Through our travels through the postcard-worthy scenery of New Zealand, we spent a lot of time in recovery after the neck-snapping aesthetics of Bel Jones' short-wheelbase Nissan (GQ) Patrol. Below we will cover a list of the key upgrades Bel has done to make this weapon of a 4x4 as capable as can be throughout the terrain she regularly throws the car through.
MEET BEL JONES
If you've been following STEDI™ for a while you'll no doubt have seen one of Bel's prized rigs on our social media or website at one point or another. For the past 5 years, our relationship with Bel has extended beyond what either of us would have thought after she initially reached out offering her amazing photography skills to capture our products in the out-of-this-world scenery of the New Zealand landscapes.
Bel is a full-time photographer working alongside some of the most well-regarded brands in the game. This requires a lot of time spent on rocky terrain to find off-grid locations in both Australia and New Zealand, capturing the best of what the touring/camping lifestyle has to offer. For this purpose, she has a number of purpose-built Nissan Patrols to reach these destinations, and below we will run through her most recent addition covering what goes into a 4wd to get through anything.
BELS GQ PATROL | V8 LS1 SWAPPED
We might as well start by addressing the elephant in the room. This wholesome little Patrol, as the number plates suggest, has been engine swapped, opting for the V8 heart transplant of an LS1 over the factory TD42, which some would suggest easily more than double the grunt with triple the sound. Engineered and ready to tackle anything in its path with a "fuel efficient" 20L per100Kms, when driven responsibly...
BELS GQ PATROL | DRIVING LIGHTS
Alongside the upgrade to the LED headlights, Bel has gone with the STEDI™ Type-X™ PRO LED Driving lights which are a traditional shape that not only offer remarkable light throw but also suit the overall look of the vehicle. Paired with these is a 50-inch ST-X LED light bar which helps with the flood beam in the short to midfield.
BELS GQ PATROL | WHEELS & TIRES
To assist with having the capability to conquer all, a set of 15x10 Dynamic Wheel Co steelies paired with some Maxxis RAZR mud terrains ensure there is not an inkling of doubt it will come out the other side.
BELS GQ PATROL | BAR WORK
There is a slight bit of haze around the bull bar as it was pre-installed at the point where the car was purchased by Bel. As far as she knows, it is a custom bull bar with mounting options for a winch. In this case she is running a Runva 11xp Red and just above resides a solid platform to mount driving lights.
BELS GQ PATROL | ROOF RACK
Through her diligent research, Bel discovered that the Rhino-Rack platform rack can work on the Patrol with the use of brackets that are initially intended for other vehicles. Some of the advantages of the platform system are its ability for near-infinite mounting solutions for gear and accessories.
BELS GQ PATROL | REAR & SIDE LIGHTING
When it came to lighting, Bel was familiar with the STEDI™ Micro V2 work lights as she has them on her GU Patrol over here in Australia (yes, a third patrol). Proving themselves to be very useful in situations requiring a wide flood beam, ideal for camping with the option of a white (5700k) or warm white (2700k). Bel opted for the 13.9 inch models on either side and the 26 inch model at the rear. As the Rhino Rack® sits quite low to the roof, the Micro V2's low profile of only 26.3mm was the perfect option to maintain the clearance between the light and the body of the car.