Hi All,
I’ve been watching this site for a few years now and given how much I’ve enjoyed reading up on other people’s builds, trips and ideas I thought it’s only fair I do a write up of my own. If nothing else I’ll chuck in plenty of pictures and you can see what I’ve been up to.
I was in my final year of university (Feb 2014) when I had had enough of the Corolla. It just wouldn’t get me far enough (although I had it bogged plenty of times trying to go places). So after a lot of waiting, watching and letting vehicles go by I finally gave in, saw a good one and went and put my hard earned down… I was never chasing the biggest or the best 4wd, but I did want a vehicle that I could take down a track, go camping and chuck my kitesurfing gear in (with vinyl floors for no beach sand headaches).
2011 Dual Cab, Diesel, 50000km, Trayback, ex-Thrifty but in very good condition!
After getting the Ute, some good friends and I began planning a trip; Perth – Exmouth – Millstream – Karijini – Perth. It was at that point that I decided I really wanted a sealed back to minimise the red dirt. I pulled the tray back off and went and stuck a well body on (yes I know there are pluses and minus’ to both…)
Stripped the guts out, ran a fuel latch cable from the front to the rear, dropped a tub on. The longest part was clearing out the old mans shed to get enough bench space to stick a coffee!!
It was at that point that I wired in my UHF, an Icom 440N with an RFI CDQ5000 antenna and the little rubber interchangeable antenna. I’ve found the detachable antennas to be well worth the extra $, kids (or annoying adults) can’t swing off it easily in a carpark.
I then went and put an SMM V2 Canopy on the back, 2 weeks later I was leaving my thesis at home and we were hitting the road.
This was on one of our first few nights up at a campsite in Cape Range National Park (Exmouth).
We took a track from Yardie Creek over to Learmonth Airbase, it was the first time I had taken the vehicle off road on a bit more of a ‘track’.
We then hit the road Exmouth to Pannawonica and back on the dirt to Millstream (well worth a look).
Red dirt, and clear cold water, doesn’t get much better after having been writing a thesis for 6 months!
We split up (left the Mitsubishi on blocks) and went to Karratha to replace the spare tyre (I told him take 2 spares…) … yay!! And then back to Millstream again. From there we took the Rio Tinto access road (permit required) down to Tom Price for supplies (better than many sealed roads I’ve driven on!!).
Then into Karijini (we split up again and left the Mitsubishi on blocks… went back to Tom Price for 2 more spares for the Mitsubishi… $$$ the tyres were worth more than the car) ...
The following photos are of Hamersley Gorge, Fortescue Falls, Circular Pool and the other areas up there.
And then we headed straight back to Perth… It was great to get away from the clouds and rain. I got back to Perth it was raining, but it never washed the red dirt off…
From then on my focus was finishing my uni degree, lots of early mornings and long days studying dreaming of places I’d rather be. I did however buy a set of Narva 225 HIDs and bolt them on. I’ve been really happy with them; I later brought another set and highly recommend them for anyone looking for a good set of driving lights. A few other small trips here and there also (Dongara, Port Gregory, Kalbarri, Dongara day trip).
From there I went for a trip around NZ, I had my soul crushed when I hired a Hyundai i30 and drove it for 3 weeks. Man I hated it!!! I was so glad to get back into the Hilux, everything worked as it should do! Returned from holidays and got laid off, so all my plans were put on hold. I slipped a disc in my back so all semi rough 4wding was a no go (kerbs even hurt!!). It’s crazy how a few things can happen and all your plans can be tossed upside down. I did a few small trips though to stay sane, I got back into work and started saving … slow haha
December 2015 saw a few new toys rock up and fox pups out and about. My first fox was just after I’d punctured a tyre by myself. Saw him run across the track and got him. Not bad for a torch and rifle out the driver’s window!
The brother and I lined another 4 up the following weekend. We were happy for our first weeks shooting, and I was happy to be using the Hilux a bit more while having some fun with 2 Sakos. The heat from summer saw the farm get pretty dry, but still got a chance to set up a few targets and go for a shoot, the Rhino Racks and Side Awning have been a real good investment, particularly in summer days. I also stuck midnight express on the windows which has been great in the summer.
I then started to set out how I could mount a Powabeam remote handle to my Narva 225s without drilling a hole in the roof. I went and got a hold of another set of Narva 225s (cause I was so happy with them, and their price). Being a SolidWorks junkie I got drawing and got it cut and pressed (simple but it works). I also did up a few little brackets for my Narva side lights (I only had 2 at the time and have to get some more cut).
I’m glad I spent the extra and got the track mounted rhino racks, I can position it perfectly for my arm/whoever’s driving. The finished product:
I really like the daytime running lights on the new 225s, they’re great to leave on at night without the spotlights. Good light spread around the whole car! Handle HID light on, park lights on at the front (daytime running lights on not HID on bulbar).
I’m currently working on designing a drawer system to go in the back. I didn’t have a SolidWorks licence for ages and had to revert to paper (argh). It’s a lot different from what I had started with but the basic ‘vibe of it’ is still the same. The following bits are going in the draws (see pics for labels).
• (A & C) 55L Water Tank & Shurflo Pump (so I can hose everything off haha I need a bigger tank!)
• (B) 120ah FullRiver + BCDC1225
• (D) ARB Dual Compressor
• (E) Engel
The top of the draws and side wings will sit flush and cover the tank. I’m hoping to fit all the odds and sods in the draws and gain the back seat back from my camera to allow friends to come along. Cooking and camping gear should all fit in along with tools and the necessary spare parts.
Internal Dimensions:
• Draw 1 = 421 Wide x 295 High x 1320 Deep
• Draw 2 = 421 W x 180 H x 1320 D
• Draw 3 = 625 W x 100 H x 1320 D
• Draw 4 (FullRiver Behind) = 175 W x 180 H x 850 D
Haven’t finished selecting materials and sizes but am narrowing down on the design. Other features that I’ll have in the draws:
• Switches for Side Lights, Park Lights
• Compressor Flush Mount
• Tap & Hose Connection (will be so handy after a kitesurf!!)
• UHF Connection Point – so I can shut the cab to keep the flies out but still here what’s going on. The Icom 440N has all the controls and speaker in the hand piece one of the main reasons I got it.
• Power outlet for phones, AAA battery charger, … all that stuff and a couple of Anderson Plugs to match the shooting spotlights.
What am I missing?
Overall I am happy with the vehicle, and it’s been great to get out and go places. I’m hoping the draws will increase the practicality and ease of accessing equipment when out and about while also giving me a good project. I'll try and update as the drawer build progresses and I get to work on other aspects of the vehicle!