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Green With Envy

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There are plenty of “Game Changers” out there that tend to blend with the crowd, but we’ve never experienced a build that stood out quite like this one does! It’s one thing to build a 79 that’s off-tap, but when you need to distinguish yourself from the rest, nothing quite says “I’m unique” like a bright green, pearl wrap!

This would have to be one of our favorite builds! Based on the Jmacx 300mm Chassis extension/ Coil Conversion with a Mits Alloy Evo 2 tray and canopy package, this one-off build includes the best of the best parts and accessories in the business. The Extended Jmacx Super Chassis is protected with a Raptor Coat finish and is the foundation for this build. It incorporates the coil conversion and the strengthened chassis gives the Cruiser a GVM of 4495kg, 4t towing and a combined mass of 8t. This makes the big hefty green beast capable of hauling the extra weight with ease and towing is not a problem either.

The conversion is running the Jmacx Alpha remote res shocks at 4″ of lift with in-cab electronic valve adjustment for getting the ride perfect for every situation from the comfort of the cab. Airbag Man high pressure airbags also assist with load carrying and there’s also in-cab adjustment for quick pressure changes on the fly, controlled through the Airbag Man wireless system with built-in air tank. The kit also includes an NPC Upgraded 1300Nm clutch, billet radius arms, a hydraulic brake booster and rear winch cradle incorporated into the chassis.

Bar work on the 79 comes from TJM with the T13 Outback Bar upfront, TJM brush bars and side steps for the ultimate frontal and side protection. The bar houses a Runva 13XP 13,000lbs winch for forward recovery duties and there’s also another Runva 13XP in the rear winch cradle for rearward recoveries.  A set of TJM Seeker 230 LED driving lights are also housed on the bar for lighting up the tracks on those night runs. A Stedi Pro ST3300 39″ light bar is also mounted to the Rhino Pioneer Platform on the roof for lighting up ruts when doing the hard stuff in the dark.

 



Performance mods include a Patroldocta Stainless airbox and 4″ stainless snorkel finished in black powder coat. A multi-stage ECU Remap by Just Autos provides a well needed kick in the pants for the lazy VDJ V8 diesel and breathing is further assisted by a Torqit 3.5″ stainless and mandrel bent, DPF back exhaust.

Engine protection is care of a HPD billet catch can and Diesel Care secondary fuel filter. The exposed OEM alternator has been upgraded to a fully sealed, brushless, water cooled, 200a alternator by Rapid Power. This handles the heavier loads of the accessories as well as the added benefit of being sealed from the elements when doing water crossings, mud or in dusty environments. An under-bonnet dual battery system comprising of Redarc 25a DC/DC charger and Century Dual Force deep cycle AGM battery runs power for the in-vehicle accessories and also provides a back-up system for the battery fit-out in the canopy.



There’s a Brown Davis 180Lt  long range tank that has been designed specifically by Brown Davis to suit the unique requirements of the custom chassis and coil conversion on the 79. A set of Brown Davis underbody guards also provide protection for vital underbody components when the going gets rough.

The interior has received the once over as well, being completely stripped and sound deadened with Dynamat. The OEM front seats were replaced with Scheel-mann sports bucket seats and a Cruiser Consoles centre fridge console was fitted, complete with a Bushmans 18L Roadie console fridge. A Cruiser Consoles Overhead Bulge console was also fitted to maximise interior storage and a set of Department of the Interior rear side consoles provide extra rear cup holders and 12v sockets to the back seats.

The green machine was sent over to the guys at House of Soundz for a big sound system upgrade. The factory head unit was replaced with a Kenwood 10.2 floating head unit with DB Speakers front and rear as well as custom door pods, a 5 channel amp and a subwoofer behind the rear seat. A GME XRS 370C UHF radio was fitted along with a GME AE4705 antenna to take care of communications and there is a host of Lightforce OEM switches neatly arranged into the dash controlling all manner of accessories while keeping that clean factory look. A set of Truefit 3D Maxtrax floor mats keep the factory carpet squeaky clean and a Red Arc Tow Pro Elite dial controls the trailer braking when it comes time to hauling the big loads.



The other big stand-out feature is the Mits Alloy Evo 2 tray and canopy package which utitlises a Redarc Red Vision system with twin 200a/hr lithium batteries to run a whole host of lighting and camping accessories including the Bushmans 130L upright fridge. A TJM Pro Twin Compressor is used for airing up on trails, and the tray has built-in water storage both underneath and on the headboard.

A set of Clearview Next Gen electric towing mirrors help to see around the canopy and the whole unit is rolling on 17×9″ ROH Assault wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich KM3 mud tyres which measure in at 315/70 17s. The wrap was done by Tubby Signs and gives the striking green beast it’s personality. This big green machine certainly stands out from the crowd and in a convoy of Sandy Taupe and Graphite, you know this ones’ going to turn the heads. Form and functionality is the key here and this has been one of our coolest builds yet! Keep an eye out for this one on the tracks – you certainly wont miss it!

 

One Unstoppable 79 Series LandCruiser

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Ok, so we might be flogging the 79 Series LandCruiser just a tad, but there’s a pretty good reason for that. We can’t think of a more popular 4WD at the moment and when it comes to touring – there just isn’t anything quite as capable.

Truck-like capabilities, with the flexibility to be set up as a comfortable tourer that can still do the hard stuff when you need to.  Reliability, durability, old school live axles, lots of after-market mods available, a motor that will happily lug an overweight 4WD and caravan around all day – have we missed anything?

Yes, they’re on the pricey side and yes, in standard form they lack a lot of features, but with the right mods and set up, there is nothing available on the market today that will match one. And this big white beast is the panicle of what you can actually do to a 79 Series and there has certainly been no expense spared.

The foundation for this build is the Jmacx 300mm chassis extension and coil conversion, running the Kings 2.5 suspension with remote reservoirs. This ups the GVM on the 79 Series from 3300kg to a whopping 4495kg and the towing capacity is also up 500kg to 4t. Ride refinement and axle articulation is increased from the coils with those big remote-res shocks and airbags in the rear also aiding with towing and soaking up the corrugations on those rough stretches.

Another stand-out feature and the epicentre of its touring capability is the Mits Alloy tray and canopy package. Mits Alloy have designed a tray and jack-off canopy specifically to suit the stretched chassis of the 79 Series and this particular unit features two Engle 95L upright fridges, a 130L under-body water tank, trundle draw and the whole canopy is centrally locked.

Power will never be an issue with a Kick Ass 170A/hr slimline AGM battery managed by a TJM 25A DC-DC battery charger mounted behind the back seat, which believe it or not, is actually just a back-up for the giant Enerdrive 200A/hr lithium battery managed by the Enerdrive 40A AC and DC board with Simarine panel mounted inside the canopy. There’s also solar input thanks to a 180w Enerdrive panel for when the big beast is off the grid. This set-up powers a 2000w Enerdrive inverter and all the 12v power you could ever need while out on the tracks.

Vehicle protection is compliments of a colour coded TJM T13 Outback bull bar, TJM brush rails and side steps which have the big, chunky 63mm tubing to make this 79 Series just a little more bulletproof.

Lighting is an all-Stedi affair with a set of Type-X Pro driving lights up-front and a Stedi 50” double row light bar mounted to the Rhino Pioneer Platform. There’s also two side mounted Stedi micro 13.4” light bars for lighting up the campsite.

Recovering Patrols is handled by a Carbon 12,000lbs winch with synthetic rope mounted in the TJM bar, fitted with a Factor 55 Flatlink shackle as well as a rear mounted Carbon 12,000lbs winch with Factor 55 Prolink shackle which has the cradle integrated onto the Jmacx chassis. There’s an ARB twin compressor and 3L air tank controlled by an Airbag Man air control kit which takes care of tyre inflation as well as supply to the airbags, all mounted in one of the rear toolboxes.

Performance modifications include a Safari Armax snorkel which feeds fresh air onto a Patrol Docta stainless steel airbox. The intercooler was upgraded to a HPD S2 top mount unit to keep that air flow nice and cool. The big hefty beast needed a serious kick in the pants after all the weight gain and was sent off to Streamline Automotive at Beresfield for an ECU tune. The guys up there where happy to wring a big torque increase of over 70% out of the lazy VDJ V8 and still retain reliability. The power is dialled up a whole lot quicker with fitment of an iDrive unit for extra throttle response and drivability. A Torqit 3.5” stainless steel exhaust designed especially for the Jmacx exhaust routing was also fitted from the DPF back for better exhaust flow.

Engine protection is courtesy of a Diesel Care secondary fuel filter and HPD billet alloy catch can. A clutch upgrade was also a necessity and the NPC 1300nm upgrade kit is now part and parcel of the Jmacx kit. As is stopping power and the big GVM kits also include an upgraded hydraulic brake booster. A Harrop diff breather kit to both diffs, transmission and transfer case prevent water ingress to vitals as well.

Interior mods started with the whole inside being stripped out and Dynamat Xtreme sound insulation fitted. The factory front seats were ditched for the sexy looking Recaro buckets and the rear bench received a leather retrim to match the fronts. Not only to the Recaros look a million dollars, but the added bolstering and lumber support means you can spend more time in the saddle on those long touring trips.

Department of the Interior centre console and rear seat side consoles were fitted, as well as Cruiser Consoles overhead console with touch lighting.

 

Communications are handled by a GME XRS370C UHF radio running a GME AW4705B antenna, and a Cel-Fi mobile phone repeater with GME AT4705B antenna.

The factory audio system was swapped out for an Alpine touch screen unit with Hema maps built in and a speaker upgrade to DB Drive units gives much better sound clarity and boost than the OEM speakers ever could.

Other touring mods include a Brown Davis 180L long range tank which has been designed specifically for the unique requirements of the Jmacx rear end, a Darche Hi-view 1600 rooftop tent,  270 Eclipse awning on the passenger side and Eclipse 2 x 2.5m side awning on the driver’s side. Roof mounted Maxtrax and shovel holders are mounted to the Rhino Pioneer platform and the whole package is rolling on a set of Method 305 NV HD machined face wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich KM3 tyres which measure in at 315/70 R17.

When it comes to any type of terrain and any long-distance touring, there certainly is no stopping this big 79 Series LandCruiser. It’s a testament to what you can actually do with these things and the capability is far beyond anything else on the market. Keep an eye out for this one around the traps – you certainly can’t miss it!

 

 

Redi to Rumble

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Doing the big builds are what we’re all about here at Redi Cruisers and more often than not, it’s not just about what we do here but a collective effort by a number of companies working together to achieve the same end result for a customer. We’re all about collaborating with some of the best names in the business to piece together the right products and the right solutions to suit your requirements. The results always speak for themselves and this dual cab 79 is up there with the best of them!

Our customer Terry approached us with some unique requirements and a very particular criteria that he was expecting from his new 79. Firstly, it needed to have plenty of canopy space with the versatility of being able to move things around to suit his needs. Coming from a Patrol, Terry was used to the comfort and refinement of coils springs so for touring, a coil spring conversion was definitely on his list. After doing some research, there was also one last big-ticket item on Terry’s list that was a must have – an automatic transmission conversion.

We knew we had the coil conversion covered has we’ve been doing the Jmacx coil conversions for a few years now. Jmacx have designed and refined their conversion kits to perfection over the years and now, although it’s still quite an extensive process, our working relationship with these guys sees a flawless process in place that makes getting your coil conversion done an easier process than buying a new pair of shoes for the end customer!

This kit includes a GVM upgrade certification to 3900kg and is running 3″ of lift on the Kings 2.5 remote res shocks and air bags to assist in load carrying. We shoe-horned in a Brown Davis 180L long range fuel tank which has been designed by Brown Davis to suit the coil conversions. Exhaust is by Torqit which is a 3.5″ stainless steel, mandrel bent, DPF back system, custom made by Torqit to suit the unique routing requirements of the coil conversion. Torqit are another locally based company here in Newcastle that make awesome performance products.

Mits Alloy had us covered when it came time to putting together an alloy tray and canopy package that met Terry’s requirements for touring and, as always, the local Newcastle -based manufacturer came up trumps on this build with this amazing looking graphite lift-off design. It incorporates an under tray trundle draw, 35l poly water tank on the headboard, tapered tool boxes and built-in kitchen bench table.

The inside of the canopy is fitted with an Enerdrive DC and AC charging system using a 125A/h lithium battery which powers the Dometic CRX110 upright fridge and all the lighting throughout the canopy. There’s also an under-bonnet dual battery system running a Redarc BCDC charger on a custom bracket by Perth Performance Diesel powered by a Centruy Dual Force AGM battery which feeds power to the canopy system off the alternator and also works as a back-up to run canopy accessories. Hidden in one of the tapered tool boxes is a TJM HD air compressor to control airbag inflation and tyre inflation as well.

We enlisted the help of our good mates at All Four x 4 Spares for the auto conversion and after the coil kit was completed, we shipped the vehicle off to the boys over at Kotara for them to install the 6-speed Wholesale Automatics kit. The transmission is the same box used in the LC200 but using an upgraded torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler so the box is even stronger and more reliable than the standard item and is adapted to suit all the standard 70 series components and transfer case.

The difference in the way the big beast drives now is like chalk and cheese. Imagine the ride-refinement of coil springs and an auto cog swapper combined with the rugged build and durability of a bulletproof 79 dual cab ute. This is definitely the best of both worlds!

There is, of course, a lot more to this build as well. TJM bar work is the order of the day with the T13 Outback bull bar, TJM side steps and brush rails to suit. The bar work has all been colour coded Graphite and houses the TJM 12,000lbs winch with synthetic rope and there are a set of Stedi Type-X Pro LED driving lights for day-making.

There’s a Safari Armax snorkel feeding clean air into a Patrol Doctor stainless steel air box and there’s a HPD high-flow, top-mount intercooler helps keep air-flow nice and cool.

Further engine protection is helped with the fitment of a Diesel Care pre-filter on a custom-made bracket by Perth Performance Diesel which also houses the diff breather filters.

The interior was completely gutted and sound deadened using Dynomat before any mods were made.  Front and centre of the interior is an Alpine in-dash head unit with Hema maps installed, front and rear speaker pods, all fitted by House of Soundz at Broadmeadow. A Cruiser Consoles over-head console houses the GME UHF and extra storage. The centre console was fitted by the guys at All Four x 4 as part of the auto conversion and houses the display panel for transmission readings.

There’s a set of Clearview power-fold, electric towing mirrors for seeing around the canopy and a Rhino Pioneer platform up-top for extra storage. The big grey beast is rolling on a set of Pro Comp Series 74 Trilogy alloy wheels that measure in at 17 x 8” and a set of BF Goodrich KO2 All Terrain tyres that are a 285/70/17.

Building a 79 like this is like conducting a symphony of an awesome team of fitters, suppliers and accessory manufacturers to achieve the end result. Here at Redi Cruisers we are all about the customer being able to come to the one place to build their dream Cruiser. Terry is over the moon with his new 79 that is that perfect mix of refinement vs durability. Keep an eye out for his awesome rig out an about on the tracks.

Stretched 79

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It all started with something simple – a bare bones, plain-Jane white 79 Series Dual Cab -brand new, but looking a little on the sad side to be honest! I know – let’s chop it up and make it longer! That was the call from business owner Michael and the plans were set in place for our new shop 79 Series.

But it wasn’t as simple as that. I know we’ve said it before, but this thing turned in to the biggest build we’ve ever done…literally. The foundation of this Goliath 79 is the chassis built by Jmacx Engineering which has lengthened the wheelbase by 300mm, displacing the bulk of the loaded weight further forward of the rear axle, and making the big girl more stable on and off the road. There’s more than meets the eye with this seriously heavy duty chassis though, as it also incorporates the coil cradle to complete the coil spring conversion without the need for an additional bolt-in cradle. The beauty of this set-up is the ability to legally raise the maximum GVM to 4490kg and the towing capacity to 4t. With a lower tare weight than most yank trucks available here – this leaves the payload on the stretched 79 greater than anything else on our market.

With that in mind, we set about loading this thing up to tackle anything this country’s harshest conditions can throw at it. Michael had plans to not only build a 79 with the works, but something that met his needs for touring, work and everyday driving. The next stand-out feature is the custom built alloy tray and jack-off canopy built by Mits Alloy.

Mits Alloy are a company based locally to us, that had already been building awesome trays and canopies for some of our customers, so we got them involved in the build early on in the piece to come up with some with a solution to suit the modified chassis. The end result is capable of utilising three fridges including the custom Waeco CFX100 beer keg fridge complete with built in beer taps. Other additions include the Dometic 110L upright fridge and the Waeco CFX75L Dual Zone fridge on the Clearview ES220 Plus drop-down fridge slide. After all – you can never have too much room for beer….and food!

The fridges and all the lighting are powered by the Enerdrive 12v/240v management system running a 200Ah Enerdrive lithium battery all mounted in the canopy.  The system receives charge from the alternator via a TJM 25a DC/DC charger and Century Dualforce battery mounted under the bonnet, and there’s also solar input into the system for remote charging.

The DB Drive 36″ sound bar provides fat beats for the campsite and is controlled via Bluetooth through your phone and the canopy is finished off with Stedi work lights and LED strip lighting through-out.

There’s room in the under body lockers for the on-board air inflation kit by Airbag Man and it’s controlled via the TJM Connect accessories management system. This takes care of inflation of the air bag suspension on the fly and has flush mounted air fitting for running a hose to the tyres for inflation.

Piggy-backing the canopy is the Jmacx coil spring rear-end which uses a combination of Kings 2.5 remote res shocks and heavy duty coils with Airbag Man High Pressure airbags in the rear to assist in stabilising the load. The rear coils provide a much more refined ride, better axle articulation and the refabricated diff housing and upgraded axles provide added strength to make the rear-end bulletproof, even with the added weight. Can’t winch forward? The Jmacx chassis has its own rear mounted winch cradle which houses a TJM 12,000lbs Torq winch perfect for getting out of those tricky spots.

Power upgrades are curtesy of Streamline Automotive who preformed a remap on their dyno. This combined with a HPD upgraded intercooler, TJM Airtec snorkel and Patrol Doctor Air box have increased power by 42% and torque is up a massive 68% over the stock numbers. It’s more than enough to get the big girl up and sprinting off the mark. Exhaust gas is flowing hard and fast thanks to the Torqit 3.5 inch stainless steel system made specifically to suit the unique routing of the extended and coiled rear end of the Jmacx chassis. There’s a HPD catch can and Diesel Care Pre Filter system for better engine protection.

A heavy duty clutch is a necessary upgrade once you start adding weight, power and/or bigger wheels on the 79 and a requirement for the 4490kg GVM Upgrade. The clutch supplied with the kit is by NPC and they are our go-to supplier for clutch upgrades.

Barwork is all by TJM with the T13 Outback bar up front, brush rails and side steps, all running 63mm tubing. The bar houses a TJM 12,000lbs Torq Winch and a set of Stedi Type X Pros light up the night up- front. Giving a good spread of side lighting is two 11.5 inch Stedi light bars mounted under the headlights and two GME antennas take care of communications, with one for UHF and one as a phone booster.

A Rhino Pioneer roof platform is fitted with more lightwork from Stedi including a 41.5 inch slimline lightbar up-front and two side facing 11.5 inch slimline light bars to light up the campsite. A Rhino Sunseeker Awning is bolted to protect patrons from the elements whilst attending the beer keg fridge, and the platform also has a Rhino hi-lift jack and shovel holder for extra recovery gear storage.

The interior has received the once-over with over-head and centre consoles from Department of the Interior that house the TJM Connect control panel and a Uniden 9080 UHF radio. Seat covers are care of Black Duck and there’s a Kenwood in-dash entertainment system front and centre, running upgraded speakers and a slimline subwoofer behind the back seat. The whole interior has been soundproofed using Dyno Mat to reduce panel vibration while the stereo is cranking and to reduce road noise.


The whole package is rolling on ROH Maverick Alloy wheels measuring at 16x 8 inches and a set of 315/75 R16s by BF Goodrich which are a KM3 mud terrain tyre. If you’re in the market for an ultra-tough touring truck that has a payload unlike anything else on the market, then give us a call to find out what we can build for you. We’ve built this truck for a purpose and no matter what your purpose we can build one to suit your needs –  ready to tour, ready to work or just ready to hit all the hard tracks – Redi-built by Redi 4×4!



 

 

 

 

LandCruiser 79 Build

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Before we take to the 79

Before we take to the 79

DSC_3515lNeed some inspiration to build your work truck into something that stands out from the rest? Over the next few weeks we’ll be bringing you updates as we transform this sedate looking 79 series LandCruiser into a twin air-locked, fire breathing work-truck from hell.

Craig and the boys in the TJM Hunter Valley workshop will be all over this thing like a rash for the next few weeks and with owner Alex sparing no expense, the boys will be giving it their all to make sure that every little detail is covered. Not to mention the guys from Jmacx will be waving their magic wand over this truck. Yep, that’s right…I said the J word. This thing will be rolling out of our workshop with a full coil sprung rear end and GVM upgrade.

Looking for something to fulfil his work needs as well as a truck to do some serious touring and bush work, owner Alex took some inspiration from our own 79 series LandCruiser and decided to go the whole hog with the build, including the Jmacx rear coil conversion. This will be the first time a Jmacx coil conversion has been done on the new single cab 79 with the upgraded ANCAP safety rating so the boys up there at Jmacx are excited to see how the new fit goes. There’s been a few changes made to the interior of the new single cab too, so the guys at the Department of the Interior are also keen to get their gear into the new model.DSC_3507l

With a list of mods and accessories including chip, exhaust, custom snorkel and air box, dual battery, suspension, wheels and tyres, lights that will turn night into day, that awesome rear coil conversion and enough bar work to make Mad Max envious just to list a few things, this 79 series will be transformed from a basic work horse to a touring weapon.

We love nothing more than when get a bare bones project like this and take great satisfaction in handing the keys back to the owner with all the hard work paying off for the end result to put a smile on their face. So stay tuned to this page for regular updates on Alex’s 79 build, the details on the work we’re doing, the products we’re fitting and the benefits of those products.