The popularity of full-size American pick-up trucks has grown rapidly in Australia over the past decade. With factory-backed conversions now coming from the US Big Three, along with the introduction of the Toyota Tundra, Aussie truck buyers have more choice than ever.

The boom in US truck imports has sparked a corresponding rise in locally available aftermarket gear from specialised Australian companies. If you thought the range of accessories for Aussie 4x4s was impressive, you’ll be blown away by the sheer scale of the US aftermarket industry. While getting that gear shipped here used to be a costly and time-consuming process, Australian distributors now import and stock a wide range of US products ready to fit to your truck.

One such company is Queensland’s Rugged USA Imports, which brings in and sells brands such as KC Lights, Gen-Y Hitch, Camburg, BDS Suspension, Fox Racing, Swing Case, Switch Pros and many more.

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“To open up the market for quality parts and accessories direct from the USA, our company, Rugged USA Imports, is the direct importer working with a range of partners throughout the USA,” Rugged’s Chris Roach told us.

Chris has owned his fair share of US trucks over the years and wanted to create a better way for Aussie owners to access quality products for them. While most of his trucks have been from the Big Three US manufacturers, the arrival of the Toyota Tundra presented new opportunities. Australians love a Toyota 4×4, and the Tundra promised to be a popular addition to the segment – even if sales so far haven’t quite reflected that.

Chris knows all too well that the best way to spark interest in a vehicle is to show potential buyers what’s possible – how good it can look and perform when fitted with the right high-quality accessories and equipment.

“We were lucky enough to get our hands on the Tundra very early, which gave us an edge in the accessory market – building this truck into a beast and showing off what we’ve installed,” Chris said.

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Suspension, wheels and lift

While the American trucks coming to Australia are generally well specified and big in stature, that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. They might be huge in size, but in standard form they sit quite low to the ground, being built more for general use than serious off-road action.

One of the first things to address – and an easy way to make these trucks look a whole lot better – is to get them sitting higher off the ground. This is achieved with replacement suspension and taller tyres.

Camburg Engineering is a US company well known for its off-road suspension systems – particularly those for Toyota models. It also happens to be one of Rugged’s key suppliers, so it’s no surprise to find Camburg’s premium gear underneath Chris’s Tundra.

Camburg’s Toyota Tundra King 3.0 IBP KINETIK Series kit pairs the company’s billet upper control arms with King’s 3.0 adjustable internal-bypass, position-sensitive front coilovers, delivering a plush ride over harsh terrain and superior body control.

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Rear setup and load-carrying hardware

Camburg’s KINETIK Series billet lower trailing arms add extra axle travel at the rear, where they’re matched with a set of King 3.0 shocks.

This isn’t one of those outrageous suspension and tyre setups you see on US trucks at the SEMA Show, but rather a well-engineered and precisely built kit using premium King shocks for ultimate off-road performance.

A set of 17×9 Innov8 G400 alloy wheels wrapped in 35-inch Yokohama muddies connect the suspension to the scrub. A fifth wheel and tyre are mounted on the back of the truck via an Ultra Hitch swing-out carrier from Rigid Supply – another product imported by Rugged.

Also from Rigid Supply, and tucked in behind the wheel carrier on the back of the Tundra, is a SideHack mount for carrying fuel cans and other accessories. There’s also a drop-down table from Rigid neatly fitted back there.

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Bed, storage and touring accessories

In the cargo bed there’s a Big Days chase rack setup, plus a TrailBreaker motorcycle mount supporting the KTM and another bike mount from the same company. You’ll also spot the GME aerial on the Big Days rack, linked to the UHF radio in the cabin. Under the back of the tray sits a Gen-Y Mega-Duty drop hitch, ready for towing heavy trailers behind the lifted rig.

With the spare wheel relocated to the tailgate, the OEM spare-tyre space now houses a 52-litre Trail’d Boondocker water tank. The tank is specifically designed to fit that location as a direct replacement. An electric pump delivers the H₂O to the outlet – perfect for a quick rinse after a hot day on the dirt bike, or for washing off the mud before loading it back into the tray.

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Lighting, electronics and factory drivetrain

Another brand imported by Rugged is Diode Dynamics, a lighting company you may not have heard of in Australia.

Its LED lights are used extensively on the Tundra, starting at the front end where they’re mounted in the TRD grille kit, along with ditch lights and reversing lamps. All of the auxiliary lighting and other electrical accessories are controlled via a Switch Pros RCR Force 12 switch bank.

With its premium suspension, lighting and accessories, Chris’s Tundra has been built for capable and comfortable touring or a weekend escape. It’s no over-the-top SEMA Show truck. As such, the drivetrain remains as Toyota built it – a turbocharged V6 petrol engine boosted by a hybrid system and backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. With almost 800Nm on tap from the factory, Chris saw no need to mess with Toyota’s setup.

While the Tundra brings Toyota’s 4×4 ability and reliability to the full-size truck market, Rugged USA Imports delivers the gear needed to kit it out for Australian conditions – whether your truck’s built for touring, tackling tough tracks or putting in a hard day’s work.

All of the brands and products fitted to Chris’s Tundra are available through Rugged, and most are available to suit other rigs as well.

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