So we finally made the decision on the camper (at last), but that left the next big question: Is our 2019 Holden Trailblazer LTZ going to be the right tug for the Ultimate?
It’s our second Trailblazer, and honestly, both have treated us well — torque converter quirks aside (those who know… know). It towed the Olympic without breaking a sweat. And that’s saying something, because the Olympic wasn’t exactly aerodynamic — a big fibreglass wind‑block sitting nearly a metre behind the towbar thanks to the short drawbar. Even with all that drag, the Trailblazer never felt stressed. The Ultimate sits in the same weight range but is far more streamlined, so on paper it should be even easier.
But then the brain starts doing what the brain does.
Last year I was chatting to a neighbour who had one of those three‑tonne caravans with every bell and whistle known to man. I asked him about his 4WD — one of the Chinese ones — and he absolutely sang its praises. Paid $45k, spent another $15k on upgrades, and reckoned it outperformed every LandCruiser he’d ever owned. Fuel economy, comfort, power… if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he owned the dealership.
And I’ll admit it — it got me thinking.
The Trailblazer has 130,000 km on it. I’ve been spoilt by the BYD Seal with all its clever features that make long days behind the wheel feel shorter. Would the Trailblazer be enough for the lap?
Then I remembered a chat with my mate Jelly when he was working out near Broome. I’d just bought the Trailblazer and asked if he saw many out that way. When he said yes, I felt myself relax. That’s the whole reason people push you toward Hiluxes and LandCruisers — they’re everywhere, and parts grow on trees. Reliability by population.
Still, the “what if” list started growing: bullbar, long‑range tank, lift, suspension, drawers, fridge, CB, bash plates, tyres, torque converter… Suddenly we were staring down the barrel of another $25k on a six‑year‑old 4WD. Should we?
Then came the story that tipped the scales.
We were chatting to another couple at a caravan park. They’d had one of those Chinese 4WDs too — loved it, same as the neighbour. But then the radiator blew. No big deal, right? Call the dealer, get a part, back on the road.
Except the dealer said, “We don’t think there’s a radiator in Australia.”
Eventually they found one… in Melbourne. Meanwhile these poor buggers were stuck on the Mid North Coast with a dead car and a big caravan. NRMA towed the whole setup to a bus depot. The car went off to the dealer. They organised a family member to bring another 4WD up from Newcastle to tow the van to Port Macquarie.
Before they even got there, a bus reversed into the van and damaged it.
That was the moment the alarm bells went off.
I can’t afford a new or second‑hand LandCruiser — not after deciding to buy a brand‑new Ultimate (money still doesn’t grow on trees). But the Trailblazer has been good to us, and I’m confident I can find a radiator in every state of Australia.
Decision made: we’re upgrading the Trailblazer, not replacing it.
And once we made that call, the next question was obvious: how do you turn a seven‑seater family wagon into a proper touring rig?
We’ve already had some professional work done in the back where seats 6 and 7 used to live, and then we designed and built our own system for rows 3, 4 and 5. It’s one of my favourite parts of the whole setup — practical, modular, and surprisingly tidy.
That build deserves its own chapter, and the photos tell the story better than words. Coming up next.
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