REMOTE area communications for travellers have come a long way over the years. The old HF radios have made way for satellite phones, cell phones cover a lot more areas, and the world truly has become a small place with fewer places where you can escape.
Comms with the outside world are essential when you’re some place where anything could happen and, when it does, you’re a long way from help. Sat-phones are the standard these days, but they can be expensive to buy, hire and use. A cheaper alternative that doesn’t give you the full use that a sat-phone would but still keeps you in touch is a satellite communicator, and we’ve been playing with a unit from Zoleo.
The Zoleo unit links to your smartphone via an app and, when you’re out of cellular range, allows you to message people via the Iridium satellite network.
After initial set-up, sending a message via the Zoleo is just as easy as sending a text message or email from your phone. It’s probably not the thing you’re going to use for long-winded conversations, but it’s ideal for letting people know where you are, that you’ve arrived to where you said you would be, or if you are in trouble.
Worse case, the Zoleo unit has an in-built SOS button that alerts emergency monitoring and response partner, GEOS, with your GPS location. GEOS then works with you and emergency services to get the help you need.
Our time with the Zoleo came during lockdown, so we weren’t able to use it in remote locations as we had hoped, but we did try it out when we were out of town in the High Country and, most importantly, out of cell-phone reception.
After downloading the free Zoleo app and linking it to my smartphone while at home and testing it there, once out in the bush it was just as easy as sending and receiving a text from your phone using the phone’s keypad as you normally would.
Like a sat-phone, the Zoleo unit needs to have a clear view of the sky to pick up satellites, so up on the dash worked well for us. The unit is small and light, dust-, water- and shock-resistant, and can be mounted anywhere really.
It has a battery life of more than 200 hours, is USB rechargeable so you can charge it from in your car, and has a two-year warranty.
The unit costs $345 to purchase and there is a selection of monthly plans to suit your usage that can be switched on and off as required, depending on where you are. It provides affordable peace of mind for both you and your loved ones back at home who like to know you’re safe on your travels.
We’re looking forward to getting out in the bush again as soon as possible and giving the Zoleo some more use, hopefully not for emergency … but it’s nice to know it’s there just in case.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Website: zoleo.com/en-au RRP: $345 (+monthly usage)
The Toyota LandCruiser Prado is the quintessential go-anywhere 4WD SUV that’s very comfortable as a day-to-day family car, while being built extra tough for long outback trips. It comes with a choice of 4.0-litre V6 petrol and 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engines in five- or seven-seat configurations. Because it’s designed to travel long distances, all but one special version of the Prado is equipped with a big 87-litre fuel tank and a 63-litre auxiliary tank.
In showrooms from October 2020, the updated 2021 Prado range has received a range of updates including the deletion of the manual versions and the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine receiving the same power-boost as the 2021 HiLux and Fortuner.
It also gains a new infotainment system with a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and MyToyota which adds third-party apps such as Waze, AccuWeather and Stitcher.
Other range-wide additions include day and night pedestrian and cyclist protection for the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, lane-keeping assist and road-sign assist.
Variants
There are four main Prado variants. The range starts from $59,840 with the five-seat Prado GX that’s powered by the turbo diesel with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Standard equipment includes:
- The 9.0-inch touchscreen.
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
- Reversing camera display
- Cruise control.
- Keyless entry and start.
- Durable cloth seats.
- 17-inch alloy wheels.
- Rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Upgrading from the GX to Prado GXL also brings seven seats as standard along with:
- Side steps, which make it easier to get in and out of the car.
- Roof rails for mounting luggage systems.
- Long-lasting LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED front fog lamps
- Rear parking sensors.
- Three-zone climate control air-conditioning, which lets the driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers separately set their desired cabin temperatures.
- A driver-switched lock for the rear differential, which can help you go further in difficult 4WD conditions.
- Bigger 18-inch alloy wheels.
- Leather-trimmed seats.
- Heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar support.
- Third-row seats that retract with the flick of a switch.
- Refrigerated centre-console cool box.
- 14-speaker JBL premium sound system.
- Headlights that switch on automatically when it gets dark.
- Blind-spot warning and a rear cross-traffic alert.
- Front and rear parking sensors.
- Multi-terrain monitor that uses front, rear and two side cameras to allow the driver to check vehicle blind spots and confirm their surroundings. This includes a panoramic view that enables the driver to check for other vehicles at blind intersections.
The Kakadu also features Crawl Control, which automatically controls the accelerator and brakes through very rough terrain at a speed you select: all you have to do is steer.
Multi-Terrain Select allows you to tailor stability control and traction control for different off-road conditions. The Kakadu also has self-levelling and height-adjustable rear suspension, and the driver can change suspension settings for a softer ride, or sportier handling.
On the luxury side, the Kakadu has a sunroof and driver’s seat that remembers settings for two different drivers. And a rear-seat DVD entertainment system can help keep children occupied.
All versions from the GXL up come with a no-cost option of having the spare wheel and tyre stowed underneath the Prado rather than on the tailgate.
- Prado GX, 5-seats – $59,840
- Prado GXL, 7-seats – $66,540
- Prado VX, 7-seats – $76,380
- Prado Kakadu, 7-seats – $87,030
Our pick
The VX is great for serious highway and off-road travelling, but the GXL has a good range of standard features and the $10,000 difference from the VX would go a long way to paying for your travels.
Available options
- Third-row seat (GX) – $2550
- Premium interior (GXL) – $3470
- Optional paint (all grades) – $600
- Flat tailgate (GXL and above) -no added cost
IMPROVE your 4×4’s stowage capacity with quality new gear released by ARB and Rhino-Rack. The ARB Sportlid and Rhino-Rack multi-purpose holder also make great Father’s Day presents.
ARB SPORTLID
Keep your in-tub cargo out of the elements with ARB’s new Sportlid. The sleek-looking hard lid is made from ABS, the same material ARB uses for its canopies, and it can hold up to 75kg of dynamic weight – it can also be opened with up to 13kg on it as standard (up to 25kg with optional upgraded struts). The lid is said to be easy to install, courtesy of the dual external T-slot extrusions. The Sportlid is currently available for current-model Hilux, Ranger, Amarok, Navara and Colorado. RRP: $2727 Website: www.arb.com.au
RHINO-RACK MULTI-PURPOSE HOLDER
Travel smart with a the Multi-Purpose Holden from Rhino-Rack, which makes it easier than ever to transport cargo on almost any roof system. The holders can fit lengthways and sideways, and they’re made from glass-reinforced nylon material and protective santoprene rubber padding. It can also be mounted directly to the planks on any Rhino-Rack Pioneer system. The unit is sold as a pair. RRP: $64 Website: www.rhinorack.com
JEEP’S recent Gladiator pick-up might come in a range of models, but it’s the off-road-ready Rubicon variant that really cements its place as the king of go-anywhere utes.
The JT Gladiator stands out from a crowded mid-size pickup market with its unique Jeep styling, live axles front and rear, and a focus on lifestyle over utility use, with the Gladiator Rubicon leaving no questions as to its intentions.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
NO matter what model variant you choose, all JT Gladiators in Australia have the same driveline. That’s the 3.6-litre petrol V6 Pentastar engine backed by the ZF eight-speed auto transmission and a four-wheel drive system that offers full-time, part-time 4×4 with high and low range.
Jeep tells us that the V6 diesel engine that is about to be offered in the USA won’t fit in a right-hand drive car. Where that leaves us for the rumoured Hemi V8 is yet to be clarified.
Where things get exciting on the Rubicon model is that the transfer case has a super low 4.0:1 gearset for low range which, when combined with the 4.11:1 gears in the final drive, makes for a great low-range crawl ratio.
This super-low overall ratio makes for more driver control and torque multiplication when driving off road. Those final drive units are housed in Dana 44 axles and have driver-selectable locking differentials, again for improved driver control when off-road.
Those low gears help the V6 mill in low-speed off-road work as it’s not exactly bulging with torque muscle. The engine does its best work up higher in the revs where it’s almost sporty and quite enjoyable on road but needs the low gearing for off-road grunt. The Rubicon gearing is so good that the lack of torque rarely becomes a problem as it does in the other, less off-road spec Gladiator models without the low gears.
The eight-speed transmission does an excellent job of keeping the engine spinning up where it works best and does so without raising any questions or quandaries. The overall performance is sufficient for the type of vehicle that the Gladiator is, although far from exceptional.
The V6 diesel engine fitted in the USA or the V8 petrol as fitted by the aftermarket and in Jeep’s own concept vehicles would go a long way to rectifying this and broadening the JT’s appeal to a wider market.
ON ROAD RIDE & HANDLING
THE Gladiator Rubicon benefits from Fox Racing shock absorbers over the OE shocks in the Overland and Sport models, and these do a great job of controlling the wallowing we noted in the Overland tested last month.
But the JT remains a body-on-chassis light truck with a high centre of gravity, live axles and, on the Rubicon, mud-terrain tyres, so it’s never going to be a sports car. Nor does it pretend to be – the Rubicon is made for off-road use.
The ride quality is pretty good and better than in a Wrangler thanks to the longer wheelbase of the ute. It is again improved by the quality Fox shocks.
OFF ROAD
LIKE so many other off-road vehicles that feel a bit lost when riding around town. The JT Rubicon feels a lot more at home once you leave the blacktop. Again the long wheelbase and quality shocks deliver a nice ride on gravel roads and good control over corrugations. We reckon it would feel even better with 500kg in the tray, but you can’t carry any more than that if you want to have passengers as well.
The low gears and disconnecting front sway bar allow the Rubicon to slink its way over rough and uneven ground without lifting a wheel, while the lockers ensure the mud tyres make the most of the available grip. Full-length rock rails protect the sills in-between the doors, while an extra set of rails at the rear protect the ends of the bed which does overhang a fair bit.
The long wheelbase and overhang at the back mean the JT Rubicon is not as good off-road as its JL Rubi stablemate, but it is probably the best low-speed off-road ute you can buy off the showroom floor.
CABIN & ACCOMMODATION
FROM the front seats, the inside of the JT is standard JL Wrangler fare. It’s a well-appointed and mainly well-laid-out cabin and dash that’s loaded with features. It is a bit cramped for bigger drivers though, especially around the pedal area where there’s nowhere to rest your left foot.
The only real difference for the Rubicon over the Overland Gladiator is the inclusion of the controls for the locking differentials and front sway bar disconnect. They are down low on the left side of the centre stack in a less-than-ideal spot. It’s a shame Jeep couldn’t see a way to move them over to the driver’s side for right-hand drive.
The rear seat in the Gladiator feels to have more room than that in the Wrangler, and the lockable storage space under the seat is a handy inclusion.
PRACTICALITIES
WE mentioned earlier the problem of carrying anything more than 500kg in the large tray of the Gladiator as it only has a 620kg payload. This means you are very restricted with what you have on board and you need to keep it under consideration. That’s without any accessories or bigger tyres fitted!
The 2721kg towing capacity is less than average as well, so the Gladiator really fails at being a load-hauling ute, backing up Jeep Australia’s call that this is a “lifestyle vehicle and not a workhorse”.
The tray is large in size and can carry a lot of lightweight stuff; it’s just the truck for your balsawood business. The cabin accommodates four passengers comfortably, while three adults in the back seat is a squeeze; the fuel tank holds a handy 83 litres; there are heavy duty front and rear tow hooks fitted; and the wading depth is quoted at 760mm.
SUMMARY
ONE would expect the first job of any heavy duty pickup truck would be to haul a load, but the folks at Jeep obviously didn’t get that memo. Even with rear chassis and suspension design borrowed from the Ram pickup, the Gladiator falls short on load and towing capacities expected in a mid-size ute.
Instead Jeep has given us a great lifestyle pickup that is awesome off-road while being more practical than a Wrangler. Few people will see value in a $90K ute that can’t carry what a $40K one does every day, but they won’t be getting the picture of what a Jeep is all about. As they say, “It’s a Jeep thing” and if you don’t get it then you never will.
OFF-ROAD SPECS
APPROACH ANGLE: 40.7° RAMPOVER ANGLE: 18.4° DEPARTURE ANGLE: 25.1° GROUND CLEARANCE: 249mm WADING DEPTH: 760mm
SPECS
ENGINE: Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 MAX POWER: 209kW at 6400rpm MAX TORQUE: 347Nm at 4100rpm TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic TRANSFER CASE: Rock-Trac with full-time and part time 4×4 and low range CRAWL RATIO: 77.24:1 STEERING: Electro-hydraulic SUSPENSION: Live axles on links, coil springs, stabiliser bars (f/r) TYRES: 255/75-R17 BASE WEIGHT: 2215kg PAYLOAD: 620kg TOWING CAPACITY: 2721kg GVM: 2835kg GCM: 5284kg ADR COMBINED FUEL USE: 12.4L/100km FUEL USE ON TEST: 12.7L/100km FUEL TANK: 83L
PRICING
BASE PRICE $76,450 PRICE AS TESTED $84,488
2020 Jeep JT Gladiator Rubicon
IF YOU’RE within cooee of Alice Springs next weekend, you’ll discover what may be the biggest automotive event of 2020 happening all around you!
The event is Red CentreNATS, which celebrates modified and classic cars of all kinds.
It kicks off Friday 4 September and features drag racing, burnouts, street cruising, a show ’n’ shine, a motorkhana, a 4WD course and much more!
There will be amazing machines cruising the streets all weekend, but the whole town will stop on Saturday afternoon for a massive street parade that is free for anyone to enjoy. Park up by the side of the road and take in the sights and sounds of some seriously tough machinery!
If you’d like to check out the rest of the activities Red CentreNATS has to offer, three-day tickets are just $30, with kids under 13 free.
You can also enter your 4WD and take part in all the activities! This costs $100 per vehicle, but registrations close at midnight 1 September.
The Red CentreNATS is also the only event in Australia where enthusiasts can drive their highly modified, unregistered cars on the streets, giving entrants with a Temporary Registration Permit the chance to enjoy various cruise routes around Alice Springs.
Entrants and spectators will have access to entertainment across three venues, with adrenaline-pumping action on show at Blatherskite Park, Alice Springs Inland Dragway (ASID) and Lasseters Hotel Casino.
To find out more, buy tickets or enter Red CentreNATS, head to www.redcentrenats.com.au
Our 4×4 adventure through the Apple Isle continues, with Hobart and its surrounds on the agenda in this episode.
Beginning at Richmond – home of the oldest convict-built bridge in Australia – the crew stops by the Lark Distillery to sample some whiskey, before continuing on to Wellington Park via the Montrose Fire Trail.
Dirt roads are navigated in pursuit of the southern-most place in Australia, Cockle Creek, before heading up to Southport Lagoon and then on to Dee Lagoon in the Central Highlands north of Hobart.
The following day was spent tackling the rugged mountains surrounding Queenstown, before heading into the town itself to learn about the town’s rich history. Strahan, the capital of the west coast, was the last stop on the itinerary in this episode.
Stay tuned for the third and final episode.
FORD continues to update its Ranger line-up, announcing changes to its Wildtrak and Raptor variants, as well as the return of the Wildtrak X.
These changes follow key updates made by the Blue Oval earlier this month, which saw the Ranger line-up bolstered by a new Ranger XL Special Edition model, a Fully Loaded pack for the Ranger XLT, and a selection of Heavy Duty upgrade packages.
In the latest round of updates Ford has added new, premium Bi-LED headlights to its 2020 Wildtrak range, replacing the outgoing HID projector headlights. These headlights are said to offer 17-per-cent greater lighting penetration than the outgoing HIDs.
In addition, Wildtrak models now come equipped with a new power roller shutter, which is said to “liberate additional load space, with an increase of 80mm opening length between the canister and the tailgate”. The new design also provides an extra 20mm of height clearance compared to the current shutter.
The returning Wildtrak X – initially revealed in September 2019 – benefits from these upgrades but also gets unique 18-inch alloys, fender flares and a nudge bar (all in black). Plus, an A-pillar-mounted snorkel feeds air into the Wildtrak X’s engine bay.
Ford has also continued to spread FordPass Connect throughout its Ranger line-up, with the Raptor and Wildtrak now equipped with the system. Other changes for the Raptor are minimal, with the race-ready 4×4 also receiving Ford’s Tough Bed Spray-in Bedliner.
“I know that for many of our customers with a spirit of adventure, it’s heartening right now that their Ranger Raptor or Ranger Wildtrak is at the ready, so they can take full advantage of it once the current situation eases,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Andrew Birkic.
“What’s more, we will be adding to what we offer in 2020 – not only with the updates to Ranger we’ve made this month, including FordPass Connect on every model, but with more lifestyle choices to take on that off-road adventure, to stand apart with the capability and assurance Ranger is known for.”
Ford Australia says the updated Ranger variants will arrive in dealerships this month.
FORD RANGER PRICING
4×4 XL Single C/C 3.2L MT: $43,090 4×4 XL Single C/C 3.2L AT: $45,290 4×4 XL Super C/C 3.2L MT: $45,590 4×4 XL Super C/C 3.2L AT: $47,790 4×4 XL Super P/up 3.2L AT: $49,190 4×4 XL Double C/C 2.2L AT: $47,290 4×4 XL Double P/up 2.2L AT: $48,690 4×4 XL Double C/C 3.2L MT: $47,590 4×4 XL Double C/C 3.2L AT: $49,790 4×4 XL Double P/up 3.2L MT: $48,990 4×4 XL Double P/up 3.2L AT: $51,190 4×4 XLS Double P/up 3.2L MT: $50,290 4×4 XLS Double P/up 3.2L AT: $52,490 4×4 Sport Double P/up 3.2L MT: $53,540 4×4 Sport Double P/up 3.2L AT: $55,740 4×4 XLT Super P/up 3.2L AT: $57,440 4×4 XLT Super P/up Bi-Turbo AT: $58,940 4×4 XLT Double P/up 3.2L MT: $57,240 4×4 XLT Double P/up 3.2L AT: $59,440 4×4 XLT Double P/up Bi-Turbo AT: $60,940 4×4 Wildtrak Double P/up 3.2L MT: $62,090 4×4 Wildtrak Double P/up 3.2L AT: $64,290 4×4 Wildtrak Double P/up Bi-Turbo AT: $65,790 4×4 Raptor Double P/up Bi-Turbo AT: $77,190
TOYOTA’S venerable LandCruiser 70 Series has been updated with a suite of creature comforts, but consumers will now have to pay more for the privilege.
Toyota has upped the price of its off-road workhorse right across the range, from the Workmate cab/chassis (up $3710, from $65,240 to $68,950) all the way up to the Wagon GXL (up $2410, from $69,090 to $71,500). Full pricing for the LC70 Series range can be found below.
Part of the reason for the price hike is due to the implementation of new mod-cons in all 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel variants, incorporating cab-chassis, wagon and Troop Carrier configurations.
These models now come equipped with a new multimedia system featuring a 6.1-inch touchscreen embedded with satellite-navigation, voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity.
Also new for 2021 models are two front USB ports, a 12-volt accessory power input, a larger smartphone holder and an additional cup-holder in the passenger door.
“Toyota moves as quickly as possible to ensure customers benefit from new and upgraded features that improve safety, increase comfort or just make their life behind the wheel easier,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
“As people look to explore their own backyard more as we come out of COVID restrictions, driving holidays – whether they be extended trips or a quick weekend away – will be high on the agenda and the improvements we have made to our SUV and workhorse models that deliver greater safety, comfort and connectivity will make those trips even more enjoyable,” he said.
TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES PRICES
Workmate single cab chassis: $68,950 (+$3710, from $65,240) GX single cab chassis: $70,950 (+$3710, from $67,240) GXL single cab chassis: $73,050 ($3810, from $69,240) Workmate double cab chassis: $71,500 (+$3760, from $67,740) GXL double cab chassis: $75,600 ($3860, from $71,740) Workmate Troop Carrier: $71,350 (+$2360, from $68,990) GXL Troop Carrier: $74,550 (+$2360, from $72,190) Workmate wagon: $67,400 (+$2410, from $64,990) GXL wagon: $71,500 (+$2410, from $69,090)
TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES OPTIONS
Optional paint (all except troop carrier): $600 Diff locks (GX single and Workmate double cabs): $1500
A PURPOSE-BUILT Prado has won our Readers’ Rig competition for August 2020.
For your chance to win a Wurth under-bonnet LED valued at $249, send an image and a brief description of your 4×4 to our Facebook page.
TOYOTA PRADO 120
This is my ongoing project. The Prado has Bushskinz bash plates, Xrox bar, Southern Cross Fabworks rock sliders, Toyo Open Country M/T tyres, GME UHF, Drifta storage drawer system, Evakool DC-40 draw fridge, Rhino-Rack Pioneer platform, and Supa-Peg Rapid Wing 6 awning. I’ve got a Carbon winch and Stedi Type X Pro driving lights sitting in the garage about to be wired up. I’m also currently in the process of getting the dual-battery system done, likely going with a Fullriver 120amp/h AGM battery and Redarc BCDC charger. I live in Sydney, I spend most of my time wandering up and down the Great Dividing Range, though most of my favourite haunts are in the Blue Mountains and surrounds or north in the Barrington Tops.
In March, I got to Moreton Island and I proposed to the missus there. I had a seizure late last year and have been diagnosed with epilepsy which has kept me from being behind the wheel. My partner, brother and friends have been taking the wheel for me on camping trips which has been nice in a way as I can sit back and enjoy a cold beer while someone else drives. I’ve started treatment though and have a date locked in for when I can take the reins of my beloved 4WD again. Looking forward to adventures to come, I’ve got plans to go down to Vic High Country in a couple months and I’ve also got Tasmania on my radar – I want to go down to Cockle Creek and see the Aurora Australis out over the Southern Ocean – Sean Bowden
TOYOTA N70 HILUX
Gear includes a SEQ Fabrication SAS kit, GU diffs front and rear, 2.5 10-inch coilovers, 2.0 rear shocks and dampener, rear inversion for shocks, RG leafs, SEQ Fab shackles, Superior radius arms, right-hand-drop transfer, GU steering box, front auto locker, rear LSD, and 315/75/16 Toyo Open Country MTs. Engine: HKS, +30 injectors, FMIC NPC, Procharge turbo, a ScanGauge, and all tuning done by Just Autos. Other kit includes a SEQ Fab nudge bar, Phat Bars sliders, alloy tray (new steel one in the making), eBay snorkel, 42-inch roof light bar with bullseye mounts, and a half cage – Liam Maher
2005 TOYOTA HILUX
It’s running a 4.0-litre V6 with the five-speed manual. It’s been lifted and has 38-inch Deegans, an Xrox bar, bash plate, winch, snorkel and lights. Next are rock sliders and a dog cage/toolbox – Mitchell Duke
JEEP CHEROKEE 65TH ANNIVERSARY
The Cherokee has an ARB bullbar, Ironman 4×4 two-inch modified suspension, Spartan lockers, 31-inch tyres, UHF drawers in the back, and many more mods – Mark E Spencer
2018 ISUZU D-MAX
It has an AFN bullbar, Stedi Type-X Pro spotlights, Dobinsons MRR lift kit, Phat Bars four-inch stainless-steel snorkel, ARB Ascent Canopy with full fit-out of two 100amp/h batteries and drawers, and an ARB rear bar. It sits on 265/70/17 Hankook Dynapro MTs and Fuel Vector rims – Jano Van Der Linde
2012 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90
Kit includes a dual battery system, Safari snorkel, Terrafirma bullbar, Landybitz sliders, aftermarket cruise control, Mantec spare tyre carrier, GME UHF in roof console, XTM rear drawer/fridge slide, Stedi lightbar and heaps of other small accessories. Next up will be mud tyres and upgraded suspension – Madelyn Holmes
The owner of this heavily modified 2009 Toyota Hilux SR5 happened upon the vehicle by accident.
This article was originally published in November, 2015.
You see, his parents originally bought the Tojo ute to use on the farm, but after a short period found that it wasn’t really suited to their needs, so he offered to take it off them.
With a number of vehicles already parked in his garage, he sent the Hilux to the boys at Pacific Installs, giving them instructions to transform it into a weekend warrior; it wouldn’t be used as a daily driver, so there were few limits to what could be modified.
Sanh Tran, from Pacific Installs, explains: “He’s a farmer himself. The Hilux is for touring and camping; nothing too extreme, bush tracks, Fraser Island, that sort of thing.”
Nothing too extreme? How about engine mods that see the Hilux’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine pumping out a claimed 200kW at the wheels, and a six-inch lift to help this beast crawl without fear of scraping its belly over some seriously tricky terrain?
The D4-D’s standard turbocharger has been flicked in favour of a Garrett Stage III GT turbo, and the top-mounted intercooler has been replaced by a larger and more efficient front-mounted unit with custom piping. There are also larger injectors, an F-CON ECU and a custom-made three-inch exhaust system.
This thing has got some serious grunt and Sanh says that the 200kW at the wheels is in “a safe state of tune” for this engine. The result is some serious on-road performance.
“It breaks traction at 80 kays, believe it or not, with those tyres on it!” Sanh explains. “You put your foot down and it goes berserk; yeah, it just loses traction. It’s pretty hectic, that thing.”
And believe it we do, considering the stock D4-D only makes a claimed 126kW at the crank, so this thing is likely pumping out more than double the power of a standard Hilux!
With all that power on tap, and a fair bit of weight on board, the Hilux can still pull up clean and quick because of oversized slotted discs fitted up front and an aftermarket brake booster.
At this stage the engine is mated to the standard Toyota auto tranny, and the transfer case is also in standard trim, but just about everything else on this machine has been fettled, including the front and rear diffs, which have been fitted with Eaton ELockers.
Housed beneath the Kut Snake wheel-arch flares are deep-dish 20-inch rims from Hostile Wheels, fitted with 35 x 12.5in Nitto Mud Grappler extreme terrain tyres. And ensuring there’s plenty of room for the rubber to move around is a four-inch suspension lift in addition to the two-inch body lift.
Damping is provided by Bilstein shock absorbers, and the Hilux also runs heavy-duty sway bars, Superior Engineering upper control arms and extended rear shackles. To ensure there’s not too much load placed on the CVs, the Hilux has been fitted with a diff-drop kit. Ground clearance isn’t adversely affected, as the diff still sits above the cross-member.
Protecting underbody components such as the sump and gearbox is an ARB Under Vehicle Protection kit, while the rear diff is shielded by a custom-made guard, designed and manufactured in-house at Pacific Installs.
The bodywork gets some protection from ARB rock sliders, an ARB rear step bar and a Rhino 4×4 frontal protection bar – the latter housing a TJM 12,000lb electric winch. All of the bar work has been powder-coated to match the fresh charcoal paintwork.
The winch is fitted with high-quality synthetic rope and is controlled via a wireless remote. In addition to the recovery points on the bar, there are extra hooks mounted directly to the vehicle’s chassis.
The bar also has inbuilt LED fog lights. At the rear-end, the ARB step bar has two recovery points, and is fitted with a shackle in the tow hitch, offering loads of options when rescuing other vehicles.
One of the stand-out features of this Hilux is the Pacific Installs rear tray rack. Sanh says this universal rack will suit just about any dual-cab ute on the market, as the company supplies different brackets for different tray widths.
On this Hilux, the tray rack is fitted with custom mounts to hold two sets of Tred recovery boards and the big 35-inch spare tyre. “The spare hangs off the tray rack because the Hilux runs 35-inch tyres and the spare doesn’t fit underneath,” Sanh says.
Another advantage of moving the spare to the tray rack is that it frees up space for another special feature: an inbuilt Esky in the rear of the tub. To finish it off, the tub has a spray-in liner, and any gear that doesn’t fit inside can be put on the ARB roof rack.
In addition to the neat Rhino 4×4 bar, giving the front-end a distinctive look, is the Pacific Installs custom mesh grille, which features a carbonfibre wrap and ensures there’s plenty of airflow to that front-mounted intercooler.
The headlights have HID inserts and there’s a 20-inch Baja Designs LED light bar sorting out night-time visibility. Then there’s the roof-mounted 40-inch LED light bar, side spotlights, four underbody rock lights and three rearward-facing LED light bars over the tray. You could say this bloke likes his lighting systems!
Keeping the lights illuminated, and powering all of the other electrical accessories, is a dual-battery set-up with an inverter and Redarc BCDC charging system.
Allowing the owner to easily operate all systems is an Ionnic LED programmable switch panel mounted on a custom roof console. This device can control up to eight separate functions and features a dimmable backlit panel, epoxy sealed receivers, on-board diagnostics and audible user feedback.
On the Hilux it’s been programmed to control all of the lighting, the ELockers and several other systems. Oh, and there’s a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to ensure the Nittos are running the correct pressures at all times.
Sitting above the Ionnic panel are two devices from Defi; a boost gauge and a gauge controller, the latter displaying information on engine revs, boost, shift indicator and more. Other interior additions include a pair of UHF transceivers and a Focal sound system with six-inch splits front and rear, amps, slim subs and more. This audio system’s screen is also hooked to a reversing camera.
Why two UHFs? “When we drive in a convoy, it’s a safety issue,” Sanh explains. “If one fails, we’ve got a back-up, or we can run dual conversations, so if we’ve got a large group of cars, one half can run on one channel and the other can run another channel, simultaneously.”
As with many Queensland-based 4x4s, this one sees plenty of action on the beach, particularly on Fraser Island, so it’s been treated with a rust inhibitor, and is also fitted with an electronic rust-proofing system.
For regular tyre inflation duties, there’s an Endless Air system with a 22-litre tank and an air outlet easily accessed under the bonnet, which has been fitted with two gas struts in place of the silly standard Toyota bonnet prop.
Despite the Hilux’s beast-like appearance, Sanh says it’s a dream to drive on and off the road. “Off-road it’s very capable,” he says. “We’ve taken it out a few times on the tracks around the Glasshouse Mountains and, yeah, it’s very capable, and it’s a very smooth and comfortable ride as well. It’s like sitting in a brand-new car doing extreme off-road…”
While most of us would be quite happy with a Hilux just like this one, the owner of this rig isn’t finished with it yet. “He’s insatiable,” Sanh says. “He’s one of those types; a perfectionist.
So what we’ve got here, what you can see here, is not the finished product, because I’m pretty sure he will keep modifying this thing. He’s happy with it, but he always wants more, to push to that next level.”
It’s hard to imagine what will be next, but I guess some people are never satisfied.