PART THREE OF OUR FOUR PART SERIES FOR HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR 4WD IN A DAY

100 easy and essential DIY mods for under $100!

50 – SMARTER REAR CANOPY TABLE

COST $100
DIFFICULTY 2/5
TIME 2 hours
TOOLS Drill, circular saw, MIG welder
MATERIAL 20×20 square tube, 30×30 box tube, 12mm ply, screws, flatbar

METHOD

1. Mark out where you want your table mount on your canopy.
2. Weld the 30×30 tube to a piece of flat bar, then mount the flat bar on your canopy. This will be your bracket.
3. Cut your table to size, and then mount it to the 20×20 tube offset so tube protrudes out of one side.
4. Test fit your table; if you like you can secure the table to the mount with a small chain.

WHAT NOT TO DO
Don’t weld anything if you’re not sure how, get a mate who knows what he is doing to do that bit.

49 – MAP LIGHTS UP THE BACK

COST: $10
TIME: 30 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
Get your hands on one of those bendy map lights online for cheap and install it up the back of your 4WD on your drawer wing or trim, they can light up what you’re doing or you can focus them on something small – perfect for map reading or cooking.

48 – LED INTERIOR LIGHT UPGRADE

COST: $20
TIME: 10 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
This one is pretty simple, but turf your old interior light bulb for one of those universal multi light LED upgrades. They cost bugger all, fit into most light fittings and make a massive difference to the inside of your truck.

47 – SECOND SUN SHADE

COST: $30
TIME: 20 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
If you want a bit of extra protection from the sun when you’re driving, fit a piece of Perspex or thin ply to the top of your visor on a hinge mounted sideways to come out across your side window.

46 – NEW SEALS ON YOUR OLD TRUCK

COST: $100
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 1/5
You can get your hands on some door seals from a spare parts supplier or a wrecking yard for pretty cheap – but the difference they make is unreal. Your truck will be a lot quieter and is less likely to let water inside in a river crossing.

45 – WIRELESS BATTERY MONITORS

COST: $30
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
You can pick up these cheap digital wireless voltmeter/ammeter jobbies cheap online. Wire the shunt up to the battery or batteries you want to monitor, wire some power into the display and you’re done. Then for the ultimate in wireless knowledge add in a wireless fridge thermometer and you’ll know the moment anything isn’t running like it should.

44 – ESKY AIRCON

COST: $50
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
If you’ve got an old esky lying around, cut a hole in the lid or the side big enough for a small fan to sit in. Cut another hole on the opposite end and place a scrap piece of PVC elbow or similar there. Then fill it with ice blocks or ice and there you have it, a budget air conditioner out bush, just point the elbow into your tent or swag and you’re done!

43 – BUSH SPEAKERS

COST: $100
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY 2/5
Get yourself a cheapy head unit and some speakers from your local auto parts store and install it in the back of your 4WD for tunes while you’re at camp. It’s perfect for ute owners out there who don’t want to leave their doors or windows open to listen to music.

42 – POWER MIRRORS

COST: $80
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY 2/5
If you’ve got hand wound mirrors, you can buy universal electric motor kits online for around 80 bucks. They fit onto the window crank, are easy to wire in and the electric switch covers the hole in the door – perfect for a bit of luxury in your old bus.

41 – SLIDE OUT SOLAR PANEL

COST $100
DIFFICULTY 2/5
TIME 4 hours
TOOLS Drill, tape measure, grinder
MATERIAL alloy angle, U-bolts, screws, nuts and bolts, drawer runners

METHOD

1. Mark out a position under your roof that you can mount the Adventure Kings 110W solar panel where it won’t foul on anything when pulled out.
2. Once you have your mounting location, test fit the alloy angle, then mark where you will place your U-bolts.
3. Mark your drawer runner mounting positions on the alloy angle, and drill holes to suit then mount your panel to the drawer runners and the alloy angle.
4. Get a mate to help you lift the solar panel up under your roofrack to your chosen mounting point, and then mount the brackets to the roofrack.
5. Connect your solar panel back up and you’re done.

40 – WATERPROOF RELAY BOX

COST $10
DIFFICULTY 1/5
TIME 4 hours
TOOLS Drill, soldering iron and solder, wire strippers, crimping tool
MATERIAL Plastic box, wiring

METHOD

1. Get your hands on a cheapy plastic box to mount your wiring in, and figure out where to mount it.
2. Once you have your mounting point, mount the plastic box and start to relocate delicate wiring there.
3. You can set your box up to have relays on one side and fuses on the other.

Keep wiring together for each individual circuit so it doesn’t become a mess inside your waterproof box.

39 – SWING AWAY TABLES

Get some next level table space with this cracker of a table idea.

COST
DIFFICULTY 2/5 spanners
TIME 2 hours
TOOLS Drill, saw
MATERIAL benchtop of your choice (i.e. ply, steel etc.), tek screws, nuts and bolts, tether

METHOD

1. Open your wheel carrier and measure the length of the horizontal swing arm to suit your table.
2. Mark out and drill some pilot holes in the top, and paint them so they don’t rust out.
3. Cut your table to size, and fix your hinge/s to your table and then to your swing away carrier.
4. Use a bungie cord or similar to fix your table to your carrier when you’re not using it.
5. Mount your tether to the table and the carrier so it has a stay.

WHAT NOT TO DO
Don’t fix your table to the carrier without checking clearances when it’s open and closed.

38 – PRESSURISE YOUR CANOPY

COST: $50
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
Get yourself a pop up air vent online or from your local canopy shop. Carefully measure and cut a small hole in the roof and install the vent. Run a bead of sealant around the vent too. What it does is create positive air pressure in your canopy to keep dust out (provided all your seals are in good nick too).

37 – UNDER ROOF RACK STORAGE

COST: $20
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 1/5
If you’ve got a space under your roofrack, some using U-bolts around your rack that then bolt through some plywood under the rack is perfect for things like your MAXTRAX or fishing rods.

36 – REAR FALSE FLOOR

COST: $75
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY 2/5
If you haven’t used the rear seats in your 4WD for a while, remove them and build a false floor in their place with some plywood and marine carpet. It’s a fantastic base for storage and things like fridges.

35 – BUDGET REAR DRAWERS

COST: $100
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
For rear drawers on a budget, make a frame out of 12mm ply, and get a couple of plastic storage containers that are on wheels. It gives you plenty of storage for your gear, and the frame you built will stop them sliding around in the back.

34 – NUMBER PLATE ON A HINGE

COST: $5
TIME: 5 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
If you’re tired of bending your numberplate every time you go into a boghole or a water crossing, get a couple of door hinges from your hardware store and fit them onto your plate and bullbar. It is also handy if your winch sits behind the plate too.

33 – AWNING STORAGE

COST: $10
TIME: 10 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
For a bit of extra storage when your Adventure Kings Awning is setup, drill a couple of holes in the pole and hang some of those S-hooks on them for your gear or clothes. Just make sure the holes don’t foul on the adjuster pole when you finish.

32 – CANOPY CLIP ON TABLE

COST: $20
TIME: 1 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
If you’ve got a ute, you can make a simple table that hangs on the side of your canopy. Use a bit of alloy angle on one side to hang on your tub, if the table needs more support you can use an old metal pole as a leg, or if you have a roof rack or ladder rack, just attach a chain to it and the table to prop it up.

31 – WATER TANK SLIDERS

Want an awesome way to store your water and protect your truck? Check out these insane water tank sliders!
COST $100 bucks
DIFFICULTY 4/5 spanners
TIME 4-5 hours
MATERIAL Galvanised steel, water pump, hose fittings and boat bungs

METHOD

1. If your sliders are made out of galvanised steel, you can use them to store water easily. In fact it’s used in some comp trucks as it also strengthens the sliders.
2. Drill a few holes in an easy to reach point in the slider and tap in a filler bung and a fitting for a hose to run to your water pump. Boat bungs work well as they are small and won’t catch on much.
3. Wire in your 12V water pump to your chosen outlet and connect your hoses.
4. Fill the sliders up and test to see if they work.

WHAT NOT TO DO:
Don’t do this mod if your sliders are made out of mild steel as they will rust internally.

DIYS THAT ARE SO EPIC, YOU GET EXCITED WHEN YOU GET TO TELL YOUR MATES ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME

30 – SECURITY KILL-SWITCH

Thief-proof your 4WD with a simple starter isolating switch.

COST $15
DIFFICULTY 2/5 Spanners
TIME 1 hour
TOOLS Soldering iron and Solder, wire strippers, crimpers, multimeter
MATERIAL 25A wiring, toggle switch, heat-shrink, cable ties

METHOD

1. Remove your steering shroud so you can get to the ignition wiring. Use a multimeter to find the wires that send power to the starter motor. Using a factory wiring diagram for your truck will come in handy here.
2. Once you’ve found the wires, splice a minimum of 25A wire between them (as it needs to carry enough current for the starting circuit), and wire in your switch.
3. Run your wiring to an area of the vehicle that the thief isn’t likely to look for a kill-switch. For example, avoid placing it in the dash or under the instrument cluster – use your imagination here.
4. Make sure you make the wiring look as factory as possible by using heat shrink, solder, perforated tubing etc., to hide the wires.

29 – CUTLERY ON A DRAWER SLIDE

COST: $100
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY 2/5
If you have a fridge cage, secure a cheapy drawer slide to the side, and attach a gear organiser to it. It’s perfect for things like cutlery and camping gear and is a smart use of space.

28 – DIY ROOF CONSOLE

COST: $100
TIME: 4 hours
DIFFICULTY 2/5
Get a half sheet of 12mm ply from your local hardware store, some marine carpet and some alloy angle. You can make a simple roof console that runs flat toward the back of your 4WD, which will give you more space further back. Then you can deck it out with switch panels, lights, map holders and anything you can think of.

27 – BUDGET TRACTION BOARD MOUNTS

COST: $20
TIME: 30 hour
DIFFICULTY 2/5
For a secure way to mount your MAXTRAX, a couple of eyelet bolts and some RHS steel mounted to the rack works wonders.

26 – PLY LOAD SPREADERS
COST: $20
TIME: 30 minutes
DIFFICULTY 1/5
If you setup your Awning on a soft surface, cut a few squares of 8-12mm ply and drill a hole in them in the middle a few millimetres smaller than your tent pole. It will give you a more stable base than a simple pole in the ground.