An overview of our tow rig - a Isuzu NPS300 4WD truck - and how we have set it up for off-grid & off-road living to be fully self sufficient while we live life travelling & working around Australia.

This describes all we did to set it up including how we put our 4WD Suzuki Jimny on the tray:

Lots of people have been keen to know exactly how we chose to set up the truck because it is quite different to most of the set-up's out there in that we have chosen to still town a 21`6 caravan and have basic living in the truck for when we are away from the van + still have room to have a little 4WD on the tray as an easy explorer.

We chose the Isuzu NPS300 4WD dual cab truck because of the space, carrying and towing capabilities

It may have taken us nearly a year to get around to this but here it is… a tour of the tow rig and how we set it up 🎉

Overview:

🌟 The rear cab seat was removed to make it suit our needs more - being 2 adults and a dog we didn't need all that seating area and wanted to make it more practical for us. We put in 2 drawer fridges - one on either side and turn one to freezer if needed or turn them off it not needed. Yes, we could have gone a single cab instead but we wanted that little bit of room for storage, etc and doing this worked for us

🌟 It also has the battery system and on top of it all is a bed frame that doubles as Nala's travelling bed, our bed if we are ever away from the caravan and extra storage if needed

🌟 The tray has custom built boxes for storage and is fully set up for cooking with oven and slide out table

🌟 The boxes were built to an exact measurement to then have enough room for the Suzuki Jimny to be on the rear - tied down with lock n load straps

🌟 The ramps go on the rear boxes above the tail lights

🌟 Other little things we have are a fridge in-between the front seats for water while travelling - which if we need can also last on its battery power for 6 hours - so also doubles as our esky if we ever need one

The truck as we got it through to the stages of building and our finish rig 😁🫶🤩

It was definitely a mission to get it all completed in time to hit the road and we weren't sure if the little 4WD was overkill but it's come in so handy and is a good little explorer ~ so glad we made the decision to go with instead of a buggy or nothing else at all!

A big thanks to all mates that contributed via helping, brainstorming ideas or keeping us company throughout the build and also to all the companies that provided the goods that make up our rig now 🤩

If you're keen to know more send us a message below if you have a particular question about particular products we use/d & why 🤠

*everything listed is what we've used ~ some links are affiliate partners ~ and these are only if we are super happy with the product + price*

We opted to get the cab and bare chassis to try and save cost & time and to do the main build for off-road & off-grid living from home - using 2nd hard parts where it made sense including the tray and 2nd fuel tank - and doing what we could ourselves.

Most of the mods and upgrades got done with the help of mates and a quite a few beers 🍻

We would do it differently if there was ever a next time - fingers crossed there isn't - just because of the stress and strain caused by being on a timeframe and budget and well, sometimes perhaps it's simpler and easier to just go through the guys who do this as their everyday job 🤷‍♀️

The important 'stats' 👇

💡 Powering the rig:

🌟 We purchased all batteries and power system, etc as a custom build from Solar n Sat using 👇

🌟 Victron multiplus 3000 (MPPT & more)

🌟 Shervey lithium batteries (2x 600 ah)

🌟 Solar panels - 4x 370 [from EAS, Sunshine Coast]

🤠 Outside gear:

🌟 Carbon offroad tank 20,000 pound winches - front & rear (these were chosen as they were the best priced / great product we found)

🌟 Ultimate bullbar

🌟 Big rigs towbar

🌟 Custom boxes, mudguards and ramp storage [done by Rod's Engineering, Sunshine Coast]

🌟 Federal Explorer RT 35x12/R17 Tyres

🌟 Water tanks x2 - 120L & 180L [moulds are available that suit the Isuzu NPS300 - contact us for more info]

🌟 Lock n load straps for securing Suzuki Jimny on the tray

🌟 Air safe tow hitch

🍳 Storage/Cooking:

🌟 Evakool drawer fridges 40L x2

🌟 Slide out table [from Anaconda]

🌟 Oven - 12v Road Chef Big Bertha = can cook pretty tasty roasts

🌟 12v glass top oven [Solar n Sat] = great for throwing in a meal before we hit the road and it's done when we arrive

🛠️ Mods:

🌟 Driver's seat changed to Isuzu single cab suspension seat

🌟 Passenger seat foam updated [by Rosewood Motor Trimmer]

🌟 Underbody heat proof

🌟 Rustproofing

🌟 Sound deadening