From where I started my research and initial thinking, to where I’m at today with time to think about what I thought I wanted vs. what I needed, are very different places. Oh, and bouncing stuff of my lovely wife. The initial build with caravan exceeded $300k. The thought was mind boggling to spend that sort of money on something we want to use a couple times a month, with a week or two here and there. We want to go 4WDing and holiday in different places. We don’t want a new house on wheels.
Everything I learnt from my early years and Army 4WDing, lighter did better than heavier. Whether it was driving a Suzuki Swift on the mudflats or a LandRover 110, lighter did better from my experience. I remember switching between the LR110 4×4 to 6×6 ambulance build, the 6×6 was a heavy pig off-road. The 4×4 would drive through everything we put in its way. Simple, light, it didn’t bog down.
My initial logic based on current trends, I was heading towards building a pig of a vehicle. Way too complicated, we would be another mistake amongst the many, big engine, big GVM, big fuel cost. I watch people being proud that their LC79, 200 series or RAM, get 22 – 30lt per hundred off-road. WTF! I want an economical, reliable, capable vehicle, not a tank. As time passed, the best decision made was to not rush into this, and as such, the cost and requirement dropped significantly. The revised build looks very different. Honestly, even with the revised build, its scary how quickly the weight and cost adds up.
I modified the Dmax Build post, thinking I could repeat that process as decisions changed. Doing that once was annoying, so I’m taking a new approach. Listing the build with appropriate data I have in my excel sheet. There are some bits and pieces not listed here that will accompany the Patriot X3 and some camping stuff, but this is about the Dmax.
We ultimately chose the Dmax because its the only vehicle this year to meet current ANCAP, its loaded with safety tech, comfortable, Isuzu reliability, has great fuel economy and is quickly gaining available after-market parts.
Oh, I just found out yesterday that our X-Terrain will be here in July. A month or two earlier than initially predicted. Giddy Up!
Dmax X-Terrain
| Dmax X-Terrain | $53,500 | https://www.werribeeisuzuute.com.au |
Power & Performance
| Uni-X ECU | $2000 | https://dynomotive.com.au |
| Heavy Duty Valve Body | $1300 | https://automatictransmission.com.au |
| Transmission Cooler | $520 | https://automatictransmission.com.au |
| 3″ Torqit Exhaust | $1400 | https://www.torqit.com.au |
| Performance Intercooler | $1600 | https://hpdiesel.com.au |
| Safari Snorkel | $500 | https://www.drivenoffroad.com.au |
| Fitting for some of the above | $3000 | |
| Total Cost | $10,320 | Approximate until fitted |
4WD Upgrade
| 2″ Suspension Lift + Diff Drop + GVM Upgrade | $5500 | https://www.lovellscampbellfield.com.au |
| ROH Octagon + Mickey ATZ P3 | $3550 | https://www.jaxtyres.com.au |
| Predator Bullbar | $2500 | https://offroadanimal.com.au |
| Runva13000lb Winch | $1200 | https://www.runvawinch.com.au |
| Rear Protection Bar / Towbar | $2000 | https://offroadanimal.com.au |
| Rock Sliders | $1380 | https://offroadanimal.com.au |
| 12 Pin Wiring Harness | $359 | https://www.isuzuute.com.au |
| Redarc Towpro Kit | $540 | https://www.redarc.com.au |
| Preline Filter / Provent Catchcan | $825 | https://directionplus.com.au |
| Long-range Tank | $1200 | https://www.browndavis.com.au |
| Winch Accessories | $780 | https://a247.com.au |
| Recovery Kit | $600 | https://shop.all4adventure.com |
| MaxTrax MkII | $600 | https://www.maxtrax.com.au |
| TrakRyder Rear Disc Upgrade & Braided Lines | $3000 | https://www.pedders.com.au |
| Diff Breather Kit | $170 | https://www.harrop.com.au |
| Clearview Towing Mirrors | $1200 | https://www.clearviewaccessories.com.au |
| Stedi Lights | $1000 | https://www.stedi.com.au |
| Underbody Protection | $650 | https://www.bushskinz4x4.com.au |
| Total Cost | $27,054 | Approximate until fitted |
Tub Bits & Pieces
| Tailgate Assist | $180 | https://hsputelids.com |
| Tailgate Lock | $250 | https://hsputelids.com |
| Tailgate Seal | $250 | https://adventureready4x4.com.au |
| ARB Dual Aircompressor | $750 | https://www.superiorengineering.com.au |
| Ute Slides | $1400 | https://podtrailer.com.au |
| Amptron 150ah Lithium | $1420 | https://www.amptron.com.au |
| Egon DC Hub | $840 | https://perthpro.com.au |
| Redarc BCDC 40A Charger | $720 | https://www.redarc.com.au |
| Tubrack Roofrack System | $1300 | https://www.mountaintop.com.au |
| 120W Flexible Solar | $500 | https://offroadliving.com.au |
| Floodlights for Rack | $150 | https://www.stedi.com.au |
| Cel-Fi Go Telstra 4WD | $1300 | https://powertec.com.au |
| GME XRS UHF | $700 | https://www.gme.net.au |
| 120Lt Water Tank | $400 | https://boaboffroad.com.au |
| 2 x 40Lt Diesel Jerry Tanks | $400 | https://boaboffroad.com.au |
| Total Cost | $10,560 | Approximate until fitted |
Random Stuff
| GME Handheld UHF | $250 | https://www.gme.net.au |
| Blackvue DR900X 2ch Dashcam | $900 | https://dashcamsaustralia.com.au |
| Wiring / Elec Bits & Pieces | $1000 | |
| Bonnet Struts | $70 | https://nitrolift.com.au |
| UltraGauge Bluetooth | $80 | http://www.ultra-gauge.com |
| 2 x FireStryker | $340 | https://www.arb.com.au |
| 200W Solar Blanket | $780 | https://offroadliving.com.au |
| NOCO GB70 | $400 | https://www.amazon.com.au |
| 400W Inverter | $300 | https://www.mygenerator.com.au |
| Total Cost | $4120 | Approximate until fitted |
Why No Roofrack?
Having a ute with roller cover, its easier to mount a tub rack, access it, than a roofrack. Adding a roofrack for the sake of it is silly IMO. People add a roofrack because they have no other space, ie. the tub is needed for loads, is a tray or canopy. People look at other 4wd’s and copy things, they “think” they need it too. Do you really need roof mounted lights? Do you really need more fixed solar panels?
I’m using a low profile tubrack which will hold my maxtrax, shovel, one solar panel for the lithium and mount my UHF and Cel-Fi aerials (both on fold down mounts), keeping everything at the rear, below roof-line, and aerodynamic for fuel economy. Oh, the bonus is that the vehicle height isn’t an issue either in any carpark.
For those solar nuts, you’re far better with a solar blanket which you can shift to be efficient than fixed panels will provide. This solves two problems, in that you can add it to your system as extra solar when camping, and you can add it to your main battery via a regulator to top it up if needed.
PodTrailer
I think this is worth highlighting. I stumbled onto this ute slide after looking at the standard offering from others. Others tend to sit 100 – 130mm in base height when fitted. PodTrailer slides sit about 5 – 10mm from the deck. Why does this matter? Firstly, its space. Height space matters in a tub with roller cover closed. If you use a normal ute slide, the only fridge you can fit is a drawer style. Using PodTrailer slides, you can fit most Engel and Dometic models into the internal of the slide, depending which slide widths you fit.
That is a game changer in my eyes for longer trips, where I want to take more refrigerated / frozen goods into remote areas in combination with the 75lt Dometic fridge / freezer in the X3.
Hey mate, interest in your DMAX build- how’s it been preforming with all the upgrades?
Keen to chat and ask a few questions regarding my own future build.
Cam
Hey Cam. Fire away anything you want to bounce around.
Covid the gift that keeps on giving has slowed things down.
Slowly… only about $10k into it, and really just a lot of little odds and ends at the moment. Its about a 2 year build. My ideal suspension is a GVM upgrade from Dobinsons using their MRR system. They’re currently sending that through the approval process, as of late last year when I asked them about it, they said it takes them 3 – 6 months to get each one through, and just keep checking the website for when its listed. I’m really just waiting for that, will buy wheels in the coming months ready for the lift.
So pretty much, just doing little odds and ends awaiting that, as the Lovells one is too harsh for what I need it to be. If Dobinsons fall through, I may fall on the sword and go to ARB as they do have a GVM upgrade using their adjustable shocks now. Axle load rated, which is all I really need. I’m most interested in adjustable shocks to dampen the harshness of the ride, especially offroad in the vic high country, whilst being legal weight wise with a camper attached.
Also changing the wheel tyre combo, to KMC XD xd132 rg2 17×8 P25 rims sporting Maxxis RAZR MT772 285/70/17.
I’ve purchased the new Rhino Armour kit they just put up for sale, so that should be ready around April. I’m letting it sit in the garage at the moment because I did heaps of pinstripes on my last trip to Mt Disappointment, so had to cut and polish to clean it up a little until the rhino armour arrives. Happy to accept its going to get scratched up, but I’m keen to take measures to limit it so things last.
It goes into tintacar this week to get the windows tinted using their spectre film, which is the best for heat apparently, being my main concern. I want to keep the cabin cool as possible when we venture into the hot places. Like said, just odds and ends at the moment.
The missus pretty much only let her foot of the brake on upgrades at Christmas, and I’m really just waiting on the suspension I want. Some of the stuff I’m actually waiting until later in the year when the 4×4 show is on, then try and get some show deals on big ticket items all at once.
This year I want to get the tub completed, with all its elec bits and pieces. I want to get the basic 4wd bits on (suspension, wheels, sliders, bash plates). I’ve been buying all those bits and pieces, DC charger, ARB compressor, etc etc. Just waiting for them to all arrive and then get it out to Boss Aluminium to make something nice for the tub to mount it all.
Covid is just the gift that keeps on giving with everyone, and getting things is slow.
Hey mate,
Looking at a portable fridge/freezer for my x-terrain. What height is your 75L dometic? Was looking at the evakool down under II which is 410mm in height which seems to be less than the dometic but my tub doesn’t seem big enough for it.
Obviously if you can fit the dometic then maybe my calculations are wrong!
Thanks for chucking your info up. Keen to get into my own build!
Cheers
Jared
Hey Jared. I ended up with the Evakool Travelmate 80lt which fits with no issues in my slide.
I was also looking at the Engel 57 or 60lt ones, which both fit under the X-Terrain roller cover with the Pod Trailer tub slide (tub liner removed) by about 2mm to 3mm from the end of the roller cover which seals onto the top of the tailgate. If you had no liner and no tub slide, the Engel will fit no issues.