4x4 Magazine October 2018

4x4

NEWS • PRODUCTS • TRAIL GUIDES • WORKSHOP • CALENDAR • OFF-ROAD SCENE DRIVEN: Latest Ford Ranger 3.2 TDCi

THE UK’S ONLY 4X4 AND PICK- UP MAGAZINE

UNLIMITED APPEAL

Approaching its tenth birthday, this tidily modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is a winning all-rounder – and still worth more than it cost new

£4.75

NEW! RoadbookTrailwise2: GLASS launches the best ever tool for UK rights style green lane guides. This month: of way research

OCT 2018

North York Moors

Restified Defender 110 that’s a work of creative genius AWAITING TW2 4x4 Cover Oct AKSK.indd 1

03/09/2018 12:51

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INTEREST OVER 4 YEARS FORD RANGER DV8 WORKS ARMOURED PLUS EDITION

3.2 Diesel Auto 200 PS | £492.04 per month | £11800 Customer Deposit ( VAT + 20% ) | £8687 Balloon Payment*

14 Drayton Manor Dr, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9RQ, UK +44 1789 774881 dv8works.com Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Credit supplied

by Allen Ford *Balloon payment is the final payment. Subject to change.

From service essentials...

JeepSpares.com is proud to be able to offer a range of products to suit a variety of budgets and brand preferences. Here are some examples of some of our essential brands…

Unibrakes – Reliability with Affordability Unibrakes manufacture over 1500 varieties of Brake Pads, 800 varieties of Brake Shoes, and 2800 varieties of Brake Discs & Drums for saloon cars, light cars, 4x4’s and commercial vehicles. Using advanced equipment & technology, Unibrakes are able to offer highquality products at prices more proportionate to the maintenance of vehicles no longer inside the Manufacturers warranty. Tried and tested across a number of 4x4 applications, Unibrakes offer a great value alternative for vehicles undergoing more frequent service intervals.

Allmakes 4x4 – 4x4 is our Forte For 40 years Allmakes has been supplying quality aftermarket products into the 4x4 market. The company’s dynamic buying strategy and focus on fast-moving products, allows them to smart-source from the worlds leading aftermarket manufacturers and continuously improve the quality of the products that are most in demand.

With ranges to suit a variety of budgets and attention on quality, Allmakes 4x4 underpin a number of areas in the JeepSpares.com product catalogue.

TJ Filters – Respecting a classic TJ Filters offer an established range of quality standard filtration products and have been in the market for over 40 years. TJ Filters is a trusted brand that has been given a new lease of life as a replacement aftermarket product that also carries the QH brand and symbol of quality. The ideal brand for JeepSpares.com to include in our range and one that offers great value and reliable filtration performance.

jeepspares.com

...to quality brands...

Mann + Hummel

QH

The premium brand from MANN+HUMMEL is called MANN-FILTER, a global brand defined by more than 75 years of experience in the filtration sector, and OE to a number of major vehicle manufacturers including Volvo, Mercedes Benz and Lamborghini.

Magnetti Marelli

Champion

Magneti Marelli supplies all the leading car makers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Within the scope of its mission as a world-wide automotive systems and components supplier, Magnetti Marelli aims at combining quality, technology and versatility, with the goal of making key technologies available to the final user at a competitive price. Magneti Marelli is also part of Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA).

Dayco

Decades of experience combined with comprehensive, innovative and globally acknowledged capabilities in every aspect of the engine are factors that have driven Pierburg in its mission of repeatedly developing and manufacturing forwardlooking components, modules, and systems.

For over 100 years, the iconic Champion® brand has been a world leader in the manufacture of spark plugs for every kind of combustion engine. From innovation aviation technology to a tradition of motorsports dominance, the Champion brand has been a part of product development in every type of engine.

Nissens

Utilizing the latest and most advanced technologies, Dayco’s flexible design and manufacturing strategy matches materials to specific application needs. Dayco’s material database is constantly evolving, enabling coverage across all market segments no matter the application, environment or performance requirements.

Dayco belts are available now from JeepSpares.com.

Pierburg

Quinton Hazell (QH) is a guarantor for highquality spare parts and accessories. The extensive product range and the very high quality make the brand a recognized partner in the independent market for spare parts.

JeepSpares.com currently offers QH products on our water pump and gasket options.

Since 1921, Nissens has developed, manufactured, and supplied a wide range of automotive radiators, climate control products, and thermal solutions for a variety of businesses all over the world. Nissens is recognized as an OES/OEM supplier to SAAB, Mazda, VW, Toyota, Honda, FCA, Lamborghini and Aston Martin.

Delphi Lockheed Delphi are an established UK-based supplier of original parts to vehicle manufacturers around the globe. While Delphi specialises in numerous areas of the vehicle, it’s the Delphi friction products, including those under the Delphi Lockheed brand, that JeepSpares.com felt would best suit the braking section of the JeepSpares.com product catalogue.

Bosch Bosch is a name that needs little introduction. Its product portfolio includes products made as Bosch original equipment, as well as aftermarket products developed and manufactured inhouse. Bosch is currently the exclusive choice for OE quality wiper blades on JeepSpares.com.

...to premium performance. jeepspares.com

Whatever your preference, we’ve got a spare to suit everyone.

Mopar

PR2 Many products on JeepSpares. com have been selected for inclusion in our exclusive range of Premium Quality products known as PR2.

Our system for quality testing, monitoring, review and selection means we are able to either award PR2 status to those products that qualify, deny PR2 status to those products that don’t, and even strip the status from products that previously qualified but no longer perform to the required level.

PR2 are in essence the products that our team feel have demonstrated their quality to exceptionally high standards and so warrant recognition as elite products. Any product carrying the PR2 mark carries a 2-year warranty period either from the manufacturer themselves, or exclusively from JeepSpares.com

Online at:

jeepspares.com

Phone us:

01235 832900

Email us:

info@jeepspares.com

For 80 years, Mopar has been the source for genuine parts and accessories for all FCA brands.

“The Mopar brand holds an unparalleled place in the automotive world, possessing name recognition, scope of service and passionate enthusiasts unmatched by any other service and parts organization in the industry” Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar),

We couldn’t claim to truly offer Jeep Spares unless we were able to offer products from the Genuine source, and of course for many, Mopar is the only source for the part or accessory that they require, and so at JeepSpares.com not only are we an approved dealer of Mopar products, but our team also have access to the official FCA parts catalogues, and carry stock on an increasing number of fast moving MOPAR products.

Parts catalogues Cherokee & Liberty, Wrangler, Patriot and Compass, Grand Cherokee and Commander.

Large discounts on parts and accessories.

Regularly updated.

Vehicle specific catalogues are free to download or available in hard-copy by request. Speak to the team or visit the site if you wish to find out more about our products and services.

October 2018

T H IS M O N T H 22

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03/09/2018 15:47

93 12 ISSUES OF 4X4 – FOR JUST £12!

This has got to be the best value offer in the history of publishing… subscribe to 4x4 for a year and it’ll only cost a quid an issue!

News 14 16 16 18 19

40

Ford Ranger Raptor Much-vaunted super-truck is on its way…

V6 X-Class 3.0-litre power as Merc’s range extends upwards Jeep Renegade Prices announced for the new-look award-winner Nissan Navara Special-edition model goes to the top of the range Suzuki KingQuad Major updates for a farmers’ favourite

Tested 22 28 30

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Full test of the range-topping 3.2 TDCi Jeep Cherokee Pre-facelift verdict on Jeep’s off-road sleeper Fiat 500X What’s going on beneath its winsome face?

Every Month 4 6 8 10 12 33 80 96

Alan Kidd Trailwise2 is a massive leap forward for GLASS Gallery When we drove up Mount Etna… and it went off Destinations Kaokoland: a paradse accessible only to 4x4s Lost Lanes The Ridgeway: Once a road, now a dog toilet What Jeep Did Next… The FC150 is, quite simply, beautiful Products The latest good stuff for you and your vehicle Roadbook Step-by-step laning route in the Yorkshire Dales Next Month At last – time to get aboard the new Jimny!

56

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Features 40 44 48 56

Cooper Tires Behind the scenes of Cooper’s Texan test centre Aged 110 One of the most creatively modded trucks you’ll see Superb JKU Awesome Jeep bought and built at a bargain price One Last Time… Ardent’s final Lake District lane run

Our 4x4s 64

Jeep Cherokee A horror show from beneath our lifted XJ

Off-Road Scene 68 72

Trailwise2 GLASS launches a major mapping initiative Odyssey Challenge Round 4 goes ahead, but only just

Off-Road Calendar 69 73 76

UK Convoy Tours Tag-along runs on public rights of way Pay-and-Play Events Go in as hard as you want Overland Travel Long-range adventures in your 4x4

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4x4 2-3 Contents.indd 3

“It’s so steep, you can’t drive back up again and have to take the easy way out. In this case, ‘easy’ means two days of boulders…”

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Alan Kidd Editor

I

t was in March 1993 that I had first inter ie r t e de ut edit r’s n t is a a ine didn’t kn a l t a ut r adin ut as a ter a na t rin a and t is ne s unded like a l t re un t an t e su s’ desk at Carweek s t ere as ein inter ie ed t e c a as edit r at t e ti e a e u eard reen lanin ’ as ne is uesti ns c uld tell t at it as s et in e didn’t like ack t en t e a a ine as all a ut c in s and li est le e did a t s t at a l atc nce r ea en’s sake and r u s udd lads ettin t et er t restle t eir trucks d n scratc ri ts a as ell a it ul ar at as t e essa e as ettin l ud and clear ke t ut s ut ut as sat t ere in inter ie t u t it s unded ust antasticall d un c uldn’t elie e t at ere in ritain t is starc ed u utt ned d n little lace ere e er t in as t a e a ence r und it and n t in is all ed t e ut t e rdinar s et in as utlandis as unsur aced r ads c uld still e ist le t antin t e and antin t reen lanin as s n as ssi l c uld t at as a l n ti e a l n t at t e nks r d as still en ere t e id e a a ide alna car arn elen eadla i all t e s ack t en lanin as still t e ree and eas asti e it uld still e i t se starc ed u utt ned d n ritis attitudes adn’t een r u t t ear n it ut t e d ne s r all us still l e lanin is t at s e ne reall is d in s et in u’ e r a l eard t e reen Lane Ass ciati n LA ic is res nsi le r rail ise an nline data ase e er u lic ri t a and unclassified in r r ad in ritain rail ise is a en enall alua le t l r all us l e t e lanes ut t at didn’t st LA r re lacin it it s et in e en etter As rite t is rail ise as een li e r a atter urs As a LA e er sel as rett uc strai t n t ere t see it rked and

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Trailwise 2 is what we’ve been crying out for it ut antin t s und like an e cited kid it’s rilliant r er a s it selecta le erla s s in e er a and unsur aced r ad in n land and ales eac t e c lete it ack r und in r ati n n its status and a ra t c ents r ided real users n its nature c nditi n in erent r le s and s n it’s ust at t e lanin c unit as cr in ut r ack in t se lden da s en started ritin a ut all t is stu r anisin a lane run eant u in a er a s t en arkin t e u it a i li ter isitin t e l cal aut rit t c eck t e a ainst t e definiti e a and i a s rec rds ile ein ect red disa r in ri ts a ficers in s e cases t en in ut n a s ul destr in recce t find ut ic ri ts a ere actuall usa le rail ise as ne er een a a ic and r all t at in articular t e definiti e a is still e actl at its na e sa s ut used t find sel astin ur a ter ur dri in lanes nl t disc er s et in ards r t e end t at ade t e unusa le r tr in ar und findin ne si n a ter an t er is i ensel use ul s urce in r ati n n ur lanes all s u t d all t at e re uttin ur dra t r ute t et er c urse t ere’ll e issi ns r inaccuracies and t ere are still areas ere n ne t e lanes a e e er ad an users’ c ents ut erall it’s a s inin e a le a c unit res urce and LA u t t e er r ud it u d a e t e a LA e er t use e er ut as ar as ’ c ncerned t at’s a d t in t ust ecause alread as ne an a ut ecause t e reater t e nu er dri ers in t e ass ciati n t e etter e’re a ersecuted in rit reen laners and t e re unit t ere can e a n us t e etter

el Email: en uiries assi n ent edia c uk Web: t tal r ad c uk ic Online Shop: t r nline c uk Facebook: ace kc t tal r ad ace kc a Editor Alan idd Assistant Editor e r eD e Art Editor a ant a D’ u a Contributors ike r tt ra a c tt aul L Dan enn i ans ll ack

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Photographers arr a ic eel te e a l r ic ard air a el rack iak Group Advertising Manager an Ar ent Tel: Advertising Manager lin As rt Tel: Advertising Sales Manager eter le Tel: Advertising Production ara idd Tel: Subscriptions Manager at erine artin Subscriptions Assistants a er a unnicli e A i Dutt n Publisher and Head of Marketing ara idd Email: sara kidd assi n ent edia c uk su scri e t 4x4 incorporating Total Off-Road r rene ur su scri ti n call urrent rices r issues issues ur e Air ail ur ace Air ail Distributed by Marketforce; www.marketforce.co.uk Every effort is made to ensure the contents of 4x4 are accurate, but Assignment Media accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor the consequences of actions made as a result of these. When responding to any advert in 4x4, 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 from responding to adverts Where a photo credit includes the note ‘CC BY 2.0’ or similar, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence: details at www.creativecommons.org 4x4 is u lis ed use ret Der s ire D

Assi n ent

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4x4 03/09/2018 09:58

Let the fun begin!

The perfect gift for any little Land Rover fan.

Fully licensed by Land Rover, these Defender 12V electric toys are suitable for children aged 3 to 8.

These toys are well equipped with features such as EVA wheels for reduced ‘road noise’, shock absorbers for a comfortable ride and working LED lights. MP3 connectivity means your little ones can listen to their favourite music as they drive around. The cars can be controlled by either the child driving or by a parent with the remote control handset. 2.4GHz radio control ensures each car has its own frequency so can’t be controlled by anything else - ideal if you have two Defenders in the same location. With opening doors, entry to the vehicle is nice and easy. Let the fun begin! > 12V 7AH battery > 5 point seat belt > Power indicator display > MP3 connection > Real key start > Two forward and reverse gears > Working LED lights and engine noise > 2.4GHz radio control > Opening rear door with storage space > Easy to assemble > 2 shock absorbers > Fun!

DA1521

White Plastic finish DA1524

Red Painted finish

Plenty more images of these amazing Defenders online at www.britpart.com/defenders DA1523

Silver Painted finish DA1522

Orange Plastic finish DA1525

Black Painted finish Size - 1,320 x 600 x 670mm / Weight - 25kg

GALLERY

In pictures: 4x4s and off-road stories from around the world

Back in 2004, Nissan took us to Sicily for the launch of what was to be the last major model update in the Patrol’s glorious history. Not just any old bit of Sicily, though – having landed on the island, we were presented with a route book taking us up the side of Mount Etna. Cool, we thought… until someone let slip that the route had had to be revised a little, on account of the eruption that was going on at the time.

Happily, Etna is a big old lump, and the action was happening on the far side of the summit, so on we went. Having parked as far up as we were allowed to drive, however, a guide stuck his axe into the ground, hacked out a hole about eight inches deep and invited us to stick our hands in it. It was like getting something out of the oven. Just the sort of territory where you need a dependable vehicle – and our very own editor was so impressed t at t e ti e e e e e’d c n inced issan’s an t sell i one. If a truck can survive Etna, after all, magazine life should be a breeze…

6|

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:07

EFS SUSPENSION SYSTEMS AVAILABLE NOW FOR YOUR 4X4 Brutal terrain, washboard gravel roads and harsh desert the Australians know a thing or two about what’s needed when it comes to tough suspension.

Designed and developed in Australia, EFS suspension provides a complete integrated package of Springs, Shocks & Components that work together to give quality on-road handling characteristics & superb off-road ability. The EFS range is under constant development and is rigorously tested in real-world applications by 4WD enthusiasts around the world.

With an EFS product, you have on-road performance and off-road excellence, backed by a 3 year/100,000km warranty.

Contact the Devon 4x4 team to discuss fitments for your vehicle and application.

Devon4x4_SINGLE_PG_EFS_AD_AUG18_AWOT.indd 1

13/08/2018 02:50

DESTINATIONS

The world’s greatest 4x4 travel adventures caught on camera – this month, the mountainous corner of Namibia that’s accessible only by 4x4

Kaokoland A landscape from a dream. Wildlife rarely seen by human eyes. A tribal population barely touched by modernity.

And you can only get there by 4x4. Kaokoland, a mountainous region in north-west Namibia, is overland adventure ers nified e’re talkin a ut an area t ice t e size of Wales – with the same population as Stowmarket.

The majority are Himba, a nomadic tribe whose ochre body paint is instantly recognisable, and who have come to be part of the travel experience.

The perfect moment on many an expedition has come it t e descent an l’s ass ic dr s ut t e sk t t e ancient lacial alle arien uss t’s s stee and r ck t at u can’t dri e ack u a ain a terards and a e t take t e eas r ute ut n t is case eas ’ eans t da s ulders Driving pics: Sergio Conti @ flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Village: Himba Tribe: Mud Huts, by whatleydude @ flickr. com, CC BY 2.0 Himba woman: Himba Tribe, Kamanjab, Namibia. by yeowatzup @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0 Himba boys: Himba im Kaokoland, by Michael Hübner @ flickr.com, CC BY-ND 2.0

8 | OCTOBER 2018

Gallery etc Oct.indd 8

4x4 02/09/2018 23:07

Are you looking for Adventure?

For Work or Play, TUFF-TREK® supply a wide range of specialist products and accessories for your vehicle

The Adventure Starts Here!

OUR 4X4 OR PICK UP FOR WORK OR H OUR RANGE OF QUALITY ACCESSORIES

4X4UP ORFOR PICK UP FOR PREPARE PREPARE YOUR 4X4YOUR OR PICK WORK OR WORK OR ADVENTURE OUR OFACCESSORIES QUALITY ACCESSORIES ADVENTURE WITH OURWITH RANGE OFRANGE QUALITY ® genuine Canvas Tuff-Trek ® Tuff-Trek genuine Canvas Awnings and Roof-Tents,Roof-Tents, Awnings and Overland Equipment.

Overland Equipment.

ine Canvas nings and uipment.

EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTOR FOR WILD • EUROPEAN •DISTRIBUTOR FOR WILD HARD TOP TENTS. EARTH HARDEARTH TOP TENTS. THE ULTIMATE SERIES ADVENTURE SERIES THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE ROOF TENTS.ROOF TENTS.

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02/07/2018 12:59 Facebook: www.facebook.com/tuff.trek Twitter: twitter.com/tufftrek Facebook: www.facebook.com/tuff.trek Twitter: twitter.com/tufftrek

LOST LANES

In memory of Britain’s many rights of way which, over the years, have fallen victim to petty politics and local self-interest

The Ridgeway Having been in use for more than 5000 years, the Ridgeway has been called Britain’s oldest road. But it’s now Britain’s oldest ex-road, because it was the i est r file icti t e le islati n in ic t e lair ern ent enacted t e i est cl sure ri ts a t e nati n as e en seen n ilts ire and est erks ire ere it ad alread een c rrectl classified as a a and t ere re esca ed t e a e it re ains le al t dri e al eit nl in t e su er ut a u e rti n t e trail runs t r u rds ire ere it re ained classified as as a ad sed as a u lic at and as therefore defenceless against the dishonest lawmaking that turned it into yet more vehicle-free footways for people who already have more of the countryside to themselves than they know what to do with.

10 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:07

S u s p e n s i o n

-

P r o t e c t i o n

-

R e c o v e r y

LOWERED SPENSION N KIT SUSPENSION

extreme COMPETITION DAMPERS The remote reservoir works by allowing increases in the volume of the oil and cooling temperature, this then gives better performance and a better service life to the damper in extreme driving conditions.

• • • • • • •

Solid 20mm Chrome plated steel shaft.

Black anodised billet alloy fittings.

52mm diameter steel body - bored and honed.

Incorporates the “Halite” seal.

600mm Stainless steel braided hose with steel swivel fittings.

52mm steel remote reservoir.

Nitrogen gas charged from 60 psi to 200 psi.

Silicon steel, heat treated, shot peened and powder coated spring with Competition Dampers.

200 psi Nitrogen charged.

EVO 2 SUSPENSION KITS

extreme CHALLENGE PLUS DAMPERS We have updated our popular Challenge Dampers - designed for off road as well as fast road use. Complete with standard mounting and will require Extreme tubular front turrets.

• • • • • •

The articulation from the Extreme kit and the axle drop of 2” kit as well as great stability and traction!

Solid 20mm Chrome plated steel shaft.

Black anodised billet alloy fittings.

52mm diameter steel body - bored and honed.

Incorporates the “Halite” seal.

Nitrogen gas charged from 60 psi to 200 psi.

Available in standard height, +2’’ and +5” lengths for Defender, Disco 1 and RRC.

Std, +2” and +5” Heights

extreme NAS REAR BUMPER TOW STEP

NEW EXTREME DISCO 2 CHALLENGE DAMPERS Now available for Disco2! Standard or plus 2 inch ride de he height. ight.

Designed for off road as well as fast road use with stad tad mountings to make it easy to replace existing dampers. pers.

• • • • • •

extreme NAS STEPS e WITH QD RECEIVER

Fitted with genuine Polybush.

White Powder Coated finish.

Solid 20mm S45C steel shaft chrome plated for extra long seal and shaft life.

Twin tubed 46mm bore with 52mm diameter outer case.

Incorporates the “Hallite” seal.

Teflon piston seal.

*optional accessories shown.

Built in quickly detachable receiver point. Two built Bu in Hi-lift jacking points. Available for LR 90 & 110 CSW, Hardtop & Double Cab Pick Up.

NEW EXTREME DISCO 2 STEERING DAMPERS Extreme Steering Dampers are designed to reduce steering d conditions. vibration, “Bump steer” & steering snatch in off road • • • • • •

White Powder Coat finish.

Solid 20mm S45C steel shaft chrome plated for extra long seal & shaft life.

Incorporates the “Hallite” seal.

Teflon piston seal.

Race proven.

Fitted with standard bushes.

Built in towing point and step. Choice of anodised, standard or black chequer plate.

Two built in Hi-lift jacking points.

extreme +5” SPRINGS FOR LR 90

+5” Springs ngs shown for or Med Medium Load LR 90’s.

90 Silicon steel, heat treated, shot peened and powder coated. Standard height to +5”available.

1000’s OF products ON www.extreme4x4.co.uk E&OE.

sales@extreme4x4.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1206 868 411

Open Mon - Fri 9-5pm

WHAT JEEP DID NEXT…

Historical highlights of the concept vehicles Jeep builds every year for the Moab Easter Safari. This month: one of the coolest classic 4x4s of all time

2016: FC150 Jeep presented the FC 150 as one of its concept vehicles at the 2016 Easter Safari iun Moab. But this isn’t actually a concept vehicle at all. It’s actually perhaps the most beautiful example of restificati n u’ll e er see The FC 150 is an original forward-control Jeep from 1960.

Back then, it was based on the CJ-5. But this one was removed from its old leaf-sprung chassis and rebuilt on the shortened and dified ra e r a ran ler The 4.0-litre straight six engine is TJ-era too, as is the good ld t ree s eed r ue ite aut e ind it t u t is dates r earlier t an t e ran ler ic d nated its c assis to the cause.

Down below, 17” steel rims are mounted on Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles. The BFG Mud-Terrains are a pleasingly restrained 33” in size, which sits well with the truck’s nicely a ed d rk ee decided n t t rest re it t ri inal showroom condition, and most people would agree that this was the right choice.

Further period touches include a ‘duck hunting’ design for the headlining, but what really matters is that the battlescarred steel body atop the FC 150 is the real thing from back in the day. The last word goes to Jeep itself: ‘A true American workhorse, this 1960 FC 150 concept vehicle is rich with heritage and built to tackle both challenging rocky trails and the harshness of a western cattle ranch.’ It just doesn’t get any cooler than that.

12 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:07

PB CUSTOMS 4x4

01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk

01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co

01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk 01832 358948 www.pb-custom 01832 358948 www.pb-c

01832 358948 www 01832 358948 01832 35

• Custom Builds • Modifications

• Overland Prep & Conversion • Parts & Acessories m Builds • Modifications

• Dinitrol Authorised Wax Protection Centre Modifications

Conversion • Parts & Acessories • Repairs & Servicing

on • Parts & Acessories BuildsWax • Modifications orised Protection Centre x Protection Centre Conversion • Parts & Acessories epairs & Servicing 01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk ervicing ds • Modifications rised Wax Protection Centre 01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk ersion&•Servicing Parts & Acessories pairs

PB CUSTOMS 4x4

PB Customs Apr 18.indd 1

30/07/2018 07:55

•

4x4 NEWS

RANGER RAPTOR SET FOR UK

High-spec off-road model • 210bhp, 369lbf.ft 2.0-litre engine • Mid-2019 launch, prices TBA

F

ord’s much-vaunted Ranger a t r as een c nfir ed for a European debut in the middle of 2019.

Presented as the most extreme version of the smash-hit double-cab, the Raptor is a model which Ranger enthusiasts have been longing for – with some going so far as to build dified e icles ased n t eir own vision of how they would like it to be.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine developing 210bhp and 369lbf. ft. That’s only a modest amount more power and torque than the 3.2 TDCi currently powering top

14 | OCTOBER 2018

4.5 News Oct AK AWAITING AD.indd 14

models in the Ranger line-up, but a key difference is that the Raptor will come as standard with a new 10-speed automatic gearbox.

This unit is shared with the other Raptor in the Ford stable – the F-150 model, whose sheer size makes it impracticable for the UK but whose attitude has been carried over to the Ranger version.

Another difference to the standard Ranger is that the Raptor’s chassis is strengthened using low-alloy

steel. Fox shock absorbers are fitted eaturin siti n sensiti e damping which adapts to suit the conditions – whether off-road or on tarmac. st si nificant all e er may be that the Raptor will adopt coil-sprung rear suspension, with a bespoke coil-over system designed to minimise lateral movement. Up

front, meanwhile, the suspension runs on aluminium control arms.

Braking is by 332mm ventilated discs with a width of 32mm at the front and 24mm at the back.

Wrapped around custom 17” alloys is a set of 285/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrains.

In terms of the vehicle’s appearance, an F-150 Raptor-

4x4 03/09/2018 15:50

4x4 NEWS

SPECIALIST 4X4 VEHICLE DISMANTERS JEEP - LAND ROVER AND MOST MAKES AND MODELS QUALITY GUARANTEED USED PARTS inspired grille adorns the nose and ared c site eelarc es all r urt er sus ensi n travel and larger tyres. Underbody r tecti n is ade t ick i stren t steel as are t e an er’s en ine and trans er case unders ields ck de ectin side ste s and a ne r nt u er urt er re are t e an er r re s irited r ad acti n nsur risin l t e a t r’s interi r ill c ntain all t e eatures and tec n l currentl ered in t s ec ersi ns t e standard an er rd’s nc in tain ent s ste is fitted and sa et eatures include sta ilit c ntr l r ll iti ati n trailer s a c ntr l ill start assist ill descent and l ad ada ti e c ntr l eatin as een dified t c e it t e de ands i er r ance r ad dri in it dual fir ness cus i nin and suede e ect te tiles t a rd assen ers re posterior grip.

Als n t e tec r nt t e a t r ets added dri in des ese include t e e ected candidates r al ill e asise c rt and uel e ficienc rt a urs re a ressi e n r ad

dri in rass ra el n difies throttle and steering responses t c e n sli ier sur aces ud and rks r tracti n er l se sur aces and ck is set u r r ck cra lin at l s eeds st interestin t u is aa de ic is tail red r dune as in nlikel e er t e necessar in ritain ut e er it as e cati e as t e Dri t de rd ca e u it r t e cus rin in re er r a s aller en ine isn’t al a s t e st r isin a r ac r r adin es eciall i u d n’t ant t end u r ad in t e t er sense t e rase ut rd sa s t e litre unit as us ed t t e li it durin testin it t e i and l ressure tur s lasted c ntinu usl r as l n as urs’ t u use e launc date r ur ean ersi ns t e a t r as een i en as id ut as et t ere’s n indicati n at it ill c st in t e A l t e’d i a ine es eciall i as re ains ssi le it can’t e classified as a c ercial e icle lent uld e ners ill e read and aitin t lace an rder an a

SOME OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE RECENTLY DISMANTLED:

2015 JEEP WRANGLER JK 2.8CRD

2007 DODGE NITRO 2.8CRD

2016 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.0 TD4

2014 RANGE 2016 ISUZU 2014 JEEP ROVER SPORT 4.4 D-MAX 2.5 DIESEL CHEROKEE MK5 V8 DIESEL KL 2.0 MULTIJET

2010 JEEP 2007 LAND ROVER CHEROKEE MK4 DISCOVERY 3 2.7 KK 2.8 CRD TDV6

2008 HONDA CRV 2.2 CDTI

2006 JEEP GRAND 2006 NISSAN CHEROKEE WK PATHFINDER 2.5 5.7 V8 HEMI DCI Charlton Recycled Auto Parts Vehicle Recycling Centre, Gravel Pit Hill, Thriplow, Cambridge, SG8 7HZ Tel 01223 832656 Email parts@charltonautoparts.co.uk PLEASE VISIT WWW.CHARLTONAUTOPARTS.CO.UK OCTOBER 2018 | 15

4.5 News Oct AK AWAITING p15 AD.indd 15

04/09/2018 10:23

4x4 NEWS

V6 POWER FOR TOP X-CLASS X350d model gets 3.0-litre turbo-diesel • 254bhp, 406lbf.ft • Permanent four-wheel drive

M

ercedes-Benz has introduced a new V6 diesel engine to the X-Class range.

Providing a key distinction between the vehicle and the Nissan Navara on which it’s based, this is limited to high-spec Power models in range which has been revised to coincide with its arrival.

The lightweight 3.0-litre X 350d engine, which features a single-stage turbocharger, produces 254bhp and a hefty 406lbf.ft. It’s mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard – as well as permanent four-wheel drive, providing another major difference between X 350d models and the Navara, as well as rest of Merc’s own range.

Happily, even at this most elevated of positions in the X-Class line-up, a dual-range transfer box is still standard. So too is Dynamic Select transmission management, which helps customise the vehicle’s response to the driver and includes

16 | OCTOBER 2018

4.5 News Oct AK AWAITING p15 AD.indd 16

Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road and Manual driving modes.

As efits a i s ec lass the 350d will be an eye-catching bit of kit. The list includes a body-coloured front bumper, chromed simulated underguards, a chrome rear bumper with integrated step and chrome trimming around the fog lights, as well as 18” six-spoke alloys.

The interior is what you’d expect from a Merc range-topper, too. The seats are trimmed in Artico leather, the cabin features aluminium detailing and further hide covers the steering wheel and dash top. Mercedes’ latest infotainment features in the dash with DAB radio, Bluetooth connection and sat-nav, with a rotary controller and touchpad located within easy reach nt e r c ns le The X 350d is priced from £38,350 plus VAT. The order book is en n it first deli eries expected in November.

Prices announced for new-look Renegade

Jeep’s facelifted Renegade will cost from £19,200 when it goes on sale later this month. The new-look model gains a range of new petrol and diesel engines, including 1.0 and 1.3-litre petrol units – the latter sending up to 180bhp and 199lbf.ft to all four wheels – and 1.6 and 2.0-litre turbo-diesels. The vehicle’s interior has also been revised and now offers increased storage capacity, and safety equipment has been improved across the range. Four-wheel drive isn’t standard on all models, but there is still a Trailhawk version with a low-range transfer box and raised ride height. Powered by the 2.0-litre diesel engine in 170bhp form, this costs a range-topping £30,805.

4x4 03/09/2018 21:14

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29/03/2018 13:53

4x4 NEWS

EXTRA KIT FOR TOP NAVARA

N-Guard special edition based on Tekna range-topper • On sale now priced from £28,075

N

issan has launched a new special-edition version of the Navara.

Powered by the familiar 2.3 dCi engine in 190bhp form, the N-Guard model is available exclusively as a doublecab and comes with a range of extra equipment in addition to ‘a contemporary design upgrade.’

The N-Guard is based on the Tekna model, which means it pretty much goes straight to the top of the Navara range (if you don’t include the specialised AT32, at least). Equipment includes Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Intelligent Around View Monitor.

You also get headlamp washers as standard – something that’s not even available as an option elsewhere in the Navara range.

Styling-wise, the vehicle’s front grille, fog lamp surrounds, mirror covers, door handles and rear

u er are all finis ed in lack as are the side steps, roof rails and unique black 18” alloy wheels.

The interior of the headlamps has been darkened, too, and you also get unique decals running along the base of the doors and on to the sides of the load bed. Three colours are available – Twilight Grey, Metallic Black and Storm White – with no extra charge for the metallic or pearlescent options among these.

In the cabin, you get restyled leather and cloth seats whose dark grey and yellow design is complemented by yellow double stitching. This is replicated on the d r tri and r ats t e only thing not included as standard (prepare to grind your teeth in frustration) is a locking rear diff, which remains an option.

The Navara N-Guard, which c es it a fi e ear ile warranty, is available with a manual

Deliveries of the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial have begun. The van conversion yields payloads of 593kg and 756kg in three and five-door form respectively, with both models rated to tow up to 3000kg. Pricing kicks off at £27,546 OTR for the three-door, with the five-door costing from £28,509

18 | OCTOBER 2018

4.5 News Oct AK AWAITING AD.indd 18

or auto gearbox. These are priced at £28,075 and £29,525 respectively – plus the VAT, needless to say.

Nissan doesn’t say how limited a limited edition it is, but orders are being taken right now.

New to Land Rover’s range of accessories is a choice of Pet Packs designed to make life easier for dog owners. These include items like spill-resistant water bowls, access ramps, foldable pet carriers, load space liners and portable showers, as well of course as full-height dog guards. All items are available individually, or bundled into packs priced from £360.37 to £887.56.

Mitsubishi has added a petrol model to the Outlander range. This is powered by a 2.0-litre unit sending 150bhp and 144lbf.ft to all four wheels via a CVT automatic gearbox, and is available in two trim levels costing from £27,680 to £29,680

4x4 03/09/2018 15:50

4x4 NEWS

SUZUKI UNVEILS MAJOR UPDATES FOR KINGQUAD

S

uzuki’s KingQuad has been extensively updated for the 2019 model year, with styling changes, engine tweaks and upgraded suspension.

An enlarged range also features three new models: the KingQuad 750, KingQuad 500XP and KingQuad 500X. The 750 model features a 722cc four-stroke single-cylinder unit, while both 500 models utilise a 493cc variant. The XP model gains power steering to differentiate it from the 500X. dificati ns t t e en ine a e yielded a smoother and stronger unit which, in conjunction with a reinforced chassis, provides a higher towing capacity of 600kg. The KingQuad also has a receiver-type trailer hitch mount.

Underneath, new gas-charged front and rear shocks bring more control and comfort to the fully independent suspension set-up, which works with a more involved power steering module whose output is 30% higher than that of its predecessor. Suzuki promises that this will make the 2019 KingQuad easier and more enjoyable to ride over all terrains.

Practicality has been improved, too, with a new storage system at the rear augmented by 2.8 and 4.0-litre compartments located on either

sides of the bike. There’s a new headlight on the handlebars, too, as well as a multi-function LCD screen which now features a service reminder in addition to its other functions. When having that service, Suzuki says the quad’s new styling

makes key maintenance areas easier to access.

Full details of the KingQuad range and release date are yet to e c nfir ed at u uki as said however, is that prices will start at £8879 including VAT.

New Utah edition adds extra Luxe to D-Max ISUZU HAS REVEALED a new variant of the D-Max double-cab, in the form of the Utah Luxe. Available in manual and automatic form, this is limited to a run of just 75 vehicles and gains a raft of enhancements over the model on which it’s based.

The kit list includes 18” diamond-cut alloys, a new front bumper guard and bonnet protector and a Pro-Lift unit to take the effort out of opening and closing the tailgate. Inside, carpet mats add an extra touch of comfort to the cabin.

Pricing for the Utah Luxe begins at £26,159 plus VAT, with the automatic model costing £1000 more. Either way, that’s £1000 more than the standard Utah double-cab on which the Deluxe edition is based.

Volkswagen’s new Touareg is so new you’ve probably not even seen one yet, but its engine range has already been augmented by a new version of the existing 3.0 TDI unit. This develops 231bhp and 369lbf.ft; it’s available on all models across the range, costing from £48,995 to £55,595

4x4 4.5 News Oct AK AWAITING AD.indd 19

Fiat has facelifted the 500X, with interior and exterior styling updates and vario s new technologies in the fields of safety and infotainment The vehicle also gains a range of new petrol and diesel engines, though not all will be available with four-wheel drive

OCTOBER 2018 | 19

03/09/2018 15:50

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4x4 04/09/2018 13:41

THE NEW MUSSO TOUGH ENOUGH TO HAVE A 7-YEAR WARRANTY

Over 1 tonne payload

Selectable 4x4 with low range

3.5 tonne towing capacity

9.2” touchscreen

Only pick-up with a 7-year warranty

FROM

£19,995

EX VAT*

Fuel consumption figures in mpg. Musso: Urban 25.9-29.1, Extra Urban 39.2-40.9, Combined 32.8-35.8. CO2 emissions in g/km 226-211. *Musso EX including delivery charge, road licence & first registration charge. Model shown is Musso Saracen priced at £25,425 ex VAT inc. optional metallic paint at £430. 3.5 tonne towing capacity only with automatic transmission.

Warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 miles. Prices are correct at the time of going to print but may be modified or changed at any time.

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31/07/2018 11:24

DRIVEN

FORD RANGER 3.2 WILDTRAK

Low-spec, 2.2-litre version of the Ranger has already impressed us massively: so does the higher-spec version with the bigger engine score even better?

DRIVEN 3.2 TDCi Wildtrak

I

t takes a lot to shake up the car market to the extent that an anonymous alsoran can launch itself to the undisputed pole position in its sector. But that’s pretty much what the Ford Ranger has done since the del first ca e ut To be fair on the previous Ranger, it wasn’t an also ran. But with the Mitsubishi L200, Toyota Hilux and Nissan Navara of the time all providing massively strong competition, Ford struggled to make a game-changing impact

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e nd t e i lu e eet markets in which it specialises.

Nowadays, the L200, Hilux and especially the Navara are far better than the models that went before. In each case, though, you’d talk about them in terms of evolutionary change. The Ranger, on the other hand, continues to ride the crest of a wave that was unleashed when a revolutionary new model arrived in 2012.

It’s hard to believe that this model, which was facelifted a couple of years ago, is already

4x4 02/09/2018 22:59

The pleasingly simplicity of the Ranger’s cabin is enhanced in the Wildtrak by premium materials and a load of equipment – including, of course, the orange seats you see here. The dash top is leather trimmed with orange stitching, and the dash is centred upon an 8” media screen getting close to the point where it’s due for replacement. That’s how fresh it still feels. And its popularity continues to endure, thanks to an impressively wide range of virtues – among which, the availability of a 3.2-litre engine developing 200bhp is one of the most notable.

That’s the model we have here, in the latest version of Ford’s range-

topping Wildtrak trim. As you might recall if you’re a regular reader, a 2.2 XLT example of the same truck t a fi e star re ie r us a last winter, on the way to winning our Pick-Up of the Year award, so logic dictates that this more elevated model should be even better.

Enough to justify the extra money? That’s the big question.

The Ranger in these pictures would cost you £27,945 plus VAT, which is exactly £4500 more than the award-winning 2.2 XLT. Not too big a jump, you might reasonably feel, and you do get a good amount of extra kit for your money, but does the Ranger need anything extra at all on top of what that model gives you?

e first ans er is t at i u upgrade to the Limited model with the same 2.2 TDCi engine, you’ll pay £26,095 plus VAT – that’s £2650 more than the XLT. The extra money buys leather seats with heating and electric adjustment, dual-zone climate, a bigger media screen, a sports bar for the pick-up bed, a refrigerated cubby box and

There’s plenty of space in both rows of seats – the Ranger is unique among pick-ups for the legroom in the back. The back of the rear bench also drops down to create load space, and the base lifts to reveal a couple of hidden bins

4x4 6pp Ranger 3.2.indd 23

OCTOBER 2018 | 23

02/09/2018 22:59

Above left: An absolutely nailed-on choice in the options list is the Off-Road Pack. This includes a set of heavy-duty underbody guards, as well as a locking rear diff – which, when you’re off-roading in a vehicle with a one-tonne payload, can make a world of a difference Above right: Also on the options list, and you’d be mad not to tick it, is a plumbed-in power inverter. Located in the rear of the floor console, this has a proper three-pin output rather than needing a Euro adapter various trim and styling details on top. This model also brings in the option of an auto box.

Carry on all the way to Wildtrak spec and the bigger engine comes as standard. In addition, you get a slew of interior and exterior styling bits, a soft-touch dash top, unique seats with technical fabric trim and exclusive 18” alloy wheels. If the

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Limited model is about adding kit, the Wildtrak concerns itself more with being seen.

Of course, the prices quoted above are what it will say in the windscreen. Ford dealers don’t tend to be backwards about cutting deals to seal a sale, and you don’t need to look very hard to be offered very si nificant disc unts e’ e seen

online brokers quoting more than £5000 off the model tested here.

CABIN AND PRACTICALITY In lower-spec form, the Ranger’s cabin is attractive in its simplicity.

Here, it has the same pleasing layout, but with more equipment and fancier looking materials.

These are led by the trim on the upper dash, which looks like dark leather with contrasting orange stitching; Ford describes it as softtouch, and it certainly is softer than the wipe-clean plastics featured in most pick-up interiors, but it’s still

4x4 02/09/2018 22:59

not what you’d call plush. It’s pretty to look at, though – as is the 8” media screen, even if the carboneffect trim surrounding it is more likely to make you cringe.

The leather theme continues on the seats’ side bolsters. though the main trim is a tough orange fabric.

This isn’t the very grippiest of its kind, but we didn’t feel ourselves sliding around in hard corners or off-road side slopes, so evidently it does its job. It’s quite showy, though, and once again not as plush as some trucks’ fabrics.

The seats themselves are good, with plenty of support in the base and back. We found ourselves calling on the adjustable lumbar support quite early, however – leading us to speculate that perhaps the simpler perches in the XLT, from which we emerged feeling completely fresh after a couple of monster journeys, are actually better.

As with all Rangers, the seats give you an excellent driving position offering expansive views in all directions. This includes over your shoulder; obviously, a large load-bay canopy could mess that up, but this model does score over its cheaper kin by providing a reversing camera.

There’s plenty of room in the back, too, with generous knee room and well sculpted front seat-backs meaning this is the only double-cab on the UK market in which one

4x4 6pp Ranger 3.2.indd 25

tall adult can sit behind another in genuine comfort. Headroom is excellent, too, and the seat back and base alike can be folded to provide a variety of options for carrying large items within the cab.

With the rear seat base tilted up, indeed, a par of deep stowage bins are revealed which could be useful for hiding things like tablets away from prying eyes. Elsewhere, everyday oddment stowage is taken care of by a good big cubby and dee in in t e r c ns le as well as decent sized door pockets and a useful glovebox.

Much of this is common to all Rangers, of course.

Something we noticed in the Wildtrak, though, was its extra controls – not just because they were there, but because they weren’t always particularly well laid out or clearly labelled.

The multi-function steering wheel, for example, has an ‘OK’ button on either side of it, complete with four arrows pointing in all directions, but neither has anything to suggest what it’s actually for. Yes, of

course, you read the handbook and you learn about your new truck. But whatever the opposite of intuitive might be, that’s what it is.

The dual-zone air-con controls, too, are located rather a long way down, in front of the gearstick, and there’s enough complexity to them for you to have to take your e es r t e r ad t fi ure t e out. The air-con itself is excellent, though, and kept us cool and relaxed on one of those strengthsappingly hot days we had in July.

Whether the more basic air-con in a lower spec model wouldn’t

have done as good a job, we don’t know. But the XLT we tested six or so months ago had Ford’s Sync3 media system as an option, and the ease of using it contrasted somewhat with the bewilderment we felt while pressing all those buttons on the steering wheel without getting anything to happen.

DRIVING There are two big differences between this Ranger and the 2.2 XLT. One is the obvious, which is

OCTOBER 2018 | 25

02/09/2018 22:59

The 3.2 TDCi engine is one of the Ranger’s biggest attractions for many buyers. It develops 200bhp, against the 160bhp you get from the 2.2-litre alternative, and can be tuned for more, but we didn t nd it noticea l sprightlier than the smaller unit. For only an extra £800 plus VAT on the list price, however, it’s an easy choice to make

that is has a 3.2-litre diesel engine instead of a 2.2. The other is that it’s on 18” rims and 265/60R18 tyres, rather than 16” jobs and 225/70R16s.

To start at the beginning, the engine does pull strongly. More so than the 2.2-litre unit, though?

Well, yes, probably, though one suspects the difference will only

really become apparent when pulling or carrying a particularly heavy load. Outputs of 160bhp at 3700rpm and 284lbf.ft at 1500rpm for the smaller engine play 200bhp at 3000rpm and 347lbf.ft at 1500rpm for the 3.2, with kerb weights of 2050kg and 2189kg respectively, and the upshot of t ese fi ures is ti es and 10.9 seconds. A victory for the vehicle tested here, then, but hardly an overwhelming one.

To us, the 3.2 TDCi driven here felt tighter than the 2.2, whose revvier nature makes it more entertaining on B-roads – but no less civilised on the motorway.

Every Ranger we’ve driven has been an excellent cruiser, with a smooth drivetrain that draws the sting from long-distance journeys.

Around town, the 3.2-litre unit is as strong as an ox, allowing you to stay in a higher gear for more of the time without it starting to labour.

The 2.2 XLT we tested some months ago ran on 225/70R16 tyres and handled excellently on the road. This Wildtrak model has 265/60R18s and is just as agile, but it’s doesn’t ride any less pliantly whether on tarmac or at speed on rough surfaces like those below

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:00

4x4 6pp Ranger 3.2.indd 27

and refine ent eit er re eat both are good and smooth on the motorway, and both can be chucked about with verve on the open road.

The Wildtrak is perhaps a touch fussier on poor surfaces, but there’s precious little in it, and in terms of handling there’s a kind of gung-ho nature to the way the vehicle’s body rolls in fast corners that means the XLT’s taller rubber actually suits it quite well. It’s not what a s rtscar a fici nad uld identi as handling in the traditional sense, but if you’re used to putting your foot down in pick-ups it’ll please you no end.

Fact is, there’s very little indeed to criticise about any aspect of the way the Ranger drives. If we were being picky, we’d point to a little bit of engine, wind and especially road noise on the motorway, with the Wildtrak’s l er r file t res er a s addin a little to the latter, but really it’s very competent all round whichever model you choose.

★★★★★

Ford Ranger 3.2 TDCi Wildtrak Outstanding, as all Rangers are, but lacks the purity of lower-spec models

VERDICT

It’s not noticeably more brisk, as the pretty slender difference in sprint times would suggest, but it does make a little less work of getting about.

The accent is on ‘a little’, though.

Both engines are very, very good in everything they do, with the 3.2 perhaps better suited to doughty hard work while the 2.2 is easier to have fun with. The margins are very fine t u n t e su ect which, the bigger unit only accounts for an extra £800 plus VAT on the Ranger’s list price. You’ll probably get that back come sell-on time, too, which might make it a bit of a n rainer unless u eit er prefer the way the 2.2 drives (as we do), want the no-nonsense trim of a lower-spec model or, no small thing, aulk at e ficienc fi ures and 221g/km when you could spend less to get a return of 40.4mpg and 184g/km instead.

There’s not a lot of difference between the XLT and Wildtrak in terms of their ride, handling

O r five-star verdict on the 2 2 T i was well earned, and the 3 2 is st as good To s it s not o vio sly etter, tho gh, and the e tra e ipment in the ildtrak model leaves s largely nmoved, so on a personal level we wo ldn t spend the e tra money The vast proportion of Rangers sold to private owners, small sinesses and ser-choosers are high-spec 3 2s, however, so we re happy to accept that that s st individ al taste taking e do seem to find more to criticise towards the top of the range, tho gh t what it comes down to at the end of the day is that whichever Ranger yo go for, yo ll get the est pick- p c rrently availa le in the

OCTOBER 2018 | 21

02/09/2018 23:00

4X4 FACTFILE

JEEP Cherokee ON TEST Cherokee 2.2 Overland

T

he current Cherokee has been around since 2013, and Jeep recently teased out some pictures of a facelifted version due later this year.

About time too, many people would say – whatever else you think about t e e icle its l ks are definitel not universally popular.

You can decide for yourself whether it looks as if it’s squinting into the sun, or it’s just noticed there’s a baby nearby who badly needs a change of nappy. Either way, it’s a bold bit of styling which, like many bold bits of styling, is far easier to mock than it is to understand, far less appreciate.

As it happens, we think it looks alright. Handsome, even. To be fair, pretty much anything would look better than the previous-generation model, but each to their own.

Something else we like about the Cherokee, and about Jeep’s outlook on vehicles in general, is that while

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it has taken the inevitable steps towards road-friendliness, this is still a vehicle with strong real-world off-road skills. You can get it with low box, thanks to the rare but important Trailhawk model, though even the rest of the range can cut it in the rough.

That includes the vehicle tested here, the high-spec Overland model costing you a not-inconsiderable £40,885. That gets you all the equipment you’d expect, including 18” alloys, nappa leather, dual opening sunroofs and a particularly impressive multimedia system.

This is installed in an interior whose quality and design is totally at odds with what American cars used to stand for. It looks attractive, feels good to touch and doesn’t reek of cheapness – quite the opposite, in fact. There’s very little creaking from anywhere on the dash, even around the 8.4” infotainment screen, and the leather

trim covering most of the upper surfaces feels classy. Even the lower part of the dash, though it’s made from hard plastic, has plenty of heft to it and doesn’t feel scratchy and brittle at all.

The dash design is nice and tidy, with clear logic to the way the controls are laid out. A huge amount of the work is done by the aforementioned screen, which can be a recipe for frustration but in this case does actually help ease the process of driving, thanks to one of the clearest and most intuitive interface systems we’ve experienced in any vehicle.

Bearing in mind that we’re dealing with a high-spec model, the seats look very classy and prove to be extremely comfortable in use.

The backs have loads of support, to the extent that you barely notice the side bolsters holding you in place – though they do, and you can cover a lot of ground on

motorways or B-roads without getting in the slightest bit fatigued.

There’s a huge range of adjustability, too, and loads of space to stretch ut int as ell as a fine all r und view from what is an excellent seating position.

Rear-seat legroom is as good as it needs to be, thanks to soft front seat-backs which are deeply recessed to accommodate your knees. Headroom, on the other hand, is terrible, thanks to the aforementioned sunroof – if you’re six feet tall, this will leave you with the choice of hunching down uncomfortably or sitting with your head leant sideways and the edge of the roof lining pressing into the side of it just above your ear.

For this reason, we’d say that a er kee it t e sunr fitted is best treated almost as a 2+2. So long as your rear-seat passengers are children, you’ll have no problem at all with it, but if you expect to

4x4 02/09/2018 22:52

The cabin is good-looking, well equipped and solidly pu together using good quality materials. Driving position is excellent, as is cargo space with the rear seats down

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acutely rubbish of urban roads.

There’s nothing in the way of vibration at any speed, and pattery surfaces are dealt with very competently, so long cruises are despatched without a fuss. There’s no untoward cabin noise to bother you either, just a bit of background from the road and a touch of wind rustling around the door mirrors.

This is aided by a good, settled steering wheel that doesn’t need to be constantly corrected. When you actually want to change direction, too, it responds well, not with the razor sharpness of a sports SUV but with a good, linear smoothness that allows you to enjoy twisting r ads aided fine d c ntr l from the suspension.

The Cherokee is all-independent these days, of course, but this doesn’t prevent it from being one of the best SUVs in its class offroad. Even if you don’t go for the Trailhawk model (which comes with low-range gears and raised suspension), it still has enough

ground clearance and articulation to take on a level of terrain you’d never think about attempting if you’re the one paying the repair bills. The nine-speed gearbox helps here, as having that many ratios eans first can e d and dee – in part making up for the lack of low range on everyday models.

This doesn’t mean the Cherokee is a vehicle you’d choose as an r ad t t e a t e first model to bear the name once was.

But if you want a family wagon that can cut it in the rough – in addition to being pretty good at more or less everything else you want of a medium-sized SUV – it’s a very attractive prospect.

Attractive? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And if you do think the Cherokee looks like it’s squinting into the sun, or worse, you won’t have read this far. But if u t ink it l ks alri t u’ll find its beauty is more than skin deep.

★★★★

VERDICT

be carrying adults in the back more than just occasionally, a lower-spec version will be better suited to you.

Either way, when you’re in luggage-carrying mode the Cherokee acquits itself well. The rear seats drop down to lie almost at it n li r ste eit er at the tailgate or when you reach the folded seat-back; the aperture is a little narrow, but overall this is a good, practical vehicle.

It’s also very capable on and off-road. As tested, the Cherokee comes with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine mated to a nine-speed auto box, and with 200bhp at 3500rpm and 325lbf.ft at 2500rpm it’s not short of zest. You do need to prod the gas a bit to get the best from it, but the engine and box respond with equal alacrity when asked – all too often, auto units seem to get notchier the more ratios you add, but this one is very smooth.

So too is the Cherokee’s ride, whose suppleness takes out any coarseness from all but the most

Jeep Cherokee 2.2 Overland Classy, well equipped cabin and a broad range of skills on and off-road The Cherokee may rank as a bold purchase based on its looks alone, but in the cabin it ticks almost all the boxes. It’s stylish, elegant, well made and generally practical, though rear headroom is poor in models with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2.2-litre engine and auto box make a very capable combination, and road manners are generally very good – not least because this is also one of the most competent off-roaders in its class.

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02/09/2018 22:52

4X4 FACTFILE

FIAT 500X

ON TEST 500X Cross Plus 2.0 MultiJet AWD

A

n SUV based on the styling of a retrolook city car might sound like a whole new level of mickey-taking by car manufacturers. Especially when it’s the work of a company from the same stable as Jeep.

No, though. However much your traditionalist mates like to grumble about 4x4 makers these days are la in aste t t e fine traditi ns of off-roading, vehicles like the Fiat 500X are very relevant to a lot of people. Every bit as relevant as the Fiat Panda 4x4, which even the most ardent off-road traditionalist can’t help but love.

The 500X also happens to be based on the same architecture as the Jeep Renegade. Which means it’s related to a former 4x4 of the Year title winner. So, there’s more to this vehicle than meets the eye.

And what does meet the eye?

Well, you can decide for yourself

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how successfully the 500’s deliberately quirky looks work with the bigger proportions of the 500X. Inside, though, it doesn’t feel special the way the smaller model does. The problem is that with the ‘proper’ 500, there’s a brilliantly cool, quirky cabin design to distract you from all the hard plastics – but here, it’s too conservative to prevent you from dwelling on them.

We found a lot of creaks coming from the facia, steering column s r ud and r c ns le t On the plus side, the interior might not inspire you but it’s laid out well enough and the controls do their job as they should. There’s a good double glovebox, too, as well as a deep cubby box and big bin in t e r c ns le t i e u lent of options for stashing your stuff.

It’s much better than you’d expect in this area.

The seats are good, too, with plenty of support in base and back

alike, and they’re trimmed in a tough fabric which stands a good chance of still looking tidy well into middle age. You’re sat in a decent position giving you an adequate view ahead, and there’s enough legroom for a six-footer so long as you slide your seat all the way back.

You can’t raise it high enough to gain a truly 4x4-like driving position, however, as headroom is too limited. But it’s a lot better than in the back, where a six-footer will be brushing the roof lining. Legroom here is worse still – with the front seat positioned to accommodate the aforementioned six-footer, a passenger of the same proportions simply won’t be able to get in behind him. t e c uld t e ’d find t at t eir eye line is above the tops of the side windows. Their elbows would be pressed into the door trim next to them, too. Thus the back really is only for children – though even a

six-year-old needed us to move the driver’s seat forward a bit from the position his 6’0” dad had put it in to be able to drive comfortably.

The seats do at least drop easily to enlarge the cargo area, though even then it’s rather a short, squat load space and the portion of it on top of the folded seats is quite steeply sloped. One very good feature, however, is an excellent alse r it a u e s ace el is that makes the 500X punch well above its weight when being used in fi e seater de Elsewhere in the cabin, the dash design is centred on a media screen that’s rather tidy and has graphics which feel either cheap or outdated.

The system itself is a bit clunky, with a huge surround featuring big, manual buttons, but pairing a phone was mercifully easy and so was playing music, which an amazing amount of modern vehicles are still unbelievably bad at.

4x4 02/09/2018 22:49

The cabin’s styling is a little more conservative than that of the bodywork, but it’s still funky enough to go with the retro design theme. It’s spacious enough for a six-footer to drive comfortably, so long as sliding your seat all the way back isn’t going to damage anyone sat behind you.

There’s no surprise-and-delight about the cargo area, but a lo floor eans there s as uch capacit to it as ou can realistically hope for Something else a lot of modern 4x4s are bad at is off-roading, but with the Off-Road position selected on its three-way drive mode dial the 500X demonstrates its Jeep-bred credentials with a sure-footed performance. Ground clearance and axle articulation will always be limiting factors, but within the context of what it is the vehicle is able to keep on putting down traction well beyond what its cutesy appearance would have you expect.

On the road, the 2.0 MultiJet diesel engine in our test vehicle was suitably quiet in action, though the nine-speed automatic gearbox

does coax a few excess revs out of it at times. The box shifts smoothly, nonetheless, and power delivery is pretty strong throughout the rev range. The engine dishes up 140bhp at 4000rpm and 251lbf.ft at 1750rpm, which is enough to pull the 500X up to speed around town and cruise it t e refine ent u want on the motorway.

On A and B-roads, we’d choose the manual box for adding a bit of snap to proceedings – though it’s only offered with two-wheel drive, which is a bit of a shame. You can take control of the auto unit by throwing it into manual mode, of course, though this is never

as satisfying as working a proper gearstick, but the vehicle’s chassis is agile enough not to disappoint however you go about it. It’s not what you’d call a weapon, but it doesn’t ever feel as if it’s going to get ragged if you push it a bit.

What it doesn’t feel like is a driver’s car, even by the comfy standards of the SUV market. But if you’re happy to tool around in

something that’ll handle more or less any halfway-sensible situation, on-road or off, without making u ant t fill ur status ar with endless happy, sad or indeed meh emojis, it’s got what you need.

And of course it comes complete with a hefty side order of style, which is what will have got a hefty proportion of 500X owners interested in it in t e first lace

VERDICT

★★★★

4x4 2pp Fiat 500X.indd 31

Fiat 500X 2.0 MultiJet AWD Auto Competent all-rounder that plays it safer than its quirky styling might suggest Being based on a Jeep underneath is a pretty good start for any 4x4. Take that basis and add the funky design of a retro-styled modern classic, and you can see why the 500X has become such a success among younger SUV buyers. Its interior doesn’t quite live up to the promise of its groovy looks, but it’s practical enough for most everyday family demands and as inoffensive as a daily driver can be.

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02/09/2018 22:49

NOKIAN_KV_podzim_4x4mag_210x297.indd 1

13.08.18 14:58

PRODUCTS

WR SUV 4 ARRIVES IN BRITAIN AS NOKIAN LAUNCHES ITS BEST- EVER WINTER TYRE WITH WINTER ON THE WAY, your thoughts might be turning towards a suitable set of tyres for the harsh weather ahead. If they’re not, they certainly should be – once you’ve experienced the difference winter tyres make, you’ll be a convert for sure.

And this year there’s a new winter option available for 4x4 owners, in the shape of the Nokian WR SUV 4.

Designed with European roads in mind, this promises strong handling on cold, slushy roads and consistent performance in changeable weather conditions.

Most people by now a e fi ured ut t at inter tyres aren’t just for snow, and sure enough Nokian emphasises the WR SUV 4’s ‘superb wet grip and precise handling during heavy rainfalls and on mud-strewn roads.’

Whether on the motorway, around town or in the back of beyond, ‘driving feel is controlled and predictable on slippery and bare roads alike.’

As well as its winter tread, the WR SUV 4 has reinforced sidewalls to resist damage – albeit just the kind you can get on the road.

Nonetheless, its robust structure as desi ned s ecificall r i heavy SUVs, as well as for the realities of what winter has become for most of us. ‘Heavy rain is becoming more frequent,’ explains Nokian, ‘which increases the amount of slush. The overall volume of rainfall is expected to grow and heavy rainstorms are expected to be more frequent due to climate change. Adding to the chances of

4x4 4pp Products Oct.indd 33

aquaplaning, the snow on the roads can be quite watery and slushy as roads are heavily salted.

When handling a heavy SUV especially in high speeds, it is necessary that the tyres are suited for all these conditions.’

To tick all these boxes, Nokian has used a combination of winter rubber compound and directional tread with what it calls ‘a unique siping system.’ This includes a continuous centre rib for highspeed stability, along with elements to draw water from the road, dig into soft snow, deform for extra grip under braking and support the shoulders for more precise steering feel. Oh, and it was designed to look good, too.

The WR SUV 4 replaces Nokian’s old WR SUV 3, and the company says that particular areas of improvement are wet handling and braking, running economy and snow braking. The tyre’s design as finalised a ter an e tensi e testing programme in Germany,

Spain, southern Finland and Lapland – where it was caned through the snow at a place called White Hell.

The WR SUV 4 is available in 57 size and speed combinations covering V and W ratings and a

range of sizes from 16-21 inches.

It’s on sale imminently, so check it out wherever you normally get your tyres – and take it from us, fittin t e ri t ru er r inter is always, always a good investment.

OCTOBER 2018 | 33

02/09/2018 23:01

PRODUCTS

AMERICAN - MADE HEAVY- DUTY ALLOYS WITH BEAD - GRIP TECHNOLOGY – AND FITMENTS TO SUIT THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER

METHOD RACE WHEELS has launched a new design of rim in the UK, complete with a patented Bead Grip system allowing you to air down without needing beadlocks.

Called the 701, it’s fully road-legal – and UK importer XS4x4 says it’s t e first ea dut all r t e A t e a aila le it a fit ent r t e Land er De ender The 701’s Bead Grip design engages the tyre’s inner and outer ead seats r idin an alternati e t eadl cks it an a ressi e inner ‘safety hump’, as found on full-on race wheels, it holds the bead securely in place, allowing you to run at low pressures similar to t se ac ie ed usin e ui ent that’s not road-legal.

e eels a e a ne iece cast aluminium construction and a reinforced inner lip for maximum strength, allowing load ratings of up to 3640lb. Their choice of atte lack and r n e finis es are durability tested against the effects of salt spray, and they come with either snap-in or push-through centre caps. n additi n t t e De ender t e et d is a aila le t fit t e rd an er ta ilu su u D a ta Land ruiser Mercedes Sprinter, Jeep Wrangler and u aru at’s definitel ne t e re eclectic fit ent lists e’ e seen ut it ust s s how many different ways there are to do it if you want to go off-road.

XS4x4 says the 701 will be a aila le in t e r t e end

e te er a a isit t

find ut re ust s arts

IRONMAN PROTECTION FOR 70-SERIES LAND CRUISER NEW FROM IRONMAN 4X4 are these radiator guards for the Toyota Land ruiser eries t e actl t e c nest e icles in t e s i u’ e t ne u’ll ant t l k a ter it n t least ecause i ud indeed dri e ne t ese it’s ecause u use it r ad ade r steel t e under d uards in a ran e ic alread c ers an t er dels e ’re suita le r t e and in le a r n and t e D u le a r n Desi ned t protect the radiator from the usual sources of damage – rocks, tree stumps and the ground in general – they come with a two-year warranty and can e ad ia r n an’s i rter est ast ad e ’re at westcoastoffroad.co.uk.

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:01

Wheel and tyre packages available Untitled-1 1

0800 030 6887 www.xs4x4.parts sales@xs4x4.parts 30/07/2018 08:02

PRODUCTS

SUPERPRO ADDS ADJUSTABLE UPPER CONTROL ARMS FOR PICK- UPS

IF YOU’VE BEEN READING THIS MAGAZINE REGULARLY over the last few months, you’ll know all about SuperPro and the products it offers for a wide range of pick-up trucks.

These include easy-lift kits, greasable leaf-spring shackles and rear anti-roll bars.

Well, now it’s time for the front end to get some more attention, with SuperPro’s adjustable upper control arms.

To compensate for alignment issues caused by a c an e in ride ei t fittin alternati e sus ensi n components or just excessive wear, these allow for more accurate wheel alignment and give increased clearance and articulation between the arm and the strut when the suspension is at full droop. e ar s eature a all int t at can e ad usted e en a ter fittin t e ar s t t e e icle is all s ari us de rees caster and ca er t e dialled in so that suspension geometry can be corrected in line with manufacturer settings. e enefits ein a le t ac ie e t is accurac includes reduced t re ear increased ri and t e c rrect le el steerin er r ance Consequently, suspension performance and component longevity are enhanced. e ar s are su lied re fitted it u er r ’s n l uret ane us es urt er caster and ca er ad ust ent is re uired e er t is can e ac ie ed fittin a set t e c an ’s ali n ent c rrecti n us es t t er l cati ns n t e e icle eir set centres c ined it t e adjustment of the ball joints, provide owners with the ability to correct most caster and Manufactured from high-quality steel, the arms are designed to directly replace the OE standard items and, SuperPro promises, are therefore strai t r ard t instal e ’re currentl a aila le t fit ick u s r iat rd a da itsu is i issan and ta r a ull list fit ents and stockists, pay a visit to www.superproeurope.com.

THE JEEP WRANGLER is among the best 4x4s ever made, but it’s not famed for the amount of space it gives you in the back for cargo or off-roading equipment. That’s particularly true if yours is a TJ, for the very simple reason that this model was never available in long-wheelbase form. To help make this problem a little less of a, well, problem, Rugged Ridge has just launched a new bonnet-mounted high-lift jack holder for the YJ. This attaches to the vehicle’s bonnet hinges and, the manufacturer says, allows ‘unrestricted jack retrieval without exiting the vehicle.’ The brackets are made from high-strength steel to cope with the weight of the typical off-road jack, and the jack is secured by a pair of thumb screws that are big enough to be operated even when wearing gloves ll this and a five-year warranty visit www r ggedridge com to find out where you can get one.

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4x4 02/09/2018 23:01

 

               

                   

            

          

        

   

  



          

PRODUCTS

COVERT SURVEILLANCE FOR THOSE GREEN LANE INCIDENTS? IT’S AT SUBARU DEALERS… THE SUNNYCAM XTREME isn’t the sort of product we normally tend to feature in these pages. After all, a pair of sunglasses with the ability to record video and audio sounds a bit more like the sort of thing snowboarders, pro skaters (sorry, ‘sk8ers’) or Jackass fetishists might be into.

But the Sunnycam Xtreme has ust ec e art u aru’s ficial accessories range. And when you think about it, they could be just the thing for a conscientious 4x4 driver to have on their person.

We’re forever saying that if you’re out on a green lane and you see people off-pisting away from the ri t a u s uld fil t e and pass the evidence to the police.

But since we’re talking about actual criminals, pointing your phone at them might not be the safest thing you can do. Armed with nothing more threatening that a pair of shades, on the other hand, you could go right up to them, ask them if they know what they’re doing is wrong and give them more than enough rope to hang themselves.

We’ve also been in situations where, had we been wearing a pair of these things, we could have come home with some very

telling footage of confrontational antis causing everything from obstructions to, in one case, a fullon breach of the peace. As Subaru puts it, ‘the real beauty of a product like the Sunnycam Xtreme is that there’s no limit to its potential uses, other than your imagination of course.’

We can certainly imagine drivers and, in particular, spotters getting some great action shots this way. In each case, of course, you’re doing something that keeps your hands occupied – so this kind of wearable technology is ideal.

The shades’ integrated camera rec rds i definiti n in

pictures at 1920×1080 and 30 frames per second, and even with this depth of image quality it can record continuously for a full hour.

It has built-in vibrate and motion control, and the camera is sealed to IP66, so rain won’t stop play. Even if you do look a bit of a plonker keeping your shades on.

With UV400 polarised lenses, 16GB of inbuilt memory and a range of accessories including a micro USB cable and protective carry case, the Sunnycam Xtreme is well equipped as a camera and pair of shades alike. You can extend its running time, too, by adding a portable power pack to your

shopping list – and the very good news is that whether you prefer Macs or PCs, laptops, tablets, smart TVs or even games consoles, the unit is compatible with the widest possible range of devices.

At £150, it’s a lot for a pair of shades and a lot for a camera, but a bit of a result for both rolled in to ne And first ti e a c untr side vandal gets done thanks to the evidence you supply, it will have been very well worth it. Visit www. su aru c uk t find ut re r just drop in to your nearest dealer.

But be careful or you might come out having bought an XV, Forester or Outback as well…

KEEP YOUR WORKSHOP TIDY, YOUNG MAN… ‘TIDY ROOM, TIDY MIND’ is one of those things your mum probably used to tell you. At the time, it may well have made you want to strew all your worldly possessions wildly around upon your edroom oor while silently icking defiant -signs at the door she d st closed ehind her t, as with everything else in life (apart from the one about never having sex as long as you live, obviously), Mum was right. nyway tidy garage is easier to work in nd safer, too o if yo haven t yet invested in a tool ca inet, well, now might e the time to do so The good people at achine art wo ld certainly enco rage yo to think that way nd to help yo do so, they offer a range of larke tool chests and ca inets that can help yo keep on top of the carnage in yo r workshop vaila le in oth seven and nine-drawer g ise, these feat re shelving layered with anti-slip drawer liners and are fitted with all- earing r nners to provide a slick opening and closing action n addition, all the drawers lock a tomatically when the lid is closed, and a p sh-opening action means that sho ld the whole stack fall over, its contents will remain inside hromed five-inch wheels add a little air to proceedings, and side lockers are availa le in con nction with the ca inets o can config re yo r own ca inet online at machinemart co k after which, the only thing left to keep tidy will e yo r vehicle itself

38 | OCTOBER 2018

4pp Products Oct.indd 38

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04/09/2018 13:44

BURNING RUBBER

In the burning heat of southern Texas, just outside San Antonio, lies the Cooper Tire Vehicle Test Center. This is where products like the Discoverer STT Pro are given the sort of punishment it takes to ensure that by the time they reach you, there’s nothing about them that hasn’t been honed to the ultimate degree WORDS: MIKE TROTT PICTURES: MIKE TROTT AND COOPER TIRE

40 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 02/09/2018 22:53

B

asking and unmoving in the searing heat of the midday sun, a bull snake soaks up some vitamin D and looks considerably cooler than the frazzled mess that stands a wise distance away.

I am that mess. And despite looking like I’ve just stepped out of a nice, cold shower, I feel like a penguin standing in the Sahara. The reason the bull snake is probably dying from laughter inside is because I’m stood out in the open, deep in the south of Texas. And it’s 27 degrees… in the shade.

I’m not just doing this for a tan, though. So while the bull snake holds my attention for a moment, my mind quickly switches back to the task at hand.

I’m about to climb into a Jeep Wrangler belonging to the Cooper Tire and Rubber an a fir t at d esn’t d t in s halves. Which means this is about as extreme a Wrangler you’ll see anywhere, with a whole catal ue r ad dificati ns turnin it int one serious machine.

And why climb into such a beast? Well, approximately one hour’s drive from San Antonio in Texas, there’s a place not far from Pearsall designed to put some of the most important automotive components on a car to the sword. e’re talkin t res ecificall e’re talkin Cooper Tire’s tyres (if you follow). If you’ve owned a 4x4 for any amount of time and intended to take it off the beaten track, you’ll most likely be familiar with some of the rubber offerings from Cooper.

They have a very good reputation, which I should add is utterly deserved. But this is a company looking to diversify – and we’ve come to its testing facility to see just how rigorous the examinations can be for a tyre, should it dream of wearing the Cooper name tag.

You’ll likely have come across Cooper’s Discoverer range, the SUV and off-road orientated products that have become synonymous with the Cooper brand. But the company is capable of putting tyres together that can cope with more than just muddy trails or a slope of slippery rocks.

And its Vehicle Test Center sheds light on that. This 1000-acre site, complete with tanning bull snake, is a purpose-built haven for putting tyres through their paces – and that extends to all manner of surfaces.

On the one side, you have a two-mile oval circuit, also incorporating a Noise, Vibration and Harshness Ride Road, comprising surfaces that have been deliberately reproduced to mimic some of the many imperfections you’re likely to face on tarmac. Being from the UK, this stretch actually felt silky smooth… lse ere er as a s ecific area for trialling tyres on wet ground, which from up above just looks like a square lake. Thankfully, there is no risk of drowning here, as the water only measures a centimetre or two in depth.

4x4 3pp Cooper.indd 41

Water is pumped around the periphery of the huge square of asphalt and with the help of the most minimal of gradients, the water pools to the centre to give you one giant puddle – ideal to test tyres in an aquaplaning scenario.

A hot stone’s throw away, you have the dry handling track. There’s not much to say here other than that it resembles a racetrack, and if u e er find ursel in t e assen er seat a Shelby Mustang GT350 commandeered by their pro-driver Ryan, then you best have brought spare underwear with you. He seems like an a ica le l ke at first ut t en turns int a lunatic behind the wheel. Must be the heat.

All t ese test areas r ide a fittin can as in which to paint some rubber. Interestingly, Cooper is happy to hire out these various circuits to other tyre manufacturers, should they be looking for a venue to collect some data of their own. So, for those of you out there who own a tyre company, give them a ring and start packing your sun cream.

However, while their generosity may extend to Lake Cooper or the dry handling asylum, their off-road course is strictly out of bounds to anyone other than Cooper personnel.

You see, while they are happy to allow competitors to dawdle along their potholes or go for an aquaplane, Cooper recognises that they need to protect what is effectively the company’s cornerstone in business. Why would you give rivals access to your off-road course when it’s helped you become one of the industry’s most revered brands?

Perhaps some context would be useful here.

Cooper Tire is the world’s 12th largest tyre manufacturer and the 5th largest in North America. It still deals most heavily in tyre

replacement but has a growing OE presence, as well as a growing repertoire of products.

For example, while these may not be appearing on your Ford Ranger anytime soon, it’s worth mentioning some of Cooper’s other stars.

On the raging Mustang, they’ve been extensively testing the new Zeon CS8 and Zeon CS Sport tyres, both designed with performance in mind and capable of astounding grip and response on the limit – useful when you’re hurtling sideways around the track and there’s a distinct lack of toilet roll available.

One thing that stood out on our visit to Cooper’s test facilities, though, was how the company differentiate between SUVs and 4x4s.

In what seems to be a refreshing approach to the industry, Cooper realises that there is a difference between those who want to do hardcore off-roading in a four-wheel drive machine, and those who just want to get to work in the morning in a vehicle that has fourwheel drive.

As suc t e c an ers s ecific rubber like the Zeon 4XS Sport tyre that we sampled on a Chevrolet Tahoe. This big sevenseat SUV carries a 5.3-litre V8 chucking out 355hp and has won accolades in the USA for its highway fuel economy… of 23mpg.

We put it up against another Tahoe – which as instead fitted it a c etit r t re n a coned course around the wet handling patch, it was the Cooper 4XS Sport that provided the most grip. This was the tyre that could be pushed further before letting slip – and which consequently yielded the faster lap times around the circuit.

This isn’t coincidence. Cooper strives for and prides itself on many of its tyres being EU

OCTOBER 2018 | 41

02/09/2018 22:53

certified rade A’ r ri n et sur aces includin t e rt And art t e reas n t e ’re ac ie in t e est ratin s is ecause t e nl c ete a ainst ier c etiti n essentiall t e er est erin s n t e arket at n eart uld e t e int in ai in t e edi cre ari n alt er’s l al estin ana er sa s t e c an as rked ard n t e redicta ilit its t res c erin re t an illi n ind r test iles in it uc t is r ress ste in r t e i r e ent in ra aterials and t e i in tec n l it e l s e re ri r us t e testin t e

etter t e understandin it as its t res and t e uicker it can et its r ducts t arket ut er is al a s l kin t us t e undaries in ter s at is ssi le it a t re nter t e Disc erer r u ead t er’s e site u’ll see t e r is rated at r ad t n r ad akin it t ec an ’s st e tre e t re And n a t ur its en enal r ad c urse c erin ud sand r cks side sl es cli s descents and an t in else u can i a ine d in r ad t e r as n t in s rt ast nis in is is a t re t at rces u t ret ink ur e ectati ns at a r ad in t re can d t i es u tracti n in laces u didn’t t ink ssi le and is a le t sustain e cruciatin unis ent eadin u a stee incline it a ri er ater in d n underneat t e t res t e ran ler and its r s ere a le

t r ll ack and re ain tracti n ust r t e un it u’re eadin r ad d n’t assu e u need a l n tune tread until u’ e e erienced t ese eauties ecause t is is all t e t re al st an u ill e er need en t e ull snake as a ast n t e r ck cra lin secti n u can see t e aired d n t re ulds ar und t e terrain clutc in n t it like a cli er’s fin ers and usin it t ull t e e icle u and er t e u e urdles t’s uite s et in e i ressi e t in a ut er’s r ducts t u is t e aren’t ust uilt r results e ’re uilt r lastin results e’ e used en u t e in t e ast t kn t at t is is re t an ust an idle clai and a in n isited t e c an ’s e icle est enter in e as e kn t at it re a ut at it takes t create a trul rld class t re

Take a very careful look at what’s going on with that sidewall there (left). This is the sort of thing a tyre gets put through when it’s being developed – the end result being that when you’re out laning and it happens to you in the real world, you’re not saddled with a piece of scrap wrapped around your wheel

3pp Cooper.indd 42

02/09/2018 22:53

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4x4 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51

OCTOBER 2018 | 43

04/09/2018 14:26

AGED CONCERN Arkonik has become known for the imaginatively refurbished Land Rover Defenders it sends to the USA. It created the Anejo model by way of celebrating its 150th build – and in doing so created a 110 fit to impress off road traditionalists and lovers of more contemporary pavement princess andies alike WORDS: GRAHAM SCOTT PICTURES: ARKONIK

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4x4 02/09/2018 22:48

15" wood-rimmed Evander steering wheel adds a real air of class – not that the air-conditioned, Ruskin-clad interior is short of that

A

ñejo means ‘aged’ in Spanish. In much the same way that ‘Defender’ these days means ‘aged’ in English, and here’s a 110 that’s both.

Like so many of the coolest restored Defenders, it’s the work of Arkonik. The Somerset company specialises in sourcing all-original left-hand-drive Landies in southern Europe and turning them into good-as-new vehicles for export to North America, and the Añejo was its 150th build.

Arkonik works on Land Rovers to one of three levels. First is its Origins range of vehicles which are restored to their original state, allowing people to buy a Defender looking just like it did when it left the factory.

Next is the Editions range, which gives you a full restoration complete with new and improved features. And then there’s the Bespoke series of custom-built Defenders, which are restored to commission as ordered by individual customers.

As you can see, the Añejo certainly comes under that third heading.

It’s like a fusion of English and Mexican, which sounds like it might be a bit challenging. But whereas ham, egg and chips, and a sopapilla with it, might turn your stomach, the combination of clean bodywork, a cool paint colour and a dramatic interior works rather wonderfully.

All the vehicles the company restores are between 15 and 25 years old at the time of sale.

This matters as it affects import taxes and laws in the many different American states to which Arkonik exports.

The base 110 looks like an English treat, with Sky Blue body and Chawton White roof. Up top is a Front Runner roof rack, while down below are Fire and Ice ebony side steps. Arkonik also fitted t e e icle it at it descri es as a ‘premium off-road package’.

Then comes some very American stuff. Up front is a winch bumper carrying a Warn Zeon

4x4 2pp Arkonik.indd 45

12-S, meaning the 110 can pull more than just admiring glances. Then there’s a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3 tyres wrapped around white steel modular wheels, giving the vehicle a pretty handy combination of hard-working toughness and A-to-B tractability.

Then comes the really Latin American bit.

Inside, Ruskin Design has been employed to trim the seats in a combination of Earthy Brown leather and a bespoke Mexican blanket pattern, which also appears on the headlining.

It’s not very traditional, at least not in the Defender sense, and nor is it what you’d call aged. But it creates an absolutely vibrant atmosphere in the cabin – you don’t always climb aboard a 110 and smile instinctively, but this one really does have a happy feeling to it.

Up front, the seats which are covered by that amazing design are a pair of Recaro Cross CS Sportsters. These are heated, which is obviously not very important in Mexico, though to be fair

that’s not where the Añejo was actually intended to end up.

In the back, three classic low-back seats are followed by a pair of inward-facing benches in classic 110 form. That’s a whole lot of seats, and a whole lot of colourful fabric, and it lights u a ca in in ic u’ll als find retr fit air-conditioning and a very classy 15” Evander wood-rimmed steering wheel.

Under the bonnet, a 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine looks good as new – better, in fact, if a polished stainless steel air filter usin and c l ur c ded HT leads do it for you. Which they should.

This 110 should do it for you, too. Even if you’re not that excited about tarted-up Land Rovers, this is a really nice one. It’s not an out-and-out off-roader, nor is it an out-and-out show pony ut rat er t an landin ace first in n an’s land, it should appeal to fans of both genres. It’s t a definite est t rlds t in in n – and, of course, it’s añejo to perfection.

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All Seasons.

All Conditions.

All Terrains.

Davanti has spent years developing this AllTerrain tyre, applying the latest design and manufacturing innovation to develop a tyre as comfortable on the road, on the construction

Terratoura is a high performance All-Terrain

U C • • •

•

Coming January 2019

TO FIND A DAVANTI DEALER IN YOUR AREA, PLEASE VISIT WWW.DAVANTI-TYRES.COM Untitled-1 2

04/09/2018 13:01

Beating Rough Terrain & Tough Competition in Independent Tests Wet Braking

Leading Rival

115

110

Davanti Terratoura

105

100

Dry Steering

Wet Handling

95

90

Terratoura is designed to be effective

85

in Spain we were able to challenge Terratoura in the toughest road Dry Stability

dusty, dry handling to torrential rain

Dry Braking

Ice Stability

Leading Rival

115

Snow Handling

110

Ice Steering

Davanti Terratoura

105

0 100

Snow Acceleration

95

Ice Braking

90

This frozen proving ground inside the Arctic Circle is where Terratoura

85

Snow Braking ABS

Ice Acceleration

Snow Steering

push Terratoura to the extreme in ice and snow to ensure it could conquer

Ice Handling Laptime Snow Stability

Sand Traction 110

105

Leading Rival Davanti Terratoura

100

Jungle Handling

95

Grass Traction

The UK’s own testing ground at Millbrook offered Terratoura the chance to prove itself in rugged wilderness and agricultural

90

85

Gravel Braking

Stability

sandy hills, wet grass paddocks and extreme uneven terrain, Terratoura outperformed its rivals on every

Steering

Unique Enhanced Tread Compound • Durability • Endurance • Excellent grip in cold and wet conditions •

M

Carcass Construction • Reinforced polyester cords for higher load capability • Two wide steel belts for harmonic load distribution & even tread wear • Additional nylon layers for

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake • Earned through rigorous cold-weather testing • Tyres are snow-rated, giving throughout Europe • Enhanced control in snow

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT INFO@DAVANTI-TYRES.COM Untitled-1 3

04/09/2018 13:01

NO T URNING BA C K Michael Walker has owned a good many different makes of 4x4 in his life, and done everything from green laning to comp safari e didn’t get his first Wrangler, though, until a 2009 Unlimited came up at a giveaway price – but now he’s seen the light, he’s a fully edged convert to the oys of Jeep WORDS: GEORGE DOVE PICTURES: RICHARD HAIR

Y

ou get people who always drive Land Rovers, and people who always drive Land Cruisers, and people who always drive Jeeps. Michael Walker has always driven off-road.

But what does he drive?

‘I’ve owned just about every brand of 4x4 over the years,’ explains Michael. ‘From Suzuki, Land Rover, Subaru to Vauxhalls and Mahindra.

But since I bought this Jeep in 2009, I’ve stuck with it.’

The Jeep Michael is referring to here is a 59-plate Wrangler JK Unlimited. It’s a surprise that Jeep was so far down on the list of 4x4s that he has owned, especially given his past experience and their reputation in the offroading world.

‘I was always interested in off-roading,’ he continues. ‘When I was younger, I competed in the NORC safari championship and with the Northern Counties Off-Road Triallers Club, often driving Suzuki SJ410’s.

48 | OCTOBER 2018

6pp Walker JKU.indd 48

‘I don’t compete anymore. But I still enjoy green laning and playdays – getting a good mixture of offroad stuff.’

Michael’s conversion to the delights of Jeep came when this Wrangler was offered to him at a teasing price. It was at the time when the world economy had collapsed and the American car industry was facing ruin; Jeep’s UK dealers needed to shift their stock at almost any price, and Michael walked in through the door at exactly the right time.

‘I bought it new in 2009, when Chrysler was on the brink of going bust,’ he explains. ‘It was an absolute steal! This Jeep is probably worth more now with 80,000 on the clock than it cost new.’

The JK may be worth more than when it left the showroom nine years ago, but as you can see

4x4 02/09/2018 22:57

4x4 6pp Walker JKU.indd 49

OCTOBER 2018 | 49

02/09/2018 22:57

Above: Both axles contain 4.1:1 ratio diffs, which were installed after the combination of taller tyres and original 3.03:1 units left the clutch in tatters after only 50,000 miles. While the diff covers were off, they were replaced with bombproof ARB covers Below: Suspension is a hybrid set-up using +3.5” heavy-duty AEV springs and +3” Old Man Emu shocks. The axles are located full ad usta le ohnn - ointed ar s fro la ton Engineering, and the front anti-roll ar is tted ith uic disconnects to help provide the enormous droop it displays

it doesn’t have exactly the same spec list. It is still silver, though… st t e c an es ca e in t e first t ears ic ael ned t e e icle it all t e rk ser icin and aintenance takin lace in is n ard at e actl as een d ne t t is asier t ask at asn’t e c assis asn’t een t uc ed t er t an re ular a lin ’ e ins ic ael ’ e fitted a skid late r ee illa e underneat e as a l ell s it’s eas t catc t e centre on things.

50 | OCTOBER 2018

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A ter its first isit t n t e e aust e it t e en ine t ent ut it t e skid late r r tecti n t ere’s n rr in a ut t at t as als eant t at t e ell can e rested n kn in t at t ere is n da a e ein d ne ’ t uc else as een le t t tall unc an ed n t is e r ll ca e is as it as al eit it ra andles added and t ere are ar rakes ust it l n er steel raided ses r dr tandard is als t e t e e it t e ear although Michael has aspirations to install a short s i t kit t add ease t accelerati n r

4x4 02/09/2018 22:57

The 2.8 CRD engine has been remapped and its EGR valve blanked off. There’s also an oil catch tank in there, and air comes in via a Safari Snorkel Underneath, the tyres aren’t standard but they’re nowhere near as far from it as you see on many modded JKs. ‘We’ve chosen to keep the Jeep on 33” tyres,’ says Michael. ‘It is very easy with a JK to get carried away and put them nt r e en it little dificati ns but on the 33s it’s really practical, drives well on the road and still performs well off road.’ The 255/85R16 Maxxis Bighorns are wrapped around strong, rugged Compomotive alloys – which make the vehicle a bit of a rarity, as they were made in short supply in the Wrangler’s stud pattern and PCD. While we’re still underneath the vehicle, let’s pay attention to what Michael has to say about his suspension. Safe to say he’s pretty happy with it. ‘The suspension set-up is perfect. We’ve fitted t ree inc s ckers it s rin s from an AEV three-and-a-half-inch lift kit on the front. There’s also eight fully adjustable Johnnyinted ar s fitted t at e t r la t n Engineering, which are really strong and can easily be maintained.

‘We’ve used the OME shocks before. They offer a compromise between on and off-road.

Great off-road and controllable and predictable at higher speeds.’

To prevent a loss of steering feel as a consequence of the lift, the AEV suspension came with a high-steer kit. The result? Standard steering angle is retained and any bump-steer through the wheel is comfortably damped out.

‘I’ve not replaced the axles,’ continues Michael.

‘But both the front and back have been regeared. The standard ratio was 3.03:!, but they’re at a 4.1:1 ratio now. On the old ratio, the clutch needed to be replaced after just 50,000 miles, ri t d n t t e ri inal ears it as fitted with. We chose 4.1:1 as a compromise between good road manners and good low range for offroad use.’

When the re-gearing was carried out, front and rear ARB diff covers were added for more protection and peace of mind. These also make it easier to drain off the diff oil. Longer propshafts from America went on, too, to help bridge the

4x4 6pp Walker JKU.indd 51

‘It is very easy with a JK to get carried away and put them on 35” or even 37” tyres with little modification, but on the 33s it’s really practical, drives well on the road and performs well off-road’

OCTOBER 2018 | 51

02/09/2018 22:57

greater gap between transmission output and axle input on the lifted vehicle.

‘It still has the standard 2.8 turbo-diesel engine,’ says Michael. ‘But I had it remapped after a year. The power wasn’t increased massively, but there is a noticeable torque increase.

‘This works really well with the re-gear. It has given the Jeep much sharper acceleration on the road. Other things I’ve done to it are blanking t e al e and fittin an il catc tank e

manual six-speed gearbox is standard, too, but the battery has been replaced by an Odyssey.

Given that Michael and his JK attend a variety of off-roading events, go on laning trips and mix with a host of off-roading circles, they need to be prepared to drive across, through or around pretty much anything. That’s why the exterior has been ruggedised.

‘A Rugged Ridge XHD stubby front bumper as een fitted it L D runnin li ts and

the bumper ends have been extended,’ Michael e lains e rear ears ne t e first A rear recovery bumpers.’

The raised air intake is a Safari Snorkel number, and the sidesteps have been coated with spray-on bedliner for maximum grip when used as a step. To hold the spare wheel in place, a erra e eel carrier is fitted n t e ack it a en untr fitted t e rest of the set is waiting in the garage to replace

Below: Jackable side steps have been coated in bedliner to provide a grippy surface on which to step Right: The combination of long wheelbase and ‘only’ 33” tyres means underbelly ground clearance is liable to be an issue. At least, it was until this Jeep Village skid plate went on, providing peace of mind and somewhere to perch the vehicle on breakovers without worrying about damaging the expensive bits on the other side of it

52 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 02/09/2018 22:57

the aforementioned Maxxis rubber once it starts to wear out.

‘We use a sloped back Bestop Trektop with removable side and rear windows in the summer,’ shares Michael. The third brake light mounted in the spare wheel is from the back of a Land er kne it uld fit s er ectl ’ There’s also aftermarket bonnet catches, and t e aest etics a e een re res ed re lacin the old and faded wheel arches with new glossed black numbers and a graphite Kahn grille which doesn’t look out of place at all with dollops of mud all over it. t c uld reas na l e said t at i u’ e t t t e int ere u’re addin its dec r like t at ur uild is as d as c lete ic it u t t e a ter nine ears u i t sa

6pp Walker JKU.indd 53

‘I regret not researching the axle ratios, as I could a e sa ed ne and effort,’ Michael re ects And uture plans include front and rear limited slip-diffs, and a e a inc A short shift kit for the gearbox would be nice too. But other than that, ’ a ic is as it s uld e r an ne se vehicle is a decade old and still worth more than t e aid r it t t at t at atters i u’re n t lannin t sell it c urse and e er much get the impression that he isn’t. Michael

alker a a e c e late t t e s ee but now he’s got the idea, he’s not going back.

‘I’d like to say a big thanks to Mike and Andy at Jeepey,’ says Michael. ‘Their knowledge of anything Jeep was a real help – and their customer service is great, too.’

02/09/2018 22:57

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ONE LAST

Ardent Adventures recently took the decision to move away from running tours on the UK’s green lanes and concentrate instead on foreign travel. But it signed off in style, with a two-day lane run in the majestic Lake District – where we oined up with the company to find out why a leading operator would choose to turn its back in Britain WORDS AND PICTURES: MIKE TROTT

M

ost of you who read this will have used your 4x4s for green laning at some point. Even if you don’t anymore, you’ve probably done it in the past, at least now and again.

And even if you don’t do it any more, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s one of the absolute best ways in which to view, explore and treasure Britain’s fantastic landscape.

While there are many different means by ic u can et ur c untr side fi e l rin the UK’s byways in your 4x4 is a real treat, giving you access to places that would otherwise be reac a le nl t r u an l n di ficult urs of walking or pedalling.

Just as cars and roads mean independence for individuals, so too do 4x4s and green lanes.

Travelling on byways and unsurfaced roads can allow people with disabilities to enjoy the countryside where it would otherwise be inaccessible to them – and even if you’re ablebodied, exploring by 4x4 can mean being able to

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pay a proper visit to rural Britain when all you’ve got is an hour or two to spare.

It’s not just about bringing the countryside to the people, either. Those of us who chose to visit by 4x4 are well known for helping others along the way, too – whether it’s the many green laners who carry a bin bag with them and stop to pick u an litter t e find r t e clu s t at re ularl organise maintenance days to keep rights of way open for everyone.

And when things go wrong – say if a walker of cyclist were to fall and injure themselves on a lane – what type of vehicle do you think is going to come and take them to hospital? It might be driven by a ranger of paramedic, but if there’s a recreational lane user behind the wheel you can pretty much guarantee that that’s who’s going to be carrying the casualty to wherever the emergency services are waiting.

As we all know, though, not everyone wants to share the countryside with motor vehicle users.

Or indeed at all. Which is why the law has been

twisted and abused over many years to close more and more rights of way. The overwhelming evidence is that 4x4 users are a force for good, both for the lanes themselves and for the rural c unities t an enefit r ur usiness – but when there’s a relentless anti-freedom campaign run by rich landowners, and its target is a minority group who the government can mistreat to its heart’s content without losing many votes, you don’t need to be too much of a cynic to predict what’s going to happen.

Against this background, popular tour operator Ardent Adventures has recently ceased running its UK treks. The company has instead ramped up its long-range operations, organising lengthier and more lucrative 4x4 expeditions into Europe and North Africa instead of the one and two-day green lane tours in which it has until recently specialised.

But before Ardent pulled down the curtain on its UK treks, we rode with them on one last tour of the fabulous Lake District. If there’s one area

4x4 02/09/2018 22:55

T TIME

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‘I love the scenery and that aspect of it. But I think you’ve got to be a certain kind of mad to do this!’ of the UK worthy of a green laning send-off, then surely it has to be here.

While the state of the countryside is forever changing, some things stay the same.

As I wait at the tremendous Farmers Arms in Lowick Green with Russ Dykes, who co-founded Ardent Adventures along with daughter Libby,

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slowly but surely Lane Rover 90 after Land Rover 90 rolls in ready for a weekend of off-road action. You hear more and more about people returning their Defenders to standard because they’re simply worth too much money to trash, but for this group of laners the 90 is still very much the vehicle of choice.

When you’re in the Lakes, virtually every lane is going to entertain you in some way. Whether it’s a technical challenge on bare rock, or the opportunity to marvel at some of the most spectacular landscapes in the UK, you’ll be busy one way or another. Surely there can’t be many better ways of earning a living – so as we make

4x4 02/09/2018 22:55

At t e t l kin er nist n u can relis t e landsca e ne t at as seen uc aster cra t t an ur Land ers a a isit in ears ne And t en t anks t t se le al t ists e a e t turn r und and dri e ack d n arka r used t e a t r u r ute ut rtunist eddlin in a ill ic assed t r u arlia ent in eant t at an i a se line n t e r und as s ared it t at a u lic ri t a uld e d n raded t t at ri t a ’s status ile arka r and an an lanes like it are still i a s t e ’ e een cl sed t e icles ecause under t e atc ul e e illi naire land ners t e la as re ritten at t e last

ur a d n t e first lane ask uss e decided t ind d n t e reen lanin side Ardent Ad entures ur reas n r st in is si le ’ uss e lains e lanes in t e are ettin usier and e see t e ettin re rie ut n t e a s ut it’s n t t e s le reas n e ind t e decisi n e’re r in as a c an and t d t at e need t t ink re l all s naturall e n e l re urt er afield At t e end t e da e’re n t in t r ust d in reen lanin at said e ill still run ur t ast t ast t urs eac ear al n it ur rist as last trek ic is al a s ular And e ill e en t re uests r cust ers i t e ant a es ke t ur ut t et er r t e ’ ile Ardent is a r in and re uta le erland c an ur ell ad enturers in t e Lakes are r in in c nfidence as e l k t test t e n ne t e re tec nical lanes in t e area A ter a eek rain and e’re ein lessed it lue skies and suns ine deal c nditi ns r takin in t e ista Lake

6pp Ardent Lakes.indd 59

nist n at t e t arka r e nl sna u’ e t t et u t ere in t e first lace ere are ari us ints n arka r ere u need t c ncentrate it ccasi ns en entu is ke and a in a d understandin ur can ake all t e di erence t can e inti idatin ut it’s certainl n t unac ie a le is

ent t sa a l er status tru s a i er ne t’s called de crac At least arka r as nl cut in al s e et t ick ur a er all t se l el r ck cra ls n t nce ut t ice And t en e ead t A leside and t e l el ut ate nn r lunc e re tra ellin t r u ri edale rest and d n ne t e reener alle a s u’ll find

02/09/2018 22:55

in Britain. The Lakes may provide a selection of lanes that will test your driving ability, but there’s little risk of you scratching your vehicle here.

Not on vegetation, at least.

The complexity of the byways does mean we can test the brand new General Grabber X3s fitted t t e Ardent t u al a s sa muds work well, unsurprisingly, in mud,’ says uss ut t ese s rk ell n e er t in ’ They certainly have been given a workout.

Between their size, their tread and the amount

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of air in them, your tyres are what determine whether you make it over that rock section or not. But you need more than just a good set of rubber to conquer all the lanes of the Lakes.

One of the guys with us on this trek is ear ld e r e u es as occasionally been taking the reigns on his Dad’s Defender and showing everyone what it means to have a wise head on young shoulders. rk n a ar s ’ used t ridin ar und and being off the beaten track,’ explains George.

e’ e d ne t e Lakes re i usl alt u t is as ur first ti e it Ardent e actuall li e in the area, but it’s nice to see new tracks that we could explore on our own and it’s good to get the experience from someone who knows what they’re doing.’

Russ and Libby are both brilliant guides, and teachers you can have complete faith in, as they el u tra erse t e trick terrain e er it’s good to see younger drivers doing the right thing and wanting to make sure they know the basics

02/09/2018 22:55

of driving in the countryside. ‘You’ve got to learn to respect it,’ says George, and he’s right.

The following morning, we have further tough lanes to overcome. Tilberthwaite is the most stubborn – and after a load of rain falling overnight, the surfaces are that bit more slippery.

But that won’t deter Shaun Edwards. He’s here in his Puma 90 with his wife, Kathy, having made the switch from a 200Tdi a few months back.

‘It’s the little comforts with the TDCi,’ he says. ‘Like on the motorway, just having a sixth ear eans a l t ere’s t at e tra refine ent ’ Naturally, there’s been no sixth gear selected while on Tilberthwaite, but Shaun has revelled in the testing environment.

‘I think this is one of the best areas for laning.

The terrain is very mixed and whether it’s the challenging rock or gorgeous scenery, there’s a lane to suit what you want to do. For me, I like the technical stuff.’ As I glance towards his wife, Kathy, I get the impression she feels differently… find it uite ri tenin ’ sa s at l e the scenery and that aspect of it. But I couldn’t do that stuff,’ she says while nodding towards the tracks we’ve just come through. ‘I think you’ve got to be a certain kind of mad to do this!’ er a s u d ut t ere’s a er definite method in the madness. Method, caution and, to use George’s word, respect – not just for the damage we could do to the countryside if we treat it carelessly, but for the damage it could do to us. Driving on green lanes is an exercise in constant vigilance – make no mistake, this is a grown-up way of seeing the wild parts of Britain.

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There are of course those who hate the idea of an educated, empowered public, and to them the thought of individuals being able to explore beyond surfaced roads is anathema. Then there are those who just want it all to themselves and don’t care about the harm they do to everyone else in the process. And in the middle of it all, the Lake District National Park Authority is perhaps the best in the country when it comes to balancing the needs of every user group.

If you want a tour on the Lakeland lanes, t u u’ll find t at Ardent Ad enture d esn’t do them any more. The pull of better business is

a good reason for the company to move on, but i all t e reen lanin utfits still runnin e ents like this were to succumb to the growing hassle Russ talks about, it would be a sad day indeed.

How would younger enthusiasts like George learn about the craft of green laning in that case? Those who use 4x4s on Britain’s rights of way are an intelligent, responsible bunch – and it’s thanks in no small part to organisations like Ardent that that’s the case. Russ and Libby may have moved on, but we all owe them a vote of thanks for the respect they’ve shown during their years on the lanes.

02/09/2018 22:55

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OUR 4X4S: PROJECT CHEROKEE

Nice… and nasty

When we checked our XJ Cherokee in for a second opinion after its huge suspension lift was followed by a series of problems, we knew we were letting ourselves in for some ugly home truths. And sure enough, what came to light when we got it over an inspection pit was a litany of matters you’re likely to overlook – but which really need to be thought about when you’re lifting a vehicle big-time 64 | OCTOBER 2018

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T

he rambling tale of our Cherokee’s incredibly chequered history has thus far taken in Stage 1, when it pretty much just worked, and Stage 2, when it pretty much just didn’t.

Stage 3 is coming, and since it involves an all-round recommissioning job in the Jeepey workshop we can tell you with complete certainty that it’s going to be a welcome return to form for the vehicle. But having started with a sensible 3” lift and got excellent results, then moved to a monumental 8” lift and encountered one disaster after another, we thought it might be interesting to share some photos that were taken when we moved the Jeep into storage at a mate’s workshop and let him take a look underneath it.

Needless to say, he drove a horse and cart through the work that had been done. That’s one of the rules: Mechanic B will always tell you how badly Mechanic A did it. In this case, though, we

4x4 03/09/2018 14:27

Main pic, opposite: If your panhard rod and drag link angles don’t match up, you’re going to get bump-steer. That’s conventional wisdom. So it can safely be said that this set-up was unconventional – and sure enough, the Cherokee was a horrible thing to try and point in the right direction once its lift had been installed. That’s nothing against the lift itself, obviously – Skyjacker’s 8” Rock-Ready kit was a very good one indeed, but it’s safe to assume that the American company designed it principally for customers building extreme trail rigs with hydro-steer set-ups Above left: Your 4x4’s prop UJs have just enough capacity to cope with the demands it puts on them in standard form.

Once it’s lifted, they’re running that much closer to its limits – or, in the case of a big lift, beyond it. Note here how the sliding joint is sitting part-open at rest Above right: Note here the angle between the drag link and the tie rod. The drag link has to drop across such a long distance that it’s now trying to rotate the tie rod as much as move it from side to side. The consequence was that it took about half a turn on the steering before anything actually happened at the front wheels, and when you combine this with the massive bump steer caused by the disparity in drag link and panhard rod angles you’ve got a vehicle that’s downright scary didn’t have our cynical heads on. The Cherokee had come back with its 8” lift in place and its new Skyjacker suspension working a treat, but its steering was absolutely hideous (we went into that in the previous instalment). t finall etc ed u in t e ands ec anic after the PAS box had ruptured (not just a seal, either – the entire casing had split open) and the panhard rod had ripped itself off the front axle in a moment of high drama. The mount was welded back up and the steering box replaced (not c ea en t e ld ne isn’t fit t e used as an exchange part), but it was still horrible to steer, even after a new drag link had replaced the old one which had preferred rotating in its joints to actually turning the wheels.

We sent it up to our mate with thoughts of using hydro-assist to cure the problem (he was

doing some pretty advanced stuff in the world of challenge trucks at the time), but before getting into any of that he perched it over an inspection pit and took a look at the general condition of the vehicle. It’s hardly done any off-roading since the big lift went on, so it’s still a nice ‘un in that respect – but as you’ll see, there were a lot of nasties waiting to reveal themselves too…

Two problems here. First is that the tie rod departs from the drop pitman arm at a pretty gruesome angle – the sort you’d hope only to see with the opposite wheel on full droop, not at rest. Worse still, though, the pitman arm itself has a lot of drop on it to help bridge the gap left by the 8” lift. This technique is recognised as a way of addressing the issues of big suspension, but it needs to be done as part of an overall strategy – because the amount of resistance fed back up into the PAS box is colossal.

Unless you use a box that can cope, it won’t be long before it’s ripped apart – which is exactly what happened to ours rst ti e e tried to t irl the heel and the ruts e were in wouldn’t let us

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03/09/2018 14:27

OUR 4X4S: PROJECT CHEROKEE

Above left: With an enormous set of lift springs and shocks on top of the back axle, its casing has been rotated by matching it up to the vehicle. This puts the nose of the diff at an ungainly angle, pointing upwards – which means the oil in it will be sitting uselessly at the bottom of its reservoir rather than being picked up by the diff’s internals to actually lubricate them Above right: Here’s another consequence of the back axle being rotated by the lift the shoc s otto ount is horri l out of line fle i le polyurethane bush disguises the problem, but that’s not what they were made for E er here ou loo on a ehicle ith a ig suspension lift, ou ll nd areas li e this here ountings for a le- tting co ponents ha e een o ed out of true – correcting them can be done, but going through the whole s ste loo ing for noc -on issues is a far igger o than tting the suspension as in the rst place Right: Wondering why your newly lifted mega-truck doesn’t have any extra droop at the back? If the job’s left the handbrake cables this taut at rest, think yourself lucky that you’re not wondering why it doesn’t have one of those anymore instead Below: At around the same time it developed the ability to drain all the colour from our faces, the Cherokee itself also turned white. This wasn’t an accident, we hasten to add. Our original XJ, whose shell was condemned by a bent chassis, was green, and so was its replacement – so we decided to change things up a little. Hence the visit to KAP in Keighley, which is best known in 4x4 circles for the things it does to Suzukis – the company started out as a body and paintwork specialist, and here’s the XJ emerging from its spray booth

3pp Our 4x4s Cherokee.indd 66

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OFF-ROAD SCENE

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MAJOR BOOST FOR GREEN LANE USERS AS GLASS LAUNCHES TRAILWISE 2

THE GREEN LANE ASSOCIATION has announced the launch of TW2 – an all-new replacement for the famous Trailwise database of public rights

of way. Professionally developed over the last year, this radical new site seeks to right all the wrongs of the outdated old one, with Ordnance Survey base mapping,

a more user-friendly format and t e e i ilit t rk n ile devices as well as traditional computers.

Trailwise was originally started LA as t e a finder r ect with input coming from volunteers within the organisation. The result was a site which, while it wasn’t the slickest thing on the internet, managed to deliver a colossal amount of information – and which, over the years, grew to become an essential tool for anyone planning a green lane route.

In particular, as well as containing information on permanent and temporary closures, obstructions, legal and landowner issues and so on, Trailwise offered individual users the opportunity to leave their own notes and comments – allowing it to become an invaluable source of real rld in r ati n e at a e enefitted en r usl r it when planning the lane guides we publish every month, and we like to think that the comments we’ve posted have helped other lane users too.

Left: Trailwise is only part of what GLASS does in the countryside. Members of the Association last year completed a major project to signpost every right of way on alis ur lain, and its reps and of cers are consstantl working to safeguard the lanes and those who use them.

Trailwise is a very good reason to be a member – but there are many more besides!

68 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 03/09/2018 21:10

OFF-ROAD SCENE

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OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

UK Convoy Tours 15 September

13-14 October

Trails and Tracks Northumberland

Onelife Adventure Lake District

21 September

Protrax Wales

UK Landrover Events Yorkshire Dales

Trails and Tracks Yorkshire

23 September

14 October

UK Landrover Events Northumberland

UK Landrover Events Tynedale

29 September

15 October

Ardent Adventures Mid Wales

UK Landrover Events North York Moors

29-30 September

20 October

4x4 Adventure Tours North Devon

UK Landrover Events Dales and Eden

Atlas Overland Wessex

The new mapping used on Trailwise 2 allows users to view lanes at a variety of scales. You can now identify clusters of rights of way while in the early stages of planning a route, then zoom in to examine individual trails before researching their status and checking users’ comments on their likely condition All of this will be retained on the new Trailwise2 site – but in a totally modern form.

‘The requirement was that it must be user friendly and simple to use,’ says GLASS. ‘It must include all kn n s nclassified County Roads) as well as BOATs a s en t All ra fic retain access to existing user evidence and e e i le en u t e a le t add any other routes that are legal to drive.

‘A key requirement was that it should work on any device, including tablets and mobile phones.

Like the previous version, it needed a facility for adding user evidence

4x4 Scene Oct CALENDAR + ODYSSEY DONE.indd 69

and comments against individual lanes, and we had an aspiration t include r t e first ti e photographs of lanes. Above all, it had to use Ordnance Survey base mapping.’

The new Trailwise2 site uses OS maps overlaid with ‘layers’, which can be switched on and off, showing every byway and unclassified u lic i a in England and Wales. In can be searched using postcodes and place names as well as lanes’ own unique ID numbers, and selecting an individual route yields a pop-up showing information on its status along with any known restrictions.

1 ctober

30 September

UK Landrover Events Tyne and Wear

Ardent Adventures Mid Wales

27 October

Protrax East Midlands

UK Landrover Events Lincoln and Belvoir

6 October

27-28 October

Trails and Tracks County Durham

Onelife Adventure Wales

6-7 October

Protrax Wiltshire

4x4 Adventure Tours North Wales

28 October

Compass Adventures North Wales

Protrax East Midlands

7 October

31 October

Protrax East Midlands

UK Landrover Events North York Moors

OCTOBER 2018 | 69

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OFF-ROAD SCENE

jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts

Above: Clicking on a lane in the TW2 maps brings up its own unioque listing in GLASS’ own national rights of way database. In addition to information on its background and status, a section for users’ comments allows GLASS members to post comments and, for the rst ti e, photos of the lane Below: An unintended but very interesting feature of the new mapping is that when you zoom right out, it gives you a picture of how Byways and UCRs are distrubuted around the whole of England and Wales. This shows the areas in which old RUPPs were correctl classi ed as a s prior to the E ct i agine ho uch ore red there would be on here if that piece of legislative cheating hadn’t been allowed to happen

In order to post comments, users will now be required to register with Disqus. This is free, and only needs to be done once; GLASS explains that using third-party registration saves it money, which of course can then be spent on

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the serious business of keeping lanes open. All comments will now be pre-moderated to ensure the information they provide is used consistently in the lane’s record.

Another change from the previous Trailwise site is that the

new TW2 is available exclusively to GLASS members. In view of the si nificant c st de el in t e site, which was funded entirely by the Green Lane Association without support from external partners, it was decided that it wouldn’t be available to members of the Trail Riders Federation and Countryside Access for the Less Mobile; members of these organisations will have to join GLASS in order to gain access, though they will still be able to use the old Trailwise site.

Commenting on this new policy, a GLASS spokesman told 4x4 magazine: ’We took external advice on licensing of maps and data and it became apparent that there were restrictions meaning use outside of the GLASS membership would be complicated and costly.

‘In the past, we have allowed the TRF and CALM access, but never a e recei ed an finance r them toward the maintenance of TrailWise. We did ask the TRF if t e anted t art finance a ne build of TrailWise, but they said they are in the process of building their own mapping system. Obviously, anyone can join GLASS and get access to TW2, in the knowledge that their membership fee will go

back into the vehicular rights of way one way or another.’

We asked if this is evidence of a damaging spilt emerging in the green laning community – which is already a tiny minority facing persecution by powerful, well funded self-interest groups with str n in uence at t e t le els of government. Surely we should e unitin t fi t ur c rner ‘Unfortunately,’ GLASS responded, ‘the divide in our community has already happened, with the TRF seeking motorcycle exceptions on TROs and All Terrain UK going their own way. It is our view that we should be working as closely as possible, as recreational vehicular users are only a small group compared to other user groups.

United we stand!

‘Our aim is to keep Byways and UCRs open for all users to enjoy. GLASS is the only national group representing 4x4 recreational motorists and we do believe in unity as our strength, but we have no control over other groups if they chose to do their own thing.’

Since its launch, we have started using the new TW2 site and are alread findin it astl su eri r t the old one (which was itself a very valuable resource). The mapping can take a little time to load, but you navigate your way around the country simply by dragging the base map around – no more inputting grid squares and refs for each individual lane you want to check.

Having zoomed in to 1:50,000 size, clicking on a lane brings up its details and any user comments in a separate screen. GLASS members are already beginning to upload comments and photos here – as always, the quality of what you et ere is defined t e e le providing them, but comments are pre-moderated so as a general rule they ought to be useful.

It’s often said that lack of knowledge is the biggest enemy of green laning. The arrival of TW2 won’t do anything to stem the wilful ignorance of those who hate freedom, but it provides the tools for 4x4 users to be better informed than ever on Britain’s rights of way.

It’s a major step forward – and a bigger incentive than ever to join GLASS and help maintain the unity on which the green laning community depends.

4x4 03/09/2018 12:21

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OFF-ROAD SCENE

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MOW COP TO THE RESCUE AS ODYSSEY CHALLENGE STAYS ON COURSE – JUST!

Words: Pip Evans Pics: Pawel Frackowiak

ROUND 4 OF THE ODYSSEY CHALLENGE almost never took place. But the Viking 4x4 Club has never cancelled an event – so one way or the other it had to happen.

The problem came when, just two weeks before the date of the event, the original venue was forced to cancel. Cue a desperate hunt for a replacement, which was hindered by most places already being booked up.

Finally, with just one week left until event day, we managed to secure Mow Cop in Cheshire. This is quite a distance from our usual

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stomping ground but beggars can’t be choosers!

This round was sponsored by Damar Webbing Solutions. Damar is a UK-based manufacturer of lifting slings, ratchet straps, vehicle transport straps, 4x4 recovery straps and safety equipment with over 28 years of experience. The company’s range of services is ideally suited to the 4x4 challenge market, and it will custom-make webbing items and safety side screens to order.

You can rely on an off-road club to put on a show of team spirit

4x4 03/09/2018 21:09

OFF-ROAD SCENE

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OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

Pay-and-play events 16 Septmber Avalanche Adventure Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire Explore Off Road Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Frickley 4x4

when the going gets tough. And with the new venue being too far away for the normal set-up team (who, lest we forget, all have day jobs to think about), regular Odyssey competitor Chris Booth stepped in to help. Chris lives near to Mow Cop, and along with his son and winchman Tom he took on the job of getting the event ready.

Come event day, then, Chris and Tom were the only people who had seen the site. And what a site it proved to be, high up on a Cheshire hillside with spectacular views over the Biddulph Moors towards Leek.

Views are one thing, but was the stuff that the wheels roll over any good? More than that, it was awesome. The site had everything a challenge event needs: loads of parking space, plenty of stout trees to winch from and steep, muddy gullies to test the mettle of competitors and trucks alike.

It was a shame, then, that as is usually the case with mid-summer events the turnout was rather poor. ere as still a str n field in Class 3, but only one team in each of Classes 1 and 2. c tt a nes as t e first person to be bitten by the savage terrain. His rear rope snapped on the top edge of a steep, narrow gully and the truck nosedived to the bottom. It was only a distance of about two metres, but that was enough to snap a steering track rod – or so it initially appeared. Once Scott winched himself out of the hole, he discovered that the whole front hub had snapped clean in half, so this was clearly game over for the day.

Not long after, Charlie Harper was forced to retire when his hydro steer system packed up. Sadly, he hadn’t even managed to try his hand at the timed special section.

The rules are that competitors

Picadilly Wood Bolney,West Sussex

13 October Burnham Off Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Frickley, South Yorkshire

14 October

Hilll N Ditch Mouldsworth, Cheshire

4x4 Without a Club

Muddy Bottom

Burnham Off Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Minstead, Hampshire

Mud Monsters East Grinstead,West Sussex

22 September Burnham Off Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

23 September Burnham Off Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Harbour Hill,West Berkshire

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club Rayleigh, Essex

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire

Slindon Safari Fontwell,West Sussex

21 October Devil’s Pit

Protrax

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Yarwell, Northamptonshire

Slindon Safari

Explore Off Road Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Fontwell,West Sussex

Frickley 4x4

29 September

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Hilll N Ditch Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Muddy Bottom

30 September

Minstead, Hampshire

Cowm Leisure Whitworth, Lancashire

East Grinstead,West Sussex

Devil’s Pit Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

7 October

Mud Monsters

28 October Cowm Leisure Whitworth, Lancashire

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire

Slindon Safari Fontwell,West Sussex

Muddy Bottom Minstead, Hampshire

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford

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OCTOBER 2018 | 73

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OFF-ROAD SCENE

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have to at least attempt the special section or they get a zero score, so it proved to be a disappointing day for him. Charlie’s brother Vince was also having issues, but at least he’d managed to do the special section to score some points.

Steve Grant managed a spectacular roll which left his truck shiny side down for a while. This caused all the engine oil to migrate from the bottom of the engine to the top, so once the truck was in erted and fired u i cl uds black smoke enveloped it and the engine sounded like of of those single-cylinder Listers one sees at steam fayres! Thankfully, Steve was

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able to get it going properly again and carried on to end the day in 5th place in Class 3.

Pretty much everyone else managed to survive intact, which was quite surprising as the terrain as as t u as u’d find an ere in the country. Chris and Tom Booth had done the club proud by setting it all up, but halfway through the day they came to realise that perhaps they had made it just a tad too tough. They ended the day in 4th, just a few points short of Jake Cooper and Dan Thomas, who took 3rd spot on 4476 points.

Just 35 points ahead, 2nd place went to Batt Bain and David Burton

on 4511 points. But top spot once again went to Tom Hirons with winchman Tom Wilson, on an impressive 5725 points. They really are the class act for 2018, having taken four out of four victories in the Odyssey series so far.

Ben Mark and Tom Jolliffe were the only team in Class 2, but theirs was no hollow victory as the 3500 points they accrued gave them the 4th highest score overall. They too have taken four out four victories in the 2018 series.

Zak Dambrauskas and Marc Johnson were also the only competitors in Class 1, and they ended the day on a respectable 1820 points. They have been locked in a titanic battle with Rhys Hutchinson with Dan Mann this year; Rhys and Dan had been

occupying 1st place in the overall championship, but their failure to attend this round means that Zak and Marc have now overtaken them. With two rounds left in this year’s Odyssey Challenge, there’s still plenty to play for!

4x4 03/09/2018 12:22

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OCTOBER 2018 | 75

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OFF-ROAD SCENE

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Overland Travel

OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

25 August

1-14 October

16 Mar – 4 April 2019

22 July 2019

Compass Adventures Corsica

Atlas Overland Morocco

Protrax Morocco

Peru Safari Peru

25 Aug – 8 Sept

2-7 October

April 2019

27 July – 10 August 2019

Atlas Overland Portugal

Landtreks Pyrenees

Venture 4x4 Iceland

Venture 4x4 Iceland

2-15 September

3-16 October

19 April – 3 May 2019

1-15 August 2019

Atlas Overland Morocco

Trailmasters Morocco Draa Valley

Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic

Venture 4x4 Iceland

8-16 September

11 October

20 April 2019

10 August 2019

UK Landrover Events Pyrenees

Peru Safari Peru

Peru Safari Peru

Peru Safari Peru

8-29 September

14 October –1 Nov

April-May 2019 (6wks)

16-30 August 2019

Protrax Iceland

Protrax Morocco

Onelife Adventure Namibia/Botswana

Venture 4x4 Iceland

9-15 September

25 Oct – 7 Nov

May 2019

24 August – 4 Sept 2019

Landtreks Pyrenees

Trailmasters Morocco Atlantic Sahara

Venture 4x4 Iceland

Trailmasters Morocco

15-26 September

27 October

9 May 2019

11-25 September 2019

Onelife Adventure Bulgaria

Peru Safari Peru

Peru Safari Peru

Protrax Pyrenees

16-29 September

28 October –15 Nov

26 May 2019

16-29 September2019

Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic

Protrax Morocco

Peru Safari Northern Peru

Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic

16-30 September

15 November

5-19 June 2019

17 September 2019

Atlas Overland Morocco

Peru Safari Peru

Protrax Pyrenees

Peru Safari Peru

17 September

17 Nov – 2 Dec

12 June 2019

October 2019

Peru Safari Peru

Onelife Adventure Morocco

Peru Safari Peruvian Steppes

Venture 4x4 Iceland

24-30 September

3 December

18 July – 1 August 2019

13-31 October 2019

Landtreks Pyrenees

Peru Safari Peru

Venture 4x4 Iceland

Protrax Morocco

76 | OCTOBER 2018

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4x4 03/09/2018 12:22

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25TH

ANNIVERSARY

4x4 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51

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THE END OF SEASON SHOW THAT’S GUARANTEED NOT TO BE RAINED OFF COVENTRY

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A4114 Burton Green Baighton

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National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

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All the best Land Rover kit, parts and merchandise. Special show offers and exclusive deals. Find our exhibitor list online at

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04/09/2018 12:59

Join our Facebook page for all the latest news about the show

www.facebook.com/gblandrovershow

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Sunday 25th November 2018, 10am to 4pm

Buy your tickets in advance and be entered into our prize draw to win over £1000 worth of prizes including this Traxxas TRX4 Defender worth £499!

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27/07/2018 04/09/2018 20:47 12:59

Discover the tyre range at BFGoodrich.co.uk

D

ROADBOOK

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NE YORKSHIRE

A mighty day out that’s ideal for any proper 4x4 This sprawling great lane run starts in a fen-like landscape, explores the expanses of Wykeham and Dalby Forests, plunges through a series of fords then finishes on the wide-open rights of way crossing the North York Moors. It’s mainly suitable for any 4x4, though there are a few ruts and some scratchy undergrowth to contend with, but it’ll keep both driver and navigator busy all day long – especially as one or two of the lanes are riddled with gates. A short section of the route takes you on to the Dalby Forest Drive, where there’s a toll to pay – you turn off before you get to the barriers, but to make the most of your visit you should stump up the cash and take a break to exple the forest properly

ROUTE GUIDE

IS IT SUITABLE?

START FINISH HOW LONG? TERRAIN HAZARDS

TYRES WEATHER

OS MAPS

East Ayton (SE 989 848) Commondale (NZ 663 105) 59.25 miles / 5-6 hours Forest, farmland and open moors Walkers, cyclists and horse riders; Some dangerous road junctions; Agricultural tra fic ars and t r ikes tra ellin at insane speeds Landranger 94 (Whitby and Esk Dale) Landranger 101 (Scarborough)

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LOW BOX SOFT-ROADERS SCRATCHING DRIVING DAMAGE

All-terrains useful when wet Deep snow would be a problem.

Avoid when foggy Not necessary Mainly well suited Inevitable on one isolated lane, which can be avoided Good navigation and disciplined driving necessary No need with everyday caution

4x4 03/09/2018 09:12

7004

Discover the tyre range at BFGoodrich.co.uk 14:34

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4x4 12pp Roadbook Oct 18 ADD BFG SPONSORSHIP AK.indd 81

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Discover the tyre range at BFGoodrich.co.uk

D

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28/07/2017 14:34

Step 11-12 (right): The surface has become slightly washed out and uneven. It’s not a problem, unless you’ve been lured in to going too fast

1

0.0

2

0.3

SE 989 848

Start in East Ayton, in the Shell fuel station and Spar shop on the main A170 through the village. Zero your trip as you turn left on to the road to start the route

SE 986 846

Don’t turn too early – look out for the street name.You’re turning isn’t the one with Ye Olde Forge Valley Inn on the corner – it’s the one after that. To make things more confusing, the two turns before yours are called Chapel Garth and Hall Garth Lane!

5

4.9

6

It’s your right of way, but the bloke coming from the right might not care. And he’ll probably be driving either a tractor or an HGV…

SE 978 827

5.0

GARTH END ROAD

3

7

4

8

1.8

3.25

5.25

5.85

The track on the left is tiny, and gated. The one you’re on is pretty narrow too, though the surface fir s u t tar ac a ter a ile

Caution – this is a fast, busy A-road

ZERO TRIP

Step 13 (left): Don’t be scared to take a shunt or two here – better that than damage the grass by cutting the corner Step 14: the track is at the end of the village – it looks more li e a dri eway at first

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USING OUR ROADBOOKS

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9

Our roadbooks guide you through the countryside on a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads.The tracks we use are public rights of a eit er as en t All ra fic r nclassified unt ads all commonly referred to as green lanes.

urn ri t s rtl a ter t e signs as you enter Brompton

1.75

10

NAVIGATION

SE 944 827

2.2

OOD GATE

11 2.3

A

The track is pretty well surfaced, but don’t be lured into going too fast – there’s a washout developing on the way along this section

12 3.6

13

You’ll need a three-point turn at least – don’t trash the grass by cutting the corner

4.5

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. u’re un a iliar it si fi ure rid re erences u’ll find a uide t 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

e n tes n t e first a e t e roadbook advise you of how suitable it is for your vehicle.These are just guidelines, however.We’ll warn you an a ards r di ficult secti ns 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

14 5.8

15 5.55

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SE 944 845

The track is at the end of the village it l ks at first as i it’s in t e a driveway

Head through the gap in the hedge t en ri t al n t e field ed e

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.

Elsewhere, simple common sense and courtesy should be your watchword.The do-and-don’t list

28/07/2017 14:34

below should always be in your mind, but keep your speed down, be ready to pull over for others and show the world that 4x4 drivers aren’t the hooligans some of them think we are.

ANTIS

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 t eir rank and file e ers u’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 farmers worried that you’re there to steal from them, so be ready to offer a rd reassurance nce 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.

DO AND DON’T

• Keep your speed right down • Pull over to let walkers, bikers and

horse riders pass • Don’t go in large convoys: split into small groups to avoid hassling others • Leave gates as you found them • Don’t drop litter. Do carry a bin bag and a pair of stout gloves so you can pick up other people’s, though • 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 • u find an ille al structi n notify the local authority • s e ne c allen es u e fir but polite. Stay calm and don’t let t e turn it int a fi t • Stick absolutely scrupulously to the right of way • You have as much of a right to be there as everyone else.Which means they have as much right as you

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16

19

6.15

7.2

H

17

Take the second left in the village centre, over the bridge

6.3

20 7.6

GREAT

18 6.55

Step 23: There are several crossroads leading up to this junction, but none of them look at all like this

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21 8.85

OOR ROAD

SE 964 959

Follow ahead on a scruffy little narrow road signed ‘unsuitable for motors’

Step 25: As the road swings off to the left, you can simply carry on straight ahead on to the track

4x4 03/09/2018 09:12

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22

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9.35

23

10.95

24

11.65

26

After the gate, there’s a very short 28/07/2017 14:34 section of tarmac. Ignore the track on the left and follow on ahead

27

Head through the gravel car park to the road

28

It’s a steep step up as you turn tight left over your shoulder

2.25

Don’t go too early. There are four square-on crossroads before this, but yours is very much a sweeping left-hander with a couple of tracks out to the right

Caution past the car park on your right

ZERO TRIP

2.3

6.7

E

25 1.1

SE 929 879

29

Take the main road round to the left, following the signs for the Forest Drive

9.65

G

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D Step 30 (left): Pay attention to the sign at the forest entrance.

28/07/2017 The barriers are after you turn off the toll road, but it’s worth forking out so you can do a proper job of visiting

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14:34

Step 31 (below left): Take the turning for Crosscliff

30 10.2

31 11.2

32

There’s a £5.00 toll (£9.00 at peak times) as you enter Dalby Forest, so make the most of it and go for a walk, head along to the visitor centre or whatever. There’s a zero point where you turn off the Forest Drive, so you won’t mess up your mileage – but do look out for it on the way past so you can spot it when you come back!

SE 903 906

Turn right for Crosscliff

ZERO TRIP

Follow the sign for the disabled car park

0.6

33 0.75

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34 1.2

35 1.6

36

Where the trail starts to become indistinct, follow the grassy tyre marks 90 degrees left

37

Turn square right immediately after going through the hedge line and ll al n t e field ed e

2.55

Caution – watch for walkers and cyclists. Low box is recommended for the descent, which is quite long and steep

2.85

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38

Continue ahead through the gate towards the farm buildings

39

Follow up the hill to the farm buildings then round to the right on the concrete road

3.25

3.45

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42

After another gate, carry on ahead between two fences

3.85

3.15

40

41

Continue ahead through the double ates and al n t e field ed e

4.2

Just after the lay-by on the left, turn le t n a track ic at first l ks like nothing more than a gap in the undergrowth. It quickly becomes two sets of bumpy ruts – take the set on the left, then keep left through the gate and follow along t e le t and field ed e

43 4.4

Ignore the gap in the fence on the left where a set of ruts leads off towards a sheep feeder, and continue ahead towards a gate in the distance

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Step 46: You’ve been on this road for a couple of miles or so here, and c ances are u’re ein assled r e ind aster tra fic You can’t see the turning as you approach, but look out for the cross-winds warning sign – the track is straight after that

44 4.5

45 5.05

46 7.45

Head through the gate and along t e field ed es u’ll t r u another three gates, all with tall poles carrying an electric fence above the right of way; after the t ird t ese t e fields i e a to scrub

After the metal gate, prepare to turn over your shoulder on to a fast, busy main road.You can use a gateway on your left at the junction to line yourself up, but take extreme caution – this is one for looking, listening and perhaps even putting your navigator out to watch for tra fic

NZ 855 026

The track is immediately after the cross-winds warning sign. There’s a short pair of wet ruts leading up to the gate

47

9.2

10.6

This is in Grosmont; the level crossing just after you turn is at one end of the North York Moors Railway, and is never less than busy

ZERO TRIP

51 0.3

52 0.95

53

7.65

48

50

1.9

NZ 828 033

The road is signed as being unsuitable for motors. There’s also an old wooden road signs that’s no longer readable

54 2.15

E

49 10.5

The three fords come in quick succession; each is bigger than the last

55 2.45

R

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56

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NZ 784 041

3.8

57

62

The track gets a little rutted and quite scratchy in places

63 64

59

65

4.55

6.35

6.5

4.6

Just after the Limber Hill sign, take the road with a 3.5T weight limit

4.8

5.7

The ford is deep, wide and uneven

6.25

58

61

28/07/2017 14:34

5.95

4.05

60

Dead slow past the farm

66 6.55

NZ 786 069

At the top of the hill, there’s a steep, sharp climb as you turn left into West Banks Farm

67

Seriously, isn’t this a nice enough lane without going off-piste and wrecking the woodlands alongside it? If you see someone at it here, shop them to the law. They’re no friends of yours

Caution – there’s a sharp lip into deep water on the left hand side of the ford

6.6

Step 67: The ford is pretty shallow and straightforward, but there’s a sharp lip to the left that you’ll fall off if you try to cut the corner

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68

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Dead slow past the farm

6.85

3.75

ZERO TRIP

7.85

0.65

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73

7.65

71

72 3.0

69 70

D

74

NZ 726 084

Continue ahead through the wooden gate

3.9

NZ 773 088

The turning is impossible to spot until you’re on it. Look for the cycleway sign opposite it on the right. Swing wide and don’t cut the corner, unless you like falling in ditches

75 4.2

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76 4.25

77 4.55

78

81 9.1

The moorland alongside the right of way has been badly damaged by illegal off-roading halfway along the lane. Again, if you see people wrecking the landscape, and the reputation of 4x4 drivers more responsible than themselves, do whatever you safely and legally can to make them pay for it

79

82

Follow ahead on the road signed for Commondale

83

Park up by the Cleveland Inn for the end of the route

4.65

5.75

80 7.7

4x4 12pp Roadbook Oct 18 ADD BFG SPONSORSHIP AK.indd 91

9.9

NZ 713 115

Holes in the surface of this lane have been extensively repaired using hardcore, creating a series of ‘brick-crawls’

11.1

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18

7

9.95

agni cent rights of a in the stunning scener of

5.05

19

14

8

10.2

7.9

round to the left, Follow the track the gate gh not ahead throu

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9

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16

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e – visibility is Caution as you emerg to the right terrible, especially

id- ales

5.75

11.6

17

with caution

Step 11: ZERO TRIP hey ta e the ir fiel hen did you last see a roa d roads seriously in eicestershir d sign li e this 11.85 e on a green lane

13

15

deep, so approach

USING

Total Off-Roa d you through the countryside on a and unsurfac ed r we use are pub lic eit er as r nclassified commonly refe rre

NAVIGATIO N

We’ve delibera tely possible to follo w th mixture of inst ructio and grid refe rences.W only include junction have to make a turnin right of way, so just st road or take the most option unless we tell y u’re un a iliar rid re erences u’ll fi using them on the legen map. Our aim is for you do the route without m do recommend having th

SAFETY

es ls n t e first the roadboo k advise you suitable it is for your vehic are just guidelin es, howeve arn u an a ards R sections, but G H the nature of lane can chan ge quickly.We can make a hug e difference Your track is the Fox Inn ite oppos the left con less Turn ditions underfo obvious of the two as you appr ot, and w oach wide open in winter can be enclosed and scratchy in sum responsibility is yours!

Our roadboo ks are design be safe to driv e in a solo veh ic are largely suit NORTH END able for standar on road tyre s. We travelling in tand do recomm this ford to em wherever wet enough for over pos it’s If the sible, how It’s not a big ever.The risk have any water ford actual have therlye’s ae, you’ll probably stuc of g sharpish drop , but surfac usk can be greater than into itroad as washe d daway in the previo it app roun the corner – and if you brea beenyou k down, having two by now at hand can mak e the differenc e between it bein g inconvenient an downright dan gerous.

RESPONSIB

When did you sign like this last see a road at unsurfaced righ a junction on an t of way?

ILITY Irresponsible driving is a mas sive pro

blem ADgreen lane -ROon TOTAL OFF s. In particu you mus

t always stay on the right of way. Never drive off it to play on the verges or surrounding land, eve if you can see that someon e else has; doing so is illegal and can be tremendously dam land and to 4x4 aging, both to the drivers’ repu tation.

The fact that you can see whe it’s happened shows how muc re h harm it does. It’s no excuse to say you’re just following where another driver has already bee n. Most green laners have taken to videoing anyo ne they see behaving like this and passing the evidence to the police, which shows how much ange r there is tow ards the criminal elem ent.

Elsewhere, simp le common sense and cou rtesy should be your

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