4x4s we'd buy, and how we'd modify them: Toyota HiLux SR

The problem with the HiLux is that it hasn’t offered a decent engine since the mighty 3RZ, and the latest AN120 models just don’t do much to change that.

They’re still a great ute, but for the love of everything holy, Toyota, give me something that’ll make me smile when I put my foot down. Okay, that’s off my chest and I’ve had a lie down, I feel better.

To be fair, the HiLux is still a great vehicle that can be built into anything your heart desires, as long as your bank account is cool with it too. Therein lies the huge appeal of the mighty Lux. Not only is there massive support for it on the aftermarket, including engine swap kits if you really want to go HAM, but the resale on them is the envy of pretty much all other ute-owners, so there are a bunch of good reasons to own one.

Me, I want something that’ll take me anywhere on the continent, from the High Country to the Pilbara, and I want to do it comfortably, and I don’t want to bypass any of the hard tracks. The SR5 and up models are all north of $60K, and there’s only one model of extra-cab, the SR5 Styleside. The rest are all dual-cabs, which I don’t want (long story short: they’re too much of a compromise for my needs. All mid-size dual-cabs are a jack of all trades, master of none, which is not my bag). 

That leaves the SR cab-chassis extra-cab, which rings up at $50,695, saving me $25K over a GR Sport. Which is $25K I can put to much better use.

I travel light, so a Norweld Basic extra cab canopy for $13,325 is more than enough to house my fridge and camping gear. I’d fit it out with an entry-level 100Ah lithium system for $1800 and bolt up a San Hima hard-shell RTT for $2000 and a 30sec Wing Awning for $995.

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Out front I’d bolt up a custom-fabricated pre-runner-spec lightweight tube bar with steering protection and a winch mount for the Frontier winch ($3000 all up). I’d wire in a 40-inch Stedi lightbar ($480) which I’d mount up on the roof.

I’d then run two-inch lift coils up front and a 25mm spring spacer on the rear with Bilstein B60 shocks at each corner, which would give me the ability to bomb over washouts on Outback dirt roads at a buck-twenty in comfort ($5500). I’d also throw on a set of 285/75R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers ($2400). 

Last but not least, I’d get my local ARB to throw in a front Air Locker for around two-grand. This would give me go-anywhere ability for a few grand more than a stock GR Sport, which would have nowhere near the capability or comfort of my super-tidy SR.