The Perfect Prado

When you think of hardcore 4WDing the Prado 150 isn’t always the first vehicle that springs to mind. To date, the subtle appearance and comfort features that the Prado offers has won the hearts of many a family guy and grey nomad – but don’t be mistaken, this is one Prado that is built to do the hard yards off road and it’s combined styling and off-road capability (while a little left field) are certainly going to turn some heads out on the tracks.

Our customer Aaron fitted all the components himself and with a pre-order in on the newly released TJM T13 Outback bull bar to suit the latest facelifted Prado, he couldn’t wait to get the bar fitted up and ready to play. A set of TJM brush bars and side steps was also added for the ultimate in frontal protection. TJM has upgraded the tubing on all the bar work for the newest 150 Prado form 50mm up to 63mm tubing giving the front end even more protection than ever before. Matching TJM under-body protection was also fitted offering three millimetres of heavy duty steel construction to protect the Prado’s underbody vitals.

The bar also houses the TJM Torq 9,500lbs winch with synthetic rope and wireless remote features to take care of recovery duties and is also a mounting platform for the TJM Narva 215 LED driving lights. These lights are acing all the light shootouts at the moment and the TJM/ Narva  partnership branding now gives you that TJM signature look with proven Narva reliability and performance.

The rear end of the Prado is well protected by a Kaymar steel rear bar which also incorporates a tow bar. Aaron has also fitted a TJM recovery hitch as a rear recovery option and the bumper replacement bar saves costly rear OEM replacement parts when you’re skull dragging the rear end of your 4WD through creek beds and over rock shelves. A Darche Eclipse 2×2.5m roll-out awning provides some much needed shelter from the elements whilst out on the tracks and it’s mounted to an alloy flat rack.

Clean, dry air is fed to the intake is through a TJM Airtec snorkel and the Airtec is designed for the Prado to keep a low profile and to hug the body lines of the car, keeping it out of harm’s way whilst improving airflow by catching the wind draft off the front windscreen.

Aaron went about fitting a dual battery system for those long touring stints using the TJM 25A 3 stage BCDC battery charger. This powers a 105A/hr deep cycle battery and is capable of solar charge input as well, so there’s plenty of juice available for those extended camping trips. Communications are taken care of by a Uniden 9060 UHF radio and a Uniden AT890W 6.6dbI antenna.

Suspension is courtesy of Kings and Aaron has gone for the 2.5 Racing Shocks with remote reservoir, Cal Offroad upper control arms and Cal Offroad rear springs. Ride height is now sitting at 3″ with increased ride control from compression and rebound adjustability, and increased axle articulation.  The Prado is rolling on 17x 8″ Kings D-Locker rims with a zero offset, wrapped in a set of BF Goodrich KM2 mud terrain tyres which measure in at 305/65 x 17 inches, for the ultimate in traction when the going gets tough.

This Prado is rocking a whole host of other great off-road features including a torque converter lock-up kit installed by Richards Auto Electrics for lower transmission temps and better fuel economy which compliments the A-trac intelligent off-road traction control system and factory rear diff lock for extra traction when needed.

Aaron tells us there’s plenty more touring mods yet to come for the Prado including some rear draws, performance mods and camp lighting. Keep your eye out for this unique looking Prado on the tracks. Aaron’s built it do the hard yards and don’t be surprised if you see it pop up on some of the most iconic tracks an the country.

 

 

 

TJM Pace Performance 4×4 Suspension

Do you want a performance suspension set-up that offers a fully customisable ride to suit the load you are carrying and the driving you are doing? The new TJM Pace Performance 4×4 Suspension offers 8 stage compression and rebound adjustability, and pre-load adjustment on coil-over strut assembles to adjust vehicle ride height. The patented hydraulic bump stop design reduces the chances of the suspension bottoming out at speed or when the vehicle is heavily loaded. The 52mm monotube design with remote external reservoirs offer the ultimate in heat dissipation and will work hard all day, everyday without suffering shock fade. Of course TJM backs these bad boys up with a 3 year/100,000km warranty so they are built to last. Give us a call or drop into the store to get a quote on a set for your vehicle now or simply fill out an online enquiry form for a fast, hassle free quote.

79 Redi

Here at TJM Hunter Valley we can have a brand new vehicle built ready to roll, decked out with all the accessories you need before you even take delivery. In fact we can even source the vehicle without you having to run around between dealerships.

We sourced this latest 79 Series Landcruiser and partially kitted it out when a customer inquired about getting into a new 79 Landcruiser with the works. We had already installed a heavy duty alloy tray built by Norweld Australia which caught the customer’s eye. The 3.5 Deluxe Tray Package comes with colour coded running boards and under tray tool lockers,  and heavy duty 76mm tubing on the headboard.  These features combined with a good departure angle from the slimline rear toolboxes makes the Norweld the ultimate tray to suit these vehicles for off-road and touring.

The full compliment of TJM bar work was fitted including the T13 Outback bull bar, brush bars and side steps. The Toyota snorkel was replaced with the one piece TJM Airtec unit giving a better seal than the original two piece OE snorkel and a more efficient, better looking snorkel head.

 

A Jmacx kit was a must-have for our customer and with conventional leaf springs still in the vehicle when it was advertised, we set about pulling the rear end of the truck apart and fitting the new rear axle and coil spring conversion kit. The added axle articulation, longer wheel travel and a more refined ride quality more than outweigh the cost of the conversion and with a GVM upgrade a standard feature of the kit, the 79 is now more capable than ever before.

 

The kit is complimented with the best quality shocks that money can buy – the King shocks with remote canisters, internal bypass and adjustable compression. The Kings are specifically designed and valved to suit the unique application of the Jmacx kits and these shocks give a great combination of load carrying ability, ride comfort and pure off-road performance. They are simply built to perform and on a big, heavy truck like the 79 Series – you definitely need to go big or go home on the shock absorbers.

Torqit has specifically designed a custom exhaust to suit the Jmacx coil cradle in 3.5″ stainless steel that runs from the DPF back to give the 79 a better note and better performance by freeing up exhaust gas flow. Torqit have worked closely with us to come up with a performance exhaust to suit the rest of their performance package which we commonly fit to these Jmacx builds. However on this particular occasion the customer had opted to do an ECU remap, so we enlisted the guys at Streamline Automotive to tune the big V8 up and torque gains of almost 50% where achieved. A Provent catch can was also fitted for extra engine protection from harmful exhaust gas recirculation.

A dual battery system was fitted using the TJM 3 Stage BCDC battery charger, Piranha off-road battery tray and Ultimate 110A/hr Red Top AGM battery. This set up will handle most touring applications and is capable of solar input for topping up on those extended stays. A Haymen Reese heavy duty tow bar and a set of Clearview towing mirrors where fitted to take care of towing duties.

Moving inside the cab which received a once over with the centre piece being the fridge console from Cruiser Consoles. This is a tailor made centre console and gearstick surround that fits the Waeco CDF11 fridge/freezer. Keeping your lunch and drinks cold and on-hand now doesn’t even involve getting out of driver’s seat to open the fridge. An overhead console was also fitted, supplied by the Department of the Interior which houses the Uniden UH9050 UHF radio as well as some power outlets and a volt gauge to monitor what the dual battery system is doing.


 

The whole package is rolling out on 17×9 Allied Goanna alloy wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson MTZ tyres which measure 315/70 17 inches and are not only a hardcore off-road wheel , but also set the styling of this 79 apart from the rest.


 

 

 

 

 

 

FJ Cruisin’

The FJ Cruiser has had a near-cult following over the years – so we were at a loss when Toyota killed production for the Aussie market of the retro styled off-roader, loosely based on the 40 series Landcruiser from the 1970s. However there are still plenty of these beasts running around and the capable little off-roader that shares a driveline and chassis platform with the ever – reliable Prado, certainly makes a good base for a serious build.

The loud orange colour found both outside and splashed throughout the interior certainly adds to the eye-catching appeal of this truck, and stage one of the build included the TJM T13 Outback steel bull bar giving the FJ the ultimate protection against animal strikes as well as improving the approach angle of the vehicle – which was an angle that the old 40 and the FJ Cruiser were famous for. The bar is also a good mounting platform for the Stedi Type-X LED driving lights which are great for turning night into day. A TJM front under body guard was also fitted to give the sump some extra protection off-road.

Off-road ability has been further increased with a TJM suspension upgrade using the Series 4000 shock absorbers and 2″ lifted TJM coils all-round. Spring rates have been suited to suit the extra weight over the front of the vehicle from the steel bar and the extra weight added to the rear as well.

The rear storage area of the FJ Cruiser is not known for being the biggest on the market – far from it in fact, so a set of RV Storage Solutions Premium rear draws were fitted to the back to make the most of what little area there is available. The RV Premium draws come with a lifetime warranty, so they are built to last the lifetime of the vehicle, unlike some other cheaper draws on the market and they have a draw system for just about every popular 4WD on the market.


A dual battery system was installed to increase touring capability and give the FJ some long-life battery power using the TJM 3 stage 25A battery charger, Projecta battery monitor, TJM battery tray and a 75A/hr Century deep cycle lead acid battery. There will be more to come for this bright little FJ but for now there’s enough modifications to make the humble Cruiser to a touring ready truck that’s more than capable of holding its own on the tracks.

 

Silver Lining

After spending a bit of time travelling in the outback its quite easy to make a unanimous decision that the 79 series is pretty much the people’s choice when it comes to touring this great country of ours. So with the popularity stakes being so high on a particular vehicle it’s hard to make one stand out from the crowd. However this is one 79 Series that is not only a capable off-roader but also looks a million dollars.

After taking some inspiration from our own previous 79 Series build and seeing what we can do to these trucks, owner Glenn contacted us and basically asked us to replicate what we had done to ours,  with some additional unique features and touches added along the way. Glenn didn’t have time to run around sourcing the vehicle from dealerships or to run all over town looking for the various bits and pieces required for the build, so we set about organising everything for the build including the purchase of the car itself.

We started with the full complement of TJM bar work including the T13 Outback bull bar, brush bars and side steps which feature 63mm tubing throughout as well as the TJM Front Under Body Guard. The bull bar houses the TJM 12,000lbs Torq winch with synthetic rope and Factor 55 Prolink hook to winch all those Nissans out that are encountered out on the track.  Also bolted to the bar is a set of Lightforce HTX driving lights which use a combination of HID and LED technology to bring you the best of both worlds of a night time by providing up to almost 2km of light with a good range of spread also coming form the LED outer lights.

For added storage a Rhino Pioneer Tradie rack was fitted and additional campsite lighting was fitted compliments of 2 Lightforce Rok 20 work lights fitted to the platform, underslung so as not to impede on the storage area of the platform.

 

The tray and dog-box canopy was supplied by Thorburns & Sons Fabrications and the colour coded combination really sets this 79 apart as well as being highly functional as a touring vehicle. The slim-line angled under body tool boxes give the tray a better departure angle and dual spare wheel carrying capacity makes this 79 even more versatility for remote area touring. It also has a built in trundle tray and 65L water tank for extra storage, utilising the underside of the tray which leaves more room for beer and swags on the top side.

Another stand-out feature of this truck is the Jmacx coil spring conversion kit which (just in case you’ve been living under a rock recently) does away with the factory rear leaf springs in place of coil springs, includes an upgraded rear axle housing which evens the wheel track front to rear and also comes with upgraded axles which are 200 times stronger than the Toyota OME gear. The end result is improved ride quality, improved axle articulation and travel, and a bulletproof rear end. The kit is also certified with a GVM upgrade, taking the 79s maximum gross vehicle mass to 3900kgs at 3 inches of fully legal lift.

The 70 series single turbo V8 diesel is known for being more of a big lazy engine than an outright powerhouse, so power mods were always on the cards for this truck once a bit of weight and bigger tyres were added. An upgraded stainless steel airbox, intake piping and snorkel by Thorburns Fabrication was added for increased airflow before sending the truck up to Ashley at Streamline Automotive in Beresfield for an ECU remap where they massaged around about 50% more torque out of the 4.5L oiler. A ceramic coated 3″ mandrel bent stainless steel exhaust was knocked up by Jmacx to improve gas flow, whilst catering to the unique route the system needs to take to make its way around the rear coil spring cradle. A Torqit Pedal Torq module was also added for improved throttle response and reduced turbo lag to get the big heavy beast off the mark a bit quicker.

Engine protection comes courtesy of a Diesel Care pre-diesel filter and a HPD billet alloy catch can. An Exceedy heavy duty clutch was fitted to handle the power, weight and tyre size upgrades and power is delivered to the ground through a set of Pro Comp Series 69 alloy rims that measure 16×10 inches and a set of Mickey Thompson ATZ P3 all-terrain tyres that measure 315/75 16 or 35 inches in the old scale.

A Long Range Automotive 180L replacement tank gives this 79 a better touring range A TJM 25A DC solar charger  and a 110A/hr Ultimate Extreme AGM battery takes care of power needs and a Redarc Tow Prow Elite and breakaway monitor take care of towing duties along side the Hayman Reese heavy duty tow bar. Rearward vision whilst towing is also made easier with a set of Clearview towing mirrors.

The interior of this 79 series has been left far from untouched as well with Department of the Interior supplying both overhead and centre floor consoles for some added interior storage and cup  holders. The basic Toyota sound system was replaced with a Kenwood full infotainment unit including 8 inch subwoofer, Kenwood Navigation, reverse camera and a dual headrest DVD system for back seat passengers – supplied and fitted by Stefan at House of Soundz in Kotara. The seats are well protected by a set of Wetseat seat covers by Inland Australia and the floors are well covered with a set of Sandgrabber mats by No Bull.

 

There’s no doubt this is one of the best looking 79s getting around and the amount of time and attention to detail that’s gone into the build is reflective of the end result. Every aspect of the build was orchestrated by us to save the customer hours of painstaking groundwork. It’s certainly a head turner and a more than capable tourer – and one I’m sure we will see around the tracks getting dirty.

 

 

Y62? We’ll Tell You Why

It’s been a while since we’ve seen something a little different come through the workshop here at TJM Hunter Valley so it was a bit of an enlightenment to do a build on Nissan’s flagship Y62 Patrol. This fire breathing V8 beast of wagon received the once over and has gone from  humble beginnings to an off-roading weapon that is not only built to do the hard yards , but looks the part as well.

In a diesel crazed market, the Y62 with its V8 petrol only line up hasn’t been the greatest seller on the Aussie 4WD market. However people are slowly but surely coming around to the fact that you don’t necessarily need a diesel for touring, especially when you have a capable 4WD with a motor that can be as flexible as a diesel with low down torque and still retain reasonable fuel economy for an engine that pumps out nearly 300kW and pulls around 3 tonnes of metal. And with modern diesel motors having more and more restrictions put on them to reduce emissions that can cause reliability issues such as EGR systems and DPF exhaust systems not to mention the fact that high fuel rail pressures caused by common rail diesel injection systems can seemingly be like ticking time bombs, petrol alternatives are becoming a better option than they were 20 years ago, as the diesel motor is no longer the reliable old tractor it once was.

We started this Y62 build with the TJM T3 Explorer Bar, colour coded to suit the vehicle’s factory paint scheme. The T3 is a perfect mix of styling and vehicle protection with its solid steel base construction which also gives the Patrol a better approach angle without changing the overall look of the front end on the big wagon.

The bar also houses a TJM 9,500lbs winch with synthetic rope and a Factor 55 winch hook to take care of recovery duties and there’s a pair of Stedi Type X 7.5 inch LED driving lights to light up the tracks.

An essential item on any touring vehicle is a snorkel and the TJM Airtec snorkel has a lower profile snorkel head which still provides great airflow while being down out of harms way when the tracks get tight and overgrown.

An ARB single motor compressor was fitted to air up the Mickey Thompson ATZ P3s which are a 275/70 R18 on Kings Alloy wheels.

The Y62 Patrol uses Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBCM) suspension which replaces conventional shock absorbers and sway bars with hydraulic chambers that are linked together via a hydraulic circuit. This set up makes the big heavy wagon handle surprisingly well on-road and simulates live axle articulation off-road –  as one wheel lifts it forces hydraulic fluid to the opposite side forcing that wheel down.

However like most 4WDs straight out of the box, ground height can always be improved to make the vehicle more capable off-road and lifting one of these high tech off-roaders is not as straight forward as a conventional suspension set-up. Ontrack 4×4 supplies a raised height kit which consists of extended control arms, caster correction bushes and airbags which we fitted to raise the overall height of the Patrol approximately 2 inches giving the Y62 a tough new look and improving approach, ramp-over and departure angles dramatically.

We finished the Patrol off with a GME XRS 330C UHF radio, Oricom 6.5dBi antenna and a Redarc Tow Pro Elite trailer braking system to further improve its touring capability. The customer was one happy Patrol owner and this is one capable 4WD to keep an eye out for on the tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TJM Sponsors Tatts Finke Dessert Race

TJM Products have secured a Platinum Sponsorship of the Tatts Finke Desert Race this year in Alice Springs. The two-day desert endurance race is an absolute Mecca for all things off -road including bikes, cars, buggies and quads and is said to be one of the most challenging off-road courses in one of the most remote locations in the world.

We’ll also be competing in the event with our sister company Sherco Motorcycles Newcastle. We are looking forward to the event which is hosted over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June and will be flying both the Sherco and TJM Flags over the course of the event.

Keep an eye on our website, social media pages and Sherco Motorcycles Newcastle’s pages as well for more updates and coverage of the event. Check out TJM’s video on Finke below:

Weapon of a Wagon

Here at TJM Hunter Valley, we’ve become quite accustomed to the 79 Series dual cab utes rolling through our workshop, so it’s good to change things up a bit in the form of this pristine looking 76 wagon. This is one 76 that has received the full treatment and will not only be a complete weapon on the tracks – but is also bound to turn heads wherever it goes. 

This beast received the once over with bar work including the T13 Outback bull bar, brush rails and side steps also from TJM, TJM under-body protection and a Kaymar rear bar with a single wheel carrier.

The bull bar houses a TJM 12,000lbs Torq winch with synthetic rope and wireless control to take care of recovery duties when not even the twin factory diff locks will do the job. A set of TJM Narva Ultima 215 LED driving lights also live on the bar and turn night into day. These lights have been acing all the driving light reviews under the Narva brand, and TJM’s partnership with Narva has bought you the exclusive TJM driving lights that already have a proven track record.

Keeping the air intake dry and dust-free is a TJM Airtec snorkel to replace the factory Toyota snorkel, giving a bigger overall intake and better sealing than the OEM item. A HPD billet-alloy catch can and Diesel Care secondary fuel filter kit were fitted for extra engine protection and longevity from dodgy fuel and harmful oil vapours.

 

A dual battery system was fitted using the TJM 25A 3 stage battery charger and an Ultimate Extreme 110A/hr AGM battery to look after power needs on trips away. It also runs the Waeco CDF11 Fridge that is built in to the Cruiser Consoles centre console. An overhead console by Cruiser Consoles also houses the Uniden UH9050 din sized UHF radio and comms signals are sent and received via the chunky looking Axis Ranger 4dbi antenna. The Axis antenna is a new product for us and has a super heavy-duty construction with a 460mm long whip and with a massive spring base that is 70mm in diameter, it’s going to handle any abuse that’s thrown its way.

Of course it wouldn’t be a TJM Hunter Valley 70 Series build without a Jmacx rear coil spring conversion and the kit has certainly bought this wagon to life. The 76 now has increased axle articulation, travel and a much more comfortable ride as apposed to the leaf spring set up from factory. The set up is running the Fox 2.0 Performance series with remote cannister and compression adjustment which gives the ultimate heat dissipation meaning that these shocks will work hard all day on corrugations without fading.

This weapon of a wagon is nicely finished off with a set of Allied Rattler Bead lock 16×8 rims with Mickey Thompson ATZ P3 Baja tyres for the ultimate touring capability. This 76 is set up for some pretty serious touring and has the ultimate fit out to handle anything that this wide brown land has to throw at it.

Cool 200 With A Difference

This would have to be one of the coolest looking 200 series LandCruisers we’ve come across and with stage one of the build just being completed with plenty more goodies to go on this very unique looking wagon, this is one beast that’s bound to turn heads were-ever it goes!

Our good mates at Valley Air Conditioning were after something different, to stand out and set their vehicle apart. They opted for a combination of a flat grey wrap with all the chrome blacked out, black bar work and wheels. The TJM Patriot bar was the perfect option for this unique looking truck as the limited-edition bar has only 100 units to its name and is one of the stand-out features of the vehicle. It features the T13 Outback design with all the hoops removed, laser cut logo and the limited edition build numbered badge on the front of the bar with inspiration taken from the Patriot Campers’ Mega Tourer.

This 200 is running Fox 2.0 Performance suspension all round including heavy duty upper control arms by Black Hawk and a Roadsafe diff drop kit. This gives the car the ride quality you would expect from a 200 Series but will also perform off-road better than most.

It’s off road ability is now backed up by Harrop E-lockers both front and rear, along-side Harrop diff breathers at both ends. The engine bay houses a HPD billet alloy catch can and secondary fuel filter kit by Diesel Care for extra engine protection.  Outback touring capability is improved by a dual battery system using a TJM 25A 3 stage BCDC charging unit and 100A/hr deep cycle battery with solar input for keeping the beers cooler for longer on those extended camping trips.

A TJM Airtec snorkel has been fitted to the 200 for cleaner air flow and water crossings. The Airtec design for the 200 Series has a low-profile head which is designed to catch wind drafts from the front of the car and windscreen and has a neat, tidy look that is tucked down well out of harms way for when you’re tackling the tight nasty tracks.

A Rhino Pioneer platform gives the big wagon valuable added storage room and the backbone mounting system not only adds integrity to the unit, but also looks the part as well. A GME XRS370C UHF radio and AE4705B antenna have been fitted to handle communications and a neat finish is achieved by using the Lightforce face plate to wire the handpiece into the dash through one of the factory auxiliary switch panels.

There is more to come with this awesome looking rig and the next instalment will include some more trick bar work and we’ll be sure to bring you some more good shots of the beast completed.

 

Valley Air Conditioning is your local ducted and split system air conditioning specialists. They have a fully qualified expert service department for all domestic and commercial break downs, repairs and scheduled maintenance.

Established in 2009, Andrew and Alana have grown Valley Air Conditioning to one of the most prominent air conditioning companies for residential and commercial customers in Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter Valley. They have their own dedicated installation teams for your home, office, or commercial projects. They supply and install all leading brands including Fujitsu, Hitachi, Daikin, Teco, Actron, Tenperzone and Samsung.

Give the guys a call on (02) 4966 0071 or click the link to visit their website.

 

200 Tourer

We’ve just completed the bulk of the work on a 200 Series LandCruiser build with yet another happy customer. This one in Toyota’s dark and stormy Graphite colour, has had the whole hog done including front and rear e-lockers, a dual battery system, Kaymar twin rear wheel carrier and with a suspension upgrade yet to come – this 200 series will be one serious tourer when completed!

We started the fit out with the TJM Outback bull bar, colour coded to match the graphite paintwork. TJM has two versions of the outback bar for the new face-lift 200 Series – the bumper cut model or the bumper replacement model, depending on the look you are after. On this particular job the customer opted for the bumper replacement bar which has a more aggressive look and the paintwork on the bar blends in well with the factory colour scheme.

 

The bar houses a 12000lbs TJM synthetic rope winch to handle any recovery duties which has wireless and wired controllers for convenience. Lighting up the tracks are a set of Lightforce HTX driving lights which incorporate HID and LED technology to bring you the best of both worlds, giving a good range of long-distance spot beams and a wide spread beam from the LEDs.

We also fitted a Kaymar rear bar with twin spare wheel carriers, which was also colour coded to match the factory paint scheme. The removal of the spare tyre from underneath the vehicle to the back door has made access to the tyre much easier, and the addition of an extra spare always comes in handy on those remote touring trips.

A snorkel is a must for touring in our adverse Aussie weather conditions which can see you in bull-dust one minute and flooding rains the next. The TJM Airtec snorkel combines functionality and styling and the low-profile design on the 200 Series stays down out of harm’s way on the tracks while still catching plenty of air-flow draft off the front windscreen on the open road.

This 200 Series’ touring range has been dramatically improved by fitting a 170l long-range replacement tank by Long Range Automotive and a Diesel Care pre-filter kit was fitted to give the 200’s fragile fuel injection system the ultimate protection from contaminated fuel. In addition, further engine protection has been added in the form of a HPD billet alloy oil catch can.

Taking care of the 12v power needs for touring is a TJM 25A, three-stage battery charger capable of charging solar power and alternator simultaneously, and solar input is delivered through a Redarc 120W folding solar panel.

When the going gets tough, the tough get Harrop twin e-lockers and that’s exactly what’s been fitted on this 200 for when the tracks get really gnarly. The 200 series is a really capable 4WD straight out of the box but when it comes to goat track territory, you can never have too many traction aids to help drive you through the toughest terrain.

Power is delivered through the stylish but functional 20×9” Ballistic Dagger Alloy wheels and boots include the best all-terrains money can buy in the way of the Mickey Thompson ATZ P3 at 285/55R20 in size.

There’s a Rhino Pioneer Platform for that extra load carrying ability up top and a Rhino Foxwing awning fitted, giving convenience and that added protection form the elements on camping trips.

The interior has been fitted out with a GME XRS370C hand-held UHF which is GME’s top of the range hideaway unit and signal is boosted by a GME All-Terrain 4700 Series 6.6dBi gain antenna. The tidy factory look is obtained by running the wiring through a Lightforce factory Toyota face plate panel. We’ve also used a combination of Lightforce and Stedi switches to keep the interior neat and tidy for all the other accessories as well.

We utilised the factory rear compartment in the back of the wagon behind the rear row seats for fitting an ARB on-board air compressor for pumping up tyres after those summer beach runs. The compressor fits neatly in this other-wise wasted space, leaving floor room for fridges, camping gear and food. There’s also a Redarc Tow Pro Elite electric brake unit fitted to take care of the camper trailer and caravan braking needs.

With a lift kit in the pipeline, this 200 Series will be well equipped to handle all that our wide brown land can throw at it. This one also looks the part and the owner will be touring in style and comfort with plenty functionality to ensure that this is one cruiser that will get there and back again with no worries.