Off-road in Arctic Trucks’ AT35 D-MAX and AT37 Prado

For most Australians, their introduction to Arctic Trucks (↗) would have come via the 2007 episode of Top Gear in which the lads attempted to drive a pair of Arctic Trucks AT38 HiLuxes to the Magnetic North Pole.

The balloon-like 38-inch tyres fitted to the specially prepared Toyotas gave them the ability to drive over soft snow, ice and even rivers on their odyssey, with all the usual Top Gear shenanigans and humour. For Aussies watching the adventure, the idea of a HiLux riding on such massive tyres was simply a dream that would never be realised due to local vehicle regulations. Well, that’s all about to change with the introduction of Arctic Trucks to Australia.

While fitting 38-inch balloon tyres to a HiLux might be stretching what is possible on Australian roads and tracks, the Arctic Trucks models heading our way will bring new levels of big-tyre capability to our 4x4s – and they will be road-legal Australia-wide.

The Arctic Trucks story 

Arctic Trucks was formed in Iceland more than 30 years ago through a collaboration with Toyota Iceland to develop vehicles for exploring the glaciers, snowfields and volcanoes of the Land of Fire and Ice.

Their ability to traverse soft snow and rugged terrain came largely from the massive tyres, which allowed the vehicles to ‘float’ over soft snow and irregular surfaces. To fit the oversized tyres to otherwise standard Toyota vehicles without resorting to massive suspension lifts, Arctic Trucks opened up the wheelarches, fitted flares and enlarged the wheel openings. This allowed the big rubber to fit beneath the vehicles while maintaining a low centre of gravity and widening the wheel track to improve stability.

Of course, suspension and driveline components also had to be strengthened and optimised to cope with the additional loads and terrain, but the design proved successful and was soon applied to a range of vehicle makes and models across Scandinavia.

Over time, Arctic Trucks conversions have evolved to such a high level of design and engineering that they have been accepted by original equipment manufacturers including Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan and more. This has allowed Arctic Trucks vehicles to be offered through Toyota and Isuzu dealerships in some countries. Arctic Trucks also has divisions and OEM distribution in Norway, the UK, US, Sweden, Poland and South Africa, and now it is here in Australia.

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Marks 4WD is a Melbourne-based company many Australian 4×4 drivers will know, if not for its extensive catalogue of engine-conversion kits and components, then for its portal-axle conversions for LandCruisers, both locally and for export around the world. Marks is part of a larger engineering firm, giving it the equipment and technical capability to build just about anything. Now, it has become the Australian agent for Arctic Trucks.

General Manager of Marks 4WD, Matt Greenhill, had this to say regarding the new partnership: “When engineering-led brands come together with a shared vision, the results are often greater than the sum of their parts, which is precisely what this partnership between Marks 4WD and Arctic Trucks promises to deliver.

“We’re excited to combine our extensive engineering expertise, local manufacturing capability and reputation for innovative driveline solutions with Arctic Trucks’ record breaking history of off-road design, development and deployment across earth’s most extreme environments to bring these ‘cool and capable’ OEM-level high mobility vehicle conversions officially to Australia.

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“Over the past 12 months, our teams have worked closely together to achieve major milestones, including successful proof-of-concept builds, and associated engineering, testing, validation and compliance activities.

“With SSM approval for the Isuzu D-Max AT35 already secured and the Toyota Prado 250 AT37 soon to follow, we are demonstrating that world-class expedition vehicles can be built for Australian conditions without compromising compliance, quality or performance.

“For customers, that means more than just an upgraded four-wheel drive; it means vehicles backed by two trusted engineering brands, combining global expedition capability with Australian design, testing and ADR compliance.

“The result is daily-drivable comfort, control and composure, combined with exceptional off-road performance, reliability and confidence, both on and off the beaten track.

“As the range continues to expand, Marks 4WD and Arctic Trucks aim to set a new benchmark for owners and operators who demand uncompromising capability, engineering excellence and the confidence to go further.”

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Carrim Bundhun, Project & Commercial Development Lead at Arctic Trucks added: “We’re excited to finally introduce Arctic Trucks officially to Australia in partnership with Marks 4WD… and our teams have worked long and hard to do so in the right way.

“Australia’s vast scale, extreme terrains and rich off-road culture demand ultimate comfort, premium performance and reliable long-range mobility. All of these things are at the core of everything we do at Arctic Trucks, and we look forward to our AT vehicle versions and conversions offering even more choice for Aussie owners and operators to ‘Explore Without Limits’ with complete peace of mind, whatever their challenge.”

AT35 and AT37 launch in Australia 

Marks 4WD will launch Arctic Trucks in Australia with two models: the AT35 Isuzu D-MAX and the AT37 Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series. As the names suggest, these two 4x4s ride on 35- and 37-inch tyres respectively.

Both will be sold with full Australian compliance and registration under the Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) scheme, meaning the modifications are certified Australia-wide.

Arctic Trucks offers conversions for a wide range of 4x4s, but the Toyota and Isuzu products are the ones built to standards that allow them to be sold through original equipment dealerships in some countries. That won’t be the case in Australia, where they will be offered exclusively through Marks 4WD.

While only the D-MAX and Prado will be available at launch, we have to think the AT35 Toyota HiLux will follow at some stage. Arctic Trucks was still developing its conversion for the ninth-generation HiLux when the Australian deal was finalised, so it will be interesting to see the latest model receive the AT treatment.

Ahead of their official Australian unveiling, Marks 4WD was kind enough to give us a closer look at the AT35 Isuzu and AT37 Prado, and put us behind the wheel of both.

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AT35 Isuzu D-MAX 

It was a cold and wet Melbourne morning when we arrived at Marks 4WD headquarters to pick up the Arctic Trucks. It wasn’t quite arctic weather, but it was certainly heading that way. The AT37 Prado and AT35 D-MAX sitting clean in the carpark weren’t going to stay that way for long.

The vehicles look impressive standing tall on their oversized BFGoodrich mud-terrain tyres, with massive wheel-arch flares covering the rubber. The flares are big, but they appear well integrated into the vehicles and don’t look out of place.

My first stint was in the AT35 Isuzu, and stepping up into it was unlike climbing into any D-MAX I’d driven before. The AT side steps and rock sliders are definitely needed when getting in and out of these vehicles. This is a high-grade D-MAX with leather seats and all the trimmings. Aside from the AT logos on the floor mats and trim, the cabin is just like that of any other new Isuzu 4×4. Only the view down over the bonnet signals the vehicle’s increased ride height.

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Heading out on the road, you can feel and hear the BFGs beneath the vehicle, and the steering feels a touch heavier than I remember it being in a standard ute, which is to be expected with bigger and heavier tyres. Aside from this, it drove very much like a normal D-MAX.

An early observation was that the Isuzu seemed to have lost the annoying transmission aggressiveness that has always bothered me in the standard vehicle. Whether this was due to the change in overall gearing caused by the larger tyres or something else, it was much appreciated on the road.

There are no mechanical or calibration changes to the drivetrains of either vehicle, aside from recalibrating the speedometers to reflect the increased tyre size. Both AT models retain their standard gearing and didn’t seem to suffer too much from the move to larger-diameter tyres. Marks 4WD will be able to offer final-drive gearing options if owners feel they need them.

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While the AT35 D-MAX has been available through Isuzu dealers in the UK for many years, the base vehicle there is not offered with the 3.0-litre 4J diesel engine that is the popular choice in Australia. As such, this particular AT35 uses a suspension calibration developed by the Arctic Trucks team in South Africa, where the same engine is available and road conditions and vehicle use are similar to ours.

The suspension uses Bilstein struts up front, with Bilstein shocks working with Terrain Tamer parabolic leaf springs at the rear. Rougher sections of road reveal that the D-MAX is stiffly sprung, as though it has been set up to carry a constant load. As part of the SSM approval, Marks has included an increase in GVM to 3650kg. The increase is taken up slightly by the additional mass of the AT35 conversion but, at only a 120kg difference, this still gives the additional payload expected of a vehicle in this category.

The firm ride was also evident on gravel and rocky unsealed roads, but the big tyres and wide track gave the D-MAX a sense of stability the standard vehicle never had. It felt poised and purposeful on these roads and made light work of a muddy and rutted low-range track, with the factory rear differential lock engaged for added security.

A standard D-MAX, or any other midsize 4×4 ute, would have dragged its rear differential along the rutted track, if it didn’t become hung up on it altogether. This clearly demonstrated the advantage of the taller tyres over the original-equipment size.

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AT37 Toyota Prado GXL 

The AT37 Prado was getting all the looks and attention as we negotiated the morning peak-hour traffic on the way out of town.

It truly is a spectacular-looking rig and the hero vehicle of this duo. Its boxy wheel-arch flares perfectly complement the slab-sided retro styling of the vehicle, and the 37-inch BFGs look like they were made to fit inside them. The Arctic Trucks alloy wheels complete the look of the wagon.

If the AT35 Isuzu made light work of the muddy tracks, the AT37 Toyota positively owned them, crawling through the ruts without the underbody or rear differential touching down at all. The Prado rides on high-end suspension from a company called R53. R53 is a UK company specialising in performance suspensions for military and motorsport applications, from prestige supercars to GT race cars, rally cars and Dakar-racing rigs. The three-way remote reservoir, internal bypass dampers and hydraulic bump stops are tailor-made for the specific application and fully adjustable to fine tune them for the job at hand.

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One difference between the Isuzu ute and Toyota wagon conversions is that the Prado’s wheelbase has been increased by around 40mm to move the rear axle rearwards, allowing the tyres to clear the rear passenger-door openings. It was easier to relocate the rear coil-spring and shock mounts than to cut and modify the door openings. Custom-made upper mounts, longer suspension arms and a spacer in the tailshaft make the axle relocation possible.

Driving the Prado on open gravel roads, you can appreciate the quality of the suspension and the control and balance it affords the vehicle. Even on 37-inch tyres, the Prado was composed and settled over bumps and potholes, and stable through bends and tighter corners.

The Arctic Trucks philosophy of keeping mass low and widening the wheel track to maintain a low centre of gravity could really be appreciated on sweeping gravel roads like these. On some sections of track that were akin to driving over cobblestones, I again thought the suspension was too stiff for my liking, and this would likely also be the case on outback roads. But that’s the beauty of a fully adjustable suspension package, as it can be customised to suit your requirements and driving style.

I should also note that this drive was all done with road pressures in the tyres. With these lowered to off-road pressures, which Arctic Trucks advise as low as 8psi for slow speeds over soft terrain, comfort would be significantly improved.

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Testing the AT35 and AT37 off-road 

A final track before the light faded completely presented us with a steep climb and a large undulation mid-corner that loaded the tyres and tested articulation and traction.

The AT35 D-MAX came to an abrupt halt as soon as it unloaded the inside rear tyre and the electronic traction control couldn’t rein it in. Engaging the factory rear differential lock allowed it to climb over the obstacle.

The AT37 Prado, with its larger tyres, more compliant rear suspension and sharper electronic traction control, simply walked over the obstacle as though it wasn’t there. Being a GXL, this Prado has only a locking centre differential, with no front or rear lockers, and relies on its electronic traction control to get through. It made the climb look easy.

Complete Arctic Trucks packages 

Arctic Trucks conversions for the D-MAX and Prado look and feel like original-equipment vehicles. The standard of fit and finish is on par with, or better than, what the original manufacturers deliver, and everything works as intended to improve the vehicles’ capability.

Staff from Arctic Trucks’ UK headquarters came to Melbourne to train the team at Marks 4WD and oversee these first two builds. The Marks team was impressed by the use of original-equipment materials, sealants and ancillaries throughout the conversions. It’s this level of quality that has enabled Arctic Trucks vehicles to be sold through manufacturer dealerships in some countries.

While that won’t be happening in Australia any time soon, the AT35 D-MAX and AT37 Prado will be available through Marks 4WD by the time you read this.

Marks 4WD’s SSM approvals cover all models and variants of the current Toyota Prado and Isuzu D-MAX 4×4 ranges, and apply only to new vehicles before registration. Marks will look to secure approval for post-registration conversions in the future, but these are unlikely to be as extensive as the work carried out on these two vehicles. The team will also work with other local brands to develop compatible suspension components and accessories, including bullbars.

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Arctic Trucks pricing 

As you would expect of such a comprehensive, high-quality conversion, the Arctic Trucks product isn’t cheap.

The AT35 Isuzu D-MAX conversion costs $44,000 including GST, drive-in, drive-out, for D-MAX Styleside variants, although pricing will vary depending on the model. The AT37 Toyota Prado conversion costs $55,000 including GST, drive-in, drive-out, for a five-seat GXL with Bilstein suspension. The R53 suspension fitted to this vehicle attracts a $10,000 premium, and pricing will again vary slightly depending on the model.

At the time of writing, the Prado approval process was in its final stages, while the Isuzu had been signed off and fully registered in Victoria. The SSM approval is nationally recognised.

Arctic Trucks-converted 4x4s won’t suit everyone’s budget, but buyers can be confident they’re getting a comprehensive, high-quality conversion. The result is a vehicle that delivers the off-road benefits of larger tyres while keeping its mass low and retaining good on-road dynamics and drivability.

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FAQs

How are Arctic Trucks 4x4s different from standard vehicles?

Arctic Trucks 4x4s are modified with larger tyres, widened wheel tracks, wheel-arch flares and suspension upgrades to improve off-road capability while maintaining a low centre of gravity. The vehicles are also engineered to handle the additional loads and terrain associated with the larger tyres.

Where does Arctic Trucks come from?

Arctic Trucks was formed in Iceland more than 30 years ago through a collaboration with Toyota Iceland to develop vehicles for exploring glaciers, snowfields and volcanoes.

Which Arctic Trucks models are available in Australia?

Marks 4WD will launch Arctic Trucks in Australia with the AT35 Isuzu D-MAX and AT37 Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series.

Where can I buy an Arctic Trucks 4×4 in Australia?

Arctic Trucks vehicles will be offered exclusively through Marks 4WD in Australia. Check out Marks 4WD (↗) and Arctic Trucks (↗) for more details.

Are Arctic Trucks vehicles road-legal in Australia?

Yes. The AT35 D-MAX and AT37 Prado will be sold with full Australian compliance and registration under the Second Stage Manufacturer scheme, meaning the modifications are certified Australia-wide.

How much does the Arctic Trucks AT35 D-MAX cost?

The AT35 Isuzu D-MAX conversion costs $44,000 including GST, drive-in, drive-out, for D-MAX Styleside variants, although pricing varies depending on the model.

How much does the Arctic Trucks AT37 Prado cost?

The AT37 Toyota Prado conversion costs $55,000 including GST, drive-in, drive-out, for a five-seat GXL with Bilstein suspension. The R53 suspension fitted to the vehicle attracts a $10,000 premium.

Will there be more Arctic Trucks models in Australia?

The range is expected to expand. Arctic Trucks was still developing its conversion for the ninth-generation Toyota HiLux when the Australian deal was finalised, while Marks 4WD and Arctic Trucks aim to continue expanding the range for Australian owners and operators.