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.
GIVE YOUR old man a gift he’ll use this Father’s Day, with these ideas by Golders, Uniden and HEMA sure to be right up his alley.
GIBB RIVER ROAD BY CROWBAR
Frock up in some Aussie apparel from Australian-owned country business, Golders. These shirts, designed for both men and women, offer UPF 50+ protection and are lightweight (150gsm). Perfect for toiling away beneath the outback sun, the premium shirts are made from 100 per cent cotton twill, with a soft hand feel. With heaps of sizes and colours available, the shirts are said to be incredibly comfortable. Website: www.goldersaustralia.com.au RRP: $59.95
UNIDEN UH620 SERIES
Built for the rough and tumble of outback expedition, Uniden’s lightweight UH620 Series of UHF radios are available in 1-, 1.5- and 2-watt variations for extended range. The units can communicate up to a 13km+ range, making them a viable option for remote travel. Other features include an inbuilt LED light, 80 UHF channels, and up to 20 hours of talk time. Rechargeable batteries are included. RRP: $79.95 (single pack); $179.95 (twin pack) Website: www.uniden.com.au
WHERE TO CAMP GUIDE – 1ST EDITION
Hema’s Where To Camp Guide is a great place to start when you’re planning your next camping adventure. With more than 5500 indexed sites, split onto 75 regions, the guide has a comprehensive collection of site listings across all states and territories. Listings are categorised as camping grounds, caravan parks, bush camps and overnight rest areas. The guide also includes 180 pages of maps, more than 1000 free and budget sites, camping and travel tips, and plenty more. RRP: $64.95 Website: www.hemamaps.com
In Season 7 of the 4X4 Adventure Series, the crew heads to the Apple Isle in pursuit of hidden campsite gems and challenging tracks.
With MSA 4×4 and MAXTRAX tagging along in their respective 6WDs, this episode sees the convoy start their journey at Jacobs Ladder on a cold, wet and windy summer’s day.
With the spectacular views hidden behind heavy cloud cover, the crew decides to heads north and battle through belting rain to the coast at Bridport, airing down for some fun on the beach and dunes en-route to Bellingham.
Back on tarmac the team heads south to the small town of Derby, before continuing on to the historical Blue Tier Forest Reserve and then dropping in for a brew at the Pub in the Paddock.
More sand driving was on the agenda for the following day, with a jaunt through the Peron Dunes – helping some stranded folks with our trusty set of MAXTRAX recovery boards – before heading south to Cape Tourville Lighthouse which is popular with tourists.
Out campsite for the night, originally intended to be at the southern end of the Friendly Beaches, was instead within the forest due to mechanical failure with one of the vehicles.
In this episode we also test out a couple of products new to market: MSA 4×4’s towing mirrors, the MAXTRAX Indeflate and Narva’s Ultima 180 LEDs.
OUR September 2020 issue of 4X4 Australia is now on sale.
With spring on the horizon, peak desert-touring season is nearing. So to help prepare for your pursuit of red dust and remote campsites, we’ve listed eight epic desert adventures to put on your bucket list. The CSR and Strzelecki Track, to name two.
Remember, though, before you undertake a desert trip, you’ll need a capable vehicle prepped for off-road travel.
Speaking of capable vehicles for remote travel, we’ve included a couple of beauties. The custom Troop Carrier you see plastered on the cover is the first LC78 to be fitted with Marks 4WD portal axles. However, there’s plenty more to this Troopy than meets the eye.
Another mouth-watering custom creation in this issue is a behemoth F250, running a V8 turbo-diesel code-named ‘Scorpion’ that punches out an awe-inspiring 1268Nm. Holy moly! The F250 is the perfect caravan-hauler for that extended trip away.
Also in this issue, we take an in-depth look at a couple of Aussie 4×4 classics: the Holden Overlander and the Ford XY Falcon. Plus, we drive the JT Gladiator to find out if it really is the perfect choice for the 4×4 lifestyle.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
– 2020 Ford Bronco coverage. – New 4×4 products on the market. – 4×4 gear tested. – Readers’ Rigs and long-term shed updates.
The September 2020 magazine is OUT NOW!
THE FORD Ranger is a favourite among Australian four-wheelers, ever-popular on the sales charts – going tit-for-tat with the Hilux for best-selling 4×4 for a good part of the last five years.
It’s no surprise then that there’s a smorgasbord of aftermarket equipment readily available for the Blue Oval fourbie, and no doubt you’ve seen plenty of accessorised Rangers popping in and out of your favourite campsites.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve drooled over some of the finest Ranger builds in the country – so we decided to list a bunch of our favourites. In addition, it’d be remiss of us to catalogue our favourite Ford custom builds without mentioning a couple of ridiculously good F-250s, as well as a neat and tidy Everest Trend.
SUPERCHARGED V8 MIGHT
WHEN this Ranger rolled into the Diesel Leaders garage, its standard 3.2-litre inline five-cylinder engine had seen its last day. An option raised by the rig’s anonymous owner was to slot in a V8 as a replacement, so the Diesel Leader team – led by Gary Coleman – got to work.
One of the only stipulations enforced by the owner was that the new V8 had to look factory in the bay, so that meant a Ford engine was the only option, with the team nodding toward a supercharged Ford Coyote V8 good for 335kW and 570Nm in stock form. As that engine had been powering a number of hi-po Falcons in Australia, it was easy to come by. To prevent a mountain of additional work, the Falcon’s six-speed auto was the transmission of choice.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of this build was fitting the large V8 petrol guzzler in to the Ranger’s space-limited engine bay, and then fitting the Falcon transmission in to the Ranger’s transfer case – a job eventually performed by Rage Engineering in Queensland. Another huge challenge was fitting the custom exhaust system, a job ticked off by a different local company. It was this cutting and matching of aftermarket parts with standard fitments that consumed plenty of time in the shed.
On a dyno run the V8 was said to smash out 344kW, with the potential to generate considerably more power if desired.
The V8 may be the hero of this build, but the Ranger has some serious modifications for off-road work including lifted suspension courtesy of heavy-duty springs and Bilstein dampers. Other kit includes a Rhino 4×4 bash plate, 35×12.50R20LT Nitto Grappler M/Ts wrapped around KMC Wheels’ satin black XD820 Grenade rims, and a Rhino 4×4 Evolution 3D front winch bar (with aluminium bash plate).
6.6 LITRES OF FURY
THIS example you’re ogling right now is what happens when you slot one of the best-hauling engines on the market into a PX1 Ford Ranger. That engine in question is a stonking turbocharged 6.6-litre Duramax engine, the kind you’ll find powering GMC trucks. To cater for the considerable hike in torque, the Ranger’s factory six-speed and transfer were binned, replaced by an Allison Transmission six-speed auto and New Process NT263 transfer case.
How much power and torque are we talking here? On a dyno tune, the Ranger clocked up a mesmerising 468rwhp and 1320Nm. Yep, no kidding. Somewhat surprisingly, the vehicle’s owner Ant said the engine swap was “pretty straightforward”. “They’re a common swap in to Patrols, but this was actually a lot simpler,” he said.
With the regular duty of towing a 3400kg boat down to the coast, Ant reckons he doesn’t even notice the boat behind the Ranger, only clocking up 17.2L/100km with the boat tethered behind.
As the Ranger’s standard diffs are up to the task, a tickle underneath rectified any off-road shortfalls due to the increase mass up front with heavy-duty XGS two-inch-lifted springs enclosing Ironman 4×4 Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers. It’s the same combination at the rear, albeit with only a 50mm body lift. In addition, a set of Total Chaos upper control arms were slotted in.
Other notable accessories include a four-inch snorkel, front and rear bar work, 35-inch Nitto Terra Grapplers wrapped around 16-inch Allied Wheels’ Brutes, and an Aeroklas canopy. You may also have noticed the clean, de-badged look, which was an intention from the outset. In fact, even the UHF aerial is hidden to maintain the neat aesthetics.
BIGGER AND BETTER
WHEN most folks think of big four-wheel drives they think of RAM 2500s and Ford F-250s, but rarely will they picture a PX1 XLS Ranger. However, this isn’t any regular Ranger. Its owner, Jesse Endenburg, threw the spanners and grinders at it to make it 300mm longer, and that’s only one aspect of this insane build.
By stitching an extra 300mm of chassis rail, pushing the rear axle back and stretching the wheelbase, the vehicle needed a lift to cater for the comprehensive makeover. To this end, the team at Performance Suspension Racing in Queensland gave the vehicle a 50mm body-lift.
A four-inch suspension lift from Superior Engineering provided Jesse with the balance he was seeking, with the monotube arrangement comprising high-quality shocks. Superior Engineering upper control arms were also slotted in, as was a PSR diff-drop kit. The rubber of choice was Mickey Thompson MTZ tyres, and they’re wrapped around Method Race Wheels alloys.
Unlike the previous two builds, this Ranger retains Ford’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The Duratorq engine has been fettled by Just Autos, in an effort to allow the engine reach its potential – aided by an HDI intercooler and four-inch Fabulous Fabrications stainless-steel snorkel. A custom NPC clutch aids the six-speed transmission, while a custom exhaust system expels spent gasses.
An ARB Deluxe bullbar resides up front, as does a Domin8r 12,00lb winch. A set of custom Elite Engineering rock sliders run down the flanks, with an Ironman 4×4 steel rear bar keeping things tidy and protected down back.
Lighting duties are taken care of thanks to a 50-inch light bar positioned on the roof, while a 22-inch Stedi bar lives on the ARB bullbar. Power needs are controlled via a Redarc 1240 BCDC charger and KickAss slimline battery.
HARROP’S HERO
THIS Ranger build, clearly concocted with the style of Baja 1000 pre-runner chase cars in mind, is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Harrop Engineering, and we first came across it almost five years ago.
The Harrop Ford PXII XLT Ranger’s key attribute – that killer chase rack – was made by Melbourne mob Uneek 4×4. The fully powdercoated rack comprises of the base rack, a spare wheel carrier and a roof rack, and it features custom-designed side-plates. The base rack and roof rack are TIG-welded in 6061 aluminium, and the tyre rack is made using steel.
MCC side-steps run down the vehicle’s flanks, while a low-cut Rhino 4×4 bar maintains that subtle yet strong appearance. Interestingly, that bar was originally made for a Ford Everest; so a grille from an Everest was fitted to the Ranger as a work-around.
A free-flowing exhaust system, in tandem with a Unichip Q4 tuning module, increases the response and performance of the 3.2-litre diesel engine, with torque now coming on instantly and power rising from 125kW/420Nm to 157kW/536Nm.
The suspension setup was masterminded by the crew at Tough Dog 4WD Suspension, with an overhaul of the stock springs and shocks lifting ride height. A Harrop E-Locker fixed to the front axle now works in tandem with the factory Ford rear locker – it can be run independently if required.
A set of 285/65R18 Nitto Trail Grappler tyres accompanying the 18-inch Method wheels maintain the race-inspired look, with a matching Nitto residing on the chase rack.
It’s so good, in fact, it won our inaugural Custom 4×4 of the Year award, as voted by our readers.
AMVE MASTERPIECE
THIS epic 2017 F-250 Platinum puts forward quite a compelling case for the ‘bigger is better’ theory. Assembled for touring by Queensland mob Allsafe Mine Vehicle Equipment (AMVE) – the same crew that screwed together the canopy on the 4X4 Australia Ranger – the purpose-built Yank tank was made to tour throughout Australia while hauling a massive 21-foot Kedron off-road caravan.
Considering AMVE were the brains behind the build, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the custom tray and canopy fit-out is first class. The aluminium tray, for example, features four toolboxes, with one housing an ARB air-compressor.
The canopy includes two lift-up side doors, an 80-litre Engel accessed via an MSA 4×4 drop-down slide and twin cargo drawers. The canopy also houses a Redarc Battery Management System (BMS) to control electronics.
There’s also a Rhino-Rack Pioneer platform up top with a Rhino-Rack Batwing awning and a 100-litre aluminium water tank. There’s also a custom tyre holder for two 37-inch spares.
Eager eyes will notice the vehicle stands taller than stock F-250s – four inches taller, in fact – and that’s courtesy of an overhaul to the suspension setup. Up front you’ll find a King Off-Road Racing Shocks coil-over system; down back is a set of standard rear springs with an additional leaf added to them … as well as a set of Airbag Man adjustable airbags and another pair of King Shocks.
A Fabulous Fabrication four-inch stainless-steel snorkel feeds clean air into the 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 engine, while other gear includes a Road Armor Steel Stealth front bar, Bushwacker flares, AMVE 4×4 side-steps, 15,000lb Warn winch, Weldex LED spotties and XRay light bars. The 37×13.5×18 Mickey Thompson MTZ P3 tyres wrap around Fuel 18×9-inch wheels.
BLACK OPS
ANOTHER F-250 that needs to be seen to be believed is this limited edition 2017 Black Ops Edition, fettled by US aftermarket manufacturer Tuscany Motor Co.
Unlike a stock F-250, the Black Ops edition comes from the factory with a six-inch lift, 20-inch rims inside 37-inch tyres, twin steering dampers, plenty of carbon-fibre bits and pieces, and a massive Road Armor bullbar.
However, its owner Simon wanted to turn the dial up to 11, and a call to Outback Customs in Caboolture got things rolling. You see that massive canopy? Well, it’s sardine-packed with a helluva lot of quality gear. The heavy-duty steel tray itself has plenty of storage options, but it’s up top where things get really interesting. There are not one but two Jackoff canopies, independent of each other, and Simon can also rid the back of the canopies and utilise the flat tray for his Polaris RZR.
The electronics are kept in check by a Redarc battery management system hooked to twin lithium batteries, while other kit stored away includes a gas-powered hot-water system, an MSA drop-down fridge slide, a full 12V kit-out and a Weber Q barbecue. An interchangeable roof-rack system allows Simon to swap between a motorised boat loader and a James Baroud rooftop tent, depending on his trip itinerary.
To cater for all of this added weight, Outback Customs installed a Ride-Rite air-suspension arrangement to the rear, backed by King coil-overs up front and King shocks in the rear – both using remote reservoirs.
A five-tonne rig, loaded to the brim with toys and aftermarket kit, needs a big engine and the F-250 runs a beastly 6.7L Power Stroke diesel that puts out 328kW and 1166Nm. Simon even had the engine tweaked by the experts at Bully Dog, so it’s even more refined than stock!
CLIMBING EVEREST
IT WOULDN’T be fair to the hugely capable Everest to not include in our list of Favourite Ford builds, and this carefully constructed example was simply too good not to include.
After considered research, the owner of this mid-spec Everest Trend, Chris, opted to dress-up the front-end with quality protection. To this end, a steel ARB Summit bullbar and associated brush rails and side-steps – all colour-coded – got the nod. A Warn M8000 winch and LED spotlights are neatly nestled into the ARB bar. Beneath the bar is a Roadsafe metal bash plate and rated recovery points.
Stock suspension bits were replaced with Ironman 4×4 components including Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers and heavy-duty coil springs, giving the Everest an overall ride-height lift of 50mm – aided of course by the 285/65R18 Cooper ST Maxx tyres and CSA Raptor alloy wheels.
As it’s a wagon and not a ute, space is more compromised. So, again, careful consideration was required to appease any storage shortfalls. Recovery gear and other off-road essentials are packed away in a set of 900mm-long slide-out drawers which also house a Waeco fridge. Concealed beneath the fridge is an aux battery and Projector DC-DC charger.
More items are stored on the Rhino XTray roof rack, including a high-lift jack, traction boards and a shovel. Gemtek lighting turns night into day on bush tracks, while an 80-channel UHF radio from GME keeps Chris’s comms active.
The stock 3.2-litre engine remains unchanged and emits 143kW and 470Nm, with the only modification in that area being a TJM Airtec intake snorkel.
While not as wild as some of the other builds on these pages, this Everest proves you don’t need a massive budget or a massive list of aftermarket gear to make the ideal 4×4 for your needs and wants.
4X4 AUSTRALIA RANGER
MAYBE there’s an element of bias here, but we reckon our Ford Ranger cuts the mustard as a highly capable Ranger build. Purchased as a stock-standard XLS with a six-speed manual cog-swapper, the Ranger has received a bounty of aftermarket equipment in its relatively short time with us.
We initially picked a Ranger as we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to aftermarket equipment for the Blue Oval 4×4. Plus, as mentioned, it’s also a great seller, consistently at the pointy end of the sales charts.
The first call of action after signing on the dotted line was to replace the stock tyres – initially Maxxis RAZR muddies, but more recently with Goodyear MT/Rs – upgrade the wheels to a set of bronze KMC Addict 2 alloys, and improve the suspension setup. This was done by Ironman 4×4, with the Aussie brand employing Foam Cell Pro front struts and uprated coil springs, new forged aluminium upper control arms and a constant-load rear leaf spring mated to another set of Foam Cell Pro shocks.
A loopless AFN 4×4 bullbar was then secured up front, housing a Warn winch, Narva Ultima 180 lights and aerials for both the Cel-Fi Go booster and GME UHF radio. The aluminium plate underbody protection is also from AFN 4×4. Those Narva lights are a recent addition, as we were previously running a set of Bushranger Nighthawk driving lights.
That tidy canopy, constructed by Queensland’s AMVE, is custom-made from powdercoated aluminium. Inside the canopy you’ll find a myCOOLMAN 60-litre fridge on an MSA fridge slide, an integrated water tank and oodles of storage facilities. Power needs are controlled and monitored by an integrated RedVision Total Vehicle Management System, incorporating a Manager 30 DC-DC charger and a Redarc 2000-watt pure sine wave inverter.
Other equipment includes a Hayman Reese X-Bar, a Rola Titan Tray rack system atop the canopy, MaxTrax Extreme recovery boards, a second Titan Tray atop the Ranger, Narva LED work lights, a Pacemaker Exhausts’ King Brown exhaust system, a Water Watch unit and a Provent oil separator catch-can from Direction Plus.
It’s definitely been put to work since we took ownership of the vehicle, ferrying camping and photography gear on a number of 4X4 Adventure Series trips, including to Tasmania, the Flinders Ranges and Central Australia. There’s plenty of life left in our Ranger yet!
SHIELD your vehicle’s integral components by upgrading its armour with quality aftermarket gear, including these options from Ironman 4×4 and TJM.
TJM VENTURER BAR
TJM has unveiled a new bullbar for the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series: the TJM Venturer bar. The subtle bar, which respects the LC200’s design by accentuating the 200s natural lines, features an all-steel construction. Said to be lighter than other steel bar alternatives, the Venturer boasts a removable top hoop, a steel underbody guard, LED fog lights, heavy-duty aerial tabs, reinforced T-slots, and integrated 8000kg recovery points. Stainless-steel grilles sit either side of TJM’s winch mount frame. The bar is compatible with the vehicle’s safety systems and is ADR compliant. Website: www.tjm.com.au
IRONMAN 4X4 UNDERBODY PROTECTION: 2018+ JIMNY
Designed to protect the most vulnerable impact zones in the centre section of the Jimny (2018+ models), Ironman 4×4’s Premium Underbody Protection kit will keep the transfer case, driveline components and exhaust safe when roughing it off road. The stylish and functional kit is designed using heavy-duty reinforced 4mm steel, to resist damage from rocks, stumps and ground strikes. The plates are EDP E-coated and incorporate ample drainage. It comes with a two-year warranty. Website: www.ironman4x4.com RRP: $476
UPGRADE your 4×4 with some new LEDs, courtesy of Wurth and Bushranger.
WURTH UNDER-BONNET LED
A clever design aspect of the Wurth under-bonnet LED is that it has hooks on either end that can swivel 360 degrees, to help fix it in place. To prevent scratching paint or other sensitive materials, the unit is lined in foam. The compact and extendable LED is suitable for bonnets 110 to 180cm wide, and it utilises 32 LEDs and 10 watts each. Using lithium-ion battery tech, the light has a short charging time but a long light duration. Two light levels are available. RRP: $249 Website: www.wurth.com.au
BUSHRANGER NIGHTHAWK 7-INCH VLI LED
Bushranger has added a set of seven-inch LEDs to its driving light family. The compact, lightweight lights are great when space is at a premium up the front of your 4×4. The lights push out the same 967m at 1 lux as the brand’s nine-inch variants. The lights come with two protective covers, allowing users to quickly change the beam pattern. We had a bigger set of nine-inch Night Hawks on the 4X4 Australia Ford Ranger and were very impressed with the light spread they threw out in front of us on a few adventures. Plus, the Night Hawk won our 2019 LED driving light comparison. The lights come with a five-year warranty. Website: www.bushranger.com.au
To showcase its range of factory-backed accessories that will be available at launch, Ford USA has revealed five new adventure-inspired Bronco concepts that were expected to debut at the now-cancelled 2020 SEMA Show.
The five Bronco concepts are: Four-Door Outer Banks Fishing Guide; Two-Door Trail Rig; Sport Trail Rig; Sport TOW RZR; and Sport Off-Roadeo Adventure Patrol.
“Our dream for Bronco was not just to design a family of vehicles people would love, but to build a community around people who love to go off-road and get into the wild, who want to customise and personise their Broncos, and share experiences with each other,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and chief executive officer.
Bronco Four-Door Outer Banks Fishing Guide
Based on the four-door Bronco ‘Outer Banks’, the Fishing Guide is built as a lifestyle vehicle with – you guessed it – fishing in mind, with a custom-made fishing pole and seat perch fitted to fender-mounted trail sights. A Bestop Sunrider first-row soft top as well as factory-style roof rails and crossbars reside up top, complemented by a Yakima LockNLoad Platform roof rack. Extra kit includes a Ford Performance modular front bumper and safari bar, a slide-out tailgate, all-weather floor mats and splash guards.
Bronco Two-Door Trail Rig
Based on the two-door ‘Badlands’, the Two-Door Trail Rig concept utilises a Ford Performance modular front bumper and a Yakima Platform roof rack system, with mounts for a shovel, recovery boards and a WARN recovery kit. A WARN winch up front will help get wayward mates out of a pickle, while a 40-inch LED light bar and beadlock-capable wheels round out the package.
Bronco Sport Trail Rig
Also based on the ‘Badlands’ series, the Sport Trail Rig receives a one-inch lift kit and adds 31-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tyres, RIGID LED off-road lights, and a Yakima LockNLoad Platform roof rack with mounts for a high-lift jack kit, recovery boards and jerry cans.
Bronco Sport TOW RZR
For the adventurer who likes to tow and haul outdoor gear, the TOW RZR is the concept that’ll tick the right boxes. Again based on the ‘Badlands’ series, the TOW RZR adds Yakima HD Bar crossbars, an OffGrid medium cargo basket, and a Class II Trailer Tow Package with a 2200lb capacity.
Bronco Sport Off-Roadeo Adventure Patrol
The Sport Off-Roadeo Adventure Patrol is loaded with a Yakima LockNLoad Cargo Platform with mounts for a high-lift jack, recovery boards and jerry cans; a Ford Performance by RIGID off-road LED light bar; and an interior Yakima rack to store two mountain bikes.
In total, more than 200 factory-backed accessories will be available for two- and four-door Broncos, as well as more than 100 accessories for Bronco Sport models.