On The Rocks

The other month Isuzu lent me their formidable D-Max AT35, which was a fun truck to live with. During our week together I had planned to visit the Lake District with a colleague, but unexpected work commitments, and a stinking cold, put paid to that, but I still needed to give the mighty AT35 a thorough test.......I knew just the lane.

Not far from Muddy Towers is a green-lane simply known locally as either 'Rivington' or 'the Pigeon Tower.' I first drove it in the mid 80s when I bought my first Land Rover, a LWB Series 3 Hardtop, and I’ve enjoyed driving it ever since. That said, I haven’t driven it in around 7 years as it’s become increasingly difficult to negotiate in a ‘normal’ 4x4 due to large rock steps being formed by water erosion, and overuse, as it’s pretty much the only green-lane around my neck of the woods.

For the first time in a fortnight there was a day without rain, so I reckoned I should pay it a visit.

Section 1

Beginning at the bottom car park, the road soon becomes rocky, with each rock a good foot in diameter, and as you reach a sharp left hand bend it narrows to a vehicle width.

Up until this point the road is a steady incline, but as you reach the next right hand bend it becomes steeper, and this is where the fun begins.

Section 2

The last time I was up here I was in a new L405 Range Rover and the first obstacle was a vertical step merely around a foot and a half tall, now it’s twice as high.

As I eased the AT35 towards the steps the bonnet rose slowly, and at such a steep angle I was convinced the rear wheels would soon lose grip on the loose rocks, but they didn’t and up the step they followed. I was impressed.

Section 3

The next section of the road was quite easy, just more rocks and the odd smaller step, but it wasn’t until I reached the next right hand turn that I was genuinely taken aback as the road was now unrecognisable. Apart from the blatant off-piste activity to my left, what was once a wide open section of road with a hard dirt base and a mild rain channel, was now a deep and eroded section littered stone and rocks.

I later figured out that all the stones had been washed down the hill with the amount of storms we’ve experienced over the years. On the subject of water, the amount gushing down on this section was almost biblical, it was never like this years ago, something at the top of the road must have changed or a water channel is blocked.

The AT35 was still taking everything in its stride, the huge 35” tyres that I’d lowered a fraction to give me a bigger footprint hadn’t missed a beat nor lost traction once, though the worst was to come.

Section 4

Around the next corner there’s a huge tarmac slab in the middle of the road, god knows why or how it was put here, it’s so random. Years ago you had to drive over it, but now on the left hand side as you drive up there’s enough space to get the AT 35 around it.

There was once a visible path that lead to the top the last time I was up here, with obvious places to place your front wheels, but not anymore, just a series of steep ledges on either side at varying spaces and angles with no discernible track, so I jumped out for a scout.

As the water rushed past the next section looked quite tricky, it wasn’t the steps that bothered me, I had confidence the AT35 would climb them, it was just that being unladed, I wondered if I would have enough rear traction. With only one way to find out I jumped back in and aimed the truck at the least severe steps!

In 2nd gear low, the AT35 gently climbed upwards and found traction. Visibility was a bit of a problem at this stage as I was constantly facing upwards and I had absolutely no idea where my wheels were in conjunction with the terrain, so I was continuously jumping out trying to figure where to go next.

A few yards later, water was kicked up from the rear tyres as forward motion ceased.

A quick inspection showed that I’d managed to get the mighty AT35 completely cross-axled, and without the use of a rear locker, I wasn’t going anywhere, except backwards, this was becoming quite a challenge. With an idea of where I wanted to place the huge 35” tyres next, I reversed a few feet and edged forward in a slightly different direction. It worked for a couple of yards, then another step, a forward motion was again stopped. I was near the top now with one last step to conquer, and the problem was my rear wheels couldn’t find any traction, so again I reversed and gave it some right foot, and as I did the huge truck fought for grip, but we inched forward and just then, the off-side rear wheel fell into a hole just as I reached the top causing the front left to grab some massive air!

The only obstacle left for me to traverse was the concrete water pipe that sits a couple of feet proud of the ground at the top which was easily navigated.

Parking up for a few more photos I reflected on what was a thrilling drive, I was totally impressed with the unladen AT35’s abilities, even without a rear locker. If you can’t get enough of the mighty AT35, there’ll be a full review of it in next month's issue.