Aside from the couple of comparison tests it has been part of, our Toyota HiLux has been sitting idle as we planned what we wanted to do with it and what gear we’d be fitting. 

As one of the most popular 4×4 vehicles in Australia, the aftermarket accessories industry gets behind the Toyota ute as soon as any new model is introduced, and this generation HiLux is no exception.

There’s plenty of new product coming to market for the 2026 HiLux, and we couldn’t wait to get stuck into the catalogues. Starting at the front of the vehicle, we were pleased to welcome ARB to our build for the first time since we started running project vehicles a few years ago. ARB has established itself as one of the premier manufacturers of quality 4×4 accessories, and the brand is highly regarded wherever we travel.

JUMP AHEAD

Front-end protection and ARB bull bar

Renowned globally for its bull bars and vehicle protection gear, it was only fitting that ARB would kit out the front of our ‘Lux with a comprehensive protection, recovery and lighting package. 

Starting with the front end, the team at ARB’s HQ in Kilsyth, Victoria fitted a Summit MkII steel bullbar, a Bushranger Covert winch, Intensity IQ driving lights and under-vehicle protection (UVP) plates to our HiLux.

Over the past half-century, bull bars have been one of ARB’s signature products, and the company has been at the forefront of vehicle protection development as new-vehicle design and mandated safety systems have rapidly progressed. While modern vehicles present ongoing challenges for engineers and designers, ARB has maintained its leading position in the industry.

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The Summit MkII bar is no exception. Designed and made to maintain all of the electronic and passive safety systems of the OE vehicle, the mounting system retains the vehicle’s crush points so that all ADAS systems work as intended.

For functionality, the Summit bar is winch-compatible, includes provisions for factory parking and radar sensors, and offers mounting points for driving lights, along with integrated LED foglights. These are ARB units and should offer a step up in performance over the OE foggies your vehicle may have had.

Lastly, and for many users most importantly, ARB bars are designed to look good while protecting the vehicle and its occupants without compromising appearance. Rounded edges, quality finishes, an infill grille, LED lighting and integrated indicators all add to the aesthetic rather than detract from it. It’s a premium product, and I’ve got to say the front end of our HiLux looks a whole lot better now with the Summit bar and ARB kit fitted.

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Integrated winch and recovery system 

For those times when we slip into a rut, underestimate a bog hole or just need to pull a mate out of trouble, the ARB team fitted a Bushranger Covert 10S electric winch to the Summit bar before the assembly was bolted onto the HiLux. 

The Bushranger Covert 10S is a premium winch without the premium price tag. It features Albright solenoids neatly tucked away inside the winch housing, so there’s no external control box. The 5.3hp series-wound 12V motor drives a four-stage gearbox with 17:1 gearing for smooth control and dependable braking.

The zero-drag braking system uses a gearbox-mounted brake that provides 100 per cent load holding, along with the ability to power-unspool under no load without damaging the winch. The Covert comes with synthetic rope, a hook, hawse fairlead, wireless and wired hand controllers, and a 500A winch power isolator.

As mentioned, the ARB technicians fitted the winch into the bar before mounting it to the vehicle. They ‘clocked’ the gearbox to ensure the clutch handle was easy to access through the grille, installed the isolator and control gear in the engine bay, and finished it off with a flip-up number plate bracket.

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Performance driving lighting package 

A pair of ARB Intensity IQ driving lights are mounted to the nicely curved Summit bar. These are ARB’s premium lights, and they offer multiple beam patterns to suit a range of driving conditions. 

The lights have four main modes – Super Spot, Spot, Mid-range and Flood – and you can tailor them using the IQ phone app to suit your needs. Super Spot uses four Cree XP-P LEDs to deliver the furthest light projection. Spot uses three XP-P LEDs to provide a broader yet still focused beam. Mid-range uses four Cree XM-L3 LEDs to strike a balance between distance and spread, while the Flood beam is made up of 18 Cree XT-E LEDs to provide strong peripheral illumination. As mentioned, you can mix and match the settings to find what works best for you.

We haven’t had a chance to properly test the lights yet, but we’re looking forward to getting the HiLux out on some long, dark tracks to see how they perform.

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Underbody protection and off-road armour 

The last piece of ARB kit fitted was the UVP, or under-vehicle protection.

ARB’s UVP is made from stamped and powder-coated steel to ensure a good fit and long-term durability. It replaces the plastic OE under-tray with a stronger steel setup to properly protect the engine sump and other vital components when you’re bouncing over rocks, logs and other obstacles off road. 

The front panel of the UVP is vented to maintain airflow to the engine bay, while notches and access holes in the panels allow you to get to components like the sump plug. It’s reassuring to know there’s something more substantial than a flimsy plastic cover shielding the underside of the HiLux.

It was a full-day job for two ARB technicians to carry out the installation, and the result is a great-looking front end with lighting, recovery and protection components that make driving in rough terrain more secure. Now to get out there and get it dirty!

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