American Pickup Touring Build Packages for Australia (Real World)

Andrew Taplin, Sales Manager – Autogroup International 
14 January 2026

1) Why touring an American pickup in Australia is different 

Touring in Australia is a stress test. Long distances at speed. Heat. Crosswinds. Corrugations. Dust. Big payload swings depending on water, fuel, passengers, and gear. 

That is why touring builds fail here more than people expect. It is not because the trucks are bad. It is because the build plan is usually backwards. People chase the look first, then try to make it drive properly later. 

At Autogroup International we have an unfair advantage in this space. We design, engineer and convert American pickup trucks, and we also operate Australia’s largest American truck service centre with 30+ years of hands-on experience. We service thousands of American pickup trucks, including trucks converted by others. That means our advice is shaped by what breaks, what wears, and what causes downtime years later, not just what looks good in a carpark. 

2) Touring build packages: what they are, and what they are not 

A touring package is a system with one job: keep the truck safe, stable, and reliable when you are far from help. 

A touring package is not: 

• a random shopping list 

• a copy of someone else’s build 

• a “higher is better” suspension decision 

• a heavy canopy and drawers added without payload discipline 

A touring package is: 

• a weight plan 

• a suspension plan 

• a tyre and wheel plan 

• a power plan 

• a storage plan 

• a reliability plan, including documentation 

Touring outcome framework 

Use this table to set the build direction before you buy anything. 

3) The accessory deep dive (how to choose properly) 

Suspension lift kits (Fox Suspension, Liquid Springs, Kelderman) 

Suspension is where touring builds are won or lost. Not because lift height is magical, but because Australian touring loads change the truck. 

Suspension selection should be based on: 

• your typical touring payload, not your empty-truck weight 

• where the weight sits (front bar work, rear storage, roof loads) 

• how much highway driving you do 

• whether you tow while touring 

• how you want it to feel: comfort, control, or a balance 

We fit Fox Suspension, Liquid Springs and Kelderman options depending on the platform and usage. What matters is that the setup is matched, installed properly, aligned properly, then checked after settling. 

Wheels and tyres 

In Australia, wheels and tyres are not style. They are safety and reliability. 

Touring tyre selection should prioritise: 

• correct load ratings for your real loads 

• sensible sizing that does not create clearance problems 

• stable sidewall behaviour for highway touring 

• durability and wear, because you will do kilometres 

Storage: drawers, tray and canopy options, roof racks 

Storage is where payload disappears. The best touring builds keep heavy gear low, secure, and accessible. The higher your centre of gravity is, the harder the vehicle will be to control in undulating conditions. 

Key principles: 

• heavy gear low and central 

• roof racks for light bulky items, not dense heavy gear 

• drawers sized for use, not for bragging rights 

• tray and canopy solutions built for real access and serviceability 

Power: dual battery systems and lithium power packages 

Power is a reliability topic, not an accessory topic. A bad install of your power system can create a large fire risk which may not be covered under insurance. A clean power package should consider: 

• your daily energy demand (fridge, chargers, lighting, comms) 

• mounting and heat management 

• serviceability 

• tidy, protected wiring routes, including proper isolation 

• documentation for future diagnosis 

Lighting systems, UHF, tint, onboard air, long range fuel 

When done correctly, these can make touring much easier: 

• lighting for fatigue reduction and safe night manoeuvring 

• UHF for enhanced convoy communication, useful for worksites as well. 

• tint for heat management and privacy 

• onboard aircompressor for tyre management and reduced puncture risk 

• long range fuel for route flexibility, but only if weight planning is done first, and the truck is adequately sprung. 

4) Package tiers (What we recommend)  

You will get better results when the build has a defined tier. Here is a practical way to think about it. 

5) Service centre reality check (what we fix when touring builds fail) 

This is where experience matters. 

What we commonly fix for our service customers: 

• Suspension that looks great but feels unstable under load. 

• Tyre choices that wear fast or feel vague when loaded 

• Power systems with touring trip stopping faults, from improper installation. 

• Storage that is heavy, awkward, and hard to access maintenance areas regularly which may lead to unresolved vehicle issues down the road. 

• builds where long-range fuel tanks were added, where load rating of suspension was not considered, and the gauges were not calibrated properly. 

Most of these problems are avoidable. The fix is usually the same: plan the build as a system, keep weight disciplined, install professionally, document properly, and do follow-up checks. There is never any harm with keeping an exact track of what you have done with the truck and when. This can assist with resale value down the track as well as following up on any potential warranty issues.  

6) Before you buy anything, answer these 10 questions 

1. How many kilometres do you do in a day on average? 

2. Are you towing while touring? If so, what is the real loaded trailer weight? 

3. How many passengers, and what do they bring with them on a trip weight wise? 

4. What is your typical touring payload? Not your daily drive payload. 

5. Do you want roof storage, and how much weight can you put up there? 

6. How many days are you planning to camp off-grid, and what power draw do you anticipate per day? 

7. What surfaces do you drive the most? Highway, regional, dirt, sand? 

8. How important is daily drivability when not touring? 

9. What is your biggest failure risk: tyres, power, suspension, storage, range? 

7) Warranty and documentation mindset 

Our fitment is designed and installed to preserve factory warranty coverage, and we provide clear guidance on what to avoid and how to correctly document any modifications. All installation work carried out by us is backed by a two-year workmanship warranty. 

Keep a simple record: 

• item fitted and why 

• who fitted it 

• any alignment reports after suspension and tyre changes 

• power system specifications and fuse information, and associated wiring diagrams 

 
This is not legal advice. It is ownership discipline. 

8) How Autogroup International is different to your traditional Dealership / Accessory Store and Installer 

We have been converting American pickup trucks in Australia for over 30 years, with more than 5,000 vehicles converted and, in many cases, fully upfitted. Our operation is supported by a team of over 250 people, including more than 35 engineers, and we run Australia’s largest American truck service center. From in-house design and engineering through to right-hand-drive conversion, servicing, and ongoing support, we look after thousands of American pickup trucks on the road today, including vehicles converted by other suppliers. We are not interested in overselling accessories. We build real trucks for real use. 

Practical CTA: Tell our team your truck model and year, your payload and towing reality, and where you tour. We will map a touring package that suits Australia and your actual requirements. 

Glossary (touring) 

• Payload: What the truck can carry including passengers, accessories, and tow ball weight. 

• Ball weight: Downward load on the towball, consumes payload. 

• Pin weight: Downward load on a fifth wheel hitch, consumes payload. 

• GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass): Maximum legal loaded vehicle weight. 

• GCM (Gross Combination Mass): Max combined truck plus trailer weight. 

• Alignment: Steering geometry settings that control stability and tyre wear. 

FAQ

AboutAndrew Taplin

Andrew Taplin is one of Autogroup International’s Sales Managers, bringing extensive experience in luxury and performance vehicle sales, with a strong focus on detail and client support. Based in Melbourne, he works with customers across Australia from enthusiasts to fleet buyers, ensuring every right-hand-drive conversion meets the highest standards of compliance and quality in line with our ISO certified processes. With a lifelong passion for 4WD vehicles and a strong understanding of engineering and conversion , Andrew bridges the gap between performance, practicality, and precision in every conversation and project.

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