Tested: AAV Isuzu NPS 75 4x4 adventure truck

The problem with some ‘off-road’ caravans is that their tow cars are often less bush-able than they are.

That’s certainly not the case with Queensland-based AAV4X4’s latest Isuzu NPS 75 4x4 truck-based adventure vehicle, which recognises few terrain boundaries.

If you take full advantage of its massive ground clearance, thanks in part to its huge 37 x 12.5 R17 tyres, its two-speed transfer case and stump-pulling 419Nm of torque generated by its 5.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine from 1600rpm-2600rpm, then your bravery or ambition is the only real boundary to where you can go.

Heavy-duty recreational machine

Designed for serious adventure travellers, AAV’s new N Series truck can be configured to tow a rugged off-road caravan, or even better can be set up as a stand-alone explorer with a rooftop tent plus room for a quad bike or a tinnie on its tray to chase ‘Barra’ to the top of the Top End.

Better known for its Isuzu or Fuso-based all-terrrain adventure motorhomes, AAV4X4’s Isuzu N Series fitted with the customer’s choice of single or crew cabs takes ‘off-road’ travel off the map. The base truck can also be a 4X4 Fuso or Hino – it’s your choice.

The test unit was a crew cab fitted with a cavernous and lockable two metre high aluminium module immediately behind the cab. Accessible by full-width gullwing doors on either side and secured via the Isuzu’s AAV-modified centrally-locking system, it could hold a range of toys or camping equipment, with two skeletal racks to which you could bolt items like a portable fridge, a large auxiliary battery, or an inverter to enable you to run 240v appliances.

Twin spare wheels are bolted vertically to this module – one for the truck and another for a towed van, if you like, leaving enough room on the 2.1 metre wide tray to store a tinnie vertically on its tail, or transversely, or lash down a quad, a pair of trail bikes, or enough room to open a pair of camping chairs out of croc range to enjoy a sundowner.

Under the tray, AAV has fitted the Isuzu with two handy storage lockers on each side that can hold a variety of things well away from harm.

Ready to go

Many people may hesitate at the idea of taking a light truck on a long off-road trip, but AAV make the Isuzu very operator-friendly. Based on a GVM of 3500kg it can be driven on a car licence, yet can tow a caravan loaded up to 4500kg.

Power steering with tilt column adjustment, anti-lock brakes, driver and front passenger airbags, twin cup holders, a console box, a storage shelf, large exterior mirrors, electric windows, air conditioning, central door locking and suspension front seats all contribute to decent comfort for long-range touring. If you’d like to run a cool drink fridge inside, there’s also a 24-volt cigarette lighter.

Impressively, AAV replicates all the Isuzu dashboard switches with their modifications.

The standard seating format is two front seats with those in the rear able to sit four abreast, with steel exterior steps and grab handles are fitted to make the steep ascent to the Isuzu’s cab easier, while alternative handle locations are available for shorter operators. A front bench seat is also available.

Jiggly ride

The Isuzu’s single stage leaf sprung front axle and multi-leaf helper spring rear end  – both modulated by double acting shock absorbers with remote oil reservoirs for extra cooling capacity and – do their best to hide the Isuzu’s working class origins, but the ride is undeniably jiggly on long unpaved roads or severe corrugations.

It goes with the territory; certainly if you don’t reduce the big tyres’ 45 psi on-road pressures by 10 psi on broken surfaces, and lower its cruising speed to 80km/h in the process. You'll want to knock them down another 6-10 psi for soft sand.

AAV insists that its adventure trucks wear at least 35-inch diameter tyres if towing a trailer weighing 2.5 tonnes or more, which means most off-road caravans.

AAV’s modifications to the Isuzu for adventure travel also include the fitting of substantial differential and other underbody protection, but the truck’s larger 290 litre fuel and matching size fresh water tanks are both mounted high and out of harm’s way.

Other AAV-fitted items include a front bull bar with twin spot lights, supplemented by a light bar, rear spotlights and a 40 per cent re-map of the engine to make the engine’s power and torque curves more accessible to travellers.

Thanks to its power steering, the Isuzu is pleasantly car-like to manoeuvre and will maintain a comfortable 95-100km/h on the (flat) highway in top gear (high range) in its 5-speed gearbox. A 5-speed auto box is a $3300 option.

Thankfully the truck’s standard 150,000km factory warranty isn’t altered by AAV’s modifications.

Off-road, the big four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine has bags of torque and even with a three-tonne caravan on its 4500kg-rated tow bar, you find yourself travelling effortlessly most of the time in third gear high range.

Whereas a properly set-up LandCruiser or large American pick-up will go most places your nerves will permit, the AAV Isuzu gives you that extra confidence to go even further.

We came to a voluntary photo-stop on a steep rocky slope with the caravan behind and with a brief scramble for grip the Isuzu had no difficulty moving off afterwards to complete the gnarly climb.

Hitching a caravan or trailer to the Isuzu’s rear end involves using a drop hitch to maintain level towing, but otherwise hitching up via the 4.5 tonne rated tow hitch is straightforward and easy.

With its adventure motorhomes in high demand ­– AAV now has either built or has on order 74 vehicles on Fuso or Iveco chassis – AAV's Kym and Brett Bolton now see adventure trucks as their next frontier.

“They are ideally suited to adventurers because they can take them and their toys to otherwise inaccessible areas without the liability of having to tow a trailer,” said Kym Bolton.

They are also very cost effective. A base single cab Isuzu NPS 75 4x4 with manual transmission costs $87,725, or with a dual-cab, $93,875. As modified by AAV with its rear concept tray and canopy, our review rig cost $167,435.

Compare its price and capability with a current Toyota LandCruiser with beefed up suspension or a highly specced US pick-up and it all makes perfect sense...

Summing up

Because of its extreme terrain capability, AAV4X4’s Isuzu NPS open up a whole new world of remote area exploration to adventurers, whether in Australia or other countries, while retaining the driving ease of a smaller 4WD.

It costs the same as a properly set-up LandCruiser or US pick-up, but additionally allows owners to go further bush with their favourite toys, whether for mineral exploration or Barra fishing.

The downsides include the hard-to-hide commercial truck origins, including the difficult to access cab for shorter people, and a jiggly ride on rough surfaces.

How much is the 2022 AAV4X4 Isuzu NPS 75 dual cab truck?

Price: $167,435 as reviewed.
Options fitted: Re-mapped engine, bull bar with twin spot lights, light bar, electric winches front and rear, 290 litre fuel an water tanks, modified suspension with rock shielding, extended gearbox and differential breathers, suspension front seats, additional under-0body rust-proofing, exhaust upgrade, centre console fridge box, under tray storage boxes.
Travel length: 5985mm
External body width: 2100mm
Travel height: 2490mm
Tare weight: 2950kg
GCM: 7500kg
Body: Steel cab with aluminium tray-mounted storage box
Chassis: Steel
Brakes: 320mm drum
Engine: 4 cylinder 5193cc four-valves per cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: Dual range 5-speed manual
Power/tprque:114kW @ 2600rpm, 419NM from 1600-2600rpm
Wheels:17.5 in with 37 x 12.5 R17 tyres
Fresh water: 290 litres
Fuel tank: 290 litres
Battery: 2 x 80 SdD26L AAV modification
Supplied by: AAV 4X4, Brendale, Queensland