Project no.1 | Yuki Hyo
The first-ever Pitstop Specialized Project was developed as a discovery mission to determine the boundaries of the automotive modification scope in Nepal and found that WE determined them. We chose to name this vehicle, “Yuki Hyo” translated from Japanese means, Snow Leopard. The elusive white and black beast is a rare sight and is native to the Himalayan Region, encompassing our vision for this project.
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The build began with a stock 2021 Hilux with a 2.8L engine. Stage one entailed installing Zephyr Fuel Wheels paired with Maxxis MT Tires, 2” Superior Engineering Remote Reservoir Lift Kit, Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform, a snorkel and a Stedi Light Bar to illuminate any path. Adding these performance components to the car made it more capable to conquer any terrain. MT tires with massive tread gives it the grip it needs for the toughest terrains, while the 2” Lift Kit provides the ground clearance it needs. We selected a remote reservoir to minimize the chance of the suspension components overheating and giving it an even longer life and bolstered performance. Due of the numerous bodies of water we could potentially encounter in our hydro-rich area, we installed the snorkel.
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The second stage encompassed a huge undertaking as we added the Rhino 4x4 Bullbar with a 9500lbs front winch, automatic side steps, a remote-controlled ute cover, and additional lighting to further light the path less traveled. This section of the build was highly challenging as it required us to make edits in the stock body, but our highly ingenuitive team made it look easy. The Bullbar with the winch added a layer of safety and security that we did not have in the past and has been proving to be a necessity. Similarly, the UTE Cover provided cover in the back of the pickup truck making it a water and dust free area to carry any cargo. Additionally, we felt like we needed to make access to the vehicle easy, and we did that by adding automatic side steps that open and close based on the doors.
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The third stage that is currently underway begins with a piggyback tuner which adds up to 20 hp and 80 NM of torque and we are currently waiting to couple that with an engine intercooler and a 3” exhaust system giving the engine more air to breathe. We have taken many precautionary steps before we went ahead and did this. With all the modifications on the vehicle up until this stage has added over 200kgs and we felt it so we countered that with more power. More power coupled with Toyota’s excellent reliability record!
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That isn’t the end. We are looking to install a mobile solar generator that will allow us to reach any corner of the country and have our power for any electronics, appliances, etc. Yuki Hyo will be forever transforming.
