REAR GUARD

WE ADD A KAYMAR REAR BAR AND SWING-OUTS TO IMPROVE OUR FORD EVEREST'S CARRYING CAPACITY AND REAR PROTECTION

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

WHEN you look at the world of 4x4 accessories, Australian brands punch well above their weight on the global stage and are regarded as the best available. Brands like ARB, TJM, Safari Snorkels and more recently MaxTrax, Ironman and Dobinsons are internationally renowned for their quality, durability and their ability to get the job done no matter where you are heading.

Another brand you can add to that group of legends is Kaymar 4WD accessories, long known for its replacement rear bars and equipment.

Kaymar started out as a general engineering company near on 60 years ago and has a familiar tale of manufacturing a part for a 4x4 for themselves or a mate, which fulfilled a need in the hobby and create a demand for more of them.

For the Jacksons, that part was a replacement rear bar for a LandCruiser, and soon enough the demand for these rugged products grew. Rod and Jenny Jackson built up the Kaymar business over the decades with a factory in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Lilydale from where they made replacement rear bars for all the popular 4x4 models and shipped them across Australia and around the world.

The Jacksons sold the business and today, Kaymar is owned by Auto Pacific Group and manufacturing has moved across town to Keysborough where it shares factory floor space with towbar giant Hayman Reese and roofrack specialists Rola.

This change of ownership and move has allowed Kaymar to adapt more modern manufacturing processes as it integrates into the facility with the other products. The Keysborough factory produces the products from sheet steel and they are stamped, cut shaped, welded and powder coated, and assembled in-house to create the finished products ready for your 4x4.