99 Hilux Dual Cab

[Justin Bieber]

A big chrome bull bar will be one of the first things I get. Thats no pics' only modification request so therefore the easiest to approve. I dunno about the eletronic rust protection, the sound of them shit me off, bigtime. I dunno if I could stand that.

Think long and hard about the chrome Kev, they blind you when they catch the sun at certain times of day, not a good thing :D

I've got the TJM T15 winch bar on mine, love it. It's destroyed a few Roo's over the years with not so much as a dent in the bar. Big fan. The ARB bar is very similar and is also a good piece of kit.

I wouldn't bother with Rust Protection, it's snake oil in my opinion. Just spend a few hours cleaning it after trips to the beach and it should give you many years of faithful service. Mines getting some rust in the rear wheel arches behind the cab now, bloody stone chips have hacked up the paint and the cancer is forming. Need to get onto that ASAP come to think of it.

DO NOT GO TO ARB FOR DUAL BATTERIES!!!! In fact don't go to ARB for fucking anything, those useless cunts are fucking useless. Had 3 things installed on my rig and they fucked up all 3. Complete nublets (Nundah store)

Dual batteries is an easy DIY job, you need a Redarc solenoid ($120-$150), off the shelf Piranha battery trey (About $120 from TJM) and the biggest battery you can fit. I've got a shit memory and can't remember if yours is petty or diesel?

I could only fit an 8" battery into the second battery trey I got off TJM so I ended up moving the starter battery into the AUX trey which let me fit a big fuck off 12" Deep Cycle into the spot from the factory battery.

And yes gets very expensive after a while! But it's stuff you can actually enjoy. Our lux is setup now, been camping/fishing in it 3 weeks in a row now. Having a well setup 4wd really is the key to staying sane these days, gets you out of the city as often as possible!

[23Kev]

Well have just come back from a couple weeks in Thailand (damn there are a shitload of Hiluxes over there) and am keen to get into the Lux.

Am going to head out to TJM so I can work out some budgets then will get approval of shit to buy. I'm keen as for some rear storage drawers as well, as I love the idea of being organised.

A recovery kit will be the first thing I purchase and some rated recovery points chucked on will be the first mod.

[Gats]

Don't get a polished alloy bullbar. They're a cunt of a thing to keep looking good. And like mentioned, they reflect light and a generally a PITA.

Redarc solenoid FTW. Simple and just works.

[thedude]

Check out ORS (OffRoad Systems) for the drawer setup. They make some bloody good setups and can sell you a CKD DIY kit so you can keep the costs down.

[Justin Bieber]

Redarc solenoid FTW. Simple and just works.

This! I need to get a 2nd one to control my 3rd battery, just got it piggy backed onto the original at the moment.

Definitely look at DIY for the draws if your half way handy, those things are $1200+ I think. I made my shelf/storage thing with fridge slide for 80L waeco for $300 and it's held together over some rough terrain and taken quite a bit of abuse.

[daz]

The bought drawer systems are great, but very pricey and don't come with the satisfaction of knowing you made them yourself.
If you can put together a sub box in a Swift GTi then you can build a drawer system.
And I'll go against the grain on battery isolators here....don't get a solenoid type, get the computerised type and you'll get a much longer life out of your battery.

[23Kev]

Yeh, the drawer system was more than likely going to be a DIY job. Dad and I will make something up for sure.

I'll investigate the battery shit at some stage. I think I'll definitely be going for the cheaper option on shit, certainly don't have the cash to fly about on mods anymore. I'd also prefer to spend some cash on getting some more power or making the car safer.

Oh, definitely appreciate all the advice as well. Always a good idea to go with what people have done before!

[23Kev]

Recovery Points??

I've been reading I should get some rated tow points as the factory ones are not strong enough when used with a Snatch strap.

On the front I have the below hook which seems pretty fucking useful and strong and also have the two standard looking tie down points. Is this enough for the front? I know you can't use the tie down points but hoping the pictured hook is good...

One the rear I have a Hayman Reece towbar and have heard people pull out the square towing toungue section and then stick the strap into it and secure with a strong pin.

I'm assuming that'll be the same deal for me, just have to get a pin too.

P.s. Can't wait for PF 4x4 day. Hopefully my nopics' hip surgery a couple of days beforehand won't stop me from going....grrr.....

[seedy]

I also read you can't use the standard items in a magazine. I went to buy rated towing points where i was told i was wasting my money. Since then i just use a equalizing strap between the two sides at the front and a tube which fits into the tow bar at the rear with a rated shackle bolted to the tube. You can buy them from any 4wd store but my 4wding friends just use the method of using the pin which holds the tow bar in as you mentioned.

[daz]

That hook is fine Kev. Unlike the ones I have on my GV. I tried pulling an almost dead tree branch down for firewood once (well it wasnt as dead as I thought it was evidently) and it folded the towing loop up into my rear bumper. They can get pretty wanky in the mags too so dont take everything they have to say for gospel. You'll stop reading them after a couple of subscriptions, just becomes regurgitated shit over and over.

[nine2nine]

Up Cape York last week the was a car with a new hole through there rear door from a tie down ripping off another car. Definitely happens and certainly dangerous. A rear recovery hitch or the tow pin are fine for the back, but depending on car the front ones tend to vary a lot.

[irsa76]

What ever you do DO NOT USE THE TOWBALL as a recovery point. If you're lucky the strap will slip off and not much will happen, if you're unlucky the ball will fail and possibly kill someone.
towbar recovery failure

[23Kev]

Sweet, good to know.

Have heard of a few shockers involving tow points failing. Definitely don't want that to happen to anyone around me!!

[seedy]

23KEV, Would you mind taking some pictures of the inside of the canopy. I have the same ute and canopy and want to install roof racks for my RTT over the canopy and want to see how they support the roof racks down to the ute tub.

Cheers

[23Kev]

23KEV, Would you mind taking some pictures of the inside of the canopy. I have the same ute and canopy and want to install roof racks for my RTT over the canopy and want to see how they support the roof racks down to the ute tub.

Cheers

Finally got around to doing this.








Hope they help you out. Let me know if you need anymore details.