Readers' 4X4s: Wrangler JKU, GU Patrol, Defender 130

READERS’ rigs has returned with a bang.

In this instalment we’ve got some wildly modified machines, some tamed weekend warriors and a few that are neat and tidy.

Check out more Readers’ Rigs here.

Get involved and shoot through some photos of your 4x4 to our Facebook page. Also, keep an eye on the Readers’ Rigs section of the magazine, as we may feature your pride and joy one day.

2014 JEEP WRANGLER JKU – OSCAR LISTER

Mods are too many to list all of them, but a few include: 3.5-inch lift, 35-inch tyres, Method Race wheels, AEV & Poison Spyder bars and armour, Runva winch with hardwired in-cab switch, 4.56 Yukon ratios, sleeved and gusseted front axle, twin-locked TJM Pro Lockers, Nitro rear axles, and Synergy adjustable control arms all ’round. Best places are pretty much anywhere off the bitumen, but Land Cruiser Park and Fraser Island are two of my personal favourites.

2007 NISSAN PATROL GRX – RODRIGO GALVEZ

It’s got an ARB Sahara bar, Thule roof rack and 285/75/17 mud tyres. IPF 900s are getting installed.

2000 NISSAN PATROL GU – RUSSELL OPPERMANN

I bought it off of my old man about three years ago. It was completely stock standard with a rebuilt ZD30 and auto, and it was a good base to build a tourer to my specs. Have added two-inch Kings Springs with Bilstein shocks, Fuel Off-road Revolver alloy wheels and 285/75/16 MT P3 muddies, a bullbar and 12,000lb winch, LED spot lights, and a 20-inch light bar. I’ve added a 42-inch light bar to the roof rack since the photo. It also has a full-length alloy roof cage, dual wheel carrier, Safari snorkel, drawers and shelf/divider, drop fridge slide, dual batteries and UHF. After tearing the flex plate off the back of the ZD30 coming home from the Northern Territory, I decided to ditch the grenade and put a 6.0-litre V8 and six-speed auto in to make touring and towing the camper a much nicer experience. Future plans are to upgrade the electrics and to dual-cab and chassis-stretch it. Best place I’ve been in it so far is definitely Lorella Springs; that place is incredible and I can’t wait to get back there.

2006 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 130 TD5 – SHAYNE YOUNG

I’m an Aussie who has been traveling the world for the past 24 years, and this is the truck I plan on driving back home to Australia in. It was purchased in the UK approximately three years ago and I’ve been doing everything myself. I upgraded pretty much everything and then some: VNT turbo, chipped computer, custom high-air intake, GKN electric overdrive, ARB locker differentials, electrically operated roof-top tent customised to allow entry from inside the truck bed, 1500km fuel range, 120 litres of fresh water thanks to custom-made auxiliary tanks, front and rear electric winches, underbody protection, custom external protection cage, full LED lighting, in-cab bilge pumps, three batteries, 160-watt solar panels, hot and cold running water, and an in-cab diesel fire heater… just the necessities.

2006 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER GXL 1HD-FTE – STEVE & BEC GUNSON

We’ve had it since new. It’s got two-inch OME suspension, with airbags inside rear springs to help with the weight when towing. It also has a diff drop kit, chip, three-inch exhaust, larger cross country intercooler, heavy duty valve body and torque converter lock-up kit in tranny, snorkel, drawers, cargo barrier, fridge, Long Ranger fuel and water tank, Kaymar rear wheel carrier, full-length roof rack with Foxwing awning, GME CB radio, Alpine stereo with sub, reversing camera, ARB Deluxe winch bar and side steps, Warn winch with synthetic rope, dual battery system, and front and rear ARB diff locks. We’ve done the Canning Stock Route, Gibb River Road and many tracks around the Pilbara with our camper trailer in tow. It’s been a great wagon… we love it.

2016 FORD RANGER – STEVE SHOTTON

I bought it new in March, 2016. It’s an Aurora Blue XLT with the Tech Pack upgrade. It has an ARB Summit bullbar, scrub bars, side step/rails and rear step, ARB Ascent canopy, ARB underbody protection, Clearview towing mirrors, Rhino Rack and Tradie cage, two-inch lift with Lovells gear, Ironman 12,000lb winch, black KMC Addict wheels with 285/75X17 Nitto Terra Grapplers, tub-mounted dual batteries with Intervolt DCC Pro power management system, and a Tekonsha P3 electric brake system. I also removed the sunglasses holder and installed a custom switch panel for Waeco fridge, Stedi LED light bar, Penetrator LED driving lights and Narva rear-mounted work lights. Plans for 2017 include custom Drifta drawers and shelves, and a Foxwing awning. No plans for ECU and exhaust work until it’s out of warranty. So far I haven’t done anything too wild. It’s been mainly for towing our van, but we stayed at Bretti and spent some good days up in the Barringtons last year. We’ve just moved to Hallidays Point in NSW, so we’re looking forward to exploring between Gloucester and Coffs Harbour when time permits.

2