The real rigs behind the Unsealed4x4 team (and the stories behind them)

Everyone’s got an opinion about what makes the perfect rig, and around here at Unsealed4x4, we reckon the best 4×4 is the one that’s covered in mud, loaded with camping gear, and has a few battle scars to prove it.

So, I thought I’d throw the keys on the table and show you what the Unsealed4x4 team are actually steering around the country. No showroom polish jobs here. Just real-world rigs built for real-world adventures on real-world budgets with dodgy bush fixes included.

I hit up some of our writers with a few questions about what they drive, why they picked it, what they’ve bolted on, and the best yarns they’ve racked up behind the wheel. I even answered the questions myself! Some are built for tough tracks, some for beach runs, and all of them have a story or two baked into the paintwork.

So, grab a cuppa (or a stubby, I’m not judgy), and have a squiz at the Unsealed4x4 rigs behind the writers that get the job done.

Dex Fulton (writer)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

It’s a 1994 Land Rover Discovery I, which is called The Biscuit. I bought it roughly ten years ago because I needed a rig that was cheap, had the mods I wanted (which was mainly lockers, diesel and four seats), and it fit the brief. It was janky, it was smelly and it was about as cool as a fat kid on a gymnastics team. But it was comfy on-road, very capable off-road (lockers ftw) and fit my needs to the point that ten years later, I still can’t think of a vehicle that could replace this one without spending a LOT of cash. Which I don’t have, because I made writing about cars my living. Dear high-school guidance counsellor, you were right about everything. 

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for? 

Everything from hardcore tracks, touring and beach runs to extended camping trips and daily driving duties is handled by The Biscuit. And it mostly does very well at them. 

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod?

The usual suspects. Built my own winch bar out of the ARB non-winch bar that was initially fitted, wired up some driving lights, fitted a small lithium aux-battery for the fridge, modded a Millweld twin swing-away rear bar for a GQ Patrol to fit out back, chopped the guards and rear quarters, fitted 16in steelies and 285/75R16 Toyo MTs and am currently in the process of bending up some new sliders to replace the frankly heinous ones it came with.

Oh yeah, I also yeeted the 300tdi and four-speed auto it came with and fitted up an M57 3.0L straight-six turbo-dizzle from a BMW X5 along with the 6-speed ZF-auto, which puts out around 250 Melbourne-cup winners and 600-ish Isaacs, while returning better economy than the 30hp 300tdi. So that’s cool. 

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far?

Deffo putting the engine in. Had an absolute blast doing it. Also, I’ve been on too many rad trips to count in this dinosaur, and in ten years it only failed to get me home twice, so I reckon that’s pretty good. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to sell you on Land Rover reliability or anything, I’m not a psycho. 

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup?

Be honest about the strengths and shortcomings of your vehicle (yes, they ALL have them, including whatever the comments are going to say is “the best 4X4 evar!”). In this case, the suspension is one of the nicest solid axle set-ups out of the box, so minimal mods were required there, and the on and off road-holding and comfort levels are sweet even by today’s standards, so nothing really needed in that department either. It’s also rated to tow like 4.5T (which is crazy and I’d never do), so that box is ticked as well.

However, the diffs are weaker than an apprentice’s excuse about showing up late and the way underpowered engine leaks like a sieve, so that’s where I’d be spending my coin.  I’ve solved the engine issue by putting another one in there, which is also kind of leak prone (I never said I was smart), and the diffs have been strengthened significantly with the Air Lockers and are taking the abuse thus far. However, I’m flirting heavily with either upgraded axles or a Cruiser-rear-Patrol-front diff swap down the line. Along with a set of 35s. They’re never done, right? Sigh. 

Jessica Palmer (editor)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

I’ve got a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Night Eagle that I only bought last year. I’d be lying if I said price didn’t factor in as to why I bought it. Basically, my trusty old, much-loved and used Triton had some issues that were going to cost more to fix than it was worth, and I was able to get the Jeep dealer’s ex-demo model for a good price with around 600 kilometres on it. I did deliberate over getting the Rubicon, which, as you know, is a more capable 4×4, but the Night Eagle kept me under budget and does what I need it to do, which is to be a daily driver as well as an adventure buddy.

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for? 

I’m fortunate enough to live right next door to K’gari and also within two hours of other fun beaches like Kinkuna and Rainbow, so beach driving and sandy tracks are what it gets used for the most. However, it doubles as my everyday driver, and it also needs to cart the family’s dirt bikes and camping gear around, as well as sometimes tow a small off-road trailer.

So, this can mean Outback corrugations and muddy tracks too. I’m not opposed to tackling more technical tracks if it leads to a great camping spot or lookout, but my days of wanting to do a challenging track ‘just because’ are mostly behind me. 

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod?

The Gladiator came with a few extras like a bed liner and the trail rail system (which is super convenient for tying dirt bikes and other stuff down), but last October, I had our local IronMan store fit a Foam Cell Pro suspension kit, Raid bull bar, rear bumper and tow bar, a set of crossbars, and an electric ute lid. Because the tyres are still in great nick, I was holding off putting bigger tyres on it, but after the lift, it now looks like my Jeep forgot leg day at the gym. I know I shouldn’t care, and I technically don’t need them, but it just doesn’t look right. So that’s next on the list.

I haven’t bothered with a dual battery setup with this vehicle as I’m finding this portable power station a viable alternative that I can switch between this car, my husband’s work ute and our house to run the water pumps when the power goes out.

My favourite mod is actually the cheapest and is more of an accessory than a mod. It’s a set of ‘sh*t stick’ rope handles I got from Temu so that myself and the kids can more easily climb in (short girl problems). 

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far?

I’m yet to do a big trip in the Jeep, but it’s had a few good beach runs at Kinkuna, and just last weekend, I took it to K’gari for the day. I’m looking forward to doing a much larger trip later this year. As to where? I’m not sure yet. 

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup?

Jeep has a less-than-ideal rep in Australia, so non-Jeep owners like to tell me everything that will go wrong with my Jeep, and mostly, this just annoys me. So my advice is to block out the background opinions, ask advice from people who matter (like your trusted mechanic), and be honest about what you can afford and what you actually need for you and your family. You don’t need to keep up with your neighbour who got a RAM 2500 to tow their $240,000 off-road caravan; there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple with an old-school camper, or an esky and a few swags.  

Todd Hore (writer & photographer)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

2014 VDJ79 LandCruiser. It’s the pre-DPF model, chosen specifically for one less thing to go wrong. When you travel remote, it’s all about keeping things as simple as possible. 

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for? 

The cruiser does everything. It’s been in the desert, Vic High Country, Cape York and a million tracks in between. Its main purpose is getting me to sneaky spots that very few people will ever see. As a result, the poor thing sees plenty of bush pin stripes from overgrown tracks and has reversed out of more dead-end tracks than a politician on a reverse-geared bicycle. 

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod?

A million different things. Everything from lithium batteries, suspension, winch, water tank, long-range fuel tank, solar and too many to list here. The favourite has got to be the rooftop tent. While I do miss my swag sometimes, the simplicity and comfort of the rooftop cannot be beaten. Set up camp in 30 seconds? Yes please.

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far?

Probably the trip we did across the Great Australian Bight heading east from Esperance. We did nearly 900 kilometres off-road along the beach and cliffs of the Bight. It’s a very strange thing for someone from the East Coast to experience. Hundreds of kilometres of coastline with not another person in sight.

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup?

Keep it simple. If you build it/install it yourself, then there’s a fair chance you can fix it yourself on the road. Nothing worse than losing part of a trip to breakdowns and repairs. Oh, and watch the weight. It’s so, so easy to get really heavy, really quickly. 

Robert Pepper (writer)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

Ford Ranger XLT V6 2024.50, bought secondhand in early 2025 off a dealer. I chose it because for me, it offered the best mix of capabilities for off-roading, towing and daily driving.

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for? 

Got the first few accessories on and the first two trips have been to a local state forest, last one yesterday. It took 4 hours to do six kilometres of very technical tracks!  So that sort of trip, but also Vic High Country, SA beaches and interstate runs. I’ve done some towing with it, both my caravan and car trailer interstate, and it’s a really, great towcar!

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod?

So far, the usual touring gear, and I’ll be running through for each item the pros and the cons and the ‘why’.  Favourite so far is hard to say, but I think the G018 tyres would be up there, better on-road than the stock tyres despite being all-terrains, and of course better off-road. I have heavy-duty IronMan suspension, which is a bit high at the moment in the back, but despite that, is an improvement over stock even unloaded. Waiting for the service body to go and the tub to disappear, and I think that’ll be my new favourite – hence the orange and blue colour for the moment!

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far?

Using it to lead a group through some tough tracks and emerging with not a dent anywhere on anyone’s vehicle. The front locker wasn’t absolutely necessary, but it definitely helped, as did the sidesteps.

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup?

There’s a huge range of Ranger accessories, so you have multiple options for just about everything. So do your research.  And watch my build videos!

Dan Everett (writer)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

Much to the dismay of my wife, neighbours, accountant, and anyone with better judgement, I’ve got a couple of rigs in the fleet at the moment. The shiny one is a brand new Next-Gen Ranger XLT with the bi-turbo chosen as a daily driver/bunnings rig/swag and bikes with my son setup. 

The one that puts a twinkle in my eye, though, is my ’85 Bronco, another XLT, coincidentally. It’s cost me a fortune to build, and with a 351 Clevo’ under the bonnet, it’ll only get more expensive when it’s done. It’s a dream rig I never really thought possible, so when one popped up for cheap, I pounced on it and figured I’d sort the rest out later. 

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for? 

Back in the day, you’d find me most weekends halfway up a gnarly rock ledge on a sandstone escarpment along the east coast somewhere, but these days things are a little more sedate. You’ll typically find me out on a fire trail somewhere hunting for remote lookouts and epic canyons, or by a campfire regaling my less-than-impressed mates with stories of when I used to be cool. They still don’t believe me, but it helps pass the time. 

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod?

I’m a simple creature. I like big suspension and tyres, and little camp setups, so both rigs are set up very similar. The Ranger is sporting a set of 2.5in shocks all round from GMF 4×4, a set of 35in Predator tyres on ROH rims, and a roller shutter to keep my kit out of the weather when I don’t need the full tub. I raided a second-hand Wildtrak tub for the shutter, so it’s OEM quality at 1/4 the price of a new one. 

The Bronco is similar, it’s got a house deposit worth of suspension from Desolate Motorsports thrown underneath it and some 35-inch Milestar Patagonia’s wrapped around a set of Method race wheels. Both rigs get the trusty old Engel thrown in the back of them, and a swag with some camp chairs. I don’t need much more to keep me happy in the bush. 

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far?

The Ranger is only a couple of months on the ground, so memories for that are a work in progress. The Bronco, though? That’s a different story. It’s been a few years in the build now (Hopefully there’s an end in sight), and every step along the way my young bloke has been spinning spanners with me. It’s amazing seeing old photos of him, a foot shorter working on it when I first got it, and now getting the last bits ready so he can learn to drive in it. 

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup?

You need a lot less than what you think you do. The 4×4 space has been taken over by a solid case of keeping-up-with-the-joneses, in no small part due to the influx of “affordable” gear. Sure, you can throw in a $1000 lithium setup, a $200 solar panel, and a $300 fridge for your overnight camping trip. Or you could throw a bag of ice in your esky and put the money in your fuel tank instead. My rigs are simple, they look good, they ride well, and they get me to cool places. The rest is just noise. 

Glenn Marshall (writer)

Tell us about your current rig and why you chose it

My current 4WD is a MY24 DMax X-Terrain dual-cab ute and it doesn’t have a nickname, yet, as it is too new and hasn’t been out enough.

What kind of 4WDing or travel do you mostly use it for?

I prefer to tour and travel solo, having explored some of the remotest places in the country over the past 30+ years. I cut my teeth in the Victorian High Country and enjoy returning there over summer. Being a full-time freelance writer, I can travel wherever and whenever I like; the toughest thing these days is selling an article.

What mods or gear have you added? And what’s your favourite feature or mod? 

I’ve added an Alu-Cab Canopy Camper with a bunch of add-ons, as it gives me a quick setup and pack down as well as a habitat to escape bad weather and bugs and work on the road. A Jungle 4×4 bullbar, side rails and side steps with a Sherpa 12k pound winch and Narva Ultima MK3 LED spotties grace the front, the suspension was upgraded with a DMW GVM upgrade kit and Polyair bellows. Wheels and tyres were upgraded to alloy CSA Recoils wrapped in Kumho MT51 265/60R18 tyres. 2 x 24-inch Ultima Lightbars were mounted to the front of the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper. 

A set of Tred Pro recovery tracks sits on a Razed Products mounting kit on one of the side lift-up doors on the camper, while on the other side, a Get Good Gear MOLLE panel is bolted to the inside of the other lift-up side door. There is a load of Navigator Gear, including a Wheel Bin on the rear spare tyre, Seat Buddy’s on the front seats, Induction Transit Buddy’s for the stoves, Starlink Buddy and a Mat Buddy for the C-Gear ground mat. A Pirate Camp Co MOLLE shelf is mounted above the rear passenger seats. I also have a Bendix Ultimate 4WD Brake Upgrade kit to get installed, which is new to the market for the DMax.

The Alu-Cab Canopy Camper is the best mod, but I still have to fit out the camper internally, which is Stage 2 of the build. 

What’s your favourite memory or trip in this vehicle so far? 

A couple of trips to the Victorian High Country, crossing the Murray River at Tom Groggin, visiting Mount Pinnibar and Mount Stirling and camping beside the Upper Murray River are my favourite trips so far. I do have a three to four month trip planned that will include Outback Queensland, The Gulf, Kakadu, Mary River NP, Litchfield NP, Canning Stock Route, Connie Sue and Anne Beadell Highways, Eyre and York Penisula’s and finishing on Kangaroo Island which will be a big test for my completed set up. 

Any advice you’d give someone building up a similar setup? 

Talk to the companies that you can trust about what gear to install and find a reputable 4WD mechanic to look after you vehicle. I’m in a privileged position because of the many contacts within the industry who have helped me out, and I trust Opposite Lock Wodonga to look after my DMax as well as they looked after my Prado.

What do you think of the Unsealed4x4 team’s rigs?

As you can see, these are real-world rigs built for real-world adventures, and more importantly, real-world budgets. No million-dollar dream builds here, just the kind of practical setups that actually get out there and get used.

While we’d love to feature every writer who’s ever turned a spanner or penned a yarn for Unsealed4x4, we’d be here all week (and you’d probably need another cuppa). So, for now, this is just a snapshot of our current crew. But stay tuned, because we’ve got plans to showcase even more of the vehicles, past and present, that help bring Unsealed4x4 to life.

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