Great Gifts for 4WDers

Christmas is only two days away ? Are you shopping for your favourite four-wheel driver this year? Did you know the team at Maxliner Australia has geared up our showroom with some of our favorite brands to make it the ultimate one-stop-shop for all off-roaders.

Camp Chair

You can never have enough camping chairs, and Darche makes some of the best in the business.

Tyre Deflator (& Inflator)

Almost everyone knows about Clearview Accessories towing mirrors, but one of their handiest products is the Tyre Spider that quickly helps you adjust your vehicle’s tyre pressures.

Insulated Travel Mug

There is nothing like your first hot cup of coffee or cold beer as you hit the campsite. This myCOOLMAN one is the perfect stocking filler that keeps liquids cold or hot for hours.

Head Lamp

Another great stocking filler or perfect for that office KK is the Stedi Type S LED headlamp. This little ripper can be switched between lighting modes and run for up to 7 hours.

Organisation

Step up your Christmas present game and give the gift of organisation with RV Storage Solutions

EVC Throttle Controller

You will be on the top of the nice list if you unleash the power of your loved ones off-roader with the Ultimate 9 EVC Throttle Controller.

Drink Protection

With the massive range of 4×4 accessories, the MSA 4×4 team makes the biggest issue you will have is just choosing one. We pick the wine bottle or stubby tubes for the perfect stocking filler.

Diagnostic Tools

OBDII Scanners by AutoPhix are the tool you didn’t know you needed until you did. These handy little DIY diagnostic tools are sold by a team of Aussie travelers who know what it’s like to be stranded with a 4WD that is not performing at its best.

Navigation Tools

What do you get the off-roader that has everything? Something from Hema is sure to tickle their fancy. Hema has a range of digital and printed resources that help you take the unknown path and get out and explore the vast and wonderful land of Australia.

Luggage Bag

4WD’s can never have enough storage. Gear up your loved ones with the team from Rhino-Rack. The Rhino-Rack Weatherproof Luggage Bag is the ideal solution for carrying your bulky, lightweight gear while on the road.

Bike Rack

You will win the Christmas game if you purchase the RockyMounts Backstage bike rack. The only rack on the market that will let you open the rear door without taking off your bikes.

Heading away these holidays? Check out our favourite tips for camping with kids.

Best 4WD Gear for Work & Play

You’ve got the rig, and you have the canopy (hopefully one of our MaxTop Canopies), so what’s the next gear on your bucket list? If your 4×4 is an office during the week and a family getaway car on weekends and holidays, setting it up with some multi-purpose accessories will allow you to make the most of work and play. Our team at Maxliner Australia are experts at 4WD builds for both tradies and holidaymakers, and these are their top five add ons for making the most of a work ute that is perfect for making the most of adventures.

A towbar

The best feature of a ute canopy is that your gear is safe and sound from the weather and prying eyes. That doesn’t come without sacrifice, though. A canopy can make it trickier to carry anything big and bulky. That’s where a towbar comes in handy, whether it’s adding a bike rack for a weekend away, taking a trailer to the job site, or towing a caravan around Australia.

With a plethora of towing options available, some of our favourites are:

OEM Manufacturers – made to suit your vehicle.
X-Bar by Hayman Reese – great for those doing a fair bit of off-roading.

Roof Racks

Behind the tow bar, roof racks would have to be the most practical job site to campsite accessory going around. Whether you are packing the Hilux, the Ranger, or the Triton, a decent rack set up can take you from work to play in no time. And putting a few things up on racks gives everyone more room and makes for a happier holiday. A ton of options on the market have add-on accessories that can make them even more helpful:

Rhino-Rack – a clear favourite of tradies & off-roaders across Australia.
Yakima– a range of crossbars or platforms to choose from, depending on what you want to carry.

A drawer system

A canopy gives you storage space, a well-designed ute or 4WD drawer set-up gives you a storage system and solution. In a ute, they also make the best use of what can sometimes be hard-to-reach space.

Whether you’re carrying around tools, camping supplies, or fishing gear, you want something that makes the most of the space available and is safe to use. Aussies’ love of off-roading means we have a stack of choices available. We find the most popular options are:

RV Storage Solutions – great quality and large range of ADR certified 4×4 & 4WD Rear Drawers
Customised set-up – If you can’t find the perfect set-up, why not consider looking into a customised and specifically purpose-built set.

Fridge

Take a step up from ice packs or eskies and keep your smoko and lunch with a portable car fridge. A fridge does take up space, so while it is tempting to get a monster that can keep you going off-grid for weeks, our team recommends getting the smallest practical size. After you have narrowed down the size, you want its time to decide if you need a fridge and freezer dual-zone option, or you can make a single zone fridge or freezer work. With a ton of options on the market, our tried and tested brands are

myCoolman – are powerful, robust, and ready for any adventure
Dometic – you can’t go past them for the range. You are bound to find something that works for you.

Dual Power System

If you’ve added a fridge, the next upgrade we recommend is a dual power system. It’s not just your camping fridge that drains your battery either; using safety lights or radios can all contribute to a flat battery. If you want to run anything that requires power with your engine off, a dual power system is worth its weight in gold. With the help of an isolator, extra gear draws from the second battery as a power system when your engine is off. You are playing with an electrical system, so we recommend seeking a professional to install, but if you are a bit handy, these are our go-to products

Redarc are industry favourites and have over 40 years of experience in the game.
Projecta are another favourite with a decent range.

Our Maxliner Australia gear is perfect for work or play with our top three add-ons: floor liners, Maxboxes, and MaxSlide tray.

Our Epping Maxliner Australia fitting team are experts when it comes to ute builds. Drop them a line at sales@maxliner.com.au or 1800 592 192

More reasons you should get a ute canopy

Hilux to Ranger and everything in between utes a great for moving gear from A to B, but having that gear out in the open leaves it vulnerable to the weather and people looking to grab it. Adding a canopy can offer increased security and protection from the weather, but there are some other reasons why we love our Maxliner canopies.

Convenience

Dropdown tailgates and side windows mean you can access your gear with ease. Want to make it even easier? Add a Max Sliding Tray.

$$$

The addition of a canopy can increase the resale price of your ute. Buying a fitted out second-hand ute offers the purchaser additional storage and security without any of the efforts of sorting it out themselves. Another way to protect your investment is to add a Maxliner Tub Liner to protect the tub from marks and scratches.

Looks

Engineered uniquely for each vehicle, our Maxliner range of canopies will increase the aesthetic appeal of your ute. This engineering means that whether you are driving a D-MAX down a beach or towing a trailer with a BT-50, you will have the perfect fit and finish on your canopy. Want to increase the curbside appeal of your ute? Consider adding our weather shields, flares, or steps.

Customisable

Business up front or party down back, maybe a bit of column of A and a sprinkle of column B? A lot of utes get used for work and play. A canopy can help you customise it to suit your needs, add drawers, shelving, storage, and you have the ultimate travel companion.
The MaxBox range takes your ute from tool-carrying tradie to camping companion just by switching up your gear.

Still not sure about what cover option will suit your ute? Read on to find out the main differences between canopies and hard lids

Floor Mats vs Floor Liners

Floor Mats and Floor Liners are a term that can be used interchangeably in Australia. But should they be? Essentially they both do the same thing, right? It’s nice but not essential to have something kind of floor covering to protect the inside of your vehicle’s floor. Floor mats or liners will both do the job, so does it matter what you buy?

Understanding the difference between floor mats and floor liners may help you decide on a product that protects your long-term investment in your vehicle. That depends on several things like

the level of coverage you are after
how you use your vehicle and
the environment/s that your car is taken to.

You want a tailored fit & finish.

Floor Mats are traditionally a flat mat sold to cover up some of the carpet in your vehicle. While some OEM mats are designed for the car, many mats sold through high volume retailers are one size fits all. You may even need to trim them to fit your vehicle. Our engineers used the latest CAD technology to offer perfect fit and finish on every set of MaxPro Floor Liners.

You want floor coverings that stay in place.

Our product specialists design the full range of MaxPro Floor Liners to use your vehicle’s existing retention system. Using the retention system ensures your MaxPro Floor Liners don’t move around while driving or getting in and out of the vehicle, stopping any mishaps while driving and protecting your vehicle’s flooring better.

You want something easy to clean.

When most people think of floor mats, they picture the standard carpet may with a rubber backing. The carpet tends to pick up dirt and debris, which can be annoying and time-consuming to clean with a vacuum. One of the best things about the MaxPro range of Floor Liners is you can take them out, give them a spray with the hose, let them air dry, and get them back in without having to touch the vacuum.

You want something to stop dirt in its tracks.

From the job site to the campsite or even just down at the beach, your shoes collect sand, gravel, dirt, and other debris as you go about your day. On carpet mats, this debris can get rubbed in and ruin the fabric. Made from a high-quality semi-flexible material with ridges MaxPro Floor Liners are tough enough to withstand dampness, mud, or other dirty matter on the bottom of your shoes and live to drive another day.

In 2020 MaxPro Floor Liners were installed in over 500,000 vehicles globally. Available for Australia’s most popular utes, 4WD and SUV’s. We are so confident in the design and engineering of the MaxPro range we offer a lifetime warranty.

Pubs in Australia’s we love to visit

Pubs in Australia are like nowhere else in the world. Not only are we spoilt with picturesque vistas and the world’s best off-road adventures in Australia. Our abundance of land and lack of people means that some of our most iconic pubs lend themselves perfectly to a road trip. So, pack the ute and set off on exploring some of Australia’s best watering holes.

Pub with No Beer Hotel – NSW

No Aussie Country pub list is complete without the Pub with No Beer Hotel. Why: According to the history books, Slim Dusty heard the original The Pub with No Beer performed here and asked if he could record it. Where: About 40 mins inland from Nambucca Heads on the NSW Coast. Gear to take: If you are taking your 4×4 down to drive on the beach, make sure you have your MaxPro Floor Liners installed.

Nindigully Pub – QLD

If you want to visit country pubs, you can’t miss QLD’s oldest, the Nindigully Pub. Why: Not only will you have humble bragging rights, having been here, you can tackle the 1.2kg Road Train burgers, designed to serve four. Where: A touch under six hours from Brisbane. Gear to take: Camping here is free so have your Darche swag packed up and ready to go. The Maxliner team at our Epping fitting centre have years of experience in setting up your 4WD for camping

Humpty Doo Hotel – NT

The Territory’s Humpty Doo Hotel is another Slim Dusty classic song about a pub. Why: It’s the self-proclaimed most famous pub in the world, and where else can you try a trio of burgers with Barra, Buffalo, and Croc Burgers served up with chips and salad. Where: About 30 minutes out of Darwin on the Stuart Hwy. Gear to take: With the worlds, best barra fishing on its doorstep, packing your Maxboxes up with ice will keep your catch fresh

Prairie Hotel – SA

Want to pair your frothie with a Feral Mixed Grill? In Parachilna, first licensed in 1876, the Prairie Hotel is the perfect outback pub to do it in. Why: The Flinders Ranges region is some of Australia’s standout off-road driving. Where: About five hours north of Adelaide in the Flinders Ranges region Gear to take: The epic 4x4ing also lends its self to some secluded camping opportunities in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Book a 4WD only camping site in and load up your camping fridge in a Clearview Easy Slide for some self-sufficient camping

Tooborac Hotel – VIC

Tooborac Hotel has been around since 1857. With a working brewery on-site, it’s a pub with its own beer. Why: Pub, brewery, pie shop, and rooms to stay. What more could you want. Where: An easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne Gear to take: The local region is ideal for food, wine, and brewery touring in your ute. Keep your gear stored safe and sound while you do that with a Maxliner canopy or hard lid.

If fishing is your thing check out where our Maxliner Australia team drop a line

Image credit Prairie Hotel

Top it Off – Maxliner Canopies & Hard Lids

From the first Ford Australia Coupe Utility in 1934, Australian’s have had a love affair with the ute. And why wouldn’t we, whether you are purchasing a Hilux to get to your next holiday or a D-Max to get the job done, a suitable ute set up offers a vast amount of flexibility in using the most of your space.

Two of the most popular setups for buyers are a canopy or hard lid. Both options will help keep your gear dry and safe, but what you choose depends on how and what you use your vehicle for.

Canopies

Lightweight canopies made from ABS plastic or fibreglass are the most common tops fitted to utes in Australia. A huge benefit in fitting a canopy is that you have an all-weather protected area. This lets you personalise your fit-out with accessories such as drawers, tub liners or slides, and boxes that suit your lifestyle. Traveler, tradie or anything in between.

Maxliner has been making vehicle accessories for over twenty years. We design and engineer canopies for some of the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturers. Our ABS canopy shells are tried and tested in some of the world’s harshest environments and backed by a two-year Australia-wide warranty. They feature an internal metal frame construction for more durability and load capacity. And a non-drill clamp fit for easy installation and removal.

Our Commercial canopy with no windows and a white painted finish gets the job done for a secure yet straightforward option.

For a sleeker, more modern look, our Full Option canopy is painted with OE quality colour-coded paint and features lockable tinted windows available as lift up or sliding and a central locking to the rear door.

Hard Lids

If a canopy is not the look you are after, a hard tonneau cover offers a sporty styling option that still keeps your gear undercover and away from curious eyes. At Maxliner, we have both ABS & Alloy ute lids with weather-resistant seals to protect your gear.

Our ABS hard lids are manufactured from premium-grade ABS and feature an internal metal frame for increased load capacity and durability. Colour coded with OEM quality paint; the tonneaus are available in a traditional 45° opening mechanism or 180° two-step lift-up system for the ultimate access to your ute tray.

After an alloy lid, we stock matte black and polished aluminium for a wide range of utes. Features include a plug-and-play central locking system, quick release removal, and 130 KG carrying capacity. You can add a range of accessories for the ultimate flexibility, including rails, rollbars, and tiedown points.

Whether you use your ute for work or play or anything in between, getting your vehicle set up to suit your lifestyle can save you time and money down the track. The Maxliner Australia team is experts in designing ute setups to suit your lifestyle; contact them today on 1800 592 192 or sales@maxliner.com.au.

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