ENGINEERING EXPLAINED: 5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IN YOUR 4X4

There’s nothing quite like reversing into a caravan park with a full crowd watching. Some pretend not to stare, others make it obvious, but everyone’s waiting to see how it plays out. If you’d rather not be the evening entertainment, here’s how to reverse your setup cleanly, calmly and without the chaos.

The LandCruiser name has been earned the hard way, forged across Australia’s harshest tracks and most remote country. While the badge gets the recognition, it’s the engines that built the legacy. The best choice comes down to how you use your 4WD, whether that’s crossing the Simpson, towing a van up the coast, or running a reliable daily that’s ready for the weekend.

Seven years, three tow vehicles and more than 200,000km on the road have a way of sorting the useful mods from the show pony gear. This guide runs through the 4x4 upgrades that genuinely changed how we travel, from suspension and GVM to recovery gear, storage, power and the little bits of kit you only fully appreciate when things go sideways.