Readers' 4x4s: March 2019

HERE are six reader-submitted 4x4s that were recently featured in the March 2019 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.

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER: ROBBIE GRAY
(4x4 Australia Readers' Rigs Winner of the Month)

A two-inch lift, 305/70R16 tyres on aftermarket rims, an ARB bullbar, winch, lights, roof rack with shovel, High Lift jack holder, and side and rear awnings.

A mounted air pump in the back sits on top of drawers, with an MSA 4x4 drop-down fridge slide holding a 65-litre Waeco fridge with a monitor up front, four cigarette power outlets in the rear and two USB outlets in the front (with a Hema HN7 navigator unit). Future mods include a long-range fuel tank, dual-wheel carrier rear bar, reversing camera, diff locks, clutch and tune.

We’ve taken it to Tassie, Cape York and Fraser Island in the past 18 months.

1981 TOYOTA LC HJ47: DUNCAN MARGETTS

6

Aside from all of the overlanding modifications (electrical, interior fit-out, barwork, etc.) it’s a mostly stock HJ47 running the much-maligned 2H engine. Sure, it’s slow, but it always gets me home and it’s so easy to diagnose and work on. The vehicle runs 33-inch tyres, and has external and internal barwork, dual batteries and an Engel fridge.

She’s a noisy old girl inside; I wear Bluetooth-enabled earmuffs so I can hear the UHF and listen to podcasts. No long-range tank, so on long trips she’s packed to the gunwales with jerry cans. She’s such a trustworthy and capable old bus – I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The most enjoyable trip was the Anne Beadell Highway last year – five days on the track and so much fun.

JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED: COLIN MAREK

6

What’s it got? Suspension upgrade with Fox shocks, swaybar disconnects, ARB diff covers, rear Eaton locker, underbody protection, Smittybilt bars all around with jerry can holders built into rear bar, snorkel, heat-reduction bonnet, winch, LED light bar, roof rack, 17-inch rims, 33-inch muddies, modified exhaust, and more. The best trip was the Vic High Country.

NISSAN PATROL GQ TD42: TY HATELEY

6

Four-inch lift via a Foam Cell Pro full kit, ARB bar work and a custom rear bar. Interior mods include Recaro seats, drawers and an extensive 12-Volt layout. It also features LED lighting and twin long-range fuel tanks. I regularly visit the High Country and Little/Big Desert in Victoria, and the sand dunes in Portland and over to Robe in South Australia.

TOYOTA HILUX: JUSTIN MCINNES

6

Where do I start with mods? It runs a 2.8L diesel with a Denco turbo and boost compensated pump, five-speed box, gear-drive transfer case, front and rear winches with in-cab controls, Old Man Emu two-inch lift suspension, and Subaru Forester seats. Next up will be lockers and a dual-battery setup.

We recently took it to Bago State Forest, NSW, but our favourite trip is the first: Blue Waterholes in Tumut, NSW.

FORD RANGER: STEVEN DOWDS

6

Ironman 4x4 bullbar, scrub bars, side steps, rear protection bar and LED spotties. It’s got a 12,000lb winch, recovery points, two-inch lift, 17-inch Tuff wheels with Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3 33in tyres and flares.

The canopy has a drawer and fridge slide, water tank, CTEK d250s for second battery with four extra outlets and a 100W solar panel. Other kit includes a snorkel, plug-in chip, ProVent catch can, and roof tray with awning. Best places: Nannup, Augusta and Walpole.