Ok, I havent updated my vehicle for a while so I thought I'd show you what I have been working on.

I decided to make my own front recovery hook.  The Hilux only has some metal loops which are not rated for snatch strap recoveries and which hang down pretty low from the radiator crossmember which I have cut comletely off, as they hinder my approach angle.

Anyway, a friend of mine sent me pics of a K&N Recovery Hook Bracket (yellow one in pics below) and I knew that I could make a better unit.

Instead of using 8mm steel plate I used 10mm steel plate and instead of only having 2 mounting points to the chassis, I had 4 mounting points....this should all but eliminate the tendency that the K&N recovery hook bracket has of bending when recovering a vehicle with the snatch strap at an angle.

The other project I have worked on which goes with the previous one in helping my approach angle when offroad is the design and fabrication of a custom high clearance bashplate.

I got inspiration for this off the Artic Trucks Hilux as seen on the Top Gear episode race to the North Pole. The Artic Trucks bashplate sits behind the swaybar, I was contemplating imitating this design but decided on another as you'll see below.

The Hilux is not reknowned for its clearance under its front end.....this is partly due to the fitment by toyota of 2 brackets that run from the radiator crossmember to the engine crossmember as seen below.

I removed these 2 brackets and cut them to an angle that would suit the profile of the new bashplate to be fabricated. I decided to utilize the rear most portion of these brackets as they would help support the bottom horizontal portion aswell as support some of the angled portion.

I then fitted the previous TJM bashplate ontop of the cut brackets just to compare the difference from the old "first point of contact" to the new one.  Even thou the TJM bashplate was strong, its desing fault meant it followed toyotas bracket lines.

I then used the rear section of this old bashplate and cut the front portion off. I then got 3mm steel plate and tacked up the sections I needed to rise up towards the radiator crossmember where I made a new mount and onwards upto the ARB bullbar.  My design is not only stronger and gives more clearance but also wider and protects a larger area.

I then cut out the shapes for the side splash guards and tacked them into place aswell.

I then removed it all, seam welded it all together for strength, grinded it all smooth, gave it a couple of coats of rust protector and then a couple coats of gloss back paint.

I have with ym design gained a good 2 inches in height over the previous lowest point and now the "first poitn of contact" is a good 4 inches further back, now sitting behind the front of the tyres, so the tyres would be pushing the vehicle up and over most obstacles before the bashplate even hits.

Heres a pic of it on the vehicle at me last day trip offroading-

And a poser pic of my vehicle at base camp

That day was the first day I got to test out my front ARB airlocker that I have had recently installed. On very steep, loose and rocky mountain tracks, the hilux surprised me with its grip.  I idled up and over rock ledges that an 80 series landcruiser with 5" lift and 36" simex and rear locker struggled and stalled on.

Heres a link to some offroad vid's from the day -->

Video No.1

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/mmaaxx1977/?action=view&current=lakeeildon1.flv

Video No.2

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/mmaaxx1977/?action=view&current=lakeeildon2.flv

Video No.3

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/mmaaxx1977/?action=view&current=lakeeildon3.flv