Ready for anything

Upgrades and clever gear for the 4WD lifestyle

This is a great time of year. The days are warmer, longer, calling us out to explore again.

It’s time to spring into action, or at least out to the garage. The

4WD awaits, and there are projects and upgrades to get on with.

Perhaps winter has highlighted some weaknesses in the truck’s charging system, or an upgrade is needed to make the camping lifestyle more fun.

Towing is big from here to Christmas and into the new year. How do we rough it? With a toy hauler full of gear and clothes and provisions perhaps, or a decentsized caravan, or go old-school with a pop-top or tent.

Maybe the truck just needs a brake bleed, or maybe the brakes got well hot and stinky last time they were used hard. Maybe a brake upgrade and a nice glossy set of six-pot calipers are the thing?

A good look around underneath can reveal other mechanical bits that need some love. Suspension bushes might be a bit tired, or even engine mounts. Modern engine mounts are funny things, made to absorb more vibration than ever but often at the expense of durability. The ‘go-to’ local workshop will give good advice on such things.

A lot of what is on the to do list as actually stuff the capable 4WD owner can do in-house, or at least in-garage. The only note of caution here is that any owner should also be realistic enough to recognise the things they really should leave to the workshop. In some cases, swapping out components like brakes may take the owner into the realm of the local Low Volume certifier. Not a scary thing but something to build into the build.