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The May 2024 issue of 4X4 Australia is in stores and arriving in subscribers’ letterboxes as we speak, with an unassuming 80 Series leading the charge.

‘Take a quick glance at this LandCruiser and you might think there’s nothing spectacular about it, but dive a bit deeper and it’s anything but ordinary. A 1VD-FTV 4.5L quad-cam twin-turbo V8 diesel has been transplanted into this unassuming monster, as well as a suite of serious aftermarket gear including an ARB Deluxe bar, Stedi LEDs and an overhauled interior.

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On the new car front, GWM recently launched its luxe off-road wagon dubbed the 500. It may be a similar size to the ever-popular Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, but is it worthy of consideration in this company? Matt Raudonikis drove the three-row seven-seater to find out.

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We also headed to Texas in the south of the States to drive RAM’s fifth-gen 1500. In a massive change for the burly ute, RAM has dumped its HEMI V8 for a 3.0-litre Hurricane straight-six. Has RAM buggered things up? Before you jump on the bandwagon, best read Chris Collard’s review.

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Speaking of big utes, we’d driven the 298kW/678Nm petrol-powered 2024 F-150 last year at the vehicle’s local launch, but considering there was no off-road element to the test we were itching to properly dirty the big ute’s tyres. So we took an XLT LWB variant to see how capable the vehicle is at 4×4 travel when driven directly from the showroom. It went about as expected…

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Our Tradie Triton build continues, with the Mitsi receiving a pair of award-winning MSA 4×4 towing mirrors to help with rear vision. We also installed a Cel-Fi GO mobile booster to improve phone reception if we decide to head beyond the black stump once work duties are done for the week.

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Now that our other build – the Ranger V6 – is all but finalised, it was time to upgrade its GVM with a Tough Dog GVM Upgrade Kit. With all the required certification now ticked off, the Ranger is ready to comfortably tour our vast continent.

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On the travel front this month, Dan Grec aired down his Gladiator’s tyres and took a ferry to paradise, also known as K’gari (Fraser Island); we venture to the vast expanses of Western Australia’s ancient Pilbara region; and we also embark on an outback pub crawl to some of South Australia’s famous watering holes.

What else is there?

  • C-TEK CS ONE battery charger tested.
  • Ron’s Troopy gets an ARB bull bar and Carbon winch.
  • Lightforce Beast LED driving lights tested.
  • Pertronix Electronic ignition upgrade for Kian’s GQ Patrol.
  • New products, news, travel advice and more.

The May 2024 issue of 4X4 Australia is out now.

Buy or subscribe today!