Rock Tour

FROM TOURER TO ROCK CRAWLER AND BACK AGAIN, THIS WELL THOUGHT-OUT CUSTOM GU PATROL IS A SUPER-CAPABLE ALL-ROUNDER

-  JUSTIN WALKER

IF SOMETHING is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly. Yep, it’s an old adage, but in the case of this uber-tough GU Patrol ute, that well-worn saying sure does bear true. When Jarrod Francis, a boilermaker by trade, first bought this ute back in 2015, his plans were relatively straightforward: build up what was then a near-stock Patrol for touring purposes, to allow himself and his partner to explore anywhere in Australia. That’s it.

Well, that was it, but after attending a few off-road comps, the plan began changing, and Jarrod decided to venture down a more challenging path…

ALL THE REASONS WHY

JARROD had previously owned a 1999 Toyota HiLux Extra Cab, so he was already a fan of what a 4x4 ute offers off-road travellers. So, when it came time to look for another vehicle as a base for touring, a ute was foremost in his mind – and one that was robust and easy to work on (he intended to do a lot of work himself, through his business, JF Customs). To that end, there are few off-road vehicles with as worthy a reputation for toughness as the Nissan GU Patrol and its near-bombproof TD42T 4.2-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

When this example (with five-speed manual gearbox) popped up for sale back in 2015, it was, as Jarrod says, “a good, solid foundation to start off modifying and exploring with family and friends, with the intention to set it up as a tourer.” As well as that reliable engine, he was also a big fan of the Patrol’s front and rear live axles, and the ease of access to spare parts for Nissan Patrols.