Mitsubishi Triton ML: Custom 4X4OTY contender

We’ve assembled an incredible list of modified machines for the inaugural Custom 4X4 Of The Year award.

With three separate lift mods and 50mm of bodylift, Jarad Roberts’ Mitsubishi ML Triton quickly became a towering beast, a comp-truck in tourer clothing.

Instead of the stock IFS, there’s now a heavy-duty Dana 44 from East Coast Gear Supply in the USA. It’s been externally braced and has a Solid Industry diff hat, while the insides have been filled with 35-spline chrome-moly axles with Nitro Gear 4.11:1 ratios, all wrapped around an ELocker.

The diff is held in place with custom Patrol-style radius arms and a custom Panhard rod. The Patrol steering box sends input to the D44 through a set of steering rods from an early full-sized Jeep Cherokee. The whole lot is kept in place by a Fox steering damper.

A pair of custom shock towers housing 2.5in remote-reservoir Fox coil-overs is welded to the chassis front and back, providing limitless tuning options for different conditions.

Despite being fitted with an ARB Air Locker, Jarad’s Triton still runs on the standard rear axle, a huge 31-spline unit from a previous-generation Pajero held in place by a custom three-link suspension arrangement with an extensive diff brace.

The stubby chassis has had 400mm lopped off the rails to improve the departure angle, and the tray is near unbreakable with dimple-died plate, tube sides and thick flares. Underneath is a second battery and air-compressor, as well as the spare tyre; 37in Maxxis Trepadores for rough work and 35in Mickey Thompson MTZs for street duties.

The front bar houses a 12,000lb Avenger winch and Hella HID spotlights which complement the 42in quad-row light bar, LED replacement headlights and fog lights.

Following a retune, the 3.2-litre turbo-diesel punches out 500Nm with a three-inch straight-through exhaust and K&N filter. A Chip It manual boost and drive controller is combined with the Exedy HD clutch and oversized radiator to keep the beast cool.

With cockpit creature comforts, this has to be the best off-road-going Triton in Australia.

Vote for Jarad's ML Triton to decide this year's Custom 4x4 of the Year.