High school sweethearts Rebecca and David didn’t actually get along until IT class brought them together. 17 years later they are self-confessed geeks with a passion for making whatever they are working on as efficient as possible. Optimising IT systems for NSW Health occupies their 9-5 during the week, but every other waking moment is spent either modifying the 76 or packing it. Sometimes the touring bug bites so hard they leave late on Friday night and rack up a few hundred kays before falling into the swag to get a head start on the weekends. Based out of Picton NSW, the daily commute north to the city has them constantly dreaming of the outback and it wasn’t long before the ever-reliable (and surprisingly capable) Forester made way for something a little more agricultural and robust for much longer, grueling stints in unfamiliar territory.
Rebecca and David have methodically and meticulously planned every last modification on their 76 Series. I don’t think they could fit much more in if they tried … and if they did, I might have run out of words!
ABOVE Rebecca, David and ‘Cecil’ the 76 enjoying a picturesque campsite down by a river in the Abercrombie National Park … one happy family!
WORDS & IMAGES BY HARRY TEMPLE
THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A
VEHICLES
THE VEHICLE
In its previous life, the 76 was a bog stock horse float hauler from out near Griffith. Initially, they looked at Defenders as they both agreed they are a beautiful specimen of off-road engineering and design. Five years on however, they are happy to have chosen the Toyota as their travels are taking them quite literally across the heart of Australia and if anything can be fixed with a rock and stick in the outback, it’s a LandCruiser! After getting it stuck on their first off-road foray into the mud at Newnes, the decision was made to swap out the road tyres for some meaty rubber. I’m sure we all know, once you start modifying, you never stop because that slope is damn slippery – just ask my bank account.
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THE MODIFICATIONS
It rolled into their driveway with a factory bull bar and 30 thousand on the clock. Absolutely everything else has been added in the five years to now. Tucked inside the bar is an insurance policy in the form of a Warn Tabor winch. In case that can’t get them out of trouble, some Roadsafe recovery points are lurking in wait for their moment. Illuminating the obstacles ahead, countersunk Baja Squadron lights and a 10-inch LED bar illuminate the rocks and road verges, while some AR-32 Intensitys from ARB take care of highway duties. If they end up needing assistance, they can reach out on the Icom UHF. Failing that, a dedicated phone booster was one of their big ticket purchases and if that still can’t make contact, it’s out with the SatSleeve. Talk about contingency!
ABOVE Couldn’t fit much more in if they tried!
LEFT ARB brush bars and side steps are married to the Toyota bar and have been dressed up with a lick of Raptor Liner for maximum grip
RIGHT The track-corrected rear diff is about to cop a re-gearing to return the responsiveness to an almost factory feel. They’ll achieve this by swapping out the 3.9s to 4.1s
Under the bonnet is where things start to heat up … or cool down, especially since the focus is firmly on reliability. A safe remap saw a modest jump up to 137rwkw and 600Nm and actually dropped the EGTs by 100 degrees. Transferring all that power to the ground is easy after the decision was made to throw in an NPC 1300 heavy-duty clutch. Breathability is a cut above, courtesy of the Safari snorkel, and the Redback three-inch straight-through exhaust (hooray for pre-PDF models!) VDO gauges monitor both boost and pyro, while an extra Terrain Tamer fuel filter catches any diesel contaminants that slip down the lines before they do any damage. Extending engine life, the HPD catch can fits alongside the double-diaphragm brake booster from Bramac. Just in case you thought that was all, the Cruiser has a date with GTurbo for fancy new hairdryer and a fresh tune. Around the same time, a Terrain Tamer modified 5th gear ratio is due to be installed along with an upgraded 150-amp alternator that’s genuinely needed to keep the 12V system topped up.
ABOVE Seldom seen made the custom alloy ladder for easy roof access
LEFT Hannibal made both the roof rack and awnings on the side and rear
RIGHT Solar screens are worth their weight in gold. Cutting down heat and noise was a two-stage approach as they also installed some Car Builder insulation in every door and panel
"Soon they’ll be running out of things to modify – but if you ask me, it’s pretty close
to perfection already!"
Fifty years ago, when the remote Australian outback was so treacherous and communication was scarce, a broken vehicle part could mean the difference between life and death. In many ways, little has changed.
Our founder and Managing Director, Frank Hutchinson, listened to his touring customers to learn from their experience and saw the need for innovative solutions in the design and manufacture of strong 4WD parts.
Looking back over fifty years of service from pioneer Bedfords
to today’s modern 4WD’s, thousands of lessons have culminated in over 40,000 unique Terrain Tamer parts and a network that now serves 80 countries all over the world.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
No touring rig is complete with a decent electrical system and this one’s a doozy. The starter and the auxiliary AGM are separated by a smart solenoid. The AGM runs the Waeco centre console freezer as well as the abundance of USB outlets and charge sockets throughout the cab. Running the National Luna fridge, inverters, water pumps and pretty much everything else is a lithium offering from Enerdrive. Providing 125Ah despite only weighing 15kg, it represents the future of 12V set-ups in Australia and its compact size fits nicely between the storage boxes in the drawer set-up. Up on the Front Runner roof rack are two 90W Goal Zero rugged solar panels. In case they want to chase some extra rays on a cloudy day, a Projecta folding panel complements the Redarc 1240D with proper lithium profile and green power priority, so it can choose to use any available solar power to lighten the load on the alternator.
Making the most of the wagon, a custom-made Drifta drawer set-up with the fridge cage and lateral storage up high was then extended into the second row of seats for added organisation. It also incorporates the drop slide and water tanks, plus a handy slide-out table. Maximising the rear cargo area meant restricting access to the three quarter windows, but between you and me I think it was a ploy to justify those killer Front Runner gullwing windows. While they weren’t cheap, Rebecca and David say they have transformed their camping experience and streamlined their campsite. On one side, all the electrical outlets charge the camera gear with some room left over for the hot water system. Over on the passenger side all the cooking paraphernalia is stored ready for easy access at camp. Keeping the entire set-up off the bump-stops is a GVM upgrade with heavier leaf packs and Koni Raid 90 shocks, plus some airbags in the rear above the Jmacx track-corrected rear diff housing.
Both of them are touring in comfort courtesy of the Recaro seats and Black Duck seat covers. Navigation has never been easier with the addition of an iPad Mini running Hema’s mapping app along with a dedicated HN7 unit as well. All real-time diagnostic information is available at a glance across the VDO gauges, a scan gauge and a Projecta battery monitoring panel. Long stints are literally a cruise since the aftermarket cruiser control went in, helping them make the most out of the 250 litres of diesel onboard.
ABOVE Yes. A thousand times yes. This is what dreams are made of. Everything organised in an ergonomic, well thought-out design
ABOVE Notice the Uneek rear bar that opens and closes with the door. They weren’t convinced by some of the harsh mechanisms on other brands and ended up choosing Uneek for the ergonomics. Oh, and how great do those gullwing windows look?!
BELOW The HN7 was always going to have a home in the Cruiser as it comes with the option to wire in a reverse camera and they’ve done exactly that
LEFT Some spare parts live in the wings, but the main reason for extending the system into the second row of seats was to move heavier items forward of the rear axle
RIGHT They are happy to support Australian brands like PM Canvas, who made the tyre bags
FINAL THOUGHTS
With their sights set on another outback adventure, you can bet there will be a few more changes before too long. Rumour has it the 76 will be making a lot more power with a gold wheel spooly boi soon to replacing the factory turbo. Soon they’ll be running out of things to modify – but if you ask me, it’s pretty close to perfection already!
BELOW Rebecca has proudly piloted the Cruiser through plenty of precarious predicaments
VEHICLES
Rebecca and David have methodically and meticulously planned every last modification on their 76 Series. I don’t think they could fit much more in if they tried … and if they did, I might have run out of words!
High school sweethearts Rebecca and David didn’t actually get along until IT class brought them together. 17 years later they are self-confessed geeks with a passion for making whatever they are working on as efficient as possible. Optimising IT systems for NSW Health occupies their 9-5 during the week, but every other waking moment is spent either modifying the 76 or packing it. Sometimes the touring bug bites so hard they leave late on Friday night and rack up a few hundred kays before falling into the swag to get a head start on the weekends. Based out of Picton NSW, the daily commute north to the city has them constantly dreaming of the outback and it wasn’t long before the ever-reliable (and surprisingly capable) Forester made way for something a little more agricultural and robust for much longer, grueling stints in unfamiliar territory.
WORDS & IMAGES BY HARRY TEMPLE
THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A
ABOVE Rebecca, David and ‘Cecil’ the 76 enjoying a picturesque campsite down by a river in the Abercrombie National Park … one happy family!
THE VEHICLE
In its previous life, the 76 was a bog stock horse float hauler from out near Griffith. Initially, they looked at Defenders as they both agreed they are a beautiful specimen of off-road engineering and design. Five years on however, they are happy to have chosen the Toyota as their travels are taking them quite literally across the heart of Australia and if anything can be fixed with a rock and stick in the outback, it’s a LandCruiser! After getting it stuck on their first off-road foray into the mud at Newnes, the decision was made to swap out the road tyres for some meaty rubber. I’m sure we all know, once you start modifying, you never stop because that slope is damn slippery – just ask my bank account.
NEW BRAND CATALOGUE OUT NOW! ENTER OUR COMPETITION AND GET YOUR FREE COPY BY SIGNING UP TO CLUB TJM TODAY.*
* Conditions apply, see tjm.com.au/club-tjm for full Terms and Conditions.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
ADVERTISEMENT
THE MODIFICATIONS
It rolled into their driveway with a factory bull bar and 30 thousand on the clock. Absolutely everything else has been added in the five years to now. Tucked inside the bar is an insurance policy in the form of a Warn Tabor winch. In case that can’t get them out of trouble, some Roadsafe recovery points are lurking in wait for their moment. Illuminating the obstacles ahead, countersunk Baja Squadron lights and a 10-inch LED bar illuminate the rocks and road verges, while some AR-32 Intensitys from ARB take care of highway duties. If they end up needing assistance, they can reach out on the Icom UHF. Failing that, a dedicated phone booster was one of their big ticket purchases and if that still can’t make contact, it’s out with the SatSleeve. Talk about contingency!
ABOVE ARB brush bars and side steps are married to the Toyota bar and have been dressed up with a lick of Raptor Liner for maximum grip
BELOW The track-corrected rear diff is about to cop a re-gearing to return the responsiveness to an almost factory feel. They’ll achieve this by swapping out the 3.9s to 4.1s
ABOVE Couldn’t fit much more in if they tried!
Under the bonnet is where things start to heat up … or cool down, especially since the focus is firmly on reliability. A safe remap saw a modest jump up to 137rwkw and 600Nm and actually dropped the EGTs by 100 degrees. Transferring all that power to the ground is easy after the decision was made to throw in an NPC 1300 heavy-duty clutch. Breathability is a cut above, courtesy of the Safari snorkel, and the Redback three-inch straight-through exhaust (hooray for pre-PDF models!) VDO gauges monitor both boost and pyro, while an extra Terrain Tamer fuel filter catches any diesel contaminants that slip down the lines before they do any damage. Extending engine life, the HPD catch can fits alongside the double-diaphragm brake booster from Bramac. Just in case you thought that was all, the Cruiser has a date with GTurbo for fancy new hairdryer and a fresh tune. Around the same time, a Terrain Tamer modified 5th gear ratio is due to be installed along with an upgraded 150-amp alternator that’s genuinely needed to keep the 12V system topped up.
ABOVE Seldom seen made the custom alloy ladder for easy roof access
ABOVE Hannibal made both the roof rack and awnings on the side and rear
BELOW Solar screens are worth their weight in gold. Cutting down heat and noise was a two-stage approach as they also installed some Car Builder insulation in every door and panel
"Soon they’ll be running out of things to modify – but if you ask me, it’s pretty close
to perfection already!"
Looking back over fifty years of service from pioneer Bedfords to today’s modern 4WD’s, thousands of lessons have culminated in over 40,000 unique Terrain Tamer parts and a network that now serves 80 countries all over the world.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
ADVERTISEMENT
No touring rig is complete with a decent electrical system and this one’s a doozy. The starter and the auxiliary AGM are separated by a smart solenoid. The AGM runs the Waeco centre console freezer as well as the abundance of USB outlets and charge sockets throughout the cab. Running the National Luna fridge, inverters, water pumps and pretty much everything else is a lithium offering from Enerdrive. Providing 125Ah despite only weighing 15kg, it represents the future of 12V set-ups in Australia and its compact size fits nicely between the storage boxes in the drawer set-up. Up on the Front Runner roof rack are two 90W Goal Zero rugged solar panels. In case they want to chase some extra rays on a cloudy day, a Projecta folding panel complements the Redarc 1240D with proper lithium profile and green power priority, so it can choose to use any available solar power to lighten the load on the alternator.
Making the most of the wagon, a custom-made Drifta drawer set-up with the fridge cage and lateral storage up high was then extended into the second row of seats for added organisation. It also incorporates the drop slide and water tanks, plus a handy slide-out table. Maximising the rear cargo area meant restricting access to the three quarter windows, but between you and me I think it was a ploy to justify those killer Front Runner gullwing windows. While they weren’t cheap, Rebecca and David say they have transformed their camping experience and streamlined their campsite. On one side, all the electrical outlets charge the camera gear with some room left over for the hot water system. Over on the passenger side all the cooking paraphernalia is stored ready for easy access at camp. Keeping the entire set-up off the bump-stops is a GVM upgrade with heavier leaf packs and Koni Raid 90 shocks, plus some airbags in the rear above the Jmacx track-corrected rear diff housing.
Both of them are touring in comfort courtesy of the Recaro seats and Black Duck seat covers. Navigation has never been easier with the addition of an iPad Mini running Hema’s mapping app along with a dedicated HN7 unit as well. All real-time diagnostic information is available at a glance across the VDO gauges, a scan gauge and a Projecta battery monitoring panel. Long stints are literally a cruise since the aftermarket cruiser control went in, helping them make the most out of the 250 litres of diesel onboard.
BELOW The HN7 was always going to have a home in the Cruiser as it comes with the option to wire in a reverse camera and they’ve done exactly that
ABOVE Yes. A thousand times yes. This is what dreams are made of. Everything organised in an ergonomic, well thought-out design
ABOVE Some spare parts live in the wings, but the main reason for extending the system into the second row of seats was to move heavier items forward of the rear axle
BELOW They are happy to support Australian brands like PM Canvas, who made the tyre bags
ABOVE Notice the Uneek rear bar that opens and closes with the door. They weren’t convinced by some of the harsh mechanisms on other brands and ended up choosing Uneek for the ergonomics. Oh, and how great do those gullwing windows look?!
FINAL THOUGHTS
With their sights set on another outback adventure, you can bet there will be a few more changes before too long. Rumour has it the 76 will be making a lot more power with a gold wheel spooly boi soon to replacing the factory turbo. Soon they’ll be running out of things to modify – but if you ask me, it’s pretty close to perfection already!
BELOW Rebecca has proudly piloted the Cruiser through plenty of precarious predicaments