Best Accessories To Prepare Your 70 Series Landcruiser for The Big Lap

We’ve been exploring Australia in our 80 Series Landcruiser since 1998, including doing The Big Lap between 2005 and 2007.

I love our 80 Series and it’s basically a member of the family these days but at the same time I’ve always had enormous respect for the 70 Series and if you’re considering one for your own adventure, you’ve made a brilliant choice.

If I were to sell the 80 Series (not likely to happen) then it would only be to replace it with a Troopcarrier, my personal favourite 70 Series model. The reality is I’ll probably end up buying a Troopy one day as well because converting one of them into a long range tourer is high on my bucket list.

The 70 Series is like the Swiss Army Knife of 4WD’s coming in a bunch of different configurations with a myriad of bolt-on upgrades to enable you to personalise it exactly how you want. It provides a basic level of comfort but is tough as nails and engineered to go anywhere the job entails and deliver decades of reliable performance. 

It’s no surprise the 70 Series is the vehicle of choice for the mining and agriculture industries which is also a good reason to build one up as your Big Lap touring rig because you’ll never struggle to source spare parts or skilled mechanics who know the 70 Series like the back of their hand.

The 70 Series Landcruiser isn’t just a vehicle – it’s an Australian icon that’s been proving itself on our toughest roads since 1984. Whether you’re a couple planning your dream trip or grey nomads finally ticking the Big Lap off your bucket list, understanding how to set up your 70 Series properly can make the difference between a great adventure and a frustrating one.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the essential 70 Series Landcruiser accessories that’ll help you prepare for months on the road, drawing from decades of experience helping Aussie families plan their Big Lap adventures.

The 70 Series Story: Australia’s Most Trusted Touring Workhorse

While Toyota has released several newer Landcruiser models over the years, they’ve kept the 70 Series in production because nothing else quite matches its combination of simplicity, durability, and capability.

The vehicles rolling off the Toyota production line today look almost identical to the first versions over 40 years ago – when you’re on a good thing, stick to it!

Why Big Lappers Love The 70 Series

What makes the 70 Series special for long-range touring isn’t complexity – it’s the opposite. These vehicles were designed with a “less is more” philosophy that’s perfect for remote travel. Simpler mechanics means fewer things to go wrong, and when something does need attention, any mechanic in any town can work on it. No fancy electronics failing in remote areas, no complicated servicing, and parts available everywhere from Broome to Bourke.

The 70 Series comes in several body configurations, each suited to different touring styles:

Station Wagon: The most popular choice for families and couples who want enclosed storage and passenger space. Perfect if you’re running a rooftop tent setup and want to keep all your gear secure and weather-protected inside the vehicle.

Troopcarrier: Offers massive interior space with multiple seating configurations. Many Big Lappers remove some seats to create a huge gear storage area, or convert the rear area to a camper with kitchen, bed, storage and even pop top style roof.

Single Cab and Dual Cab with Tray: These ute-style variants are brilliant for mounting canopy systems, turtle back campers, or building custom storage solutions. The dual cab gives you proper passenger seating while maintaining a decent sized tray for your camping setup.

From Work Horse to Tour Horse

The beauty of the 70 Series is how easily it adapts to different touring setups:

Mount a turtle back camper system on the tray and you’ve got an elevated sleeping platform with weather protection and storage. Add a gull wing canopy with drawers and you’ve created a mobile workshop and camp kitchen. Bolt a rooftop tent to a proper rack system and you’ve got quick setup camping that leaves your entire cabin and tray free for gear.

The aftermarket support for 70 Series vehicles is absolutely massive. Whether you’re after suspension upgrades, interior comfort upgrades, long-range fuel tanks, or recovery equipment, you’ll find exactly what you need. 

The Budget Reality: New vs Second Hand

In 2025/2026 new models aren’t cheap. A new 70 Series will set you back well over $80,000, and that’s before you add any touring accessories. For Big Lappers on a budget, that’s just not realistic.

But the good news is the 70 Series has been around for decades, which means there’s a healthy second-hand market full of more affordable options. A reliable older 70 Series can be picked up for $20,000-40,000 depending on age and condition, leaving you plenty of budget for the accessories you actually need.

When we did our Big Lap, one thing became crystal clear: the most successful travellers weren’t the ones with the newest, fanciest rigs. They were the ones who bought sensible vehicles they could afford, spent their money on experiences instead of equipment, and weren’t afraid to use their setup properly.

Proven Reliability Where It Counts

70 Series owners love their vehicles and often drive them for decades (like us with our 80 Series . . must be a Toyota thing!). It’s not uncommon to see vehicles with 300,000km, 400,000km, even 500,000km on their original engine and transmission with nothing more than regular maintenance.

Parts availability is another huge advantage. Break down in a remote town and you’ll find a local mechanic who’s worked on dozens of 70 Series vehicles and can probably get parts delivered overnight. Try that with some of the more exotic 4WDs and you might be waiting weeks.

Essential 70 Series Landcruiser Accessories For Your Big Lap

Now that you understand why the 70 Series makes such a brilliant Big Lap platform, let’s talk about the accessories that’ll transform your vehicle from a capable 4WD into a proper touring machine. These aren’t just nice-to-haves – they’re the modifications that’ll make your life easier, safer, and more comfortable for months on the road.

1. Upgraded Suspension System

If there’s one modification that’ll make the biggest difference to your Big Lap experience, it’s upgrading your suspension. The factory suspension on a 70 Series is designed for general use, not for carrying a fully loaded touring rig for thousands of kilometres across corrugated dirt roads.

Why Suspension Matters

When we crossed the Simpson Desert in our 80 Series Landcruiser, we were fully loaded with gear, fuel, and water. Over 500km of moguls and sand dunes, our tyres were routinely hitting the guards on bigger bumps because the suspension just couldn’t handle the weight. I remember thinking “I really wish we’d upgraded to air bags” as we carefully picked our way across some particularly rough sections.

While the 80 Series is definitely a very capable 4WD, with a GVM of just 2960kg it has its limits and we found them in the Simpson Desert.

The 70 Series on the other hand is a more dedicated workhorse with a greater capacity for weight carrying than the humble 80 Series, especially with a GVM upgrade.

A proper suspension upgrade for your 70 Series needs to match several factors: the weight you’ll be carrying, whether you’re towing, and the type of roads you’ll be tackling. Get this wrong and you’ll either have a vehicle that rides like a buckboard wagon or one that bottoms out constantly.

What To Consider

For most Big Lappers, a quality aftermarket suspension system designed for loaded touring is the way to go. Brands like Pedders, Old Man Emu, and Tough Dog all make excellent systems specifically engineered for heavy touring loads.

If you’re on a tighter budget, Polyair air bags can be a more affordable option. These fit inside your existing coil springs or above your leaf springs, and you pump them up to match your load. The beauty of air bags is their adjustability – add more gear, add more air. It’s not a complete suspension replacement, but it’s a practical budget solution that many tourers swear by.

One thing worth knowing: if you’re planning to tow a van or trailer, talk to a suspension specialist before you buy anything. Towing changes everything about how your vehicle handles, and getting expert advice up front will save you money and hassle down the track.

GVM Upgrades

It’s possible to legally increase your Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) on many 70 Series models by up to 650kg, bringing the total to 3,950kg.

This isn’t just about fitting heavier springs – you need an approved suspension system installed by a certified business who can provide the engineers certificate to keep everything legal. The investment is significant, but if you’re planning to carry serious weight or tow a heavy van, it might be the smartest money you spend.

2. Interior Creature Comforts

One of the things I love most about the 70 Series is its utility and simplicity! In my mind less is definitely more when it comes to a reliable touring 4WD. 

The downside of that philosophy is that the 70 Series are not renowned for their interior comforts. With a focus on durability and utilitarianism, luxuries like leather, cloth trim and even carpet are generally no-where to be seen.

The good news is that the guys at 70 Series Store have you covered with a range of interior accessories to add a layer of comfort and refinement to your vehicle interior where you will be spending hundreds of hours over the span of your Big Lap.

Here are our top picks to upgrade the comfort level of your 70 Series:

3. Roof Rack System With Rooftop Tent

The combination of a quality roof rack and a rooftop tent is one of the most popular setups among Big Lappers, and for good reason. It transforms your 70 Series into a completely self-contained & self-sufficient camping vehicle while leaving all your internal space and tray area free for gear storage.

Our philosophy at Expedition Australia is to be able to travel Australia affordably by being self sufficient so you can free and low cost camp and not be reliant on expensive caravan parks (or ‘Holiday Parks’ as they are often called these days).

For couples and solo travellers, a rooftop tent setup is ideal because it reduces your footprint, there is nothing to tow and you can set up and pack up quickly and easily – maximise freedom and flexibility!

Choosing Your Roof Rack

Not all roof racks are created equal. Some are simple storage platforms, while others are sophisticated systems with integrated mounting points for lights, awnings, solar panels, and more.

Simple low tech steel racks like the Tradesman Oval rack I’ve been using for over 20 years are tough as nails and relatively affordable. After more than 240,000km on our Landcruiser, spending literally years sitting in the sun, our Tradesman rack has performed perfectly. Despite plenty of knocks and bumps, it’s virtually corrosion-free. For budget-conscious travellers, a quality steel rack is hard to beat.

If weight is a concern – and it should be – aluminium racks or hybrid aluminium/steel rack like those from Front Runner offer excellent strength at lower weight. They’re very aerodynamic too, which helps with fuel economy. The trade-off is cost, but for many tourers the benefits justify the investment.

Rooftop Tent Selection

I’m a big fan of rooftop tents for Big Lap travel. They get you up off the ground away from creepy crawlies, set up in minutes, and pack down just as fast for those days when you’re covering serious kilometres.

Soft shell tents are the traditional choice – canvas construction, built-in mattress, integrated ladder. They’re proven technology that works, and they’re relatively affordable. Many come with optional annex walls that create covered ground space for your camp kitchen or gear storage.

Hard shell rooftop tents have revolutionised the market in recent years. They open with gas strut assistance in literally seconds, offer better aerodynamics when closed, and provide superior weather proofing. The trade-off is cost and often weight – they’re generally more expensive and can be heavier than soft shell options.

For budget-conscious travellers, companies like Inspired Overland have designed ultra-lightweight carbon fibre tents weighing just 36kg including the rack system. That’s less than half the weight of some traditional models, which is a game-changer for staying within your roof load limits.

Strategic Mounting

Think about how you’ll actually use your rooftop tent before you bolt it to the rack. Rear-facing deployment works brilliantly if you’re running a tailgate kitchen – the open tent provides a roof over your cooking area. Side deployment creates sheltered ground space that’s perfect for chairs and tables.

On uneven ground, make sure you park so you’ll be sleeping flat or with your feet slightly downhill. Sleeping with your head lower than your feet is miserable, trust me. 

4. Heavy-Duty Bull Bar With Recovery Points

A proper bull bar is pretty much essential safety equipment in Australia with our millions of kangaroos that have this annoying habit of sitting beside the road then jumping in front of vehicles at the last possible second.

Protection Beyond ‘Roos

A quality bull bar does more than just protect your 70 Series from animal strikes (though honestly, they should probably be called ‘roo bars given that’s their main job). Modern bull bars have evolved into sophisticated mounting platforms for essential touring accessories: winches, spotlights, UHF aerials, and sand flags.

The question is whether to go steel, aluminium, or even plastic.

Steel bars are the strongest and most impact-resistant, but they’re also the heaviest – up to 80kg in some cases. That’s significant weight on the front of your vehicle that affects handling, suspension, and your overall GVM. If you’re planning to mount a winch (which adds another 30-40kg), you need to factor all this into your front suspension setup.

Aluminium bars are lighter and still strong enough for most touring applications. ARB’s alloy bars are popular among Big Lappers because they use steel reinforcement in critical areas like winch mounting points, so you get the weight savings without compromising strength where it matters.

Plastic bull bars might sound odd, but they’re lighter again and surprisingly capable. They’re more flexible than metal, often springing back to shape after animal strikes, and they can be repaired if damaged. For budget builds, they’re worth considering.

Recovery Point Reality

Here’s something critical: your tow ball is NOT a rated recovery point. Using it to recover your vehicle puts enormous stress on components that weren’t designed for those loads, and if something breaks it can become a deadly projectile.

A proper bull bar includes rated recovery points that are mounted directly to your chassis. These are specifically engineered to handle recovery forces safely. If you’re going to invest in a bull bar anyway, make sure it includes proper recovery points front and centre.

Budget Considerations

Quality bull bars can run up to $2,000 or more, but don’t feel you need to spend that much to get something functional. A simpler, lightweight bar will still do the job of protecting your vehicle from most animal strikes. I’ve seen plenty of budget-conscious Big Lappers running second-hand bars that they’ve cleaned up and repainted themselves – nothing wrong with that approach if your budget is tight.

5. Long-Range Fuel Capacity (Auxiliary Tanks or Jerry Can System)

One lesson I learned quickly when planning our Big Lap: fuel range is freedom. The further you can travel between refills, the more options you have for choosing routes, finding cheaper fuel, and accessing remote areas.

The factory fuel tank on a 70 Series is decent, but if you’re planning to explore remote areas – and let’s be honest, that’s half the point of doing the Big Lap – you’ll want to extend your range significantly.

The Auxiliary Tank Solution

Long-range auxiliary fuel tanks are one of the most popular modifications for touring 70 Series vehicles. These are professionally installed secondary tanks that integrate with your factory tank, often adding 60-80 litres of capacity.

The advantages are huge: no external tanks to fill separately, no lifting heavy jerry cans, and your fuel stays secure inside the vehicle’s structure. The trade-off is cost – professional auxiliary tank installation can run $2,000-3,000 depending on the system.

The Budget Alternative: Jerry Cans

For budget-conscious travellers, a good jerry can system mounted on a rear bar, on the tray or in the rear canopy area is a perfectly viable option. Modern plastic jerry cans are tough, reliable and relatively affordable. 

The key is thinking through the logistics. Fuel is heavy – 20 litres weighs 20kg plus the jerry can itself. Multiply that by 3-4 cans and you’re adding 80-100kg somewhere on your vehicle. Mounting them on the roof impacts your centre of gravity and eats into your roof load capacity. Mounting them on a rear bar keeps weight low but takes up valuable space.

The key is developing a fuel storage and management strategy – knowing where the next fuel stops are, planning your routes accordingly, and always keeping at least one jerry can full as an emergency reserve.

Make sure your download the Fuel Map app on your smart phone which is a crowdsourced fuel price monitoring app that will show you the recent fuel availability and prices in the towns and tracks in front of you.

6. Comprehensive Recovery Equipment Package

Getting bogged happens. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, how capable your vehicle is, or how careful you drive – if you spend enough time on unsealed roads, eventually you’ll find yourself axle-deep in sand, mud, or both.

The question isn’t “will I need recovery equipment?” – it’s “do I want to be prepared or do I want to be that person asking strangers for help?”

Basic Recovery Kit

At minimum, every Big Lapper should carry this gear:

Recovery tracks (like Maxtrax or similar) are your first line of defence. Lightweight, foolproof, and incredibly effective in sand and mud.

A rated snatch strap (NOT a tow strap – they’re different) is essential for when you need another vehicle to extract you. Make sure it’s rated properly for your vehicle weight.

A shovel – preferably two, a full-size one and a folding camp shovel. You’d be surprised how often a bit of strategic digging makes the difference between a five-minute inconvenience and an hour-long recovery operation.

Proper shackles rated for recovery work. Those cheap hardware store shackles aren’t designed for dynamic loads and can fail catastrophically.

Work gloves – recovery work is dirty and hard on your hands.

An air compressor is essential. Lowering tyre pressures is often the single most effective thing you can do to gain traction in sand or mud. You’ll need a quality 12V compressor to re-inflate tyres when you’re back on sealed roads.

Advanced Options: Diff Locks and Winches

If your budget allows, two modifications will transform your 70 Series into a seriously capable touring vehicle: diff locks and a winch.

Diff locks are about prevention – they help you avoid getting bogged in the first place by ensuring power goes to all wheels evenly. ARB’s Air Locker system has been on our Landcruiser for years, and since installing them we’ve never been bogged. When we hit river crossings, mud, or anything remotely challenging, I engage the Air Lockers and drive on through.

For budget-conscious travellers facing a choice between a diff lock and a winch, I’d lean toward the diff lock. Better to avoid getting stuck than to rely on extracting yourself afterwards. But honestly, that’s a personal decision – winch prices have dropped considerably over the years, making them more accessible than they used to be.

A winch is your get-out-of-jail card when all else fails. A 12,000lb winch (roughly 5,450kg capacity) is adequate for most 70 Series touring applications. Make sure it’s installed professionally into a winch-compatible bull bar that’s properly mounted to your chassis. Winches have significant electrical requirements and deal with extreme forces – this isn’t a DIY job unless you really know what you’re doing.

Don’t forget the supporting equipment: tree trunk protector, snatch block for double-line pulls, recovery dampener, and cable extensions. A winch is only as good as your knowledge of how to use it safely – consider taking a proper 4WD recovery course before relying on this equipment in remote areas.

The Budget Reality

One of the biggest myths about the Big Lap is that you need an expensive new 4WD loaded with every possible accessory. After meeting hundreds of travellers across our years’ of road tripping around Australia I can tell you the most successful Big Lappers are often travelling in the most modest setups.

They’re spending their money on experiences, not equipment. That $80,000 you save by buying a good second-hand 70 Series instead of a new 300 Series could fund your entire Big Lap.

Looking for more practical advice on planning your Big Lap on a realistic budget?

Check out our comprehensive guide “The Big Lappers Guide Book” where I share everything we learned during our 16-month family adventure around Australia and in the 20 years since then helping other Big Lappers plan their trips. From vehicle selection to free camping strategies, it’s packed with honest, practical advice that’ll help you turn your Big Lap dreams into reality without breaking the bank.