4x4 Magazine - April 2014

DIRTY, WET, COLD, SMELLY, FULL OF MUD… WE LOVE IT TOTAL

OFF-ROAD

A1 RADICAL VIT

LIVE FRONT AXLE • TWIN TRANNIES • HYBRID PROPS

WELSH XTREM: As mental as it gets

WORKSHOP: Installing an ARB Air-Locker

ADVENTURE: Europe’s only Buddhist state

APRIL 2014

£3.99 04

KENT ROADBOOK: TAKE SOME WD40…

Cover Apr WITH SARAH.indd 1

9 772051 973008

www.toronline.co.uk An Assignment Media publication 11/3/14 12:13:17

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

ISSUE 140

APRIL 2014

CONTENTS

36

FEATURES

36

44

Live-axled Vitara

Richard ‘Vitara Mad’ Fox has built loads of Suzukis, but his latest is something very special indeed. How does a bobtailed, Discoaxled Vit with twin transfer cases grab you?

44

YJ with a difference

The rules say you don’t use Jeeps for expeditions. They say you don’t do serious off-roading in vehicles with shiny airbrushed paintwork. They says TJs are better than YJs. They say Rob Spicer’s truck shouldn’t exist, basically.

Well, what do they know, anyway…?

6

Welsh Xtrem

How was Nobby Morgan supposed to improve on last year’s first Welsh Xtrem? By moving the event to Walters Arena and making it more mental than ever. That’s how…

32

Back in the day

We know you’re not fans of shiny SUVs, but the Touareg we tested 10 years ago was an exception. It wasn’t a soft-roader – and by the time we were done, it was definitely not shiny…

52

Russian adventure

One of those travel stories that make you want to get up and do it yourself, as a group of Euro travellers explore the deserts, mountains, towns and cities of the Russian Caucasus

60

Our 4x4s update

Our Land Cruiser is currently sat in a hospital bed waiting for a diff rebuild kit to come from America. So since we can’t do anything with it this month, we’re going to update you on how it’s been working out so far

6

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72 Air-Locker fitting

Installing an ARB is the sort of job even a seasoned mechanic might think twice about. You’ll need a few special tools and the skills to use them, but we’re here to reassure you that if you follow the manufacturer’s own instructions, the job’s not beyond you

72

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TRavEL • TRaInIn g PLaYdaYS • cLUbS 4x4 SPEcIaLISTS • EvEnTS caLEnd aR

ExcLUSIvE waLL-T O-waLL InfO

52

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Subscribe to Total Off-Road for a year at the knock-down rate of £30 – AND get a FREE copy of the 2014 Off-Road Yearbook thrown in! That’s a huge saving PLUS a bonus 144-page compendium of off-road goodness!

66

FRE EM '%&) AG !

4x4 driving off-r

OFF-ROAD

60

4 6

Kidd’s Column

We’ve always prided ourselves on limiting the Ed to one page. Until now…

Welsh lessons

The new man in the TOR office heads Waleswards to see what it’s all about from Bob Harris, main man at the long-established All-Terrain Services off-road school

66

Off-Road Scene

An extraordinary variety of subjects as the season gets underway, pressure cranks up again on green lanes and 4x4 drivers muck in to help with flood relief in Somerset. But there’s only one story that matters this month – and it’s a desperately sad one

20 24

Off-Road Calendar

If your 4x4 is of the hibernating variety, it’s time to dust it off…

Products

Sometimes, the products in here are glammy and a bit useless. Most often, they’re the sort of thing you only knew you needed if you’re properly into it. This month, there’s a whole lot of the latter

96

78 Roadbook We thought long and hard before deciding not to go out on the lanes this month. Instead, while we wait for Britain to dry out, here’s a new roadbook in East Kent that we made from sections of old ones dating as far back as 2003 TOTAL OFF-ROAD

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29

Next Month

Further evidence as to why the magazine you’re holding in your hands right now is everything you’ll ever need to read about in the world of off-roading

96

Total Chaos

After last month’s mass drownings, this month we’re glorying in the fate of people whose 4x4s end up… drowned, mainly. Well, have you looked outside recently? Just in case, anyway, there’s a roll and a steering bar calamity in here too to keep you happy

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12/3/14 00:19:29

Alan Kidd Founding Editor

I

t seems to be relentless at the moment.

If it’s not in the Peak District, it’s in Essex.

If it’s not in Essex, it’s in Wales. If it’s not somewhere specific, it’s everywhere.

Maybe it’s just because we’ve all got our radar switched to maximum sensitivity, but the attacks on our rights of way seem to be coming from all directions at the moment. The ignorance of some of our enemies is shocking – but one of the things that’s most worrying is the way blind prejudice towards 4x4 users seems to be starting to become acceptable.

Equally, those in power have now started using the argument that since there’s no money to maintain the lanes, it’s okay to just shut them for good instead, as if the childlike logic in that statement gives it some sort of moral worth.

The subject has come up a few times on TV recently. In my neck of the woods, the Midlands, the BBC did an article in its Inside Out programme about the Peak District, where consensus and respect have given way to a state of open war on motor vehicle rights.

I’ll choose my words carefully about the BBC’s coverage, but I doubt anyone fresh to the subject would have come away with much understanding of how things truly are. You’d think the lanes are awash with bikes and 4x4s, whereas as we all know even a popular byway often won’t see any vehicles at all from one day to the next. You’d think the antis are all timid, well-spoken country gentlefolk being terrorised by noisy louts, too. Those who were interviewed on Inside Out did an excellent job of disguising the bigotry, greed and dishonesty that characterises so much of what comes from their side.

It would be very interesting if the BBC did an article about responsible, lawabiding 4x4 drivers being harassed, sworn at, bullied, obstructed and threatened while trying to enjoy the countryside.

After all, that would be a story about

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people getting away with breaking the law, which is surely more pressing than one about people just going about their business while others want to stop them.

All this scrutiny on green laning, not to mention the many different policies being pursued in different parts of the country (often as a result of one just individual happening to get a job in a position of power), bears out something I’ve believed for a long time. Rather than leaving the issue to local authorities, the Government should set up a Rights of Way Agency tasked with managing the whole network on a national basis.

We’ve heard a lot over the last decade or so about government ‘tsars’ being appointed to tackle various social problems. ‘Tsar’ just means ‘head of department’ in this case, really, but the concept does send out a message that they’ve put someone in there to sort things out.

A rights of way tsar sounds a lot less sexy than something like a drugs tsar, or an education tsar, or whatever else gets most column inches in the papers, but I do believe there would be a strong case for it. When the government consulted the public on its current Deregulation Bill, it was startled by the amount of responses on the subject of rights of way. This is in part down to pressure groups rallying members to send in letters en masse, but the point still stands – rights of way is a serious issue of genuine significance to many people.

As I say, I’ve felt for a long time that there should be a national rights of way agency with a tsar at its head. Needless to say, I also think the tsar should be me.

Some of my oldest and closest friends are involved in politics (real politics, not the kind that go on in Westminster) and I have no illusions at all that I’d ever stand a chance of getting such a job even if it did exist. But in much the same way that

a women’s rights tsar would obviously have to be a woman, or the chair of the Commission on Racial Equality has to be from an ethnic minority, it would be entirely appropriate for a rights of way tsar to be from the user group most commonly discriminated against, both by local governmental action and by other users. Which, of course, is us.

So, without any fear of it ever becoming relevant to anything, here’s my manifesto for motor vehicle management under a national rights of way agency: 1) Require motorised users to obtain annual vehicle permits to use the rights of way network. Permits would be free of charge, but only issued to applicants who confirm that they understand their responsibilities as motorised users. Use of rights of way without a permit would become a criminal offence.

2) Establish local satellite agencies with executive power (and accountability) allowing them to close any right of way in their area on an emergency basis when conditions require.

3) Reclassify all Restricted Byways as Byways Open to All Traffic, subject to the same management policies as all other motorised rights of way.

4) Ban vehicular use during night hours on all rights of way passing close to residential properties.

5) Impose speed limits for bikes and 4x4s using rights of way.

6) Make better use of managed and supervised access on problem rights of way, for example with TROs relaxed once a month for use by warden-led convoys.

7) End the reliance on historical use to determine status. Move instead to recent and current use, in the context of the right of way’s physical suitability for recreational motor vehicles.

8) Place limits on the size and aggression level of tyres permitted on vulnerable rights of way.

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I’ve felt for a long time that there should be a national rights of way agency with a ‘tsar’ at its head.

Needless to say, I also think the tsar should be me

OFF-ROAD TOTAL

Tel: 01283 553243 Email: tor@assignment-media.co.uk Web: www.toronline.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/totaloffroad Founding Editor Alan Kidd Assistant Editor Mike Trott Brand Manager Peter Lowe Production Editor Olly Sack Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Paul Looe, Robbie Ronson, Danny Croall, Dan Fenn, Mariusz Reweda Photographers Harry Hamm, Vic Peel, Steve Taylor, Iwona Kozlowiec Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Production Sarah Kidd Tel: 01283 553242 Subscriptions Manager Catherine Martin

9) Take action against individuals who drive irresponsibly on rights of way, through the use of ASBOs/CBOs and criminal prosecution.

10) Take action against individuals who harass or obstruct rights of way users, through the use of ASBOs/CBOs and criminal prosecution.

11) Address rights of way whose status changes at county border crossings, with a presumption towards upgrading where ground conditions are appropriate.

12) Erect signs at the start of every right of way and unmetalled road, making it 100% clear who may and may not use it.

You might be surprised by some of that, but we all know there has to be give and take (unlike many antis, not to mention the criminal off-road element, who just want to take.) But I firmly believe that there’s nothing in it that any responsible 4x4 or trail bike user should be afraid of.

Equally, there’s nothing in it that any responsible person concerned about damage and/or nuisance by irresponsible motor vehicle use should be afraid of. It’s a manifesto for peaceful co-existence: there are slags on both sides, and all I have for them is a cold shoulder.

As I said, this is all hypothetical. I think that if a rights of way agency did exist, though, these policies would improve

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things for the good guys on both sides and help kick out the bad ones.

Clearly, if a rights of way tsar were ever to be appointed, those who currently hate us would pull out every trick in the book to hijack the process. If I (or anyone else from a pro-vehicle background) was in the running, they’d have private detectives on our case to see what they could turn up to discredit us. They’d want the job going to someone who’d be a hammer of the lanes.

To go back to something I touched on earlier, that would be like appointing a militant neo-nazi to chair the Commission on Racial Equality. But I think we all know it would be far more likely to happen.

I do believe that Britain’s rights of way need to be managed by a central agency, and it seems to me that the Government is coming round to the idea that the subject does needs to be addressed at a national level. A determined move forward on this by those elected to run the country would be a great opportunity to help all users to enjoy the countryside together.

It would, of course, also be seen as an opportunity by those motivated by bigotry, ignorance, prejudice, hate and greed. Whatever happens, as always that remains the battle we face every time we take to the wonderful rights of way which, in Britain, it is our privilege to enjoy.

Subscriptions Assistants Lucy Williams, Yasmin Clews, Kay Tunnicliffe Head of Operations Jackie Lowe Publisher and Head of Marketing Sarah Kidd Email: sarah.kidd@assignment-media.co.uk To subscribe to Total Off-Road, or renew your subscription, call 01283 742970 Current prices for 12 issues: UK £39 (24 issues £74), Europe Airmail/ROW Surface £45, ROW Airmail £59 Distributed by Comag, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel: 01895 444055 Every effort is made to ensure that the contents of Total Off-Road are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor the consequences of actions made as a result of these When responding to any advert in Total Off-Road, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers’ probity, but will not be liable for loss or damage incurred as a result of responding to adverts Where a photo credit includes the note ‘CC-BY-SA’, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence: details at www.creativecommons.org Total Off-Road is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House G5-6, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

© Assignment Media Ltd, 2014

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And they’re off !

WORDS: MIKE TROTT PICTURES: STEVE TAYLOR

Last year, the Welsh Xtrem came from nowhere to become one of the blue riband fixtures on the hardcore challenge calendar.

The second running of the event saw it move to a familiar site – and the result was familiar, too 6 | APRIL 2014

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T

he second weekend in March saw the return of the Welsh Xtrem after its hugely successful first running in 2013. It also signalled the true start of the competition season, being the first major national event on the calendar for the year, after being moved forward from last year’s date at the end of May. The mastermind behind the Welsh Xtrem is Nobby Morgan, a guy who is dead focused on raising its profile to compete with the biggest events in the business. And what better way to state those intentions than by moving it to Walters Arena – the venue also knows for hosting King of the Valleys.

Judging by how well the event ran, the minor tweaks Nobby made to its format seem to have paid off very well. The conditions and location for such a showcase were judged by many competitors as perfect, which is a credit to the organisation and work put in by Nobby and his team since last year.

Many of the UK’s most highly rated and experienced drivers took part in this year’s competition. And it was a familiar name who came out on top in the prologue, with Nick and Chris Bolt claiming pole position in their Toyota Land Cruiser. Nick was involved in last year’s action, though then he was co-piloting for eventual winner Jerry Hunt. He has a long history of driving too, though, and with his new Land Cruiser at last ready for action after a false start before last year’s King of the Valleys Qualifier he was no doubt pleased to be back behind the wheel.

But nothing ever goes completely according to plan. Going into Saturday, Nick and Chris were at the top of the leader board, having clocked the fastest time in the prologue and finished fifth across the three night stages, and they set off with a view to extending their overall lead.

Chris Lerwill and Jordan Davies were breathing down their necks in their Discovery buggy, with Challenger 4x4’s Paul Bass and Andy Pearce back in third about their highly-modded Defender.

Unfortunately for Nick and Chris, their truck had other ideas than to further their progress.

Toyotas don’t break down easily, but when the team’s 24v alternator failed it was enough to force them into retirement.

Meanwhile, some familiar names had made quiet starts but were slowly advancing towards the business end of the field – including reigning Weksh Xtrem champion Jerry Hunt.

With last year’s co-driver Nick Bolt now driving, Jerry replaced him with a man making the transition in the other direction – none other than Jim Marsden, who certainly knows his winches but is much more commonly seen with someone else handling them.

Representing Team Gigglepin-Maxxis, these two carried the weight of expectation on their shoulders throughout the weekend. And with such a high calibre of individuals operating together, you would expect to see a result.

However, despite the talent on boad, their ‘Suzota’ special could only manage 2nd place.

The weekend belonged to another Gigglepinpowered combo with a formidable history of

results at the top of the challenge scene – Allen Sharp and Ben Turpie, in their 100” Sharp Special. It’s worth noting that the top six placed vehicles all had Gigglepin winches fitted, in fact, surely a statement of these units’ fitness for purpose in high-end challenge use.

Starting Saturday’s schedule in sixth place, Team Sharp needed a good set of results to overhaul the leaders – and that’s exactly what they achieved. Despite having to replace a broken CV joint on Saturday morning, by the time they’d finished their mandatory lunch break and started cracking on in the woods instead, the Sharp Special was making good progress through the punches.

In 2013, Ben Turpie played the role of codriver to James Trembath – finishing 3rd overall.

But according to Allen, he was only ever on loan. ‘Ben has always been with me right from the start. Everything we’ve entered in, we have always gone really well – I’d definitely struggle to find another Ben. I do have a temper and not everyone could put up with me! Last year

he was co-driving for someone else, and occasionally it’s good to go and do that, but Ben is one in a million.’

The two of them certainly work well together.

Allen has been on the competition scene for six years now, and he’s spent most of them winning things. If they keep notching up victories like this, the pair of them will need to have built extensions for their trophy cabinets by the time they retire from the circuit.

For their 1st prize, Allen and Ben received a twin-motor Gigglepin top housing, along with an Odyssey battery and entry into the Rainforest Challenge in Portugal at the end of November – where they’ll team up once again as they look to continue their conquest of the off-road competition scene.

‘The Rainforest Challenge later this year will be a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ said Allen.

‘It could open a great many doors for us, and I hope it does.’

Top: Ben Turpie got third place last year as part of James Trembath’s team, but this year he was back with regular driver Allen Sharp aboard the latter’s 100” special – enough to propel him up the rankings as the all-conquering duo took first place Below: Nick and Chris Bolt made the early running aboard their Devon 4x4 Land Cruiser after setting a blistering pace in the prelude, but a failed 24-volt alternator ended up putting them out of the event

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Above: Jim Marsden is much better known as a driver, but with his Land Rover currently undergoing a major rebuild he proved he’s a top-notch winch man too.

Co-driving to the sort of level Jerry Hunt competes at is a demanding task, but second place overall showed how well he was up to it. In their ‘Suzota’ buggy, Jerry and Jim were beaten only by the dream team of Allen Sharp and Ben Turpie, who have been competing together at the top of the sport for several years

So was the victor impressed with the event? Well, what do you think? ‘The Welsh Xtrem was absolutely fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and can’t wait for next year. I loved some of the short, quick sections and some of the punches were spot on, just insane really.

It’s called the Welsh Xtrem and it certainly lives up to its name.

‘On some stages I was thinking “where did you find all this terrain, Nobby?” I’ve never refused a punch in my life, but Nobby really did make us stop and think twice about doing some of them.

‘Nobby has really done himself proud.

He and his team have done a cracking job. It’s a really good mixture of difficulties,

and it caters for the next generation as well – which is important, because I’m sure I won’t be competing in 20 years’ time. Anyone who organises an event for charity deserves a pat on the back, and I know everyone has helped raise loads of money.

‘The Welsh Xtrem is already one of the toughest events on the calendar and with a couple of tweaks – and we’ve told Nobby what we think – it will be one of the events to win in the UK. Just so long as it stays as extreme as it is now and keeps evolving – because everybody’s trucks keep improving, guys like Nick Anderson, Jim Marsden and Chris Lerwill, and you don’t want them finished by lunchtime and twiddling their thumbs.’

True to the nature of a challenge mastermind, of course, Nobby has been one step ahead all along. And as the dust settles on only the second Welsh Xtrem, its instigator is already making plans for 2015.

‘I’m hoping to announce a date for next year soon,’ Nobby says. ‘The Welsh Xtrem will be at Walters Arena for 2015 and Maxxis has agreed to sponsor the event again.

‘The event was my idea, but everybody was a part of it and I mean everyone – the drivers, the caterers, the marshals. It just wouldn’t be fair to start naming people; there are too many people to thank. It was just mind-blowing, a complete emotional rollercoaster. It’s been a tough weekend, very tiring, and we’re all dead on our

Left: This stage ended up being scrapped by the organisers, but not before Axel Burmann had given everyone a demonstration of how to be a true off-road legend. ‘The most mental thing I’ve ever seen in the UK’ was our photographer’s assessment, but that didn’t stop the Belgian team from having a go at it on the way to 4th place overall

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feet now. I need to let go of control – the event is becoming too big.’

So will Nobby look to take a step back? ‘Never,’ he says, quickly quashing even the slightest possibility of such a thing happening. ‘I just want to oversee it all, so I am able to release control and have a team underneath me who can just get on with it so we make sure everything runs smoothly. We just have to keep improving all the time, because drivers and their vehicles improve all the time.

‘If you had a guy who last took part in a winch challenge in 2006 and he participated now, he

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organising or competing in the Welsh Xtrem wouldn’t have a clue. We have to adapt and was a winner. It may still be a couple of years it’s good to get the sport out there and get it before the event realises its full potential, but known. A lot of people don’t know enough that’s probably just because of the amount of about it and why we’re so passionate about it.’ potential it has. Is it going to become one of the As Allen said, Nobby organised the event as a way of raising money for charities in his local events to win? If you ask us, it already is. area. At the time of writing, more than £2000 had been 2014 Welsh Xtreme Results raised, with the beneficiaries being The Fields Twins Fund 1st Allen Sharp and Ben Turpie Sharp Special and Welsh Air Ambulance.

2nd Jerry Hunt and Jim Marsden Suzota In reality, every person who 3rd Chris Lerwill and Jordan Davies Disco Buggy was involved in watching,

july 2013 | 9

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LRS Off Road Find us at www.lrsoffroad.co.uk

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TRIBUTES PAID AFTER OFF-ROAD TRAGEDY

OFF-ROADERS IN NORTH WALES and throughout Britain have paid tribute to Gareth ‘Cruglas’ Roberts, who was killed in an accident on the night of Saturday 1 March.

Gareth, 30, was off-roading in his trayback Land Rover near Moel Famau, on the border of Flintshire and Denbighshire, when it rolled on treacherous ground. Despite a major rescue operation by the emergency services, which included the fire service being brought in to provide lighting in the remote location, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

North Wales Police told Total Off Road that the Land Rover was not on a right of way when the accident happened. No further details have been made available about the accident itself, however it has been reported that it rolled several times before coming to a rest. An inquest at North East Wales Coroner’s Court has been opened and adjourned, and is expected to report later this year.

News of the 30-year-old’s death was greeted by shock throughout the off-road community, with many taking to Facebook to pay tribute

to ‘a really good lad.’ Speaking to the local Daily Post, Ruthin County Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts said Gareth would be ‘a massive loss to the rural community and an even bigger loss to his family.’

Our picture shows Gareth trialling at Llansilin with the Muddy Millers, aboard the same Land Rover in which he lost his life.

Speaking on behalf of the Millers, Chair Leanne Davies said: ‘It’s such a shame that someone so nice and genuine can be taken away so soon in life. Everyone from the Muddy Millers would like to express their sadness to hear such terrible news. Our thoughts go out to Gareth’s family and friends, who have been struck by such sadness and loss from a sport that he enjoyed so much.’

In a tribute released by North Wales police, Gareth’s partner of nine years Louise Collister said: ‘He had the rare ability to bring a smile to everyone’s face as soon as he entered the room. He was my best friend, soulmate and love of my life.

Hard working, loving, caring, loyal, happy, trustworthy and would never let you down. Always in my heart and by my side forever.’

Gareth’s parents Dei and Edna Roberts added: ‘Gareth was a wonderful son, brother and friend.

We will miss his ray of sunshine and cheeky smile forever. He brought joy to all he met. It has been an honour to be his parents.’

The 4x4 community is united is sympathy for Gareth’s bereaved family and friends, as it mourns the tragic loss of one of its own.

THE VIKING 4X4 CLUB has announced its dates for this year’s LRS Challenge. Billed as the best-value motorsport available anywhere, this one-day winching series has been graced by several top-level competitors over the years.

One development from last year is the introduction of a four-class system to replace the previous three. Class 0, for entry-level road-legal vehicles, specifies a maximum 33” tyre size and +3” spring lift and prohibits aftermarket diff-locks, while 1, 2 and 3 limit tyre size to 37” and allow various levels of modification. Even in Class 3 (Unlimited), hydro-steer is allowed but portal axles, four-wheel steering and dually axles remain banned.

The club tends to treat each class as a separate championship, with no overall winners being announced, so there are three reigning champions: Roger Smith, Tom Marrion (pictured) and Duncan Smith in old 2014 LRS Challenge Classes 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Dan Hickling, meanwhile, managed to finish the season 10th in Class 3 and 3rd in Class 1, having changed vehicle halfway through – and with an ex-ORA 6 April Coney Green, Stourport on Severn Suzuki buggy as his ride for the forthcoming season, he’s guaranteed to be one to watch.

11 May Deep Scar, Kettering The LRS Championship has a great reputation, and having spawned some of the country’s 15 June Weekley Woods, Kettering top winching teams it remains a blue riband series in the UK calendar. Being based in the 6 July Lea Bridge, Matlock Midlands makes it accessible from all around the country, too – and with its new class 7 September Uplands Coppice, Bridgnorth structure, not to mention its high-value pricing, it’s absolutely perfect if you fancy having a 5 October Venue TBA go in a mainly standard vehicle. To find out more, visit www.viking4x4club.com.

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LRS Ba

LRS Off Road Call us on 01302 302 649

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THE ONLY BYWAY ISN’T ESSEX

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CONFUSION CONTINUES TO surround reports that Essex County Council is seeking to impose blanket winter closures on green lanes in Braintree District. After constituents raised concerns about driver behaviour in the wake of the wettest winter on record, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation Cllr Rodney Bass is understood to have sought ideas for a range of possible solutions – the most aggressive of which provoked an alarmed response by pro-4x4 groups.

Rumours about the council’s intentions, which spread quickly once the story broke, included a number of allegations which have now been removed from the

06/09/2013 13:10:16

internet forums on which they were made. This succeeded only in further confusing a situation about which even those closest to it who we spoke to were unclear.

We asked Essex CC for an official statement about its proposals for the rights of way in Braintree and elsewhere, but had not received this at the time of writing. Speaking off the record, however, council employees have told Total Off Road that a proposal to run seasonal closures as a pilot scheme was put forward but then withdrawn.

We understand that the council is willing to discuss alternatives to TROs with user groups, and that it would welcome opportunities to maintain rights of way through

LAST MONTH, WE told you about the UK off-road team raising money for charity through their entry in the 2014 Rhino Charge in Kenya – by, among other things, entering donors in a raffle to win a free holiday in Spain. Well, their efforts don’t stop there, because Kit Kaberry – the fundraiser extraordinaire behind the idea – is selling a collection of Universal Hobbies 1:18th scale Land Rovers to boost the team’s contribution to the conservation cause.

The full list of models is: • Defender 90 SW Driving Experience • Defender 90 Royal Mail • Defender 90 Dark Metallic Grey • Defender 90 Pickup Chewton White

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the use of volunteer labour. It is also clear, however, that any policy will be implemented in the face of acutely scarce funds.

Essex Local Access Forum told us it is still formulating its response and is not yet in a position to comment. It does, however, expect further developments in the very near future as the Council seeks to properly address the issue.

• Thames Valley Police is reported to have asked members of the public to report illegal off-roading after 4x4s vehicles ran amok in West Berkshire.

Local paper Get Reading reported that the force was alerted to two Land Rovers being driven across Bucklebury Common and adjoining

fields, and later on the banks of the River Pang in Hermitage.

According to the paper, West Berkshire Police commander Superintendent Robin Pickard said: ‘We would urge members of the public to report any incidents of this nature to us immediately, so that we can act on information at the earliest opportunity.’

There are several byways on Bucklebury Common and nearby, and it remains unclear whether the vehicles were off-roading illegally or simply driving on public rights of way. We contacted Thames Valley Police for clarification on this, and to ask whether any charges have been pressed following the incident, but have not received a reply.

• Defender 90 Norfolk Police • Defender 110 G4 Challenge • Defender 110 SW Alveston Red Some of these are collector’s items – the G4 110, for example, has previously fetched £200 at auction, with the Norfolk Police 90 making £100. So you’re looking at models for grown-ups here.

With those prices in mind, Kit is looking for £500 plus P&P for the lot. Get in touch with him by email at rangerover43@yahoo.co.uk and prepare to save the life of an endangered animal or two.

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LRS Off Road Call us on 01302 302 649

13:06:30

OFF-ROAD SCENE

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06/09/2013 13:10:16

L200 DRIVERS WADE IN TO HELP FLOOD VICTIMS

SOMETIMES A 4X4 can really make a difference, even with just a light on top. It’s been well documented that many people have been affected by the recent weather, especially in the south where so many have fallen victim to flooding – so it’s nice to hear about someone lending a hand when others can’t see their feet for water.

Neil Priddle, 31, is an After Sales Manager at Weston Super Mare Mitsubishi, and he figured it was

time to offer his assistance to help deal with the situation. So he did what he thought was best and used a Mitsubishi L200 as his chariot of rescue.

Living in Bridgwater himself, Neil aided people in the Somerset area by helping to fill sandbags – before using his truck to deliver them to fellow residents in desperate need of protection.

‘I just couldn’t sit back and watch anymore,’ he said. ‘My best friend lives out in Moorland and they lost

their house to the floods. They tried to stop the water but it came up through the floorboards.

‘I’ve been out in the dark, in the middle of nowhere, delivering sandbags. We couldn’t find one person’s house – I was on the phone to him and he spotted the light on top of the L200, so it’s ideal.’

Even if that roof-mounted light is the truck’s only modification, having the right tools for the job is always crucial. In this case, the L200 has been Neil’s Swiss Army knife.

And kudos to his boss, Glen Gilliam, for allowing him to use the truck when people needed it most.

But Neil hasn’t just made himself Domino’s next top delivery driver.

The riverside footpath between Burrow Bridge and Stathe is being reinforced with woodchips and he’s been assisting with this operation, too – while also managing his courier services of sandbags.

Neil provided protection to homeowners in Burrow Bridge, Moorland and North Newton during the weekends and evenings while the flooding was at its worst.

And it all came from simply contacting Flood on the Levels Action Group (FLAG) and grabbing the keys to the L200.

‘The clear-up will be horrible,’ he says, ‘so I’ll help with that too. I found the FLAG website and offered to help, and everyone has been brilliant. You go in as strangers and leave as friends; I’ve met so many great people there.

People are coming from all over the place just to help.’

MITSUBISHI’S OWN HQ has been helping the flood relief effort, too, by lending two L200s after Somerset County Council appealed for further vehicle support. Volunteer co-ordinators Tim Holmes and Stuart Smith, from Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG), will be operating the vehicles to continue their efforts in dealing with the devastation, after already assisting the Burrowbridge and Moorland areas.

Cllr David Fothergill, Local Member for Monkton and North Curry, said: ‘We’ve already helped source boats and amphibious vehicles to provide a lifeline to people in Somerset whose homes have been cut off by floods. These latest vehicles will make a real difference by enabling dedicated volunteers from FLAG to continue their excellent work, which includes taking vital supplies to the people who need them. FLAG has done a great job with limited resources, and we’re pleased to help them where we can. We would like to thank Mitsubishi for these brilliant vehicles.’

Heather Venn, Chair of FLAG, said: ‘I’m delighted these vehicles have been provided to help Tim and Stuart in their vital co-ordination roles. Both of them have worked tirelessly to support these communities since day one, and having the use of these vehicles will mean they are able to continue their excellent work helping the people who need them.’

‘We have all seen what the people in this area are going through,’ said Mitsubishi’s Dan Pigot, who arranged for the loan of the vehicles, ‘so we were more than happy to help in this way. The Mitsubishi L200s are the perfect vehicles to allow the excellent volunteers to continue doing their vital work in helping the people affected by the floods.’

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11/3/14 17:32:24

LRS Off Road Find us at www.lrsoffroad.co.uk

OFF-ROAD SCENE

LRS Banner (left).indd 1

06/09/2013 13:06:30

ANGLIAN ROC

LEAFERS ON TOP AT ROUNDHILL

Early-season trials action as one of the most welcoming Rover clubs defeats the winter rains to keep the show on the road WET CONDITIONS didn’t stop the Anglian Rover Owners Club from going ahead with its February trial at Roundhill Woods, near to Tring in Hertfordshire. After assessing the ground during the previous week, the club decided that the site was still viable for the event, as the surface is known for recovering quickly and is within a privately managed wood.

So on the last Saturday of the month, Chairman Martin Lewis

and RTV Rep Spencer Williamson prepared nine sections ready for the following day’s event. The next morning saw seven hardy souls line up for scrutineering for the RTV, and the same number again for the separate CCV event running alongside.

‘You never know who or how many competitors are going to turn up,’ said Spencer, ‘but what a nice combination we ended up with. One full bodied 90 and one

90 pick-up, a Suzuki Jimny, two 88s (a series IIA and a Series III) and two 90-inchers, one a Lightweight on a Range Rover chasiss and the other a Bowler style hybrid.

‘Under the bonnet, powerplants varied from a throaty V8 to a wheezy turbo-diesel, but all the vehicles shared a common element in that their drivers were pretty like-minded in both their approach and also their competence.

‘In the end, the scores they accumulated through the day meant that any one of them could

have won the results table, they were that evenly matched.’ As it turned out, Russ Beck won the RTV by a single point from Andy Milne, with a mere six separating James Hartley, Maurice Flanders and Ed Barnes at the top of the CCV. ‘As the event came to a close,’ said Spencer, ‘it was a pleasant surprise to see the two leafers come out in first and second places. So hooray for the veteran Series vehicles that demonstrated they can still hold their own in such style!’

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LRS Ba

LRS Off Road Find us at www.lrsoffroad.co.uk

OFF-ROAD SCENE

LRS Banner (left).indd 1

06/09/2013 13:06:30

DORSET LRC

RECORD TURNOUT IN DORSET

Rover club says no laning while it’s wet – but Crossways trial attracts more competitors than ever before

IT’S BEEN A DIFFICULT start to the season for some off-road clubs, with limited running and venues completely swallowed up by flood water. The Dorset Land Rover Club, for instance, imposed a voluntary moratorium on all green laning as part of its ‘Responsible Rural Recreation’ mantra.

The club’s second RTV of the year, on the other hand, saw a record number of drivers partcipating. No less than 23 in total turned up, all itching to make good use of the Crossways site near Moreton, halfway between Poole and Dorchester.

The ground conditions were still wet and very tricky, as you’d expect after such a wet winter.

So the course designers laid out a nice, gentle set of sections that wouldn’t add too much to the competitors’ woes, right? Wrong.

On the contrary, there were several occasions when numerous competitors exited the course on the end of tow-ropes and

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7pp Scene Apr READ-THROUGH.indd 16

winch cables. The site was a challenging blend of steeply undulating woodland and sandy surfaces from an old quarry area, which made it a clerk-of-the-course’s dream.

What initially looked like easy, sure-footed terrain turned out to be treacherous and deceptive, catching out driver after driver as the day went on.

Normally, the Dorset LRC runs an RTV event every month comprising Long-Wheelbase, Short-Wheelbase and Leaf-Sprung classes. Between these three, the Crossways event pulled in everything from a couple of original spec Series IIs through to a ‘customised’ Range Rover.

In the LWB class, Trevor Harmer claimed the honours in his Range Rover with five clears from ten sections. Martin Dover went one better with six clears in SWB, while Club Chairman Rog Pardy won Leaf-Sprung in his standard SII. What was especially pleasing for the club was that no fewer than five drivers were making their competitive debut at a DLRC trial. Bodes well for the future, as does the fact that all of them came through the event unscathed!

The Dorset LRC’s next event is an Open Driving Day at Matchams Leisure Park, near Ringwood, on 30 March, and its next RTV is scheduled for 27 April at Mannington. Want to know more?

It’s at at www.dorsetrover.co.uk.

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LRS Ba

LRS Off Road Find us at www.lrsoffroad.co.uk

OFF-ROAD SCENE

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06/09/2013 13:06:30

ARMCHAIR LANERS

CHOCOLATE AND CHAINSAWS

Fun and games as the Armchair Laners get tooled up for a big weekend away in Devon and Somerset

‘AS YOU CAN SEE,’ says Lee from the Armchair Laners, ‘our trips revolve around great food at all times.’ After last month’s weekend away in Devon and Somerset,

however, even he had to admit that while two days of a non-stop chocolate diet does sound great, you soon get fed up. Literally.

‘Farmer showed us how he had the biggest doorstep sandwich,’ continues Lee, ‘made fresh out the back of the truck by Grendle, his

chef for the day.’ Wow, these guys’ trips really DO revolve around great food, don’t they? Mind you, what self-respecting bunch of green laners would ever say anything else?

Above: It’s all about the scoff, really – even if eating your own body weight in chocolate ultimately turns out to be less fun than it sounds.

Farmer’s ultimate doorstep won max respect from all who witnessed it, at any rate. Oh, and if you want to know what several people spending their money with local businesses looks like, draw a ring around this picture and show it to the next hater that starts on you Right: Two important tools of the laning game. Up top, the bond-villain nav set-up that helped Einstein lead the weekend in style, and below it the chainsaws that cleared away fallen trees for the Armchair boys – and everyone else who comes after them, too

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LRS Off Road Call us on 01302 302 649

13:06:30

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Ah yes, the laning. Well, it was wet. As in ‘under water,’ at times.

But with Einstein navigating for the weekend (courtesy of so much electronic in-car trickery, even the original Einstein would surely have approved), they all got back to shore safe and sound. ‘A great job he did of it,’ confirms Lee. Talking of jobs well done, the Armchair crew helped fellow rights of way users of all flavours by putting in no small amount of

06/09/2013 13:10:16

chainsaw work over the course of the weekend, clearing the lanes of blockages caused by trees brought down by the winter’s weather. No doubt the many walkers, cyclists and horse riders whose path they cleared will make a mental note to say thanks next time they see a 4x4 on the lanes…

‘What a great weekend away,’ concludes Lee. ‘As always, fun and banter throughout.’ Fun, banter and, of course, food.

ISUZU HAS CONFIRMED that it will enter a works D-Max in this year’s Britpart MSA British Cross Country Championship. Driven by British Rally Championship veteran Jason Sharpe and co-piloted by his nephew Russell Sharpe, the vehicle is also scheduled to take part in several other FIA Rally Raids throughout Europe during the season.

Racing in Class 1 for standard production vehicles, the D-Max is fundamentally unchanged from the truck which last year sold a record 4112 units in the UK. It will run in class 1B, for vehicles with engines above 2500cc (or, as is the case here, smaller forced induction units).

MSA regulations for standard-class vehicles require safety essentials like a full cage and approved seats and fire exintguishers, but restrict a great deal in the way of performance-enhancing modifications. The works D-Max will be running custom Bilstein suspension, a Milltek race exhaust system and bespoke alloy work by Forge Motorsport, but little else about it has been changed.

In terms of tyres, technical partner Toyo Tyres is supplying its 245/75R16 Open Country All Terrain – as permitted by the BCCC’s list of approved tyres for this kind of event. For European rally raids, these will be changed for the more aggressive Open Country Mud Terrain.

‘We’re delighted to be part of Isuzu’s “blue-chip” technical team,’ commented Toyo UK’s Alan Meaker. ‘The D-Max has been prepared to an exceptionally high standard, and it’s clear that Isuzu UK are looking to score points from the truck’s very first outing. We’re looking forward to working closely with Jason and the team to get the perfect set-up and hopefully we will see some favourable results early on as the season unfolds.’

Having achieved worldwide attention thanks to the D-Max’s recent performances in the Dakar Rally, Isuzu aims to build the vehicle’s reputation as an off-road thoroughbred through this latest incursion into the world of competitive motorsport. The BCCC’s organisers are hopeful that this will be the first such entry from a major manufacturer as they seek to build the profile of the UK’s premier off-road racing series, which this year gets underway on 12-13 April at Pikes Peak and concludes on 25-26 October at Walters Arena.

FANCY A JOB? A job that involves being part of overland expeditions to places like Siberia, Mongolia and Africa? A job that involves rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars and other celebs? A job that involves sourcing and prepping vehicles for extreme expeditions?

Yes, we thought so. Max Adventure, which specialises in expedition, adventure and remote location work, is looking for a mechanic. It’s a part-time job for someone who already has access to a suitable workshop, ideally within a 40-mile radius of the company’s Reading base, but if that hasn’t just ruled you out they’d be very interested in hearing from you.

‘This position is for someone who has a love of adventure and can work as part of a tight-knit team in sometimes difficult conditions, on challenging and exciting overland expeditions,’ says Max Adventure. ‘This is not a full-time position and so would suit a mechanic in full employment, as the work could be undertaken during the evenings or at weekends.’

Having worked with Sir Ranulph Fiennes for the past 18 years, organised logistics for the largest ever medical research expedition on Everest and played a part in the first amphibious crossing of the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska, this is quite some employer. If you’re interested, contact them via mac@maxadventure.co.uk.

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Off-Road Calendar Playdays 23 March Avalanche Adventure Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

Devils Pit Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire Future 4x4 Avon Dassett, Warwickshire Slindon Safari Fontwell, West Sussex

29 March Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

30 March Cowm Leisure Whitworth, Lancashire

Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

6 April Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

Avalanche Adventure

UK Convoy Tours

Bala 4x4 Bala, Gwynedd

Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

22-23 March 2014

19 April 2014

4x4 Adventure Tours Mid-Wales

UK Landrover Events Northumberland

Onelife Adventure Wales

19-20 April 2014

Yorkshire 4x4 Specialists Yorkshire Wolds and Moors

1st Overland Mid Wales

23 March 2014

Yorkshire 4x4 Specialists Yorkshire Wolds and Moors

UK Landrover Events Durham Dales

20 April 2014

30 March 2014

UK Landrover Events Tynedale

UK Landrover Events Lake District

26-27 April 2014

12 April 2014

Atlas Overland Wessex

UK Landrover Events Eden District

27 April 2014

12-13 April 2014

4x4 Adventure Tours Salisbury Plain

Yorkshire 4x4 Specialists Lake District

UK Landrover Events East Yorkshire

Avalanche Adventure

Devils Pit Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire Dundry Off-Road Dundry, Bristol Muddy Bottom Minstead, Hampshire

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay, North Yorks

Picadilly Wood Bolney, West Sussex

13 April

20 April

Explore Off Road Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent Future 4x4 Avon Dassett, Warwickshire Mud Monsters East Grinstead, West Sussex

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay, North Yorks

26 April Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Kirton Off Road Centre

4x4 Without a Club

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Aldermaston, Berks

27 April

Boxgrove Chichester, West Sussex

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club

Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire Cowm Leisure Whitworth, Lancashire

Kirton Off Road Centre

Rayleigh, Essex

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Frickley 4x4

Slindon Safari Fontwell, West Sussex

Frickley, South Yorkshire

20 | april 2014

20-21 Calendar Apr AK 20

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Motorsport Events 5-6 April Mud Monsters Monster Race Series, Yarwell

Playdays and UK convoy tours are are listed up to the end of the month in which the mag goes off sale Overseas expeditions are listed up to a year ahead to help you book in advance Our motorsport listings are limited to bigger national and regional events, however we’re happy to promote all clubs in our Scene section. Either way, you can contact us at tor@assignment-media.co.uk

Overland Expeditions 6-19 April

1-19 July

22 Aug– 2 Sept

Atlas Overland Morocco

Venture 4x4 Iceland

Trailmasters Morocco

10-11 May

7-21 April

14-22 July

8-22 September

British Cross Country Champ’sp Sennybridge, Powys

Argan Tours Morocco

Argan Tours Corsica

Argan Tours Western Sahara

22-24 May

Waypoint Tours Sardinia

21-30 July

9-21 September

Waypoint Tours French and Italian Alps

Atlas Overland Portugal

22 July – 9 August

15-24 September

Venture 4x4 Iceland

Waypoint Tours Spanish Pyrenees

12-13 April British Cross Country Champ’sp Pikes Peak, Myherin, Ceredigion

King of the Glens Griffin Forest, Aberfeldy, Scotland

7-8 June British Cross Country Champ’sp Forrest Lodge, Dumfries and Galloway

5-6 July Mud Monsters Monster Race Series, Tixover

26-27 July British Cross Country Champ’sp Radnor, Powys

7-9 August King of the Valleys Walters Arena, Glyn-Neath

5-7 September De-Cider Trophy Venue TBA

13-14 September British Cross Country Champ’sp Ceri, Ceredigion

8-19 April Onelife Adventure Greece

21 April – 4 May Trailmasters Marrakesh, Morocco

12-22 May Atlas Overland Corsica

19-28 May Waypoint Tours Rural Portugal

21-31 May Atlas Overland Corsica

9-23 June Argan Tours Morocco

27-28 September

14 June – 6 July

Mud Monsters Monster Race Series, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Atlas Overland Arctic Circle

25 July – 5 August Onelife Adventure Iceland

26 July – 9 August Atlas Overland Alps

5-14 August Lost World Adventures Corsica

5-23 August Venture 4x4 Iceland

9-23 August Atlas Overland Alps

11-25 August Argan Tours Morocco

15-26 September Onelife Adventure Portugal

16-29 September Trailmasters Marrakesh, Morocco

23 Sept– 6 Oct Atlas Overland Morocco

5-18 October Trailmasters Draa Valley, Morocco

7-20 October Atlas Overland Morocco

13-17 October Argan Tours Morocco

16 June – 5 July

11-30 August

Waypoint Tours Romania

Waypoint Tours Botswana and Namibia fly-drive

25-26 October

23-27 June

18-29 August

24 October – 7 November

Mud Monsters Wooldridge Trophy, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Lost World Adventures Pyrenees East

Onelife Adventure Pyrenees

Trailmasters Atlantic Sahara, Morocco

25-26 October British Cross Country Champ’sp Walters Arena, Glyn-Neath

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

20-21 Calendar Apr AK 21

Waypoint Tours Anti Atlas and Sahara Desert

april 2014 | 21

11/3/14 16:38:20

Bearmach

have been a dedicated supplier of parts and accessories for the

legendary

Land Rover Marque

since

1958.

We are renowned for our Quality and the following explains a little of why we supply MANTEC equipment across the Globe.

Today MANTEC is an international Trade Mark representing specialist vehicle equipment designed, engineered and manufactured in the Midlands for Land Rover vehicles.

Originally specialising in Raised Air Intakes and genuine Land Rover Parts, the product range has grown to include Spare Wheel Carriers, Steering Guards, other Under Body Protection, Sand Tracks and Winch Bumpers.

The success of their growing range of specialist equipment is a testimony to the creativity and quality standards of Ian and Sandra Gough and their small hardworking team in North Warwickshire, England. Training employees in the automotive industry’s manufacturing procedures; through concept, design, prototype, sample production to ‘fit and function’ sign off, ensuring that customers receive an end product built to the correct specifications.

All MANTEC products are conceived, designed and engineered specifically for the off road work that Land Rovers are built for and as such the products have served all over the world in many different environments and in many different applications from private expeditions to Military and disaster relief.

MANTEC are proud to source materials and expertise from the best local suppliers guaranteeing the best quality for customers who can be assured that a MANTEC product is made in the UK. Check out http://bearmach.com/distributors.php for your local Bearmach Distributor.

Part Number

Application

Brand

BA 132M

Spare Wheel Carrier

Defender

Mantec

BA 132MK

Spare Wheel Carrier Alloy Kit

Defender

Mantec

Mantec’s legendary swing away wheel carrier removes the weight of the spare wheel from the door and transfers it to the chassis.

Opening in conjunction with the normal door operation using a patent piston design.

The swing-away is phosphate and powder coated providing a durable and great looking finish which carries a 3 year warranty.

(Vehicles with Alloy wheels require the BA 132MK alloy kit)

Parts and Accessories for all Land Rovers Head office: Bearmach Limited, Bearmach House, Unit 8, Pantglas Industrial Estate, Bedwas, Caerphilly, CF83 8GE, South Wales Tel: +44 (0)29 20 856550 Fax: +44 (0)29 20 865586 Email: bearmach@bearmach.com Web: www.bearmach.com

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This classic metal design is available for both left and right sides of the vehicle and for those fitted with a roll cage. Phosphate treated and powder coated.

3 year paint warranty Part Number

Mantec Number

Application

BA 2123M

113-RAIDEF

Defender

300Tdi Td5 2.4 Puma

Steel

Winch Bumper

Roof Bar Less weight can help reduce fuel consumption, the average weight of a full length roof rack is 40Kg. 3 Mantec roof bars have a combined weight of only 12.6Kg. Removable in minutes and easy to store when not in use.

The bars are phosphate and powder coated providing a good looking durable finish with a 3 year warranty.

Part Number

Mantec Number Application

BA 043M

610-RFBDEF

The latest design for WARN 9.5Ti has been designed, tested and certified and is an approved genuine Land Rover part.

Part Number BA 3093M A Bar Not Included

Mantec Number Application 510-WBMDEF

Defender

Defender

Part Number

Application

Brand

BA 109M

Side Protection Sills

Defender 90

Mantec

BA 110M

Side Protection Sills

Defender 110

Mantec

Designed with off-roading in mind the steel box section sills with jacking points offer more protection to your vehicle when driving off-road.

Finish is phosphate treatment and durable powder coat with a 3 year warranty) (Vehicles with Alloy wheels require the BA 132MK alloy kit)

Head office: Bearmach Limited, Bearmach House, Unit 8, Pantglas Industrial Estate, Bedwas, Caerphilly, CF83 8GE, South Wales Tel: +44 (0)29 20 856550 Fax: +44 (0)29 20 865586 Email: bearmach@bearmach.com Web: www.bearmach.com

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25/02/2014 09:00:41

HARDWARE

latest and best 4x4 parts, tools and more

djebel roof tents come to Britain djebel has launched a number of new options in its range of roof tents – and brought them to the UK, courtesy of importer Xtreme Sales.

All are made to the same material spec, which the company reckons won’t be beaten for a combination of quality and value.

The tents come with a 100% waterproof double roof, made from a 50:50 combination of polyester and cotton at a weight of 280gsm. The two layers are double-sealed to allow a free flow of air between the two canvas sections, thus combatting heat and humidity.

Bases are high-density foam lined to a depth of 60mm and all the openings have mosquito nets at the various openings. Both things that should count towards a good night’s sleep. The tents’ frames are made from 19mm and 16mm aluminium

tube, their covers are made from Ripstop 500d and their YKK zips and fastenings are all galvanised.

A one-year warranty, meanwhile, helps you sleep soundly even when you’re not in it.

performance filters for weber carbs webcon has introduced a new OE-style air filter housing and high-airflow element to suit Weber 32/36 DGV/ DGAV and 38DGAS/DGMS carburettors. This features a switchable hot/cold intake to help prevent icing, and has a snap-fit lid that can be removed without the need for tools.

The cotton/gauze filter element allows improved air flow and superior dust filtration – and, no small thing for what off-roaders get up to, it can be cleaned and reused rather than having to be replaced. You’ll pay £53.34 plus VAT for the full kit; head to www.webcon.co.uk to find out more.

• Webcon also now offers a complete service kit for a pair of Weber 38/40/45 DCOE carburettors. This comes with all the various components and information you’ll need to overhaul a pair of DCOE carburettors, including gaskets, seals, O-rings and needle valves.

The kit comes with a full parts identification guide to ensure you don’t slip up along the way. Thus armed, you should be able to successfully service all the numerous replaceable parts in both your vehicle’s carburettors.

Priced at £44.95 plus VAT, the kit is available directly from Webcon as well as from a dealer network around the world. For further details, you’ll find the company at www.webcon.co.uk.

24 | april 2014

3pp Products Apr ADS + READ-THRO24 24

As a guide to the tents’ pricing, the 180 T-Top model whose internal dimensions are 240 x 180 x 130cm costs £805 including VAT (the tent in the picture is the smaller 140 T-Top). Like all the company’s tents,

it’s designed to be compatible with any vehicle, and it can be installed on roof racks with its openings to the side, front or rear of the vehicle.

To find out more, check out the UK importer at www.xtremesales.co.uk.

120-amp alternator for 200tdi as the defender gets ever more complicated under the bonnet, and Land Rover moves towards replacing it with a vehicle most traditional owners assume will be even less DIY-friendly, rebuilding old ones is becoming more and more popular.

In particular, we’re hearing lots of praise for the 200Tdi – often described as the last truly owner-maintainable engine to come out of Solihull.

The 200 was discontinued twenty years ago now. It says something about the nature of Defenders from back in the early 90s that for one thing, most of them are still going strong – and, for another, that so many even older ones are now fitted with Tdi units which started life in early Discoverys.

That’s why Britpart’s new 200Tdi Alternator Upgrade Kit is available in two models. One is for Defenders

with the engine as original equipment, the other for those which have had one retro-fitted from a Discovery. The engine differed slightly from one to the other, so it’s necessary to get the right version.

In each case, you get a 120A alternator to replace the 45A original, which is much more like it whether you’re running lots of extra lights, a couple of electric winches or the sort of in-car entertainment and nav systems an old Defender simply wasn’t designed to support. Both kits cost £139, and you can find your local dealer at www.britpart.com.

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tor@assignment-media.co.uk

MORE ARB DIFF GUARDS DIFF GUARDS TAKE many forms, but ARB’s iron covers are getting more popular all the time. That won’t change any time soon, either, now that the company has launched another set – taking the number of models for which the units are available to more than twenty.

Fitted in just one hour, the covers provide protection against ‘almost any impact.’

As well as putting a layer of armour in front of the fragile diff gears, they also add to the rigidity of the whole axle case, increasing load strength and, says ARB, countering vibrations which can shorten the diff ’s lifespan.

The covers are powder and clear coated for a tough finish, and with most available in both red and black you can choose just how lairy you want to be. All are supplied complete with fitments, including tensile cap screws – which are recessed in the body of the cover to protect them against obstacles.

Prices range from £129.89 to £141.37, with fitments now available for a range of axles found on the Land Rover Defender, Ford Explorer and Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. The covers are available exclusively in the UK through Arbil 4x4 – visit www.arbil.co.uk/4x4 to find your nearest stockist.

Sunday 18 May 2014 Opens at 10am

Held in the grounds of the

r 1,000 stands, Includes entry to the Spring Autojumble with a furthe entire Beaulieu attraction hundreds of vehicles for sale, plus access to the

Beaulieu, Hampshire SO42 7ZN Exit 2, M27

www.springautojumble.co.uk 01590 612888

The latest generation of ARB Air-Lockers are to come with a five-year warranty.

More than double the length of the two-year warranty offered on the previous model, this will apply to all units with the new two-piece design installed after 1 July.

The new Air Lockers have forged gears to deliver an increase in load carrying capacity and strength. ‘When you combine ARB’s forged gears with their patented timed gear design,’ says Phil Rawlings of UK importer Arbil 4x4, ‘the resulting strength is amplified. Put simply, no matter when the Air Locker is activated, the gear teeth will always lock into positions that offer the greatest surface between them.’

The new Air-Lockers’ two-piece design removes the need for the smaller cylinder cap, and the air entry point is switched into the crownwheel side of the diff. This means the side gear can be locked directly into the flange cap and the locking ring can reside closer to the splined side gear, reducing locking and unlocking times.

Further good news is that among the latest applications to be added to the AirLocker range is one for the rear axle of the Land Rover Discovery 3. Prices start from £853 RRP (including VAT); find them at www.arbil.co.uk/4x4.

COLOURFUL COVERS… ALSO NEW FROM ARB is a range of covers for its Intensity Driving Lights. The important thing, obviously, is that these are available in clear, colour tinted and solid coloured finishes.

The covers are manufactured from moulded polycarbonate and hard-coated for scratch and UV resistance. As you’d expect from ARB kit, they promise to be able to endure the toughest conditions in the world.

Going back to the important stuff again, they’re available in clear, amber, blue, red and solid black.

The other important thing is that the covers have an RRP of £55 a pair. To find out more, visit www.arbil. co.uk/4x4.

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24-27 Products Apr AK.indd 25

APRIL 2014 | 25

12/3/14 22:00:45

HARDWARE

No-nonsense tops for utility pick-ups

AUTO STYLING TRUCKMAN has launched more models in its Utility Top range, which is aimed at industries such as construction, telecoms and utility providers. Sales of light commercial

vehicles grew by 19% in November last year, and Truckman has taken this as its cue to expand the fitments on offer to include a full range of the most popular vehicles.

This means the Utility Top is now available for the Mitsubishi L200 Double-Cab Long-Bed and Club-Cab, the Ford Ranger Double-Cab and Super-Cab and the Toyota Hi-Lux Double-Cab. A Single-Cab version for the Ranger will also be released later this year.

Made in Britain and designed specifically for working use, in Truckman’s words the Utility Top ‘creates vehicles with the storage capacity and security of a van.’ It’s big enough inside to let users instal tailor-made racking and storage systems, but it still keeps the vehicle’s overall height beneath two metres.

As well as a solid bulkhead and sandwich panel roof, the tops’ design includes large, double-skin side and rear doors. It even has a built-in electrical conduit for easy wiring, as well as a white gloss interior for effective wet cleaning.

Available direct or via specialist vehicle converters, the Utility Top costs from £2165 plus VAT. Not cheap, but this is a tool of the trade. To find out more, go to www.autostylinguk.co.uk.

TBR LAUNCHES RHINO-RACK LED LIGHTING KIT FOR EVERY OCCASION DRIVING IN the DARK IS EASY. Just switch on your headlights and happy days. But once the driving’s over and the camping’s begun, those same headlights probably don’t point in the right direction – especially if you’ve got an awning or similar apparatus hooked up to the side or back of your vehicle.

Australian company Rhino-Rack specialises in just such items, and its latest product is an all-inclusive LED set that’ll help you see your way around your camp site in just about any situation, whatever it is you drive.

Available in the UK through TBR Accessories, the kit includes four 50cm LED strip lights, each with its own on-off dimmer switch, as well as all

26 | april 2014

3pp Products Apr ADS + READ-THRO26 26

the connectors, leads, adaptors and so on you need to run them from your vehicle’s battery or 12v supply. The lights are dustproof, waterproof and impact-resistant, and their housings are magnetic so you can mount them on metal surfaces. No, not your Land Rover’s bodywork, we know, but the good news is that there are plenty of other ways to position them too.

With all four lights shining at full power, the kit puts out a mighty 2880 lumens of 5500k pure white light. That’ll light up a large area around your truck, but if you want them situated some way away from it in the first place you also get a 10-metre connector to power them with.

‘What’s great about LED lights,’ says TBR, ‘is that they produce minimal to no heat, are lightweight and can be mounted to many items.

And best of all, they attract less insects than any other traditional means of lighting.’

The whole shooting match comes in its own tailored carry case, and it’s hard to imagine any end to the outdoor situations in which the kit could come in handy. One to keep in the back of your truck as part of your permanent equipment list, for sure. It costs £209 including VAT for the whole kit, and you can find out more by visiting www.tbruk.com.

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11/3/14 15:53:23

more grinding for your money sealey tools has a new angle grinder for you. But this one comes with a difference.

The CP5418V Cordless Grinder uses lithiumion batteries, which the company says maintain a higher level of energy density with a flat discharge curve. In the version of English us normal people recognise, that means they last longe.

The grinder has a 115mm disc diameter and is powered by an 18v battery which is chargeable in one hour. It has an 800W motor spinning up to 7000rpm, and with a second battery included in the kit it should be enough to see you grinding away to your heart’s content.

The unit weighs in at 3.5kg, and a spindle lock allows for simplified disc

changing and easier adjustments of the guard.

RRP for the grinder is £199.95 plus VAT, but when did you ever see a power tool that wasn’t on sale with a tasty discount? Sure enough, Sealey’s Spring Promotion currently lists the CP5418V at £149.95, again plus the VAT, until 31 May. You’ll find this and other offers at your local stockist, on Sealey’s app or online at www.sealey.co.uk. Always good to grind out a deal, etc etc.

relief is at hand for legless discoverys it’s not uncommon for large 4x4s to be stricken by rust around the back of the chassis as they reach old age. The problem, of course, is that owners make the most of their vehicles’ outstanding towing ability to pull boats around – and after a lifetime of reversing trailers into the sea, the metalwork around their rear end goes crusty while the rest of the vehicle is still sound.

The Discovery 2 is a prime candidate for this kind of trouble. And it’s more of a headache than ever on this particular vehicle, because the rear shock mounts are formed as part of the chassis rather than being fixed on.

Good news, then, is that Britpart is now offering replacement rear chassis legs for the Disco 2. These are supplied ready to sleeve on to the stumps left at the back of the main rails when you’ve cut away the area that’s typically prone to rotting out, and of course come with all the standard mounting points already in place.

The price is £165 per leg, which leaves dealers with an obvious bit of manoeuvring to do when people come along wanting one for each side. Yes, they’re different. Head for www.britpart.com and you’ll find out all you need to know.

CROSS

Tyres from £72.95 Packages from £450

KOBRA

Tyres from £63.95 Packages from £430

MAXI

Tyres from £119.95 Packages from £640

KOUGAR

Tyres from £79.95 Packages from £490

www.tyresdirectuk.co.uk

01582 585845

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BRUTALE

Tyres from £126.95 Packages from £675

KAIMAN

Tyres from £78.95 Packages from £485

Opening Hours Mon - Fri 9am - 5am Sat 9am - 1pm

april 2014 | 27

11/3/14 15:53:40

ADVERTISING FEATURE

product showcase Jack Sealey got his name for one very good reason...

101 JACKS AVAILABLE Scissor Jacks Air Jacks Trolley Jacks Bottle Jacks

1- 60 tonne

HANDY CROSS-BEAM JACK ADAPTOR JACKING 4X4S CAN BE an awkward business when their axles have offset diffs. But not when you’re using Sealey’s clever X137 Cross Beam Adaptor.

This is used by simply removing the existing trolley jack saddle and replacing it with the cross beam adaptor. Just fit the jack saddle into the hole in the adaptor, and you’re ready to lift.

Min and max heights are 140 and 230mm. The adaptor is suitable for jacks with a 31-33mm saddle spigot pin, including Model Nos 3000CXD, 3000LQ, 3001LE, 3003CXQ, 3010CX, 3012CXD and 3030CXD.

List price for the Cross Beam Adaptor is normally £69.95+vat.

But until 31 May, it’s available in Sealey’s Spring promotion for the special offer price of just £49.95+vat.

sealey gives you pulling power

For one of the largest ranges of Jacking & Lifting Equipment in the UK visit your local stockist for further information OR...

Scan Here to Browse Full Jacking Range

Pick up your copy today

there’s no shortage of names in the winching game – but there’s only one Sealey. And the SRW4300 unit is perfect for off-road use.

Designed and built with the toughest jobs in mind, this is a 12V electric winch with a 4300kg pull.

That’s 9500lb in old money.

As you’d expect from Sealey, this is a quality item built to do the job straight out of the box – and keep doing it through thick and thin. It’s also packed with features to make it the right choice when you’re after a great winch at a great price: • Heavy-duty all-weather housing and solenoids • High power 12V DC series wound motor gives first class pulling power • 3-Stage planetary gears using oversized components for greater torque plus mechanical braking • Remote control allows power-in and power-out of cable from a safe distance • Ergonomic ‘lift and turn’ freespool clutches • High quality wire rope with a 4-way roller fairlead for smooth

28 | april 2014

28-29 Sealey Product spread AK.i28 28

and even distribution of cable on to drum • Line Pull: 4300kg • Gear Ratio: 196.6:1 • IP67 Ingress Protection rating

The winch has a list price of £499.95+vat. But shop around and you’ll find it available from a variety of Sealey stockists in the region of £320-360+vat.

FJ60 FARM JACK There are farm jacks – and there are Sealey Farm Jacks.

The FJ60 is a 1500mm unit with a 3000kg capacity that’ll do the job in every situation you can imagine: • •

•

•

•

Min/Max Height: 115/1340mm Heavy-duty cast steel lever-ratchet-operated jack with 1500mm beam Reversible ratchet mechanism enables jack to be used for lifting or lowering Fixed upper jaw, adjustable on beam, allows jack to be used as a clamp Versatile unit also suitable for pulling tree stumps and tensioning fences

List price is £99.95+vat, but the jack is available in the region of £65-75+vat from a variety of Sealey stockists.

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11/3/14 17:37:50

ADVERTISING FEATURE

POWERFUL LI-ION WRENCH GOOD TOOLS ARE a pretty sure sign of a good workshop. In particular, you know a man by his impact wrench – and if it’s Sealey’s CP2600 Cordless 26V Lithium-Ion Impact Wrench in his hand, he’s bound to be a good ‘un.

With a 1/2” square drive and 335lbf.ft torque rating (that’s more than most Rover V8s), this is a proper bit of kit. Pro-quality and no mistake –just check out the features it offers: • Powerful, compact, cordless impact wrench with forward and reverse control integrated into housing for ease of use • Produces torque in excess of 450Nm (335lb.ft) – enough to remove wheel nuts • Superbly balanced tool with side handle and vibration-reducing grip • Suitable for workshop applications • Powered by 26V lithium-ion battery, which maintains a high energy density level with a flat discharge curve – performing better and longer than a conventional Ni-CD/Ni-MH battery

• No memory effect, allowing the battery to recover from a deep discharge with no tendency to reduce overall capacity • Supplied complete with one-hour mains charger The CP2600 wrench is priced at a reassuringly premium £399.95+vat.

But until 31 May , it’s listed in Sealey’s Spring Promotion at what looks like an exceptionally attractive £249.95+vat. Form an orderly queue…

step right up… is this clever or what? Working under the bonnet of a 4x4 that stands tall on the ground can be awkward, but with Sealey’s STS01 Folding Wheel Step it’s a cinch.

Just pop the unit over the wheel of your vehicle, climb aboard and spanner away to your heart’s content. Features include: • Weight Capacity: 225kg • Permits safe and easy access to engine or top of vehicle • Ideal for 4x4s • Rubber topped platform for added safety • Platform Size: 210 x 560mm • Wheel Capacity: Ø14” to 20” • Will fit tyres up to 10” deep • Folds for easy storage • Platform is height adjustable (3 mounting points 90mm apart)

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It’s all so easy, your only problem might be remembering it’s there at all when you step back down and get ready to go on a test drive…

List price for the step is £49.95+vat. But you’ll find it at £26-30+vat from a variety of Sealey stockists.

april 2014 | 29

11/3/14 17:38:02

NEXT MONTH IN OFF-ROAD TOTAL

ON SALE 18 APRIL AMAZING TOYOTA HYBRID Finding a 60-Series Land Cruiser is rare enough. Finding one that’s been mashed up with a Hi-Lux and bits of Unimog is… well, it’s what you do in next month’s TOR. There’s nothing else like this anywhere 50 LANES TO DRIVE THIS SUMMER Many clubs and forums have been keeping off the lanes voluntarily over the winter to prevent ground damage. As summer approaches, we’ve gathered up a collection of the best to tempt you back out

BEDFORD MJ Often overlooked at the height of the Land Rover 101 craze, can the Army’s other forward control hero make sense as an off-road toy?

MID-WALES ROADBOOK After the weather put paid to an all-new route in this issue, we’re monitoring the situation carefully before deciding exactly where to go for next month’s roadbook. With a bit of luck and a following wind (ideally not one bringing lots of rain clouds), we’ll be heading for the mountains for our first route of the spring…

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

31 Next Month Apr AK.indd 29

Fill in your name and address and give this form to your newsagent Please order Total Off-Road and reserve/deliver me a copy every month Name Address

Newsagent This magazine is available to your wholesaler through Comag Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Rd, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel: 01895 444055 Fax: 01895 433602

APRIL 2014 | 31

11/3/14 16:30:12

BACK IN TIME

5 Years Ago

LHEGAK Cover April

4:25 pm

6/3/09

Page 1

D MAGAZINE! FULL-ON OFF-ROA BRITAIN’S ONLY

total

APRIL 09 £3.75

04

9 9 77147 7 58903

Y

DONN

RADE 4X4 PA UCKS TR MODDED AT THE GALORE 4X4 O O IND R SHOW

E BLANCHE +CROISIERRES CUED FROM

OP STORY FULL WORKSH MIRACLE OF A PARTS-BIN

OFF-ROA!D SCOOBY

THE BUNNYHUGGER MAFIA

+JEEP CHEROKEE

FULLY TESTED OFF-ROAD

we’ve featured, it was certainly IS MONTH one of the most BORGHINI LM002 PROFILED TH LAM NO-MESSING 90 L HISTORY OF THE V12 FUL interesting. A ORGINAL V8 BUILT OFF-ROAD SUPERCAR Subaru built for FOR THE EXTREMES N-E NORFOLK S THIS MONTH: RTV trials by OK BO AD RO +UK Andy Jackson and Shaun Hollis, it featured no hile the vehicle on the front end of home fabrication as well as of our April 2009 issue was parts from an endless list of donor one of the less conventional that

W

vehicles including a Granada, a Ford Anglia and a Chevy Corvette.

This was an era when our April issue was always full of cool motors, in fact, as it was when we were running the annual Donington Show – whose modded vehicle concourse was a highlight of the year.

Les Brocklehurst’s hybrid was the star of the show this year, even though it only came 3rd in the voting.

Less adorable was the foul behaviour by French ‘greens’ who got the Croisiere Blanche cancelled by the high court the

day before it was due to happen – once people had come from all over Europe to enjoy it.

Those people included Mike Metcalf, who was doing the event to raise money for Cancer Research. He reported back from the lane run that replaced the Croisiere proper, and has since become a very well known name in Jeep circles.

The Croisiere, on the other hand, has since been laid to rest. Local people and businesses wanted it to stay, but a few fanatics was all it took. Hate wins, people lose, the world gets a little more crap.

Repeat until despair takes over..

to such extremes still seemed kind of outlandish.

Our antics with the Volkswagen Touareg we tested this month could qualify as outlandish, too.

For starters, we took it to no less a site than Holymoorside – not

exactly noted for its SUV-coddling qualities. And then, goaded on by its height-adjustable suspension and all-round diff-locks, we got it bellied out in a big trough of mud.

The VW managed to cover itself in the stuff very effectively for a soft-roader on street-slick tyres (see pics). Anyway, after watching with amusement for a while, the guys from the site came over with a tractor and fetched us out.

‘I don’t suppose Volkswagen’s ever had one come back with this much mud on it,’ we remarked as they were unchaining us.

‘That’s not mud,’ came the reply. ‘That’s where we empty the chemical toilets.’

10 Years Ago

A

common theme throughout the history of TOR seems to have been that everything is always better everywhere else. This month was a case in point, when Mark Eichner reported back from Gibraltar about Toyota’s General Specification Land Cruiser range: no-frills work trucks sent out via The Rock to serve charities and so on around the world.

What was so bad about this?

They were exactly the kind of Land Cruisers British fans yearn for, that’s what, and out in Gib their users could pick them up at tiny money. Could you get one for private use in Britain? Don’t be silly.

Talking of silly, that’s what everyone thought we were when we asked if Lincoln’s Mark LT concept was going to point the way ahead for double-cabs.

Loads of toys, dripping with luxury, still a truck. Nowadays, that doesn’t sound remarkable at all, but even ten years ago the idea of a manufacturer taking a commercial vehicle

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11/3/14 16:39:46

Method in the m

36 | APRIL 2014

36-41 Fox READ-THROUGH.indd 36

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11/3/14 16:18:39

e madness

D

Richard Fox is known as Vitara Mad on the forums he frequents.

The more you see of the latest Suzuki he’s built, however, the more you’ll find yourself thinking that if this is the work of a madman, the line between insanity and genius must be a very fine one indeed…

WORDS: PAUL LOOE PICTURES: HARRY HAMM

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36-41 Fox READ-THROUGH.indd 37

A

ll too often, playday trucks which aren’t road-legal can be, not to put too fine a point on it, sheds. There’s nothing wrong with putting a cage and some tyres on a post-MOT corpse and wheeling ‘til you kill it, but that sort of motor tends not to be, shall we say, the last word in engineering finesse.

At first glance, you might lump Richard Fox’s Vitara in with the rest of the not-road-legal brigade. But if you do that, you might as well do it to the top comp safari racers and challenge buggies too. Because this vehicle, unassuming as it may look, is a serious bit of kit.

Live front axle? Check. Properly done body and chassis mods? Check. Rock Lobster transfer case? Check. Oh, Rock Lobster transfer case AND the original one still there too? Check. You can have a lot of fun in a Vitara with a small lift and a slightly bigger set of tyres, but this here’s the good stuff. It might not be pretty, but it’s more than pretty capable.

Richard, whose forum handle is Vitara Mad, started out like many off-roaders on two wheels.

But then his mate, who was between vehicles, got a Vitara to run around in – and, lads being lads, they ended up taking it off-road at the Desert in Mansfield.

‘It was so much fun,’ he says, ‘I went out and bought an SJ. Then I bought another, and we used them a couple of times before I bought my first Vitara. I used it a couple of times off-road, totally standard, then started modding it.

‘I did a lot of work on that Vitara, but after a while I broke it up for parts and moved on to another. I’ve had a few since then.’

He’s also had a Jimny and five-door Vitara diesel as daily drivers, as well as ‘four or five’ Nissan Terranos and an Isuzu Trooper, so it’s safe to say that this is a man who likes his 4x4s Japanese. Well, Spanish in the Terrano’s case, but who’s asking?

APRIL 2014 | 37

11/3/14 16:18:57

1

2

3

5

7

4

6

1, 2] The single biggest difference between this Vitara and the standard model (and there are a lot of them) is that instead of independent front wishbones, it has a live axle. A Land Rover Discovery axle, to be precise, which is located by Richard’s own fabricated radius arms in combination with an adjustable panhard rod 3] Seen from the front, at first glance it looks as if there are more rods going on than normal. That’s because of the amount of reinforcement added to the drag link, which return the strength lost by cranking it heavily to cover the extra drop from the pitman arm to the hub 4] Having fetched off all the original front suspension, converting the Vitara to a live axle is a relatively straightforward welding job. With so much less weight to hold up, standard Disco springs count for a lot of lift; here, they’re combined with 24” extended Rough Country shocks. The brake line you see in front of the spring is a +4” job, as used all round to cope with the extra height and flex 5, 6, 7] At the back, another 300Tdi Disco axle is attached to the Vitara chassis using the familiar trailing arms and A-frame.

Standard height Disco coils are captive at the axle end and guided home by relocation mounts up top, while the shocks pairing up with them are 30” extended jobs from Rough Country. On the axle itself, the only mod has seen the trailing arm mounts moved outwards by about 50mm

38 | april 2014

36-41 Fox READ-THROUGH.indd 38

11/3/14 16:19:39

People have been doing twin transfer cases for a long time, but they’ve never really caught on in as big a way as they should. Richard’s set-up is proof that the system can really work – beyond a standard primary box, the original Vitara transfer case drives into a 4.16:1 SJ Rock Lobster – achieving a crawl ratio of around 7.1:1 with both in low. Obviously, mating one manufacturer’s tranny outputs to another’s diff flanges creates a problem: Richard has got around this by making up hybrid propshafts from Toyota and Land Rover units

Anyway, one day a fellow member of Yorkshire Suzuki had a Vitara for sale. ‘It was fairly standard,’ says Richard, ‘apart from some Grand Vitara springs and a rotten body.’ Being a man who likes doing all his own work, that didn’t concern him unduly, so the next (and currently latest) in his long line of Vitaras was on its way home.

‘I started with the mods from the moment I got it,’ he says. ‘I started off by doing three-inch body and suspension lifts, then I cut the body

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36-41 Fox READ-THROUGH.indd 39

and chassis and did a lot of other mods too.

It’s been a bit at a time since then, and I’m still going at it now.’

Makes it sound so simple, doesn’t he? Get underneath the vehicle, though, and you’ll see pretty much straight away that it’s anything but.

More than anything else, the Vitara’s original independent front suspension has been axed off and replaced with a live axle – part of a conversion that’s turned the vehicle into a blend of Suzuki and Land Rover.

That’s because the axle, like the one behind it, is from a Discovery. Plenty of strength there for anything weighing as little as a Vitara, especially when it’s still powered by the original 1.6-litre petrol engine, and for much the same reason a set of standard Disco springs provide plenty of extra height. ‘It is lifted quite a lot compared to a standard Vitara’ says Richard, ‘but I’ve not measured how much. It’s been changed a few times now, though.’

The axles are attached by a more or less standard set-up involving a panhard rod up front and an A-frame at the back. Richard fabricated his own front radius arms, though, as well of course as prepping the whole chassis with mounts for all the various items it needed.

The back axle wanted some welding work, too, to move the spring seats outboard so they’d line up with the upper mounts’ position on the Vitara frame.

Another small job on the chassis (ha ha) was to bobtail it. Not a word you hear very often in relation to the Vitara, but Richard took it down to just behind the spring mounts, then welded on a crossmember with plenty of extra bracing to support a rear winch tray. From the back of the cab, there’s literally space for just this and a custom fuel tank.

Ah yes, the back of the cab. At a glance, you’d never guess how much work has gone into getting this right – which, of course, is the true mark of a job well done.

Richard wasn’t going for a ‘you can’t see the join’ result here, but he wasn’t after lashing it up either and he’s a lot closer to the former than the latter. The join in question is where he cut the body behind the doors, fetching about two feet out of it and welding it back up to create a tidy little extra-cab. The shape of the original back body is retained, making it look a lot nicer

april 2014 | 39

11/3/14 16:20:01

Left, below left] If you can tear your attention from the suspension flex and funky tyres here (255/100R16 Ziarelli Extreme Forests, which stand about 36.5” tall), the bodywork is more heavily modified than it looks. And it looks proper modified.

Richard cut out about two feet from behind the front doors, moved the back forward to meet what was left and welded it all up. He also cut out the front arches – as well as the footwells, which were moved back to clear those enormous tyres. Future plans include adding a roll cage, at which point the vehicle is also likely to become a trayback

than conversions of this nature that finish with a sheer flat sheet.

Elsewhere, the front arches have been cut out to clear a set of 255/100R16 Ziarelli Extreme Forest remoulds (the latest Simex-lookalike on the UK market) which stand 36.5” tall beneath them. Not a problem at the back, obviously, where there’s no bodywork at all, but an additional reshaping involved the footwells – which needed to be cut out and moved back further into the cab to create extra space for those big tyres.

Turning them is the whole set of standard drivetrain bits – engine, gearbox and transfer case, all of which are pretty much just as they were when they left the factory. The latter, however, has been modded to drive a second transfer case, this one an SJ unit with Rock Lobster gearing. The result? Something like a 7.1:1 overall reduction ratio, which means the engine never runs out of revs and Richard never runs out of control. Given the grip, he could drive up a lamp-post.

The second tranny drives the axles through a pair of propshafts made up by mating Toyota and Land Rover components. That’s not something Richard would have needed to bother with, however, if he’d taken the route he now wishes he’d gone down and used 80-Series Land Cruiser axles. Aside from being stronger still, these bring with them the benefit of having built-in diff locks for when articulation alone won’t do.

Given that Richard isn’t scared of getting his spanners out, you wouldn’t put it past him to Below left, right] The original powder-puff sills were chopped out and replaced with steel box. As powder puff things go, it’s not one. This was finished off using more steel, in tube form this time, to act as tree sliders

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36-41 Fox READ-THROUGH.indd 40

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11/3/14 16:20:34

Above left: Richard says the winch was a cheap eBay purchase, but with 13,000lb of pulling capacity it’s got more than enough about it to fetch a Vitara out of whatever it’s capable of getting into. The bumper it’s on, complete with stinger, is a custom job he made up himself Above right: There’s traybacks, and there’s no-backs. Richard cut the chassis down to just aft of the spring mounts, leaving enough space for a custom fuel tank and a Come-Up DV9000 winch. Mounted on a tray bolted through to a reinforced section of the frame, this is wound with synthetic rope and operated by wireless control

be back in the workshop fitting a set of Cruiser axles at some point in the future. For now, though, his most immediate plans involve a roll cage, which would probably coincide with a trayback to finish off the truck’s rear end, and a bigger engine. He’s got his eye on Suzuki’s 2.5-litre V6 unit here, and who wouldn’t?

Wherever he takes the build next, Richard’s Vitara is one of the coolest you’ll find anywhere.

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However short and stubby it looks when you see it parked up, it’s transformed into a picture of elegant movement once it’s covering the most testing of terrain – and beneath that deceptively basic olive drab paint scheme, it’s a truck whose beauty quickly turns out to be so much more than skin deep.

So, did you think this Vitara was just another old beater when you first saw it? Well, how

wrong you were. Road-legal, well, no, it’s not.

A top-notch bit of kit – oh, how surely it is.

We photographed Richard’s Vitara at Kirton Off Road Centre, a vast quarry site near Scunthorpe that hosts playdays every last weekend of the month . The terrain there is pretty legendary, as is how stuck you can get… To find out more, visit www.korc.co.uk.

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Not born to f

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o follow R

There are plenty of modified Jeep Wranglers in the world – even in the UK, if you go looking. Not many of them are YJs, though, and fewer still have airbrushed bodywork to go with their off-road prep. Narrow it down still further to ones that are also being built for full-scale overland expeditions, and you end up with… well, Rob Spicer WORDS PICTURES: DAN FENN

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ob Spicer’s choice of off-road ride defies convention in a whole lot of ways. For starters, it’s a Jeep, which already puts him in a minority on the UK scene. Then, it’s a YJ Wrangler – older and rarer than even the TJ that came straight after it, let alone the more recent JK, as well as being leaf-sprung.

On top of that, Rob’s long-term plan for the vehicle involves overland travel. Yes, all the way across Africa in a Wrangler – a 4x4 whose capacity for load-carrying is so small it’s almost absurd. Oh, and there’s an airbrushed American flag on its hood.

You can almost hear the off-road traditionalists grinding their teeth. Well, you could if they weren’t drowned out by the musical air horns mounted beneath that starspangled bonnet.

Yes, this Wrangler definitely has a few trappings of what you might call the typical pose truck. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a proper off-roader as well. Many Brits would sooner chew their own arm off than drive a 4x4 that looks as good as it goes, but Rob’s not like that. He’s proud of the fact that his Jeep looks the part – and as time goes by, he’s making it ever-more capable of flying the flag in the sort of places other trucks (however ragged and scratched to death they might be) simply can’t get to.

Another reason why Rob’s vehicle isn’t your typical British off-roader is that he’s not British.

Hailing from South Africa, he started out on the 4x4 trail behind the wheel of an Isuzu Frontier – that’s what the Vauxhall Frontera was called down there. So it’s no great surprise that here in the UK, his introduction to the scene came from, sure enough, the guys at the Frontera Owners’ Group, courtesy of a weekend’s green laning in North Wales.

Since then, he’s had so many Fronteras that he breaks the list down into A-Series and B-Series models. The former have come and gone in 2.0 and 2.8 TD Sport form, as well as a 2.4 Estate,

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Above left/right: There’s no end of suspension kits to choose from when you’re working on a Jeep, from mild to wild and beyond into the realms of the completely nuts. Rob’s Rough Country +4” lift falls somewhere in the middle, with taller springs backed up by longer-travel shocks to pull more flex out of the set-up Below left: Most people would go for coils rather than leaves by preference, but the old-school style of springs do offer some extra options for lifting. These extended shackles, for instance, which were included as part of the Rough Country kit. Also visible here is a high-drop pitman arm: this is the only mod to the steering to take account of the extra 4” it has to cover Below right: Further enhancing the articulation in the suspension are manual disconnects for the anti-roll bars

then there’s also been 2.2 and 3.2 V6 versions of the newer version.

He also had another Jeep YJ Wrangler, as well as a number of Land Rover Freelanders. ‘Rubbish things,’ he says now.

Then finally it was time for the truck you see here. Actually, what he bought was some way short of the truck you see here, because it didn’t have any axles on it, but you know what we mean. Rob took it on with a view to creating a vehicle he could one day drive home to South Africa and have as his car there, and with the help of Greg from the Frontera brigade he got down to putting together a plan.

This involves fitting no less radical a rear axle than one from a Mercedes G-Wagen in place

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of the original Dana 35, which isn’t exactly famed for its strength at the most extreme end of the off-road spectrum. This brings with it a factory-fitted hydraulic locker, as well as a 4.88:1 diff ratio, which will be matched by a ring and pinion conversion out front. The Dana 30 up there will get a set of hardcore halfshafts at the same time, as well as a locker of its own.

Rob reckons the Aussie Locker option is in pole position here, though Jeep being Jeep there’s no shortage of alternatives if you don’t mind shopping around on a global scale.

He’s also planning to fit an internal-external roll cage, with a rack up top which will be extendable all the way to the front of the bonnet for long overland trips. The phrase ‘quite

a rig’ comes to mind, not least because he’s planning to get the whole set-up theme-painted as well. Suffice to say that when he comes back to his truck after a day’s hiking in the Ngorogoro Crater, he’s unlikely to mistake it for the one parked next door.

What’s he fitting it all on to? Well, aside from explaining that its axles were off when he bought it because its previous owner intended to extend its wheelbase (which also explains why he’s had to remake the rear arches), Rob admits to not knowing a great deal of the vehicle’s history. Much of the work had already been done by the time he became its owner, and when he put the axles back in place he did so using a +4” Rough Country lift kit featuring

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Above: Home-made snorkels take many forms, most of them based around raw materials hooked off the shelf at B&Q. Complex shapes with multiple bends fashioned from a length of stainless tubing are less common Above left: Jeep’s 4.0 straight-six is completely standard – and when something combines this much lazy power with a rock-solid reputation for bomb-proof longevity, why would you mess with it? Note here the snorkel’s routing in through the wing and round to the intake at the front of the air box; it finishes with quite a tight bend, but it’s nice and smooth so at least the interruption to air flow is kept as minimal as it can be Left: With a double-cardon joint at the transfer case end, the rear prop has been modified and strengthened to cope with the suspension lift Below: There’ll be people who look at this picture and snort with derision at the idea of a modified off-roader with artwork on its body panels. If that’s you, ask yourself this: to the general public who we’re forever trying to win over in the bid for our hobby’s acceptance, does this truck create a better or worse impression than a brush-painted lane beast with dents in every panel?

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Left: Guarding the fuel tank is… a fuel tank guard. A particularly heavy-duty one at that. The axle beneath it is scheduled to be replaced by, would you believe, one from a Mercedes G-Wagen. ‘I need to somehow fit brakes to it first,’ says Rob: good to know he’s got the sequence of events right Below left/right: The rear bumper is almost as discreet as Jeep’s original, but it’s fabricated from heavy-gauge steel and won’t shift for anything. Tucked into the space created by a 1” body lift, it’s the perfect mount for a pair of similarly robust recovery points Bottom left: The sills are tidied up with chequer plate, but you can’t help but feel that it’s crying out for some heavy-duty rock sliders Bottom right: Further evidence of good off-road commonsense comes from the trick side-exit exhaust, which is nicely protected by the offside rear spring pack

higher-arched springs, longer shocks and extended shackles.

That creates room for a set of 33x12.50R15 Kumho KL71 muds (the spare is a BFGoodrich, which must confuse people), as well as calling for double-cardon props all round. When we took our pictures, the Jeep was still waiting for the front unit to be upgraded, but the back one was in place and doing a sterling job.

Turning them is a transfer box with a Teraflex 2Low kit, which allows the Jeep to crawl in low box while only driving the rear wheels – very useful indeed for manoeuvrability on terrain that’s high on traction but still needs very

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A hydraulic winch is a bit of a rarity, whether on a fun truck or an expedition vehicle, but then we’re talking about a YJ with an American flag on the bonnet so rarity has already become normality. A handy 12,000lb of pulling power probably qualifies as overkill on a Wrangler, if such a thing can exist when you’re talking about winch capacity, and another rarity comes in the form of the steel cable around the drum

precise control. While this seems to contradict the whole principle of four-wheel drive, once the new axle with the locking back diff is in place it’ll allow the Wrangler to do pretty much anything short of full-on hardcore mud-warfare while the front is left alone to steer.

Upstream of that is the original 4.0 straight-six petrol engine, which has been left completely alone – as it should be, because it’s a good, strong unit in factory trim and almost never goes wrong. It breathes through a custom stainless steel snorkel, which is quite the work of

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art for a home-brew – though with its top fixed in the forward position and just an open grillle to keep things other than air from being sucked in, you could see it wanting a bit of a fettle prior to taking on the equatorial dust.

Driving the whole way across Africa is never less than a brave thing to take on, and doing it in a vehicle as unconventional as this is braver still. Expedition gurus say to do it in a truck with lots of luggage space, one that’s common in the regions where you’re going and one that’s as close as possible to standard, so Rob’s flying in

the face of conventional wisdom in a whole lot of ways.

Do the same people say not to do it in a truck with a decorative airbrushed paint scheme?

Probably not, though only because they didn’t think anyone ever would.

No doubt they’d get their grumpy on about those air-horns, too. But it all adds to the sense of fun that surrounds this truck. It might defy convention, but Rob’s YJ makes you smile. And when you’re travelling halfway across the world, that counts for more than anything else.

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01299 250174 Specialists in Expedition Preparation, Servicing,

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One Steppe at a

The region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea is little known to British travellers. But beyond the run-down towns and glittering cities, the landscape varies from sandy steppe and arid savannah to lush, towering mountains. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also home to Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only Buddhist state. Exotic, beautiful and fascinating: perfect for overland travel WORDS: MARIUSZ REWEDA PICTURES: MARIUSZ REWEDA AND IWONA KOZLOWIEC

W

e set out at the beginning of July in our Land Cruiser, together with three other friends on our voyage to Kalmykia, Dagestan, Chechnya and Northern Ossetia. For the first time since the revolution, these Russian Republics, which were involved in many wars and internal conflicts, have finally opened up to foreign tourists.

We crossed Ukraine at pace, speeding along the motorway to Kiev and the main potholed roads to Kharkov before continuing to Lugansk.

On our fourth evening, after a long and arduous day of driving, we parked up for the night under a star-studded sky in the Steppe. Just off the main road heading south out of Volgograd, it was a relaxing sight for weary heads as we prepared for the next leg of the journey

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t a time

– towards Kalmykia, which can claim to be one of the few truly unique regions in Europe.

Kalmykia has the distinction of being Europe’s only Buddhist state, which gives it an atmosphere quite unlike anywhere else on the continent. Its people arrived from Mongolia in the 17th Century, having adopted Tibetan Buddhism in defiance of the Mongol khans, and lived a nomadic life on the semi-desert steppe.

The Kalmyk capital, Elista, welcomed us with open arms; words cannot describe the smiling hospitality we found there. We parked our trucks near the main square, with a huge prayer wheel in the centre, and walked a few blocks further to visit the recently built Golden Temple.

Although the population of Elista is over 100,000 people, the city resembles a provincial

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town more than a metropolis. Only buildings of one or two storeys can be seen along the main road; the rest are family houses with high wooden fences. We were sorry to leave, but time restraints pushed us on.

We continued south towards the outback and the floodwaters of the Manych River, driving on asphalt until we made a stop in the tiny village of Homutnikov. Only there could we find some shade from the blistering heat. This is a big challenge in the Steppe, which, although not as flat as in Kazakhstan, has only a few meagre hills here and there.

We pressed on in whirling clouds of dust raised by the wheels of our vehicles, potholed countryside roads frozen into fantastic shapes of mud ruts dried in the searing sun. Every spring, this road turns into an extreme challenge for experienced overlanders.

Off the main road, we crossed borders without knowing as we travelled on our way to the Caspian Sea. We reached a dirt road going down a wide melioration canal. Its banks were sporadically spotted with trees, where the lush high grass is home to many birds. Among the

floodplains, we found a cosy place for the night’s stop. Stunted trees gave some meagre shade from the setting sun, and a small lake provided a soothing breeze to the dry air.

In the morning, woken by the hot sun, we followed a paved road to Nieftiekumsk. This area is dominated by oil exploration and the city gives the impression of being quite rich and modern, but beyond here the going became more interesting.

Heading for the sandy Steppe, we managed to find roads among sand dunes covered with grass only, thanks to the calibrated satellite pictures downloaded to our navigation system.

This would be a wilderness but for a few sparsely distributed farms – which mean there are some tracks to be driven in the sand.

Already in Dagestan, we were getting closer and closer to the Caspian Sea. We had been looking forward to camping that night at the seashore, but on arrival we did not find our dream beach with white sand and trees providing cooling shade. Instead, we sheltered in high grass among low trees twisted by sea storms and shrunk by the powerful sun. The African savannah sprang to mind.

It was a reminder of how very varied Russia is. During the Communist era, Stalin had the Kalmyks rounded up and imprisoned in Siberia for their Buddhist beliefs, yet the freezing winters they had to endure were all part of the tapestry that makes up this same nation we were basking in right now. The landscape, climate, culture and level of industrial development across this immense country is so endlessly diverse, you find yourself constantly

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Burkhan Bakshin Altan Sume (left), also known as the Golden Temple in Elista, was built in 2005 on land blessed the previous year by the Dalai Lama. Kalmykia is unique in being Europe’s one and only Buddhist state, and the temple is dedicated to the many ethnic Kalmyks who died in 1943 and 1944 under Stalin’s policy of forced exile to Siberia as the USSR tried to crush their religion. Buddhist architecture and iconography is prevalent throughout the city, as is a welcome to visitors that’s as warm as you’ll receive anywhere

surprised to be experiencing so much variety within the borders of one single land.

First thing next morning, we passed through the rundown fishing town of Sulak. This little settlement could be a textbook illustration of what Europeans think about Dagestan: dirty, potholed roads and houses surrounded with high brick walls looking like fortresses which, to survive, have to defend themselves against the reality of grey streets. Old dilapidated cars look like abandoned wrecks on the sides of the main street and a big square was the only stop

for buses going to the capital, with a littering of small shops selling cheap Chinese goods the only merchants around.

Unlike Elista, we weren’t very sorry to leave Sulak. We ventured further through the sands, finally returning to the main road to Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

Makhachkala is the complete opposite of Sulak and not a stereotypical Dagestanian city. It is modern, clean, well maintained and fast-developing, judging by the numerous big construction sites we saw. With its glamour, the

capital of Dagestan resembles the rich cities of the Russian north.

Leaving Makhachkala, we went straight into the Caucasus Mountains where, from the very start, just after Kaspiysk, the landscape promised great views. Once in the mountains, we were surprised to be treated to asphalt roads. In Siberia or northern Russia, roads to remote villages rarely have asphalt surfaces or bridges over rivers, but in the Dagestanian Caucasus we encountered the full trappings of civilisation.

By the time we passed Hebda, we had clocked

There are more roads than you expect in the mountains of Dagestan. But once the asphalt runs out, you can spend all day on the tracks – many of them historic goat trails picking their way between villages that cling to the soaring peaks

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Right: When the trails are like this, you’re going to spend a lot of time enjoying the scenery. You’d better not look too far beyond the edge, though – as memorials next to the track make very clear

up only a few kilometres on dirt tracks – though that didn’t detract from the panorama we enjoyed of magnificent mountain views.

We were also surprised by the friendly attitude of the locals. Unlike in Sulak, they didn’t look daggers at us and, given the opportunity, they would stop to talk and ask where we were from and if we needed anything. Everybody wanted to offer help.

Next morning, we started early, continuing on the road across the mountains towards Bieshta.

The asphalt soon finished and from then on we travelled all day on potholed gravel tracks. We may have moved more slowly, but it certainly wasn’t boring, the surrounding mountains providing marvellous views.

To reach the border with Chechnya, we had to cross the mountains: I had prepared three routes using old military maps. However, the broken line on these maps signified mountain tracks for donkeys, not trucks. Nevertheless, we made an attempt in Ratlub, driving up to the village, located (as are all villages in the area) at the mountain top.

We were told there was no road leading to Chechnya across the mountains, only tracks for hikers (in communist times, the Caucasus was popular with German backpackers). The army had, however, built a new road leading around the highest peaks and through the border zone.

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The villagers warned us that the soldiers might not let us through without a relevant border permit. And they were right. According to army regulations, we needed to have a permit issued by their headquarters near Makhachkala.

After camping at the top of the mountain, we were woken the following morning by the rays of a sharp sun shining from a blue sky. Our next road led along the ridge and, after passing a 72-metre waterfall, we reached the village of Hunzah, located on a vast plateau.

We asked about the road to Chechnya across the mountains, but nobody could give us any reliable advice until we hit Botlih. There they told us in detail about the old smugglers’ tracks leading west. We chose the easiest trail, which even then turned out to be quite a challenge.

In places I had to use low first as we climbed up the steep rocky road to nearly 2000 metres.

We entered Chechnya stunned by the amazing views and, as the evening closed in, we descended to the lower mountainsides covered with forests, just a few dozen kilometres before Grozny. Policemen at a checkpoint registered our passports and we set about looking for a decent camping spot. A group of local beekeepers recommended a friendly place in the river valley and Iwona even got a jar of fresh honey and an invitation for a veal dinner cooked on the fire.

All the time we kept thinking about safety in the mountains of Dagestan and Chechnya.

We had heard so many stories from those who travelled here before us: about soldiers

who arrest travellers for entering forbidden zones, about aggressive youths and policemen extorting bribes from tourists. But so far we had come across none of those scourges.

Next morning, we set off for the Chechen capital, Grozny. As soon as we were back on the main road, we returned to the ‘civilised’ world: farmed fields, factories, towns and villages.

Mountainous landscapes quickly flattened and we found ourselves back on a plateau.

We had enjoyed the mountains, with their silence, scarce population, wonderful views, clean rivers and aromatic air. And now it was a completely different feeling here in the lowland, among so many buildings and vehicles again.

People didn’t smile so widely here. Maybe they were not as happy as the highlanders, although they were definitely wealthier.

Grozny totally surprised us. Following the brutal Russian assault in 1999-2000, the UN described it as the most destroyed city on earth.

But it has risen like a phoenix in the decade that followed, with the entire centre rebuilt from scratch in a glitzy Asian style.

Now it looks like a model city with wide, empty streets, as though made for big parades, and smart modern architecture. Ground floors are occupied by fashion shops, the streets deserted. At each junction stand policemen or soldiers. The true, living city, meanwhile, has been pushed back to the northern outskirts.

Grozny is sizzling with wealth and growing to be the centre of great business in the Caucasus.

Anything is possible here. Last winter, it failed

to snow and President Kadyrov, worried about local children not feeling the true atmosphere of Christmas, ordered snow from the mountains to be brought to the city by trucks.

From Grozny we carried on toward the city of Vladikavkaz, in Northern Ossetia. Vladikavkaz is similar to other Russian cities with the old centre under renovation, and in the main pedestrian precinct the atmosphere feels completely different to Grozny or Makhachkala.

From Vladikavkaz we went to the foot of Mount Kazbeg (at 5033m, almost four times higher than anything in Britain) and continued to Dargavs to have a look at its beehiveshaped burial towers. Here it is possible to see mummies, human bones and skulls left behind by archaeologists and scattered by thieves.

However, that was not the main feature of the day. At the Dargavs necropolis we were arrested by a border guard. It turned out that unwittingly, we had violated the border zone.

The head of the Border Control Office in Vladikavkaz assured us we hadn’t committed

However unfamiliar the landscape might be, it’s the visual signs of human civilisation that make foreign lands feel so different to what you’re used to. Some things never change, though: wherever you go, people still shoot road signs with air rifles…

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A decade before these pictures were taken, the Caucasus had been ravaged by war. Today, Vladikavkaz is reminiscent of an elegant French metropolis, while Grozny has been transformed into a golden city with a touch of Asian style (and, below, the world’s funkiest workshops…)

a major crime, but he had to impose a fine at the lowest rate of 50 euros per person. All that he could do for us, as a favour to speed our progress, was prepare report forms to be signed ‘in blank’ and to take our fingerprints as soon as possible. Only then could we continue our trip the same day.

After a night in a maize field, we travelled west the following day on the main road. There were no more attractions or sightseeing to be done now, only hundreds of kilometres of the asphalt road to get home. The great adventure

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was now over. Maybe some would see it as bravado; for us it was business as usual.

This trip was a trailblazing expedition for us, and we plan to go back to Northern Caucasus again next year. As always, we’re looking forward to meeting the adventurous and curious travellers who join us for the ride!

The authors run Kilometr, a company offering 4x4 expeditions for customers throughout Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. To find out more, visit www.kilometr.com.

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OUR 4x4s Project Vortex Land Cruiser

So how does it perform?

Project Vortex Land Cruiser What is it? 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado 3.0 TD Why are we running it? To see if an old-tech wagon can be modded for weekend laning and still be an economical tow truck and daily driver Mods so far: Vortex exhaust, Pedders suspension, Safari Snorkel, Superwinch Talon, Spanner Monkeys fabricated bumpers and rock sliders, Maxxis Bighorn M/Ts

Y

ou know what people say about Toyota Land Cruisers lasting forever? Well, they can, but that doesn’t main they’re maintenance-free. And they’re certainly not invulnerable.

While we were setting out last month’s roadbook (not far from home, thankfully), we started hearing a strange knocking noise from the transmission. It came on at the end of a pretty rough lane, so we figured we’d picked something up in a UJ, but no sign of that. Nor indeed of any new play in the joints.

The noise would rise and fall with road speed but not engine speed, which narrowed things

Left: Responsible laning starts before you leave home. Our Maxxis 7764 Bighorn MTs grip like cog wheels on wet grass, meaning we can take it at a crawl without them slipping at all.

A smoother tyre would risk sliding from side to side, cutting zig-zag shapes in the surface, while a more aggressive tread can start to dig with just a little too much gas. The Bighorns leave a harmless surface imprint; you can see ahead of the vehicle how well it’s healed since the previous user, who was also on responsible tyres, passed by Main picture: Most of the flex is at the back, but the Pedders suspension kit provides an excellent balance of lift, articulation and ride quality

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If you know what you’re looking at, these are pictures of a disaster waiting to happen.

The rock face is dangerously off-camber, and it’s wet. Start sliding here, and there’s a real chance you’ll be going over, so tyres that grip and suspension that keeps them pressed to the ground as you crawl is essential. If you really know what you’re looking at and recognise this as the north end of the White Stones in North Wales, you’ll know that to the right of the picture is a steep, sharp valley in which you don’t stop rolling til you reach the bottom, so our suspension and tyres really were working for their living here

down. It was only there with the transmission under load, and would go away as soon as the clutch pedal went down or the gas pedal came up. By the time we got home, we’d convinced ourselves it was on the output side of the gearbox. Yikes.

‘Nah, just a UJ,’ reckoned a couple of people we asked. That was reassuring. Spare parts for Land Cruisers aren’t famed for their cheapness.

But then something unexpected happened.

The clutch let go. Not the friction plate, but the hydraulics, leaving us with no pedal pressure and a very immobile truck.

Now, one of the things you learn in My Big Book Of Gearboxes is that the clutch is on the input side. So if the knocking noise isn’t rising and falling with engine revs, it must be…

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Yes. Unrelated. We did what many a Land Cruiser owner does when they want their truck worked on by people who know, and got Overland Cruisers on the case.

The clutch? After 120,000 miles, neither the master nor the slave cylinder were in the best of health, but at the end of the day the fluid leak behind our problem was down to a 10p O-ring.

The knocking noise? Oh, were it only 10p.

Somehow, and this isn’t us making up excuses, the early diagnosis is that water has made it into the back axle and mixed with the oil in it, and now the crownwheel has spat a tooth.

What was that we were saying about the cheapness of Land Cruiser parts? We’ll tell you the full story once we know what it is, but at present there’s a rebuild kit on its way to Overland

Aside from the obvious one (‘what mpg do you get?’), the most common question we’re asked about the Vortex unit in our Land Cruiser’s exhaust is ‘how does it work?’ We went over this to some extent a few issues ago, so forgive the repetition if you check in here on a monthly basis, but it’s clearly a subject people want to understand more about.

Basically, the idea behind the Vortex system is to include an element in the exhaust that speeds up the gases’ exit. That means less back-pressure at the manifold end, which in turn means the engine can run more efficiently.

The secret element in the exhaust is a series of shaped surfaces that set up eddy currents in the gas flow (much the same as those you see in rivers with rocks in them). These accelerate the overall speed of the flow – basically, the unit mimics nature’s way of shifting as much material as possible with the maximum efficiency.

That can result in better fuel consumption or better performance – or indeed a combination of the two. It stands to reason that if you use all you can of one, you’ll get none of the other, but in any imaginable real-world situation you’re going to be striking a balance.

When our Vortex unit went on, we ran ‘before and after’ tests on its fuel economy and exhaust emissions. The latter showed an increase in tailpipe temperatures from 35 to 46 degrees and a drop in particulates from 1.31 to 0.66 K(1/m), which tells quite a story.

So too does the first like-for-like economy test we ran, which showed a massive improvement from 24.4 to 35.9mpg on the motorway. Everyday driving, including open road and green lane use, tends to bring this down to around 22-25mpg, but that’s since all the other modifications went on – each of them adding weight. We’d expect a vehicle of this age and nature to be returning more like 18-20, so with enough mileage the Vortex would certainly pay for itself.

No stress, no grief. Dog walker passes by with a wave and a nod, and no need to complain about ground damage as there wasn’t any

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Seen here during installation, the Pedders suspension kit provides a lift of approximately 2” over standard. It’s still independent up front, though, so it’s the rear that does most of the work when it comes to articulation. The front springs that went on are heavy-duty units, chosen to combat settling in anticipation of the steel bumper and electric winch being fitted; in reality, it probably does its job too well, as the truck still feels somewhat over-sprung here, though once working at off-road speed it responds to the terrain very well

Cruisers from America. They reckon the only options available here are to buy from Toyota GB, which will cost you a fortune, or to search in scrapyards. And how often do you find a Toyota Land Cruiser in a scrapyard?

So our truck’s currently laid up. We expect it to be back on the road in time for next month’s issue, though whether it’s also back on the trails will be largely down to the weather. We wouldn’t have been using it for a roadbook this month anyway, because with so much saturated ground around our view is that staying away and letting the land dry out is more important than making a point about access rights in the short term. There certainly is plenty of laning going on, but since the idea for us is to blaze trails on new lanes, we can’t be sure of their condition until we get there.

It’s different if you’re using tracks you know of old and can be sure they’re not going to cut up.

Anyway, back to the Land Cruiser. When the clutch snuffed it, we were about to go to an

off-road centre and give it a proper workout so we could report back on its tyres, suspension and, in particular, winch. The latter hasn’t actually been used at all yet, which says something for the former two – as it does for the vehicle itself, not to mention the sort of terrain it’s used for.

We’ll still be doing that just as soon as we can, but for now we’re going to recap on how the suspension is working out so far. It’s been more than half a year since Pedders fitted their kit to the vehicle, after all, and it’s seen a whole lot of lanes since then.

We mentioned in a previous issue that we had gone for a heavy-duty option on the front springs. The thinking here was that with a big steel bumper and winch on the way (at that point in the project, the Land Cruiser was still completely standard but for the Vortex exhaust fitted by its sponsor), the lift would settle once the vehicle was in its final trim, so a bit of overkill was going to be necessary.

Settling is by nature a thing that takes time, but thus far we’d say it’s still over-sprung at the front. That’s all down to personal choice and preference, and certainly not in any way a criticism of the kit on the vehicle – quite the opposite, in fact, as it shows how effectively the springs are resisting the winch and bumper’s efforts to beat them down.

Either way, speed bumps are, well, bumpy.

The front skips as you hit them, the back rides them. On a vehicle that’s independent up front and live-axled at the back, that’s the opposite of what you’d probably expect; it’s no big deal, and the springs don’t make it nervous on the road, but we’d suggest you think carefully about it before defaulting to the heaviest-duty option just because you’re planning on fitting a winch.

On rough ground, on the other hand, there’s just no sign at all from the vehicle of the front springs having too much capacity. It’s beautifully balanced in terms of ride and articulation alike, covering uneven tracks without drama and flexing well when tackling big axle twisters.

Naturally, it’s the back that does most of the work when it comes to keeping all four wheels on the ground, but even then we’ve only ever had to engage the rear diff-lock a couple of times. And each of those was as an alternative to taking a second run with more momentum.

Ruts like these are exactly the kind of terrain in which you need tyres that provide enough grip to let you drive confidently without going over the top. It wouldn’t take many powerful, heavy vehicles on very aggressive rubber being driven up here with no finesse to render it impassable to anyone in a sensible motor. That’s the point where you have to decide whether to get involved in the sort of arms race that has no place on public rights of way

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We don’t go looking for barmy lanes – that’s not the point of our roadbooks. But we don’t shy away from the tricky stuff we happen on, either. And so far, it’s very much so good. It takes something pretty significant for the Colorado to lift a wheel and, when that happens, it does so without compromising the vehicle’s sure-footed sense of balance.

What that means is that we rarely lose traction.

Which in turn means we rarely spin our wheels, and that of course means we make minimal impact on the ground.

This is where the vehicle’s Maxxis 764 Bighorn MTs come in, and we remain as full of praise for them as we have been in previous issues.

On tarmac, they grip well and ride superbly: on typical green lanes, whatever might be between them and the bedrock or other firm ground below, the traction they achieve is outstanding.

While setting out last month’s roadbook, for example, which we did in already very wet conditions as winter’s record rainfall began to

take hold, one particular lane faced us with a long uphill stretch on wet grass. A recipe for spinning wheels and ugly tyre marks, for sure – and the kind of lane on which the wrong tyres, whether too mild or too aggressive, could make a real mess very quickly.

The Bighorns? It was like driving on cog wheels. Low second and feet off everything, and it crawled up without breaking traction once, even when we had to stop and start again for a dog walker.

Her reaction to us was just fine – a wave and a word of thanks. Would it have been the same if we’d been slithering around on road slicks with wheels spinning in a vain search for grip, leaving zig-zag marks in the grass as we went? Unlikely, you’d think. A real case for just enough rubber and just enough revs – and, without wanting to sound holier than thou about our discipline behind the wheel, that’s just what it got.

Vastly grippy tyres have their place, but we’d argue that if you need them for green laning,

you’re on the wrong lanes. It is of course the case than most of us can only afford one set of tyres, and why should a person be denied the chance to use our lanes just because he also uses his truck for trialling etc, but the fact is that the more extreme you go with your rubber, the more disciplined you have to be with your driving.

In our view, a classic MT tread like the Bighorns’ in the ideal balance on a vehicle that spends most of its time on the road and the rest of it on lanes rather than playday sites. With Simex or Boggerstyled rubber, our Cruiser would be even more of a tool than it already is, but for what we do that’s just not necessary. With the suspension and tyres we’ve got on it, so far nothing has even fazed it.

So we’re looking forward to getting it back, complete with its fresh new rear diff – and, with Britain at last starting to dry out, hitting the lanes once more. We’ve got complete confidence in the set-up we’ve fitted; all we need to do now is add an axle breather kit to keep the water from getting back in, and we’ll be well away.

The Cruiser does still lift a wheel from time to time. The Pedders kit is meant to be for enhancing everyday trucks that are used off-tarmac, rather than creating gonzo uber-flex wonder machines. We could have got a bit more by fetching off the anti-roll bars, but at the end of the day this is a company car which spends most of its time on the road – and when we do take it off the blacktop, it’s to explore lanes rather than do any ultimate twisting. As an aside, though, heading down here under engine braking was one of the last things the back diff did before a cocktail of old oil and grimy water in the axle casing encouraged it to start turning itself into iron filings. Hence the absence of Land Cruiser from the lanes of Britain over the last month or so: parts for these things can be a sod to get hold of…

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WORKSHOP: Installing ARB Air-Lockers

O

ne thing that unites almost all off-roaders is a love of workshops.

Whether you’re into comps, lanes or playdays, whether you drive a Landy, a Jeep or a Suzuki, there’s not a lot of jobs to put off a determined spanner man.

Fitting an ARB Air-Locker is definitely one of them. Most of us are quite happy to whip out a diff, but installing an ARB is an altogether more complex process. You’re talking special tools, special techniques and, if you make a mess of it, special consequences. Not a job to be taken lightly, then.

Our photos were taken at Gumtree 4x4, a workshop that’s capable of handling any job at all. So the idea of this article is to show you what’s involved in fitting an Air-Locker, with a top-level pro as your guide.

What it’s not meant to be is a step-by-step guide. ARB’s own instruction manual is perfectly good for that, telling you exactly what to do at every turn. This means that so long as you’ve got the necessary tools and know how to use them, the job should go smoothly.

The axle in the pictures is a Dana 35c, as found beneath the rear end of many different Jeep models built between 1984 and 2007. Of those imported to the UK, you’ll find them on the XJ and KJ Cherokee, ZJ and WJ Grand Cherokee and YJ and TJ Wrangler. A few individual vehicles have made it here with the stronger Dana 44, which Jeep offered as an upgrade option, but as a general rule if a Jeep reverses over you, a 35c is the last thing you’ll see.

The good news is that installing an Air-Locker is easier than this on almost everything else. The 35c is stronger than most people give it credit

for (especially the children on internet forums who know everything about everything), but it’s a fussy customer to work on. So if there’s nothing here that scares you, happy days – and even if there is, doing the job on your Land Rover or Suzuki might still be within your reach.

Whatever vehicle you’re working on, anyway, the good news is that you can rely on ARB’s manual to be every bit as good 2 as the diff itself. And that, for sure, is a whole lot of good.

You even get a set of instructions on how to leak-test the system after fitting it. The manual includes a post-installation check-list, and it’s worth going through

before you even start the job – forewarned is forearmed, and all that.

It also tells you the importance of understanding how to use an Air-Locker before you get out there and start playing. That’s probably the simplest part of the whole job – as well as being the most important.

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1] Many axles have drain plugs, but there are those that don’t. If that’s the case, guess what’s going to happen if you fetch off the back plate with one mighty heave? Ease it free instead, if you want to avoid wearing three pints of dirty EP90 on your face 2] The centre pin is locked in place by a bolt. First, undo this…

3] …then drive it out, using lots of gentle taps. L-o-t-s o-f g-e-n-t-l-e t-a-p-s. Sorry, just spelling it out for that big bloke at the back of the class with the nose ring and lump hammer

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4] This one’s a bit on the specific side to the particular axle we’re looking at here. The Dana 35c has C-clips retaining the halfshafts. These sit in grooves at the inner ends of the shafts – you’ll need to draw them out, using long-nosed pliers 5] Now, carefully pull the shafts free of the diff and out of the axle. That was c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y, nose-ring boy – the seals in the axle weren’t designed to take the halfshaft’s weight while you drag it over them the way you drag your knuckles along the ground while you walk 6] Back at the business end, carefully remove the bearing caps. First, though, punch or scribe a mark in the outside face of one of them, and in the adjacent part of the case. You’ll need to match the correct cap with the correct bearing when you’re reassembling the diff, and the only way you’ll manage to do that is if one of them is identifiable from the other 7] Now remove the bolts holding the bearing caps in place. This leaves the caps at your mercy, and once you’ve had them away the diff itself will be too…

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9] With the bearing caps removed, the diff is no longer held in place by anything other than gravity. Which means it can be lifted out of the axle by nothing other than your hands

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10] Here’s the old diff on the bench, along with various fittings which have been removed from it. There’s still more to come off, though 11] This contraption is a bearing puller, and it’s being used to draw out the roller bearing assemblies 12] Next up, undo the bolts holding the crownwheel in place and free it off 13] Here’s the new ARB diff, to the left of the original. These are of course just naked units at this stage – now, it’s time for the process of building back up to begin 14] Having mounted the crownwheel on the new diff, press home the roller bearings 15] With the crownwheel mounted and the bearings pressed home, you have a new kit of parts ready for the home run. Don’t go getting complacent, though – there’s still plenty to do before the job’s done

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16] The axle’s still in the tender grip of the spreader, so mount the diff back in position to check your clearances. It’s just a dry run for now 17] While the diff ’s in place, it’s time to set the backlash. This is set using a dial gauge and adjusted by adding and removing shims, and if you’ve done it before you’ll know what a git of a job it can be. It can take you as long as all the rest of the job put together – ARB’s instructions go into it in some length 18] The air supply comes via a line routed in via a hole in the top of the diff casing, which reaches the diff itself through a notch or hole cut in one of the bearing caps. To make this, dry-install the unit with the backlash set to less than 0.5mm.

Choose a fixed point on the diff case to act as a datum mark and measure the distance from it to the centre of the air line as it mounts into the seal housing. Now mount the bearing cap in place and measure the same distance again – use a punch to mark the position this indicates on the cap, which is where the air line needs to pass through on its way into the seal housing 19] If this point is more than a quarter of an inch from the edge of the cap, ARB recommends drilling a small hole for the air line. If not, as was the case here, there’s too much danger of the drill bit breaking out through the side of the cap – so instead you should file a notch into it 20] Whether it’s a hole or a slot, the copper air line should pass neatly through the modified bearing cap

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21, 22] We mentioned that the air line was going to come in through a hole in the top of the axle case. Here’s that hole being made; use rags to keep the swarf you create from contaminating the axle tube and pinion gear, whose position is pretty much asking for it, and remove them very carefully afterwards to make sure they don’t drop any of the offending metal

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23] The hole you’ve just created will accommodate the union assembly used to join the copper pipe within the diff housing to the flexible hose that will lead to the compressor. Which is what you’re looking at here 24] Obviously, just drilling a hole and threading a pipe through it would create the worst seal in the world: not exactly what you want when you’re talking about an axle case. Thus the hole needs to be tapped 25] Here, the completed diff assembly is ready to receive a new gasket prior to the refitting of the back plate. You can see the flexi hose running alongside the breather on top of the axle case; from here, it heads towards wherever you decide to locate your air compressor

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26] Many people will site their compressor under their vehicle’s bonnet, but in this case it was too crowded and there was no room for that.

Instead, it sits in the boot just behind the offside rear wheel blister 27] If you’ve poked around in any amount of modified 4x4s, a bank of ARB controls will be the most familiar sight in the world. These were wired up to the compressor and positioned in a handy slot between the handbrake and auto shifter, though again that’s down to your personal preference and whatever suits the vehicle you’re working on

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Welsh less

I

t was the last Friday in February, traditionally the last day of winter, and the Welsh weather was determined to hold on to it until the bitter end. Under a grey sky, heavy with rain, and with the early morning sun silhouetting the clouds above the Swansea Valley, the small village of Pontardawe came into view.

My final destination was All Terrain Services, a company thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long been an accredited member of the British

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ssons Above: The hazards come in all shapes and sizes when you’re off-roading for a living…

Bottom left: The nursery slopes have everything you need to learn the basic techniques. As you climb higher, the terrain gets more dramatic – as do the views

At All Terrain Services, they teach professional users how to drive off-road as part of their job. With a glorious mountainside classroom, a choice of 4x4s and a tutor who lives and breathes off-roading, going back to school was never this much fun WORDS AND PICTURES: MIKE TROTT Off Road Driving Association (BORDA). Bob Harris, the company’s founder and owner, personally greeted me at the entrance of what’s been his empire for more than twenty years.

All Terrain Services provides a number of different driving options, from professional offroad training and corporate events to leisure experiences. It also runs a gift voucher scheme, much like the one you probably got your dad on his last birthday.

In terms of training, the company’s BORDA affiliation means that at the end of the course

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you can walk away with an official off-road qualification to show your employer. Or for your employer to show his insurance company.

‘We cater for all sorts of purposes here,’ Bob explains. ‘But we have training to suit everyone, whether that’s for environmentalists, construction workers, utility companies, surveyors… anyone who may use or need to use a 4x4 for work, and may have to go off-road, can find what they need with us. We’ve even trained military personnel to help them operate their machinery.

‘Depending on their job requirements, some people may have to reach remote locations or simply travel down rough tracks to carry out their work. Either way, we can provide the right training and relevant qualifications.’

Like all BORDA-affiliated companies, the qualifications on offer here run from a basic level through to standard and higher levels.

These consist of an educational and theorybased element designed to give you a bit of preparation before you take a truck out and aim it at a cliff, followed by the majority of the training – which involves the hands-on participation of getting used to off-roading.

The courses run from a half-day duration up to a full two days, depending on the depth and severity of the off-roading you are being taught.

As for me, Bob took me out on the standardlevel course for a full day up in the hills, where we were able to take in the scenery as I quizzed the veteran instructor on how he ended up being in the most joyous position of earning a living from passing on the art of off-roading.

‘It started over 25 years ago,’ Bob recalls.

‘I got some work with Vauxhall through a friend of a friend, you know, just doing bits and bobs for them, delivering items or fetching things.

At this point, they were just starting to reel off the Frontera and that’s really how I got into off-roading.

‘All Terrain Services spawned from here really.

This (Swansea) is our third site and we’ve been based here for about 22 years – it just proved to be a better location. We do have other locations positioned around the UK, but this is “headquarters,” if you like.

‘I’d say here we have the best training ground. We have the biggest, most naturally varied site, with different terrains and soil types.’

The ‘playground’ did have a mixture of everything, certainly everything one may need

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You can choose to learn in a Defender 110 or a Hi-Lux – the two vehicles a professional user is most likely to be handed the keys to when they go out to do their job. Bob’s a fan of both, but Toyota gets the nod for the quality of its engineering. Talking of build quality, the classroom at All Terrain Services is a handy looking construction – definitely a good place for the first part of the lesson

as a learner, with different levels to explore and purpose-built obstacles on which pupils can engage with the process of off-roading and familiarise themselves with the different scenarios they could face in the real world.

Happily, we were in a very capable machine, an S-reg Land Rover Defender 110 TD5; the other vehicle they keep at headquarters is a Toyota Hi-Lux. The Defender, which is what we took up into the hills, was running BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains (a level of tyre, and in many cases the exact same brand, that’s used by a lot of the organisations whose staff Bob trains). It also had a two-inch lift, with HD springs on the rear to hold up the extra weight of a roof rack and a load of equipment.

But we hadn’t come up there for a plush ride. After the general teaching was over, Bob showed us up to the highest point on the moors where he allowed us to give the 110 a few more dirty miles… you could feel the old beast’s excitement through the steering, like a pensioner who’s just taken the wrong little blue pill by accident, but we gave the Defender what it wanted anyway.

You’d have to feel for it sometimes, though.

You can imagine the treatment it must get every now and again, as clumsy new feet try to abuse the poor machine without giving it, or the off-road terrain, the respect it deserves. So what makes a good learner?

‘Essentially, anybody who wants to learn and anybody that has the right attitude is going to be someone I would rather teach,’ says Bob. ‘Someone who actually wants to be there, really.

I enjoy instructing a lot, especially if someone

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goes away and can put it into practical use and I’ve made their life simpler and safer.’

When I asked who makes for a better learner, male or female, Bob came over a bit coy. ‘I couldn’t possibly comment! Except to say the less testosterone, the better…’

Over so many years in one job, especially this job, it’s inevitable that you’ll gather a fair few memories. The places you see and the sheer amount of faces alone is surely enough for a sizeable album. Any highlights?

‘One of my best memories is working for the MOD,’ Bob recalls. ‘We were sent with the Operational Training Advice Group to Brunei and had to deliver 4x4 training to Ghurkha soldiers before they were deployed to Afghanistan. That definitely gave me a sense of fulfilment.’

Bob is qualified to teach just about any form of driving to just about anyone, with a host of titles including BORDA Specialist Trainer, Assessor and Verifier. He’s also an Approved Driving Instructor – meaning he could just as easily be trusted with getting your 17-year-old son through his test and on to the road.

It’s fair to say that no-one is going to be that qualified without having a depth of passion for what they do, and for Bob that’s exactly it. ‘This is our passion, the off-roading. That’s why we

got into this. The admin and sales and business side of things is just the necessary components needed to make a living.’

When Bob does have a chance to take a break from his business, you can expect to find him down a green lane somewhere with the same amount of wide-eyed curiosity as a meerkat.

Not the kind with a Russian accent, either.

‘I used to do the odd trial, but I’m much more interested in green laning these days. I like to explore and find places I’ve never been. I was on a break with some friends recently and on all three separate days I ended up going down a lane I’d never come across before. That’s the joy of it, that you still find new lanes even after 30 years.’

As for the equipment he uses, Bob has clearly decided what works for him over the years. ‘I love Land Rovers – they are one of the reasons why I am where I am today. But I’m a Toyota man, to be honest. The engineering is just that bit better, and they last.’

Whatever preference he may have, most of all Bob is a credit to off-roading. Now, having been coached by him personally, I feel glad that such a figure is entrusted with the task of educating the common man about our world. The future off-roaders of South Wales, and beyond, are in safe hands.

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In association with Maxxis and All County 4x4 • 0845 249 4414 • www.allcounty4x4.com

ROADBOOK

SOUTH-EAST KENT

Exploring the garden of England

With Britain’s landscape still wringing wet from the winter floods when we put together this copy of the magazine, we thought long and hard before reaching the conclusion that setting out a new roadbook would be a less than responsible thing to do. Instead , having promised you a route in Kent in last month’s issue, we’ve dipped into the archives to create a new roadbook from bits of three old ones dating from as far back as 2003.

Exploring the rolling farmland and leafy woods around what used to be the Kent Coalfield, this is a route that includes no small amount of very tight, scratchy trails – the terrain is mainly quite easy, but this one’s only for drivers who don’t mind getting a few scratches in their vehicle’s paintwork…

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In association with Maxxis and All County 4x4 • 0845 249 4414 • www.allcounty4x4.com

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ROUTE GUIDE START FINISH HOW LONG? TERRAIN HAZARDS OS MAPS

Chillenden (TR 271 536) Denton (TR 216 473) 32.4 miles / 4-5 hours Chalk hillsides, woods and farmland Scratching and possible panel damage Slippery ground when wet; some ruts Landranger 179 (Canterbury & East Kent)

IS IT SUITABLE? TYRES

WEATHER LOW BOX SOFT-ROADERS SCRATCHING DRIVING DAMAGE

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Road tyres will struggle in places when wet Avoid after very heavy rain Useful in place Mainly suitable with care Inevitable in several places Tight tracks need great care Encroaching trees are avoidable but could do panel damage APRIL 2014 | 79

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Step 10-11: Your paintwork will take a pasting on this lane. Two or three pastings, in factâ&#x20AC;Ś

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TR 271 536

Start at the Griffins Head in Chillenden, a couple of hundred yards south-east from the junction of Short Street and Griffin Hill. Zero your trip with the pub on your left and head more or less north-west, keeping your speed and revs right down all the way through the village

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Immediately after the building on the right, take the grass track along the field edge

Where the track splits, the right of way appears to run between the trees, though most 4x4s seem to have taken the field edge instead

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USING OUR ROADBOOKS

Elsewhere, simple common sense and courtesy should be your watchword. The do-and-don’t list below should always be in your mind, but keep your speed down, be ready to pull over for others and make it your aim to show the world that 4x4 drivers aren’t the hooligans they think we are.

NAVIGATION

Anti-4x4 bigotry does exist, but it’s less common than you’d think. By and large, it’s limited to organisations who just want to get the countryside all to themselves.

These organisations are beyond being reasoned with, but it’s rare to encounter real hostility even from their rank-and-file members. If you’re friendly towards the people with whom you share the countryside, the vast majority will respond in kind. There are always bad apples, but no more so than anywhere else.

Likewise, most local residents will accept your presence if you’re driving sensibly. What suspicion you do encounter is likely to be from people worried that you’re there to steal from them, so be ready to offer a word of reassurance. Once satisfied that you’re not after their quad bikes, their mood will lighten.

It only takes one vandal to tarnish a person’s view of all 4x4 drivers, and once the damage is done it tends to be permanent. But if enough of us resolve to be ambassadors, it might make a difference to the way we’re perceived by society in general.

Total Off-Road’s unique roadbooks guide you through the British countryside on a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads. The tracks we use are public rights of way, either Byways Open to All Traffic or Unclassified County Roads, all of them commonly referred to as green lanes.

Step 11: It feels very odd as the lane ends up in suburbia, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that this means you’re likely to encounter kids at play

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After the tracks rejoin, the way ahead looks very narrow. It’s okay, but you do need to scrape the left of your vehicle along the undergrowth to stay out of the field

Beyond this, as the track runs between hedges marking a field border, your paintwork will take a proper battering

Caution – watch out for kids playing as you climb a short hill to emerge between houses and into suburbia

Chillenden Nonington Aylesham

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We’ve deliberately made it as easy as possible to follow the route, using a mixture of instructions, tulip diagrams and grid references. We normally only include junctions at which you have to make a turning or don’t have right of way, so just stay on the main road or take the most straight-ahead option unless we tell you otherwise.

If you’re unfamiliar with six-figure grid references, you’ll find a guide to using them on the legend of any OS map. Our aim is for you to be able to do the route without maps, but we do recommend having them.

SAFETY

The symbols on the first page of the roadbook advise you of how suitable it is for your vehicle. These are just guidelines, however. We’ll warn you of any hazards or difficult sections, but the nature of any green lane can change quickly. Wet weather can make a huge difference to the conditions underfoot, and what’s wide open in winter can be tightly enclosed and scratchy in summer. The responsibility is yours!

Our roadbooks are designed to be safe to drive in a solo vehicle, and are largely suitable for standard 4x4s on road tyres. We do recommend travelling in tandem wherever possible, however. The risk of getting stuck can be greater than it appears – and if you break down, having help at hand can make the difference between it being inconvenient and downright dangerous.

RESPONSIBILITY

Irresponsible driving is a massive problem on green lanes. In particular, you must always stay on the right of way. Never drive off it to play on the verges or surrounding land, even if you can see that someone else has; doing so is illegal and can be tremendously damaging, both to the land and to 4x4 drivers’ reputation.

The fact that you can see where it’s happened shows how much harm it does. It’s no excuse to say you’re just following where another driver has already been. Most green laners have taken to videoing anyone they see behaving like this and passing the evidence to the police, which shows how much anger there is towards the criminal element.

ANTIS

DO’S & DON’TS

your speed right down • Keep Pull over to let walkers, bikers and •horse riders pass in large convoys: •splitDon’tintotravel smaller groups to avoid hassling others Leave gates as you found them Don’t drop litter Don’t go back to drive the fun bits, such as mud or fords, again Scrupulously obey all closure and

• • • •voluntary restraint notices Don’t cause a noise nuisance, •particularly after dark Ensure you have a right to be •there.

We research the routes

on our roadbooks very carefully, but the status of any route can change without notice Be prepared to turn back if the route is blocked, even illegally If you find an illegal obstruction, notify the local authority If someone challenges you, be firm but polite. Stay calm and don’t get into a slagging match Stick absolutely scrupulously to the right of way You have as much of a right to be there as everyone else. Which of course means they have as much right as you

• • • • •

APRIL 2014 | 81

11/3/14 16:32:23

Step 16: The entrance to the lane has been landscaped to prevent vehicles from straying on to the green next to it

15

19

7.8

16 7.85

ZERO TRIP

9.05

TR 275 505

Leave the road by the byway sign and keep the sectioned-off area of grass to your left

20 0.2

LONG LANE

17 8.15

TR 274 501

21 0.75

Shepherdswell 2 Coldred 4

18 8.95

22 0.8

TR 253 492

Turn right straight after the railway bridge – it’s the same one you crossed in Step 30, so ignore what your trip says. Immediately after turning, follow the track as it heads off left along the hedge line, over a mild axle-twister Grafham 1 Water

23 1.6

24 2.0

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11/3/14 16:32:40

25

29

2.05

3.1

WOMENSWOLD

26

30

27

31

2.4

3.4

2.5

3.5

Barham 2 Canterbury 3

28 2.6

32 3.6

Step 33-34: Local authority signs will warn you that this lane is being monitored for illegal usage. That includes speeding, and quite right too: after a spell of dry weather, we put up this much dust at about 10mph

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

10pp Roadbook Apr AK PAGE NOS.in83 83

APRIL 2014 | 83

11/3/14 16:32:54

Step 36: It’s only for a couple of car lengths, but thejunction is right at the valley bottom and tends to stay wet even when the rest of the lane is bone dry

33 3.7

TR 225 513

Caution – you’re crossing two T-junctions in one, and they’re both pretty busy roads

37 5.5

34

38

35

39

4.2

6.2

4.5

6.9

Kingston Barham

36 4.7

Follow the track to hug the field edge. Water gathers here and it’s very prone to flooding, so you’ll encounter ruts

40 7.2

Bishopsbourne 112

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11/3/14 16:33:09

41

46

7.8

Don’t trust this sign – it’s loose, and prone to rotating in the wind like a weather vane!

0.2

Bossingham Stelling Minnis

42

47

9.0

0.9

Burstead Manor Upper Hardres

43

1 134

TR 170 509

Follow the track ahead along the line of telegraph poles with the woods to your right

10.0

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

10pp Roadbook Apr AK PAGE NOS.in85 85

49 1.7

9.6

45

48 1.5

9.5

44

212 4

ZERO TRIP

TR 180 496

Caution as you climb the hill – there are sleepers in the track which create steps

50 2.1

FEBRUARY 2014 | 85

11/3/14 16:33:22

55 6.4

56

The main track swings left and upwards; you follow the red waymarker on to a faint grass track leading along the left-hand field edge

Follow through the gate then keep the tree line to your right. Look for red and blue tape on the gateposts

6.45

57 6.85

58 7.1

59

51

8.15

3.9

valley road

52

TR 192 471

6.0

8.6

53

Immediately after the road becomes a track, take care not to fork right into Thomas Acre Farm

54

Join a bigger track and follow ahead through the gate

6.1

6.3

86 | april 2014

10pp Roadbook Apr AK PAGE NOS.in86 86

60

TR 201 441

61 8.65

62 10.25

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

11/3/14 16:33:38

63

68

10.5

64

12.8

Turn right immediately after the building and before the 30mph signs at the start of Denton

10.7

69 13.0

65

70

11.35

13.45

Geddinge Shepherdswell

66 12.2

67 12.5

10pp Roadbook Apr AK PAGE NOS.in87 87

The track is very tight for much of its length, and there’s a hefty tree stump to easy your way over at this point

Turn left, slightly back on yourself, to take the track running along the hedge line. As you follow the edge of the field, the famous Lydden Hill rallycross circuit is to your right

Caution as you emerge – visibility is rubbish in both directions

Denton

71

1

Caution – this is a major road

13.9

72 14.35

Take it easy on the way into Denton, then arrive at the Jackdaw Inn on your left for the end of the route

11/3/14 16:33:54

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THE PREMIER SELLING SPOT FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLES AND PARTS

VEHICLES UNDER £5K VEHICLES UNDER £5K

Suzuki SJ413 trayback. Exo rollcage and winch bumper, SPOA, discs all round, Grizzly-Claws, axle breathers, snorkel, spotlights on cage, sports seats with harnesses and regular driver’s belt, chequer plate rear with external tank. 12 months’ MOT, goes well on the road. Spare set of wheels/ tyres. Speedo doesn’t work, transfer box fine in 2wd but shaky in 4wd. £1850 ONO. Call 07798 646483

Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DiD LWB 4x4 Manual. Tax to June 13, MOT Dec 13. Service History. New Toyo Open Country A/T tyres, new Polybushes all round; new Sachs shocks, new Pagid discs and pads. 103,000 miles.

7 seater, climate control, electric windows, sunroof, towbar. VGC. £4999 ono, 07870 369797

Land Rover Discovery 200 Tdi 3-door (K-reg). 127,000 miles, 12 months’ MOT, new sills. Very solid, drives well, tidy all round. Tow bar, sunroof. Owned last 10 years, regularly serviced, any trial. £1650 ono, 07973 412894 / 01623 871169

Mitsubishi Pajero 3.5 V6 GDi petrol automatic SWB (1997 R-reg).

102,8000 miles. Silver with Evolution style arches, 40mm factory lift and 3 suspension settings. Fully selective 4WD with diff lock. Winter and Diamond packs plus full spec. Cooper STT mud tyres with only 4K miles.

Great fun to drive. Full history and docs. £1695, contact Mike on 07973 955770 (West Middlesex area))

VEHICLES UNDER £5K handbrake on rear calipers, Salisbury rear axle with disc brakes, larger rear calipers (RR fronts), rear suspension modified to take front radius arms and panhard rod (no A-frame), long travel shocks, detachable front screen and frame, plus numerous spares. £2500 ono. Contact: Reg on 01229 587608 or 07774010797

Jeep Cherokee 4.0 Litre, 78,000k. Warminster, Wiltshire.

Comprehensively modified with £10k spent by previous owner. Bushwacker arches, Safari Snorkel, Skyjacker Nitro Maxi Lift, Hanson front and rear bumpers and sidebars, underside guards, Cobra race seats, Goodridge braided hoses, steel rime with as-new BFGoodrich rubber. 9 months’ MOT, cracking fun, wants a winch. I have a gas conversion kit also (not fitted).

Serious offers around £4000. Contact M. Newman 07719 192272.

Pure off-road CCV motor for trials only. Requires wheels to finish. £3500. Contact Matthew 07960 215718 for more details. Nelson, Lancashire.

Land Rover 90 4.6 V8 Automatic (1985). 134k miles. Built for comp safaris in the last two years. AWDC logbook, Malcolm rollcage, Terrafirma reservoir shocks, Milner fiddle brakes, Pajet twin electric fans, 5 new Technic Amazon tyres on Discovery steel rims, intercom, 3” harnesses; alloy sump guard; 10mm rubber tank guard and much more. £3750, 01874 731005 / 07887 753278 (Brecon area) Land Rover Discovery. Blue, LPG petrol, auto, remote central locking, heated door mirrors, PAS, ABS. 12 months’ MOT, good condition. £4000 ONO. Tel 07738 059125

92 | april 2014

92-95 Reader Ads Mar AK.indd 92

Suzuki Jimny JLX 1998 (S-reg).

12 months’ MOT, 5 months’ tax, full service history, 76,000 miles, metallic green, good condition, nearly new all-terrain tyres, tinted rear windows, new tow bar, parking sensors, cloth interior, cambelt replaced at 50,000 miles, 2 keys, non-smoker, drives well, very reliable. £1650 ono. 07807 016168 QT 86” CCV/comp safari motor, ARC class 10 CCV class 9 safari. For sale due to new build. 3.5 V8 EFI, captive engine and gearbox mounts, LT77 gearbox, LT230 transfer box with Rakeway short rear output shaft (no transmission hand brake), hydraulic

Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi, 165,000 miles. 12 months’ tax/MOT. Champion CT1200 winch, tank guard, removable 3T tow hook, tree/ rock sliders, sway bar disconnects, Terrafirma +2” HD springs and dampers, 2” lowered HD turrets front and rear, Terrafirma front relation cones and rear dislocation hooks, Optima batteries, X-Eng split

VEHICLES UNDER £5K

charge, 100-Amp Denso alternator, Polybushes, offset rims, Insa Turbos, Flatdog flexis, de-cat/EGR. £2350, @ Ewloe, 07557 992134

Cherished Reg RIJ 8990, on 1991 Mitsubishi Pajero SWB. MOT Jan 2014, taxed. Offers around Conwy. £750, 01492 531059

Land Rover Discovery TD5 (2001), 126,000 miles. MOT March 2014.

Kenlowe fan, +2” Terrafirma lift kit, heavy duty winch bumper and winch. Preston, Lancs. £3500, 01772 682137 / 07836 540386 Fiat Panda 4x4. 3-door, 1986. 999cc engine and 5-speed gearbox. Drystored off-road since 2002. Nudge and light protection bars. History back to 1990. £1000. Middlesex.

Call 020 8894 4346.

Ford Transit 4x4 County. 1998, 79,000 miles, one owner last 8 years. Orginally an electicity board van, laterally used as a beaters’ bus (during the shooting season only, therefore the vehicle is not curently taxed). 2.5 TD engine, folding bench seats in back will take 10 people or a full pallet. Can be driven on a standard driving licence. Maintained

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

10/3/14 17:32:33

Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

VEHICLES UNDER £5K

regardless of cost. Will be sold with a full year’s MOT. Ideal for converting into an overland expedition camper!

Shropshire area. £4750. Call 07836 630063.

VEHICLES UNDER £5K

Land Rover Discovery. Blue, LPG petrol, auto, remote central locking, heated door mirrors, PAS, ABS. 12 months’ MOT, good condition. £4000 ONO. Tel 07738 059125 Land Rover Discovery 2.5 TDI, spares or repair. All good engine and box. 98k, N-reg, 2-door, floor and sills rotten. £795 Macclesfield, 07779 797295

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7 CRD green laner. 2002, MOT Jan 2014, tax Mar 2014. 95,000 miles, well maintained but scratching on sides and dents to nearside wings. No rust, alloys fair.

Usual Grand luxuries (auto, cilmate, leather, heated electric seats).

Upgraded stereo with USB. HD rubber mats, rear and boot liner. Old Man Emu +2” lift, 4 BFG All-Terrain tyres.

Comprehensive Asfir and custom made underbody protection, bull bar, side steps. Quadra-Drive. Selling due to old age (mine, not the car’s!) £2650. Nottingham. 07973 155350, malcolm@pattman.biz

Toyota Land Cruiser II KZJ70. 1994 Rare 3.0 TD. Major recent service including new injectors, glow plugs, fuel pump timing, and timing belt, and rebuilt PAS pump, brakes and front axle. Mods include 285/75R16 Cooper Discoverer STTs on 16” steel rims, +2” Ironman springs, Rancho adjustable shocks, custom stainless exhaust, Detroit Truetrac locking rear diff, Trail Gear trunion bearing eliminators, custom snorkel and extended breathers, custom steering and fuel tank guards, LED strobes, high-output alternator, 13-pin Euro towing socket, electric fan, CB radio, roof bars, handsfree Bluetooth stereo. £5000ono, call David on 07740 342073 Range Rover 1991, for breaking.

Vogue SE, 3.9 V8, auto, black, many parts available. Tel 07729 955303, Surrey.

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

92-95 Reader Ads Mar AK.indd 93

Discovery 300Tdi XS. Red over silver, half-leather, MOT Jan 2014, bull bar, light bar on roof. 168,000, cambelt at 160,000. Good all round £1400, offers. www.facebook.com/ jerry.hack1

Suzuki Vitara JLX 16v Soft-Top. Very good condition. 56,000 miles.

11 months’ MOT, on SORN. 5-speed manual. 5 new tyres – Kumho Muds.

1.5” suspension lift, 2” body lift. Arch flares. Off Road Armoury front and rear bumpers. Champion 10,000lb winch. Rock sliders. Sump guard. ARB front diff. Loc-Right rear diff. 5.2 ratio diffs, plus spares. £1450 ono. Dorset area. andrew.tregillus@yahoo.com, 07766 248436.

VEHICLES OVER £5K

lights. Recent battery, swivels, starter, fuel tank, tailgate, rear crossmember, steering box, pump and damper, water pump, brake pump, all 4 discs and calipers. UJs, brake pads and wheel bearings always changed as soon as needed. Front recovery points, heavyduty steering bars, snorkel, tree and rock sliders, rear LED fog light, Extreme lockable cubby box with built in CB radio, touch-screen CD/DVD player.

Newly fitted Keith Gott truck-cab with headlining. Insa Turbo 285s with +2” rims and arches. £6500, 07909 547654 (Portsmouth)

1979 CJ7, totally rust free, LPG converted, 2 year rebuild, excellent condition, viewings welcome. £5,250 ono. 07518433598

Discovery 2003 TD5 ES, fully prepared and equipped overland vehicle completed by Footloose 4x4. Huge spec, outstanding condtion, taxed and tested, £15,950 Tel 07808 095659

VEHICLES OVER £5K

Defender 90 300 Tdi Truck-Cab (1996).

Great on the road, perfect off-road, 11 months MOT, end of 2013. Full 2” lift, springs, shocks, rad arms, trailing arms, polybushes, front heavy-duty shock mounts. Fitted amber recovery

Discovery 300 Tdi Auto trayback challenge truck. Full MOT, 6 months tax. Full external roll cage and rear tray.

Front Warn 8274 with GP mainshaft and brake kit, rear Goodwinch TDS, both with Bowrope. D44 cranked rear trailing arms and +2” lifted springs.

D44 +4” turrets and relocating cones on front plus dislocating cones on rear.

D44 challenge shock mounts. Qt diff guards. Internal and external winch controls. Allisport fuel tank, small steering wheel, twin alternators (one for

VEHICLES OVER £5K

vehicle, one for winches) and two extra batteries. Detachable front challenge wings and side locker compartments.

D44 rear tray light bracket and NAS lights. Steering guard, Sumo bars, Insa Turbo 285/75x16s. Sale also to include full challenge recovery gear including D44 ground anchor, double hooks, waffles, snatch block and high-lift jack.

OIRO £6000, may p/ex. Call Jason on 07850 681222

Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport. 1998, 4.0-litre, 53,317 miles. Unmolested, outstanding condition. Truly reluctant sale due to retirement. Tastefully chosen extras, too numerous to mention. Come and see for yourself! £7800. Milton Keynes.

07586 964422

Mitsubishi L200 Single-Cab pick-up.

2.5 diesel. 03 reg, MOT and tax. 1” body lift, full Stars and Stripes body wrap, roll bar, new cream and black interior, nudge bars, Fedima Sirocco tyres 285/75x16 on orange 16-inch wheels. Drives well. £5000, p/x poss.

Call 01895 255611 or 07904 333861.

Uxbridge Suzuki Jimny 2.5 V6. A project built

by Rhino Ray using a brand new 2008 Jimny shell and chassis, with 80-Series Land Cruiser axles, ARB front and LSD in rear. 33” KL71 Kumho muds.

2002 2.5 V6 engine, box and transfer case used. 56,000 miles total on this engine. 9000lb Warn winch front and 9500lb Superwinch rear. Full Rhino cage and 16” Fox coilovers used all round. Leather front seats. Rear is kitted out with compressor and recovery gear. Room for camping equipment in rear or roof rack. The vehicle is 6 years old on a private plate. I need to sell as currently having a 4.2 V8 Jimny built with auto box and portals! £8500 to include private plate. Full details on request. Contact via Rhino Ray on 01273 696796

Peter Best Insurance Services Limited www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

Make sure your parts and cars for sale are listed on these pages.

Send your ad details to enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk

april 2014 | 93

10/3/14 17:33:02

Peter Best Insurance Services Limited www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

Make sure your parts and cars for sale are listed on these pages.

Send your ad details to enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk VEHICLES OVER £5K

Jeep Wrangler TJ Jamboree Edition 2006, 20k miles, vehicle-specific reg.

MOT April 2014, tax March 2014. 4.0 manual, Dana 30 / 44 axles, ABS, aircon, cruise control, sound bar and subwoofer. 4” Skyjacker coils and shocks, Clayton adjustable greaseable control arms, 2” body lift, 35” Kumho KL71s, ‘Grizzly’ wheels on 1.25” spacers, JKS sway bar disconnects, Teralow 4:1 transfer box kit, ARB lockers front and rear, short shaft conversion with double-cardon rear prop, Solid diff covers, front outer halfshaft seals, cross-drilled front discs, Safari snorkel, K&N air filter, Power Raid throttle body spacer, Bestop Sunrider soft-top in black, 6” extended wheelarches, Hanson front winch bumper, Comeup 9.5i with standard and wireless remotes, synthetic rope, custom HD rock sliders, HD rear bumper with receiver hitch and swing-out wheel carrier. Thatcham 1 alarm, both original and aftermarket stereos if required. £9000. Teeside area. willmc@tiscali.co.uk, 01642 750908, 07932 104370.

VEHICLES OVER £5K

Land Rover 200Tdi challenge truck.

1960-reg on shortened chassis. Late Disco or Defender front and rear axles, lift kit including front and rear shock mounts, lowered longtravel shocks, QT caster-corrected front radius arms, cranked rear trailing arms, KAM rear diff lock, 285/75x16 Insa Turbo Special Tracks on modular rims with spacers, wide-yoke props, front and rear winches with twin batteries. Comes complete with straps, rope, high-lift and waffle boards. I bought the vehicle from a former Land Rover mechanic with his own garage premises, who built it a number of years ago. He had rebuilt the engine, gearbox, diffs, props and front winch just before I bought it. There are no oil leaks and it’s all clean underneath for viewing. £5950, Rotherham. Contact Garry, 07885 196565.

Land Rover 101 FC, 1976, lots of new parts including new tyres. 18 years on shooting estate, just refurbished.

12 months’ tax and test. £5000. Tel 01947 601612 or 07710 086722.

Yorkshire.

94 | april 2014

92-95 Reader Ads Mar AK.indd 94

Genuine brand new 2003-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ / TJL Unlimited tailgate hinges. Chrysler Jeep part no. 55395194. Finished in satin black powder coat. Complete with black moulded plastic clip-on trim covers and 8 hex-head bolts (used). £35, tel 07929 741435 (Basingstoke area)

Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado back bumper. In silver, taken from a 2001 TD 5-door (pre-facelift). Both rear light clusters are present and functioning, however the bumper itself has a medium-sized sent in the offside corner and some light scrapes on the nearside corner. Removed from the vehicle when heavy-duty bumpers were fitted – it’s never been in a crash or anything like that. £50 ono, tel 07968 960619, shrek.donkey@ hotmail.com (Derby area) Limiyed-slip diffs to fit Daihatsu Fourtrak. Two of factory spec. One year old. Cost new £875 each – price £260 each or £450 for the pair. Tel 07979 078688

Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series, 1998 4.2-litre diesel auto. Genuine 81,000 miles. Fully kitted out for off-road expedition work. Full specification available. £8000. Steve Berry, 01453 844400 or steve@ mountainkingdoms.com.

Newly built Peugeot 206 comp safari racer. We are selling a new 3M Peugoet 206 Racer. BMW V8 power with BMW auto box, rear engine, Milner transfer box, Fox shocks.

Never been in any mud, only driven on my driveway. White bodyshell, all independent suspension. Open to sensible offers, must sell, need my garage back. Ring Steve Smith, Warwick, 07860 200488.

PARTS UNDER £500

PARTS UNDER £500 SU Carburettors x2 mounted on Rover V8 manifold (included in sale). Removed from engine by me to install EFi system. The carbs were removed from a 3.5 engine in our race car. Prior to removal the engine ran perfectly on these carbs in all races we entered (many wins). They were correctly jetted for racing off-road.

Kidderminster. £150 no VAT. Contact Roy 01562 744204.

Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero Mk2 offside rear light. C/w bulbs, VGC, no damage. £14, Free postage.

East Kent. Contact D Clark. 07950 997713, delhel2003@yahoo.com Land Rover 90 secondary fuel tank, guard for main tank, 2 Huntmaster rally seats, good 4-point seat belt and 1 u/s 2 stirrup steps. Buyer collects.

Leek. £275 ono, 01538 386651

32 Suzuki Vitara front diffs (fronts only, no rears), 5.2 and 4.8s. £60 each to clear, tel 07979 078688 Matching set of 5 second-hand tyres. 235/85R16C. Standard roadgoing pattern, reasonably chunky but nice and quiet. Removed when I fitted off-road tyres. As new, £275 for the 5. 01243 788811 (Chichester) Five early Discovery alloys with four new General Grabber AT2 tyres, size 235/70R16. £400 ono. Tel 07837 342119

3.5 V8 Bowler Tomcat, built late 1985.

I got it in 2002 and spent £10,000 reconditioning it in late 2008 (receipts available). All running and working order, V5C present. £12,500, Graham 07779 144692, hayesforestry@ hotmail.co.uk

Suzuki Tyres General Grabber ATs 215x75R15. Two as new. £125. Call 07767 366686 Land Rover wheels. One new Michelin 4x4 205/80R16 on new steel Discovery rim, £60. Two new Kingpin MT Mud Trackers 205R16 on used steel Discovery rims, £70. Call 01874 731005 or 07887 753278. Powys

Isuzu Trooper alloy rims and 235x60ZR16 tyres. £150. Contact A Gregory, 59 Eldern, Orton Malborne, Peterborough PE2 5NQ 4 x Simex Extreme Trekker 35x11.50xR16. Part-used £150 each, or offers 07811 121235

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

10/3/14 17:33:25

Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

PARTS UNDER £500

2 Kumho KL71 tyres, 235/85/16 on steel Mk5 Hilux rims. Only a few Hundred miles driven only and never off road. Maximum tread left, Less than half price at £120 for both. Call Chris on 07920 286754

PARTS UNDER £500

Caranex tent for rear of Land Rover with double air bed. Buyer collects.

Leek. £175, 01538 386651

Merc G-Wagen heated rear window, lifted from a 463 model. £35 inclusive of postage to anywhere in the UK. Call 01475 726360 Back issues of TOR. Complete years from 2003-2010 in binders @ £10.00 per year or £50.00 for all (to include Sept 2002-Dec 2002). 2011 year, not in binder and missing October, £8.00.

All in good condition. Collection from mid Kent. Call Mark on 07720 405707.

Suzuki SJ413 parts. Front bumper £35, straight bull bar £35, exhaust manifold £20, spare wheel carrier £25, headlights £20 (pair), brake shoes (genuine boxed, part no 5321083041), cost £50 accept £20. 0161 748 5494 / 07786 635529

Ford Ranger Carryboy hard top.

Will fit Ford Ranger Mk2, 4 door (2003-06) or Mazda equivalent. £250 ono, 07768 623476 Four 255/70/15 General Grabber AT tyres 4 months old – 700 miles covered. £280. 07973 722364 Parts for Range Rover Sport / Land Rover Discovery 2010 onwards.

Birmingham. Driver’s airbag, black, new, £80. Also rear remote control and docking station with infra-red headphones, £200. Contact Max on 07866 095022 or Maliks111@ hotmail.co.uk

PARTS OVER £500

Beavertail car transporter trailer.

Load bed 15’1” long, 6’4” wide, total length 19’. Very robust steel trailer, fold-down ramps at rear. Heavy-duty jockey wheel and rear loading legs.

Bradley tow hitch stamped 2600kg.

Lights work fine. Spare wheel and hand winch. £1400 ovno, 07988 722055, malburman@fsmail.net KAP Outlaw spaceframe and body, tubes bent up and tacked together, fibreglass bodywork. Needs to go so make me an offer! Also as-new Nissan 350Z engine, 6-speed gearbox, loom, ECU, propshaft, key, imobiliser ring etc. Was removed from a running car with 3k on clock, £3999. Contact 07785 550556, nik@newards.com MCB 4x4 roof rack, chequerplate infill, 2 jerry cans (1 water, 1 fuel), alloy toolbox and sand ladders, fitted with air deflector, to fit a Discovery 1 or 2. Call 07966 385891. Newark

PARTS OVER £500

Ashcroft front and rear shafts and CVs (new, boxed), £880. Milner transfer box, £900. Adwest HD quick steering box, £500. Contact 07785 550556, nik@newards.com Mark 5 Toyota Hi-Lux rear diff, complete and unused. Manufacturer’s list price £1622 inc VAT, will accept £1000. Steven 07971 862005 Full 3.9 Megasquirt kit, inc brackets. £900. More details email davidlea2010@me.com J33PTC. For sale private number plate J33PTC. Currently on retention.

Asking price £750 but all offers will be considered. Contact Alan on 077366 50182

WANTED 4x4 truck to customise. Any condition, Nissan, Toyota etc. Can collect. Good price paid. dbkiddle@ hotmail.co.uk, 07775 998628 Rear headrests wanted for a 463 Mercedes G-Wagen. Tel: 01475 726360

ADVERTISE YOUR VEHICLE OR PARTS FOR FREE IN TOTAL OFF-ROAD!

Registration for sale. On retention.

Sensible offers. Contact Robert on 07753 949107 or robert.strothers@ btinternet.com.

Suzuki Jimny winch bumper, including all brackets to fit. £360, can post (add £25). East Sussex. 07979 078688 General Grabber AT2s. Set of 4.

237/70R16 with 9mm tread. £100, collect only. Ipswich area. Dave 07985 049605

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T otal Off-Road Classifieds, Repton House G34, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE15 0YZ 01283 741311 enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk

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2011 Dakar Rally DVD. Official Duke Video product, produced by ASO – guaranteed not a bootleg!

Never watched (unwanted gift), still in its shrink-wrap. Running time 60 minutes, would cost £14 direct from Duke. £5.00. Tel 07968 960619, email shrek.donkey@hotmail.com

4 Alloy wheels. 15 x 7J, finished in silver. Centre hole 108 mm. £150.00 ono. Delivery by arrangement. East Sussex. jpiddock@hotmail.com

Mark 3 Toyota Hi-Lux single-cab doors, finished in red, excellent condition. £200 for the pair. Steven 07971 862005

Defender Td5 black leather gearstick and diff-lock gaiter (new). £20.00. New radio connector for C42 radio. £20.00.

Stoke on Trent Tel. 07917 896739

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

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Peter Best Insurance Services Limited www.peterbestinsurance.co.uk Peter Best Insurance Services Limited 01621 840400

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april 2014 | 95

10/3/14 17:34:38

TOTAL CHAOS

T

he best thing about off-roading is always when you mess it up. Actually, it’s not, it’s when you mess it up then send us a photo of it, we print it and next thing you know you’ve got a free subscription to Total Off Road!

Every month, the best pics we publish on this page will be worth a year of free magazines to whoever sent them in. Just drop us an email at tor@assignment-media.co.uk and let us know what’s going, and leave the rest to us.

We want stuck 4x4s. Drowned 4x4s. Rolled, sunk and burning 4x4s. If it’s all going wrong for somebody, it’s all going right for us! Over to you…

ASTIN RALPH-SMITH has appeared on these pages before, and here he is proving that he’s not one for going soft. This is what happened when he took his 200Tdi Defender on the new course at Hadley Extreme in Shropshire. ‘As you can see, I got in a little bit of trouble,’ he says. No, what we can see is him getting in a big bit of trouble. ‘I found out afterwards that a 22-tonne machine had been stuck in there the previous week,’ he explains. You may have noticed in the last picture (below right) that his steering bar is looking like a banana… ‘causing my wheels to turn like a crap, which people found quite amusing.’ What we find amusing is that while we think he probably meant ‘crab.’ he might not…

THIS IS A STRANGE ROVER, and it’s at a strange angle.

Gavin Woodman (that’s him on the roof) explains that it all started with a recovery attempt. Which, by an elegantly symmetrical turn of events, is what it all ended with too

tor@assignment-media.co.uk • We want your pics!

96 | april 2014

Chaos Apr.indd 96

TOTAL OFF-ROAD

7/3/14 17:42:54

Spring_Goodwinch_v2_Layout 1 10/03/2014 08:21 Page 1

SPRING

SPECIAL

BUMPER AND WINCH DEAL DEFENDER:

TDS-9.5c or TDS-9.5i (bridge model), complete with wire rope, roller fairleads, swingaway pulley block, vehicle wiring kit, cut out switch and battery link, TDS Wireless Radio Remote, a pair of swivel recovery eyes and tested shackles, and a standard Defender, non air con Bumper.

All for £599 plus VAT (air con plus £10 plus VAT) (normally £700 plus VAT)

DISCOVERY 1 or 2: All as above, but with a standard Disco ‘1’ or ‘2’ Bumper

All for £649 plus VAT

GO PROFESSIONAL

add Dyneema® Bowrope + Ali Hawse

£145 plus VAT when purchased with winch

TDS-9.5c

All of this for

Goldfish winch

£399

• • • • •

plus VAT

9500 lbs 5.0 HP Waterproofed winch 100’ Wire rope Roller fairleed Pulley block

All prices plus carriage

Goodwinch Limited Tel: +44 (0)1363 82666 Fax: +44 (0)1363 82782 www.goodwinch.com sales@goodwinch.com East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, England, EX17 6DH Goodwinch AD Apr.indd 1

11/3/14 15:20:03