A good HiLux build doesn’t need to start with everything at once. For a ute that needs to handle work during the week and weekends away, it makes sense to start with the upgrades that are going to make the biggest difference to how you use it.
This N90 HiLux is a great example, with a MITS Alloy tray, front end protection, driving lights, UHF, dual battery system and a towing upgrade giving it a practical starting point, with plenty of room to take the build further later on.
Start With How You’ll Use Your N90 HiLux
Before choosing accessories, think about what the HiLux needs to do now and what you might want from it in the future.
A work ute will have different priorities to a vehicle being set up for remote travel. If you need it to do both, planning becomes even more important.
You do not necessarily need to fit everything at once. Starting with the right foundation means you can continue adding to the vehicle without having to rethink earlier upgrades.
A Practical MITS Alloy Tray Setup
The main feature of this HiLux is its MITS Alloy tray.
This setup includes:
- 1870mm long x 1765mm wide MITS Alloy tray
- Full length sideboards
- 30L headboard water tank
- Rear trundle drawer
- Colour coded undertray toolboxes
For a HiLux that still needs to be useful for work, the open tray keeps things versatile. The full length sideboards make it easy to carry equipment and larger loads, while the undertray toolboxes provide secure storage without taking up room on the tray itself.
Front End Protection and Lighting
Up front, this HiLux has been fitted with an ARB Summit MKII Bull Bar and Bushranger Nighthawk ADV 9 inch Driving Lights.
If you know you’re going to want a winch or rated recovery points, it’s worth planning those at the same time as the bull bar.
Adding them later can mean removing the bull bar and fitting it again, which can add extra labour. Doing it all together from the start can save you paying for that work twice.
Even if you’re not sure you need them straight away, it’s worth talking through how you plan to use the vehicle before the bull bar goes on.
UHF and Dual Battery System
A GME XRS UHF 4WD Pack has also been fitted.
For weekends away, travelling in a group or heading into areas with limited mobile reception, having reliable vehicle to vehicle communication is a useful addition.
The HiLux has also been fitted with a dual battery system, giving the owner a foundation for powering accessories without relying solely on the starting battery.
That becomes particularly useful if the vehicle later gains a fridge, additional lighting, on board air compressor, or a more complete canopy electrical setup.
Setting It Up for Towing
A Redarc brake controller has also been included in the build.
If the HiLux is going to tow a camper, trailer or caravan with electric brakes, fitting the brake controller early means the vehicle is already prepared when it is needed.
Like the rest of the build, it comes back to setting the vehicle up around how it will actually be used.
Where Can You Take the Build From Here?
This HiLux is a solid starting point, but it certainly does not have to stop here.
Depending on what you need from your N90, there are plenty of ways to build on this setup.
Winch and recovery points
For off road travel or more remote trips, adding a winch and rated recovery points can give you more recovery capability when conditions get difficult.
More water storage
The 30L headboard tank is a useful starting point, but longer trips may call for additional water capacity. We can look at different water storage options depending on the tray or canopy setup.
Air compressor
An ARB air compressor can be mounted inside an undertray toolbox, keeping it protected and out of the way while still being easy to access when you need to adjust tyre pressures.
It is a good option if you want onboard air without sacrificing usable tray space.
Roof rack
A roof rack can create extra carrying capacity for bulky gear and can also provide mounting options for accessories such as an awning or recovery boards.
Canopy and storage
If the vehicle eventually needs more secure storage, a MITS Alloy canopy can be added and set up around the way you travel or work.
That could include drawers, a fridge, pantry, table, electrical system, and other equipment depending on what you need.
Suspension
As more accessories and constant weight are added, suspension also becomes an important part of the build.
Tray weight, a canopy, water, recovery equipment and stored gear all contribute to the final load on the vehicle.
Planning the finished setup before choosing suspension allows the suspension package to be matched more closely to the weight the HiLux will actually carry.
Build What You Need Now and Plan for What Comes Next
You do not need to turn a new N90 HiLux into a fully equipped touring vehicle straight away.
For plenty of owners, starting with a practical tray setup, front end protection, lighting, communication and electrical upgrades is more than enough.
The important part is thinking ahead.
If you know you may eventually want a winch, more water storage, an onboard compressor, roof rack, added canopy or suspension upgrade, those plans can be considered from the beginning so each stage of the build works with the next.
If you’re setting up a new N90 HiLux and aren’t sure where to start, get in touch with the team at ARB Rockingham or book an appointment online to talk through your build.
