What does 4 x 4 + 2 equal? This stunning customised Mazda BT-50 GT.

You probably think this article is about a heavily modified Mazda BT-50.  

One look at these photos and you’re probably thinking this is what happens when you take Mazda’s new 4x4 dual-cab ute and reconfigure it with Australia’s off-road aftermarket industry. But that isn’t the whole story.

Yes, it’s one hell of a ute. Fully re-engineered with six wheels and enough equipment to survive an apocalypse, if it had a coat of matte-black paint it would look at home on a Mad Max movie set.

It’s certainly impressive. But owners James and Jen, who are about to drive away on the first of their Australia-wide adventures, didn’t set out to impress anyone.

“It was about safety and reliability,” says James, speaking about the philosophy that’s guided this one-off build.

Image credit: mattwilliamsphotography.com

“My dad worked in the transport industry and I still remember some of his stories about holiday-makers who travelled through remote Australia with overloaded cars and caravans, and the consequences those choices brought. So when Jen and I started planning our own family travels with our two kids, safety and reliability were at the top of our list.”

With those two essentials in mind, they studied the new-car market to find their ideal adventure vehicle.

“The BT-50 is underpinned by reliability and the right technology so it was a no-brainer. It was the ideal platform to create what we wanted.”

Their everyday family car, a Mazda CX-8 Asaki LE, also influenced their decision.

“We’ve always enjoyed the comfort and reliability Mazda builds into its cars. Our kids, Taya and Lachlan, love the second-row captain’s chairs. We know the brand and we trust it.”

Their six-wheeled Mazda BT-50 GT – or BT-75, as it’s been dubbed – certainly gets a lot of looks and comments, and one particular question.

“People have asked why we didn’t just buy something bigger in the first place,” James says. “The answer is we investigated that option, but after we factored in all of the capabilities we wanted from our vehicle – and the price to create them – we’ve actually come out in front, with both the technical results and cost.”

Image credit: mattwilliamsphotography.com

Achieving these results required a major 12-month build program involving independent engineering certification.

James and Jen’s Mazda BT-50 GT arrived at Aspley Mazda in Brisbane in November 2023. The car was immediately shipped to Six Wheeler Conversions in Toowoomba where the chassis was extended 800 mm and a third (non-driving) axle installed. The suspension now uses custom leaf springs at the rear and has a two-inch lift. The rear axle group is rated to 3,183 kg.

The third axle has a 60/40 weight split and extends the BT-50’s overall wheelbase, resulting in a total GVM of 4,630 kg (up from 3,100 kg) and a GCM of 8,130 kg (up from 6,000 kg).

Towing capacity is now 4,500 kg (up from 3,500 kg).

Next, AMVE designed and built the custom tray and canopy, which features six compartments. The driver’s side of this cavernous unit houses capability-related equipment, such as twin 100 Ah lithium batteries and a 3000-Watt inverter and solar controller. The passenger side is home to a complete custom kitchen with long slide-out benches that quickly create a galley layout. The kitchen comprises an 85-litre upright fridge, an induction cooktop and a combination microwave / air fryer / griller. There are also triple slide-out benches and pantries along with the most important piece of travel equipment: a coffee machine.

“That was must-have,” says James.

There’s even room to carry a quad-bike.

Image credit: mattwilliamsphotography.com

Helping power these facilities is a 140-Watt solar panel on the canopy’s roof, with an extra 1,200 Watts of solar panelling atop their 23-foot Wonderland off-road caravan.

The three under-tray storage boxes carry twin air compressors, off-road recovery gear and an outdoor shower, fed by the BT-50’s onboard water system, which comprises an 80-litre stainless steel tank, a separate 58-litre tank and a high-pressure pump.

Touring distance is maximised thanks to upsized diesel tank capacities which now total 191 litres, offering around 1,200 kilometres between filling stops.

At the front, James and Jen have fitted a colour-matching bull bar with a 12,000-pound recovery winch and stainless steel bash plate.

They have also fitted a PWR radiator and transmission cooler.

There’s even more; the modifications list is that extensive.

James and Jen took final delivery of their stunning custom BT-50 in December 2024.

“We take off in May,” he says, referring to the ute’s first maiden adventure. “We’ll be heading north to visit some of my clients along the Queensland coast and then head across to Mount Isa. We’ll drive to Uluru and then down to Adelaide for Taya’s birthday gift, which is to see Katie Perry perform live in concert.

“We’ve also got friends in Western Australia and we also plan to head up to Cape York. We have plenty of fun miles ahead of us.”

But there are two places he really wants to test his six-wheeled BT-50, and they are the Canning Stock Route and the Gibb River Road.

“They’ll be great adventures. Covering the toughest terrain and living out of the BT-50 for a few weeks will be a wonderful experience for all of us.”

And that’s what this article, and this heavily modified Mazda BT-50 GT, are all about: A family waiving conformity and creating lasting memories through their adventures.

“We’ve worked hard in our careers and achieved the right results,” says James, referring to the years he and Jen have invested into their businesses. “And now we’ve chosen to take a small leap of faith and do something only a relatively small number of people choose, and that’s have the adventures of a lifetime as a family.

“Maybe we’ll inspire other people to do the same.”