Joe Mortelliti

Why I NEED a 4wd

About 6 years ago I became a “born again” photographer thanks to going digital and took up an interest in landscapes.
At that stage I had a ute and was finding myself getting into terrain that was too difficult for the vehicle as I searched out places to photograph as a result of following a sense of adventure and discovery.

So we bought an old Jakaroo 4wd to see how that worked out, and it was a great aid to my photography as we set it up with a platform on top take pictures from.

Well after 9 months as it had worked out fine we updated to a Toyota Prado 120,modified it, and now we were ready to really head into the wilderness equipped to camp under the stars and take photographs.

This vehicle has taken us to the most remote wilderness parts of Oz where we have seen and photographed amazing landscapes, but tenting around the Oz wilderness is hard work ( my portfolio has a large number of outback, desert, and wilderness images)

The 120 was so well equipped for camping and hardcore 4 wheel driving a and SO FERAL that it was featured in a 6 page centre spread of Australian 4 wd Monthly last month.

However I had already traded it by the time the feature spread appeared on my plans for the Ultimate Photographic Accessory….

A trekking vehicle that will keep Marion and I traveling and photographing Oz for the next decade…in comfort.

Our newly purchased 100 Series Toyota Landcruiser is now at a custom body shop where it has been cut down to a king cab and ready for repaint and re trim. (it had to be a king cab, because that’s were the camera gear lives)

The rear section, on it’s arrival back to us will be set up with a fully livable sleeper (lots of mod cons and features,) electronically opening, camper that can handle serious off road hardcore touring.

To handle the extra weight of the camper and maintain the vehicles go anywhere ability, major changes have been carried out to the wheel sizes, bigger brakes, diff ratios, fuel capacity, water carrying tanks, suspension setup and engine power( to pull that extra weight up steep climbs)...the engine now delivers around 200kw,not bad for a diesel and 12lt per 100 consumption.

A lot of people have said I’m crazy cutting up a new car, but the end result will see this little nomad traveling and photographing in comfort.( Marion thinks I’m crazy too!) …but I have explained that I need it for my photography:-)

Commercially available cab chassis 4wd vehicles that can carry such an arrangement do not have the quality features of a 100 Series, being, sound proofing, ride and seating comfort, air bags , auto, king cab option.
Anyway my “super truck” is creating a lot of interest locally and I just felt like sharing the information on what’s happening here redbubble.

This type of conversion is popular in Queensland but very rare in Victoria, in fact I have never seen one on the road in Victoria.

It’s registered TREKOZ if you see it out an about.
The total project will be finished by around Christmas…by which time I hope all the issues associated with my recent illness and bone marrow transplant planned in the coming month or so have been put to bed.