With a list of mods to make any enthusiastic off-roader salivate. Call it a Maverick or a Patrol, call it John if you really want to, but there’s no denying this is one tough 4×4 that’s not to be messed with in the bush.

With 39 inch rubber slotted under 8 inches of lift, if your wondering what a tuff Ford looks like I think you just found it. Owner Hugh ‘Mav’ Cartwright takes a moment to share more about his Mighty Ford Maverick.

Pictures – click to view

 

Owner Profile

Name: Hugh Cartwright
Nickname: Mav
Place you call Home: Albury, NSW, Australia
Years Driving Off-Road: 11
View Hugh’s Full Profile

 

The Rig

• Make: Ford
• Model: Maverick LWB
• 4.2 6cyl diesel. 5sp manual, manual hubs and shift on fly transfer case
• Year: 1990
• Color: White

The Mods

• 39.5” Interco TSL Super Swampers
• Dual transfer cases
• 4.625:1 diff ratios
• Adjustable panhards front and rear
• 3rds production rocks rod steering link
• Tuff dog heavy duty RTC steering damper
• 3rds production front control billet arms
• DBR slotted brake rotors
• Scalloped gearbox cross member
• 2” body lift
• 6” 4ways spring lift
• Rancho adjustable shocks
• Custom rear sway bar
• Custom rear bar to suit body lift
• Hayman-Reece tow bar
• Swing-away jerry can holder and tyre carrier
• LED lights on rear
• Custom guards to fit the rubber
• Custom made rubber over plastic flares
• Rock lights
• Mirror mounted front rock lights
• Custom rock sliders
• 4 Cibie Oscar lights
• Hot shower system
• Dual batteries
• Engine isolation switch
• Pumped custom front seats
• Engine isolation switch
• Switch panel
• Fire extinguisher
• ½ finished rear drawer system
• Full alloy roof rack
• APE bulbar
• 9000lb PTO winch

How did the project begin?

With a spring lift, then purchase of new 33” tyres. I knew a few people with some big rigs. Eg patrol Ute with 44” tyres and a 40 series with a 454 big block chev and 44’s. I joined the local club and became involved in comps.

How long has the project taken?

The project has been a going for about 8 years on and off. Until 2 years ago it was still my daily driver. Even with 6” springs, 35s and the billet control arms. It has much been trial and error and having time space and money to do the work. I have done all the work myself usually in the home driveway, with some help from friends.

How did you go about the build?

I haven’t set or had a timeline as such. Small projects have had a time frame. But it has been work as I go. I have a goal in mind of how I want the truck to turn out and a wish list and have worked for that.

What’s been the mod that’s make the biggest difference?

Originally the 2” springs made the difference; suspension is always going to be the best modification. I’ve been driving all this time without a locker and the suspension flex is what has kept me going.

What was your biggest challenge

Getting those dam 39’s to stop vibrating and causing the car to wobble. I wanted to be able to drive to the tracks on them and not change tyre when I got there. Travelling at 90km isn’t a big ask?

If you could go back in time, what would you change?

Considering this vehicle was still a daily driver during its build and never off the road any periods of time. I would be considering of a full strip and rebuild, this way it would be easier to reinforce brackets and mounts and wouldn’t have to weld upside down. I am really happy with the way the build up went the way it did.

What was your build budget?

Haven’t really had budgets, more what I could afford and save a lot to be able to afford the pieces. The build up was trial and error and a lot of parts that I haven’t need were sold to others, eg springs, arms, ideas…

What’s next?

Finish drawer system. Put an exo roll cage on and front locker. Maybe a turbo. Work on my GU wagon; give it a spring lift, fit up cargo barrier and find an end to list for that.

Who have you got to thank for the build?

Allan Cox, Ben Truran, Gerry De Ruiter, various websites and forums. People from companies whose brains I have rattled with questions over time. Fineline Automotive Refinishing; (Dan, Khy and Bayden) for the help with the guard work and a place to do some of the things. A very special thank you must to go to my fiancée Donna Venturato, for dealing with me and the hobby.

Thanks Hugh for taking the time to tell us all about your terrific 4×4.

36 Responses to “Readers Rigs: Mighty Ford Maverick”

• September 17th, 2008 Shayne:

  Thanks Hugh for the interview, it’s a pretty good truck you’ve got there!

• September 17th, 2008 wyworry:

  Wicked Truck! Quick question, you mentioned that it’s daily driven. How do you go with wear on the 39’s. I dare say replacing them wouldn’t be cheap.

• September 17th, 2008 Jono:

  Love the third picture with the thing absolutely tramped. Nice! Great truck Hugh

• September 17th, 2008 MateyMate:

  Mate awesome list of mods — I hope I’m not sounding dumb, but what the heck are ‘Rock lights’?

• September 17th, 2008 AdamK:

  4 stars for me — if you had the 44’s I would have gone 5

• September 17th, 2008 cruza:

  Why did you go the Mav over the Patrol, I know it doesn’t make a difference..really.. but interested in the choice anyway.

• September 17th, 2008 Shayne:

  @MateyMate – Lights under you car so that your spotter can see under your truck in the dark

• September 17th, 2008 wyworry:

  okay right, cheers Shayne

• September 17th, 2008 8pot:

  How does the diesel go turning the 39’s? Cool, rig BTW

• September 17th, 2008 Hugh 'Mav':

  G’day,
  Thanks for the comments.
  WyWorry – the mav was my daily driver till about 2 years ago. It does still get driven to work occasionally and around town due to the advertising aspect. I have 35″ claws that are the usual run around tyre. With the 39’s at about 45psi they dont wear too badly.
  8pot – the diesel goes alright turning the 39’s, even in 2H round the town. Max speed is around the 90 – 95 km mark.

  cheers

• September 18th, 2008 Sarg:

  Yeah !!

  good one son

• September 18th, 2008 wyworry:

  Thanks Hugh I thought the 39’s would be a bit to much.

• September 18th, 2008 iheartmy4bee:

  Great truck! ***grumbling something about going back to my two inch lift and 33’s green with envy ***

• September 18th, 2008 David Morris:

  Nice. I’m more of a Toyota man but it’s good to hear from someone who takes the right approach to their mods. Talking about things like re-enforcing brackets, custom crossmembers, duel transfer case.

  Theirs more to a tough truck than how big your wheels are.

• September 18th, 2008 Mudbasher:

  Hugh you don’t have any pics of slicing up the guards do you. I’m about to do the same so I’d be interested to hear how you went about it.

• September 18th, 2008 Huge 'Mav':

  Mudbasher,
  Here is a link to a full build up, or click on my name and register to view the local club website and there is more info there.
  http://www.3rdrock4×4.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2754

• September 18th, 2008 letgo:

  Great truck Hugh, your welcome for the help, it is amazing where this truck will go, now it’s time to hit the comp scene eh.

• September 18th, 2008 Huge 'Mav':

  @MateyMate.
  I’ve posted up a couple of pics in the photo section of my rock lights and their positions.

  Hugh

• September 18th, 2008 Shayne:

  here’s the link to the rock lights http://4×4fever.com/photos/userdet.php?user=Huge

• September 18th, 2008 Mudbasher:

  Thanks Hugh! Perfect

• October 23rd, 2008 Graham:

  Monster Rig! Good job

• November 11th, 2008 Huge 'Mav':

  Update,
  on having the Mav at arb to get the locker fitted to the front, some issues were pointed out to me.
  The Pitman Arm is cracked, no replaced
  The front diff pinion was loose, not just backlash as I thought, so it has all been striped.
  Front drivers brake not contacting fully, in process of overhaulling.

  Having the front diff rebuilt and locker installed this week, and while at it i’m doing all the bearings and seals in the front hubs. Should basically be a new front end come Toperi Challenge.

• November 11th, 2008 Shayne:

  great news on the locker Mav — We’ll be covering Mav’s performance on the Challenge daily on the site — we all wish the very best!

• November 25th, 2008 Huge 'Mav':

  Well all is sorted, basically a new front end.

  All ready for the chalenges the Canoblas club have put together for the Toperi Challenge on the weekend.

  have a look at some of the tracks.
  http://www.canobolas4wd.com/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=11&catid=15

• December 1st, 2008 Huge 'Mav':

  Well we made it up to the Toperi Challenge run by the Canobolas 4wd club, great job and some good technical tracks.
  Had some great drives and some disappointing ones. But no damage.
  I forgot about the locker many times and drove all of track one except the final exit step with out it.
  I’ll get some pics up as soon.

  Hugh

• January 7th, 2009 picsyt:

  Monique, a Leaf fan, set up this absolutely well-defined to believe. Now, let me regarding out that this was in no way an undertake to articulate one cooperate is advantage than the other. It was objective a core to articulate two things.

• February 2nd, 2009 Huge 'Mav':

  I’ve posted up the pics from Toperi Challenge in the photo section. Enjoy

  Hugh

• February 3rd, 2009 Mudbasher:

  Awesome Mav — so what’s the next challenge for you?

• February 3rd, 2009 Shayne:

  Awesome pics… (although I would have loved to see more of yours), sounds like it was a top event!

  Who own that lime green thing … might have to chat to them about getting them on the site

• February 3rd, 2009 Jono:

  Envy… Bloody Envy… You’ve got one awesome rig mav. I wonder if Shayne could publish a diary of your competition as I’d love to hear more about what life is like for a driver at these events.

• February 3rd, 2009 iheartmy4bee:

  @Jono — I totally agree, it would be awesome to put some day by day stories on the site!

• February 3rd, 2009 Shayne:

  @iheartmy4bee @Jono – that would be up to Mav. He’s another state away from me so I don’t get a chance to be there at his comps

• May 1st, 2009 Silcott:

  Well done great post haha!

• May 3rd, 2009 Stilley:

  Nice blog and thanks for the post!

• July 12th, 2009 Pinon:

  Thanks for this great post.
  I will be sure to check out your blog more often

• July 17th, 2009 Schupp:

  Nice blog, thanks for sharing

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