Renegade Masters

When Andrew from Ardent Off-Road asked if I would be interested in joining him on a weekends green-laning trip with a couple of other Jeep Renegade owners around Yorkshire, my obvious answer was yes, and within moments of that I was on the phone to Jeep UK for a Renegade Trailhawk to borrow.

Meeting up in a carpark in Leyburn I was greeted by Libby and Andrew from Ardent Off-Road in their Defender 110. They would’ve been in their new JL Wrangler but it was loaned out to a couple who wanted to tour the Balkans. Next I was introduced to Paul in his red Renegade that’s been heavily breathed on Storm Jeeps (check out our Reader’s Rides for more details), and another Paul with his JK Wrangler, again breathed on by Storm.

On the subject of Storm Jeeps, that’s who arrived next, Mike and wife Linda in their green customised Renegade and Andy in one of their heavily modified JKs, in fact it’s quite a rare Recon model that you can find for sale on their website.

Looking at the collection of Jeeps that had been breathed on by Mike and Andy I couldn’t help but think the Trailhawk, albeit modified over the standard version, looked a little out of place!

Renegade Masters

Lane 1

With Andrew and Libby in the lead we left Leyburn and made our way towards our first lane, TrailWise2 reference, SD9383-03 just on the south side of Semerwater. It’s an easy lane to drive with a solid stone base that takes you over to the B6160, however, we weren’t on it for long as within a couple of hundred yards we took a sharp right onto our second lane, SD9185-05, Bob Lane.

Lane 2

Although it’s quite easy going at the top, Bob Lane has a few rocky sections with steep steps around the middle. I say steep, Deux Smurf would’ve straddled them with ease, but the Renegade Trailhawk and I required expert guidance from Andrew who had jumped out of the 110 to keep a watchful eye on everyone.

Careful on the braking and watching his hand signals I traversed the steps with ease.

There was the odd crunch from underneath the Renegade as I couldn’t avoid some of the larger rocks that were strewn across the lane, but nothing too bad, besides, they always sounds worse that they actually are, don’t they?

It’s at this point that I’m going to admit to a schoolboy error. Because Deux Smurf is a 1996 Toyota Surf she doesn’t have any of the fancy electrics that modern 4x4s have - like Hill Descent Control. In the Renegade I engaged low box, selected 1st and wondered why there was no engine braking, yeah, I’d forget to engage Hill Descent Control!

Lane 3

Driving through Stalling Busk we were heading towards Busk Lane, SD9086- 02. This is another lane I haven’t driven before. The descent was quite narrow with branches encroaching the lane but the surface looks to have been graded recently with some demon ‘V’ shaped drainage steps.

What makes Busk Lane interesting are the two water crossings that after heavy rainfall in winter can become quite swollen and dangerous, even washing away the normally rocky and solid base. However, despite the monsoon rainfall we had the day previous, both water runs were fairly shallow and driven with ease.

It was only when I checked Trailwise 2 for it’s reference number that I learnt it passes through a Wildlife Trust Reserve, which is why it was teaming with birds, which was nice to see. The only thing to be aware of are the flies, there were thousands of them surrounding the vehicles, you couldn’t drive with the windows open, and if you’re driving a soft top, well don’t.

Lane 4

Driving from south to north, Busk Lane brings you out at Marsett and from there it was a short drive to our next lane, High Cam Road, or SD8685-02. Also known as Roman Road, and as you'd expect with a name like that it’s a very straight gravel and rock based track. there’s normally great views to be had, but as we climbed the rain and low clouds moved in to spoil everything.

I’ve driven High Cam quite a few times, and although it’s been graded a little near the top, it remains a joy to drive and of course the Trailhawk Renegade behaved impeccably.

Lane 5

Our next lane was to be West Cam Road which covers both SD8283-03 and SD8486- 01 references, but I remembered the last time I drove it, which was in January, there was one particular sloppy bit that a P38 Range Rover couldn’t manage to drive through due to deep ruts, so I decided not to bother and meet them at the bottom.

It transpired that since my last visit the council had graded that section with lots of stone, so it was passable after all, hey ho.

From Hawes we headed back towards Leyburn on the A684 and called into Fairhurst’s at Berry's Farm Shop & Cafe for a spot of lunch and a chat, and very nice it was too.

Lane 6

With our stomachs full we followed Libby and Andrew through Leyburn and headed out towards our next lane, SE0997-02. There aren’t any photos here due to how narrow it was and the amount of bloomin’ flies that surrounded the Renegade again, there was no chance I was getting out, or even opening the window!

It became more overgrown the further along we drove, and eventually leading to a ford at the bottom, which was quite shallow. Exiting brought with it a few bumps from underneath the Renegade with football sized rocks strewn across the

track, but as I said earlier, they always sound worse.

To our left a little further along we had a great view of the Iron Age hill fort (which is a scheduled monument) which by all accounts is a rare thing in the north of England as most are found down south.

Cordilleras Lane over Marske Moor, which would eventually take us to our penultimate green lane, was fun with lots of narrow bends with ups and downs, I couldn’t help but think it would be even better if I was driving a Caterham!

Lane 7

NZ0603-02 was the most challenging lane so far. Heading from east to west we began our descent, and again I did my best at avoiding holes, steps and rocks. This time I pressed the Renegade’s Hill Descent Control button which made this section much, much easier to negotiate.

After a 100 yards or so the rocky lane suddenly veers left as we head down towards another water crossing. I ease the Renegade down another steep step and there’s a scrape from underneath, but it’s fine, what I’ve learnt so far about this diminutive 4x4 is that with its Trailhawk badge it really is trail tested and has certainly proven that it can punch above it’s weight. I check my mirror and watch as Paul tackles the same step in his Renegade, but all is fine due to the extra lift and rock-sliders.

We all paused for a moment to take a few photos as Libby drove the 110 through the ford and up the other side. Our instructions were to hang on for a bit as Libby made her way back down by foot as she would direct us all around the hairpin bend just above the water crossing.

As I was the first vehicle behind Libby and Andrew I eased

the Renegade through the ford and towards the hairpin which also included a couple of gnarly steps, you know, just to make life interesting. With a small shunt the little Renegade made it round, and with Libby’s advice of keep to the right as I scrambled up the other side I did just that - until I lost traction. Knowing about modern 4x4s I kept on the throttle until the mighty Renegade found traction and inched forward over the wet protruding rocks. There were a few more crunches from underneath and I did my best to ignore them!

Looking further up the lane my heart suddenly sank as I noticed the rocks were much taller and sporadically placed along the narrow lane, and with the realisation that I was in a press car which I didn’t want to damage. So far the Renegade Trailhawk had done a remarkable job of keeping up with the modified Jeeps, but was this a lane too far?

Speed and momentum at this point was steady as I lurched from side to side with crunches coming from all manner of places. The Renegade slid sideways, found traction, lifted a wheel, and another one, I was, if I’m honest, bricking it, but I had no option to drive on. As the lane narrowed and the rocks protruding from the wet dirt became taller and more aggressive, in front of me was a step, quite a steep one. Because I wasn’t sure whether the front bib would clear it I slowed down a tad, and as the front wheels drove over the step I lost

momentum and as the rears failed to follow they scrambled for grip and began sliding to the left away from the banking. It was then when I head another clunk, this time I was grounded on the rear section of the sill, just in front of the rear near-side wheel.

I told everyone via the radio that I was stuck, got out and proceeded to do some road building.

Fortunately I noticed a large slab of stone which, after I placed it behind the rear near-side tyre which when reversed over would lift the Jeep up and off the sill. I then scrambled around looking of decent sized stones to then build up the step.

Satisfied with my work I reversed around a foot backwards onto the large slab which lifted us off the sill, as I predicted, and drove forward carrying a little more speed than I would have liked, but I needed the momentum. With a bit more scrambling the Renegade made it to a safer spot where I stopped for a breather and to watch the rest of the convoy.

Sorry, no photos of this either as I was a bit busy to say the least!

It was Paul’s turn next in his red Storm Jeep logo’d Renegade and with a steady throttle, suspension lift and a few other goodies he made it without too much drama.

Mike and Linda in the green Renegade were next, but had reported earlier that they were having issues with their low box, but under Libby’s watchful eye, and again better ground clearance and more aggressive tyres, they managed just fine.

Andy and Paul took up the rear in their modified Wranglers and made it look like a walk in the park as they simply crawled and flexed up the section of the lane that nearly gave me a bloomin’ coronary!

Lane 8

Our final lane of the day was the famous Fremmington Edge, NZ0400- 02. Driving from north to south was easy on wide open gravel track which appeared to have had some work done on it recently, I’m guessing to fill in some of the holes.

By the time we reached the next gate which signals the steep descent, the weather had cleared up and gave us a spectacular view across the valley for which the lane is famous for.

Heading down, 4x4s without much ground clearance, such as me, need to be vigilant as there’s some more large rocks and tall water run-off

sections which can make the going tough. Again, if I was in Deux Smurf I wouldn’t be even mentioning it.

Not far down there’s quite a number sharp jagged rocks protruding from the lane which need to be taken seriously as I think it’s where I damaged both near-side wheels and tyres on the Renegade, which I only noticed the following morning.

I got out a few times to move the odd boulder to the side so I could continue driving, ok, large rocks, but boulders sound more dramatic.

As the lane turned to tarmac it signalled the end of a fantastic days green-laning, and the only other drama was along the very narrow lane heading down towards Reeth, Andy in the heavily modified JK Wrangler succumbed to a side-wall puncture. As part of the off-roading weekend offered by Ardent off-Road, we stayed the night in the lovely Black Swan hotel in the centre of Helmsley, though at extra cost.

After a great nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, the plan was to leave at 9.00am and continue green-laning until around 4.00pm, or when the planned route is completed.

Sadly, as I mentioned earlier, during my morning check over of the Renegade I noticed that I had damaged both nearside wheels and had taken chunks out of both tyres, so I reckoned it would be a whole lot safer if I didn’t join them, especially as the Trailhawk didn’t come with a spare tyre of any sort, so I waved my farewells as the group drove off without me.

Three things worthy of a mention...

First up, the Renegade Trailhawk did an absolutely amazing job on some fairly gnarly green lanes, only being let down by the standard tyres and the buffoon behind the wheel. If I had a Renegade there would be no doubt at all that I would drive it over to Mike and Andy at Storm Jeeps in Hull and get them to give it a lift, side bars and a set of new wheels and tyres.

Which links seamlessly onto Storm Jeeps. What a fantastic job they’ve done, creating not only some awesome looking Jeeps, but they also put their money where their mouth is and use them regularly for off-road adventures, both in the UK and abroad. They also look after Ardent’s JL Wrangler that is used pretty much full-time on 4x4 tours.

Last, but not least, Ardent Off-Road, I have to say a massive thank you to Andrew for inviting me along on this well organised 4x4 weekend adventure. If you’re uncertain of where to drive legally and want to venture to different parts of the UK, an organised tour with Ardent Off-Road is a perfect way to explore safely and in great company.

For more details of up and coming adventures, check out their website - https://ardentoffroad.com