Readers’ 4x4s: 79 Series Land Cruiser, 1979 BJ40, Ford Everest

A few mild and a few wild custom builds have been sent in by our readers this month.

More Readers’ Rigs here.

Flick through some cool photos of your 4x4 here – it may end up in 4X4 Australia one day!

2015 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 79 SERIES – DAHRIN WIRTZ

I have owned a lot of 4WDs, from the very basic to the very complicated. When the 79 came on the market I waited a few years to allow Toyota to iron out issues. Then I was told that the next-gen was coming out with a DPF, so I acted and ordered my Cruiser in November 2015 to avoid having the DPF. When it arrived in February 2016, I got to work on it and haven’t stopped. The 70 Series has a few issues such as wheel track, gear ratios and clutch, but it’s by far one of the best and most capable 4WDs on the market.

TOYOTA HILUX – JEREMY LANDT

275hp and 850Nm of locked and lifted Toyota Hilux is set up for off-road touring, with the works rolling on 35s. I’ve built this as is from the factory floor, with only the best components fitted.

2015 FORD PX RANGER – LOCKEY MCKEE

It’s got a 150L fuel tank, canopy, TJM rear bar, Ironman front and snorkel, EFS and Bilstein lift. Too many great places right at my door step in Alice Springs, but the next best places are some of the tracks around the Flinders Ranges. It has great range of 1500km, on average. It runs smooth on- and off-road.

1979 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER BJ40 – MICHAEL BEARD

The chassis has been extended eight inches in the rear to fit 45 Series rear leaves for more flex. It features a 1981 model 45 Series cab; 35-inch tyres; injected 304 Commy motor; Turbo 400 shift-kitted auto with 55 per cent reduction low range and 8 per cent reduction in high range crawler gears; a custom tray; custom fuel cell; custom bar work; custom interior; big stereo with two subs; and a Warn high-mount winch with in-cab controls. All the work has been done by myself and my dad in the home shed. Plenty more to list. Fully engineered!

2015 FORD EVEREST – MICHAEL HAWORTH

I have had it from new. It has an ARB 50mm lift (BP51 front and OME rear); full Rhino 4x4 underbody protection (prototype); Rhino Rack Platform roof rack; front e-locker; Rhino 4x4 bullbar with Runva 11XP Black winch; LED bar under roof rack; LED spotties on front bar; rear fridge slide and drawer system; 32-inch AT tyres; TJM steps; snorkel; dual battery system; water/fuel filter; catch can; awning; CB radio; and full vinyl protection wrap. My favourite spot is Wonnangatta Station, and it has been through most of the High Country and Little Desert. Other favourites are Billy Goats Bluff, Collingwood Spur, Zeka Spur, Blue Rag, etc. I often tow my homemade off-road camper trailer behind it, but I also tow a semi-off-road caravan.

2012 JEEP WRANGLER JKU – STEVE CASS

Four-door with 3.6L Pentastar petrol and five-speed auto. I’ve owned since new. It’s set up for touring and hitting the toughest tracks. Complete with 3-inch lift, 34-inch muddies and proper suspension set-up configuration, including updated front end. It’s also got RR front steel bullbar with Warn winch; steel rock sliders and underbody protection; auxiliary fuel tank providing more than 150 litres; custom rear drawers and tailgate table; dual optima battery system under the hood managed by Redarc DCDC charger; and a built-in ARB compressor. Leather seating and customised interior where needed. I’ve travelled from Sydney to places like NT, Uluru, SA (Robe and Lake Eyre), and Queensland (Birdsville and the offshore islands). Love it, as it’s reliable, economical and goes everywhere and gets us back each time safely.

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