There’s a reason you see custom Patrols everywhere.

Few 4x4s have the same combination of toughness, aftermarket support and proven off-road hardware. From the old GQ and GU through to the Y62, the Patrol has given owners a solid base for everything from remote-area touring to serious off-road work.

That versatility shows in the builds featured here. Y62s are loaded with drawer systems, fridges, lithium batteries, winches and roof racks for long-range travel, while the GU and GQ Patrols go much further with TD42 and Cummins engine swaps, big lifts, lockers, reduction gears, beadlocks and 35- or 40-inch tyres.

These Patrols have also travelled well beyond the usual Australian tracks, with builds tackling Cape York and the Victorian High Country, while others have ventured through Patagonia and across the United States. From relatively simple tourers to heavily modified trail rigs, these Patrols show just how far the platform can be pushed.

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2016 Nissan Y62 Patrol

Submitted by Dean Brooke

Dean’s Y62 is set up as a fully kitted long-range tourer, with barely a system left untouched.

A two-inch lift pairs Blackhawk control arms with Tough Dog airbags in the rear, while ROH rims are wrapped in 305/75R16 Yokohama all-terrain tyres. Up front is an Opposite Lock bullbar carrying a 12,000lb Carbon Offroad winch, with two Stedi Type-X Pro spotlights and a GME UHF radio. A TrailMax roof rack carries TredPro recovery boards and a 270-degree Foxwing awning, with Kings side lights and, at the rear, two Stedi reverse lights and a Stedi light bar.

In the back sits a 60L drawer fridge and a homemade drawer system housing a 170Ah AGM battery, an air compressor and air hose reel, a cargo barrier, a 12V oven and an XForce exhaust, along with plenty of other touring gear.

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1998 Nissan GU Patrol

Submitted by Andrew Fossati

Andrew’s GU Patrol left the factory bone stock, but a TD42 engine swap two years later set it on a very different path.

The GU was purchased completely stock, running a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine. Two years on, that engine was swapped for a TD42, paired with a custom Highmount turbo setup running triple turbos through to the rear of the vehicle. Underneath, four-inch coils give the rig 14 inches of travel at the rear and 12 inches up front, all sourced from Superior Engineering.

The rear carries a custom fit-out with three drawers, a 75L fridge, a 12V system and onboard air, along with a twin-locked Kings winch and a front-mount intercooler. Inside, a custom roof console, cargo barrier and VE SS leather seats on Hurricane rails round out the build.

The west coast of Tasmania has proven the toughest test yet, with a long weekend spent tackling the Ring River track, the climb up Mt Cumberland and Montezuma Falls, though the clutch failed on the way home.

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2013 Nissan Y62 Patrol

Submitted by Seth Hambley

Seth’s Y62 pairs serious power with serious touring capability, headlined by a Harrop supercharger conversion.

Under the bonnet sits a Harrop 2300 supercharger paired with a Manta exhaust system. A two-inch Ironman 4×4 lift and 35-inch tyres handle the height and clearance, while an ARB Sahara bullbar sits up front and a Kaymar rear bar covers the back. A full 12-volt system with a drawer setup in the rear rounds out the touring kit.

The Patrol has covered plenty of ground through WA’s south-west, with its toughest test yet coming at Bornholm during summer, where extremely light, powdery sand made for the biggest challenge; the Bornholm hill climb remains the best place Seth has taken it.

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Nissan GU Patrol

Submitted by Will Grimmett

Will’s GU Patrol is built as a serious touring contender, with a 5.9-litre Cummins under the bonnet.

The 5.9-litre Cummins runs through a four-speed automatic, with braced diffs, hydroboost brakes and brand new brake assemblies underneath. A chopped full canopy, custom-built for touring, houses a 200Ah lithium battery and a 2000W inverter powering a pull-out electric cooktop. Twin lockers and a full ST-L leather interior pack round out the build. Built and finished, the Patrol stands as one of the more serious touring GU builds on the road.

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Nissan Y61 Patrol GL

Submitted by Juan Pablo Velasquez Mast

Juan’s Y61 Patrol proves the platform travels just as well through South America as it does through the Outback.

Located in Chile, the GL model long-wheelbase Y61 (GU) is close to standard Australian specification, running a five-speed manual, TB45E engine and 4.11 diffs. Modifications include a three-inch stainless steel exhaust with a Borla muffler, an ARB bumper fitted with Solis LEDs, a Safari snorkel, a four-inch OME lift, and 35-inch KM3 tyres on 15-inch Dick Cepek wheels.

An ARB roof rack, ARB awning and ARB steering stabiliser round things out, along with a 60-inch Hi-Lift jack for recovery. The Patrol has covered plenty of ground through Patagonia without a single mechanical issue.

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2023 Nissan Patrol Y62

Submitted by Tegan and Stuart Vanhamburg Stokes

Tegan and Stuart Vanhamburg Stokes’ Y62 has covered 270,000 kilometres and is still running on its original timing chain.

Mods include a two-inch lift, a DASH Offroad front bar, a full exhaust and tune, a homemade rear drawer system, and an iTechworld lithium battery. The Patrol has covered the Goldfields, Exmouth, Esperance and South Lefroy on its travels.

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2024 Nissan Y62 Patrol

Submitted by Adrian Trimnell

Adrian Trimnell’s Y62 is set up as much for towing as it is for chasing gold, with a pre-rego GVM upgrade leading the changes.

A pre-rego DMW GVM upgrade, fitted with a DASH Offroad Interlock airbag kit, sits at the heart of the build, supported by a Raslarr hooped bar and a Carbon winch up front. ROH Vapour rims are wrapped in Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tyres, with Altiq lighting rounding out visibility.

The rig carries a GME UHF, a Safari snorkel, next-gen Clearview towing mirrors and an ARB Base Rack, powered by a 120-amp-hour slimline battery mounted under a false floor in the rear. A Redarc DC-DC charger and Redarc Towpro brake controller handle charging and towing electronics, alongside a TAG towbar and an ARB twin-motor compressor. A BushWrapz Pro completes the exterior protection.

Adrian uses the Patrol to chase gold as often as he can, with regular trips to Woods Point, Bright and Beechworth.

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2024 Nissan Patrol

Submitted by Andy Boult

Andy’s Patrol plays support vehicle to a fleet of mining caravans, and it’s kept deliberately simple for the job.

The 2024 TDI runs heavier rear coils and Airbag Man airbags, with a front lift added to match the new rear height. Andy has found that keeping a vehicle closer to stock brings fewer problems on the road, a philosophy he applies across the four VDJ79 utes he also runs, each fitted with airbags, heavier coils, a remap, a three-inch single exhaust and a DPF delete.

Andy hires exploration mining caravans into some of Australia’s most remote places, recently double-snatching five vans over sandhills for two days near Finke in the Northern Territory, deep in the Simpson Desert.

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2024 Nissan Patrol

Submitted by David Callow

David’s Patrol is built as a serious long-range tourer, anchored by a Raslarr bull bar and a heavyweight electrical setup.

Up front sits a Raslarr bullbar, with a rear bar and bash plates still to come. Custom-painted KMC rims are wrapped in 35-inch Yokohama rubber, and a GME UHF is mounted on a Vogue mirror using Pirate Camp Co brackets. Stedi lights cover the rig front to rear.

A Carbon winch handles recovery duties, backed by an Enerdrive 40-amp DC-DC charger, a 40-amp AC charger and a 200-amp-hour slimline lithium battery, all mounted under a homemade aluminium false floor. An ARB twin compressor with an air tank sits in the rear, alongside a Renogy 2000-watt inverter.

Kaon window MOLLE panels add extra storage, while an ARB Base Rack carries a Darche rooftop tent and a 180-degree freestanding awning with 400-watt solar. A Bushman 85L upright fridge lives in the back, with aluminium drawers and a pantry still to be built. Moreton Island was David’s favourite trip so far, taken when the Patrol was just a week old.

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1988 Nissan Patrol MWB

Submitted by Richard Griffey

Richard’s 1988 Patrol has been reworked from the ground up, including a 300mm rear axle relocation to convert it to medium-wheelbase.

The MWB conversion was achieved by moving the rear axle back 300mm. Power comes from a TD42 turbo-diesel matched to an RE4 automatic transmission fitted with an Advanced Automatics valve body, which connects to dual Nissan Patrol transfer cases using an old Marks 4WD adapter.

Axles are sourced from a GU, running 4.6 gears and ARB air lockers, with 17-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 37-inch Federal Couragia tyres. An ARB bullbar sits up front, with Warn winches front and rear, a Safari snorkel and a custom rear bar. Inside stays largely stock aside from Recaro seats.

Originally built in Brisbane, Richard now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where the best place he has wheeled it is Moab, Utah, home to trails few Australians get to experience.

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2003 Nissan Patrol

Submitted by Steve Penrose

Steve Penrose’s GU Patrol still leans on its factory TD42Ti power, backed up by a front locker for the tough stuff.

This 2003 GU runs the trusty TD42Ti engine and rolls on 35-inch tyres, with a front air locker and reduction gears providing the low-range strength for serious off-road work. The Patrol has tackled Cape York, including the Old Telegraph Track and the Old Coach Road.

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2019 Nissan Y62 Patrol

Submitted by Charlie Kimble

Charlie Kimble’s Y62 pairs serious power with a genuine touring setup, headlined by a Harrop supercharger conversion.

A 2300 Harrop supercharger with a 75mm pulley and VIS fuel pump sits under the bonnet, backed by Pacemaker headers, a PDC stainless snorkel and airbox. A four-inch lift runs Ontrack billet lower rear control arms and billet front upper control arms, with 40mm front and rear diff drops and a Harrop front e-locker. It rolls on 20-inch King wheels wrapped in 35-inch BFG A/T KO2 tyres.

A Dash front bar and Raslarr rear bar with a spare wheel carrier and jerry can holder bookend the vehicle, with a Dash three-quarter rack carrying a 170W fixed solar panel. Inside, a Full Boar drawer setup houses a built-in Travel Buddy and Evakool drawer fridge. A 12,000lb winch, Ironman 4×4 Scope spotlights and Narva Ultimas on the roof rack round out the lighting and recovery gear. The build represents a serious, ground-up touring setup for the Y62.

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2005 Nissan GU Patrol

Submitted by Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is building this Series 4 GU into a super tourer, with the finishing touches still to come.

Currently under construction, the build is due to be finished within 10 to 12 weeks. Dobinson remote reservoir shocks and springs sit alongside heavy duty arms all round, all-braided lines and rear tower braces, with Emuwing gullwings and 35-inch tyres. Custom bar work, built by Michael himself, pairs with a four-inch snorkel and airbox combo. A roof rack carries a 270-degree Darche awning, backed by an LRA long-range tank, a 24V lithium battery system and a 12V dual battery system.

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1991 Nissan GU Patrol TD42

Submitted by Brett Gambrill

Brett’s TD42-powered GU is built for serious trailered touring, with a spec list to match.

The TD42 runs a 12mm fuel pump, a front-mount intercooler, a bonnet-entry snorkel and a 20G turbo pushing 35psi. Underneath sits a double triangulated four-link with Xlink, 16-inch coilovers, three-inch hydraulic bump stops, 4.88 diff centres, front and rear ARB lockers, and 85 per cent transfer case reduction gears. It rolls on 17-inch beadlock rims wrapped in 40-inch Maxxis Treps, with Blackhawk radius arms and a rear sway bar tying it together.

Recovery comes from a 24-volt Gigglepin winch backed by a 24-volt alternator and two 1800CCA lithium batteries, along with an ARB dual compressor. Roof sliders, front and rear bars and a GME XRS round out the build. Brett trailers the rig around Australia, mainly to the Watagans close to home, along with most 4×4 parks across New South Wales and Queensland, and Killingsworth.

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2004 Nissan Patrol GU

Submitted by Brett Cleary

Brett Cleary’s rebuilt GU wagon pairs a 4.5-litre Cummins conversion with an NCOP certified suspension upgrade.

A sturdy three-inch lift runs heavy-duty Dobinson springs, backed by NCOP certified upgrades. Under the bonnet, a 4.5-litre Cummins engine pumps out 220hp and 800Nm, mated to a manual five-speed gearbox and 3.5 ratio diffs, with 35-inch rubber underneath. Inside, factory Patrol seats sit alongside a 13-inch Android screen, while a custom Manta Ray bonnet cowl helps with engine cooling. Twin snorkels and a fully incorporated electrical system complete the build.

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2006 Nissan Patrol

Submitted by Ash McBain

Ash McBain’s Patrol trades its original heart for a BMW power plant, built as much for the snow as the sand.

The Patrol runs a 2012 BMW X5 N57 engine mated to an 8HP70X transmission swap, sitting on a three-inch EFS MRP suspension lift with Icon wheels wrapped in 35-inch rubber. K’gari would probably be Ash’s favourite place to take it, though a Victorian High Country mission in the snow runs a close second.

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