Custom 4x4: 2014 Mazda BT-50

To the outside observer, the world of 4x4s and 4x4 modifications has never heard of the term ‘less is more’. We’re almost obsessed with adding. Bigger motors, bigger tyres, bigger batteries, bigger driving lights. And while a couple of tonnes of 4x4 mobbing down the track might look impressive, it’s not always the right tool for the job, you wouldn’t hang a picture hook with a sledgehammer now would you?

Enter Lal’s insane BT-50 – one of the most modified BT-50s you’ll find anywhere in the country, and also one of the smallest. Let us explain.

Starting with a bone-stock 2014 single-cab BT-50, Lal set out to build something a little different than the rest, and he started from the frame up. Where a stock BT-50 has a huge 3226mm between the front and rear axles, Lal called in the guys from Ultimate Stretches to cut his pride and joy in half, remove 300mm from the chassis behind the cab, and stitch the whole lot back together better than stock.

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The new wheelbase gets the off-road ability more in line with the classic 80 Series LandCruisers and GQ Patrols and helps make the BT far more nimble on tight tracks. While the grinder was out, the overhang at the rear of the frame was knocked back all the way to the leaf hangers, giving a useable tray size closer to a dual cab – we weren’t kidding when we said Lal had built something unique.

Of course, a shorter wheelbase isn’t the only key to Lal’s success. One of the biggest weak links in any modern ute’s off-road ability is the stiff-as-a-rock rear leaf-spring suspension, but that’s nothing a grinder and welder couldn’t fix. Lal and his mate Creedo rolled the BT into the shed and set about installing a Superior Engineering coil rear-conversion.

The weld-in 5-link set-up gives the same insane articulation Patrols and Cruisers are known for, as well as a far smoother ride on- and off-road. Adjustable upper control arms let the boys dial the pinion angle in perfect for the set-up, with the adjustable Panhard rod getting the diff smack bang on centre again to suit the three-inch suspension lift. Lal also spec’ed up a set of 11.6-inch stroke Fox shocks from the guys at Solve Offroad and teamed them up with progressive bump stops to smooth out the bigger hits.

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Up front has received a similar three-inch bump in altitude. This time with a set of Fox struts doing the heavy lifting. They’re teamed with Solve Offroad coil springs, and paired with a set of Blackhawk upper control arms on either side getting camber and castor back in to line. To give the CV joints a fighting chance, Lal fitted a weld-in diff-drop kit as well.

To make sure the full off-road ability of the chassis and suspension makes its way into the ground, Lal’s not pulled any punches in the traction department either. Keeping both rear tyres digging together is the factory electronic rear locker, while up front an ARB air locker is called into action at the flick of a switch giving the BT true four-wheel drive. Tyre slip is rarely an issue either. Each corner is shod with aggressive Maxxis Razr mud tyres shaping in at 35x12.5-inch, and they’re typically operating in single-digit pressures thanks to the beadlock KMC Desert Grenade wheels locking the tyres to the rims.

Moving up, Lal managed to nailed the balance between off-road ability and serious camping rig too. A month of weekends on the welder pieced together a custom stubby tray, with a custom canvas canopy keeping it water and dust tight while still coping with the abuse Lal throws its way.

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Rolling up the passenger-side canvas gets you straight into the kitchen set-up. There’s a 130L Bushman upright fridge up against the headboard, with a custom-built slide-out pantry tucked in next to it playing host to every sauce and spice you can imagine. Rounding out the rest of the minimal kitchen space is a Dunn & Watson kitchen slide, giving a convenient prep space as well as somewhere to stash bulkier food items.

On the driver’s side are a couple of custom drawers Lal keeps stocked with spare parts and tools, a huge storage area for clothing and a 12-volt control panel feeding the Korr LED lighting and various power outlets via the 126amp/h Monster Campers Lithium battery. The cap on it all is a quick and easy place for Lal to lay his head with an Ultra Fab hard-shell rooftop tent.

With the rear well and truly protected thanks to the heavy-duty steel tray, Lal set his sights farther forward to protect the vulnerable sheet metal. Along each flank are a set of matching custom tube rock sliders bolted on to mounting plates on the frame, while aluminium Rival bash plates protect the driveline underneath right up to the Uneek4x4 ‘Crawler’ bar up front.

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Tucked inside the hoopless bar is Drivetech 4x4’s dual-speed 9500lb winch (geared for light work at high speeds, or lower speeds with higher loads). The bar houses the OEM fog lights in new mounts, but Lal’s fitted a set of laser beam-bright Stedi Type-X LED driving lights up top to help light the way. The whole bar work arrangement from front to rear not only gives the BT a sleek look, but protects the colour-changing ‘rising sun’ 3M vinyl wrap that covers over the original battleship-grey paint.

Under the constantly changing colour bonnet, Lal’s kept things relatively simple. The stock five-cylinder 3.2L turbo diesel still takes pride of place, backed up by the manual cog-swapper six-speed; and Lal’s got it breathing far better thanks to an In-House fabrication stainless-steel snorkel feeding down into a high-flowed standard turbo.

On the inside Lal’s kept things looking stock but functional again. Riding in the factory bucket seats he’s got full control over a whole host of communications and electronics upgrades. Behind the driver’s seat is a Cel-Fi phone reception booster ensuring he’s always in range on his long runs up and down the coast. A GME UHF sits above his right knee, keeping him in communication on the trail with his mates or out scouting for the perfect campsite.

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On the right of the dash an iDrive throttle controller lets him desensitise the throttle for bouncy rock crawling, or dial the sensitivity right up for instant response in soft sand. The final piece to the puzzle is a Roadpower eight-way customisable switch panel that not only keeps all the extra wiring out of the cab, but also controls everything from lockers to winch controls and even interior lighting.

Lal’s BT might be smaller than the average modern ute, but there’s no arguing he’s crammed not only a lot of capability into a small size, but comfort as well. Despite being nearly half the length of many of the other tourers on the track, he’s got everything he could ever possibly need for an off-road adventure, and enough capability to adventure wherever he wants.