I’ve recently purchased my first ever Ute, an Isuzu D-Max, and am very new to the whole 4x4 world (my previous car was a small hatchback). I’m wanting to invest in some good tyres when the time comes but since they come with big price tags, I’m not sure which brand offers the best value. I don’t mind spending a fair bit but I also don’t want to be bankrupt unnecessarily either.

When I bought my 2017 Hilux, I had the dealer install a Redarc dual battery system. I assumed they would have installed a deep cycle battery, but later I realised it was a light commercial battery (N70ZZL). I really only run a fridge from it and it has served me well, but it is needing to be replaced. The problem is, the current battery is C polarity and all deep cycle options are D polarity. This means I either need to stay with a light commercial battery or rewire the dual battery system to suit the different not terminal polarity. What’s everyone’s opinion?

Hi all,

I'm trying to choose 4x4 under 15k and under 200,000km - I'm a freediver/photographer so most of my off road use will be reasonably light, mostly getting to good diving spots (soft sand driving) and remote photography spots around Australia. Won't be anything crazy.

My main requirements are:

Big enough interior to sleep myself (187cm) my missus and my dog.
Less than 10L/100km would be ideal.
I have a preference for manual as it's one less thing to deal with maintenance wise and I've only ever owned a manual, however if a certain model in Auto is known to be very reliable I would consider it.
No need for caravan towing.

I have been doing some research and the top of my list for under 15k with true fold down flat seating is:

2010-2013 Nissan X-Trail (2.5L Manual Petrol) - no CVT or Diesel for me in this range as they are plagued with issues.
2012 Nissan Pathfinder (seems like they ironed out most of the R51 issues by this final facelift/release). Are there any known issues with the auto? Should I stick to a manual? How abou the diesel vs petrol?
Maybe a Mitsubishi Challenger, though I dont like the look as much as the X-Trail/Pathfinder.

Other cars I've looked at in this price range are Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav-4 and Suburu Forester, however all three of these have a fair bit less room for sleeping in the rear.

Not keen on a roof top tent as I would occasionally need to stealth camp near/in cities when travelling around and also getting my dog into the rooftop tent is not practical.

I do have a preference for the boxier look and cargo space of the X-trail + Pathfinder of those generations.

Are there any glaringly obvious cars I am missing? If you had to choose between the X-Trail (Cheaper, but smaller) and the Pathfinder (More expensive, larger, higher fuel useage) which one would you go for and which particular model?

Thanks for your time and knowledge!

Hey everyone, I’m hoping to get some clarity around the UHF channels we’re able to use on the road in Australia - I’m heading from Brisbane down to Melbourne through Adelaide to Perth, Here’s a rundown of what I know… please correct me if I’m wrong; especially given I’m travelling across multiple states.

• Channel 40: This is the main channel used on highways, especially by truck drivers and oversized vehicles for road safety. • Channel 5: Strictly for emergencies if there are no other ways to communicate. This and Channel 35 are reserved exclusively for emergencies, with penalties for misuse. • Channel 29: Dedicated to road safety on the Pacific Highway and Motorway, helpful for traffic updates, closures, or detours. • Channel 10: Often the go-to for 4WD clubs and convoys, also referred to as the national parks channel. • Channel 18: Commonly used by caravan and camping groups (great for when something comes loose or needs attention).

If anyone could clarify if there are other channels for general use or any I should avoid, that’d be awesome. Thanks!

Hey bit of a noob question but my canopy has a 150kg capacity if I put say a 90kg rooftop tent on it would me and the misses be able to sleep in it without breaking it I have never fully understood how canopy/roof capacity works

Hi Everyone, I’ve been looking into getting bigger tyres for my ‘08 N70 and not sure whether it will fir 33’s. I’ve heard that a body mount chop is needed? It’s already got a 2” lift. Whats the biggest I can go without chopping anything. Thnaks :)

Canberra is probably more expensive than say Sydney. And Darwin probably more expensive than either

It's a jeep thing

Hey everyone,

Apologies if this isn't allowed in the group.

I'm looking at buying a 4wd but every time I find one that looks solid I get given a negative opinion on it. (expected of course hahaha)

So I'm just wondering what peoples experience with 2020 onwards model 4wds and what they'd recommend?

Just for context I'm looking at driving down on beaches and doing a bit of fishing, but looking for that UTE like 4wd to possible sleep in the back when camping and things like that. I'm mainly looking into the newer ford rangers but once again all I hear is negative reviews from friends hahaha

any responses are appreciated!

I've got a 1997 ln107 ifs hilux, at the moment I've got 31's on it and jt does a decent job but I'm looking to push it a bit harder. I have a set of 33s for it, and I'm hoping to get a 3 inch lift with all the extras needed to make it fit and not damage it. Is it hard to get an engineering cert for a lift on a car, and is it even worth it. any help would be appreciated cheers

What are the key differences between these makes? Are they equally offroad capable?

I'm looking for something reliable that I can take offroad. The 2004 model is lower kms and in an overall better condition. Keen to know what the differences between these are.

Just got a new set of wheels and tyres for my hilux. They came with no weights on the rims, they tell me they have been balanced using beads inside the tyres. This is the first I’ve heard of this and I’m a little sceptical. Anyone have experience with balancing beads good or bad? Should I be concerned?

I heard it has been closed for ages but is not bollarded, is it do-able or has it degraded to not an option?

Thanks!

Does anyone know if it’s legal to drive on the 4wd track behind Coomera Westfield?

So basically, on my budget, I can either get a 7 year old Cherolee Trailhawk with 130 k kms or a Patrol/Hilux/Landcruiser from 1991-2005 with 300k-400k kms on the odometer. Every ' car person's I've asked swears that I should never touch a Jeep, but surely a 30+ year old 'reliable' 4wd is also going to give me trouble, or am I missing something?

Hey 4x4 community! If you’re looking to lift your Prado 150 and need some real insight on which suspension kit to go for, check out our top 3 lift kits at Suspension 4x4. After 5 years of testing them in real-world conditions, here are our top recommendations:

1. Dobinsons IMS Kit (Our #1 Pick) 🥇
   • Smooth ride with monotube shocks.
   • Great for different load ratings (0-400 kg).
   • Height adjustable, ideal for both comfort and a lift of up to 2.5 inches.
2. Ironman Foam Cell Pro Kit (Runner-Up) 🥈
   • Great bore size for towing and heavy loads.
   • Adjustable height, perfect if you want front and rear evenness.
   • Slight sagging in some cases, which put it in 2nd place.
3. Dobinsons Nitro Gas Kit (Budget Option) 💸
   • Great for non-towing, daily use with a smooth ride.
   • Uses the same quality springs as the IMS kit, perfect for off-road without breaking the bank.

Price Range: $1,299 to $2,200

Check out the full post for more details on each kit and why they made the top 3!
Link to the article: Best 2 inch lift kit for Prado 150

Let me know if you’ve got any questions about lifting your Prado 150 or which kit might be right for you! ✌️🚙💨

Hey everyone, this could be a dumb question but in regards to lifting and max height increased for victoria i understand it’s 75mm max height from stock. And for insurance i know people have been turned away for pay outs because ‘the tires were too big’ etc. I’m wondering if the insurance companies will still pay out a ‘crash’ if you are within the max legal height increased of 75mm or if they turn it away anyways. Thanks again for any response

Hey everyone, it seems my battery is on the way out and needs replacing. Problem is I want to upgrade it from a standard one as I now have a radio, winch and spotlights attached to it, and generally improve reliability.

Unfortunately I can't really find any videos to recommend or review some options for me. All it seems to give is dual set up videos.

So was hoping people on here could point me in the right direction before I waste my hard earned money, cheers.

It's a 2014 diesel Mitsubishi Pajero.

Hi, this is actually for someone buying a car in Costa Rica. I just wanted some advice. I will be driving in remote dirt roads, very steep hills in mud, through rivers, jungle and rainy season. For a single mom. I had a 2 door 80's Land Cruiser in the past and it felt very safe in these situations, I could get anywhere. But was too old and uncomfortable for other driving situations. Newer Land cruisers are too expensive. I am not an off road enthusiast. I just want something to get me from point a to point b without falling off a cliff and dying, or getting stuck in the middle of nowhere. From cheapest to more expensive what would be your recommendations for most capable vehicle? I don't need too much room, just 1 kid. Thanks.

2 adults and 2 babies, light-off road. plenty commute.

Thinking of getting a diesel tune for my MR Triton. Possibly look at turbo upgrade etc too. Most of the reviews of places in Sydney have some horror stories. Can anyone recommend someone who can do it safely and reliably? Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone

Looking to get your guys opinions on what would be the better car long geverty wise. I'll be mainly useing use it to go back and forward 30km to work and back but still want it for the occasional camping trip/moving car parts around on the tray ect. Looking to keep the car for 10 + years soo seeing what's the best option before throwing all my money away

Cheers

Before i spent $269 on this, has anyone purchased it? Is it hella comfy for that price?

Or the wanderer Tourer extreme 4x4 mattress is only $129.99

Heaps of reviews on both, Seems fake lol. Only handful of videos on youtube and the comments all say the Zempire failed within months.

hence asking here for personal experiences i can trust before spending this.

Hey guys, just in the middle of doing my 12v setup for my new canopy. Any major issues/comments you can see with regards to cables/fuse wiring for the large Inputs/Outputs?

Wires decently sized according to current and volt drop and installation manuals. Single cab so main DCDC run is somewhat short.

ITECH battery is rated to 250A continuous, 500A peak. Maybe some issues with the 2600W inverter on startup, but i will see. Max load will be 1800-2000W only.

All fuses are MINI and MEGA Littlefuse in Bussmann holders (not a fan of circuit breakers). Battery isolater switch rated to 350A continuous, negative busbar rated to 600A.

Ignore the 240VAC side for now, not sure if i want to go full ATS via the inverter, manual changeover, or no hardwired AC input at all. With the new regs I am tending towards no AC Input and just an extension cord to the battery charger when required.

https://i.imgur.com/d3aV7Ol.jpeg

So i've got a kings daddy Delux swag. I love it besides the mattress

I'm after a single (something a bit lighter) So i just brought a Darche Ranger solo+ mainly for the mattress as it is a high density 70mm but i'm worried it won't be much better after reading like 1-2 reviews saying it could be better..

I could not really stand the King daddy mattress for more then 1 night.

I have not opened the Ranger solo+ but i'm looking at the specs and the width is only 450mm wide which i think i'll get claustrophobic, I only need this for a few night (hopefully) every few weeks.

This is a FOMO buy i need it asap, I am thinking of going and returning it and getting a XTM single swag + The inflatable mattress then i could stack them together and that's 150MM i'm hoping will be comfy asf

Hopefully i don't need this swag to much but when i do i just want a bit more space and mainly a better bed hence thinking that XTM will probably do me structure wise (big enough) + comfy mattress

This is kind of a temp swag for me..