The Isuzu D-Max ‘Basecamp’ is an Arctic Trucks AT35 upgrade for wilderness junkies

Welcome to the new Isuzu D-Max ‘Basecamp’ edition, a truck built to allow you to get to and then set up shop in almost any environment known to man, from rugged forests to secluded beaches. No mention has been made of the perilous Shoreditch Triangle, which has us raising eyebrows.

We jest, because Isuzu is really rather good at building this sort of thing. It’s based on the Arctic Trucks AT35, and then loaded up with a whole bunch of accessories from renowned off-road suppliers like ARB and Lazer. It results in a D-Max that really could brush off an evening in Shoreditch. Or Everest Basecamp.

Starting with the home-from-home comforts, there’s a hard-shell roof tent up top with windows providing views for days, a ladder to get there, and an aluminium storage canopy that could be used for storing important things, but should be used for storing many crisps. There's also a 12V power shower (with an attachable cover) to scrub off the excess.

Inside there’s a slide-out kitchen comprising a three-burner gas stove, a 12-litre collapsible sink and an electric fridge, so pretty much everything you need for a genuine night out in the woods. We expect the AT35’s standard-fit goodies to be carried over too, including a 9in multimedia display and an eight-speaker audio system.

The Basecamp also carries over the extended wheel arches and the slightly moody face from the AT35, but builds on these with a roof rack, extra lights on the grille and a sidebar for easy access to and from the cabin. Those tiny 17in alloys are wrapped around a set of 35in mud-terrain tyres, and a Bilstein lift kit helps add some more height. Because height is precisely what you need to ward off crisp-snatching grizzlies out in the wild.

The powertrain remains an inline-four diesel putting out 162bhp and 266lb ft. It’s good for a 0-62mph run of either 12.7 or 13 seconds depending on your choice of manual/auto transmission, but regardless of which you go for, the top speed’s limited to 112mph.

Interested? You can build your own Basecamp at any number of Isuzu dealerships in the UK, but do consider the standard AT35 already starts at £52,495.