Name: Siddharth Patel
Nationality: United Kingdom
Occupation: Timber Merchant
Vehicle: Nissan Patrol Safari Y61 LWB
Siddharth Patel’s Patrol is something that many of us dream of owning; reliable both on and off-road, easy to repair, and with just the right amount of mods to make it an incredible
off-road beast. Below, Siddharth tells us all about his car and the ways in which he has modified it to cater for both his family and his own off-road driving passion – carrying out much of the work himself!
What modifications have been made, performance and cosmetic wise?
The modifications I’ve made have been more convenience oriented for longer journeys off-road and on tarmac (my style of driving is relaxed and long), therefore I’ve not made too many performance-related modifications. I also wish to own my patrol to 500,000kms just to see what issues there are when owning a vehicle for a longer duration than the norm.
The modifications that I have added are:
• A slight suspension lift to cope with the slightly higher weight as a result of all the extra camping gear (I must give a special mention to my close friend, Rickson D’Souza, who gave me his roof rack, even though I didn’t plan on buying one, which after installation has been a great addition).
• A 47-litre fridge with 2nd battery. It has a few extra lights upfront and a bash plate to protect the radiator and AC condenser.
• A cargo barrier was added early on so that the rear cargo area can be loaded without strapping things down too tightly, and also to protect the rear and front passengers.
• The car has an awning as well, for that essential shade at a quick lunch stop.
• Of course, all the other paraphernalia is included, such as a compressor, GPS and rated recovery points.
• One of my last purchases has been an off-road camper trailer, which has a queen bed, and the foldout floor can fit another queen mattress. The trailer has its own pull out kitchen, and a 40 litre water tank for showers and washing up, it’s quite old, but very comfortable and super convenient for my family.
I replaced the front seats with orthopaedic seats as I have a bad back, and they have been fantastic! One forgets that one’s back is in constant contact with the vehicle, and that it would be good idea make a change if the factory seats cause issues. An equally convenient second special feature has been the fridge with second battery; apart from the battery mounting, I installed all the wiring, circuit breakers and power distribution boxes myself. It was a great project. I do so love stopping at a traffic light and taking out some cold water in the summer heat. Also, bringing some fresh sushi for my son to eat at the campsite is always a good way to tempt him into coming camping with me!
What were your other options before you bought this car?
I was looking at an older Landcruiser 80 series as well, but it is quite rare to find them in a good condition. I used to own the previous-shaped patrol, which I had to sell due to my son arriving, as the passenger seat could not fit infant and child car seats. I also required a daily driver with an automatic, so moved over to a Prado for a couple of years. This was great, but I just prefer Patrols, perhaps because I know their weak points better.
How often do you use your car, and what activities do you take part in?
It’s my daily driver, and also my weekend warrior; I take it everywhere. The saying, “I may not be fast, but I can go anywhere”, is probably what works for me. My car doesn’t even have larger tyres, as I have noted that away from the large cities, it’s hard to buy larger tyres, and the desert dwellers or mountain farmers use their original sized tyres to go everywhere! I plan to drive it across some countries in Africa, or Asia…and I wouldn’t mind an expedition trip to Saudi Arabia or Yemen when the situation permits.
Are you planning any future modifications?
Perhaps a winch and some hi-lift jack points, as I would like to do a solo trip to southern Oman and would need all these recovery gizmos if I became stranded. I do carry an extensive tool box on longer trips, and have been servicing and fitting most of the modifications myself at home. About four years ago I started restoring another car, and I am now addicted to servicing and, if possible, fixing my own vehicles. I also try to buy most of the modifications second hand or wait for a bargain. At times I import the parts needed, as it usually turns out cheaper or equivalent to local sources. I have learnt a lot about repairing cars, and keeping the cost of ownership to a minimum. Finally, I would also like to add some solar panels to charge the Patrol’s second battery and the camper trailer’s battery. It would allow camping at one location for a longer duration without firing up the engine.
What 4×4 do you dream of owning?
I would love a beatup old Suzuki Vitara, Suzuki Jimny, or Toyota Rav4. I would change the engine to something with a little more power, add wider wheels, and if needed make some suspension modifications. This would serve as my weekend morning blast in the dunes near home, as my Patrol is not as agile or nimble as smaller 4x4s. It does well through Liwa but I have to keep an eye on the weight that it carries, and hence I have not added metal bumpers, bigger tyres, or too many lights. My son and I plan to build a dune buggy at some point, although I haven’t a clue about welding…but that is the challenge!
In reality, the next choice of a car will be a Jeep Wrangler, as my wife has been patiently using my old Prado and she is next in line for a change in vehicle. But all in all the Patrol serves me well for my needs as is, and repairing and servicing the car is fairly easy due to its simplicity in design, which also gives makes it reliable, which in turn gives me the confidence to explore further.
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