When you’ve been around the traps as long as Pat Callinan, you learn a thing or two about how to build a 4X4. And when you are afforded the chance to work with some of the absolute best brands in the country, there’s no limit to what you can create.
Now, Pat Callinan spends a lot of time on and off the road. That time is spread between his 2022 Everest and his Ford Ranger, so as a pigeon pair they work perfectly. But individually they each set a standard for which everyone can aspire. They’re perfectly executed through a mix of old-school gear that just works, and new-style tech. With Pat’s Everest, you get the best of the best.
Outside
The Everest is a good-looking rig from the factory, but this one looks tough as hell. And that is a theme that carries through every modification. Pat’s got a long history with Cooper Tires so it’s no surprise with a re-take on an old classic, he’s done the same with his tyres. The Everest now sports a pair of their AT3 XLT all-terrain tyres. They’re the perfect do-it-all tyre for touring ad mild wheeling. The ranger runs a more aggressive Cooper S/T MAXX. This gives Pat the best tyre for the job, no matter what that job is. The hefty rubber is wrapped around two similar sets of aggressive looking 18in KMC Grenade wheels rims.
Outback Armour were tasked with keeping the tyres on the dirt, and they manage it through the Adjustable Bypass – Expedition HD model suspension kit. This provides 50mm of lift and enough constant load capacity to carry the additional load of all accessories. As well as that, these shocks offer 20 stages of adjustability to give Pat the ride he desires over any terrain.
Up front, ARBs new Summit MKII bar housing a 12,000lb VRS winch, a pair of Night Hawk Variable Light Intensity LED driving lights and of course the Uniden 3.0 dBi gain UHF antenna. ARB rock sliders, a set of Clearview Next Gen towing mirrors and a tried and tested Safari Armax snorkel round out the sides of the Everest.
Up top, we get things started with a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform with Backbone system. A Night Hawk LED light bar, a Bushranger shovel and a set of Exitrax traction boards are all mounted to the Pioneer Platform using Rhino-Rack’s range of mounting options. On the passenger’s side hangs a BushWakka awning.
Inside
While the outside is impressive, inside is where the Everest truly shines. It’s a well-equipped car from the factory, so as far as comfort and convenience are concerned, there’s nothing that needs doing. Pat has added a set of Black Duck seat covers for protection, and a Survival first aid kit to the seat pocket. In the centre console is the controller for the driving lights, and switches for the lockers and air compressor.
Beside the console, the Uniden XTRAK 80 Pro UHF, with handpiece mounted to the dash. Uniden are also responsible for the dash cam mounted beside the rearview mirror, and taking advantage of the factory USB charging port in the mirror assembly.
The dual battery set-up is taken care of by a simple Redarc GoBlock tucked into the ORS drawer system. It runs a small 350W Redarc Pure Sine inverter, the Engel in the boot, and a handful of accessory ports throughout the Everest. It’s a simple set-up, but given this vehicle typically travels in tandem with the Ranger, it’s more than adequate for its purpose.
Power
Pat’s Everest is the new 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel, which in factory guise delivers an impressive 184kW and 600Nm, which is mated to Ford’s silky-smooth 10-speed auto. Pat believes this drivetrain to be superior to the more agricultural 3.2L, but still couldn’t help himself, and threw a few more horsepower in. Again, keeping it simple and reliable was the key, so Pat opted for a Steinbauer Power Module to get the big Everest moving. It hasn’t been run up on a dyno yet, but considering the same drivetrain can tow 4500kg in an F150 you can bet your bottom dollar it hauls in the Everest.
While not a world-beater in any one category, this Everest is a hugely functional 4×4 accessorised well. It’s legal in every way, and well under GVM, so even when Pat hooks up the EzyTrail he’s got plenty of payload left for passengers, fuel and supplies. The thing about having the experience that Pat does is this; he knows exactly what he needs, and even more importantly, what he doesn’t need. The key here is to keep it simple, because after all, simplicity is the whole notion of what we do as 4×4 and camping enthusiasts.
