Meet the rig
When you run your own business, you need a good vehicle. I'd always pictured myself rolling up to jobs in an old Land Cruiser with the Arrowsmith logo on the side — but they're not cheap, and I wasn't keen on financing one. So I did what I do best: used my love of fixing things and being a tight arse to find a bargain.
Enter a 2006 HZJ79 with 215,000 kms on the clock. Naturally aspirated 1HZ 4.2, no frills, no fuss. It had lived a hard life — towing jet boats and farm trailers up long shingle roads and farm tracks. Panel damage down one side, clapped out springs, rusty deck, no carpet, a blown windscreen from when the bonnet flew up at speed and dented the roof, and a gearbox that had seen better days. A real junk heap. But it still passed a WOF, so I drove it to work for a while and started making a list.
I knew it needed a big alloy service body on the back. Not having time to build one myself I ordered one in — powder coated white, with shelves and drawers. Funny how it ended up costing more than the truck itself.
Off came the deck, the sides were cut down, and I put in a new 3mm steel floor. I wanted steel specifically so I could use the tray as a workbench for fab work on site. Being an older ute it's perfect — isolate the battery, crack out the gear, get to work. Most of this was done on weekends in a rush between jobs, but it came together.
Next up was a 2 inch lift with 750kg rated parabolic springs on the rear to handle the weight of the box and towing. I drove it around for a bit like that — ugly black door, dents and all — because it worked and I had jobs to do.
Eventually I got it resprayed. New bonnet, front quarter panels, fresh paint all round. While it was away I sprayed the deck and added some kwila timber to the sides. When it came back I sanded the chassis and diffs, gave them a coat, and fitted an ARB bull bar. I'd thought about fabricating my own bar, but it just wasn't practical for the money and honestly the ARB looks so good on the older Toyotas. Loses a bit of approach angle but it's a work truck, not a rock crawler.
Most recently the gearbox and transfer case came out for new bearings and seals — the transfer actually threw a bearing so that forced my hand. Being a tight arse I did it in the driveway.
Eventually I'd love to convert this thing to electric. I reckon that would be pretty cool and would line up well with some of the companies I work with.
Not a bad result for a truck that looked like it belonged at the wreckers.
