4x4 Magazine - October 2019

4x4

NEWS • PRODUCTS • TRAIL GUIDES • WORKSHOP • CALENDAR • OFF-ROAD SCENE DRIVEN Does the new Mitsubishi L200 live up to its looks?

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

OLD-SCHOOL SUZUKI The rare long-wheelbase Samurai that proves there’s still plenty of life in the traditional winch competition scene

Breathing new life into an early Land Rover masterpiece

£4.75

Technical trails on our West Yorkshire Roadbook

OCT 2019

Hardcore Aussie action on the infamous Old Telegraph Track 4x4 Cover Oct AWAITING PICS THEN SEND TO SARAH.indd 1

01/09/2019 23:06

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FLOOR MATS GI200

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They’re lightweight, very flexible and they’re custom-made. With a raised outer lip to retain any spills, they’ll do a fantastic job of keeping the interior of your vehicle in the best possible condition, while covering up any existing damage.

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The Boot Liners offer outstanding protection from everyday wear and tear.

It will also reduce road noise and, with its raised outer edge, prevent accidental spills from ruining your car’s interior.

These custom-made Boot Mat Liners are infused with a long-lasting vanilla scent and are fully compatible with our Dog Guards and Dividers.

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DOG GUARDS From the older 110, 90 and Freelanders to the Range Rover Sport, Discovery and Evoque, Travall have created an extensive range of high quality dog Guards exclusively for these iconic of vehicles.

Each one is made in the UK’s engineering heartland from the best available materials. They laser-cut and precisionweld high grade steel, which is then nylon-powder coated using a unique formula.

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This gives their dog guards an attractive and ultra-tough finish which is extremely resistant to scratches and knocks.

They are recognised throughout the world for their strength, dependability, ruggedness and reliability, whether on or off the road. So, if you’re looking for a guard that’s just as tough, and as well-designed, as the Land Rover itself, you’ve found it.

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October 2019

T H IS M O N T H 28

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2-3 Contents Oct.indd 2

4x4 03/09/2019 11:19

79 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 10 14 14 17 16

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Land Rover Defender Factory refurb packages for real Landies Mitsubishi Shogun End of the line for an off-road legend SsangYong Musso Korean pick-up wins Highways Agency contract Coming soon Trucks, SUVs and off-roaders on the way Jeep Wrangler New model shows potential for in-house modding

Tested 28 32 36

Mitsubishi L200 First drive of the revamped double-cab SsangYong Korando All-new compact SUV arrives in Britain Kia Sportage Range-topping hybrid diesel tested

Every Month 4 6 8 20 80 96

Alan Kidd The Shogun gave us hope in a world of pretend 4x4s Gallery Suzuki Samurais in some of their many various guises Destinations New Zealand is more than just Not Australia Products Parts, accessories, tools and much more for your 4x4 life Roadbook Sensational technical laning in West Yorkshire Next Month The story of the craziest off-roader ever built

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Features 40 42 48 56

Jeep J6 Jeep’s new Gladiator becomes a retro-styled single-cab Arkonik Not one but two magnificent restored Defenders Mighty Samurai Rare Suzuki turned into an old-school winch beast Crowning Glory Breathing new life into a classic 6x6 Landy

Travel 60 66

Queensland The monster that is the Old Telegraph Trail India Dropping out of the Himalayas at the end of an epic journey

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Off-Road Scene 72 72 74 76

Extreme E ABT Sportsline commits to global off-road race series VW Amarok Saving lives on Europe’s beaches Ramsden Road Lane repair plans in place as stakeholders unite Odyssey Challenge Toiling winches as Buildwas takes its toll

Off-Road Calendar 73 77 80

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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Alan Kidd Editor

T

here was a time when it was held up as the classic example of a glitzy, silly 4x4 that had turned its back on its off-road past. But how times change. Mitsubishi registered the final hogun e er to be imported into Britain last month – and with its passing, the 4x4 world has lost a truck that somehow came to represent the good old days of proper off-roaders.

By the time I started writing about s for a li ing which was bac in the hogun had already been with us for more than a decade. The boxy, angular first generation model had gi en way to the much swoopier Mk2, and boy did the traditionalists hate it.

You did need to not mind chrome too much because the hogun was indeed a fairly blingy thing back then. But it’s hard not to conclude that in this, and the amount of equipment it came with, Mitsubishi was simply ahead of its time. The inclinometer on the dash ne er caught on but I remember commenting on a top-spec model bac in that it had a better stereo than my at and stuff li e that certainly did. ind you my at also had a lea ing roof And based entirely on my own personal experience, you had to pay extra and upgrade to a ange o er if you wanted a 4x4 with one of those. heap shots aside the ange o er of the time absolutely thrashed the hogun off road t was to remain li e a led for almost another decade, but Mitsubishi had already gone independent by then – and with precious little tra el at the front end the hogun relied almost completely on the locking diff in its beam-axled rear to be able to get places. t went all independent with the arri al of the e en cur ier model in but somehow this seemed to make it better off-road. That locking rear diff was a major reason for this – though Mitsubishi did ma e a big mista e from onwards by using traction control in higher-spec models. Not that there’s anything wrong with that in its own right, but it was seen as a reason to ditch the locker – for which it turned out to be no substitute.

After 37 years, the Shogun factory has fallen silent Nonetheless the hogun remained steadfastly truck-like. It was a time when ehicles li e the rooper and rontera were falling by the wayside; the Landcruiser was (and of course still is) going strong, as was the Nissan atrol but e en then it was probably ine itable that the hogun s days were numbered. or it to ha e lasted until has been a remar able achie ement i e many of those other truc s the hogun has become misunderstood in later life. Most people thin it s an ust a really bad one he hogun has ne er been comparable to things li e the howe er t might be bought for similar purposes by some people, but its intent is wholly different. To the end, it was a proper truck, not in any way a soft-roader. Its off-road ability was ne er uite a match for the original beam a led Disco ery not did later ersions cope well with the combination of huge wheels low profile tyres and no diff lock, but it could take the knocks. And to tow with one was to be o erwhelmed by its supreme ability in front of a trailer.

I’ll be honest and say that personally, e always preferred the andcruiser nd I still yearn for the heady old days when I was the owner of a battered but wonderful Patrol. But as someone who appreciates good trucks, it was nice to know that the hogun was around ts presence in the mar et said that e en though pretend s are ta ing o er the world there s still hope And there is, despite the fact that the production line at a ahogi has fallen silent n apan the last hoguns are now being sold as a inal dition model and some of them will no doubt end up here one day. ut many many of those old hoguns are still wor ing playing and being modified to this day n hina a ersion of the is still being made. This was, for sure,a truck you couldn’t kill. And that is the mark of a true off-road champion.

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el Email: enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk Web: www.totaloffroad.co.uk www.4x4i.com Online Shop: www.toronline.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/totaloffroad www.facebook.com/4x4Mag Editor Alan Kidd Assistant Editor eorge Do e Art Editor amantha D ou a Contributors i e rott Dan enn a uyoshi asa a i ip ans ushar and ooja garwal etty an reu elen erard an liet aul ooe Photographers Harry Hamm te e aylor omas arec i Rowan Horncastle, Richard Hair Group Advertising Manager Ian Argent Tel: Advertising Manager Colin Ashworth Tel: Advertising Sales Manager ary imp ins Tel: Advertising and Exhibition Sales Executive Abigail Cooper Tel: Advertising Production arah oss Tel: Subscriptions Manager Catherine Martin Subscriptions Assistants mma mery ay unnicliffe bi Dutton Publisher and Head of Marketing arah oss Email: sarah.moss@assignment-media.co.uk To subscribe to 4x4, or renew a subscription, call rices for issues issues urope irmail urface irmail 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 published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House retby usiness ar shby oad retby Derbyshire D

ssignment

edia td

4x4 01/09/2019 23:07

Bowler Motorsport Accessories Add that extra special touch to your Defender

Lightweight Steering Guards Used in the Defender Challenge, the lightweight steering guard will offer protection to steering arms and linkages, but also offers access for maintenance. It uses existing mounting points and comes with 2 x red towing eyes for recovery work.

Lightweight Sill Protectors Made from lightweight aluminium and available in black and graphite, these sill protectors are used in the Defender Challenge. Supplied with a fitting kit, they bolt onto existing mounting points and do not require welding.

Compatible with XS side steps.

Lightweight Front Bumpers – Road & Race Both lightweight and high strength, the aluminium bumpers are handmade at Bowler. They use the existing bumper mounting points and are available in black and graphite. Note - Excludes spotlights shown.

A selection of great looking, high quality accessories from Bowler Motorsport.

Bowler is a market leader in the production of racing and high performance all terrain vehicles, and has been since 1985. Based in Derbyshire in the UK, they use both technology and craftsmanship to deliver vehicles and accessories with style, strength, performance and an unrivalled spirit of adventure.

Spectre’ Wheel Arches Produced in the UK and inspired by the JLR Special Vehicles produced Defenders for the film Spectre, these arches are identical in terms of size and shape, are finished in gloss black and come complete with fitting templates.

16” & 18” Lightweight Wheels Made in the UK exclusively for Bowler, these lightweight, high strength wheels are TÜV tested and are used in the Defender Challenge. They have a manufacturers guarantee and are used extensively in motorsport.

Maximum load rating 1,250kg. Black & anthracite available.

Rear Step Bumpers Designed to be practical, robust and stylish, this is the Bowler version of the popular NAS rear bumper. Available in black and graphite. The original tow bar and electrics are kept in the same place, and the step, with durable rear treads, conveniently attaches to the rear cross member.

Find more images and part numbers online at www.britpart.com/bowler

GALLERY

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

rare u u i amurai figures large in this issue of so what better reason could there be for ferreting out some photos of the legendary apanese giant iller in some of its many guises hether it was in amurai or antana form the little u u i has always been a winner off road but around the world you can still find many ersions of the ehicle with names that might not be so familiar n these pages for e ample you can see an incredibly rare hai built u u i aribian porty a alian u u i atana and an ustralian Holden Dro er pic up n the subject of ustralia models built for the oracious mar et Down nder were also mar eted under the ierra name which you e probably heard of but chances are you ne er new that long wheelbase ersions were turned into ambulances and fire engines hat you definitely do now is that when it comes to turning amurais into things nobody does it li e the world s off road community olossal lifts massi e tyres and suspension that goes all the way up No much roc s it li e a ammy hough when it comes to off road mastery in completely standard form not much roc s that li e a ammy either

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Main picture: Suzuki Sierra fire truck - NSW Fire Brigade, by sv1ambo @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0 Above: Modded Suzuki, by Vetatur Fumare @ flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Left: Suzuki Santana Pickup, by photobeppus @ flickr. com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Below: Regiao do Rio Macaquinho, Goias. Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goias, Brasil. Maio 2012. By Eduardo Aigner @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

4x4 03/09/2019 14:04

SPECIALIST 4X4 VEHICLE DISMANTERS JEEP - LAND ROVER AND MOST MAKES AND MODELS QUALITY GUARANTEED USED PARTS SOME OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE RECENTLY DISMANTLED:

op: Suzuki S 1 1 com, CC BY-SA 2.0

2, by RL GN L @ flickr.

Above left: Suzuki Sporty Caribian S 1 , by Greg G erdingen @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0 Above right: olden rover, by uRb flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

@

2015 JEEP WRANGLER JK 2.8CRD

2007 DODGE NITRO 2.8CRD

2016 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.0 TD4

Left: Mobil Mobil dan Mobil, by Ya, saya inBali imur @ flickr.com, CC BY-N 2.0 Below and bottom: Suzuki Samurai, by Neticola @ flickr.com, CC BY-N

2.0

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

4x4 2.5pp Gallery + Oct.indd 7

OCTOBER 2019 | 7

03/09/2019 12:18

DESTINATIONS

The world’s greatest 4x4 travel adventures caught on camera. This month, the place that’s best known for not being Australia…

New Zealand When your next door neighbour is famous for being the spiritual home of all things off-road, you tend not to get a look in. That’s how it is for New Zealand – but given the number of people who ship your vehicles to the other side of the world for expeditions in the deserts Down Under, it’s a surprise that more don’t augment the adventure by exploring the glorious mountain trails just a little further on.

New Zealand is very different from Oz in terms of its terrain, with more technical driving and landscapes which, rather than going on forever without changing, could be described as being like Wales on steroids.

Something else it has in its favour are its indigenous animals, far fewer of which want to kill you.

Best of all, one similarity to Oz is that in New Zealand, the off-tarmac tracks aren’t seen as a bad thing. They’re waymarked properly, and you can buy maps and guidebooks showing you where they are. Yet another country that does it better than Britain, then – and one which deserves to be on the radar for for more of the world’s overlanders.

Main picture: Ridgeline Adventures four wheel drive tour, by Simon_sees @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0 Above right: Muriwai rack Mitsubishi Pa ero Montero Shogun 1 medha Shanka ndranath ettigoda @ flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Right: Wairarapa 2 -

, by fiverlocker @ flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0

Bottom all four : Robyn @ flickr.com, CC BY-N

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, by

2.0

4x4 03/09/2019 12:18

The PWD-X5 features an 8-inch subwoofer, amplifier and DSP in a small underseat form.

Wired Remote Control The remote control unit is connected with the DSP amplifier by USB. Use the rotary encoder to select input sources (including Bluetooth audio streaming), sound settings and more.

Bluetooth Audio Streaming

-----

May 19 ads.indd 43

If your original car stereo does not feature Bluetooth audio streaming, the PWD-X5 is yet again a great solution for you. With the included Bluetooth dongle that can be plugged in to one of the USB ports on the DSP amp you can stream music from your smartphone to the PWD-X5.

02/04/2019 22:38

4x4 NEWS

GENUINE UPGRADES ADDED DEFENDERS AS LAND ROVER NEW RETRO-FIT PRODUCTS 18” alloy wheel package for 300Tdi and Td5-era 90s and 110s costs £2160, or £4068 including

last year’s £150,000 Defender Works V8 • Full Classic Works Upgrade Kit fitted in-house only,

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4x4 03/09/2019 12:29

D R

4x4 NEWS

FOR 1994-2016 CLASSIC LAUNCHES AND SERVICES

tyres and fitting • Suspension and Handling Upgrade kits based on includes engine tuning upgrade and VIP service, priced at £16,995

4x4 News Oct.indd 11

L

and Rover Classic has launched a new range of upgrade kits for existing 90s and 110s. Inspired by last year’s limited-edition Defender Works V8, these include suspension, handling and wheel and tyre packages – as well as a full upgrade it fitted in house and a ailable only on 2.2 TDCi models built from 2012 onwards.

The company says the new upgrades ‘allow Defender owners to enhance 90 and 110 derivatives built between 1994 and 2016.’ In truth, the only items suitable for vehicles built prior to 2007 are 18” Sawtooth alloy wheels, priced at for a set of fi e but should you have a 300Tdi or Td5 model in need of such expenditure Land Rover Classic is waiting to take your money.

The alloys can also be ordered as a fully fitted wheel and tyre package, in which case the price climbs to £4068.

Designed to give ‘enhanced on-road dynamics and improved performance’, the suspension and handling its can be fitted by any Land Rover dealer. Land Rover says they meet the same standard as the Works V8 itself: ‘All components have been fully assessed to the same standards as Works V8 in dynamic testing, with engineers meeting the same fast road and braking targets for Upgrade Kit components as last year’s limitedrun model.’

The Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit, which is suitable for Puma models from 2007 on, comprises uniquely tuned suspension tailored for on-road comfort and dynamics with revised coil spring rates, dampers, anti-roll bars, links and bushes. The Defender Handling Upgrade Kit then adds uprated or s specification brake discs, pads and calipers. hile these modifications are very much the opposite of what anyone would fit with off roading in mind, perceived wisdom in offroad circles now is that the Puma Defender is largely the opposite of what you want to dri e in the first place. Instead, these vehicles have become assets which change hands for ludicrous sums, making them too valuable to get dirty – and ideal for the sort of upgrades Land Rover Classic is now offering.

OCTOBER 2019 | 11

03/09/2019 12:29

4x4 NEWS

At the very top of the range, and available only for 2.2 TDCi models built from the 2012 model year onwards, is the Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit. This has to be fitted in house at and o er Classic’s own facilities in Coventry or Essen, Germany.

The kit includes all the elements of the suspension and handling upgrades, plus the 18” Sawtooth alloys, as well as an engine upgrade which delivers an extra 40bhp, taking the Puma engine up to 161bhp and 341lbf.ft. With top

12 | OCTOBER 2019

News Oct.indd 12

speed increased to 106mph, the it also includes new performance rated tyres – as well as bespoke badging on the vehicle’s front wings.

Customers also get an owner’s certificate ehicle collection and handover, with a tour of whichever factory they choose for the work. he price is and o er says this also includes a health check, which we assume relates to the condition of the vehicle rather than your own mental state.

Easy as it is to mock, the full upgrade kit does actually look

like good value considering the cost of its various components.

The handling pack is priced at £10,391.47 for the 90 and £9967.37 for the 110, while the suspension kit is £2247.07 or £1822.97 respectively – and in each case, that’s for parts only. Add in the cost of the wheels tyres and fitting not to mention that engine power boost, and you’ve got a strong case for going the whole hog.

Commenting on the new upgrade its and o er lassic boss alum c echnie said n and Rover’s 70th Anniversary year, we saw unprecedented demand for the limited edition Defender or s

V8, which brought new levels of handling and performance to this iconic vehicle. Extending the range of fully engineered, tested and approved upgrades offered by and o er lassic underlines our commitment to supporting existing Defender owners, as we look forward to the new Defender’s world premiere later this year.’ and o er has pre iously stated its intention of wiping out the aftermarket specialist market which grew up to serve the demand for enhanced Defenders. Whether these kits will help it do that is open to debate; they certainly won’t scare anyone who builds 90s and s for off road use but they do provide a fairly graphic illustration of what Defenders have become since their heyday.

4x4 03/09/2019 12:30

PERFORMS EXCEPTIONALLY ON ALL-TERRAINS The Grabber AT3 combines superior on-road performance, with exceptional off-road capabilities. It’s a tyre developed to enhance the potential of your 4x4 driving experience.

Features an aggressive pattern to work on multiple surfaces with enhanced grip.

Provides a robust compound for improved tread life on rugged terrain.

Designed for a smoother, confident and quieter drive Safe handling in all-seasons, indicated by the M+S mark and the snowflake symbol.

General Tire. A brand of Continental.

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Visit our website for further technical information and details of your nearest 4X4 stockist

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23/11/2017 11:15

4x4 NEWS

SAYONARA SHOGUN

T

he Mitsubishi Shogun is no more. Having arrived in the UK in 1982, the iconic Japanese off-roader has seen 114,164 registrations in this country – the last of which happened last month.

Britain’s last Shogun, a three-door model in Barbarian trim, was part of

the final batch to be shipped following the end of Europeanmarket production at Mitsubishi’s Sakahogi factory in Gifu, Japan.

It was registered by the importer, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, and will join the company’s heritage eet alongside another recent acquisition, a Mk1 Shogun SWB 2.6

petrol from the start of threedoor imports in 1987, and a late second-generation SWB GLS 3.0 V6 petrol from 2000.

‘The Shogun was an incredibly important vehicle for us,’ said Mitsubishi’s UK boss Rob Lindley, ‘helping us to be one of the leaders in the 4WD and SUV segments

from as long ago as the early 1980s and rapidly grow our brand presence in the UK. The sheer number of Shoguns sold to such a broad range of customers, spanning private motorists right through to the emergency services, and the length of the production run, shows how well loved the Shogun is.’

Merseyside-based IMT Medical Services has taken delivery of a new ambulance – based on our 2018 4x4 of the Year, the SsangYong Rexton. The company, which pro ides medical transport and first aid training across both pri ate and public sectors, including the NHS, operates across the whole of the UK. A genuine off-roader, the Rexton is recognised for its exceptional value for money as well as the sheer space it offers – something that’s crucial in car-converted ambulance.

‘We pride ourselves on being able to deliver professional medical transport and medical first aid training ser ices said director te e al er t is therefore so important that ehicles on our eet are reliable can go anywhere and offer space and versatility. The SsangYong Rexton will be a valuable addition.’

Highways England has purchased 32 SsangYong Musso double-cabs for use in the NorthWest, the South-East and the Midlands. Fitted with 360-degree lighting, including a roof mounted light bar, and liveried in high-visibility orange and yellow, the vehicles represent what SsangYong UK boss Nick Laird calls ‘the start of a great working relationship with Highways England.’

Among the Musso’s attractions are its ability to operate in all road and weather conditions, a large payload and the towing capability required by Highways England’s vehicle specifications. ‘It is important that vehicles we use are cost-effective, reliable and versatile.’ commented Highways England’s Nick Harris. ‘The SsangYong Musso will be a valuable addition to our fleet.’

14 | OCTOBER 2019

News Oct.indd 16

4x4 03/09/2019 14:58

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03/09/2019 14:09

4x4 NEWS

MOPARISED WRANGLER 1941 SHOWS JEEP’S POTENTIAL FOR IN-HOUSE MODDING

T

his year’s Camp Jeep, held in the Italian Alps, saw the launch of a new option pack designed to make the current Wrangler more capable than ever. Using a variety of accessories from Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts, the Wrangler first made its uropean debut at this year’s Geneva show and ha ing lit up eep s first e er appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it’s now set to become available across the entire diesel-engined range.

The version of the 1941 shown at Geneva and Goodwood was based on the Rubicon model, whose standard specification ma es it a natural choice for enhancing with further off-road equipment.

However the pack is also expected to be available on the Sahara and Overland when it goes on sale. nhancements on the model were designed to create a

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Wrangler ‘capable of expressing the undisputed off-road capability of the vehicle.’ The equipment includes rock rails and 2” suspension lift, as well as various black trim items including its grille, fuel door and door sill guards, and a snorkel is also available as an option.

The 1941 treatment also includes all weather oor mats as well as special badging on the vehicle’s bodywork, wheels, gear knob and tailgate table arly show ehicles were painted in eye-catching Punk’n metallic orange, though the pack will be available across the entire Wrangler palette.

Pricing for the 1941 pack is yet to be finalised howe er its o erall contents appear tuned more towards the image market than the off-road world – where customers have plenty of experience in speccing their own modifications As a statement of what the Wrangler can do off-road, it barely

scratches the surface; this could of course be said to re ect the way most UK owners treat their vehicles, but buyers with serious intent will continue to look to the aftermarket when creating Jeeps with the ultimate in capability.

at last ear’s os n eles otor how. ‘ he ultimate vehicle for an outdoor adventure,’ as eep calls it, the vehicle will be launched across urope durin .

This year’s Camp Jeep also saw urope’s first ma or airin for the ladiator the ran ler-based double-cab which was first unveiled

4x4 03/09/2019 14:59

4x4 NEWS

C O M IN G S O O N Forthcoming 4x4s due later this year and beyond Aiways U5 Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Aston Martin DBX Audi E-tron 50 Audi Q3 Sportback Audi Q7 facelift Bentley Bentayga Hybrid BMW X6 Bollinger B1 Bollinger B2 DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Ford Ranger facelift Ford Ranger Raptor Ford Ranger Hyundai Hyundai Kona Hybrid INEOS Grenadier Jeep Jeep Cherokee Desert Hawk Jeep Gladiator Jeep Grand Commander Jeep Wagoneer Land Rover Defender 90 Land Rover Defender 110 Land Rover Defender 130 Land Rover Discovery SVX Maserati Maserati Levante V8 Mercedes EQB Mercedes GLB Mercedes GLS Mercedes-AMG G-Class Mitsubishi ASX Mitsubishi L200 Mitsubishi Shogun Sport SVP Nissan Juke Renault Alaskan Renault Koleos Rivian R1T Rivian R1s Seat Ateca X-Perience Skoda Kamiq Skoda Kodiaq Coupe Ssangyong XAVL Ssangyong Korando Subaru XV e-Boxer Subaru Forester e-Boxer Tesla Model Y Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 Volkswagen T-Roc R Volkswagen Tarok Volkswagen Amarok Volvo XC40 Twin-Engine

4x4 News Oct.indd 17

Electric SUV Small SUV Large SUV Performance SUV Electric SUV Coupe SUV Large SUV Luxury SUV Large SUV Electric off-roader Electric pick-up Small SUV Pick-up Pick-up Pick-up Fuel-call SUV Small SUV Off-roader Small SUV Performance Off-Roader Pick-up Large SUV Luxury SUV Off-roader Off-roader Off-roader Large SUV Medium SUV Performance SUV Electric SUV Small SUV Luxury SUV Performance off-roader Small SUV Pick-up Off-Roader Small SUV Pick-up Medium SUV Electric pick-up Electric large SUV Medium SUV Crossover Medium SUV Medium SUV Small SUV Small SUV Medium SUV Medium SUV Medium SUV Performance SUV Pick-up Pick-up Medium SUV

2020 2019 2019 Late 2019 Early 2020 Late 2019 Autumn 2019 2019 December 2019 2020 2021 January 2020 Mid-2019 Summer 2019 2022 2019 August 2019 2020 2021 Spring 2020 Spring 2020 2020 2021 October 2019 March 2020 August 2020 2019 2019/20 Autumn 2019 2019 Late 2019 Autumn 2019 Early 2019 September 2019 August 2019 Late 2019 Summer 2019 2019 October 2019 Spring 2022 Summer 2022 2019 Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 2019 Summer 2019 Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 Autumn 2020 January 2020 Autumn 2019 2020 2022 Early 2020

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OCTOBER 2019 | 17

03/09/2019 12:30

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31/10/2017 11:02

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PRODUCTS

EIBACH SUSPENSION ADDS EDGE TO THE EDGE

RECENTLY FACELIFTED IN THE UK, the Ford Edge is one of the most under-rated SUVs in its class. And it may just have become more under-rated than ever, thanks to Eibach – which has launched a range of suspension enhancements for the vehicle.

New to the company’s catalogue are the Pro-Kit, Pro-Lift Kit and Pro-Spacers, whose names go a long way to explaining what they do. Not that you need to be a pro, of any kind, to use them.

The four-spring Pro-Kit, which Eibach says is the most popular of all its products, features a set of uprated, progressively wound coil springs which work harmoniously with the vehicles OEM dampers.

This lowers the vehicle by 25mm at

the front and 30-35mm at the rear, which will appeal to anyone who wants less body roll or more of a street-machine appearance.

The springs are made from a high-strength silicon chrome vanadium steel which Eibach has formulated through many years of R&D, and are pre-stressed to avoid future sagging. They’re also shot-peened during manufacture, and powder coated to fight off the worst that winter can throw at them.

If you’ve picked up this magazine to read about 4x4 products, however, you’re unlikely to want to know about lowering vehicles – even ones like the Edge which are designed more as family cars than off-road warriors. The good news,

then, is that the Pro-Lift kit offers a set of springs which raise the vehicle’s ground clearance by 30mm at the front and 20mm on the rear.

Another kind of street machine look, you might say, but also a practical solution for owners who want to be able to tackle some sort of off-road terrain. Eibach says the kit allows for ‘moderate off-roading,’ which doesn’t sound especially exciting but does represent a refreshing element of realism and honesty in the sea of mad claims you get from car makers about how their pavement-princess crossovers can get you ‘wherever you need to be’ and so on.

Finally, Eibach also offers a range of Pro-Spacers with offset measurements from 10mm to

30mm per side. A wider track looks chunky, of course, and Eibach says it will improve turn-in as well. Obviously, if you’re lifting your vehicle you might want to compensate for the higher centre of gravity by pushing the wheels further out from the centre line, too.

All these products are fully TUV approved, and the spring kits carry a fi e year warranty it s two years for the spacers). You’ll pay an RRP of £262.13 for the Pro-Kit or £409.36 for the Pro-Lift, while the Pro-Spacers cost from £92.77 depending on size. In each case, that s plus the sorry o find out more, visit www.eibachshop. co.uk.

HOSE ADAPTOR FOR EASIER BRAKE UPGRADES FITTING BIGGER WHEELS? Then you need to do a brake upgrade. Doing a brake upgrade? Then you’re very possibly going to be loo ing at matching N hoses to fittings The latter are used, typically at 1/8” in size, on various aftermarket brake calipers. But your 4x4s brakes may well use AN -03 pipes. roblem roblem sol ed ero ow erformance has introduced this ale to N ale daptor which is a clunky name but one which does all the describing you need so we can pretty much shut up now. It’s made from stainless steel and is precision machined for lea free performance and ero ow says it s uic and easy to use.

It’s also a lot less expensive to buy than pretty much everything else in a performance brake upgrade, at £11.99 including the dreaded o find it isit retailer rown and eeson at www b gdirect com

20 | OCTOBER 2019

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4x4 03/09/2019 12:55

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PRODUCTS

MUD-UK NET TURNS YOUR LAND ROVER’S ROOF INTO A USEFUL STORAGE SPACE YET ANOTHER GOOD IDEA from Mud-UK is the company’s new Roof Net for the Land Rover Defender 90 and 110. Designed to make good use of the dead space within the vehicle’s ceiling, this provides a neat and unobtrusive way of creating storage for soft and lightweight items such as sleeping bags, pillows and jackets.

The Roof Net is made from a rigid, non-elasticated nylon mesh and is mounted via a combination of footman loops and webbing straps on the grab handles above the Defender’s rear door. When installed in a 90, you can also detach the rear straps and let it hang down behind the seats, whereupon it becomes a vertical loadspace divider to keep wandering pets out of the front of the vehicle. he ud oof Net is priced at including for either the or o find out more, visit www.mudstuff.co.uk.

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4x4 03/09/2019 12:55

PRODUCTS

SIX- SPOKE 20” ALLOYS FROM TUXAUTO ARE ‘BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE WILDERNESS’ WE TOLD YOU last month about Tux Auto’s new Rivera Xtreme RX900 alloy wheel, which it has just added to its range of off road fitments for s and pic up truc s Now it s the turn of the which the company describes as a minimalist style with a superb deep conca e and at surface spo e design ailable uni uely in blac the comes in a si e with a D of offset and mm centre bore Its clean lines would certainly go with a street-machine build – though they d ma e for easy hosing off of mud too nd if you re in esting in a cool set of bra es you won t find many better ways of showing them off s if to emphasise this, Tux Auto says its Riviera Xtreme wheels are built to withstand the wilderness ou ll pay something in the region of £1000 for a set of RX950s, and in the world of aftermar et styling it s not hard to spend a lot more to get a lot less ou can find your nearest dealer by paying a isit to www tu auto com

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OCTOBER 2019 | 23

03/09/2019 12:55

PRODUCTS

BIGGEST EVER SHIPMENT OF MAXXIS OFF - ROAD TYRES ON ITS WAY TO THE UK

MAXXIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN name in the field of e treme off road tyres nd its products are about to become more widespread than e er because the largest e er stoc of ighorns repadors and reepy rawlers is currently on its way from the in readiness to gi e the company s ritish importer a hitherto unheard of le el of stoc nd there s more too ecause as well as these three well nown tyres a is is also set to

start importing the merican manufacturer s new agship mud terrain the a r odenamed the a r has been eagerly anticipated by a is customers since it started earning its spurs in competiti e use around the world a year or so ago ts all new tread pattern features deep centre bloc s for strong traction in mud as well as sharply angled side elements for strong self cleaning and minimal stone retention

‘Maxxis UK is also set to start importing the American manufacturer’s new flagship mud-terrain, the Razr MT’ 24 |

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4x4 03/09/2019 12:55

PRODUCTS Right: The new Razr MT has been gaining rave reviews around the world since its emergence last year. Now it’s coming to Britain as part of the biggest ever delivery of Maxxis’ off-road tyres, and it’s set to |become the company’s flagship mud-terrain Below: Despite being designed specifically for rock-crawling – a tye of terrain we don’t have much of in the UK – the Creepy Crawler has gained something of a cult reputation here. It’s been put to good use on Ultra4 events, and will now be available in 35” sizes to fit 15” and 16” rims – making it ideal for general use as an everyday tyre for customers who want something a little more rugged than a typical mud-terrain The Razr’s sidewall is heavily sculpted, too, allowing it to find added traction in ruts and armouring the tyre against cuts and tears. And as well as its new pattern, it features a rubber compound with chemical fillers to ma e it tougher still – adding further resistance to damage as well as extending its life in terms of wear.

The tyres’s casing is as strong as possible, too, with a dual-cord ply design featuring intertwined fibres to pro ide high le els of reinforcement. The Razr MT will be a ailable in a ariety of si es to fit 15”, 17” and 20” rims – and with diameters up to a massive 40”.

For extreme competition use, Maxxis’ reputation is built squarely on the M8060 Trepador – the tyre

used by both Gigglepin Racing and Off-Road Armoury, whose vehicles have achieved countless successes on Maxxis rubber.

Between them, Gigglepin’s Jim Marsden and ORA’s Rob Butler ha e posted fi e podium finishes so far this season, including three o erall first places and their tyres’ ability to withstand the enormous punishment dished out by relentless highspeed use on exceptionally tough terrain has played an important role in that.

The Trepador has a bias-ply construction designed to mould itself to une en ground ma ing it particularly effective at low pressures – Maxxis’ own product pictures show it mounted on a

beadloc rim ts directional tread bloc s are designed for uniform contact, and its shoulders and sidewalls are heavily shaped for aggressive side-biting, helping it gain traction in extremely soft terrain and jagged roc s ali e he repador is currently listed on Maxxis; UK website as being available only in 37” sizes, however the company says that when the new shipment arrives, it will become ‘the most

e treme and most significant tyre to be imported in such high quantities from 35” to 42”.’ or roc ier terrain the Creepy Crawler remains one of the most enduringly popular specialist tyres a ailable in the ts tread pattern, with large shoulder lugs and unique multi-edged side elements, is designed for maximum contact – and, Maxxis says, to allow the best possible steering control

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03/09/2019 12:56

PRODUCTS at very low speeds. It has an offset sipe arrangement for traction on sheer surfaces, as well as an extrasoft, sticky compound designed to cling on to the terrain.

Hardcore rock-crawls are uncommon in Britain, however the Creepy Crawler also promises to excel in mud and snow, with strong self-cleaning properties. Maxxis says the UK range will now include 35x12.50R15 and 35x12.50R16 sizes, two of the most popular for all-round use on modified off-road vehicles.

As allrounders go, meanwhile,

the MT764 Bighorn is a very hard tyre to beat. We say this from experience because we ran a set on our old Land Cruiser Colorado a few years ago, and they were brilliant both on and off-road.

With an aggressive take on what’s recognised as a classic mudterrain tread layout, the Bighorn allows good traction and confident braking alike, whether on wet or dry surfaces. It’s moulded to take studs, should you be planning to visit a cold climate where these are allowed on the road – and, while it’s not as extreme as some of the other tyres in Maxxis’ off road range it benefits from much of the same technology to resist punctures and repay your investment with a good wear rate.

The Bighorn is an ideal tyre for green laning and everyday off-road use, especially when these are combined with a lot of road miles – as laning almost always is. The new range will cover a vast spread of sizes, from 30x9.50R15 up to a hefty 275/60R20.

As before, the Maxxis range will be available in Britain both from Maxxis International UK itself and Stapletons Tyre Services, one of the country’s biggest distributors of car, van and 4x4 tyres. The new shipment is due to start filtering out to customers in the early autumn, which by the time you read this will loosely translate into ‘now’ – so if you’re after new rubber for your truck, a very good idea would be to head for www.maxxis.co.uk.

‘The Bighorn is ideal for green laning and everyday off-road use, especially combined with a lot of road miles’

26 | OCTOBER 2019

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4x4 03/09/2019 12:56

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03/09/2019 14:16

SIXTH COMING

Mitsubishi’s sixth-generation L200 looks as dramatic as any pick-up in the UK – but it’s WORDS: GEORGE DOVE PICTURES: MITSUBISHI

M

itsubishi’s L200 is a stalwart of the UK pick-up scene, having gained fans and plaudits alike for its combination of SUV-esque qualities in a package that also ticks boxes for farmers, builders and foresters alike. If it’s for either of those reasons that you were a fan of the Series 5 truck, then the early signs suggest you’ll be a fan of the new one, too. any recoiled at the first glimpse of the striking new truck, whose Dynamic Shield styling looks as showy as any UK double-cab has yet been. However, you’ll be glad to hear that actually, it looks

4x4 4pp Mitsubishi L200.indd 28

01/09/2019 10:28

more than just a pretty face

Above: One of the key updates to the L200 is a new engine. At 2268cc, this is smaller than the previous unit, but its 150bhp is backed up by 295lbf.ft from 2000rpm and it returns an improved 32.1mpg in manual form Below left: Towing weight remains at 3500kg, with improvements to the chassis, suspension and brakes allowing an improved GTW of 6155kg

rather handsome in the esh and is certainly one of the burliest pick-ups on the market. Beneath the surface are a few new touches of practicality, too: the bonnet has been raised by 40mm to aid in positioning the vehicle, while larger wheels ma e it possible to fit bigger two-piston brake calipers at the front.

It lives up to this image too, retaining the all-important 3500kg towing capacity – while also now being able to carry a payload of up to 1080kg. It can carry 550kg while also hauling its max trailer weight, thanks to a revised gross train weight of 6155kg.

4x4 4pp Mitsubishi L200.indd 29

Helping these figures are a revised suspension set-up and further reinforced chassis – as well of course as the aforementioned brake upgrade.

These tweaks are also touted as helping the L200 achieve one of its key aims – being more civilised and appealing to a wider audience. With the Shogun now gone, Mitsubishi is positioning the Series 6 L200 as the option for its SUV customers who don’t yet trust hybrid propulsion and still want diesel.

To do this, the company has updated the truck’s interior, added a new Barbarian X trim level at the top of the range and worked its

magic to improve every aspect of its on-road manners. he first thing to say on this front is that on public roads, the still feels definiti ely truc li e But it is a step forward from the last model, with road noise less intrusive and the tougher chassis feeling more settled.

Impressively, the unladen rear axle ricochets off uneven road surfaces to a lesser degree than that of its predecessor, despite being braced to take more weight.

The truck’s steering doesn’t have the weight that would make it feel agricultural, however its six-speed manual gearbox does give this impression. Based on our experience so far, we’d go for the automatic, which also has six speeds, as it adds more polish to the driving experience.

It can also get stuck into the nitty gritty of heavy towing. We used it to pull another L200 on a triple-axle trailer and it coped well, building speed steadily and smoothly and remaining planted four-square on the road.

This, of course, is also in part down to the engine. This is new to the vehicle; it’s smaller than before at 2268cc but it dishes up 150bhp and 295lbf.ft, the latter from 2000rpm, while returning 32.1mpg in manual form and 29.1mpg as an auto he first engine with Stop and Go technology, the 2.3-litre unit is Euro 6d compliant and runs a 21-litre AdBlue tank – that’s big enough that you

probably won t need to fill it outside of regular service intervals.

Taking in a variety of roads, the new L200 is a versatile truck. It isn’t the quietest on dual carriageways but it does sit comfortably at speed – and, being the narrowest truck on sale, it doesn’t feel cumbersome on narrower country roads. Having said that, the combination of this and the higher bonnet gives the impression that you’re sitting quite high.

New top-spec L200 models claim the widest range of safety equipment in the pick-up sector.

This includes a 360-degree camera; Forward Collision Mitigation; Blind Spot Warning system with Lane Change Assist; Rear Cross raffic lert and ltrasonic is acceleration mitigation system.

New owners will also benefit from Emergency Brake Assist, active stability and traction control, trailer and hill start assist and emergency stop signal functionality. Oh yes, and four-wheel drive.

Something new to the L200 is the addition of four new off-road modes that come with the Super Select 4WD system. Just as before it can switch from 2H to 4H on the move, but there are now added dimensions in Off-Road mode with Mud, Gravel/Snow, Sand and Rock settings. We tried it off-road in wet mud and on a rallycross style circuit – and with Mud and Gravel/ Snow selected it had answers for all of the questions posed by those terrains. All on standard tyres, too.

OCTOBER 2019 | 29

01/09/2019 10:28

A key area of focus in making the Series 6 compelling to car and SUV drivers is its interior and usability.

All double-cab models get keyless entry, air-conditioning and electric windows and mirrors along with cruise control equipped with a speed limiter – and the Super Select 4WD system. You have to jump up to the Barbarian to get seats that are leather-clad and heated, and the designated off-road modes are introduced at this point too.

On the launch, meanwhile, we spent our time in the new range-topping Barbarian X. This adds suede inserts into the seats, the top-tier safety tech, parking sensors all-round, automatic high beam and a heated steering wheel.

All of which make the truck very comfortable, a doddle to use and obviously safer.

The seats are arguably the biggest factor in making the cabin feel more special and less utilitarian.

They’re well sculpted and you can sin into them gi ing us confidence for high-mile trips. Believe it or not, the leather steering wheel is a nice touch also which, along with mood lighting and other small touches like puddle lamps and leather door cards, makes the L200 feel like a true luxury product.

There’s nothing much to grumble about in the multimedia system, either – though it doesn’t have sat-nav, instead requiring you to use

your phone via its installed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software.

The part of the dash in which it’s housed, however, is dominated by silver plastic trim which, along with the surrounding plain black elements, feel ordinary at best.

If there’s anything that’s going to prevent the L200 from conquering customers from the SUV market, it’s this.

It’s nicer in the rear, though, where the seats are as plush as

itsubishi wants the new to appeal to buyers who ha e only e er dri en s before t’s not the first truck maker to say this and it’s not the first to go after them with loads of modern tech – all of which is ery effecti e though we think the rather limp plastics in which it’s all housed will be a stumbling block for family car buyers s a kid-shifter howe er it has the attraction of a hitherto unheard-of le el of safety gear – and if you’ e got off-roading in mind higher-spec models come with a palette of dri e modes as part of the uper- elect system

30 | OCTOBER 2019

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4x4 01/09/2019 10:29

Above: The new Barbarian X model tops the range with its own ‘six-pack’ leather seats, LED mood lighting and the full range of safety equipment. Rear-seat passengers are just as well looked after as those in the front, too Below right: When all’s said and done, the L200 is still a truck. And with a payload of 1080kg, 550kg of which can be carried while towing the legal maximum, it’s more of a truck than ever those in front and there’s a double set of USBs to keep your kids fully charged. And even with an interior which we suspect will look and feel dated before the rest of the truck, the eries is definitely a step in the right direction.

With a cleaner, more economical engine, improved all-round road manners, class-leading safety equipment and all the functional practicality you could ever want of a truck, we expect the new L200 to re-establish Mitsubishi’s position in the double-cab market. It’s priced to sell, too, with the entry-level 4Life Club Cab starting at £21,515

4pp Mitsubishi L200.indd 31

before you add the VAT, if you have to, and on-road costs.

Stepping up to the 4Life Double Cab takes the price to £22,715, then there’s a jump to £26,200 for the Warrior. Automatic transmission becomes an option here, at £1400.

Next comes the Barbarian, at £29,300 and £30,700 respectively. nd finally the new arbarian tops out the range at £32,200 – with the auto box as standard.

As is now normal in the doublecab market, premium models will get the bulk of the action. Whether they’ll make up for the loss of the Shogun, we’re not so sure – but

look around the rest of the 4x4 market and you’ll see that there aren’t many ways of getting your hands on so much equipment for so little money.

If its looks put you off, the L200 probably won’t have enough about it to win you over.

But if they do it for you, or (unlikely, we know) you don’t have much of an opinion about its styling, you’ll come away impressed.

It’s been a while since Mitsubishi dominated the 4x4 pick-up market – but it’s been a while since it had a product this good. Game on.

01/09/2019 10:29

SON OF REXTON

Can SsangYong’s new Korando SUV work the same magic that turned the Rexton into an WORDS: ALAN KIDD PICTURES: SSANGYONG

A

little under two years ago, SsangYong introduced the new Rexton to the UK. It was a revolution and a revelation; instead of the tough but rather lumpy model that came before, here was a large off-roader that drove well, looked tidy and, as well as being exceptionally equipped inside, had an almost unbelievably classy cabin design.

People sneered when we named it our 4x4 of the Year, and judging by its sales performance since then (around 350 a year) SsangYong still has work to do to convince a nation of dinosaurs that a clunky sounding name doesn’t equal a bad product. Make no mistake, though: it’s brilliant.

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01/09/2019 10:30

off-road title winner?

163bhp, 239lbf.ft diesel engine with auto transmission is the only option at launch, though there's a petrol unit and manual gearbox coming at the start of next year

Now, SsangYong is aiming to work the same magic with its new Korando. Whereas the Rexton is a Discovery-sized vehicle, the company sees the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson as its most immediate rivals with a small-tomedium SUV which, SsangYong says, offers more interior space than anything else in its class.

This is the C-SUV segment, to use the jargon, but classes matter less than prices and for the new Korando, these cover a range from £19,995 to £31,995. There are four trim levels (the lower two of which won’t actually arrive in Britain until January) and a choice of petrol and diesel engines, manual and auto gearboxes and 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.

4x4 3pp SsangYong Korando.indd 33

As always, it’s not quite as wide as that. If you want a manual, your only choice is a petrol engine – and it’ll be a 4x2. Diesels are auto only and come with a choice of two or four-wheel drive. The bottom two spec levels, ELX and Ventura, are petrol-only: the third up, Pioneer, is diesel only, and the top one, Ultimate, can be had with either.

Are you taking notes?

Inside, it doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by the best versions of the Rexton. That’s hardly surprising, but there’s more hard, scratchy plastic around the place than we thought we’d see again in a brand-new car. Build quality is excellent, though. That plastic may be hard but it feels dense rather than brittle, there’s

plenty of substance to the dash and oor console and the switchgear is very positive.

Ergonomics are good but not great. If you like to drive onehanded with your elbow resting on the door you ll find it difficult as there’s an enormous, angular slab of trim where you want to put it. This means your arms are left hanging somewhat while driving, which in turn means using the paddles to change gear isn’t very relaxing.

This is especially the case in higher-spec models shod with low profile tyres whose ride is noticeably fussier than more modest versions. We drove Ultimate and Pioneer models, which ride on 235/50R19s and 225/60R17s respectively, and found the latter more composed over a variety of road surfaces.

Further differences include powered leather seats with cooling as well as heating, sat-nav, a digital dash and an electric tailgate.

Whereas the Ultimate spec in the Rexton has taught us to expect gorgeous quilted stitching on the leather seat and dash panels, however, the styling is pretty much the same on both versions of the Korando. There’s no greater sense of occasion in one than the other – though the vehicles we drove both had black interiors, and there’s a light grey option which promises to make things a bit more cheerful.

The seats in both are supportive and comfortable and there’s plenty of leg, head and elbow room.

Visibility is good, too, apart from over your shoulder – here, a vast C-post which stretches all the way to the back of the vehicle means you might as well be driving a panel

van. Parking aids are standard on all but the entry-level ELX model, and you’ll be grateful for them.

Those big C-posts start far enough back not to make the rear seats feel enclosed, and that’s good because they’re absolutely suitable for tall adults. One six-footer can sit behind another no problem – even with the front seats all the way back, your knees only just touch the back of it. Headroom is good here, too.

The rear seats drop to just a few degrees off at for carrying cargo The tailgate aperture isn’t huge, and the oor is a touch high but you’ll be able to slide big, long items on board without a fuss. It doesn’t do anything jaw-dropping the way the Rexton does, but it delivers the goods admirably in its own undemonstrative way.

The diesel engine is quite undemonstrative, too, but in a good sense – it’s smooth and quiet, rarely raising its voice even when pushed hard. Whether you’re hustling it on a B-road or cruising at motorway speeds, it’s nicely hushed. Wind noise is well suppressed, too; road noise is hardly intrusive either, though there’s more of it with those lower profile tyres Performance is pretty decent, with a good slug of torque to keep you mo ing forward he figures say 136bhp and 239lbf.ft, the latter from 1500rpm, and the experience says it’s got enough without dishing up any big grins. We can’t comment on the petrol unit, which won’t arrive in Britain until January, but while we always tend to prefer manual boxes we’re disappointed that however good it turns out to be, it won’t be a 4x4.

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The Korando’s cabin is slick enough, and very well put together, but doesn’t hit the heights of style that helped turn the Rexton into an award-winner. The range-topping Ultimate model, pictured here, has plenty of electronic toys to go with its leather-clad comfort; more basic but just as important is the extremely impressive rear-seating space, which is more than ade uate to allow four tall adults to tra el in comfort he seats drop near-flat for loading too Handling-wise, body control appears to be on the money from the experience we’ve had so far – it’s taut enough in corners and doesn t get appy when you chuck it from side to side the way SsangYongs used to a generation or so ago. We’ve not been hugely impressed by the Korando’s steering thus far, however – it lacks feel around the straight-ahead position and can build resistance rather unpredictably at times, with an element of over-assistance as it pulls at your hands. It’s not enough

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to be alarming, but it certainly doesn’t feel natural.

Nonetheless, our initial impression of the Korando is quite a positive one. We think the lowerspec models ride better on their taller tyres, and the extra kit in the Ultimate doesn’t light it up the way the Rexton’s lavish styling does for its own top-speccer, but even in entry-level territory you’re getting a good, sound SUV with a decent bit of kit – and, in true SsangYong style, you’re getting it at a price that should make you take notice.

In particular, we heartily approve of the fact that every single item of safety equipment in the Korando’s spec list (and that’s a lot of items) is standard across the entire range. Not being able to afford leather and fancy electronics doesn’t mean taking chances with your children’s lives, and there are plenty of car makers who should look at that fact and hang their heads in shame.

If SsangYong had managed to inject a bit more excitement into the Korando’s cabin, we’d be

jumping up and down about it. But the Rexton set a high bar, and has proved a tough act to follow – and while the Korando is good enough for what it is, it doesn’t deliver the surprise and delight that makes its big brother so special.

As it is, though, this is much more than just a cheap option with a monster warranty. There’s a lot to recommend here, and the Korando has room to grow into. Kia and Hyundai will take a bit of catching – but SsangYong is now better equipped than ever to do so.

01/09/2019 10:31

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05/06/2019 11:13

DRIVEN

KIA SPORTAGE GT-LINE S

New hybrid-engined model moves high-selling medium SUV onwards and upwards but comes with styling that’s bound to divide SUV-buying opinion ON TEST Sportage 2.0 CRDi 195 GT-Line S

W

e’ve given the Kia Sportage plenty of awards in the past. The first generation model actually won our of the ear title once while

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the second was a regular alue for money champ and the third went home with the est mall gong on two occasions o the current fourth generation Sportage has a strong heritage –

and a whole lot to li e up to. It gained a bit of a mid life facelift last year; the updates to its styling were only qiote mild but much more significant was the arrival of a new mild hybrid turbo diesel engine to sit on top of the range.

That’s what we’ve got here. ia s Di engine tuned for bhp is mated to a bhp starter generator to gi e the ehicle

a combined output of bhp and lbf ft mated to an eight speed auto gearbo it dri es all four wheels as standard. he engine comes in range topping ine form with an image that certainly aims to put the sport in portage f you li e your s traditional you might not li e its styling ut as a modern it certainly has street appeal and though its e aggerated front end does carry a lot of aggression it s not as o ert as some soft roaders we could mention Neither is it as e pensi e Despite coming with an e tremely thorough it list not to mention ia s famous se en year mile warranty its retail price is only

4x4 01/09/2019 10:32

Build quality inside the cabin is excellent, with barely a creak or a groan anywhere. However the dash materials don’t feel generous to the touch – they’re hard and scratchy in places, even going so far as to feel brittle. Overall, though, the impression when you climb aboard is of darkness – it’s just black, black and more black.This isn’t helped by the banks of switches confronting you when you look at the facia – a result of the Sportage being so well equipped, for sure, but hard to get your head around when there’s a multimedia screen that could surely take up some of the slack. This in turn works well and responds promptly, though its graphics aren’t the most exciting thing you’ll ever see £35,020 on the road. Yes, ‘only’… we never thought we’d see the day when we’d be saying that about a Kia Sportage costing closer to forty grand than thirty, but that’s the way of the world now.

Inside, if its cabin is notable for one thing it’s being dark. The door cards, headlining and seats are all black, as is almost the entire dash, making it feel less sportily slick and more funereal. It could certainly be more welcoming, not just

because of this but because its facia confronts you with several rows of very similar looking black buttons.

There’s a touch-screen up top, but that doesn’t seem to have diminished the need for physical controls – in fact there are physical controls for the touch screen, so it’s not what you’d call a masterpiece of ergonomics.

Material quality isn’t particularly lavish, either. The dash plastics feel cheap, with lower surfaces that feel

hard, scratchy and almost brittle – though by contrast, the quality of its construction is excellent, with a feeling of absolute solidity all around the cabin.

The seating position is good, too, as are the seats themselves. Don’t e pect to fit adults in the bac without a struggle, though; it’ll take one six-footer behind another, but only if the one in the rear doesn’t mind splaying his knees around the back of the seat ahead of him.

Most Sportages will be bought by young families, anyway, so this won’t be an issue. And for luggage carrying, its rear seats fold as good as at to lea e a ery handily low oor he tailgate aperture is a little cramped, but on the plus side there’s also a good selection of places to stow your odds and ends up front with the oor console standing out for its e ibility al ing of e ibility with an electric motor helping it on its way

The cabin is spacious up front, with an excellent seating position. Knee room in the rear is more limited, however– you can just about get one six-footer to sit behind another, but both will have to yield some space and the one in the back will probably end up with his knees splayed wide for the whole ourney t’s definitely better for kids Dropping the rear seats to carry cargo is a cinch, though the aperture would be more practical if it was a little less rounded. Oddment stowage up front is generous, with a good, big cubby box ready to swallow all your paraphernalia

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The mild-hybrid 2.0 CRDi engine was the most significant addition to the Sportage range when the ehicle was facelifted last year ith a 1 bhp electric motor aiding the 182bhp diesel engine, it puts out 1 5bhp and 5lbf ft through a standard eightspeed auto gearbox. It’s not especially fast but what’s really noticeable is how composed the dri etrain remains whether making progress up and down the rev range in town or sitting at a fast cruise on the motorway. It’s both smooth and very quiet, making this range-topping ersion of the Sportage almost e ec-like in its refinement

the 2.0-litre diesel engine ought to be pretty good at digging out the torque – and that’s how it proves.

It’s not particularly fast, with a 0-62 time of 9.2 seconds, but what’s really noticeable is how quiet and composed the Sportage is both in town and on the motorway, where it rarely if ever feels pressed.

This is aided by a surprisingly smooth ride and lack of intrusive wind or engine noise. Looking at the vast array of medium-sized

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SUVs on the market, you probably wouldn’t pick out the Sportage as one you’d expect to cruise like an executive car, but it really is very civilised indeed. Around town, as well, it soaks up any tendency towards crashiness on the way through jagged pot holes.

It’s pretty agile on A and B-roads, too. You can control the auto box with paddles behind the steering wheel and its chassis feels taut in corners, with good body control

and steering that lives up to the standards of response its sportsSUV image demands. And if you’re not the sort of driver who likes to press on, you can just leave it in drive and it’ll do its thing with a settled docility that makes it very easy indeed to get along with.

Even at closer to forty grand than thirty, there are precious few areas in which the Sportage lets itself down. Its cabin doesn’t feel as slick as you’ve a right to expect at

this money, and while it’s kitted to the nines one thing you don’t get is autonomous emergency braking.We weren’t wowed by the graphics on its multimedia system, either.

These things aside, it demonstrates as successfully as ever why Kia sells so many. No, the styling of the GT-Line S won’t be to everyone’s taste – but the Sportage continues to be an SUV whose qualities ring every bit as true as those of its its award-winning ancestors.

4x4 01/09/2019 10:32

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21/09/2018 15:49

JEEP’S HIT SINGLE

J6 concept takes the forthcoming Gladiator and turns it into a single-cab –complete with WORDS: KAZUYOSHI SASAZAKI PICTURES: JEEP

D

ouble-cabs are all the rage. We know that for a fact, because it’s been the case for so long now that it doesn’t count as a fashion any more – just, well, a fact.

When there’s a new truck on the way, people tend to get very excited about it. Not many doublecabs have piqued people’s interest like the Jeep Gladiator, however.

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off-road mods and retro styling

With this being the Gladiator’s launch year in the USA, Jeep’s traditional concept offering for 2019’s Easter Safari in Moab, Utah was made up entirely of pick-ups.

This month, we’re looking at one of these which previews the Wranglerbased double-cab – without actually being a double-can itself at all.

Jeep describes the J6 concept as being ‘all truck, all the time.’ Based

4x4 2pp Jeep J6.indd 41

on the Gladiator Rubicon, and therefore packing a world-leading off-road punch from the word go, it has been modified into a two door single-cab, giving it a six-foot bed area that’s twelve inches longer than standard and harking back to the late 1970s with a variety of its classic Jeep truck styling cues.

It also showcases a variety of Jeep Performance Parts from

Mopar, some of them already in production and some still in the prototype phase.

The vehicle’s wheelbase is 118.4”, matching that of the current fourdoor Wrangler JL. Its overall length, however, is a hefty 201”.

Styling wise, Jeep says the vehicle is a tribute to the 1978 Honcho, specifically in terms of its custom Metallic Brilliant Blue paint. This is emphasised by a prototype spray-in bedliner that’s colour-matched to the metalwork around it.

Mounted in the bed is a prototype 2.25” styling bar, on which is located a four-strong array of 5” LED driving lamps from Jeep Performance Parts. These are good for 4800 lumens apiece, so nighttime off-roading isn’t going to scare you aboard this vehicle.

There’s not a lot of off-road terrain that will scare the J6, actually. Being based on a Rubicon means it has things like locking diffs from the word go, and on top of all that a 2” suspension lift, again from Jeep Performance Parts, allows the fitment of oodrich ud Terrain tyres.

These are mounted on prototype 17” beadlock wheels whose deep dish styling is set off by a finish that goes by the name of Brass Monkey. Also from the prototype department is a spare wheel carrier which, handily, works with tyres up to yes in diameter urther good stuff includes a prototype 2” steel stinger bar, which bolts directly to the Rubicon front bumper, and custom rock rails with 2” steel tubes welded to the standard Jeep Gladiator units. The stinger acts as a mounting point for four additional 5” Jeep Performance Parts LED lights, with another two bolted on near the A-pillars, for a

total of ten working together to illuminate the trail ahead.

Behind a Mopar Satin Black grille lies a litre si pot engine you know, the one we don’t get in the UK. It’s running a Jeep Performance Parts cold air intake to eke out a little more power and torque, helping turn those big inchers when the going gets rough. As it surely should if you’ve splashed out on creating a rig this capable.

Talking of money spent, that twodoor cab has a concept removable hard-top. Elsewhere around the truc you ll find classic eep badging and Mopar bonnet latches carrying the Jeep logo.

We’re into the realms of details now, so it’s time to look inside that uni ue cab Here you ll find body colour inserts in the dash panel and matching highlights to the Katzkin leather seats and armrests. There’s a classic Jeep badge on the horn button, a bank of switches for the LEDs and a trailer brake control switch – demonstrating the vehicle’s ability to tap into additional stopping power when towing.

This is of course something a lot of owners will do with their Gladiators. If we had one like the J6, on the other hand, is there any doubt what we’d do?

Well, yes, actually, there is. Would we go off on a massive off-roading binge? Or would we pose around boasting to anyone who’ll listen about what a cool truck we’ve got?

Tricky. And there’s an extremely strong chance we’d do both.

Certainly, either is all the reason you should ever need to take the plunge and avail yourself of what can be done when you buy, and modify, with the sense of style Jeep’s designers always bring to their Moab masterpieces.

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masterpieces

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It’s been a long, long time since people started describing Land Rover Defenders as being like a blank canvas for whatever you want to create.

Since then, Somerset-based restorer Arkonik has become one of the leading Defender artists… and even though it works from a variety of palettes, it has a happy knack of turning out masterpieces WORDS: DAN FENN PICTURES: ARKONIK

H

ardly a month seems to go by at the moment without an Arkonik-built Land Rover appearing in these pages. hat s an indication of how prolific the Somerset-based company has become, but also of how cool its vehicles tend to be. t s so prolific in fact that this month we re looking at not one but two of its creations.

They’re quite different in some ways – but very similar in others.

The most obvious difference is that one’s a 90 and the other is a 110. The former, called the Fargo, is a tough looking bit of kit with a Safety Devices exo cage and roof rack, First Four Shadow Bumper, Puma bonnet, NAS rear step and KBX Signature grille and wheelarches.

It’s a pretty smooth operator all the same, though. Look at it from some angles, and its pearlescent Mariana paintwork will appear

blue – and as you move around it, the colour changes to an iridescent black. Down below, Kahn Defend 1983 18” alloy wheels are wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tyres, and the sills are protected by a combination of chequer plate cladding and ebony Fire and Ice side steps.

There are LEDs, of course (there are always LEDs) – in this case, Duo-Lux headlights, a rear-facing work lamp and four forward-facing spots mounted on the roof rack. And something else you always find in an r oni build is a gorgeous interior – in the Fargo 90’s case, featuring Elite heated front seats with diamondstitched brown leather from the masters of the art at Ruskin Design.

Elsewhere, the air-conditioned cabin features a matching lock box with 12-volt and USB power points and leather door cards, as well as alloy gear knobs and door furniture, an Evander 15”

wood-rimmed steering wheel and a Pioneer sound system with touch-screen, Apple CarPlay and built-in reversing camera.

Typical Arkonik fare, then, which is no bad thing – even though being a 90 makes it a little unusual by the company’s normal standards.

Where there’s demand, though, there’s supply – and Arkonik’s builds are always in demand.

That’ll be why it restored and then sold more than ehicles in its first decade ha ing been started by Andy Hayes in 2007. ‘I’d had a motorcycle accident that laid me up for two months he says and for the first time in my life I was physically forced to rest. When I got out of hospital, my wife bought me an old Defender 110 to give me something to do. I still own that vehicle today.

‘I circumnavigated Europe for a few months on my own in that old V8. It took me from

One of the great things about catering to an audience based exclusively in the USA and Canada is that you can give it large with the V8 engines.

Nobody’s going to mess around with diesel here. As you’d expect, the standard of detailing is absolutely top-notch – Arkonik talks about its vehicles being ‘better than new’, and you can see it here – these are, for sure, concours-standard Defenders

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mething u a wa s nd in an r ni ui d is a g rge us interi r in this ase, eaturing ite heated r nt seats with diam nd-stit hed r wn eather r m the masters the art at us in esign

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Drop-dead gorgeous interiors are an Arkonik signature, and these two Defenders are among the best you’ll ever see. Much of the credit for that has to go to Ruskin Design, the Leicester company whose signature is on both vehicles’ leather seats, door cards and cubby boxes. Whether it’s the diamond-stitched brown leather of the Fargo 90 or the black-and-gold Recaros of the Decade 110, you don’t need to be a Landy diehard to appreciate how gloriously appointed these Defenders are

the UK to Scandinavia through Poland and to Ukraine through Moldova, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, France, Spain and back to England. hen bought and modified another Defender then subse uently sold it effortlessly the seed of Arkonik was sewn.’

To celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary, it created the Decade model which is also

seen here his features a number of the same accessories as the Fargo 90 (Puma bonnet, KBX grille, Fire and Ice side steps, Kahn alloys, BFG All-Terrains, NAS rear step, air-con and a Pioneer stereo), but it manages to look very distincti e indeed than s to gold ec ed Santorini Black paintwork and a wide variety of gold details These include the door hinges, wing-top vents and wheel rims, as well as hand-painted pin stripes t s got ibes of an old ormula otus from the days when ario ndretti and the late onnie etersen showed the rest of the world how it was done.

Inside, there’s still more gold detailing. This is in the uting and stitching which sets of a jaw droppingly beautiful us in treatment in upersoft blac leather he seats themsel es are heated Recaro Cross Sportsters, and the same finish is also to be found on the dash and door cards. Elsewhere, there’s black anodised gear nobs and door furniture orange D

mood lighting and a oto ita blac leather steering wheel.

Said steering wheel, as you may have noticed, is located on the left hich is where the r oni story gets a bit frustrating if you re someone who lo es the loo of these Defenders and has the money to buy one.

That’s because the company only sells to customers in North America. It sources its s and s mainly in the southern part of mainland Europe, meaning the wheel is already where it needs to be, and exports them across the tlantic meaning its punters come from a culture where eeps are for spanner mon eys and and o ers are for well heeled enthusiasts There’s a lovely symmetry to that, and like all the best ideas it’s a simple one. We’re particularly fond of good ideas that yield great truc s too and whether or not you’d choose to spec your own personal Defender the same as either of these examples, there’s no doubting that that’s exactly what they are.

Ebony Fire and Ice side steps are an Arkonik staple, as are BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres. On each of these Defenders, the latter are wrapped around 18” Kahn alloys. The Fargo 90’s image is based around a Safety Devices exo roll cage, while the Decade 110 makes lavish use of gold detailing – including a classy hand-painted pinstripe running the length of the vehicle

OCTOBER 2019 | 45

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01/09/2019 23:02

Let the adventures begin..

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03/09/2019 14:05

land rover defender upgrades & accessories

Head Linings for Defender 90 Comes as a 5-piece kit with sun visor covers & all fittings and fixings.

Available in black, light grey & dark grey.

Head Linings for Defender 110 Comes as a 4-piece kit with sun visor covers & all fittings & fixings.

Available in black, light grey & dark grey.

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Internal Window Trims TD5

Replacement Seat Covers TD5

4-piece kit, sides and rear quarter panels.

Available in black and grey. For Defenders 1987 to 2005 (TD5).

Available for the front seats, middle seat & both types of middle row (60/40 or 3 seats) Many designs on our website!

Internal Window Trims for Puma 4-piece kit, sides & rear quarter panels.

Available in black & grey. For TDCi/Puma with or without side windows (Van Type).

Replacement Seat Covers for Puma Available for the front seats, middle row (60/40) & rear foldable seats.

Many designs on our website!

TD5 Inward Seat Covers Can go over the top of your old inward seats. Fits tightly, and comes in a variety of designs. Buy in PAIRS.

Lockable Sporting Boxes / Storage Neatly store, protect and lock away items that you regularly or permanently keep in your vehicle.

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TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51

OCTOBER 2019 | 47

03/09/2019 14:07

THE PURSUIT OF

WORDS: PAUL LOOE PICTURES: HARRY HAMM

A great philosopher once wrote: ‘Everything that looks too perfect is too perfect to be perfect.’ Take Mike Harris’ long-wheelbase Suzuki Samurai challenge truck, for example. It definitely doesn’t look perfect, until you get close enough up to see behind the war wounds – and hear its owner make his views known on all things Suzuki 48 | OCTOBER 2019

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4x4 01/09/2019 10:23

F PERFECTION

I

wouldn’t have done anything differently,’ says Mike Harris. ‘Suzukis are perfect.’

Far be it from us to demur. All the same, he’s talking about a Suzuki Samurai that bears previous little resemblance to the vehicle that left the factory around a quarter of a century ago.

It’s a lot more battered now, for starters.

Actually, it’s a lot more everything. Everything

4x4 8pp Harris.indd 49

good, at any rate. It’s not more meek, or more boring, or more like a hairdresser’s car.

Remember when people used to call Suzukis that? Those would be the days before softroaders were invented…

Mike doesn’t really do soft-roaders. Or at least if he does he doesn t admit it ut he definitely does s nd this amurai ery definitely indeed wasn t his first

His current daily driver, for example, is a Toyota Hilux. He also has a Land Rover Discovery 4, however, which he uses as a tow car.

Both sides of the Landies-versus-the-world debate represented there, then. He’s also owned a Defender 90 Tdi and three Disco 2s, though, so maybe he’s leaning towards the Brit side.

Oh, hold on. What’s this? Five other Hiluxes.

Three 80-Series Toyota Landcruisers, and a

OCTOBER 2019 | 49

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bo e: he a les are u uki amurai units but they’re far from standard Both feature an dri e flange stud con ersion 5 :1 rail reeper ring and pinions cryogenically hardened diff centres ob torr solid crush collar and ock- ight auto-lockers he front a le has -spline ltimate front halfshafts and s while the rear has ockwatt grade units using a ob torr fully floating con ersion kit and amurai front hubs Braking is by itara B vented discs and calipers all-round, supplied by a master cylinder from an ABS-model Subaru Impreza

SUSPENSION

ike sent the u uki to Customs for its suspension build nd when you do that what you tend to get is a vehicle so beautiful it makes grown men weep olding the ehicle up on ally Design ” imny springs and ough ountry nitro shocks it’s ohnny ointed throughout – and there’s custom bracketry e erywhere the workmanship on which is e uisite iddle row: t the front a three-link system uses dislocating front springs with internal bump stops. The links are made from 8mm wall D tube and lateral location is taken care of by a rose-jointed panhard rod – which is mounted to some of the extensive custom truss work on the a le he spring mounts and shock towers are all uni ue too Bottom row: t the back too ustoms made links out of D tube with an mm wall thickness his time, it’s a four-link setup with separate a le-top mounts for the short upper arms to pre ent binding

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Above, above right: The engine is a 1.6-litre, 16-valve fuel-injected unit from a itara fitted with a skimmed flywheel from an 1 and a tage paddle clutch t runs two alternators – a high-output 1 - olt 1 5-amp unit for normal ehicle functions and a - olt 11 -amp self-e citing ob for the winches his is about as good a iew as we were able to get of the transmission behind the bash guard that’s built in to its challenge-spec ockwatt cradle t’s an early 1 gearbo from apan mated to a rail ear 6 5:1 transfer bo with a 1 5 front nose cap s well as outsi e dri e flanges machined to suit a set of oyota propshafts it features an -Brake disc handbrake – which is backed up by a ratchet-operated line lock to make sure the u uki really really isn’t going anywhere 100-Series Amazon. A Landcruiser Colorado, a Suzuki Jimny and a Y60 Nissan Patrol. And, get ready, ‘forty-plus’ Suzuki SJs. ’Seriously,’ he adds. We happen to know he’s missed one, too, because seven years ago he showed up to a photoshoot towing a previous modified amurai behind a D Nissan Na ara

8pp Harris.indd 51

Oh, and he’s also owned one sole Jeep. A Willys, by the way. Putting him closer to sixty than fifty in terms of ehicles owned which is doubly impressive as he’s barely closer to thirty than twenty in terms of age.

He’s been building cool trucks since he was at school (the photoshoot mentioned above

was with a hardcore short-wheelbase Suzuki he put together while studying at university), helped in some measure by the fact that his dad is the proprietor of Universal Jeep Supplies and builds and restores classic MBs and so on from the war years. The Samurai you’re looking at here took shape in the company’s workshop, where it was

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There’s a theme going on with this Suzuki, which is that Mike got it built by some of the very best people in the business. For the cage, he went to Richard Wattam at Rockwatt Engineering, and once again the workmanship is out of this world. Built to MSA specs from CDS tube, it uses custom outriggers and is tied in to a set of tree sliders; note also the windscreen bars and gussets where the rear bars cross, as well as the U-piece in the main roof bar which routes energy into the rear stays. If you were brought up on ARC trials motors with cages welded up out of scaffold, you’ll know that this is light years ahead

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pretty unlikely to be mistaken for any of the other inmates.

It all started when an SJ413 KJA became available in Newcastle. That’s the opposite end of the country for Mike, but he wasn’t going to let that put him off. ‘I wanted one, so I offered the guy money – but he said no. He wanted to swap it for a Samurai. So I said pick one, anywhere in the country – I’ll buy it and bring it to you and then we can swap.

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’So of course he chose the best Samurai anywhere, and when I picked it up it was absolutely beautiful. So I took it to Newcastle and the guy’s KJA was a wreck. But I’d gone all that way, so I swapped this perfect Samurai for it.’

Not the best start, then, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. And next, what Mike hadda do was throw his new truck’s chassis away. It wasn’t just any old super-rare KJA

chassis, he discovered – it was a super-rare KJA chassis with galloping corrosion.

So instead, he based the build on another long-wheelbase Samurai chassis, breaking out the grinder to remove four inches from its rear o erhang and fitting a ranite ashers winch bumper up front and a custom winch mount at the bac He fitted a al e fuel injected litre petrol engine from a later Suzuki Vitara, mating it via a three-paddle

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A Vitara V6 PAS system turns the wheels via a Rob Storr high-steer con ersion ike has also fitted a rag oint delete kit from Low Range Off-Road clutch and s immed ywheel to an early gearbo ehind this went a rail ear transfer case built by the highly regarded u u i specialist ichard attam at oc watt ngineering he dri e anges were machined to accept oyota propshafts modified andcruiser ma on rear units are used front and rear both of them being e actly the same length so as to cut down on the number of spares i e needs to carry with him to e ents ents yes hat s what he does these days in the shape of the traditional old school winch challenges put on by hallenge outh est i e s not interested in the hybrid e treme speed e ents that ha e become popular in the last decade or so pointing out that the amurai is only really capable of going slowly and not much else hat s fine though because slow is the way to co er really e treme terrain and that s e actly what this amurai was built to do nd

it became better than e er too after i e decided to hire another of the best respected names in the u u i scene ames underland of ustoms to build a new suspension system t too me fourteen months from start to finish he recalls hen the suspension was done by ames a few years after initial build i e admits that while the ehicle was away he ept recei ing te t updates and picture messages from ames eeping him up to date with the wor and that he could hardly belie e his eyes so beautiful did it loo here s a three lin front and a four lin rear using separate upper arms instead of an frame and the result

is a set up that moulds itself to the ground li e treacle running o er the bac of a warm spoon hich is to say that it s naturally uid not that it lea es a stic y mess n the subject of stic y messes what about that poor old i e had ended up with ell it didn t all end up in the scrap bin ut safe to say matey in Newcastle probably rec ons he came out of the deal on top

Front and rear winches are both Warn 8274-50s, mounted in Gwyn Lewis trays and over-volted to 24 volts via a dedicated alternator. Both run Bowmotor 2s, Delta Tek air freespool drums and wide-mouth fairleads and Red Winch solenoids and end plates. The latter company is also responsible for the twin-top conversion to the front winch, which in addition boasts a Delta-Tek mainshaft, overdrive plus 40% gearing, uprated intermediate and lower gears and a JS Customs front stinger to allow the cable (Bowrope from Goodwinch, in this case) to pull at any angle

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‘The only thing I was able to use in the end was the cab. I repaired it, had it shot blasted and then painted it black. The front end of the body is from a 1996 Japanese import Samurai, which again was shot blasted, and the rear bed is from a Bedford Rascal. I shortened it to limit the rear o erhang and fitted it with imny rear lights By now it was looking like a proper truck, and it you know your metalwork it came to look better than ever after another seeingto courtesy of the Richard Wattam school of science. Get Mike going on the subject of the roll cage and there s a danger that he might brea out into a song raise hardly describes it and you don t need to spend much time loo ing at it yourself to see why afe to say that first time he took the Samurai out after getting it done, all his mates were wanting ichard s number nd that s the thing with a ehicle li e this t first glance you might thin that what you re seeing is just another battered old Sammy on a one-way trip to scrapsville. From a distance, it could be one of those MOT failures you see being beaten and abused around playday sites the length and breadth of the country. But behind all that crumpled panelling is a ehicle whose fitness for purpose is off the scale and whose best of everything credentials are right up there with the straightest, shiniest show car.

With typical self-mocking modesty, Mike says the amurai falls o er a lot and that is future plans are do more e ents ma e more dents o this long wheelbase rarity won t be returning to any sort of original condition… well, ever.

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The Maxxis Mud Trepador is a relative newcomer to the UK – these 5 1 5 16s were among the first in the country, supplied as they were by off-road legend Jerry Hunt at SE Tyres. He’s got more on the way, and we wouldn’t mind betting they’ll all have found homes before they even touch down. Mike has his mounted on a set of 11x16” ART Off-Road beadlock rims with a massive 10” offset

ut that s o ay ecause the amurai was ne er more in its element than when it was defying the odds off road and this one is set up to defy ery big odds indeed t s not pretty this truc but it certainly is beautiful nd of course it s a u u i which as i e will happily tell you means it s perfect

We photographed Mike’s Suzuki at Slindon Safari, run by off-road legend John Morgan, which is just off the A27 near Chochester in West Sussex. It’s open every month for 4x4s and quads, and is one of the best and, in places, most hardcore playday sites anywhere in the UK. Check it out at www.4x4driving. co.uk or call 01903 812195.

01/09/2019 10:25

SAVING THE BEST TO LAST

When Mark Peacock prepared for retirement after 27 years in the 4x4 business, he had WORDS AND PICTURES: MIKE TROTT

B

ack in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Land Rover specialists were cropping up all over the country. If you were technically minded and capable of using tools without injuring yourself or destroying everything in your path, the business potential in maintaining these agricultural machines was clear.

Out in the countryside in particular, farmers and commercial workers depended on their trucks to be working for every minute they themselves were. And if you could take your Land Rover to an independent specialist rather than pay main dealer prices… well, you know what farmers are like about spending money!

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, though, Mark Peacock was busy doing other things – namely serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. After valiantly doing his duties for the country for more than 25 years, however, it was time for him to move on to something else.

‘I’m an ex-farmer’s son,’ declares Mark, ‘So I knew my way around most Land Rovers. No one did Land Rovers around here at the time, and I was finishing in the army and needed a career And that’s precisely what Mark did over the course of 27 years, slowly expanding his empire and building a reputation for being not only a ery nowledgeable figure on all things reen Oval, but also for being a trustworthy and approachable gentleman for whom nothing is too much trouble.

Add 25 years of square-bashing to 27 years of spanner-wielding, however, and you have a more than complete life’s work. Yes, it was time to sit back and start enjoying things like well earned vacations and retail therapy. For Mark, retirement was calling.

Before he hung up the ‘closed’ sign for the final time though there was a rather special vehicle that required some attention – and all of the know-how Mark had built up over the years.

Which is a lot.

The vehicle in question is just one of two ever made, which naturally makes it one of the rarest Land Rovers of all time. If you look at the vehicle

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one last project to complete before closing his workshop doors for the last time‌

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Viewing the underside of a freshly restored Land Rover on a galvanised chassis is never less than a delight – and when it has the added attraction of a whole extra axle, it gets better than ever. As the drivetrain components illustrate, this is a proper 6x6 – and it has an extra transfer lever to prove it, too. Viewed from some angles, this may appear to offer nine-wheel drive, but as far as we’re aware not even Land Rover has managed to develop anything as exotic as that so far

head on you’d assume it was a relatively standard, albeit also uncommon, Stage 1 V8. But the side profile tells a ery different story At the rear, this Stage 1 has gained an extra axle and two wheels, and it now boasts six-wheel dri e t s utterly awesome to behold in the esh and is e actly the sort of machine that nobody needs, but everybody should want. I certainly do!

he reason for its e istence is down to Townley Cross-Country Vehicles, a company renowned for its con ersions in the s long with another Stage 1 V8, Townley converted this ehicle before it was used as a cherry pic er for a number of years Originally, it is understood that the 6x6 was built in but it was only registered for the

first time in hat s definitely the case is that bac then it was left hand dri e he tage s first owner was a r ichard oulson re eals ar He used it to tow his concrete pumper and all the pipes that went with it. The all-up weight was 5.8 tonnes!’ ar then encountered the for the ery first time purchasing it from ichard in ctober before con erting it to right hand dri e and installing a round heater fter a few months in ebruary he sold it on to a gentleman by the name of r Draper actually bought it bac off him in ebruary for the sum of says ar t was totally rusted through, with every panel either damaged or destroyed! It then sat around until when decided to rebuild it ac under ar s stewardship the fortunes of the tage were always li ely to impro e sooner or later, although it certainly hasn’t been an easy ride getting the bac into the top condition you see it in today. fter we bought it for the second time recalls ar remember listair from ichards

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‘This is it – this is as good as it gets. What a lovely thing t nish m areer n Chassis coming down to deliver some units.

And while he was here, I said to him, “Do you fancy a project?”’

This is a Land Rover capable of piquing anyone’s interest, so of course Alistair set the ball rolling on a new bespoke galvanised chassis.

This is all one piece as well, and not just sections cobbled together.

‘We’ve really toiled over this Land Rover, everything on it has either been rebuilt or replaced,’ says Mark. ‘First it was stripped down to get the underpinnings sorted, then we put the engine and gearbox in with new heads, valves and seals, followed by the clutch and transfer box.’

The 6x6 has received a new bulkhead along with a number of other panels, including of

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course those Townley bespoke wheel arches, but the end result is simply stunning.

‘This has taken a good two years to get to this stage – I’ve never had a challenge like it,’ claims Mark. To add to the pressure, the Stage 1 needed to be ready for its auction and even up until a week before the date, Mark and his team were still missing one final piece of the jigsaw the lower part of the dash inside the cabin.

Fortunately, as luck would have it (and what a stroke of luck it was), the right part turned up with hours rather than days to spare, and the 6x6 could be declared complete.

It goes without saying that this is a vehicle you wouldn’t get into and drive every day. It’s very rare and extremely special – and besides, as

Mark puts it, this is not your typical cruiser and will probably be a pig to drive. Nevertheless, with the Rover 3.5-litre V8 burbling away in front and a loadspace behind that a cargo ship would be proud of, this is a machine in which every operation will give the driver a sense of being every bit as involved in the process as a piston travelling up and down its cylinder bore or a cog rotating inside the gearbox. or ar finishing it off meant he could at last wind down his own cogs and enjoy the freedom of retirement. But he couldn’t hide his pride at what is surely one of his greatest ever projects.

‘This is it,’ was his verdict. ‘This is as good as it gets hat a lo ely thing to finish my career on it’s been a marvellous 27 years.’

01/09/2019 10:26

THE FAILY TELEGRAPH…

Every day, a long line of prepped 4x4s takes on Australia’s epic Old Telegraph Track. And

WORDS AND PICTURES: BET TY VAN BREUKELEN AND GERARD VAN VLIET

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every day, there are those that fail horribly…

H

aving shipped our Toyota Land Cruiser all the way from the Netherlands to Australia, we were determined to make the most of our time Down Under prior to driving it home.

We travelled extensively during the course of a year and a half, covering as much as possible of this vast nation – including a memorable trip north from Brisbane though the wilds of Queensland.

This started quite sedately, with a mixture of national parks and rambling cattle ranches, but we scored a major stroke of luck on the Capricorn Highway when we saw a massive low-loader, carrying a nine-metre wide steel bucket, which was having a wheel changed.

We didn’t realise it at the time, but when it was grinding along the road, people were having to take a 65-mile detour to get round it. So we were very fortunate that it was parked up when we arrived – as were not one but three police cars accompanying it!

They don’t do small things in Oz… They don’t do low temperatures, either. Which was a problem as our Land Cruiser’s air-con was needing a re-gas. And of course the further north we travelled, the hotter the weather became. It says something that in the mining town of Emerald (they mine coal there, rather confusingly), whose population is only about 13,000, there are six air-con specialists. Sorted.

This meant we could cruise with our windows shut, which was good because of the dust but also because of the remarkable number of dead kangaroos we saw rotting by the roadside. Delightful.

Much more pleasant was the company at one campsite after another, where we made friends with all sorts of other travellers from Australia and New Zealand.

These included Jesse, 78, and his wife Chris, who refused to accept that old age should be any impediment to travelling around the world. Quite right too!

Top: A fairly unprepossessing sign marks the start of the Old Telegraph Track – and, for the vehicles that leave Cape York on a rescue ship, the beginning of the end Below: Fording is fun, and sometimes it’s necessary. But when you’re depending on your vehicle to get you back to civilisation – and back to Europe – drowning it for the sake of laughs is not what you want to be doing

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01/09/2019 23:20

It’s well known that in Australia, everything wants to kill you. Road trains and crocodiles, we all know about, though it’s nice to see that the national park services think it’s worth warning people… malevolent cattle, though, really is a new one on us Ironically, with the air-con now fi ed we found oursel es staying in bed until half past eight the ne t morning as we waited for the sun to put some warmth into the air hat s always the way in the desert though this was early une winter in ustralia when the top temperature for ueensland is only about rather than the ery high forties you get in December and anuary le en bumpy hours on a dirt road too us to the ennedy Highway a a National oute it sounds grand but at times it s just a single strip of asphalt bounded on both sides by red sand and

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endless miles of scrubby bushland he landscape became more hilly as we continued north stopping at ount arnet oadhouse to refuel before isiting some friends who had bought some land in a enshoe and built themsel es a house as you do in topping to ta e a wal in the rainforest of ount Hypipamee National ar we continued north through the mountains of the reat Di iding ange to ordon ale where we reached the plain and the ruce Highway amping at official sites we met arious other tra ellers with e perience of the areas we were going to

isit and learned a great deal of useful nowledge about permits for instance and the need for an onboard radio on the anning toc oute hey told us about small inconspicuous trac s they had found and about technically difficult trails in the mountains of ictoria ll worth nowing e tra elled into airns to collect a new air mass meter for the and ruiser before heading north on the coast road towards ape ribulation swinging through the rainforest while ga ing at wonderful iews of the acific omewhere out there is the reat arrier eef

ur campsite was full of and ruisers often pulling camping trailers and usually co ered in red dust a badge of honour here which tells tales of tra el on tough off road routes n that subject on a rugged dusty trac north through impenetrable rainforest we encountered our first ri er crossing t wasn t a particularly spectacular one ta ing us across a cree rather than a real ri er but still there is something magical as the road disappears into the water e passed ujal ujal an aboriginal community where signs warned us that we had entered a non alcoholic area en route to the

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There’s something very evocative about the sight of a road disappearing under a river like this. Evocative and perhaps quite intriguing, though not what you’d call come-hither if what you want is to be able to drive home afterwards. As for termite mounds, there’s nothing come-hither about them at all. You can see why blindfolded parachuting has never caught on as a sport in this part of the world beautiful old colonial outpost of Cooktown. Here, our campsite was visited by a wallaby and her babies, who happily nibbled on the grass just a few metres away.

The further north we went, the tougher the vehicles, people and camping trailers we saw. The going had been pretty straightforward up to now, and modern cattle farming has taken the edge off the land’s hostility in parts of the Cape York Peninsula – but we knew things were soon going to get much more challenging.

The road was still quite good as we crossed Marina Plains, a vast wilderness of nothing but yellow grass and termite mounds which felt a little like being in the African savannah. Pausing for coffee at a lagoon, signs warned of the presence of crocodiles. The road might be alright, but you’re definitely in the wilds out here Camping near Coen in the bend of a small river, we spent a day working on the Land Cruiser while being attacked by mosquitoes. The rear diff lock had stopped working, thanks to a broken wire, but with a bit of perseverance we managed to repair it.

By now, another overland vehicle had drawn up to the camp site and we got talking to its owners, Chris and Jackie. They were very knowledgeable and had an interesting and appealing vision on many things, and having sat up chatting well into the night we agreed to meet again further down our route at Lockhart River.

The route here was wonderful, with alternating open and dense vegetation, beautiful grass and trees, gravel surfaces and creek cut-

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throughs. Closer to the coast, we came again to the mountains of the reat Di iding ange their an s shrouded by low tropical rainforest.

Having met up again with Chris and Jackie, we set off together towards the Frenchmans Track. We took a narrow road towards Pascoe River, which we would need to cross, and it was beautiful: by turns narrow, washboarded, bumpy and then again soft and sandy.

As we descended towards the river, the track got worse, asking a lot of man and machine alike. We stopped a few hundred meters before the river and explored the steep descent into it – and a good thing too!

A ranger had told us that according to his sources, the water would not be too high, but that you

had to take account of large stones and boulders. We looked at it.

The river was not wide, but it was fast owing and about nee high in depth. Worst of all, the exit on the far side was via a steep bank covered in large boulders.

We were quick to agree: it was too risky. So we turned round (itself not easy on the rough, narrow path) and set off to find a less intense crossing place. Just as well, too, because we found that while our rear loc er was wor ing fine now our centre diff was refusing to lock up – meaning we only had front or rear-wheel drive. This meant using speed to get across ground that would much better have been taken at a crawl, so by the time we found our camp site for the night we felt we had done some real off-roading.

Back on smooth, red gravel, we headed to Weipa for provisions and, we hoped, a workshop where we could get our diff lock back in action. At the camp site, where everything is a 4x4, we heard hairraising tales of people’s adventures on the famous Old Telegraph Track, of the savage off-road terrain of the Eldorado trail and of legendary river crossings – which regularly swallow cars whole.

We saw two vehicles ourselves with significant water damage ater we heard that about 40 cars had been recovered from these rivers in the last few weeks.

So, would we go for it or take the chic en route ell first we needed a working diff lock! Happily, Auto Weipa could look at the Land Cruiser, which they did while we

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adness at olan’s Brook the deepest of the crossings on the ld elegraph rack he truck was actually afloat here and being pushed by the guys alongside it. You can see why so many number plates get separated from their original owners. The Jardine River Ferry is at the northern end of the track; here, the captain was delighted to see what he said was his first e er left-hand dri e andcruiser took a tour of the world’s largest bauxite mine.

The tour guide gave us a lift back to the garage afterwards, which was very obliging of him. But unfortunately the diff lock was still not fi ed t best they could tell us what wasn’t the problem.

What this meant was that the Old Telegraph Track wasn’t going to be for us. Instead, our next stop was to be Bamaga, where we’d been told we would find a star mechanic fter all the stories we d heard about wrecked vehicles, this didn’t make us too sad!

We met up again with Jackie and Chris at Bramwell Station, at the southern end of the Old Telegraph Track, having spotted an incredibly muddy 70-Series Land Cruiser at Palm Creek Crossing – evidence of the fact that this is where the action is. Walking to

the crossing, we found ourselves part of a sizeable crowd. It seems that driving the track is something of a spectator sport – and an excited rumour was going around that a group of hardcore offroaders from Victoria were on their way nd sure enough one by one they appeared, applause shattering the peace as they attacked the crossing with heavy right feet and roaring engines.

Using the well signed bypass roads, we drove to Fruit Bat Falls – a picture-perfect swimming spot with water so clear you can see right down to the riverbed. We wal ed in the fast owing lliot Creek and stayed the night at the busy camping ground by Canal Creek, where once again everyone was in a well prepared 4x4.

The following morning, we took a wander over with coffee in hand to

watch the first ehicles of the day tackling the Canal Creek crossing.

It was a little frustrating not to be able to enjoy the driving ourselves, but deep down (pardon the pun we knew this was the right thing for the good of our Toyota. Which still needed to be able to get us home to the Netherlands!

We met up again with Chris and Jackie at the Jardine River ferry, which is basically the northern end of the Old Telegraph Track. The ferry captain was very excited to see our oyota his first e er left hand drive, he told us!

We were excited too, because now at last we were at Bamaga – where we had an appointment with ndy ndy was ery enthusiastically recommended to us back at Weipa, by an ussie off roader who new what he was talking about, and he told us that he’d be able to put our

truck on his ramps in a couple of days time ny parts he needed he’d be able to have delivered overnight by plane from Cairns.

So, that gave us a few days to wait. Overlooking the Endeavour Strait, where a white sandy beach is fronted by palm trees, in a campsite with warm showers and the opportunity to cook fresh food from the local shops, that was no hardship! We passed our time wandering around admiring the many superb Toyotas sharing the site with us, with their great offroad camping gear.

Later on, the group from Victoria who we’d watched crossing at Palm Creek arrived at the camp site. fter that in rolled se eral ehicles from Bramwell Station. Well, we all take it at our own pace, but eventually you’re all together at the tip of Cape York.

You can see why so many kangaroos and wallabies get totalled on Australia’s back roads. This inland taipan was asking for trouble, too – though not as much as you’d soon by in if you went anywhere near it

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Running repairs in Bamaga, as the saga of the non-functioning diff-lock continues. At least the Cruiser is in a lot better conditions than this lot, though – you’ve got to wonder how many of these once-proud old warhorses were never the same again after an encounter with the Old Telegraph Track That night, we bid farewell to Chris and Jackie, whose itinerary was to see them heading back south in the morning. And then it was a case of chilling out (not literally, in the tropical heat and humidity) until it was time to head for Cape York Spares and Repairs.

After a bit of dismantling work, the problem was soon evident: the diff-lock actuator was completely corroded. Andy assured us that this was down simply to age and heavy use – but then delivered the bad news that it would take three weeks, and a lot of money, to get a new one delivered from Japan.

Not fancying the sound of that, we did some research of our own and found that we could have a new actuator delivered by surface freight to Darwin and get it fitted there In the meantime, Andy replaced

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the Toyota’s CV joints, which were getting creaky with almost 250,000 kilometres on the clock!

Still, it’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. Losing our diff lock was a major inconvenience and expense, but it was nothing compared to the trouble some people get into on the Old Telegraph Track. Andy told us that he also does recovery on behalf of the Queensland RAC – and that in the previous week alone, he had put nine vehicles ‘on the boat’ after they had fallen victim to the various water crossings.

Yes, there really is a boat. It’s a three-day ferry from Seisia to Cairns, where the facilities exist for these unfortunates to be treated further in terms of salvage.

The crossing we kept hearing about was Nolan’s Brook. This is

the one that eliminates the most vehicles – indeed we bumped into Andy again as he recovered yet another of its victims. So on the way back south, we decided to take one of the bypass routes and go take a look. Obviously we weren’t going to be driving it, but we wanted to see for ourselves what all the fuss was about.

To reach the Nolan, we took a sandy, washed-out trail through the forest to a parking spot just a few minutes’ walk from the crossing itself. We arrived just as a car entered the water it oated helplessly for a moment, then a

couple of men pushed it forward until its wheels made contact with the bed of the creek. On the far side, the doors opened and waves of water (and clothing) poured out.

On the far bank, a group of about twenty cars was busy with repair work. Stunning new 200-Series Land Cruisers, soaked up to the glove compartment. What a mess!

And to think that if our diff-lock had been working, we might have been tempted to try this. Far better to satisfy ourselves with continuing to see the world from the comfort of a dry, fully functioning Land Cruiser instead!

The authors must be among the best-travelled 4x4 drivers of all time.

Since 2002, they’ve been exploring almost non-stop, aboard a variety of vehicles and on every continent in the world. Their website tells a whole world of tales which will make you yearn to pack your life into our truc and head off in search of adventure ou can find it b visiting www.exploringtheworld.nl.

01/09/2019 23:21

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

51 days after leaving London, an epic overland trip across the Himalayas culminates in

WORDS AND PICTURES: TUSHAR AND POOJA AGARWAL

About the Authors

Tushar and Pooja Agarwal set out to travel overland from London to their home in India in 2010. Since then, Tushar has given up his job in IT and become a full-time road-trip traveller, running expeditions for customers through his company Journeys by Road and publishing books on his experiences. And it all started with a completely standard second-generation Jeep Cherokee…

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I

n terms of landscape, driving challenges and otherworldliness, the passage through China and Tibet was clearly the highlight of our trip from London to Delhi. As exhilarating as it could be, though, it was also very tough. The state of the roads made the going incredibly hard, sometimes for hundreds of miles at a stretch, and in Tielongtan, which stands at 15,300 feet above sea level, a sudden attack of altitude sickness left Pooja struggling to breathe as we raced through the night down the promisingly named Death Valley to get to a lower level.

Something else about China that you might find hard to ta e is that as a foreign national in your own

vehicle, you’re required to have an official guide tra elling with you at all times. You can make up your own mind about that – but FeiFei, the guide assigned to us for our visit, was a very jovial, helpful, sweetnatured girl in her mid-twenties – and when Pooja woke in the middle of the night unable to breathe, she was the one who sourced an oxygen mask from the owner of the lodge we were staying in. Without her, who knows how that story might have ended.

China’s rules and regulations did, however, tie us down when our route took us close to the holy site of Mount Kailash. Located in the south-west of Tibet, near the border with Nepal, this is sacred to

4x4 03/09/2019 14:42

a very happy homecoming

devotees of several religions. In our Hindu faith, it’s the home of Lord Shiva; no man has ever climbed it but thousands visit every year in pilgrimage, believing that walking the Kailash Parikrama, a 32-mile path around the mountain, will bring good fortune.

Sadly, the Chinese authorities refused us permission to do the Parikrama, on the basis that we were Indian nationals travelling in our own car through sensitive parts of the country. We had been

given a set route which we had to stick to; there was a ten-hour stretch of driving in Aksai Chin where we were forbidden to stop, even for toilet breaks, or take pictures, and in Tibet we weren’t to talk to any monks. We had to register at almost every army post so they could keep tabs on our whereabouts, and when we decided to abandon plans to visit Lhasa and leave China a few days early, mainly because both of us were feeling unwell from the effects of altitude,

we were told we had to stay at the border until our prescribed exit date. When we did get to leave, the army searched almost every item in our luggage and even checked the pictures in our camera.

Before this, though, a highlight of the trip was a visit to Mansarovar Lake. In the shadow of Mount Kailash, this too is holy; the highest body of water in the world, in the Hindu faith it represents purity and anyone who bathes in its waters is cleansed of all sin.

We knew that Lake Mansarovar was a place of pilgrimage, but as we spent the evening camped by its shores we didn’t expect more than a hundred Toyota Land Cruisers full of Indians to show up! They were all from big groups organised by different companies, and the best part was they all had cooks travelling with them – which meant Indian food for us that night! A night we had thought would be very quiet became a big event for us. We met some great people and made new friends, and it was great that so many were interested in Friendicoes, the animal welfare charity we were supporting through our adventure.

Still in Tibet, we drove on to another small town, Zhongba. Once again, the going was extremely hard and stressful – we covered around 150 miles in nine hours of rocks, fords and steep mountains tracks.

From there it was more of the same en route to Saga; the Chinese government is in the process of extending the tarmac road west from here towards Mansarovar, but for us this was the worst going we had yet faced.

We were told that conditions would improve beyond Saga, though really it wasn’t until we reached Lhatse that we felt we could relax.

We had been living in constant fear of breakdowns on the rough, remote tracks, but this last stretch before we crossed the border into Nepal was a blessed relief.

It has to be said that in spite of all the punishment we gave it through China and Tibet, our Jeep Cherokee remained extremely dependable. All the same, the Toyota Land Cruiser is king here. Aside from a very few others, it’s the only 4x4 you see – and it provides a lifeline between villages and towns, tackling the most treacherous road conditions with ease. At times, we’d be doing less than 10mph over the rough tracks and a Cruiser would, well, cruise by at three times our speed. Our completely standard Jeep did brilliantly – but we have to be honest and say that the Land Cruiser is the vehicle everyone here picks in order to be prepared for the toughest terrain.

After the emptiness of Tibet, Nepal was our reintroduction into

Being informed that the Chinese authorities require you to ha e an official guide’ in your car at all times when you’re in the country you’d e pect it to be some starched na i taking delight in telling you all the things you’re not allowed to do ei ei wasn’t much like that

4x4 4pp Agarwal India CHECK OVER, CAPTIONS ETC.indd 67

31/08/2019 21:57

Above left: Mount Kailash is sacred to several religions; to Hindus, it’s the home of Lord Shiva. No-one has ever climbed it, though the 32-mile trek around its base is a powerful form of pilgrimage Above right: Believed to bring purity to those who bathe in it, Lake Mansarovar is another sacred place for Hindus. It looks like it would also bring colds… the civilised world. Kathmandu is a bustling city full of cars and people, lots of streets with shops, vehicles blowing their horns traffic jams pollution basically it s just li e any other big metropolitan city. hat probably ma es it sound li e hell after the wonderful, untouched landscapes that had been our home for the pre ious wee but it felt great – not least because we were able to chec in to a hotel and catch up on some sleep!

Heading west from the Nepali capital, we planned to cross into India at Sunauli border post. The end was in sight, and for us it felt li e we were about to arri e home e were in a great mood just smiling and enjoying the ride as we got closer and closer to the border.

ut then we reached a chec post and an officer signalled for us to stop. ‘Maoists have burned two motorcycles ahead. The roads are closed, and so is the border. You cannot go much further.’

What now? Would the border open today or not? Would our British Jeep attract the troublema ers and end up in ashes Were we facing more days of waiting just to be able to carry on e ept dri ing almost con inced that India was now out of reach. ur plan was to eep going until we reached the area where the police had actually closed the road, and stay as close by as we could. ur mood just now so buoyant was close to one of despair. Silently, we ept dri ing

Then a car ahead of us signalled for us to stop. ‘Oh God. Let them not be the Maoists,’ we whispered.

Two guys got out and approached us. After all these thousands of miles, had it come to this?

‘The border is closed. You cannot go much further. But we can tell you another border from where you can go to India.’ That was a huge relief. We explained what we were doing, and they wanted to help us. And this is what we had come to love so much about our trip. In a second, everything could change: dynamics, moods, routes, plans, conversations. We were at once the masters of our destiny, and at the mercy of the road.

We headed for this other border called Maheshpur and were met

at the Nepalese side by a couple of cops. And they were indeed a couple – husband and wife guarding their country together!

But there was a problem. The inspector told us that this border crossing didn’t have a customs office meaning we wouldn t be able to cross into India. When we insisted that we needed to go today, he said we can cross to the Indian side and try for ourselves.

Knowing that home was only a few hundred yards away, how could we not give it a try? Both of us were li e little ids not wanting to accept the truth. So we drove towards the border at Maheshpur.

Bad news. The Indian border guards told us we could go at our own ris but they couldn t sign

Left, above: As the authors settled in for a quiet evening’s camping by the lake, groups of pilgrims on organised tours started arriving in their droves – bringing with them a small town of gazebos and, more importantly, caterers Left, below: The Toyota Land Cruiser is king of the road in ibet ore than 1 ehicles flocked to ansaro ar during the evening – every single one of them an 80-Series The North Sichuan Hotel is home to pilgrims and adventure tourists alike when they’re visiting Mount Kailash and ake ansaro ar s hotels go it’s definitely got location on its side, if not architecture

68 | OCTOBER 2019

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Buddhist prayer flags are a common sight in ibet where they’re used to bless the surrounding countryside 1 highway an altitude marker tells the story – this is four times higher than the highest point in Britain ushar and oo a both came down with altitude sickness our Jeep into the country – which would ma e it e tremely difficult to ship her back to Britain afterwards.

Down went our spirits again: gloomily, we took a U-turn and headed back into Nepal… to be met by news that that the Sunauli border had been reopened.

And now our spirits bounded back upwards – and kept going.

‘Welcome to India’ said a huge sign at the border post. We were home!

We headed to Kanpur via Lucknow in a sea of truly appalling traffic t too some time to get used to the oncoming vehicles on our side of the road, and the endless trucks crawling along in the fast lane, but after an hour or so we settled into the mayhem around us and started enjoying the drive.

And then, almost before we knew it, we were in Delhi. After 1500 litres of petrol, 51 days, 15

4pp Agarwal India CHECK OVER, CAPTIONS ETC.indd 69

countries and nine time zones, we pulled up at Qutub Minar and turned off our Jeep’s engine. t s difficult to e press our feelings at that time. The car we set off in from London was here with us in Delhi. It was surreal. Lots of people and reporters had gathered to welcome us – amid all the excitement and euphoria, it took us a while to realise that we had arrived in Delhi in one piece.

n the o wonder

We had driven across deserts and over mountains, endured searing heat and bitter cold and seen things we would never had thought existed. We had experienced fear and elation, despair, euphoria and panic, and we had conquered it all from behind the wheel. London to Delhi by road: we did it. And through it all, we did it with our faithful four-wheeled friend.

31/08/2019 21:57

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ABT SPORTSLINE COMMITS TO FIRST SEASON IN EXTREME E

Search and rescue Amaroks play their part in saving 400 lives – and counting – on Portugal’s beaches If you’ve been on your holidays in Portugal this summer, you might well have spotted one of the 28 Volkswagen Amaroks that have been patrolling the country’s Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches on lifeguard duty throughout the bathing season. Supplied by Portuguese Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles importer SIVA, these have been used by the Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos as part of its long-running SeaWatch search and rescue project. his isn’t the first time the Instituto has used a fleet of maro s, however as happens every year it took delivery of a new set of vehicles in time for the start of the season. These are powered by the range-topping 258bhp version of the 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, which Volkswagen says ‘provides the utmost propulsion in the sand.’

The vehicles are equipped with surfboards and spineboards (specialised stretchers , life ac ets, flashli hts and emer enc lights. On top of this, a new addition for this ear is that each carries a defibrillator for delivering emergency cardiac assistance.

The SeaWatch project has been running since 2011, and has been credited with saving some 400 lives on beaches which would otherwise not be patrolled. The brightly

72 | OCTOBER 2019

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ABT SPORTSLINE has become the first team to sign up to compete in the recently announced treme off road racing series he erman tuning company which has a mighty reputation for its wor with ol swagen roup ehicles has enjoyed multiple championship successes across disciplines at the ery highest le el of motorsport o er se en decades winning fi e D titles during that time and finishing in the top three of e ery ormula championship long with other teams signed up for treme s maiden season will ta e deli ery of one of twel e dyssey s in arch rom that starting point it will be able to test and de elop its own powertrain and select areas of bodywor such as the engine co er front and rear bumpers side s irts and lights in order to replicate a yet to be de cided production model ith the first e ent planned for anuary treme will see up to teams competing in a fi e race global series ach e ent will ta e place in an en ironment which has already been damaged by cli mate change or se erely affected by human interference with a uni ue oating paddoc aboard former oyal ail essel t Helena carrying the entire paddoc from race to race

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oncei ed as a new form of motorsport blending all electric propulsion with the drama and landscapes of cross country rallying treme was set up by a team led by lejandro jag the man whose ision led to ormula s inaugura tion in portsline was one of the first outfits to commit to what was a then new series and concept in ormula some si years ago he said m delighted to welcome them as one of the first teams to join treme he uni ue challenge offered up by treme with its formidable en ironments head to head format and the need for real engineering ingenuity undoubtedly acts as a major draw for those with competi tion at their core can t wait to see how portsline responds to that challenge ommenting on s entry the company s hief ecuti e Hans rgen bt said eryone at portsline lo es competition inno ation electric mobility and brea ing new ground in the world of motorsport and elsewhere hat s why we were one of the first teams to join ormula bac in and also why we chose to become a member of the treme family at this early stage e belie e in the concept both in terms of its ideas for racing and its mar eting potential off the trac

OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

Pay-and-play events 15 September

13 October

Explore Off Road Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Harbour Hill,West Berkshire

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire

Muddy Bottom Minstead, Hampshire

Mud Monsters East Grinstead,West Sussex

Rayleigh, Essex

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire

Slindon Safari

22 September Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Slindon Valley Fontwell,West Sussex

Thames Valley 4x4

Tixover, Northamptonshire Fontwell,West Sussex

20 October Explore Off Road Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent Hilll N Ditch Mouldsworth, Cheshire

Harbour Hill, Berkshire

Muddy Bottom

28 September

Mud Monsters

Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Frickley 4x4 Frickley, South Yorkshire Hilll N Ditch Mouldsworth, Cheshire Kirton Off Road Centre Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Scene Oct.indd 73

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club

Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

Devil’s Pit

4x4

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

Protrax

Cowm Leisure Whitworth, Lancashire

• Amaroks have also been used by the German Life and Rescue Society since 2014 to patrol the country’s North Sea coast. The V6 Comfortline models are supplied direct by VW Commercial Vehicles and, like the Portuguese vehicles, do most of their miles on sand.

Devil’s Pit

21 September

29 September

liveried trucks, which cover around 6000 miles each during the course of a ear, have been involved in more than missions since first oin in to service. ‘ ith this support, ol swa en is ma in a si nificant contribution to safety on Portugal’s beaches,’ says SIVA’s João Carrilho. ‘The accident rate in the coastal areas of the country is one of the lowest in the world not least due to the contribution of the maro fleet.’

4x4 Without a Club

6 October Muddy Bottom Minstead, Hampshire

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford Picadilly Wood Bolney,West Sussex

Minstead, Hampshire East Grinstead,West Sussex

Thames Valley 4x4 Broxhead, Hampshire

26 October Burnham Off-Roaders Tring, Hertfordshire

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

Devil’s Pit Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

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

Protrax Tixover, Northamptonshire

Slindon Valley Slindon,West Sussex

OCTOBER 2019 | 73

01/09/2019 22:58

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REPAIR PLANS FOR RAMSDEN ROAD SHOW BEST PRACTICE IN LANE STEWARDSHIP

WHEN IT COMES TO rights of way, ’Friends’ organisations can often turn out to be the enemies of freedom. The Ridgeway is the obvious example of this – however in the case of Ramsden Road, in West Yorkshire, the recently formed Friends of Ramsden Road is a positive force for good.

Set up with the blessing of Kirklees Council, the group includes local residents and representatives from across the spectrum of rights of way users. Its job is to consider ideas for the maintenance of the route, and its members bring a wide variety of skills to the table – including experience in civil engineering, which is being drawn

on for proposals to improve drainage on parts of the route which are prone to becoming washed out.

‘It has been agreed that a prime concern is that any planned work should address drainage issues prior to surface repairs,’ reports Alex Davidson, West Yorkshire Rep at the Green Lane Association.

‘This should ensure that any repairs carried out are sustainable in the long term.’

A recent site visit assessed areas of concern and identified several existing drainage works which have fallen into disrepair, including collapsed culverts and blocked drains and ditches. It also

noted damage to boundary walls from previous repair attempts and proposed a new drain to ease pressure on the route where it climbs Ramsden Edge.

At present, a gate has been put in place at the eastern end of Ramsden Road, and drop posts at the western end, however there’s not need to be alarmed by these as they are not currently locked. The route was subject to a somewhat bizarre emergency closure some months ago which was rescinded almost as quickly as it was imposed, however it is currently open and usable (though quite uneven in places). When the repair work does get underway, however, these

barriers will be closed for safety.

‘As part of the continued work of GLASS in this area, two signs have been provided by us to one of the landowners adjacent to Ramsden Road to prevent people deviating from the route on to his land,’ continues Alex. ‘When giving him the signs we had a walk along the route and identified areas of historical drainage which can be reinstated and utilised as part of repair work. It is good that we are in a position to be working with people like this who are very much on-side in terms of keeping the lane open for all users.’ It’s nice to see a right of way whose Friends really are its friends…

• The Green Lane Association in Essex is an approved roaming P3 group with Essex County Council, which means its members are enabled and supported to carry out Rights of Way repairs anywhere in the county under the council umbrella. Planned works include running surface repairs to keep byways stable, cutting back undergrowth and preparatory works on routes which were currently closed, in order to minimise the cost to the council of repairing and reopening them. Any rights of way users in the Essex area who would be willing to volunteer some time towards this outstanding initiative are encouraged to contact GLASS Essex rep Robert Tongue at essex.rep@glass-uk.org.

74 | OCTOBER 2019

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OVERWHELMING VICTORS EMERGE FROM BATTLE OF BUILDWAS Words: Pip Evans Pictures: Tomasz Jarecki

THE ODYSSEY BATTERIES series resumed after the traditional summer break with Round 4, sponsored by Llama 4x4, at the excellent Buildwas site near Telford. Unusually for an off-road site, this venue has toilet and admin facilities with water and electricity – absolute luxury compared to most!

The site also commands some great vistas over the Shropshire countryside, but the views were not what we were here for. The August event is traditionally poorly attended – but not this time, as 21 teams were signed up to start.

The preceding week had been extremely wet, so ground condi-

76 | OCTOBER 2019

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tions were very slippery. However we just about managed to avoid the rain on the day.

The terrain at Buildwas is well suited for challenge events. It had just the right amount of ditches, gullies and banks to make it tough for the trucks – but none of the huge rocks, big drops and deep water that can look so spectacular but are very dangerous should things go wrong.

It was also relatively easy on the winchmen, as there were no huge climbs to scale – nor indeed any nettles or brambles to battle with!

When we visited this site last year, conditions were bone dry,

4x4 01/09/2019 22:59

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OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

UK Convoy Tours

providing loads of grip – which meant loads of cordon tape was needed to make access to punches difficult challenging enough to be worthwhile. Not so this time as things were so slippery and every approach to a punch was made with great difficulty s there was hardly any grip a ailable the winches had to work extra hard to get trucks to their objecti es meaning they were taking a hammering.

Breakages and failures are part and parcel of extreme winch challenge events and it is often the ability to do a uic fi and carry on that wins the day s a result you should always expects to see a smattering of trucks visiting the paddock for running repairs during the day howe er for some reason on this occasion half the field were busy fi ing things by lunchtime ome of the problems were terminal forcing a number of com petitors out of the event early on. n the main the ehicles were suc cumbing to winch issues including batteries being coo ed by o er use The common practice of pushing 24 olts through a olt motors pro ides phenomenal winching power but it doesn t half ma e the motors scream in protest…

Regular competitor Chris Booth was unable to compete as his usual winchman (his son) was laid up with an injury nstead of staying away howe er he indly offered his services as rescue vehicle – which pro ed ery handy indeed as his services were called upon several times as the day progressed. s part of the e ent competitors also have to do a special section which is timed to the second. This usually involves timing a truck as they tac le a tric y winch section howe er the set up crew had decided to do something different this time litre water con tainer was suspended from a rope ia a snatch bloc to a hefty tree branch ach truc s winch line had to be attached to the other end of the rope. The driver then had to raise the barrel and eep it in the air while dri ing against the cloc through an autotest style course ery simple set up but competitors enjoyed doing something just a little bit different s the afternoon progressed more and more competitors found it necessary to return to the paddoc to effect repairs so there were very few left still running at the end f these only cott Haines

14-15 September

12-13 October

Atlas Overland Wessex

Onelife Adventure Lake District

19-20 September

13 October

UK Landrover Events Eden/Tynedale

UK Landrover Events Eden District

21 September

18 October

UK Landrover Events Tynedale

UK Landrover Events North York Moors

21-22 September

19-20 October

4x4 Adventure Tours North Yorkshire

Protrax Wales

Onelife Adventure Yorkshire

Tracks and Trails Northumberland

Protrax Wales

20 October

Trailmasters Yorkshire

28-29 September Protrax Wiltshire

5-6 October 4x4 Adventure Tours Welsh Marches Protrax Wiltshire Tracks and Trails Yorkshire Moors and Dales

7-11 October Ardent Off Road Coast to Coast

12 October UK Landrover Events Lake District

4x4 Scene Oct.indd 77

UK Landrover Events Peak District

26 October Tracks and Trails Night Drive (venue TBC)

31 October UK Landrover Events North York Moors (night drive)

2-3 November Tracks and Trails Yorkshire Dales

3 November UK Landrover Events Dales and Eden

4 November UK Landrover Events Durham Dales

OCTOBER 2019 | 77

01/09/2019 22:59

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managed to collect all the punches and collect a second card. Scott and winchman James Watts have certainly upped their game this year, impressing spectators and fellow competitors alike with their high work rate and consistency.

In Class 1, there were only three trucks in the event. Will Baker and winchman Rob Russell had melted a battery early on in the day, but still managed to take 3rd spot on 600 points. Ahead of them were Richard Lott and Seb Parkes, on 1584 points, while 1st went to Zak Dambrauskas and Mark Johnson on 2535 points.

These two run a very capable and nimble Suzuki SJ based

78 | OCTOBER 2019

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vehicle which has been extensively modified by a hey were so far ahead that they decided to call it a day early to wash off their truck at leisure! While that may sound smug, with the result in the bag it made sense not to risk braking anything by carrying on.

In Class 2, Johnny Johnson and Tracey Stafford can usually be relied upon to score highly – but on this occasion, a broken front winch forced an early retirement. They had still done enough to take 3rd in class with 1380, however.

In 2nd were James Mathews and Colin Worsley, with 3637 points.

James’ Landy based truck has undergone massive reconstructive

surgery since he last competed about a year ago. James himself has been laid up for a while with a damaged ankle, so his winchman Colin Worsley has been helping Charlie Harper until James was back in action.

Ahead of these two in 1st were Rob Curling with Paul Hitchman, on 3802 points. They had steadily kept going while others went mad and broke stuff – a tactic that netted them a good result o finish first first you ha e to finish as the ery wise old saying goes!

In Class 3, Charlie Harper no longer had the services of Colin Worsley to call upon – though despite getting used to working

with a new winchman, he only just missed out on the podium with fourth place. Ahead of him in 3rd were Matt Bain and David Burton, who did well to keep things rolling along in the face of a few issues with their truck and ended the day on 5590 points.

The runners-up position in this class were to Ben Mark and Chris Sutcliffe, on 5722 points – a mere 132 ahead of third-placed Matt and Dave. But the undoubted stars of the show here were Scott Haines and ames atts whose near aw less performance saw them return a score of 7400 – putting them in a league of their own on what had been a very tough day.

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Overland Travel

OFF-ROAD CALENDAR

24 August – 4 Sept

29 Sept – 17 Oct

25 Oct – 8 Nov

24 April – 10 May

Trailmasters Morocco

Protrax Morocco Desert and Mountains

Trailmasters Morocco Draa Valley

Ardent Adventure Morocco

24 August – 7 September

30 Sept – 13 Oct

3-19 November

16-30 May 2020

Atlas Overland Portugal

Atlas Overland Morocco

7P Overland Baja Mexico

Atlas Overland Portugal

30 August – 1 September

October

15-19 November

20 May – 2 June 2020

Ardent Adventure Marquenterre, France

Venture 4x4 Iceland

7P Overland Utah

Trailmasters Morocco (extreme expedition)

7-15 September

12-26 October

7-30 November

27 May – 10 June 2020

UK Landrover Events Pyrenees

Low-Range Adventure Moroccan Sahara

Onelife Adventure Algeria

Protrax Pyrenees

11-25 September

12-27 October

15 November

10-24 June 2020

Protrax Pyrenees

4x4 Adventure Tours Morocco

Peru Safari Northern Peru

Protrax Pyrenees

15-29 September

17-31 October

3 December

13-20 June 2020

Tracks and Trails Pyrenees

Protrax Morocco Coast to Coast

Peru Safari Peru

Ardent Adventure Pyrenees

16-21 September

19 Oct – 3 Nov

1-16 February 2020

20-27 June 2020

7P Overland Utah and Colorado

Ardent Adventure Morocco

Ardent Adventure Galicia, Spain

Ardent Adventure Pyrenees

16-27 September

22-30 September

7-9 Feb 2020

22 June – 7 July 2020

Low-Range Adventure Portugal

Trails and Tracks Pyrenees

7P Overland Utah

Atlas Overland Corsica

16-29 September

29 Sept – 17 Oct

7-26 March 2020

1-15 August 2020

Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic

Protrax Morocco

Protrax Morocco Desert and Mountains

Atlas Overland Italian Alps

17 September

3-16 October

24 March – 6 April 2020

22-30 August 2020

Peru Safari Peru

Trailmasters Morocco Atlantic Sahara

Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic

Ardent Adventure Alps

22-28 September

11 October

4-16 April 2020

24 August – 4 Sept 2020

Tracks and Trails Pyrenees

Peru Safari Peru

Atlas Overland Morocco Classic

Trailmasters Morocco

80 | OCTOBER 2019

Scene Oct.indd 80

4x4 01/09/2019 22:59

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The essential essential annual The annual for for Land Land Rover Roverowners ownersand andenthusiasts enthusiasts

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YEARBOOK LONG-RANGE CHARITY RUN CHARITY RUN An expedition with a VENTER TRAILERS UK LTD UNIT 3 ORCHARD COURT ARMSTRONG WAY YATE, BS37 5GW

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her inside insideThe The Land RoverRover Yearbook, now in its in 5th noble cause The Land Yearbook, now itsyear, 5th covers Year and onsale Rover in timeYearbook, for the lucrative Christmas Annual her Land now in its 5th year, coversmarket, noble cause everything from the latest vehicles off the production line in sale in time for the lucrative Christmas Annual market,

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The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts

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The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts

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4x4 4x4

11:16 14:21 11:35 14:14

ROADBOOK

WEST YORKSHIRE

Classic trails in a mighty moorland landscape This green laning route is a bit of an odd one. It combines dead easy semi-surfaced farm tracks with the sort of rights of way people travel the length of the country to enjoy. You’re never far from a stunning view of the landscape here – and more than once, your vehicle’s suspension will be worked to the limit to get you across the ground. It’s one to savour, for sure – though the ground is fragile, so it needs to be approached with the same discipline you must always exercise when using Britain’s byways

ROUTE GUIDE START FINISH HOW LONG? TERRAIN HAZARDS OS MAPS

Flockton Green (SE 248 152) Penistone (SE 244 037) 37.75 miles / 4-5 hours Steep-sided moorland mixed with builtup areas Some severe erosion gulleys; steep climbs and drops; other users; farm traffic urban traffic and pedestrians andranger heffield Huddersfield

IS IT SUITABLE? TYRES WEATHER LOW BOX SOFT-ROADERS SCRATCHING DRIVING DAMAGE

82 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 82

all profile necessary all terrain pattern may be useful Avoid when foggy or very wet Not much fun without it uitable at a push but will struggle in washed-out sections Occasional mild risk Ground reading skills and precise vehicle control required Possible ground clearance issues in places

4x4 31/08/2019 21:36

4x4 12pp Roadbook October.indd 83

OCTOBER 2019 | 83

31/08/2019 21:36

Step 6: Don’t cut the corner – go out on to the road then instantly left again on to Crawshaw Lane

1

0.0

2

0.7

SE 248 152

Start at Jack’s Craft Ale House and Diner on the A637 in Flockton Green. Turn right out of the car park to start the route, or just zero your trip with the pub to your right as you drive past – either way, be aware that this is a busy truck road

SE 237 149

mmediately after the traffic lights where the road narrows to a single track, turn left into Doctors Lane. It’s very tight – watch out for vehicles waiting to emerge, and be aware that the cars behind you won’t understand what you’re doing

7

0.6

8

1.1

3

9

4

10

0.75

Caution here – it’s a tight turning back over your shoulder on to a busy road

1.2

1.4

0.85

Skelmanthorpe 112

5

0.95

6

1.25

The track becomes tighter after the farm, but it’s still no problem. The lane has been blocked sometimes in the past (a farmer we spoke to once said he does it to pre ent y tipping) – irrespective of the fact that blocking a right of way is against the law, we’ve put a zero trip at the end of the lane so you can zero your trip if you need to turn back

SE 230 144

Don’t cut the corner – go all the way out on to the road

ZERO TRIP

CRAWSHAW LANE

84 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 84

11

Turn right on the B6116 then left on Cumberworth Road

3.2

New Mill Holmfirth

12 3.9

SHELLEY WOODHOUSE LANE

4x4 31/08/2019 21:37

USING OUR ROADBOOKS Our roadbooks guide you through the countryside on a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads.The tracks we use are public rights of way either yways pen to ll raffic or nclassified ounty oads all commonly referred to as green lanes.

NAVIGATION

Step 15: You should be keeping your speed down anyway, but be doubly cautious through the cottages and converted barns

13 5.1

CARR H LL ROAD

14

SE 207 086

SAFETY

5.2

AR LANE

15

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

Keep your speed to a crawl on the way through here – the old barns are all people’s homes now

5.3

16 5.8

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

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

RESPONSIBILITY

17

SE 200 081

5.9

AR HEAD

18 6.0

4x4 12pp Roadbook October.indd 85

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

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 their ran and file members f youre 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 word of 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 • f you find an illegal obstruction notify the local authority • f someone challenges you be firm but polite. Stay calm and don’t let them turn it into a fight • 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

| 85

31/08/2019 21:37

Step 21: Make sure you get the right turning – it’s opposite some buildings and there’s a ‘Hirst Lane’ roadsign at the junction

Step 28: You’ll want to get into low box as soon as you leave the tarmac – there’s some very funky stuff coming right up…

19

25

20

26

6.3

8.1

6.35

8.4

WALL NOO LANE

21 6.9

SE 184 084

Don’t turn too early – there’s a couple of other tracks on the left shortly before yours, which is opposite the barns on the right

27

SE 167 074

8.7

H RS LANE

22

28

7.4

23

9.1

Get into low box before you leave the road. As you can probably see from the track ahead, you’re about to need it…

SE 176 079

7.6

24 7.9

86 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 86

4x4 31/08/2019 21:37

29 9.2

30 9.3

The hairpin is deeply washed out and there’s quite a steep climb as you come round it. It’s not as bad as it looks, but choose your line badly and things could get very silly, so do ta e a wal first and consider putting your navigator out to spot for you

The track splits in two for a short spell ither branch is fine but once again it will get pretty uneven for a short spell

34

Caution between the buildings and over a sharp crest into a tight downhill left-hander

1.0

35

Caution – this is a main road

1.3

Hepworth S hole

31

ZERO TRIP

36 1.6

9.6

Just after the big right-hander as you drop down the hill, turn left between two houses on to Gate Head Lane

Hepworth

32

37

0.5

2.8

U

33 0.7

4x4 12pp Roadbook October.indd 87

1

You do have the right of way here, but it s decepti e definitely a place for defensive driving

38

LANE

Cross the bridge by the White Horse pub

3.3

OCTOBER 2019 | 87

31/08/2019 21:37

Step 49: The turning looks like a driveway as you approach it, but you’ll soon see where the track goes

44

SE 148 055

5.9

SN

39

45 6.6

3.7

S

40 4.0

LE ROAD

EOR ES ROAD

SE 157 081

Turn left at the junction then left again on Sike Lane

46 6.7

Wool ale Holmfirth

41

47

4.1

7.5

REA E ROAD

42

48

4.5

8.3

CHO

49

43

9.2

4.6

SCHOLES MOOR ROAD

88 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 88

ARDS LANE

SE 142 076

There’s a couple of likely looking tracks on the left a little way before yours, so take care to get the right one – which is easier said than done, because it looks like a driveway as you approach. The best landmark is a Public Footpath sign opposite the turning, pointing in the other dirction

4x4 31/08/2019 21:37

50

54

51

55

0.8

9.3

9.9

52 10.0

1.2

SE 135 068 ZERO TRIP

56 2.0

As the track starts to drop down the hill, its surface starts getting uneven. It’s steep enough to warrant being in low box, too

CAR WOR H MOOR LANE

53 0.5

57 2.1

There’s a huge wash-out as you approach the junction, which continues as you start to turn. It’s not as bad as it looks, but the side slope is definitely not to be ta en lightly

Step 57: The erosion gulley (left) throws you into a side-slope then continues into the corner. It’s not as extreme as it looks, but if you take a bad line things will get very scary very quickly

4x4 12pp Roadbook October.indd 89

OCTOBER 2019 | 89

31/08/2019 21:37

58 2.2

Don’t cut the corner – stay on the main track, and follow it the whole way down the hill through the woods. Illegal off-roading has been a problem here for a long time – if you see anyone doing it film them if it’s safe to do so and do us all a favour by shopping them to the police

59 2.4

60 2.5

90 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 90

61 2.7

Once again, stay resolutely on the main track. Criminal off-roading is less prevalent in this area than it used to be, but there’s precious little room for complacency – and none at all for breaking the law

62

The track you’ve been on is pretty smooth and easy, but this one is much more uneven as it climbs up the hill

4.0

Follow the main track across the dam, where it’ll turn into a surfaced road for a short spell

63 4.1

Caution – this is a fast, busy road

ZERO TRIP

4x4 31/08/2019 21:37

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03/09/2019 14:12

Step 66: Turn left opposite the buildings, then get straight into low box for the climb ahead

67

64

It’s rough as you approach the junction, and you’ll remember the erosion gulley from before…

3.2

1.75

Ram en Re er oir Yateholme

65

68

2.6

66 2.85

92 | OCTOBER 2019

12pp Roadbook October.indd 92

3.25

Get into low box once you’ve made the turn – there’s a long climb coming up. This is the same track you came down at Step 58, so the same comments apply regarding criminal off-roading

You’re straight into a long, steepish climb as soon as you’re out of the side slope. It gets rougher towards the top

69 4.1

4x4 31/08/2019 21:37

70

76

5.9

10.9

L

H H LL

71

77

7.0

11.7

EDD N

72

ED E ROAD

Caution – this is a main road you’re crossing

7.7

78

Take care here – it’s a major road, and by now you ll ha e figured out that you’ve arrived in town

12.1

WOOD ROYD H LL LANE

73

79

7.95

12.8

Follow round to the left at the traffic lights then immediately turn left into the et filling station for the end of the route

74 8.55

75 9.35

ROADS ONE RD

4x4 12pp Roadbook October.indd 93

OCTOBER 2019 | 93

31/08/2019 21:38

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The essential essential annual The annual for for Land Land Rover Roverowners ownersand andenthusiasts enthusiasts

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TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 50

Land Rover 22019 019 LONG-RANGE

YEARBOOK LONG-RANGE CHARITY RUN CHARITY RUN An expedition with a VENTER TRAILERS UK LTD UNIT 3 ORCHARD COURT ARMSTRONG WAY YATE, BS37 5GW

Modified Modified expedition The Land RoverAn Yearbook, now in its 5th with Year and a on-

her inside insideThe The Land RoverRover Yearbook, now in its in 5th noble cause The Land Yearbook, now itsyear, 5th covers Year and onsale Rover in timeYearbook, for the lucrative Christmas Annual her Land now in its 5th year, coversmarket, noble cause everything from the latest vehicles off the production line in sale in time for the lucrative Christmas Annual market,

coversfrom everything from the latest vehicles off the line in everything the latest vehicles offYearbook the production Solihull to classic Series vehicles.

The isofffull covers everything from the latest vehicles theof The SALES & RENTALS production line in Solihull toThe classic Series is vehicles.

Solihull to classic Series vehicles.

Yearbook full of essential information forSolihull Land Rover owners andvehicles. enthusiasts production line in to classic Series The t 01454 325109 m 07894 529452 Yearbook is full of information for Rover essential information foressential Land Rover owners andLand enthusiasts from Yearbook parts and accessories to improve and maintain your e info@ventertrailersuk.com is full of essential information for Land Rover from parts and accessories improve and your owners and enthusiasts from parts andmaintain accessories to vehicle to adventure travel. to The Landy Rover Yearbook has owners and enthusiasts from parts and accessories to vehicle to adventure travel.inThe Landy Rover Yearbook has improve maintain your vehicle to adventure travel something for and every taste Land Rovers! improve maintain something for and every taste in your Land in everyone’s favourite type vehicle ofRovers!

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The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts

Land LandRover Rover

04/09/2018 13:55

The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts

2 019 2 019

YEARBOOK 2 1YEARBOOK 12 £X.XX

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the year’s pages of ts for best produc er d Rov your Lan the year’s pages of ts for best produc er d Rov your Lan

Future Glories Future Glories

How a wrecked old farm hack restored into this better-than-new 110 A FINAL FLOURISH110 Plug-in Rover HowRange a wrecked old farm hack restored into this better-than-new

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144 pages BENEFITS FOR 144 £6.99 pages Only BENEFITS FOR ADVERTISERS IN Only £6.99 ADVERTISERS THE 2019 LANDIN Available in WHSmith and SPECIAL NOW JUST THEOFFER: 2019 LAND Available innewsagents WHSmith and independent or £5 ROVER YEARBOOK: independent newsagents or FROM OUR WEBSITE ROVER orderYEARBOOK: online at order online at www.toronline.co.uk Guaranteed Product www.toronline.co.uk

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NEXT MONTH IN 4x4 First drive of the new Isuzu D-Max XTR, plus Toyota’s 3-door Landcruiser van How a tractor maker turned supercar icon built the most ridiculous 4x4 of all time Sudan overland – one huge nation with two very different sides to its character

ON SALE: 11th Oct Step 15: This

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Roadbook: A stunning day out in the majestic mountains of Mid-Wales 5.05

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9.2 every month Please order 4x4 Magazine and reserve/deliver me a copy 2016 50 | NOVEMBER

12

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

96 | OCTOBER 2019

96 Next Month Oct AK.indd 96

SAFETY

he symbols on the first the roadboo k advise you suitable it is for your vehi are just guidelin es, howev warn you of 112 any ha ards o iel Roa Slaw ton sections, but 21 loo tonHallaton the nature of 21 lane can chan ge quickly.We can make a hug e difference Your track is Inn opposite the Fox the left obvi conditions und Turnless two as you appr ous of the erfoot, 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 are largely suit NOR H END able for standa on road tyre s. We do reco mm trav elling in tand em wherever h for this ford to If it’s wet enoug pos the sible, how It’s not a big ever.The risk have any water over have ford actual therlye’s ae, you’ll probably stuc of g sharpish drop , but surfac usk can be greater than into itroad previo the in as d daway it app roun the corner washe – and if you brea beenyou k down, having two by now at hand can mak e the differenc e between it bein g inconvenient a downright dan gerous.

RESPONSIB

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

Name Address

NAVIGATIO

We’ve delibera tely possible to follo wt mixture of inst ructi and grid refe rences. only include junction have to make a turni right of way, so just s road or take the mos option unless we tell f you re unfamili ar grid referenc es you ll using them on the lege map. Our aim is for yo do the route without m do recommend having t

Stonton W

ille

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 o 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

4x4 01/09/2019 23:05

4X4 Pick Up FP Oct Iss 2019.indd 6

02/09/2019 17:30

ARRIVING SOON AT YOUR LOCAL ISUZU DEALERSHIP

CALL 03303 335126 OR VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK/XTR TO FIND OUT MORE #Over 40 MPG figure applies to manual transmission models. MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Official fuel figures for the Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 30.4 - 38.7 (9.3 - 7.3). Extra Urban 40.9 - 50.4 (6.9 - 5.6). Combined 36.2 - 45.6 (7.8 6.2). CO2 emissions 163 - 205g/km. For full details please contact your local Isuzu dealer or visit isuzu.co.uk Features and specification may vary in appearance and/or availability. *3.5 tonne towing applies to all 4x4 models. **125,000 mile/5 year (whichever comes first) warranty applies to all new Isuzu D-Max models. Terms and conditions apply. Visit isuzu.co.uk

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30/08/2019 09:24