Custom BT-50 is as solid as a rock

A decades-long partnership was broken when Ford ended its deal with Mazda to work together on midsize utes.

It was a deal that saw Mazda B-Series utes being rebadged as Couriers and Rangers, and then once Ford created the PX Series Ranger, the deal swung the other way for Mazda to use for its BT-50 models.

When Ford terminated the deal for its then forthcoming ‘Next-Gen’ Ranger, Mazda went looking for a new partner and found a good deal with fellow Japanese brand Isuzu.

In truth, the latest Mazda BT-50 utes are the latest Isuzu D-Maxs, with a fresh skin on them and a revised interior. Everything behind the face is shared, from the powertrains to the chassis and, as owners of Isuzu utes will tell you, that’s a good thing.

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Melbourne’s Jarrod Thorton could see it was a good thing as well, and chose a new BT-50 to showcase the work of his business, Rock Solid Trays & Canopies.

“At the time it was either the BT-50 or D-Max that had released the new-generation models,” Jarrod told 4X4 Australia. “I preferred the style of the BT-50 as well as them being more readily available.”

That’s a familiar tale we’ve heard from BT buyers; while waiting lists for D-Maxes have at times blown out to months, you could walk into a Mazda dealership and drive away in a stylish new ute that is essentially the same car.

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Top spec

The GT model was the top of the Range BT-50 when Jarrod bought it new in 2021 so it came very well equipped off the showroom floor.

But its high levels of luxury and safety equipment from the factory pale into insignificance when you see what Jarrod has done with it since.

As you might guess from the name, Jarrod’s business makes trays and canopies for utes so it was a given that the new BT was going to be the recipient of some Rock Solid goodness.

The standard cargo tub was quickly dispatched and in its place a Rock Solid Premium tray measuring 1700mm x 1850mm is the platform on which a solid touring setup is built. The Premium tray includes under-tray boxes, a 1200mm Trundle drawer, 60L stainless steel water tank, one-piece flared mudguards and a rear ladder rack.

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The 1000mm Rock Solid canopy houses an 85L Bushman fridge with slide-out drawer/table, a pantry (also with a drawer and table combo) and the 12V power supply system.

This is built around a Safiery 200Ah battery fed by a Victron Orion DC charger, Victron MPPT 100/20 solar charger, and feeding a Victron Pheonix 12/2000 inverter. An Ecoxgear Bluetooth speaker is also included to provide the camping tunes.

The internals of the beautifully crafted canopy are set up for touring and there’s a Motop Roof Top Tent upstairs for accommodation, and a 270° awning from Supa Peg to provide protection from the elements. Both of these attach to the canopy via a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform mounted to a backbone system.

Using a shorter 1100mm canopy on the tray leaves a stubby space to tie things down and is also where the spare wheel and jerry can are secured.

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Give us a lift

That spare wheel is a neat looking Method 312 alloy wrapped in a 295/70R17 Maxxis RAZR M/T to match the rolling stock on the vehicle.

To make space for the larger 33-inch rubber, Jarrod enlisted the services of Solve Offroad in Sydney for a bespoke suspension package.

Solve is a Fox specialist store and rather than sell you whatever they have on the shelf like some other stores might, the team there tailor springs and dampers to suit different applications.

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For the BT they fitted Fox struts with coils that raise the ride height almost three-inches up front, while under the rear the Fox dampers work with Tough Dog 500kg constant-load leaf springs.

Solve ensures its shocks are the right length and travel to suit the vehicle to prevent any over-travel or damage to vehicle axles and drivetrain components, spending significant time to ensure each suspension kit is perfectly suited to each application.

Solve also fits Ironman Pro Forged upper control arms and a Munji diff-drop kits to BT-50s to keep all the suspension and CV angles on a happy plane for smooth-riding longevity.

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Touring time

An ARB long-range fuel tank is fitted to increase Jarrod’s touring range, while mechanically the BT runs a stock 3.0-litre Isuzu 4JJ engine and driveline, the only  addition being a stainless steel intake from Phat Bars who also made up the rock sliders that tuck in nicely along the sills for protection.

Frontal protection comes by way of an AFN bull bar that conceals a trick two-speed winch from Drivetech. The stylish AFN bar complements the Mazda’s good looks as well as protecting it, with underbody bash plates and rated recovery points included.

At the rear-end, a TAG Extreme Recovery (XR) tow bar provides protection, 3500kg towing capacity, and multiple rated recovery points.

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Jarrod says he has enjoyed his travels with his BT-50, with trips to Stradbroke Island and the York Peninsula, but with other vehicles to develop Rock Solid products for, he has recently moved it on.

“The BT-50 has been sold,” Jarrod told us not long after we photographed it. “The new owner will be heading west on a six-month trip to see as much of the country as he can with it.”

It sounds to us like someone has scored themselves a sweet touring rig that is beautifully built, and being a BT-50 makes it stand out from what everybody else is driving.

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