UPPER CONTROL ARMS ABETTER RIDE BY DESIGN
A GREAT UPGRADE TO ANY MODERN 4WD $585 A PAIR
featuring heating for cold Victorian High Country mornings, and cooling for outback runs in the heart of Australia. A plethora of high-resolution screens give up-to-date info on everything from 360-degree cameras to fuel consumption.
Moving rearwards and ‘big blue’ starts making a whole lot more sense as an Aussie tourer. In place of the nearly two-metre-long stock tub, an ultra-lightweight canopy from Sunshine Coast manufacturer Zone RV now resides. Constructed nearly entirely of composite materials and aluminium it barely makes a dent in the GVM of the Power Wagon, not that it’d care either way. Popping open the aluminium-skinned door along the passenger flank reveals a well-laid-out kitchen similar to what you’d find in a high-end caravan. Up front there’s an Evakool 40L fridge-drawer keeping drinks cold and weights down, and by doing away with a traditional chest fridge and drop-slide the unit is far more accessible and takes up less footprint in the canopy. Above is a series of shelves perfect for stashing a space case or Weber Q. Moving rearwards, an extensive pantry setup provides easy storage for food and cooking equipment. Sliding out from the rearmost saddle box is a huge stainless-steel kitchen bench, with a pop-out sink making roadside cleaning-up a breeze.
Jumping around to the driver’s side reveals a cavernous storage area and tie-down points big enough to load an army of swags, but up top is a little more fancy. Climb up the ladder, pop the two clasps and a built-in rooftop tent emerges in just seconds. The arrangement uses the roof of the canopy as the base, keeping the total weight down to barely more than a mattress and sleeping bag. There’s lighting up top, as well as power outlets for reading lights or charging devices while you sleep.
Hidden down beside the fridge is a huge power wall from Queensland-based Enerdrive. Based off a
lightweight 200amp/h lithium battery pack, the
power wall features the usual suspects like DC to DC charging, a 2000W inverter, and 240V power points spread throughout the canopy. It also houses a high-tech touchscreen Garmin device that allows monitoring of water levels in the 100L water tank, battery charge levels from solar inputs, and full control of all the lighting. The unit lives in the windscreen, with a dock installed on the power wall.
The spec sheet for the big blue Power Wagon reads like the who’s who of aftermarket gear – the wish list every 17-year-old scrawls out when they start planning their very first 4x4 – including the kitchen sink. But the guys at Trucks ‘N’ Toys have actually barely modified it at all, even going so far as to leave the stock exhaust in place. It’s kind of a testament to the idea of starting with the right vehicle from the get-go. As much fun as wrenching spanners in your spare time is, there’s a lot to be said about jumping in the hot seat and taking on the big lap in a near stock 4x4 that’ll eat up everything you throw its way.