CAPE CRUSADER
SOUTH-EAST Queensland local, Alicia Randall, kept her 2017 SR5 Hilux relatively stock for the first few years of ownership, as it served double-duty for family and business usage. Inevitably, Alicia saw ways she could improve the way the Hilux serves her purposes, and the modifications began in earnest. Alicia and partner Brett started researching canopies and came across the team at AMVE 4x4, who appeared to have just what they were after. AMVE convinced Alicia of the benefits of a chassis-mounted canopy and the deal was done for a customdesigned unit.
The powder-coated aluminium canopy is basically split down the middle in two separate sections. The driver’s side of the canopy has been left relatively empty as a place to carry bigger items; plus it’s on this side where you access the 12-volt set-up.
On the passenger side you’ll find a 130-litre Bushman upright fridge and a stainless-steel slide-out kitchen that includes a work table, microwave oven, storage drawers and shelves. The passenger side is covered by a 23Zero 270° awning, and both the shower tent and rooftop tent are also from 23Zero.
Other features of the AMVE canopy include tapered tool boxes at the rear corners, a trundle drawer at the back and a 60-litre water tank with electric pump.
A comprehensive 12-volt set-up employs an Enerdrive 40amp DC Charger, 40amp AC Charger, 50 and 500amp shunts, and 50, 80, 200amp circuit breakers, all keeping a 200-amp lithium battery and a host of accessories happy.there’s also a 2000-watt inverter for powering 240-volt appliances. A Redarc solar panel fitted atop the tent helps keep things charged when parked up in camp.
The 285 Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3s are fitted to Method Race Wheels alloys, and their action is managed by Outback Armour front coils and adjustable shocks. The rear leaf packs were modified by Bayside Springs to suit the load on board.
Up front is a loopless bar from AFN, while Custom Offroad plates protect the undercarriage and Legendex rock sliders the sills. Inside the bar is a Carbon Winch and AMVE recovery points.
The Hilux’s 2.8-litre diesel engine breathes in via a Legendex four-inch snorkel and In House Fabrications airbox, and exhales via a three-inch ceramic-coated exhaust system from the crew at Legendex. Legendex also dyno-tuned the combo and it now puts out a healthy 504Nm and 182hp at the treads.
A beefed-up Exedy Hi-torque clutch was employed to handle the extra grunt ahead of the standard Toyota gearbox. For now, Alicia makes do with the Hilux’s standard rear differential lock and ETC, but says she wouldn’t mind fitting a locker in the front diff in the future.