JUNGLE-PROOFING YOUR VEHICLE

When you are in the heart and in the heat of the tropics, you would want nothing less than to have the companionship of a vehicle that is both nimble and functional — a vehicle that is essentially an extension of your inner Mowgli.

Primarily, because of the tropical humidity and the high levels of annual rainfall, jungle off-roading often involves driving through dense vegetation and thick undergrowth. Most of the time, trails are muddy and are punctuated by river-crossings or log-bridge crossings (logs that are tied together using bike chains and placed over ravines).

Before traversing these harsh terrains and negotiating challenging obstacles, some considerations need to be made in order to ensure that your vehicle is fully-prepped for a fulfilling jungle adventure. These include departure angles, height clearance, undercarriage/body protection, accessibility to recovery equipment, self-reliance, manoeuvrability, etc.

Here is an extensive guide of vehicle-modifications specifically adapted for a rough time in the dense tropical rainforests of the Malay Archipelago.

SWEATY BETTY

Say hello to Betty, a fine specimen of a vehicle that has been thoroughly jungle-proofed to deal with the Southeast Asian terrain. She is a 2006, Land Rover 2.5L Td5 Defender 90. For over a decade, this gorgeous pickup has been put through some of the gnarliest tropical landscapes and is still running strong; in fact, we daresay — stronger than ever.

WHEELS AND RIMS

BFGoodrich 315/70 R17 Tires   //   17” x 8” Predator Alloy Rims   //   30mm Wheel Spacers   //   Heavy-Duty Drive Flanges   //   Heavy-Duty Half Shaft

BODY & UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTION

Checkered-Plate Bonnet Protection   //   Terrafirma Extreme Rear Body Corners   //   Custom Fabricated Rear Bumperettes   //   Custom Fabricated Tree Sliders   //   Mantec Front Skid Plate   //   Mantec Gas Tank Skid Plate   //   Terrafirma Differential Guards   //   Custom Fabricated Marine Plywood Truck Bed Cover

UNDERCARRIAGE & SUSPENSION SET-UP

Gwyn Lewis Double Cardan Front Shaft   //   Gwyn Lewis Wide-Angle Rear Shaft   //   Terrafirma +5” Travel Shock Absorbers   //   Terrafirma +2” Front and Rear Coil Springs   //   Terrafirma Front and Rear Dislocation Cones   //   Terrafirma 6-Degree Castor-Corrected Radius Arms   //   Terrafirma Cranked Trailing Arms   //   Terrafirma Heavy-Duty Drag Link   //   Terrafirma Return to Centre (RTC) Dampener   //   Terrafirma Adjustable Pan-Hard Rod

RECOVERY GEAR & ENGINE UPGRADES

Terrafirma Winch Bumper   //   Superwinch 12.5SR   //   Hi-Lift Jack   //   Mantec Snorkle   //   Silicone Turbo and Intercooler Hoses   //   Remapped ECU   //   De-Cat Exhaust   //   Roamerdrive Overdrive

—

"Hutan Custom Works" is an ongoing mini-series featuring awesome vehicles in the Great Southeast.

If you like this story, share it with a friend.