FOR decades, an epic battle has raged in boardrooms and bush tracks. Two titans of touring trading blows to dominate the off-road market and the outback alike. Ever since way back in the 1950s, Toyota and Nissan have been throwing engineering might at their off-road programs to build 4x4s that’d dominate in every continent on earth. From the early days of the soft top short-wheelbase G60 Patrols and FJ Cruisers, through the ’80s as they both ballooned into family wagons, and the ’90s when both hit their stride with big turbo-diesel six-cylinder engines and coil springs reining in solid axles.
For many, it was peak 4x4 territory and something we still haven’t bettered. Unfortunately, with both manufacturers looking to get an upper hand with a giant leap forward, the war swung in the favour of Toyota’s LC200. The Y62 Patrol with its 400hp V8 failed to capture the hearts of Aussie 4WDers.
In recent years the Y62 has clawed back to be a serious contender, and we’ve never seen a better example of that than this epic super-sized dual-cab.
TRANSFORMATION
This story is from the March 2022 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
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This story is from the March 2022 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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TRAVEL BULLETIN
ALL THE LATEST 4X4 NEWS AND EVENTS. Now is the time to get out and about to enjoy this great land and support the communities. Experienced adventurer Ron Moon has listed a few upcoming highlights, as well as essential track info. As always, check with event organisers before locking in your plans.
MICK GRAHAM
OLD MORISSET MENTAL HOME, NSW CENTRAL COAST
REAR VIEW
4X4 AUSTRALIA LOOKS BACK AT THE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY, THE RISE IN . OUTBACK TOURING, THE EVOLUTIONARY SOPHISTICATION OF 4X4S, AND MORE
READERS RIGS
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FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL
A HOLIDAY TRIP WITH THE FORD RANGER PLATINUM RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS WHEN COMPARING IT TO OUR RANGER SPORT
ENGINE CHECK
THE ULTRAGAUGE PROVIDES YOUR VEHICLE'S VITAL STATS AND WARNINGS IN A TAILORABLE PACKAGE
RAZR RUBBER
AFTER A 50,000KM TRIP THROUGH WESTERN AUSTRALIA, THESE MAXXIS RAZR ATS HAVE PROVIDED RELIABLE PERFORMANCE ON AND OFF THE ROAD
PORTABLE POWER
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO FIT A DEDICATED DUAL-BATTERY SYSTEM TO THEIR VEHICLE, THE PORTABLE BLUETTI AC200L POWER STATION COULD BE JUST THE TICKET
A BETTER BRAKE
EVERYONE KNOWS HOW DODGY LANDCRUISER HANDBRAKES CAN BE. TERRAIN TAMER HAS THE FIX …
GOING FOR GOLD
THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVING MIGHT NOT MATCH THE NEARBY HIGH COUNTRY, BUT THANKS TO ITS GOLD MINING HISTORY THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE AND DO AROUND THE WIDER CASTLEMAINE AREA AND YOU MAY EVEN STRIKE IT RICH!