Readers’ 4x4s: Legends of the outback

HERE’S are five reader-submitted 4x4s picks that was recently featured on the October issue of 4x4 Australia.

To get involved post a pic and a description of your rig on our special site here or post it to our Facebook page.

We feature a bunch of readers’ rigs in the magazine each month, where we award one lucky punter with a $200 voucher to spend at Piranha Off Road.

2006 TOYOTA LC HZJ105: ANDREW RANDALL
(4x4 Australia Readers' Rigs Winner of the Month)

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I bought it in 2016. It came with a roadworthy that turned out to be not worth the paper it was printed on, so it needed a full engine rebuild, new head, turbo, an injector pump tidy-up, and a fair bit of other general work.

It has a Raslarr Engineering snorkel and front bar with a Warn 8274 winch, 4-inch Dobinsons MRR lift kit, 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs, ARB air lockers, upgraded gearbox and a few other bits. I built it to be able to go out on my own and have it capable enough to get me back again. It’s a dead-set beast and goes anywhere, and it’s so much fun to drive.

The motor was built by Turbo Engineering and the gearbox by 360 Gearboxes & Diffs.

1986 LAND ROVER 110 COUNTY V8: PAUL GEAR

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I just finished an engine conversion to a later 4.0-litre V8 from a Discovery 2, with a Wolf ECU, high-compression pistons, dyno tune, extractors, etc. Other than that, the mods list is small: 2-inch lift, restored interior with Golf GTI seats, new waterproof carpet, headlining, full sound insulation, custom dash, dual batteries, spotties, and custom DIY kitchen, storage and sleeping setup in the back. It also has a roof platform up top for the Oztent, and a Front Runner wheel carrier at the back.

Not perfect and it will never be ‘finished’, but it’s an awesome, fun classic tourer with heaps of character. Best places have to be Vic High Country and the NSW Blue Mountains.

2015 FJ CRUISER: BRENT HILL

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Mods: Safari snorkel, ARB bar, Kaymar rear bar, ARB onboard compressor, ARB diff breathers, GME TX3350, Redarc BCDC1225D twin-battery setup w/solar, HID IPF lights, ARB 40 light bar, OME nitro chargers, ARB underbody kit, Rhino-Rack Pioneer platform, two-metre ARB awning and Mickey Thompson AT 38-inch tyres.

It’s been to Fraser Island, Moreton Island, Double Island Point and Bribie Island – we live on Bribie Island.

2002 NISSAN PATROL GU UTE: KYLE GRIFFITHS

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I’ve had it for just over a year. Kit includes a Smittybilt front and rear bar, Warn winch, Raslarr snorkel, Bushwacker flares, Pro Comp rims with Toyo 35-inch muddies, a light bar, CB radio and Skyjacker lift kit.

It’s currently at Double Black Off Road getting some work done: new leather seats, exhaust and extractors, rock sliders and a long-arm 3.5-inch lift kit. I haven’t done much 4WDing to date, but I love Bunyip and Kinglake.

1997 TOYOTA GXL 80 SERIES: LUKE FRY

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Mods: 3.5-inch front lift, 3-inch rear lift (so it sits level), Dobinson springs, Tough Dog shocks, Tough Dog heavy-duty Panhard rod, superior heavy-duty adjustable rear trailing arms, ARB alloy roof cage with ARB side and rear awnings, stainless steel rear tailgate ladder (my wife’s favourite mod), steel bullbar with Runva 11XP winch, 1Hz turbo, 33-inch Toyo Open Country M/T (best tyre I’ve ever had), homemade rear cargo area storage setup with recovery gear drawer, and an Engel 40-litre fridge on a Piranha fridge slide.

An in-dash DVD player plus twin headrest DVD players keep the daughter and her friends amused on long, boring trips. The best place I’ve taken it is probably Fraser Island, but I love weekend camping trips around the mid-north coast of NSW. I bought it about three years ago in totally stock condition; it didn’t even have a bullbar, which is unheard of around here.