Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria magazine - October 2021

ISSUE: 484 (Sept-Oct 2021)

Reg #: A-0006149J

PRESIDENT’S Report Quick, get out your Melways, we are (limited), and the Club’s 3m x 3m Club headed out of lockdown, we need a map gazebo I could bring, Securing a BBQ site with dates, not just traffic percentages. could be a challenge as I live near The Ahh, look at the number of pages in the Basin, Martin & I may need members’ current Melways, similar to the number of assistance to secure a BBQ site location lockdown days that we as Melburnians should the event be held in that western / have endured, enough to gain the north western area of Melbourne, by prestigious title for the city/state in the arriving at the site around 930am to 10am world to have endured the most days of to ‘stake our claim’ – should Brimbank lockdown, beating cities in South America. Park be a potentially acceptable site for How thick is our skin to be the talk of the our Christmas Party. world?

Date and location for the Christmas Party On a serious note, after the coming will be provided shortly. announcements that have always preceded a lockdown, current lockdown is I am extremely pleased that the additional members to the Committee have taken on to end on Thursday 21st October at their positions with such enthusiasm.

11:59pm, the Committee will take (has taken) note of the provided new guidelines Daniel, as the Editor producing his first to be in force from Friday 22nd October edition, this one. Congratulations (I had a and amend our proposed trips list in time sneak peek as I wrote this article); as a for the General Meeting on Tuesday 26th previous Editor myself, it is not always easy to alter the content due to October, hoping to still arrange a potentially local day trip or two over the requirements, with the creative element potential long weekend of Saturday 30th being in the layout and method of presentation, providing a new look. Please October – Tuesday 2nd November, Melbourne Cup Day, for example Tuesday give Daniel some feedback. I think that 2nd November is a public holiday, Melb this new look is ‘fresh’.

Cup Day, it could have a ‘day trip’, Also there will be the inclusion of a new something that has not happened for a Club Bylaw Policy in relation to Club while, let alone a trip in the MondayPermit Vehicles, for discussion. This new Friday weekday slot, so short notice of an Bylaw was required as we as a Club have available trip will be posted on the website had numerous requests for joining purely & broadcast via email beforehand, with on the basis of the prospective member potential advice at the October GM this wishing to immediately gain a Vehicle Club 26th (Tuesday) via zoom.

Permit, previously there was an unwritten This includes rescheduling the traditional understanding as to members obtaining November/December Christmas Party to then holding Vehicle Club Permits. This is now a Bylaw, and has similar requirements still be held outdoors, potentially at to other Clubs that offer Vehicle Club Brimbank Park, in the NW’ern suburb fringe of Melbourne. There is shelter there Permit(s) to their members.

The position providing governance on this is Membership, thank you Erica for driving this, with assistance from other Committee (position) members and knowledgeable Club Members as noted in this months reports.

Please look at the Members’ Section of the Website for trip changes, and also get involved with our other emerging area of Facebook.

Till Later, Stay Safe

Mark Tyssen President

President@subaru4wdvic.com.au

ISSUE: 484 (Sept-Oct 2021) Club Committee President:

Mark Tyssen

president@subaru4wdvic.com.au Vice President & FWDV Delegate:

Contents TRIP & SOCIAL (CALENDAR)

P9-11

MEET A MEMBER

P13-16

TRIP & SOCIAL (SPOTLIGHT)

P19-21

CLUB PERMIT SCHEME (BY-LAW) P22-P24

TECHNICAL REVIEW SERIES FWDV OCT E-NEWS

P25-31

P34-P36

Tim Folliard

vice-president@subaru4wdvic.com.au Secretary:

Martin Foot

secretary@subaru4wdvic.com.au Treasurer:

Angela Bombardieri treasurer@subaru4wdvic.com.au Membership:

Erica Auld

members@subaru4wdvic.com.au Trip & Social:

Tim Folliard

events@subaru4wdvic.com.au Venue coordinator:

Mark Tyssen

venue@subaru4wdvic.com.au Editor:

Next Club General Meeting Tue 26th Oct, 7:45pm via Zoom

(see email for zoom details)

Daniel Ho editor@subaru4wdvic.com.au Community Manager:

Peter Kakalias

community@subaru4wdvic.com.au Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. c/- 24 Hill Street Hawthorn VIC 3122

Committee Member:

Nicholas Leask

Vice-President’s Report As I write this, Victoria has just had it's highest daily number of Covid cases which isn't a great record to hold. But the number of vaccinations is steadily approaching the levels to remove restrictions so there is some hope that by November the restrictions preventing travel for recreation will be lifted. It is still unclear if this will allow the Cup Weekend trip to proceed but by the time you read this a decision may have already been made.

Unlike trips run before this lockdown, it is unlikely we will be in a zero case state. So restrictions will still apply on group numbers

for the foreseeable future on trips, meetings and social events. These rules will future restrict those who have not been double dosed vaccinated so if you have booked for a trip but find you may not be able to meet the current level of restrictions at the time of the trip, you should consider cancelling your booking for the trip.

Hopefully the likelihood of snap State border closures will pass so more touring trips can be finally scheduled.

Tim Folliard Vice-President

vice-president@subaru4wdvic.com.au

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SECRETARY’S REPORT The Committee, at its meeting on 5 October, approved the draft Club Vehicle Permit Policy prepared by Membership Officer Erica Auld. The Policy was enacted as a By-Law of the club and as such, is binding on all members.

The Policy sets out the way in which the club will implement VicRoads’ Club Permit Scheme into the future. It allows for appointment of a Club Permit Administrator to implement the policy and monitor its use. Erica Auld has been appointed to that role. It also allows for the appointment of Scrutineers / Safety Officers as required by VicRoads. Currently Martin Foot and Tim Folliard are in these roles, however, David Wilson has kindly volunteered his services and this appointment will be formalised with VicRoads shortly.

The policy establishes new guidelines for members wishing to participate in the scheme. These include the process for application and on-going obligations of members.

The entire updated Constitution, including this By-Law, can be access via the link below: https://bit.ly/3vc0FCO The By-Law can be found in this edition of the Magazine.

For further information, contact Erica: members@subaru4wdvic.com.au

Martin Foot Secretary

secretary@subaru4wdvic.com.au

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EDITOR’S NOTE With Victoria seemingly on track for the Covid reopening roadmap, it looks like we will once again be able to venture back into the great outdoors in November. As the new Editor for the Club’s magazine, I have been tasked to create a fresh new look for the magazine as well as increase the level of content within.

This is your magazine. I am only the person tasked with compiling it. With us allowed “back into the wild” shortly, I look forward to any trip ideas you may have. I would love to share with the other members details of your outings.

Also please feel free to get in contact with me about any topics you would like the magazine to cover in future editions.

On a related note, the Club will be trialling a bi-monthly magazine arrangement, with a Club newsletter for the months between Magazine issues.

See you on the tracks!

Daniel Ho Magazine Editor

editor@subaru4wdvic.com.au

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Considerations All Wheel Drive and High Range 4WD. Novice Drivers

Mainly High range 4WD but Low range required. Some 4WD experience recommended.

Significant Low range 4WD with standard 4WD ground clearance.

Should have 4WD driver training.

Low range 4WD with High ground clearance.

Experienced Drivers

Mostly unsealed Expected terrain roads with no and track conditions obstacles and minor gradients.

Tracks with some steep and/or rocky/slippery/sandy sections. May have shallow water crossings.

Tracks with frequent steep and/or rocky/slippery/sandy sections. Possible water crossings.

Tracks with frequent very steep and/or rocky/slippery/sandy sections. May have difficult river crossings.

Suitable for medium clearance vehicles with dual range and all terrain or road tyres.

Suitable for medium to high clearance vehicles with dual range and all terrain tyres.

Suitable for high clearance vehicles with dual range and tyres suitable for the terrain. (Mud Terrain tyres).

Overall Description

Vehicle suitability

All wheel Drive and High Range 4WD. Can be low clearance with single range and road tyres.

Recovery equipment Winch / Recovery required. equipment required.

Recovery equipment

Driver Training / Experience

Drivers with extensive experience Recommended that Recommended for and advanced drivers have drivers with training should only experience or 4WD reasonable attempt as there are Suitable for novice training. experience or 4WD several technical drivers.

Recommended to be training. To be done challenges. done in groups of in groups of Recommended to be vehicles. vehicles. done in groups of four or more vehicles.

Weather

May be difficult in wet conditions.

Will be more difficult in wet conditions.

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Will be more difficult in wet conditions.

Will be more difficult in wet conditions.

Sadly, the Club's 45th Anniversary had to be postponed due to Covid restrictions surrounding the number of people permitted in gatherings. The Club will now look to organise an event in early 2022 to allow increased numbers to attend the event. More details will follow.

With Covid restrictions looking to be eased shortly, plans for getting out and about are again afoot. Below is a list of trips currently on the Trip and Social calendar. There are more trips with later dates taking early bookings and additional trips will be added once travel restrictions are lifted.

As always, if you have a trip idea, please advise so the committee can approve and post for bookings.

Please note that trips may be postponed or cancelled due to extreme weather (fire risk) or Public Health restrictions at short notice.

Full details for each of the events can be found on the Proposed Trip section on the Club’s website. https://www.subaru4wdvic.com.au/index.php/proposed-trips

UPCOMING TRIP

DATE

LEADER (S)

Little Desert/Mt Arapiles Cup Weekend (Full)*

30 Oct – 2 Nov’21

Tim Folliard

Off road practice at Ballarat 4WD Club's test tracks (Smythesdale)*

13 Nov’21

Dan Ho

Heathcote

3 Dec – 5 Dec’21

Stewart Southam

Post Christmas High Country Trip

27 Dec’21 – 2 Jan’22

David Wilson

Big River/Mt Terrible (Almost Full)

29 Jan – 30 Jan’21

Tim Folliard

DIFFICULTY

* Please note that these trips 1) Will only go ahead if Covid restrictions permit 2) Due to the numbers involved on the trip, they fall under the gathering limits for double dosed vaccinated persons. Consequently, if you have booked for a trip but find you may not be able to meet the current restriction requirements at the time of the trip, you should consider cancelling your booking for the trip.

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The Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. recommends that each vehicle carry the following items or equipment on every trip.

Personal details form (as specified by 4WDV) ❑ One copy to the trip leader; One copy in vehicle

Minimum of a basic recovery kit ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Two rated D- Shackles (minimum 3.2t) Rated Snatch strap / Kinetic rope Bridal strap / Equaliser strap (*important for Subaru vehicles) Accessible recovery points for both front and rear A shovel

Safety equipment ❑ UHF (477Mhz) Radio (Club convoy channel is CH16). Ideally an in car mounted radio, but hand-held are ok provided sufficient battery(s) to last the trip.

❑ Fire extinguisher, accessible to the driver ❑ Basic first aid kit

Spares and tools ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

A tyre pressure gauge and air compressor Spare tyre (full size & same size as the other 4 tyres) Jack and wheel brace, or equivalent A suitable tool kit for your vehicle Sufficient fuel, oil and water for the trip, accounting for delays Spare parts (appropriate to the nature of the trip) Your vehicle manual Emergency supplies (matches, food, water and clothing)

?

Unsure or have questions regarding the items above

Contact the Trip and Social Coordinator or the Trip Leader -10-

TRIP BEING RESCHEDULED

ESTIMATED DATE

LEADER(S)

Social Bike Ride

TBA

Mark Tyssen

Cobaw SF - Exploratory trip

TBA (likely weekday)

Dan Ho

Explore Anglesea

TBA (likely weekday)

Dan Ho

PLANNED TRIP

DATE

LEADER(S)

Pie Run to Jindabyne Bakery (and surrounds)

11 Mar – 15 Mar’22

Peter Kakalias

Visiting the Limestone Coast in SA

25 Mar – 29 Mar’22

Dan Ho

Northern Flinders Ranges Touring trip

15 May – 28 May’22

Martin Foot

Cameron Corner

7 Oct – 22 Oct’22

Peter Kakalias

NW Cape / Port Hedland

24 Mar – 26 May’23

Stewart Southam

Sand Dunes Play – Portland

TBA

Dan Ho

(Confirming existing bookings prior to opening new bookings)

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DIFFICULTY N/A

DIFFICULTY

Contact Peter Devine (S4WDCVic Member) Prices negotiable Email: peterdevine1947@gmail.com Previously used with a SG Forester Mobile: 0402378604 (please leave a message)

RoadLessTravelled Engine & Auto Bash Plates 6mm alloy plates (the transmission plate requires a new mounting bracket for fitting)

Various other items • •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Clear Plastic Cargo area mat Fawn coloured pull out (and spring retractable) luggage cover for rear cargo area Jack, handle and wheel nut remover Subaru fuel additive 250ml Air compressor Petrol jerry can 1 x Front axle (second hand) 1 x Rear axle (second hand) 1x top radiator hose (never used) 1 x bottom radiator hose (never used) 1 x Timing belt (never used) 1 x Drive (“Fan”) Belt (never used) 1 x Front Wheel Bearing (never used) 1 x Rear Wheel Bearing (never used)

BF Goodrich – LT215/70/R16 AT -

4 on alloy wheels, 8mm tread 1 on steel wheel, never usd

Charles Hobbs joined the Club a few months ago. I had a chat with him to find out what motivated him into 4-wheel-driving, and why he decided on a Subaru.

Q: Charles, what got you into 4-wheel-driving A: My family and friends are into 4-wheeldriving. When I got my care, I wanted one that can take me to the places I want to go and capable of keeping up with my family and friends.

Q: Why a Subaru Forester?

A: Cost. I can only afford to own and run one car (at this stage), thus having a regular daily drive and a 4x4 toy wasn’t an option for me. The capabilities of modified Foresters I saw on YouTube convinced me that if I do the same, I will have a daily drive vehicle that is capable in keeping up with the bigger 4x4s.

Q: What kind of 4x4s do your friends and family drive, and what sort of driving do you plan to do in your Forester?

A: Various, including a modified Nissan Patrol and a Land Rover Discovery 2.

Thus, my car needs to be able to keep up on difficult tracks.

Charles is currently a 1st year university student, studying Automotive Engineering at RMIT in the city. Having a reliable daily drive was therefore critical. He enjoys his driving on-road and off-road, thus was not interested in a “full on” off-roader that, as we all know, typically “sway like a boat” when driven on the road due to their off-road suspension setups. His choice of a SG Forester XT does fit his requirements of his daily drive and as a “fun to drive” vehicle on-road nicely -13-

Charles also works in his family’s business, JTX Lighting. JTX Lighting specialises in automotive headlight conversions for older style vehicles. They do LED and HDR conversions. Needless to say, Charles will be utilising the family trade for lighting improvements on his Forester.

Having grown up in a family with automotive roots, it was no surprise that Charles did not hesitate to explore how he could improve his Forester’s offroad capability. Charles took inspiration from Mitre at the YouTube Channel Ignition Off Road who also has a modified SG Forester.

Charles ordered from ADS their “The All Terrain 144” dual range gearbox and their 12kg Viscous Coupling for the centre differential.

Q: Charles, what have you done on your Forester to date?

A: I installed a 2” SLO lift kit, changed the tyres to AT tyres, and most importantly, installed an ADS dual range gearbox with a front LSD differential and a centre VCD. Q: An ADS dual range with LSD differential, that is not a step that many people take. Why did you decide to do that?

A: It was the best value for money approach for me. The new gearbox gives me a proper low range, and the LSD will help with tractions on my front wheels.

All Drive Subaru (ADS) is a NSW based company that specialises in Subaru drivetrain modifications.

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Aluminium bash plates for Subaru Made from 6.0 mm construction grade aluminium.

Available for all Subaru models Prices start from $350; Fitting services available

*10% discount for Subaru Club members. https://www.facebook.com/RoadLess-travelled-Underbody-protection2031531407115915

Call David on 0429 942 724

Charles’s XT did not come factory fitted with a dual range gearbox. The ADS dual range gearbox not only “just” provides Charles’s Forester with dual range, but equipped the car with a low range ratio of 1.447 that is 21% better than the standard Subaru low range. This coupled with the higher load rating viscous coupling differential (VCD) allows Charles’s car to transfer higher torque to the wheels at the low speeds typical in four-wheel-driving.

On terrain where one of the front wheels loses traction, the Limited Slip Differential (LSD) in the front differential should transfer the power from the wheel that is spinning to the wheel that has more grip. This should allow Charles’s Forester to continue to transfer power onto the wheels with grip to drive the vehicle forward.

In terms of cost, like a true automotive engineer, Charles has kept meticulous records of his spending.

To date, including installation, the modifications have costed approximately $8,000. Charles estimates that this is at least $17,000 less than the cost of his alternative option, which was to buy a 2nd dedicated 4x4 and modifying that vehicle.

Having completed this phase of modifications, Charles is keen to test the capabilities of his Forester on the tracks. While he is considering other modifications, he wants to benchmark the car’s performance first before deciding on the priorities of future improvements including a rear differential locker, an off-road front bar, a winch, and snorkel.

Unfortunately, off-the-shelf off-road modification options for Subaru are typically limited. In Charles’ case, there are no ready to fit rear differential locker that fits his car. There are however rumours that a front differential locker made by ARB for the Nissan Navara can be refitted as a rear differential for his model of Forester. It will be interesting to see what solution Charles ends up implementing in his Forester.

When you see Charles on a trip, don’t be a stranger and be sure to say hello. Don’t forget to ask him about his modified Forester.

16

PHOTO COMPETITION With lockdown easing, we are looking forward to restarting the annual photo competition again in 2022.

The Categories are: •Best Portrait (photo of a person) •Best group photo •Best landscape/nature scene •Best close-up nature shot (Flower, animal, etc.)

•Best Subaru action shot •Funniest photo

!

So Don’t forget to keep the camera handy

The Conditions for entry are 1) The photograph must have been taken within the last two years; 2) Taken by the person entering the photo; 3) Taken at a club event.

4) A limit of one photo per person, per category.

5) Any photographs that have won a prize previously are not eligible.

Entries should be emailed to: photocomp@subaru4wdvic.com.au

With the outlook for 2022 being one filled with less frequent and shorter lockdown periods, meaning more opportunities to get out, Bev Davison, the Club’s resources coordinator is planning to order another production run of Club branded merchandise.

These include polo shirts, vests, jackets, beanies, and caps

Get in touch with Bev for more details

Resources Coordinator:

Bev Davison

resources@subaru4wdvic.com.au

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TRIP & SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT (UPCOMING) POST XMAS TRIP IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, 2021

Overview As with previous Post Xmas trips, this trip will be a stationary camp trip. Basecamp to be located in the Tom Groggin area, located 60km West of Jindabyne and 302km NNE of Bairnsdale. David Wilson, our resident high country expert is the Organiser and main Trip Leader for this trip.

The plan is to run day trips venturing out from Basecamp. It is envisaged that trips of different difficulties will be organised to cater for all the members of the group. The locations for the day trips will also be weather and fire danger dependent.

Approach into Basecamp The Tom Groggin area is accessible by 2WD vehicles. The track from the Tom Groggin area into camp is expected to be caravans and camper-trailers friendly (TBC). Members who plan to tow in caravans/camper-trailers should be mindful in planning their route to the Tom Goggin area, so not to end up venturing onto difficult 4WD tracks or narrow windy roads where caravans and trailers are prohibited.

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Alternative route to rendezvous at Tom Groggin Those more adventurous should consider joining David Wilson on a cross country adventure into Tom Groggin. This is envisaged to involve a 4WD trip over 2 nights, departing from Bairnsdale. The route will go through Nuninyong Plains, traveling past Moscow Villa Hut and via Hell's Gate to the Basecamp.

The appeal of this route to Basecamp is that it goes through the Nuninyong Plains, which is a classic part of the Victoria High Country where wild brumby still roam (for now).

Please be aware that this route takes in a number of tracks and water crossings that are rated as “Difficult”. As with every 4WD track, the difficulties of the terrain can also drastically increase due to weather.

While David, our High Country expert, will vary the route to suite the conditions, the expectation is that those who elect to come along on this alternative route to Basecamp will be suitably skilled and equipped to tackle the difficult terrain involved.

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Day trip options There are a multitude of day trip options from the Tom Groggin area, raging from easy sightseeing trips to tackling challenging 4WD tracks.

Davies Plain Hut

The following destinations have been suggested • Buckwong Creek hut • Drive along the Davies Plain track • The Poplars camping area on the Murray River Tom Groggin is only an hour away from Jindabyne also makes it possible to explore the more “refined” things in life the region has to offer, ranging from the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery to award winning pies from Sundance Bakehouse in Jindabyne. The Mt Kosciusko summit is also easily accessible.

Mt Kosciuszko Summit

The trip is open for registration via the Club’s webpage.

The Poplars

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Davies Plain Track

By-Law 3: Club Vehicle Permit Policy PREAMBLE: The Purposes of the club are set out in Rule 2 of the Constitution. Rule 2(a) states “To provide a forum for participation and co-operation in activities associated with ownership and operation of four wheel drive vehicles.” With this in mind, Committee enacted this By-Law in September 2021 under Rule 79 of the club Constitution. It takes the form of a policy to govern the application and use of the club registration scheme that includes aspects of regulation and compliance.

NB: In accordance with Rule 79(e), should there be discovered to be any disparity between the Rules and this By-law, the Rules shall take precedence.

1. Club Permit Scheme Purpose and Overview This policy has been developed to establish guidelines for the Subaru Club of Victoria Inc. (S4WDCV) regarding the operation of the club permit scheme.

The club is interested in preserving good examples of early models and continuing to allow them to be driven under the permit scheme. We like seeing club permit vehicles at our meetings and events being used as intended.

2. Underlying Principles and Coverage This policy is in addition to other policies of the Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. and is to be read in context with the Rules of Association and any other By-Laws currently in place.

3. Ownership and Updates The club Committee is accountable for approving all matters related to this policy.

The Committee shall appoint members as a Club Permit Administrator and Scrutineers /Safety Officers according to VicRoads regulations. The Club Permit Administrator is responsible for monitoring the obligations under the permit scheme.

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4. Scope This policy applies to the application for club permits and conditions under which they will be granted as well as the ongoing obligations of members who obtain permits.

5. Guidelines a.

Eligibility to apply • Must have been a financial member for more at least six months and remain so whilst holding a permit; • Must be an active member of the club: • Must attend at least two events per year in person with the vehicle; • This can include one monthly club meeting. b.

Application Process • Members must contact the Club Permit Administrator who will nominate a Scrutineer to arrange timing of vehicle inspection prior to obtaining a Roadworthy Certificate. The vehicle inspection is to occur at a location and timing convenient to the Scrutineer. The member may have to travel to have the vehicle inspected.

• Once a Roadworthy Certificate is obtained, the Scrutineer must inspect the vehicle and take pictures: • A view of the front of the vehicle; • A view of the rear of the vehicle; • A view of the driver’s side of the vehicle; • A view of the driving position (side on with the driver’s door open).

• Photos of any identifiers, such as chassis number and engine number.

• The Scrutineer must forward the photos of the vehicle to the Club Permit Administrator for filing in the club database.

• Once the Member obtains Club Registration from VicRoads, notify the Club Permit Administrator of the registration number and expiry date. c.

Ongoing obligations • Members must attend at least 2 events per year with the vehicle in question, one of which can be a club meeting.

• The vehicle must be inspected once a year, including examination of the log book.

• Members must notify the club immediately if the vehicle is sold.

• The member must maintain financial membership of the club (NB: Rule 12b states that “A member shall not be deemed un-financial until his fees are one (1) month in arrears”).

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6. Policy breaches Breaches of this policy include but are not limited to: • •

Failure to follow Vic Roads guidelines; Lack of attendance at events.

a. Reporting breach If any member notices that use of the vehicle contravenes club permit scheme requirements, the circumstances should be reported immediately to the Club Permit Administrator. (See section 3, “Ownership and Updates”.) b. Investigation Alleged breaches of this club registration policy shall be investigated by the Club Permit Administrator and escalated to the Committee if necessary. c. Disciplinary process, consequences and appeals Breaches of this policy may be dealt with by the Committee in accordance with the disciplinary procedures as set out in Division 2 of the club Rules.

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“Most ‘softroaders’ don’t meet our criteria for legitimate bush-travel vehicles” - Outback Travel Australia But is this true? Or simply a bias out of date opinion? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of Soft Roaders and the capabilities needed for tackling off-road terrain in Australia to find out.

What are Soft Roaders?

Here we’ll exclude vehicles that are classified as “SUV”s that also belong to the category of 4x4s because 4x4 vehicles such as the Toyota Hilux and Prado also fall under the SUV banner, whereas Soft Roaders are typically understood to be vehicles with AWD or 4WD capabilities and designed with on-road capabilities as the forethought but marketed to have a level of offroad capabilities.

The Soft Roader segment has a huge diversity in range and offering, from a Honda CR-V to a Land Rover Discovery Sport. Needless to say, this diversity extends to their true off-road capabilities.

Soft Roaders offered by various mainstream vehicle manufacturers Land Rover o Range Rover Velar o Range Rover Evoque o Discovery Sport

Kia o Sorento o Seltos o Sportage

Honda o CR-V o HR-V

Jeep o Compass o Cherokee

Toyota o Kluger o RV4 o C-HR o Yaris Cross

Skoda o Kodiaq o Karoq

VW o o o o

T-Roc Tiguan Touareg Amarok

Subaru o Forester o Outback o XV

Subaru arguably pioneered the modern Soft Roader segment. The first Subaru to have a 4WD system was the Subaru 1300G, released in 1971 and was based on the FWD Subaru 1000 sedan. Since then the majority of the Subaru range have been offered with 4WD/AWD capabilities as an option. All Subaru vehicles sold in Australia for the past 2.5 decades, apart from the coupe BRZ, have been equipped with AWD/4WD. In this article, we will only focus on the current range of Subaru vehicles marketed with off-road capabilities.

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What makes a vehicle off-road capable?

Let’s examine the key parameters typically used to evaluate the off-road credibility of a vehicle.

Ground Clearance Firstly, for clarity, it should be noted that “Ground Clearance” as published by some manufacturers is not always the accepted interpretation of the maximum height of an obstacle on the road that the vehicle can drive over without hitting the obstacle.

Many manufacturers quote “RUNNING CLEARANCE “ as their Ground Clearance definition, which is defined as the distance from the surface on which an unladen vehicle is standing to the lowest point on the vehicle excluding unsprung mass. This excludes items such as the live axle.

GROUND CLEARANCE is technically defined as the minimum distance to the ground from the under side of a vehicle excluding its tyres, wheels, wheel hubs, brake backing plates and flexible mudguards or mudflaps.

Why is there a difference? It is primarily due to a play on words by marketing divisions of some 4WD manufacturers to make their product sound more superior. The Toyota Hilux is a classic example.

The Ground Clearance of a Toyota Hilux is claimed to be 286mm. However, the distance between the bottom of the differential and the ground is only 216mm. Thus a Hilux will run aground if the rock or log protrudes higher than 216mm.

In this article, any ground clearance figures and comparisons will be based on the common interpretation of Ground Clearance, being the maximum height of an obstacle an unladen vehicle can drive over without hitting the obstacle.

Approach Angle, Departure Angle, Break Over Angle Definition as per the Australian Motor Vehicle Standards (Road Vehicles) Determination 2017 approach angle means the smallest angle, in a side view, between level ground and a straight line tangent to the front tyre and touching the front of the vehicle. breakover angle means the supplement of the largest angle, in a side view, that can be formed by two lines tangent to the front and rear tyres and intersecting at a point on the underside of the vehicle.

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departure angle means the smallest angle, in a side view, between level ground and a straight line tangent to the rear tyre and touching the rear of the vehicle.

Why do these angles matter for an off-roading vehicle?

A large approach angle = helps the vehicle’s front wheels to straddle over large obstacles easier and before the front bumper bar hits that obstacle. This is extremely important when driving on terrain with large rocks.

A large departure angle = helps to prevent the rear bumper bar hitting the ground or the large obstacle as the vehicle departs. This particularly concerns situations as the rear wheel clears a large obstacle.

A good break over angle = prevents the middle of the vehicle from grounding out, resulting in the vehicle being caught up as it creases over the peak of obstacles such as spoon drains and earth mounts.

Gear ratio Sufficiently low gear ratios are needed to allow the vehicle to travel at very slow speeds while transferring sufficient torque to the driving wheels.

This is important in off-roading, particularly when traversing difficult terrain.

A vehicle without the proper gear ratios either will be unable to overcome the obstacles, or requires speed and momentum to overcome the obstacle which increases the risk of vehicle damage and the chances of accidents.

For this reason, traditionally 4x4 vehicles are typically equipped with a two speed transfer case (Hi-Lo range), which effectively doubles the number of gear ratios available.

Wheel size Larger wheels improve a vehicle’s ability to overcome larger obstacles because of two main reasons.

1) Their greater rolling circles enable them to roll over rather than need to “climb over” large obstacles.

2) They raise the suspension and drivetrain higher off the ground, preventing them from dragging in the dirt when the vehicle is travelling with the wheels in deep wheel ruts.

Wading depth and air intake locations The wading depth is the maximum depth of still water, that a vehicle can safely ford. Obviously, this is an important parameter when off-roading involves creek, river, and bog hole crossings. The location of the air intake is also vital in preventing water ingress into the engine.

Suspension articulation A wheel can only provide traction if it is touching the ground. Consequently, the ability of a suspension system in keeping wheels on the ground in undulating terrain is highly priced in the 4WD community.

Transfer of power to the wheel with traction When on low grip terrain, it is important that the 4WD system is able to transfer power to the wheel with traction. In traditional 4x4, this is achieved through the use of lockable differentials.

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How do Soft Roaders compare against “proper 4x4?”

To start with, let’s acknowledge that a Soft Roader is never as capable as a 4x4 vehicle specifically designed for off-road use. No matter how hard Land Rover tried, they never managed to use the Land Rover Freelander (a Soft Roader) in the Camel Trophy successfully. All Camel Trophy events where the Freelander was used had a convoy of Land Rover Defenders as support.

That said, how do modern Soft Roaders compare against established “proper” 4x4 vehicles?

Let’s compare the list of Soft Roaders against the recommendations of Practical Motoring.

RANGE ROVER VELAR SUBARU FORESTER SUBARU XV TOYOTA RV4 VW TOUAREG SUBARU OUTBACK DISCOVERY SPORT RANGE ROVER EVOQUE TOYOTA KLUGER HONDA CR-V VW AMAROK SKODA KODIAQ VW TIGUAN JEEP COMPASS KIA SORENTO KIA SELTOS SKODA KAROQ KIA SPORTAGE VW T-ROC TOYOTA YARIS CROSS HONDA HR-V JEEP CHEROKEE TOYOTA C-HR

Ground Clearance in mm (as per OEM Spec) 251 220 220 218 215 213 212 210 200 198 192 190 190 186 185 177 172 163 161 160 158 154 150

So, in an ideal world you’ll want a 4WD with a good level of ground clearance, at least 220mm, good approach, departure and ramp over angles and decent articulation, or the ability to keep your 4WD’s wheels on the ground for longer when travelling across uneven terrain.

-Practical Motoring It isn’t hard to understand why the 4x4 community has views such as “most softroaders have only modest off-pavement ability -Motortrend”, when the simple criteria of having “good ground clearance” eliminates all but three of the Soft Roaders offered by Land Rover, Toyota, Honda, Kia, Jeep, Skoda, VW, and Subaru. Jeep’s Trailhawk versions of Compass and Cherokee have been excluded, as they are vastly different to the standard models, with significant modifications made by the factory to make them off-road capable (raised suspension, different bodywork, and modified drivetrain).

How do these three vehicles fare against the remaining criteria? Before we examine approach, departure, and break over/ramp over angles, we need to first define what constitutes “good”.

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What constitute “good” approach, departure, and break over/ramp over angles?

The benchmark for “good” approach, departure, and break over angles can be determined using the figures from several popular 4x4 vehicles with established credentials as being excellent offroad vehicles.

Soft-Roaders, by definition, are vehicles designed with their on-road characteristics being a higher priority than their off-road capabilities. These characteristics include everything from better road handling, to improved aerodynamics for better fuel economies. It therefore should come as no surprise that the approach angle for all three shortlisted Soft-Roader candidates ranked the lowest in the Approach Angle category. This was to be expected, given the shape of the front of a vehicle contributes significantly to Fuel economy the aerodynamics of the Approach Angle (Deg) (L/100km) vehicle. In improving LAND ROVER DEFENDER 38 21.3 aerodynamics, the Soft LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 34 11.3 Roaders have longer TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 300 32 14.5 “noses” on the front, which FORD RANGER 30.9 11.9 are detrimental to good TOYOTA PRADO 30.4 12.4 approach angles.

FORD EVEREST 29.5 11.9 TOYOTA HILUX 29 13.1 Of the vehicles compared, MAZDA BT-50 28.2 13 the Subaru XV had the RANGE ROVER VELAR 27.5 10.8 worst approach angle but SUBARU FORESTER 22.9 9.3 the best fuel economy.

SUBARU XV 18 8.8 The Subaru XV and the Range Rover Velar Departure Angle (Deg) both ranked high in departure angle. While LAND ROVER DEFENDER 40 both Subarus ranked the lowest in break-over RANGE ROVER VELAR 30.2 angle, the Subaru XV was only a fraction less LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 30 than the Toyota Land Cruise 300.

SUBARU XV 29 MAZDA BT-50 26.4 How do gear ratios compare?

TOYOTA HILUX 26 Modern Soft-Roaders are no longer equipped FORD RANGER 25.5 with a dual range transfer case. The Range FORD EVEREST 25 Rover Velar uses an automatic gearbox with 8 SUBARU FORESTER 24.6 forward gears; The Subaru XV and Forester TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 300 24 are equipped with a CVT transmission.

TOYOTA PRADO 23.5 The logic is that these new transmissions, Break-Over Angle (Deg) when combined with a modern torque Land Rover Defender 28 converter, will be able to achieve similar gear Land Rover Discovery 27.5 ratio outcomes as traditional manual gearboxes Toyota Hilux 25 coupled with two speed transfer cases. To ANGE OVER ELAR R R V 24.9 examine the validity of this assumption, let’s Ford Ranger 24.2 review the gearing ratios of a 2005-2015 Mazda BT-50 23.9 Toyota Hilux.

Ford Everest 21.5 On first gear, with the transfer case set to low Toyota Prado 21.1 range, a diesel manual 2005-2015 Toyota Hilux Toyota Land Cruiser 300 21 has a final drive ratio of 39.5:1.

Subaru XV 19.7 Subaru Forester

18.2

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Final drive ratio This is approximately 2.7 times that of the Subaru in 1st gear Forester and 2.36 times that of the Range Rover Velar.

2005-2015 Toyota To combat this gulf in drive ratio, the Soft-Roaders 39.50 Hilux, LO range Rely on the torque converter to distribute the torque Range Rover Velar 15.21 to the drivetrain. This allows the engine in the vehicle Subaru Forester 13.32 to operate at the speed needed to generate the Subaru XV 14.04 required torque. In transferring the torque generated to the drivetrain, the torque converter accommodates the differences in rotation speeds between the engine and the driveshaft and dissipate that difference as heat energy into the transmission fluid. If this additional heat in the transmission fluid is not efficiently dissipated, the fluid can overheat which shortens its serviceable life, potentially resulting in damage to the transmission.

Land Rover Defender Land Rover Discovery Ford Ranger Ford Everest Mazda BT-50 the Nissan Leaf Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Toyota Prado Toyota Hilux ANGE R ROVER VELAR Subaru Forester Subaru XV

Wading depth (mm) 900 900 800 800 800 700 700 700 700 600 500 500

What about wading depth and air intake location?

Wading depth is more associated with vehicle design than whether a vehicle is a hardcore 4x4 vehicle or not.

In fact, the Nissan Leaf has the same rated wading depth as a Toyota Land Cruiser.

As far as the Subaru Forester and XV are concerned, limit in their fording ability is more associated with their vehicle weight than the location of their air intake or electronics. A Subaru Forester has a GVM of 2,223kg, which is 232kg less than the 2,455kg kerb weight of a Land Cruiser. The laws of physics dictates that the lighter Subaru will start to float at a water depth only slightly deeper than 500mm. TheRange Rover Velar has a GVM of 2,670kg compared to the Land Rover Defender’s GVM of 3,200kg. The Land Rover Velar shows a similar reduction in wading depth.

Subaru vehicles are further hampered in their wading ability by the location of their air-intakes. To improve fuel economy, Subaru designed their vehicles’ air intake to draw in cold air from the front of the vehicle. However, this positioning of the air intake also increases the probability of water being sucked into the engine during water crossings.

Air intake on a Subaru Forester

Air intake on a Subaru XV

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What do all these mean for taking a Subaru off-road?

Simply put, while the Subaru Forester and XV, and to a lesser extent, the Subaru Outback are some of the most capable Soft Roaders on the market today, as stock vehicles they have their limitations.

A Subaru XV, for example, with its poor approach angle of 18 is likely to suffer front bumper bar impacts. In the photo shown, the vehicle was unable to clear the ridges on the exit of a mud hole, resulting in impacts at the locations shown by the arrows and deformation of the front bumper.

The lack of a proper two speed transfer case, limited to smaller diameter tyres, and the position of the air intake all conspire against a modern Subaru vehicle’s off-road credibility.

Almost all softroaders were never designed with even mild rockhopping in mind - Outback Travel Australia So, to answer the original question posed at the start of this article, the perception by the 4x4 community that Soft Roaders are incapable of venturing off gravel roads is not necessarily a misguided bias opinion. On balance, the vast majority of Soft Roaders are simply not designed for use beyond gravel roads.

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It is certainly also true that Subaru vehicles, despite being some of the most off-road capable Soft Roaders on the market, potentially more capable than the likes of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, are not in the same league as dedicated 4x4 vehicles such as the Land Rover Defender.

However, their excellent AWD and traction control system, good departure and

break-over angles, and low overall vehicle weight all combine to give Subaru vehicles the ability to venture far beyond the asphalt.

In the next part of this Technical Review Series, we will look into how the modern Subaru’s AWD system overcomes many of the deficiencies associated with Soft Roaders as well as legal modifications available that significantly enhance Subaru vehicles’ off-road capabilities.

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Written by Daniel Ho, PhD, BE, BSc

Send the details to the Editor and we’ll put it in the next edition of the magazine.

Contact the Editor on editor@subaru4wdvic.com.au

Membership The Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. has three different classes of membership: [1] Single $85 (Seniors card $80); [2] Family / Joint $95 (Seniors Card $90) [3] Life $50 (awarded on merit, minimum 10 years service) Membership fees are due for renewal on 31 May each year, for the following financial year.

Please note an initial joining fee of $30 applies for Family / Joint or $15 for Single.

All annual fees include FWDV affiliation and trip insurance: $30.00 (subject to review by FWDV in 2021-22).

A trip fee of $15 per adult non-member applies (for insurance purposes).

NB: Persons joining during the year pay a pro-rata fee - contact the Membership Officer for details.

If you would like more information about the Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc., please contact our Membership Officer, email: members@subaru4wdvic.com.au or write to: Membership Officer Subaru 4WD Club of Victoria Inc. c/- 24 Hill Street Hawthorn VIC 3122 Membership application forms can be downloaded from our website

https://www.subaru4wdvic.com.au/index.php/membership

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eNews Direct To Members This ENews is a new format that Four Wheel Drive Victoria will be sending on a monthly basis or as needed, directly to your Inbox. As a member of Four Wheel Drive Victoria you will have the option to OPT OUT if you do not want this communication from us. If you do not opt out you will continue to receive these emails. You can opt out at any time.

The latest news from Four Wheel Drive Victoria October 2021 Regional Reps Meeting October 2021 At the start of the month a meeting was held with all Regional Reps and was also attended by Gail Wright, Program and Relationship Manager, and Kylie Trott, Executive Director Operations, from Parks Victoria also Richard Wadsworth, Statewide Recreation and Tourism Coordinator, from DELWP and Michael Brown from Aurecon Australia. The meeting was a great success with updates from around the state shared by our Regional Reps and information on projects from both Parks Victoria and DELWP shared amongst the group.

An important update given from Parks Victoria was the current state of the Wombat State Forest which has an enormous number of trees down and still considered a safety hazard to have volunteers working and assisting the cleanup. Photos of the damage caused by the storm can be seen in the article linked below. Due to the large amount of damage and risk of further trees falling as well as hangars in tree the clean up is a slow process and Four Wheel Drive Victoria will update our clubs when the situation improves.

Four Wheel Drive Victoria AGM 2021 Four Wheel Drive Victoria is pleased to announce that the AGM for 2021 will be held on the 15th of November 2021. Club Executives and Delegates will receive the Notice of Meeting next week with further details.

National 4x4 Show Due to the everchanging situation with Covid-19 unfortunately the National 4x4 Show which was slated to be run in November this year after being postponed previously will be cancelled for 2021. The show will run again in August 2022.

Four Wheel Drive Victoria Social Media Did you know Four Wheel Drive Victoria has both a public Facebook and Instagram page? Both pages are updated almost daily and contain plenty of useful information that may be missed otherwise. Links to both sites are included below this article.

It is also recommended to like, comment and share all our posts as doing so will help Four Wheel Drive Victoria have a greater exposure on these sites to those who do not currently follow these social media channels.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/4WDVictoria/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/four_wheel_drive_victoria/?hl=en

Four Wheel Drive Lifeblood Challenge We’d like to give a huge vote of thanks to all those who have joined the Four Wheel Drive Victoria Blood Challenge. We’ve had a fantastic response with 68 donations as of 13 th of October. There are continuing donors who have been donating for years, lapsed donors returning, and new donors all join in. And we want to welcome so many more.

It is so easy. Register and book an appointment to donate.

Also sign up to Team Four Wheel Drive Victoria and note your club for the Challenge at the same time. Every time you donate, your donation will be added to the tally of either your club or Four Wheel Drive Victoria.

It’s an hour out of your day to make such a huge difference in the lives of other people. And it’s good for you. You get a free mini health check-up, it is good for your body, you feel good for helping others, and you get some pretty good munchies afterwards.

And for this Challenge, we have some very good tokens of thanks to hand out at the end. And a huge vote of thanks for the generosity of our sponsors who have provided these. And we continue to add to these.

Please get involved. Four wheel drivers are renowned for rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in when help is needed. This is an on-going need that has such an incredible impact on the whole community. There is no substitute, no alternative, no replacement. Donors are life.

Stay tuned for an update on the tallies coming soon.

Thank you one and all.

Dave Roberts Four Wheel Drive Victoria Board, Toyota 4WD Club of Victoria

Traditional Owner Four Wheel Drive Training Throughout lockdown Four Wheel Drive Victoria has been able to get a permit to travel to regional Victoria and undertake training for the GLaWAC Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners. This training is one of many steps to further build and strengthen ties between Traditional Owners around the state and Four Wheel Drive Victoria.

Volunteer Hours Has your club been involved with assistance in the Gippsland area to help cleanup after the recent storm and wind event? Please record and send through your volunteer hours to Four Wheel Drive Victoria so we can record them. Feel free to include a write up of your club’s undertakings with high res photos and we can share the story and promote your club at the same time through our various media outlets.

Thank you to the clubs who have lent a hand so far. Your efforts are no doubt greatly appreciated.

If you need a copy of the Volunteer Data Sheet or to send one in please email projects@fwdvictoria.org.au

Closed Facebook Group Just a reminder that we have a great Members only Facebook Group.

To keep up with what your Association, Clubs and Members are up to just find us on Facebook and submit your request. Make sure you answer the questions and you will be easily accepted. https://www.facebook.com/groups/193808978161976/?ref=bookmarks

Update on “Bushwalkers and 4wders Collaborate” Please note the event from the article “Bushwalkers and 4wders Collaborate” that was posted in the September edition of Trackwatch has been postponed due to Covid-19 and will now run from Friday the 25th of March 2022 until Monday the 28th of March 2022

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