in that time, has converted more than 1000 LandCruiser 200 and 300 Series wagons into the ultimate touring-ready 4x4s.

The conversion process involves cutting the rear off the donor wagon and transforming it into a ute. In many cases this includes a chassis and wheelbase extension, positioning the rear axle correctly under the load area – whether that’s a tray or a custom canopy.

ASG 4×4 holds Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) approval, which means if the conversion is carried out before first registration, it’s nationally certified and approved under the SSM program. ASG 4×4 also holds a Toyota Approved Redirect number, which means a new LandCruiser can be shipped directly to ASG 4×4 for re-engineering before it goes to the dealer.

The re-engineering process starts before the vehicle even arrives at ASG 4×4. The team first sits down with the owner to understand exactly what they want from their build and how the vehicle will be used. Is the conversion aimed at boosting load capacity, adding a canopy or tray body, or improving towing performance? And if a wheelbase or chassis extension is needed, how much is right for the application?

Owners of LandCruiser 79 Series models can also benefit from a chassis extension, which repositions the rear axle under the load and makes room for a longer tray or canopy. ASG 4×4 offers extensions in either 300mm or 450mm lengths.

The same applies to GVM upgrades – how much capacity is required and how it can be increased legally to meet the owner’s needs. The ASG 4×4 team manages all these elements to deliver a fully re-engineered, drive-away package.

ASG 4×4 is fully equipped to manufacture and fit a tray or canopy to suit your converted vehicle – or any ute, for that matter. All work is carried out in-house, with custom dimensions to match the extended length and extra width of the converted LandCruiser (around 200mm wider than a standard dual-cab, so an off-the-shelf tray won’t fit). Trays can be built in steel or aluminium and optioned with toolboxes, water tanks, a choice of headboards and integrated lighting.

The same goes for ASG 4×4’s aluminium canopies, which are available in 650mm, 850mm, 1500mm and 1800mm lengths. They can be built to take up the full tray or just part of it, providing a more versatile set-up tailored to your needs.

Just as ASG 4×4 can customise what goes on the back of your vehicle, its sister company, Touring Solutions Australia (TSA), can tailor the chassis to meet your GVM requirements. TSA works with leading suspension manufacturers and suppliers to deliver curated upgrade packages to suit both the capabilities and requirements of each vehicle. And it’s not limited to conversions – TSA also caters for LandCruiser and Patrol wagons, American pick-ups and other popular 4x4s.

Once again, if this work is carried out before first registration, it can be engineered and certified under the SSM scheme. This means the increased weight capacities are legal Australia-wide, while still retaining the factory braked towing limit. In many cases, larger wheels and tyres can also be included in the approval. If the conversion is done on a vehicle that’s already registered, it will need to be engineered in your state of registration – and ASG 4×4 ensures all work meets state compliance requirements.

All of ASG 4×4’s re-engineering and manufacturing is carried out in-house at its facility in Toowoomba, Queensland. Touring Solutions Australia is also based in Toowoomba, with a network of approved fitters and suppliers located around the country. A full list can be found on the company’s website.

Over the years we’ve featured plenty of 4x4s that have received the ASG 4×4 and Touring Solutions Australia treatment – and we’ve been lucky enough to drive a few as well. Each time we’ve come away impressed by the quality of workmanship, the attention to detail and, most importantly, the way the finished vehicles perform.

After a brief and disappointing partnership with Recre8, ASG 4×4 and Touring Solutions Australia are now back in the hands of their original owners, free to focus on their core strength – re-engineering 4x4s to meet the needs of touring Australians.