About Buds Customs
For the best in Aussie offroad design and performance
At Bud’s Customs, we’re never completely happy with what we’ve built. Even when it’s the best in the market, even when we hold the patent, we’re always looking to improve.
We’ve been that way since we started.
- Since 2003, when we designed and built our first product (a high clearance cross member for 1984-1997 HiLuxes)
- Since 2007, when we first put our brand logo on a product (Hilux shackles)
- And since we turned ourselves from side-hustle hobby to a full-time business in 2011.
Our goal has always been to help customers get the best performance from their vehicles, while ensuring those vehicles comply with Australian legal standards. It always will be.
Aussie offroad experience, design and fabrication
Our earliest products were designed and built for the HiLux market.
Why? Because owner Bud has always owned at least one HiLux, from when he got his licence. (Before that, he was one of those kids who urge their dad to take the tougher track, every time.)
Bud had visions of being a web programmer, but got waylaid into designing and making real products instead. He trained as a mechanical draftsman at an earthmoving attachment manufacturer. He learned CAD. CNC cutting. Pressing and machining. And he used everything he learned to improve the performance of his HiLuxes.
The business expanded. Odd jobs for friends. Fitting Unimog axles on a LandCruiser. A 4-link suspension for a TJ Jeep. Custom transmission adapters. Then a friend bought a Patrol. Bud started designing and making parts for Patrols too.
An innovator in the industry
For the big players in the Aussie offroad accessories industry, scale has always mattered. Parts are designed to fit all or most 4x4 makes and models. Bud’s customs have always been more… well, more custom.
Designing for a specific make, model or series means we can customise to exact specifications. There’s more ability to lift performance. And by managing both design and manufacture, we cut R&D time but control quality of the final parts.
Our first completely unique product was the Patrol Front Long Arm kit, which we launched in 2012.
Our first patent was issued in 2017. That was for a Rite Track Kit to correct axle width on LandCruiser 70 series vehicles.
Our team (3 full-time staff plus a part-time mechanical engineer) design continue to design for specific models. We drive 4x4s. We talk to customers who drive 4x4s. We talk more than we should about design issues, we come up with ideas to fix them, and we turn those ideas into reality.
We’re always exploring, innovating and testing. Not every job makes it to the website. So if you’ve got an idea or a need, but you can’t find it online, give us a call.
We may have a solution already, or we can work something out. We love a challenge!