RGM Hilux still going strong

Fortunately, RGMotorsport has the answer. An Arctic Truck conversion, such as the one carried out on this Toyota bakkie, hinges on increasing track, width and ground clearance and a crucial part of achieving that is the metre-tall wheel/tyre combination. This and the extended wheel arches increase mechanical and aerodynamic drag respectively.

Rob Green, managing director at RGMotorsport, explains: “The larger footprint means more power is required to turn the wheels ,and the raised height, plus the wider bodywork, means an increase in frontal area – which means more wind resistance. In addition, the taller tyres change the overall gearing, so performance and fuel consumption will inevitably be compromised in a number of ways.”

RGMotorsport’s solution comes in the form of an engine upgrade to compensate and in this instance the Toyota V6 gets fitted with a supercharger kit – a conversion which has been tried and tested. In fact, across Hilux, Fortuner, Prado and FJ Cruiser, RGMotorsport has fitted a ‘blower’ to dozens of examples of this engine family.

The RGM Hilux is still going strong. Picture: Supplied

Jaco Swanepoel, who owns a Hilux 4×4 double cab, has covered more than 500 000 trouble-free km over a period of more than five years. The single VVTi version is rated at 175kW and 376Nm on the showroom floor but when the forced induction gurus from Strydom Park, north of Johannesburg, finished forcing high pressure and well-chilled air into it, there was 295kW and 493Nm on offer.

Needless to say, this transforms performance and gives the Hilux the ability to cope with the 37-inch wheel/tyre combo, resulting in scintillating performance and excellent all-round driveability. But RGM supercharged conversions aren’t the reserve of ‘theme’ trucks like this: ordinary Toyotas can benefit hugely, especially if towing is on the agenda.

To provide context, an FJ Cruiser Supercharged reaches a top speed of almost 235km/h and storms to 100km/h in just 7.17 seconds. In fact, it accelerates to 120 in the exact same time it takes the standard FJ to reach 100 in 9.7 seconds. Mid-range urge is underpinned by an 80 – 120km/h ‘kickdown’ time of 4.5 seconds, slightly quicker than a powerful D-segment sedan like a Honda Accord 3.5 V6.