OUR Facebook page has been inundated with user-submitted 4x4s over the past few months.
So we’ve thrown together another Readers’ Rigs segment to appease your thirst for more off-road metal.
We’ve got some belters in this sixth instalment, including a go-anywhere Wrangler Overland, a trusty old Patrol and a quad-carrying Cruiser – and plenty more.
For more Readers’ Rigs, check out: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.
Join in on the fun and take some snaps of your muddy tourer. It might even wind up published in the mag one day and, if we really like it, perhaps you’ll even see it on the cover of 4X4 Australia!
01: 2013 JEEP WRANGLER JKU OVERLAND – ROD HARVEY-HALL
WHAT IT’S GOT: XHD front bar with Warn Xeon 10,000lb winch; 20in Rockstar rims running 35x12.5in tyres; 2in body lift; 2.5in suspension on Tough Dog adjustable shocks and 350kg spring set; Tough Dog steering damper relocated to above steering arm; ELocker rear end; Front Runner half rack with tent, annex and two awnings; water pump and custom hot water system (can pump water from river); custom gas bottle holder and water holder fitted to tailgate; Atlas rear bar with tyre and jerry can holders; and a custom fridge and oven drawer set-up, including spare battery and compressor with solar panels sliding out from under the roof rack.
I’ve had it for three years from new. The best place places I’ve taken it are Coffs and Killingsworth.
02: NISSAN PATROL – PETER MCPHERSON
WHAT’S IT GOT: Bought it about two months ago and I intend for it to be just an off-roader on club rego. So far I’ve fitted dual batteries and I’m in the middle of fitting a top-mount intercooler. Has had a 2in lift and I’ll be adding a further 2in lift. It will be running 31in muddies. Further plans are a respray and headlight upgrade, as well as an exhaust upgrade. I’ll be running it on 8psi boost and toying with the idea of fitting a half-drawer set-up in the rear.
03: 2015 ISUZU D-MAX LS-U – DAN LINDLEY
WHAT IT’S GOT: Fox/Eibach suspension upgrade and lift; AFN Type III bullbar;
AFN rear bar and twin wheel carrier (coming this month); AFN full underbody protection; Isuzu snorkel; steel sliders/steps; Livid Lighting HyperDrive lights; Livid Lighting 42in navigator bar; two Livid Lighting scouts (at the rear); full canopy lighting inside; 17x8in Sunraysias with 265/70/16 Wranglers; roof racks and mounting points; 2.75in exhaust; GME UHF and RFI 2197 GSM antenna; custom aluminium canopy to suit tub, with canvas; full rear drawer system; 81-litre water tank with pump/faucet; in-built air compressor; Bosch tri-battery with DC/DC charger and full electrical accessory fit-out; full navigation suite inside, with Hema navigators, six charger ports, and iPad and camera mounts.
It also has standard accessories including bonnet and window shields, canvas seat covers, tinted windows and tub liner.
Vehicle has been built as a self-contained touring set-up for long haul trips. It does a lot of interstate work, generally on sealed roads. Just came back from Cape York. Simpson Desert, Vic High Country and Tasmania are on the cards for the near future. The ute is very capable, with the reliability of Isuzu.
04: 2014 FORD RANGER XLS – REGGIE CARSON
WHAT’S IT GOT? Where do I start? I bought it brand new in December 2014. Most of the mods/accessories were fitted pre-delivery, without being seen. A few accessories were transferred from my old X-Trail.
Front end: TJM bullbar, bash plates, snorkel, scrub bar and steps (steps also getting new bottom after the brackets were bent from hitting the rocks); upgraded starter battery; Runva EWX9500 winch with Dyneema rope; IPF 900XS spot/spread combo; and an Oricom whip on a GME base to a GME.
Back end: Long Ranger 140L fuel tank; customised Bosston canopy (fixed ladder and dual wheel on the back, plus a few inside mods/add-ons) and single drawer; Rhino-Rack Tradie Pioneer platform; Kaymar rear bar, which had to be slightly modified to fit the canopy; a couple of work lights from eBay on a three-way switch in the cab; rear-view camera and Alpine reversing camera; 2.0x2.5m Opposite Lock awning on the other side of the car; Anderson plug under the tray to the solar controller, which has been mounted behind the drawers and the new dual AUX fuel/water tank that’s getting built now.
Inside the canopy: drawers made by Custom Installations, who also installed FBL light strips; an MSA drop-down fridge slide; 200Ah deep-cycle battery, with additional dual 12-volt sockets on each side of the car (mounted to the back of the drawers connected to a fuse block); and an ARB air compressor mounted behind the canopy.
In the cab: Alpine unit; rear-view mirror connected to rear-view camera; and a soon-to-be-added additional 12-volt socket behind the centre console.
I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten something … there are more electrics for the dual tank to done when the 4WD stimulus package arrives.
I’m waiting for my car to come back from the fabrication shop next weekend. Getting a major add-on, which is getting custom built at the moment. Then the wiring of the add-on will continue when I get my tax return!
The biggest trip I’ve taken to date was to the Flinders Ranges. I will be going to Alice Springs and Uluru in September/October 2016.
05: 2007 SR5 TOYOTA HILUX – JENNY FISH
WHAT’S IT GOT: EFS aftermarket suspension; GME UHF radio; and a Redarc dual-battery system. We have just recently been on our longest trip to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon, Uluru and the Oodnadatta Track, which had just been re-opened to 4WDs after the recent rains.
06: VW AMAROK – JASON SYDENHAM
WHAT’S IT GOT: 2in Tough Dog lift; Xrox bullbar… all the fun stuff. I’ve had it for five years and it has never missed a beat. I love it! I just gave it a decent work out near Lithgow in NSW. Just waiting on my Black Series camper and we’ll be off somewhere.
07: 2007 MITSUBISHI ML TRITON – NEALE CURREY
WHAT IT’S GOT: I’ve had it since new. It has EFS Enforcer Suspension; dual battery system (Ironman 4x4); on-board air with 10-litre tank; Big Red compressor front; rear diff breathers; 12000lb winch; homemade rear wheel carrier; roof console; 80-channel UHF; and homemade drawers in the rear with custom tilt fridge slide.
I’ve taken it a lot of places, but the Vic High Country would have to be the best. I don't think you can get a better view than from the top of Blue Rag!
08: 1991 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER HDJ80 – DEAN LYONS
WHAT’S IT GOT: 2in lift, rear air locker and 33x12.5in Mickey Thompson ATZ tyres.
I’ve had it close to 10 years and have done a few beach trips and plenty of bush trips with a quad strapped on the back to chase pigs.
09: 2009 HOLDEN COLORADO – BRAD WORBOYS
WHAT IT’S GOT: 4in lift; 33in tyres; front and rear ARB air lockers; drawer system; and a fridge drop slide. It has also been remapped and dyno-tuned. The list goes on.
10: 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE CRD – MATT TAPSALL
WHAT IT’S GOT: Murchison Products lift and snorkel; Uneek 4x4 bar and pre-runner plate; Mopar rock rails, bash plates and tow bar; BFG KO2s; Uniden UHF; Aurora LED bar; fridge slide; and Rhino-Rack racks and accessories.
These pics are from the most recent trip to Rat’s Castle Loop in Sundown NP, Queensland.
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