This
heavily modified version of the Fortuner is custom built by its owner. The main motive behind this transformation was that the owner wanted to have a capable vehicle which is as close to a proper off-road machine as possible.
Though it may look outlandish and quirky, it does the job without any hiccup. The owner has removed the front bumper to make it easier for the car to climb over steep slopes and obstacles. The front grille and headlamps too have been given extra protection and have been covered by a metallic mesh.
This has been done to make sure there is no damage to the lights as well as the radiator when doing severe off-roading. The mesh also allows the stock radiator to function without any issues. The side step has also been removed to help the off-roading capabilities and there is a snorkel on the vehicle as well to increase the water wading capacity.
The reason for these extreme modifications was to have an unstoppable, go-anywhere camper vehicle as the owner enjoys the outdoors a lot. The roof features a tent system which can be used for camping purposes. There are cylindrical water tanks present as well. A ladder on the passenger side helps one to climb up and access roof utilities.
Adding to the go anywhere attitude is a scooter mounted on the tail gate of the SUV. And mind you, the scooter is not just for show purposes. In fact, it is a 2 stroke Kinetic Honda which has been stripped down to bare minimum for weight reduction. The reason for this amazing addition is quite interesting. According to the owner, when he goes off-roading, he likes to take his scooter along to travel short distances off-road while camping.
There have been no changes made under the hood. The trusty and dependable 3.0 litre D-4D engine has covered over 1.5 lakh kms. The engine has run more than 30,000 kms after these modifications and the owner has faced no issues till now.
Currently, he is planning to improve the interiors of the SUV. He also wants to add a fully functional chemical toilet in the car so that he doesn’t have to face issues on his trips into the wilderness. We salute him for his grit and wish him luck for his upcoming adventures.