TURAS Camping and 4WD Magazine Issue Twenty

GEAR - CAMPING - TRAVEL - CAMP COOKING - NEWS - FISHING

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E-MAGAZINE

ABENTEUER & ALLRAD 2021

Autumn 2021 - ISSUE 20

SHELL RTT THE ALL NEW DARCHE HARD

BEACH DRIVING A MINERS TALE THE NUGGET VAN AIRLIFT 1000 & MUCH MORE

SHOW SPECIAL

20 TOURING DESTINATIONS SOLAR PANELS

PLUS

DARCHE‘S NEW RTT - TOURING - FROM CORNWALL TO AUSTRALIA

Editorial Well, Issue 20 is here and this is a bit of a milestone for the team at TURAS. In recognition of the publication of this 20th issue, we thought we would take the opportunity to look back at 20 touring destinations that we have previously covered in the magazine that have really appealed to us. This issue also sees the completion of the Land Rover Defender build, and we are happy to announce also that the vehicle will be on display at Abenteuer and Allrad 2021 from 21st-24th October. You can learn more about the expo and some of our partners that are exhibiting there on page 132. We get a sneak preview of the brand new Hardshell tent which is coming soon from Australian innovators DARCHE. Do you have more than one set of tyres for your vehicle? Are you sure that you are storing them correctly and doing what you can to maintain them for as long as possible, if not check out our feature on tyre care from the experts at Nokian Tyres on page 62. We look back on a

trip in Australia’s where miners from Cornwall in England were brought over to help to mine the gold deposits in this new frontier. We look at some new accessories for the CTEK Portable charger, and some new additions to the suspension of our Defender from Euro4x4parts. Germany Company Offroad Monkeys have expanded their product range of quality replacement parts for Landrovers to now also provide top quality replacement hinges for the Mercedes G-Class, these new hinges are being launched at Abenteuer and Allrad. We also take a look at some of the advantages of using tent trailers on touring expeditions and learn about some of the options available from CAMPWERK. Our friends at Funki Adventures have just kitted out a new Jeep Gladiator and you can learn more on page 226.

We take a look at 5 top items of gear for camp cooking from Petromax that make every camping meal a pleasure, and lots more. We hope you enjoy this issue.

The TURAS team Photo:Nicolas Genoud - Geko Expeditions

EDITORIAL TEAM

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole CONTRIBUTORS

Ron Moon Viv Moon Paul Frith Trish Melody Alison Scanlon Marie Frith Frank Cassidy

Russ Mark

DESIGN TEAM

Paul

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole Marie Frith PUBLISHED BY

TURAS Camping & 4WD Adventures Ltd.

Trish

SUBSCRIPTIONS

To subscribe to the free magazine and interim email newsletters, please visit: www.turas.tv/subscribe

Ali Frank

SALES & ADVERTISING

info@turas.ie Copyright © 2021 TURAS Camping and 4WD Adventures Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: info@turas.ie

Marie

You can get in touch with the TURAS team at info@turas.ie or via the contact form on our website.

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DARCHE Ridgeback Hardshell RTT

10

Caring for your Tyres

20 Touring Destinations

62 22

74

Camping Post Covid-19

Built Not Bought

82

contents.

BEARMACH Quality & Value

92

The Build Job Done!

102

From Cornwall to Australia A Miner’s Tale

132

106

Abenteur & Allrad 2021

The New Ford Nugget

124

Trek Overland

152

Latest Gear The latest camping gear

08

200+

pages Full of

outdoor lifestyle

The CTEK CS FREE Kit

176

5 Essentials for Camp Cooking With Petromax

156

Airlift 100 Euro4x4parts

166

184

5 Tips for Beach Driving

TheBenefits of Tent Trailers

200

contents.

Quality Hinges Expedition Ready for the With APB Mercedes-Benz G-Class Trading Ltd.

206

Funki Adventures Goes Topless

208 226

& g n i p m Ca r a e G D 4W Every month we bring you the latest and greatest camping and 4WD gear and accessories

A

A.DARCHE Ridgeback Hardshell RTT The latest High Tech Roof Top tent from DARCHE, another evolution in high quality top class root tents from the team at DARCHE

B. CS Free Solar Panel Kit This powerful and robust solar panel kit makes the CS Free portable battery charger even more versatile and reliable as source of remote power and reassurance when out on the road.

B

F. CAMPWERK Tent Trailers These tents combined with rugged and versatile trailersprovide some great new options for 4WD Touring and overlanding.

E

D

C

E. Mercedes-Benz G-Class Replacement hinges A new product range from German company Offroad Monkeys that has started to expand its range of extremely high quality replacement part to these Mercedes vehicles.

D. Airlift 1000 Air Springs that provide Load Support for coil sprung vehicles, from euro4x4parts

RIDGEBACK HARDSHELL RTT INTRODUCING THE from

W

e are very excited to announce that the all-new DARCHE Ridgeback Hardshell Roof Top Tent and the Eco option has been officially launched! This awesome new addition to the DARCHE outdoor touring range is now available for you to pre-order with the dispatch of the Ridgeback scheduled for late November 2021. This flagship hard shell roof top tent range promises the first-class engineering and construction that we have all come to expect from DARCHE .

At a glance. the Ridgeback’s aerodynamic design will no doubt turn heads on the road. Its unique profile and compact design will reduce wind drag and overall vehicle height, perfect for lifted vehicles navigating the urban jungle between off-road adventures.So when we talk about the new range coming out we are basically talking about the Ridgeback and the Ridgeback Eco. For the DARCHE traditionalist, the Ridgeback is also available in a premium ripstop polycotton canvas body. The Ridgeback canvas model delivers all the quality

come to expect from DARCHE and endurance of a traditional DARCHE canvas body tent. Made Outdoor Gear that we have all grown to love. in Darche’s signature canvas colour, this RTT will seamlessly integrate into your DARCHE setup, so if you are looking to upgrade, your RTT to a Hard Shell this will be an awesome addition.

For the ever-growing eco-minded customers, the Ridgeback is also available in the premier Eco Ridgeback made from a recycled polyester body.The polyester is made using recycled plastic waste, saving around 185 bottles from landfills per tent. This premium polyester is not only helping to achieveDARCHE’s sustainability goals, but it also delivers every bit of durability and construction quality that you’ve

THIS HAS BEEN WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!

The polyester is made using recycled plastic waste, saving around 185 bottles from

THE RIDGEBACK

So let’s have a closer look at the Ridgeback. The Ridgeback high-spec build gives you unparalleled quality that includes German-engineered Stabilus Struts that provide effortless set up and pack down assistance. With a flick of the latches, this simple one-person setup will have you stargazing in seconds. The interior is full of innovation too, including a plush 55mm memory foam mattress with removable cover and water-resistant base, plus a 10mm high rebound anti-condensation mat that will give you the most comfortable night’s sleep you’ve ever had on the road.

The interior also features internal USB-powered LED lighting that has been laboratory tested to ensure compliance with all EMC and User Safety standards.

There is plenty of room inside to keep you cool and comfortable. The removable fly and built-in air vents reduce condensation and provide excellent airflow, even in rainy weather. There are three full-size entry points and a zippered sky window that will give you plenty of ventilation as you drift off under the starry night sky.

The Ridgeback body tent is made from premium 280gsm ripstop polycotton canvas. This tent also boasts an impressive 3000mm water rating, high profile automotive rubber weather seals, internal seam sealing and a removable fly that will keep you dry in extended rainy conditions.

All up we cant wait to see it close up.

THIS SCREAMS QUALITY just as you would expect from one of the best in the business

The polyester is made using recycled plastic waste,saving around 185 bottles from landfills per tent.

RIDGEBACK ECO

With all of the similar features to the Ridgeback, the Eco version body tent is made from premium 280gsm Ripstop Recycled Polyester Oxford. This tent also has an impressive 3000mm water rating, high-profile automotive rubber weather seals, internal seam sealing, and a removable fly that will keep you dry in extended rainy conditions.

First up, a big congratulations to DARCHE, once again as a company they

1. Class leading interior room 2.Internal USB powered LED lighting. 3. Aerodynamic design.

SOME KEY FEATURES • Aerodynamic design.

• Class leading interior room.

• Internal USB powered LED lighting.

• German-engineered Stabilus gas struts.

• Exceptional ventilation.

• Fine insect mesh on all windows.

• Easy-action 2.3m aluminium telescopic ladder.

• Internal side and roof storage pockets.

• All-season protection including high profile automotive rubber weather seals, taped seams, twin needle stitching and removable fly.

• Heavy-duty construction including self-repairing coil zips and reinforced stitching on all stress points.

• UV50+ protection .

• Roof rails accessory kit available

have taken the innovative and sustainable route when it comes to developing new high-quality products. DARCHE has always used superior quality materials in all of its outdoor gear range and constantly develops, researches and refines new materials and technologies to ensure DARCHE products remain leaders in terms of innovation, quality, and durability.

Its been a big year for DARCHE having celebrated its 30th anniversary and what a way to end a very special year, we cant wait to check it out. For more details contact the ever-growing list of international distributors with distributors now in based in the UK (Trek Overland), Europe (XP-edition, the Far East, the USA,Mongolia,Thailand and Japan.

High Quality Roof Rails are also available separately.

These roof rails will give you extra storage for solar panels, recovery equipment or any other gear you need on your next offroad adventure.

20

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e have over the course of the previous nineteen Issues of TURAS magazine, been on a variety of adventures across Europe and Eurasia and beyond. There are so many amazing off-road

tracks and driving adventures available to us to experience within Europe or within reach of Europe. We thought we would take the opportunity for this our 20th issue to review 20 amazing touring destinations from amongst those places that we have travelled in these pages over the past few years.

IRELAND On the western fringes of Europe, Ireland has some beautiful wild and remote scenery and rugged tracks that can be enjoyable to explore in your 4WD. There is a lot to see in Ireland and one trip may not be enough, from the Wild Atlantic way a The 2,500 km driving route that passes through nine counties and three provinces, stretching from County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula in Ulster to Kinsale, County Cork, in Munster, on the Celtic Sea coast there are so many places you can stop and explore, it is a journey you will want to repeat if you only have a few weeks at a time to experience it.

GEORGIA

Georgia is a popular tourist destination for good reason. The country has an extraordinary combination of breathtaking landscapes, friendly people and wonderful and fascinating culture. The combination of Western standards with a typically Eastern approach to life is evident here. And every region in Georgia has its own unique aspects that are worth experiencing. With lots of amazing and challenging mountain tracks, high peaks, numerous mineral springs and beautiful valleys make an incredible impression on visitors . There are many historical towns and villages, and it is a most interestingl country to experience. Learn more and join the team from Land4Travel.com on a recent expedition across Georgia.

Images: Land4travel .com

the

PYRENEES Images: One Life Adventure The Spanish Pyrenees are the least visited part of the dramatic Pyrenean Mountains, guarding the border between France and Spain. The whole region is im-

mensely beautiful – thickly forested foothills, secret plunging valleys and soaring snow capped mountains make for some of the best mountain driving in Europe.

NORWAY

Images: Compass Adventures As a country, Norway has so much to offer when it comes to diverse landscapes. Much of the country is dominated by mountainous terrain, with a great vari-

ety of natural features caused by glaciers during the last ice age.

Rob from Compass adventures takes us on a 17-day adventure in this Icy domain.

Occupying the northern third of Great Britain, Scotland packs some of the most stunning scenery in all of the UK into its borders. From the rolling hills of the Borders, to the vast open landscapes of Caithness (the ‘flow country’) to the coastal landscapes and Highland scenery of Argyll & The Isles, Scotlands fifteen regions – each with a distinct character -­offer dramatic contrasts of landscape, wildlife and culture.

And with 12 National Tourist Routes, the epic North Coast 500, plus dozens of other scenic alternatives, a self-­drive tour will take you to the country’s most awe-­ inspiring landscapes. There’s good reason Scotland’s been an icon of overland travel for generations.

SCOTLAND Images: Higher Adventure and Toby Roney

GREECE

Greece is a beautiful country with amazing islands and beaches, and also with a deep and fascinating history and culture. However there is even more to Greece for you to discover , a hidden Greece. The Ipiros region is rugged and mountainous. It is largely made up of mountainous ridges, part of the Dinaric Alps.

The region’s highest spot is on Mount Smolikas, at an altitude of 2.637 metres above sea level. In the east, the Pindus Mountains that form the spine of mainland Greece separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly.

Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus.

The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece.

There is is no such a thing as a standard tour says Nikos of Offroad Unlimited. “No matter how many times we have driven the same tracks,we always come across something new – which mother Nature has generously provided for us”.

image: Offroad Unlimited EU

The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system in Europe,running for 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) through Switzerland, France,Monaco, Italy, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia.

With over 20 years of experience exploring this region, the guys at Alpine Rovers have put together a selection of tracks and sites in this mountainous landscape to explore in your 4WD.The guided tour will take you to amazing heights where you will see historical buildings that include forgotten forts and World War II bunkers.

This 4WD adventure will also give you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of visionary adventurers, brave mountaineers and the great Hannibal and Napoleon who crossed through these passes on foot and horseback.

ALPS the

images: Alpine Rovers

PORTUGAL Most people may not be aware that Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe, with nearly nine centuries of history and traditions resulting from a legacy left by the various cultures who inhabited these lands over the centuries. Some of these cultures include the Phoenicians, the Arabs, the Greeks and Carthaginians, the Romans and the northern Europeans.

Portugal is also a 4WD Tourer’s paradise as it contains thousands of kilometers of dirt tracks. Not only is Portugal one of the best countries in Europe to explore a huge network of dirt tracks it is also a top destination for foodies, the Portuguese cuisine is delicious, diverse and very rich in its ingredients.

Join Dream Overland for some fascinating tours around this beautiful country.

image; Dream Overland

Romania is the twelfth largest country in Europe and is bordered by Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia and the Ukraine. Its unique terrain is evenly divided between mountains, hills and plains so plenty of diversity when it comes to tackling 4WD tracks and wild camping. Recent government laws in Romania now limit access to some of its huge forests but despite this there is still plenty to see in this vast and interesting landscape.

If you are planning a visit to Romania and are unsure of which routes to take you can always engage a professional 4WD guide who often have access to most areas and have the local knowledge of where to go. In issue four of the magazine we caught up with British expat Marcus Newby Taylor who recently set up Transylvania Off Road Tours, an off road touring and rescue company that takes you into the heart of this unique and historic landscape.

image ; Marcus Taylor

ROMANIA

MURMANSK

What destinations come to mind when you think of travelling to the North? Scandinavia, Karelia, Lapland? And even more to the northeast? The Russian Kola Peninsula, located between the White Sea and the Barents Sea. And in Kola,

you find the largest city north of the polar circle: Murmansk. Accessible from Europe, Murmansk and the Russian Kola Peninsula is a challenging but exhilarating touring destination.

K

images ; Geko Expeditions Having an experienced guide here is a necessity and the ‘Arctic Tour’ a unique 4×4 expedition organized by the Swiss organization GekoExpeditions is a fantastic way to experience this unique region.

(Geko are also known for their guided overland expeditions in Iceland, crossing the Namib desert, and other exotic destinations such as Madagascar, Algeria and Mongolia).

In Poland every region has something interesting to offer. Podlasie – Tatar villages and Bialowieza Primeval Forest, Masuria – great lakes, kilometers of gravel roads and german bunker remains, West Pomeranian – a region where the soviet army had their base, where nuclear weapons were stored and located there today – the biggest army range in Europe. Bieszczady is the wildest and the least populated region of Poland.

It is a region with a turbulent history and to this day you can find ruined villages and obliterated traces of human presence being reabsorbed by nature. Bieszczady was, and in a way is still a polish “wild west” (even though its in the east). To the south there is Cracow – which was previously the polish capital,which has two interesting salt mines – Wieliczka and Bochnia and also the tallest polish mountains –the Tatra Mountain Range.

Join the team at Land4Travel on a tour of Poland.

POLAND images ; Land4Travel .com

the

SOMME Recently we traveled through the north of France and had the opportunity to explore some the regions greenlanes predominantly in the Somme region. A place where 100 years ago the first World war officially ended.

Anyone who is in this part of the world should try and visit and see first hand this area and try and experience what so many young men endured during the Great War.Driving the 4WD tracks through this region is a very

humbling experience as you pass graveyard after graveyard with distinctive white and dark grey crosses that dominate the landscape. Many of the inscriptions carved on the crosses read ‘’a Soldier of the Great War Known

Unto God’’ .You cannot help but imagine what it was like for the young men on both sides of the trenches who arrived here from all over the world between 1916 -1918.

When it comes to green laning in the UK North Wales has to be the most scenic area that offers large numbers of green lanes and stunning views. One of the many joys of laning in Snowdonia and North Wales is the sheer number and variety of terrains and challenges. From gentle open scenic routes, to extremely tight and scratchy squeeze through byways, old roads that skirt the coast delivering stunning vistas and even ancient Roman roads like Sarn Helen, still drivable on the very surface the Romans laid; although it’s somewhat more challenging to traverse today! North Wales has something for everyone to enjoy, whatever your vehicle or off tarmac driving experience may be. Join Lauren Eaton of GLASS UK in exploring Wales

WALES

ALBANIA

A 4WD and campers paradise, Albania is located in the south-western part of the Balkans, bordered by the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. With a population of close to 3 million inhabitants Albania has a deep cultural history having been part of Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire until its first declaration of independence in 1912.Albania is divided into three regions that include the Coastal, North-eastern and South/Eastern part of the country. In the North Eastern part of Albania the inland region to the north of the Shkumbin River, borders Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia where as in the south eastern part the inland region to the south of the Shkumbin River borders Macedonia and Greece, this region includes the great border lakes, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.The Coastal Region borders both the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea.

images ; Alek Veljkovic

SERBIA According to Alek Veljkovic of Rustika Travel “our Balkan mountains, forests,river valleys and expansive areas of uninhabited wilderness offer some of the best and unrestricted 4WD access in all of Europe”. Particularly in Serbia where they have access to relatively unrestricted off road driving that allows participants on tours to experience what it must have been like to be an explorer as they enjoy the freedom of hundreds of kilometers of ever changing wilderness in the South East of Europe. In the Balkans you will experience camping in some spectacular places deep in the wilds and at various altitudes, from forests to open grassland to the top of mountain ranges and along river beds you will be spoiled for choice.

Alek highlighted that they are very fortunate to have access to over 150.000 km of tracks throughout the Balkans region, with these tracks offering various levels of difficulties to 4WD enthusiasts. As regards wild camping you can pretty much camp anywhere in the Balkans ,’’it’s an oasis of freedom from an overlanders perspective’’

images ; Alek Veljkovic

MONTENEGR

RO

Montenegro contains what is probably one of the trails with the highest average altitude in the Balkans, hovering between 1500 and 1900 metres.

You will only descend at the very end of the track as it approaches Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Most of the very attractive wild camp spots are situated around the altitude of 1700 m (so prepare for cold nights, even in mid-summer!). The track starts at the small town of Zabljak, situated at an altitude of 1450 m in the Durmitor national park in the north of Montenegro, and plunges into Sinjajevina, a huge highland plateau which is probably the largest mountainous highland area of its kind in Europe (about 80 km in diameter).

images ; Alek Veljkovic

KYRGYZSTAN

N

Kyrgyzstan is one of the most beautiful and picturesque countries in Central Asia. 94% of its area is mountains, which is why it is often called the Switzerland of Asia. Surrounded by high snowcapped peaks, the mountain valleys are full of flowers.

Strong Russian influence is still visible here, but the local tradition is still very much cultivated. While traveling around Kyrgyzstan, you can still meet hunters, hunting with eagles, spend the night in a yurt, try koumiss or learn the technique of weaving felt carpets.

In the opinion of Tomek Maj of Land4Travel.com, Kyrgyzstan is an ideal country for off-road fun – mainly because it is cheap, and secondly, it is the safest and most predictable country out of all the Central Asian States. You can drive a 4×4 anywhere in Kyrgyzstan and as long as you do not destroy the terrain, no one will pay any attention to you. Most of the mountain roads are gravel roads, often buried by stones and are in themselves challenging for drivers. Similarly to the rivers in the valleys, these roads, in addition to being buried by avalanches, are also flooded during thaws.

image ; Land4Travel .com

TURKEY

images ; LRinus Hartsuijker and Helga Kruizinga Turkey offers a rugged and varied terrain with a huge network of 4WD tracks to explore. In the country you will also discover a rich cultural history where

the Hittites, Persians and early Christian communities left behind a wealth of artefacts, ancient houses, rock churches and underground cities.

FINLAND Finland is the most sparsely inhabited country in the EU. There are 187,888 lakes larger than 500 square metres in Finland.

Garret Bradshaw of Landrover X Ireland says “this is a beau-

tiful country that has the most amazing sunsets in Winter, the visit was worth it for this reason alone. The wildlife is abundant and feels very special to encounter.”

ENGLAND

Photographer Paula Beaumont explains “Well I’m always out and about locally in Yorkshire Dales and love Swaledale area and it’s rolling green hills full of green lanes, and no phone signal. One of the things I’ve always loved to do on my wild camping trips is photography. I’m forever trying to capture some of the great views and moments from a trip for posterity.” From her base up in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales in the UK and together with her trusty 1989 Land Rover 90, ‘Norton’, she effortlessly combines her love of wild camping with a talent for taking some incredible and award-winning photographs. Learn more and see some of Paula’s amazing photography at the link below.

images ; Paula Beaumont

CA

UR

O F R G Y N I O R

TYRES

IMPROVE LIFESPAN The condition of your tyres is important for driving safety. By following these five golden rules, you can ensure top mileage, safe performance and a longer useful life for your tyres.

1

Check your tyre pressures regularly. Uneven inflation between tyres affects the driving qualities of your vehicle and makes the tyres wear unevenly.

2

Rotate the positions of your tyres between the front and rear axles after every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres (3,000 to 6,000 miles) as the tyres wear differently in different positions. Remember to check tyre pressures when changing tyres.

3

Check that you mount your tyres according to the rolling direction marking on the side of the tyre. If the tyres are mounted against their designated rolling direction, their driving qualities will not be optimal in all conditions.

4

Drive smoothly. Panic braking and side-slips shorten the useful life of tyres and this is particularly true of studded tyres.

5

Check your old tyres for uneven wear when changing tyres. Correctly mounted and carefully driven tyres wear evenly. If your tyres show uneven wear, get the driving angles of your car measured and have your tyres mounted and balanced at a professional repair shop.

CHECK FOR TYRE WEAR You can easily test the condition of your tires by using tools that are found in your home. The match and coin tests are especially suitable for evaluating the condition of non-studded tires.

All of Nokian Tyres’ latest products are equipped with Driving Safety Indicators. The driver can use the indicators to check the condition and safety of the tires. The indicator is located on the centre surface of the tire, and it indicates the depth of the tire’s main groove in millimetres; in other words, it shows how much tread remains.

You can use a two-euro coin to test for condition. The silver ring at the edge of the coin is less than four millimetres wide. If it rises even slightly above the tread block when the coin is placed in the groove, you should consider replacing your tires.

TYRE STORAGE 1. Temperature The storeroom temperature should be below +25 ºC, it should preferably be dark and below +15 ºC. The properties of rubber may change, affecting the final service life of the tyre, if the temperature is above 25 ºC or below 0 ºC. Cool storage does not have any adverse effect on rubber products.

2. Humidity Extremely humid conditions should be avoided. Humidity in the storeroom air must not be so high that condensation occurs on the tyres. Tyres must not be stored in conditions where they are exposed to rain, splashes, etc.

lamps or mercury vapour lamps, high-voltage electrical equipment, electric motors or any other electrical equipment that may generate sparks or silent electric discharges.

5. Deformation If possible, tyres must be stored freely in their natural form, so that they are not under stress, pressure or torsion.

Strong deformities developed during long-time storage may break when pressurised.

6. Solvents, oils, greases, heat Tyres must be particularly protected from any contact with solvents, oils or greases, however short-term. Tyres must also be protected from powerful emitters of light and spatter from electric welding.

3. Light Tyres must be protected from light, particularly from direct 7. Tyre handling sunlight and intense artificial light with a high ultraviolet con- When handling tyres in warehouse don`t ever drop tyres tent. higher than 1,5 m. Tyres could damaged on drop from bead 4. Oxygen and ozone area. Typical consequence Ozone has a very strong detecould be kinked bead. If you riorating effect on tyres. The find a tyre with kinked bead we storeroom must not contain do not recommend to mount any ozone-producing equipsuch a tyre to a rim. ment, such as fluorescence

SIDEWALL MARKINGS Tyre size is the most important information given on the tyre.

The size designation is specified as a series of numbers and letters, for example for a tyre size of , 205/55 R 16 94 V XL

est allowed speed for the tyre, in this example V means that the tyre cannot be driven above 240 kilometres per hour.

The last letter combination “XL” is not found in all tyre markings, The first two figures tell us the why is that? XL means that the width of the tyre and its procar is suitable for an Extra Load file. In this case, the car accepts index tyre. In our example, the a tyre that is 205 millimetres load index is 94. If the index wide. The tyre profile refers to were 91, the XL marking would the ratio between the height and not be required. width of the tyre. In this case, the height of the tyre is 55 per The DOT marking makes it easy cent of its sectional width. to check the tyre’s place of manufacture and age. The two first The number 16 that follows tells markings indicate the factory us the rim diameter in inches. where the tyre was made. The four last digits indicate the week The last number is the load inand year of manufacture. If the dex. In this example, the load code is 1314, for example, then index is 94, which means that the tyre was manufactured in one tyre can carry a load of 670 week 13 of 2014. kg. For load index 91, the load per tyre is 615 kg. You should choose the correct load index for your car since, otherwise, the tyres will wear out quicker than usual and they may become damaged while driving.

The penultimate letter V gives us the speed rating, or the high-

Remember the spare tyre - If your car has a spare tyre, you should check its pressure and groove depth at the beginning of the season.

Just in case, you should also keep the inflation pressure of the spare tyre at a higher level, since it tends to decrease over time.

In newer cars, the spare tyre is replaced by a repair kit that includes a sealant bottle and a small air compressor. Remember to keep them in the car and study how they work.

Keep monitoring the condition of your tyres A good way to keep your tyres in shape for longer is to rotate them regularly, either once every 8,000 kilometres during normal driving or when the tyres have a difference in wear of 2 millimetres. For example, when a front-wheel drive car has 6 millimetres of tread on the front tyres and over 7 millimetres in the rear, you should rotate your tyres from front to back and vice versa.

This will even out the tyre wear.

For summer tyres, you should pay special attention to the wear pattern. Now that the tyres have been changed recently and the roads are still rough from the winter, tyre wear is faster than normal. If the car has a steering angle problem, this will affect tyre wear, and the tyre can wear out more in the shoulder area than in the centre.

Uneven tyre wear is a sign of the wheel angles requiring adjustment.

The Growth of Camping in a

POST COVID WORLD

AN URGE

TO GET

BACK TO

NATURE

A

ll around the world the Covid-19 Coronavirus has created a surge in the purchasing of camping related equipment, including Rooftop tents, RVs, campervans and traditional ground tents. As people strive to escape the cooped-up feeling of quarantine and isolation and seek out, wide-open outdoor spaces that allow them to keep their distance from other groups and from crowds.

The pandemic which continues to exist but is slowly diminishing has made many conventional holiday activities difficult or impossible, or at best unpleasant, putting millions of people off the idea of flying or visiting crowded resorts or amenities. But the idea of an outdoor holiday with the commensurate reduction in the risk of virus transmission has made camping holidays a very appealing option

for a lot of people. Camping industries around the world have seen a surge in growth of both the sale and rental of camping related equipment. Industry experts expect to see this demand continue long beyond 2021,as a multi-year trend.

help to ease the symptoms of depression amongst other health-related benefits.

In addition, camping enables us to take the opportunity to have a digital detox, to reduce the number of hours that we spend staring into our screens and to In truth, the pandemic has made reconnect with each other and many people realise, or remem- rediscover the arts of conversation and imagination. After ber the importance and the pleasure of nature and of the re- many months of cabin fever, storative role it can play in both cooped up with our digital enour physical and mental health. tertainment, many people have a Research has long demonstrated thirst for wide-open spaces and fresh air for which camping holthat being in the outdoors for idays provides the requisite susseveral days or weeks can help to reduce stress, restore healthy tenance. sleeping patterns,and can even

image ; Land4Travel .com

Many of our readers need no persuasion on the appeal of getting out on the road away from it all, but recent times have grown this audience and we are seeing a lot more people become interested in camping and 4WD touring and it is a pastime that continues to grow.

Welcome to all of our new readers and we are glad to have you join us on our journey.

remote place that you have arrived at through the ability of your vehicle, and spending a couple of nights in the billion-star hotel.

Camping is a particularly stimulating experience for kids, who can enjoy some time disconnected from their devices and rely instead on their imagination, while also learning some new skills and some independThere is so much to enjoy in an ence. active outdoor lifestyle, planning and experiencing exciting There really is no downside to a trips, pulling up every few days camping holiday, even when it rains, it is great to look out and in a spectacular new location.

No crowds, perhaps no people see and smell the rain as you all enjoy some time in the vast at all sharing your own little outdoors. Consider making corner of the world. You are your next holiday a camping self sufficient and equipped, trip, you won’t regret it. more than comfortable Nothing beats camping in a

BUILT NOT

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ver the last year we have been working closely with our partners on rebuilding the twenty year old TURAS Land Rover Defender, and we are delighted to finally say that we are now out there enjoying the fruits of our labour.

So was it worth it?, Honestly, overall it was a challenge and it took a lot more work and effort than was originally anticipated, but now that we are out there enjoying the vehicle again,we can safely say that the decision to rebuild it was the right one. With a new suspension that brings confidence in tackling tougher terrain, a new storage system that has us organised like never before, a top of the range roof rack, capable tyres,traditional wheel rims, a new clutch, flywheel, bumper, side steps, LED lights,protecting the chassis and much more we now have a vehicle that we are very excited about.

E Given the history of the Landy and the places we have explored in it, I think deep down we always knew that the vehicle would hopefully keep going for as long as we were able to keep enjoying the great outdoors. Truth be known we were just a bit too attached to it to let it go. In the future, we will no doubt embrace newer 4WD technology, but with the knowledge that the 90 has had a makeover and the very thought of being able to take it on future trips without having to worry about it too much is very comforting.

We learned a huge amount completing this project and for those of you who followed our progress you will have noticed that it was not all about adding new parts but equally enjoyed salvaging as much as we could on the vehicle. We were delighted to have had the opportunity to have worked with some of the best in

the business on the build,including, DARCHE, Bearmach, euro4x4parts, Nokian Tyres, Nakatanenga, Dinitrol, Cooper Tires,Raptor (U-PolL), Eezi Awn, and the UK based APB Trading and Mobile Storage Systems.

In a couple of months we will be releasing a dedicated TURAS Land Rover build magazine which will be available online and FREE. This build specific magazine will incorporate articles and videos showcasing the build in more detail. The objective of this magazine is that it becomes a one stop shop for anyone who is planning on doing some work on their vehicle. We hope that you will find this to be a useful resource.

d e t a r g e t n i y l a ful

SETUP

As we write this we are in the process of planning a trip to Bad Kissingen in Germany where we will be unveiling the Land Rover Defender at the world famous Abenteuer & Allrad show (21st-24th October). Some of the members of the TURAS team will be at the show with the vehicle and will be happy to answer any queries you might have. So if you are there do come over and say hello we would love to meet you This build has helped us to get to know the vehicle even more and it has brought new life into the 20 year old 90, and it is now more than ready for another twenty years of adventures.

Y T I L A QU E U L A &V

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ith so many high-profile 4WD build projects out there on social media, one of the questions that does not always get brought to the fore and that is what do they actually cost, when everything is added up.

Two of these incredible build projects that do come to mind that we came across in recent times are not Land Rover vehicle builds but rather large 4WD vehicles that are kitted out for some pretty challenging environments. Now despite the fact that there is no denying that

they look fantastic, they also just happen to cost an arm and a leg, in fact, anything between €140,000 to €200,000. Now for 99.9 % of us, they are just ridiculously expensive and only affordable for a very small minority who have money to burn.

So say you have a 20-year-old vehicle and you want to give it an overhaul as a capable off-roader/camping/fishing vehicle, what should a build cost? well, that’s the 6 million dollar question.I suppose one of the key questions that you probably need to ask yourself is what type of extreme environments do you plan on taking your ve-

hicle into, as this should determine the general direction you take. Not all of us will be driving our vehicles through some of Australia’s harshest environments or tackling some of the toughest terrains known to man, so no need to overbuild something. Rule of thumb: if you don’t think you need it well, don’t add it and if you can add something that’s relatively good quality and a third of the price in comparison to a similar product that does the same job, well you can certainly save some money here.

When deciding on what type of products you want to add to your vehicle you should probably invest in products that should be up to the task, things that come to mind include a good suspension, roof rack , awning and roof top tent. On our build we used a number of high quality and very well priced products from Bearmach. Land Rover owners will know that Bearmach has a long history as the market leader for the supply of parts suitable for Land Rover vehicles. And the Bearmach name and brand will no doubt be familiar to most Land Rover owners, as a provider of a wide range of top-quality parts and accessories suitable for Land Rovers. As a company when you start to get contracts from the Ministry of Defenses you must be doing something right, and that’s exactly what Bearmach won in the UK in 2005. After careful consideration when planning the build we had a pretty good idea as to what we would be using the vehicle for and the type of

PARTS AND ACCESSORIES S FOR LAND ROVER VE

SUITABLE EHICLES

punishment it would endure over the coming years, so yes adding quality products would be important, the poor man pays twice and all of that, but we would not be going way over the top on something that did not need to be over engineered and overbuilt. When it comes to putting our vehicle to work we certainly have been around for a while and have garnished some experience of what this type of lifestyle can throw at you and your vehicle. Over the last twenty years, this Landy has already traveled into some of Australia’s harshest environments, tackled the centre of Iceland, and has toured around Europe.

We have also always been ready for a quick weekend getaway, be it for some off-roading with the lads, camping off the beaten track with the family, or just doing a spot of fishing at your favourite fishing location. With all of that in mind here is a quick snapshot of some of the Bearmach products that we happily added to the TURAS Land Rover build, all of which are very well priced in the bigger scheme of things but also more importantly come with a quality mark. From a mechanical perspective, we added the standard Clutch and Flywheel, a new fuel pump, radiator, belt, tensioner, pulley, Bulkhead washer, hub seals, and wheel bearings. an A-frame ball joint and we of course serviced the vehicle using the Bearmach servicing kit. On the exterior of the vehicle we

added the eye-catching winch bumper, snorkel, the Fire and Ice side steps, a new cross member, LED light upgrade, mudflaps, and a couple of more bits n bobs.

It’s also worth noting that we are all not well-informed mechanics, and when starting build projects like this one you can often find yourself heading into the unknown. Working with companies like Bearmach who are experts in their field and who are always willing to give excellent advice when required, just makes things easier. But also coupled with an excellent reputation when it comes to giving a top-notch customer service, all of this makes the project at hand much more enjoyable with the knowledge that you are using the right parts and getting them on time, helping you save hours and hours of time from troubleshooting and trying to figure out what to do next.

All up this was a pretty affordable build considering the cost of similar projects out there, it’s also worth noting that these products mostly come with a three-year warranty which brings plenty of comfort when on the road. So look the truth is you can still do a quality build without breaking the bank. In the dedicated TURAS Land Rover Build project magazine (Coming Soon) we will be giving an overview of the costs involved.

One thing that will be evident is that this build is significantly less expensive than what you see on high profile builds on social media, that are quite frankly just way out of reach for the vast majority of people. For more information on the huge selection of quality products available from Bearmach, click here.

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JOB DONE of the es od is ep e th t ou k ec ch n ca you e .........

TURAS Land Rover build her

TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS

THANK YOU

See you in Germany at the Abenteuer & Allrad Show in October

O T L L A W N R O FROM C

A I L A R AUST LE A T S R E N I M A

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hen we think about the history of Australia, particularly during the period between the arrival of Captain Cook’s ship- the HMS Endeavour- along the southeastern seaboard in 1770 to the mid to late 1800’s, we often picture convict ships and people being forced to settle in this harsh and dry land.

Of course this was the case for many unfortunates who were boarded on these prison ships and many ending up spending the rest of their lives doing hard labour. For others Australia, particularly from the 1840’s onwards, was a place to start over and presented some real employment opportunities, particularly in the lucrative mining boom and later the gold rush.

These opportunities would bring English, Irish, Americans, Chinese and many other nationalities in their droves. But unlike

a number of these immigrants who travelled in search of work there was one group that stood out from the rest and these were skilled miners from Cornwall who were actively sought after, invited and recruited by the Australian authorities to come and work in the relatively new mining industry in Australia.

So why were the Cornish miners singled out by the Australian authorities and so highly sought after workers? Well mining in Cornwall and Devon in the South West of England has been going on pretty much since the Bronze Age; mining was in the Cornish native’s blood. Over the centuries some of the main metals mined in the region included tin, copper, silver and zinc to name but a few and they had developed some of the best mining equipment and techniques over the centuries. But like every other industry the Cornish mining industry went through a boom

and bust having once supplied the UK with most of its metals to the eventual collapse of the industry, coupled with a famine in the 1840’s. This once lucrative mining industry forced thousands of Cornish miners and their families to take up on the opportunities presented in the Southern hemisphere and with the Australian mining boom and gold rush just kicking off, Cornish miners and mining companies were in big demand and as a result made their way over with the latest in mining equipment.

On this adventure we explored the mining past of this region and the maze of four wheel drive tracks that were originally cut out by the miners and first settlers who arrived from the British Isles in the mid eighteen hundreds. We would be following in the footsteps of the first Cornish settlers and see firsthand what they would have experienced in the mid-west region of NSW over one hundred and fifty years ago. The plan was to visit one of the most historic mining towns in NSW where numerous miners and their families settled and to tackle some of the best mining tracks, camp and visit some interesting historic colonial/mining museums and heritage sites along the way.

We would be following in the footsteps of the first Cornish settlers.....

Australian history is both fascinating and unique to anywhere else in the world and visiting these mining settlements was an excellent way to un-

AUSTRALIAN HISTORY IS BOTH FASCINATING AND UNIQUE TO ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD

A TOUGH LIFE

THERE IS GOLD IN THEM THERE HILLS

derstand what it was like for the first pioneers and settlers who mined and worked this vast land. In Sydney we packed up the Land Rover and took the M4 through Katoomba and on to Lithgow, from here we drove through Lithgow heading towards Capertee, Glen Davis and then on to the historic towns of Sofala, Hill End, Mudgee and Gulgong. If you ever get to Australia or get the chance to explore this area in a 4WD you will be presented with some great four wheel drive tracks surrounding Carpertee.

Some of which include the Gardens of Stone National Park that leads to a great panoramic view of the Capertee Valley/Glen Davis and Pearson’s lookout. This is the world’s second largest canyon and is best accessed from Capertee. Capertee is a small town on the edge of the largest enclosed valley in the Southern Hemisphere.

Not far from here Gold was found at Sunny Corner, west of Lithgow and then in 1881 a reef of silver. Here the Cornish were at the forefront of mining with many staying to farm in the region when the mines dried up.

We continued along the tracks towards Sofala passing through Glen Davis. Upon arriving in Sofala, it was not long before we experienced the heritage and recent history that surrounds you in this tranquil settlement. In its day Sofala was one of the best gold mining towns in the entire region and this lasted right up until the start of the Second World War. The track from Sofala to Hill End is a decent dusty track covering approximately 38 km. When you arrive in Hill End it feels like you have been transported back to the mid

1800’‘s, the history of this town has been very well preserved. The heritage town of Hill End was a popular gold mining town in New South Wales, made famous for its large gold finds, it once had a population of an estimated 9,000 -10,000 inhabitants with a big proportion of them made up of Cornish and Irish. Back in the day this town was buzzing with activity from the economic wealth that the gold rush brought to the area in the 1870’s. This growth resulted in the town being able to support nearly thirty pubs, a couple of banks and not one but two newspapers.

Hill End is one of the few heritage towns that can boast a comprehensive collection of images that were taken when the town was thriving during the mining and gold rush days. This unique collection of photographs is the result of a wealthy inhabitant who was forward thinking enough to employ a photographer to take numerous photographs that captured what life was like in Hill End in the 1870’s. These images now assist the National Parks by visually informing visitors of what life was like in the town in the olden days.These images are strategically placed throughout the town accom-

an area with a rich

HISTORY

panied by information that gives visitors a clear picture of what and where the original buildings stood. The Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service also run a museum just off the main road which contains many additional photos and items of equipment relevant to the gold rush. As you enter the grounds of the museum you will see plenty of old transport artefacts including a very well preserved Wild West looking Cobb and Co horse drawn coach accompanied by other means of transport from that era.

In the Museum you will notice a life sized picture of the world’s largest lump of gold discovered in the region; this huge nugget is what eventually put Hill End on the world map. Another must do while in the town is a visit to the Royal Hotel, this landmark building is the only remaining public house in town. The pub was built in 1872 and overlooks the town from the top of the hill, it is also a hotel that offers colonial style accommodation where you can stay in the rooms that have been preserved just as they were back in the day, and a busy bar and restaurant. Across the road from hotel is a small ‘’Wild West looking’’ bakery that still serves Cornish pasties today. Despite the decline of the mining in the late 1800’s, Hill End did experience something of a revival from 1908 onwards when the Reward Company began operations up until the 1920s. In 1945 the population of Hill End was about 700 but it soon declined quite dramatically. Renewed mining by Cornish immigrants in the early fifties was short-lived and as a result the town’s population rapidly declined.

With now just over one hundred and fifty inhabitants this once bustling settlement is now very

popular for visitors who want to learn more about the mining industry where their ancestors lived and worked over one hundred and fifty years ago.

The following morning we were up bright and early and after packing up our camp and having some breakfast we decided to check out a couple of the many lookouts that are located only a couple of kilometers from the town.

You are pretty much in the bush within a minute of driving from the campsite with plenty of wildlife, including kangaroos, to see as you explore the sights.

While in the area we were also keen to do some fossicking and so we decided to chance our luck at the permitted fossicking site just north of Hill End. After purchasing a gold pan in one of the local camping/gift shops we headed in search of our yet to be discovered fortune. To our amazement we met a guy who was fossicking there with his family over a couple of days and had managed to find some gold in the shallow creek; this was a real treat to see.

After having two great days exploring the town, it’s surrounding scenic views, fossicking and experiencing the abundance of history that this area has to offer, we wrapped our visit up with a drive along the narrow and unsealed Bridle Track that was built by miners before heading off to our final destination, Mudgee.

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Access to the 4WD only Bridle track entrance is very close to the town of Hill End. The track runs all the way to Duramana (North of Bathurst). Generally the track can be classified as an easy track; though care must be taken as the road surface has been known to change depending on the time of year and weather conditions.

The entire Bridle track route is currently closed due to a rock slide at Monahan’s Bluff; the good news is that 17km of this track is still accessible from the Hill End side.

After checking out the neighbouring Gulgong and its famous Pioneers Museum it was time to set the compass for the return journey to Sydney. This trip offered a refreshing adventurous 4WD trip combined with an educational visit to some unique locations in the mid-west region of NSW. Just a couple of hours drive from Sydney you could easily visit all of the attractions and complete this trip over a long weekend. This weekender is like a trip back in time and will give you an excellent understanding of what life was like for the first pioneers and miners in the region. So, if you are a 4WD enthusiast and planning a trip to Australia in the near future, forget about the beaches, rent a 4WD and explore the mid-west region of NSW and experi-

an educational trip

FOR ALL AGES

Found in Hill End in 1871, one of the biggest nuggets ever dug from the earth. It was 1.5 metres long, weighed 286kgs and was composed of a mixture of quartz and gold.

ence firsthand what life was like for the thousands of miners and their families who left the British Isles over one hundred and fifty years ago.The “Holtermann Nugget” was found in 1872 at Hill End

by Bernhardt Holtermann. It was 1.5 metres long, weighed 286kgs and was composed of a mixture of quartz and gold. But don’t be fooled by my opening statement, it still contained 93kg of gold!

Holtermann was born in Germany in 1838 and came to Sydney in 1858. Holtermann was born

in Germany in 1838 and came to Sydney in 1858. He moved to the goldfields in 1861 where it was tough going for 10 years before this big discovery Due to his mining exploits, Holtermann returned to Sydney and built a mansion at St Leonards (now part of Shore Gramma) which included a tower and a stained glass window of himself and the “nugget”. His real passion however was photography and his work in this area is of significance to Sydney’s history

IN SEARCH OF

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NUGGET

In 1874, the newly rich gold miner Bernard Otto Holtermann built an extraordinary house above Lavender Bay which became known, for its most obvious feature, as ‘The Towers’.

Holtermann had become one of the wealthiest men in the colony when the Star of Hope goldmine, in which he had shares, gave up one of the biggest nuggets ever dug from the earth in 1871.

the Adventurous

NUGGET from Ford

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ord recently announced that it is expanding the Transit Custom Nugget camper van range with the addition of new Active and Trail models.The distinctive new Nugget Active and Trail campers are designed to support Ford’s most intrepid camper van customers with stylish new looks, enhanced interior specification and materials, and improved capability off the beaten track.The new models will be offered in both Nugget and long wheelbase Nugget Plus versions, all featuring a tiltroof as standard fitment. Both Active and Trail models are making their public debut at Caravan Salon 2021, Messe Düsseldorf, from August 27 to September 5.

“Customers tell us they want their camper to stand out and create special experiences, so we’re introducing Nugget Active and Trail to add some extra style and adventure to their road trips,” said Barry Quested, brand manager, One-Stop Shop Conversions, Ford of Europe.

“The new models support customers’ outdoor lifestyles with bold new design, living areas designed for all‑season comfort, and extra traction to see them over grass campsites, muddy shores and unpaved tracks.”Ford has tripled its Nugget production rate with camper specialists Westfalia for 2022 to meet demand for its popular camper van in a fast-growing market.

Nugget Active and Trail will be available to order from Ford dealers in Europe from later this year.Nugget Trail’s appearance is dominated by its statement matte black FORD grille, inspired by Ford’s iconic Raptor performance off-road models and hinting at the camper van’s go‑anywhere spirit. Black-clad bumpers, body sides and wheel arches add even more rugged appeal and offer greater protection against scuffs from boots and equipment during loading and unloading.

Bold Trail badges and unique 16‑inch alloy wheels complete the tougher look.The unique design theme continues in the living area: all Nugget Trail models feature durable black leather on the swivelling front captain’s chairs and rear bench seat as standard, while the dining table is finished in an exclusive darker shade to contrast with the white kitchen units, wardrobe and premium wood grain floor.

Both new Nugget variants offer significant upgrades to create a more luxurious feel while away from home, including in colder weather. A first-in-class feature that can make winter drives and cold nights more comfortable, the rear seating bench can be heated as an option; the heating system also works while the bench is pulled out to create a comfortable double bed.The self-folding tilt roof features window panels to allow plenty of natural light and ventilation into the living area. The weatherproof sides are finished in grey as standard; red or blue are optional to complement a range of exterior colours.

Nugget Active and Trail are both fitted with a new colour touchscreen control panel mounted on the rear wardrobe. This enables customers to easily manage the campers’ electric connection, battery charge status, fresh and waste water levels, heating and lighting.

The panel also controls the standard water boiler that provides hot water for the kitchenette tap and external shower.

The new Nugget Active and Trail feature Ford’s powerful, refined and fuel-efficient 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine 1 to help make light work of touring even while carrying luggage for a long holiday. Nugget Trail is fitted with a six-speed manual transmission and a standard mechanical limited-slip differential (mLSD) for confident progress on low‑grip surfaces such as wet grass, sand, gravel or ice. Nugget

Active customers have the choice of six-speed automatic or sixspeed manual transmissions, and can specify the mLSD with the manual gearbox.As Nugget drivers may be new to van-sized vehicles, Ford equips all Nugget variants with a suite of driver assistance systems including Adaptive Cruise Control, 2 a rear-view camera, 2 and Cross Traffic Alert 2 for more security when reversing out of parking spaces or side roads.

Last year, independent vehicle safety authority Euro NCAP granted the Transit Custom, on which Nugget is based, a Silver Award for its active safety systems and specifically commended the available Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection autonomous emergency braking system.

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or the first time in its more than twenty-year history, the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD had to be cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic, the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD DIGITAL took its place last year.

In order to be able to hold an open-air event of the magnitude of ABENTEUER & ALLRAD 2021, the trade fair not only had to be postponed for a second time,but a strict safety and hygiene concept was also developed to protect the health of exhibitors, visitors and employees, and this scheme is continuously adapted according to current developments and the advice of health professionals and to government guidance and regulations.

After being cancelled a couple of times over the last year and a half, the Bavarian Government in Germany has now given the thumbs up for this year’s event to take place between the 21st and 24th of October..With protocols now in place,this year’s show’s motto is ‘’By Far Unmatched’’ and we definitely think so with

over 350 exhibitors showcasing and selling 4WD accessories and camping products,, you will need a couple of days to see everything that’s on display. We are very excited to announce that we will be displaying the recently built TURAS Land Rover 90 that will be on display so be sure to pop over and say hello.As highlighted by Thomas Schmitt the Abenteuer & Allrad’s Marketing and Communications Manager “Only when you don’t have something anymore do you realize how important it is.” Not a very original proverb, however it sums up quite aptly, the feeling of thousands of exhibitors and visitors from all over the world, when it was announced last year, that the Abenteuer & Allrad Expo was to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

Digital events replaced the live show , and the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD DIGITAL experience and digital events were created to provide some form of continuity, however, nothing can match the real thing, the experience of attending a live trade fair! At a live event you can make new contacts. Chat with and have personal consultations between exhibitors and customers, touch feel and look at the variety of products on display.

Sample a cold beer on a warm day, or enjoy some tasty foods with new friends as well as do some shopping for some great new gear.

This is why face-to-face fairs are so important.

New Hybrid events in combination with Digital shows have their place, as the past 18 months have shown, but there is no doubt that trade fairs are irreplaceable and indispensable. And this applies particularly to abenteuer & ALLRAD. For those of you who have not yet been to this amazing event,the show itself is held in Bad

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Kissingen located just a couple of hundred miles southeast of Frankfurt in Germany. With numerous nationalities including British, Italian, Swiss, French, Swedish, German, Norwegian, Irish and a few Australian, South African, American, Brazilian and Mexican flags flying, this was a multinational 4WD gathering.

The show itself focuses on all things 4WD with cross country vehicles of all shapes and sizes on display in the generous 110.000 sqm exhibition space. With over 350 exhibitors showcasing and selling 4WD accessories,outdoor equipment and camping products you will need a couple of days to take it all in and see everything that’s on display.

Similar to other 4WD shows around the world, this one also incorporates custom made off road tracks where visitors can drive a number of off road vehicles including trucks, quads and the latest 4WD vehicles.

The new INEOS Grenadier will also be there and we are very excited to get a chance to see it for the first time. This vehicle has hit four off-road shows throughout Germany, France and Italy over the last few months and will be making an appearance and Abenteuer & Allrad show The 2B Tour is named after the 2B prototype vehicle, which Ineos are currently testing in plain sight all over the world.Over the last

A E V A H WE D N U O R LOOK A US O M A F E TH E T I S P M A C W SHO panies showcasing their most popular off road expeditions, this event has something for everyone. If you are an extreme adventurer be sure to go and listen to Mr Joey Kelly. Before becoming an extreme athlete Joey Kelly traveled with his family through Europe and the USA to earn a living with street music.

In the 1990s, the family became world famous as a pop and folk band under the name “The Kelly Family”.Today, the musician, extreme athlete and adventurer If you are going to be at this Joey Kelly has long been a television personality with a wide year’s show don’t forget to following and is known, among check out the organised travel other things, as a candidate of talks from Europe’s well known globetrotters where you will be fun competitions such as the able to get plenty of advice from “Wok World Cup” and the “TV the various off road travel com- total-Turmspringen” he will be few months they have been using an off-road roadshow as way for interested members of the public to see, and have a test ride in, the INEOS Grenadier. The 2B Tour’s European leg kicked off in Friedrichshafen in Germany a few months ago and will finish off at the Abenteuer Allrad show. Other vehicles on show will also include Land Rover, VW Commercial Vehicles, MercedesBenz, Toyota, Porsche and much more.

at the show on the 24th ,and will also be available for questions, autograph requests and selfies. Also on the Sunday 24th the show will have a focus on children and families where visitors can look forward to various activities such as face painting or painting competitions. As part of the charity campaign ABENTEUER & ALLRAD HERZENSSACHE, two charitable aid projects will also be supported on this day.

GETTING THERE From the international airports Frankfurt / Main, Nuremberg or Erfurt you can reach Bad Kissingen in approx. 90 minutes by car.

Bad Kissingen can be easily reached via the A7 (Würzburg – Kassel) and A71 (Erfurt – Schweinfurt) highways.

From the ICE train stations in Würzburg and Fulda you can take the regional trains via Schweinfurt or Bad Brückenau to Bad Kissingen.

CAMPING

If you choose to stay at the shows campsite you will not be dissapointed with this unique spectacle of camping and touring vehicles for as far as the eye can see,get to the campground early.....

COME AND SEE THE TURAS LAND ROVER BUILD AT THIS YEARS SHOW. WE WILL BE AT STAND M15a DO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO........

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UK

DARCHE Trek Overland are the British Isles sole distributors of the premium and very popular Australian DARCHE range of camping and overlanding related products. Click here for more information.

The UK based Trek Overland supply the full range of DARCHE products all of which can be viewed on their easy to use website.

CS FREE

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opefully as you’re reading this you’re able to cast your mind back to some memorable times you’ve spent out there wild camping this summer, away from it all and relaxing in the warm sunshine and metaphorically speaking; ‘re-charging your batteries’.

Since the beginning of time, the power of the Sun has been the ultimate source of energy here on Earth, but the recharging your batteries started to move from the metaphorical to the literal when humans started to harness this power and learned how to convert it into other forms of energy and in particular electricity using solar panels.This technology has evolved massively over the past 200 years ever since a 19 year old Physicist called Edmond Becquerel in 1839 realised whilst coating platinum electrodes using silver chloride led to a rise in voltage once exposed to light. Leap forward to the beginning of the 20th Century and the better known Albert Einstein published a paper on the photoelectric effect that later went on to win him the Nobel Prize. The first solar rooftop system wasn’t implemented until 1884 in New York when a gentleman called Charles Fritts used panels made from selenium that only gave a 1% efficiency, not very much when compared to components used to make solar panels today that produce efficiencies well in excess of 20%.

In fact the very name ‘solar panel’ is a bit of a misnomer because they actually work with any type of light, however it’s only sunlight that’s the real viable energy input seeing as it’s delivered all over the planet for free. It’s this technology that our Swedish friends over at CTEK recently put to great use to make our lives as wilderness

Edmond Becquerel (1820 1891) the French physicist who invented solar panels.o s

tud-

explorers even more comfortable and enjoyable.

If you’re a subscriber and regular reader of TURAS Magazine you’ll know we took delivery of CTEK’s new revolutionary CS FREE, (the world’s first multi-functional truly portable battery charger and smart maintainer with Adaptive Boost technology letting you charge and maintain any 12v lead acid or Lithium battery wherever you are). Indeed, you may have seen the short film we produced at the time, (CHECK IT OUT BELOW) showing us using it to restart my Land Rover Defender in under 15 mins after I came out to find it with a totally flat battery on my driveway during the lockdown.

It was impressive stuff (the CS FREE, not me in the film!) and at the time thinking forward to when we could get back out there into remote spots to wild camp, it was clearly going to deliver some real peace of mind if you ever found yourself in the same predicament but out in the middle of nowhere on a wild camp

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E E R F CS

rather than sitting outside your house.

However, with the CS FREE being a multi-functional portable charger with both USB-C and USB-A ports I’ve used it widely this summer when out and about as a power source to charge up my phone, iPad, camera batteries etc. whilst off wild camping and far from any wall plug charging points.

Although once charged up the CS FREE holds a its charge for up to a year, inevitably when away for several days and using it to charge various peripheral bits of kit, it ends up needing re-charging itself, and this is when the solar panel charge kit accessory really comes into its own giving you the ultimate freedom and endless source of power away from the mains.

When fully charged the CS FREE holds it charge for up to 12 months..now thats impressive

The panels are made from a really tough fibreglass which are simply unfolded when removed from the carrying case that usefully doubles as a stand to hold the panels in position when being used.

The solar panels feature intelligent

.

E

e

REMOTE POWER

ANYWHERE

and extremely efficient silicon cells with a specially developed safety box to ensure that the kit delivers exactly the right amount o power to protect your battery and devices from exce voltage. They’re waterproo (always useful in a UK sum mer), weather resistant and very durable and really are the perfect partner to the C FREE as it connects togeth-

-

s of

ess of md e CS -

er in seconds with just two clearly marked connectors.

Then you simply just position the panels towards the sunlight and within an hour it can have your CS Free unit fully charged back up.To be honest, being no Albert Einstein myself after having read up a bit on solar power although I can kind of grasp the theory how it all actually works is still a bit beyond me

– but at the end of the day all I really need to know is that these things don’t just deliver you power wherever you are but and real freedom peace of mind to go wherever you want safe in the knowledge that whatever happens you’ll always have light… and power!

CAMPFIRE COOKING

5

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

T

here is nothing quite like campfire cooking, and as anyone who has experienced it knows, that food always tastes better when cooked and eaten outside. Mankind has been cooking over open fires for tens of thousands of years, over campfires, fireplaces, embers and charcoal. Campfire cooking can be very easy, indeed, can be a pleasure when you have the right gear.

And with this in mind we thought we would share with you our current top 5 favourite items of gear to have with us on our camping trips. All of this gear is made by Petromax, a company known for its wide range of high quality products and accessories for outdoor cooking and food preparation. From grills and cooking plates, to Dutch ovens and skillets, Petromax provides everything that you might need for cooking outside. A great aspect of the product range is that it has all been designed to work together so that different products can be combined with each other to provide a wide range of cooking options.

DID YOU KNOW THAT PETROMAX PROUCTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK VIA TREK OVERLAND?

PERKOMAX PERCOLATER

The Petromax Perkomax is ideal to prepare an aromatic tea or coffee without much effort. The unique percolator principle gives coffee and tea a delicious flavour.

The Perkomax is suitable for outdoor and indoor use, It can be used on a barbecue and over a campfire, as well as on a cooking plate, a ceramic glass cooktop and an induction cooker. The Perkomax can prepare up to nine cups of tea or coffee at a time. The preparation time varies depending on the temperature of the heat source and the quantity of water.

When heated up, the water rises to the top through a small tube thanks to the ingenious percolator principle. The longer the water circulates, the stronger the tea or coffee becomes. This unique principle releases the finest tea and coffee flavours. You can thus prepare an aromatic, full-bodied coffee at home or during a camping trip or any other outdoor activity.

COOKING TRIPOD AND DUTCH OVEN

sure that the tripod remains robust and safe on all kinds of surWith the Petromax Cooking Tri- faces. Each foot is continuously height-adjustable to keep the pod everyone will enjoy a great tripod evenly balanced in case outdoor cooking experience. It of uneven ground. The tripod can be easily and safely hung up a barbecue grate as well as a can be used with a Dutch Oven, Petromax Dutch Oven. Due to its hanging skillet/firebowl and you can also hang your Perkomax variable chain the distance between Dutch Oven or kettle and here to make a nice campfire coffee. the fire can be easily altered at any time. The beveled feet make

PETROMAX ATAGO The Petromax Atago is an unrivalled all-rounder that can be used as a conventional barbecue, stove, oven and fire pit with charcoal briquettes or firewood.

With its four basic functions, numerous preparation procedures and cooking methods are possible.

The Petromax Atago can be used in combination with a Petromax Dutch Oven or a Griddle and Firebowl. One simply has to place the cast iron cookware on the briquettes of the Atago, the Atago comes with a grilling grate, which transforms it into a conventional barbecue.

T F I L R I A

O O 0 1

Load Support For CoilSprung Vehicles As part of the Land Rover build and following advice and guidance from euro4x4parts we finally installed the Air-adjustable Air Lift 1000™ air springs. They are engineered for rear and/or front coil-spring suspensions. Given that we carry plenty of weight in the back of the vehicle and a Roof Top Tent we installed to airbags in the rear of the Landy. Providing up to 1,000 lbs. of load-levelling capacity*, Air Lift’s air bag kits provide greater safety and comfort when you’re carrying a heavy load.

Supplied by euro4x4parts,each kit includes everything you need to install the system, usually in around 2 hours or less. The install is pretty straighforward and we will be uploading a video on the install over the coming weeks. Be sure to follow the instructions provided. A couple of things that stood out for us include the following. Remove the black cap and roll the cylinder up toward the stem end to exhaust as much air as possible. Install the black cap back onto the stem, unroll the cylinder and fold the cylinder into a hot dog bun shape. Then install the protector at the bottom of the spring in between the cylinder and lower spring mount. As per the

Air Lift 1000 instruction manual ,a tee air line installation is recommended unless the weight in the vehicle varies from one side to the other and unequal pressures are needed to level the load orcompensate for axle torque transfer in racing application.

Dual air lines are used in this case.

When aligning the hoses be careful to prevent air line from melting, keep it at least 8” from exhaust system. Also leave sufficient air line slack to prevent any strain on fitting during axle motions. You will need to decide where you want the inflation valve to be located, some choose the side of the vehicle, for us we located it on the back crossmember. Inflate the air springs to 30 PSI and check all connections for leaks. All leaks must be eliminated before the vehicle is road tested.

This has been a perfect suspension solution for us on the Defender that now gives us a lot more balance when loaded up on the road.

• Up to 1,000 lbs. of load-levelling capacity* • Tough moulded polyurethane construction • Air adjustable from 5-35 PSI • Easy installation with common mechanics tools

AIRLIFT

1000

OG TOUGH D OCK H S L L E C FOAM

OG D H G U O T M A D G N I R STEE

MPER

KINGS S SPRING

BEACH

DRIVING

TIPS

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER

F

ollowing a recent weekend fishing trip on a beach that I have frequently visited over the years, I ended up getting bogged pretty badly. I have tackled this beach numerous times over the last few years and this was the first time that I got into a situation that could have been a disaster.

Having let the tyre pressure down prior to driving onto the beach I decided to take a slighlightly different route which was closer to the tide line. The tide was on the way in and I needed to get on higher ground before mother nature showed me who was boss. I had basic recovery equipment with me that included a snatch strap, two Tred Pros recovery tracks and a shovel.The snatch strap is a lifesaver when caught in this type of situation but when you don’t have anyone to pull you out well it’s pretty useless.

The Tred Pros did however help me to get the vehicle above the tide line after a couple of hours of making some very slow progress. Anyways to bring a long story short, this could have been a disaster and the experience just refocused my attention on how important it is to be prepared when tackling beaches. So here are a couple of tips.

1. Tyre Pressures

Always use a shovel to clear the sand from underneath your veFirst of all, before you go onto hicle and in front of your tyres the beach make sure you reduce your tyre pressure, yes it’s before trying to get out. The last thing you need to contend with a bit of a hassle but you will be is having your chassis stuck in amazed with the difference it makes. By increasing your vehi- the sand and creating unnecescle’s footprint this allows you to sary drag. It’s bad enough being bogged without having to drag a make much better progress by improving traction when driving load of sand with you when tryon the sand. If you get stuck you ing to get out. Accelerate slowly also have a much better chance until you grip the tracks and inof getting out with reduced tyre crease acceleration if necessary. pressure. So how far should you reduce your tyre pressure too?

3. Recovery Tracks you will have to judge the situIdeally, you should have access ation depending on how stuck to four tracks, particularly if you you are in the sand, always be are travelling solo, one for each mindful when going too low you tyre will help prevent other tyres could risk not having enoughfrom spinning and making a bad pressure to keep the bead on situation worse. The tracks we the wheel and as a result the use are the ARB Tred Pros.In this bead could pop off the wheel. situation if I had more than two tracks on board it would have made it much easier to get out, 2. Use a Shovel Clear the sand from underneath not everybody wants to carry 4 tracks but it does make a huge your vehicle difference when available.

The ARB Tred Pros have served us well

Soft Shackles are always useful to have in the back of your 4WD. Euro4x4parts have an extensive range of soft shackles in their catalogue with a break load rating ranging from 5000 KG to 26,000 KG

Ideally you should have access to two sets/four tracks,especially if you are travelling solo.

4. Acceration

When the tracks are in place and you have cleared the sand from underneath your vehicle, don’t be tempted to accelerate too hard as this can spit out your tracks, cause your wheels to spin in the sand and actually make things worse. Also, don’t allow your wheels to spin too much on your tracks as you can damage the teeth on your tracks.When you get moving you need to accelerate,don’t be afraid to give it plenty of pedal, momentum is your friend when moving on the sand, you don’t want to get stuck again by driving too slow.

5. Patience

Take your time, it is always best to assess the situation and don’t cut corners when clearing sand from under your vehicle.

Of course if the tide is coming in, time will obviously not be on your side, but be conscious that by not giving yourself the best chance to get out you could end up being badly stuck, and we have all seen what can happen.

DEFLATE YOUR TYRES CARRY A SHOVEL RECOVERY TRACKS MOMENTUM PATIENCE

ch? a e b e th n o st e b s m r fo r e p h whic

ALL TERRAINS OR MUD TERRAINS

MUD TERRAINS VS All TERRAIN

Well, the answer to this is it really depends on who you are talking to…. truth is for us we have had more issues getting stuck using mud terrains than we have had using all terrains.

Obviously the same applies to both mud and all-terrain tyres when tackling the beach, airing down is key as it will increase your footprint. Some experts will tell you that mud terrains’ more aggressive patterns will grip the sand better but on the downside, they can also create a strong resistance making things more difficult. If your vehicle has plenty of horsepowers it has been said that a mud terrain works better in the sand whereas a less powerful vehicle like an SUV would be better using all terrains. The jury is out.....

AIR DOWN & BE PREPARED

now, trying to catch a fish is a whole differewent story

CHEC

W E N E H T T U O K

ROT

O E D I V T A A V II

Mobile Storage Systems offer a wide range of innovative systems that are finished to a very high standard. With all of their products providing the strength, durability and practicality that tourers and outdoor enthusiasts are looking for.

S M E T S Y S E G A R O T S E L I MOB click here

T

here are lots of advantages to tent trailers/ trailer tents, one of the most pronounced is the ability to park it up, erect it and still be able to move your vehicle to perhaps go touring in the local area. Of course, trailer tents are also much larger and more comfortable than ground tents and can provide a lot more living space than roof tents. Combined with a rugged trailer, tent trailers are a great option for Overlanding and 4WD touring. German company CAMPWERK is one of the most well-known manufacturers of high-quality tent trailers in Europe. The company’s flagship

product is and always has been the tent trailer, which is built in both an on-road and a robust off-road version.CAMPWERK’s tent trailers are based on the Australian type; are easy to set up and are a really great option for road trips.

CAMPWERK offers two options for these tents, the ‘Economy’ version and the larger ‘Family’ version which provides moe space for a larger family. The tent trailer system has a wide variety of accessories including a camp kitchen that can be attached to the tailgate or used independently, heaters, bunk beds, storage systems, bike racks and much more.

When you’re travelling in countries with bad road conditions and driving an all-terrain vehicle you can opt for the off-road tent trailer by CAMPWERK. The chassis has a particularly strong construction and is made entirely of light aluminium and tough stainless steel components! The offroad trailer by CAMPWERK weighs only approx. 300 kg when empty, thanks to its light aluminium construction. Since the gross per-

missible weight is 1.5 tons, you can load up to 1.2 tons onto the trailer. Visually, the offroad version of the trailer fits in perfectly with the look of an off-road vehicle thanks to its rough-tread MT tyres and rugged and solid aluminium fenders. The fender construction is also suitable for and strong enough to safely transport loads such as petrol and water canisters or gas cylinders.

WWW.OFFROAD

Something G-reat is coming The Offroad Monkeys have enlarged their stable and are now also offering CNC-manufactured parts for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class for the first time. The G-Class have similar weak points on the door hinges and other external parts as the Land Rover Defender. In the case of door hinges, for example, the largest part is on the inside, but the pivotal point is also here on the outside and is exposed to environmental influences and corrosion.

The newly developed products of the Offroad Monkeys rely on the proven properties from the experience with the Land Rover Defender parts. They are made of high-strength aluminum and have a special surface treatment so that they are permanently corrosion-resistant and resist all environmental influences to rust.

All parts from the Offroad Monkeys are developed and manufactured in a small family business in Bavaria. Where the focus is on prodcing the highest quality products, 100% made in Germany.

D-MONKEYS.DE

G

T I N T G E

EXPEDITION READY

I

t’s key to ensure that you are prepared for the conditions you can expect to experience on any overland or 4WD touring trip. Beyond the inclusion of a competent off-road vehicle, it is important to get the mix of equipment right, to ensure that you have adequate storage and organisational systems for all of your gear and equipment, which also abides by your vehicle’s load limits or maximum permitted weight of the vehicle. And remember this load weight is made up of the weight of the vehicle in addition to the load (fuel, occupants,and cargo).

APB Trading Ltd. is a specialist in the preparation of vehicles for expeditions, at its Workshops APB can carry out Land Rover & 4×4 vehicle servicing, repairs & M.O.T’s, vehicle overland travel & expedition preparation, specialist vehicle preparation, waxoyling and rustproofing. APB’s workshops are fully equipped with the latest Autologic diagnostic equipment to carry out 4×4 servicing and maintenance on the full Land Rover range without affecting your manufacturer’s warranty. Performance tuning and power upgrades are available for most Land Rover vehicles. Not only do APB service and repair Land Rover, Range Rover, Freelander and Discovery but also most makes of off-road 4×4 vehicles to include Toyota, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu, Nissan, Pajero and Isuzu.

In fact, APB offers a comprehensive preparation service to equip your 4×4’s, vans, trucks or bikes with anything from snow tyres/chains for a winter holiday, to, weekends away, or full

overland expeditions. In addition, the team at APB are extremely knowledgeable about the type and range of equipment that you might need for different types of trips, and the company also carries a wide range of high-quality camping and 4Wd touring equipment and accessories. Some of these products include High-quality roof racks, roof bars, roof tents, awnings, 12/240v portable fridge-freezers, winches, travel spares kits, recovery ropes, straps, hi-lift jacks, jerry cans of all sizes, water and fuel containers, cooking and camping gear.

APB are UK importers for a range of South African manufactured, high quality, strong, tough, and

durable, designed and built to withstand the rigours of overland travel, including Eezi Awn roof tents and awnings, K9 Products, Campmor ground tents and camping gear, Big Country drawer storage systems, National Luna battery management systems, fridge freezers and lighting, Escape Gear cotton canvas seat covers for a wide range of vehicles, Front Runner longrange fuel tanks and more.

You can contact the team at APB via its website

Did you know that you can

CUSTOMISE YOUR

ALUBOX Read all about it here

R U O Y E S I M CUSTO

X O B U L A k here clic

3 GENERATIONS

Alubox HAVE A NEW

INSTAGRAM

ACCOUNT

WWW.OFFROAD

D-MONKEYS.DE

I

suzu UK recently unveiled the All-New D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 pre-production model vehicle at the 2021 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham The pick-up professionals will be launching this striking addition to their range in Spring 2022, so this really is an exclusive preview. As before the AT35 is an exclusive, robust, serious 4x4 model for offroad enthusiast. The planned official on sale date for this stunning new model is Monday the 14th of February 2022 as customers will fall in love with the 4x4 capabilities of AT35.Arctic Trucks have years of experience in re-engineering four-wheel drives to create reliable, good quality and durable vehicles. Whether for lifestyle or professional purposes, Arctic Trucks vehicles conquer environments others simply do not account for, enabling owners and operators worldwide to safely, efficiently, and successfully “Explore Without Limits”.

The collaboration between Isuzu UK and Arctic Trucks builds on the award winning All-New D-Max with advanced technology that has been especially developed to handle challenging landscapes.

A strengthened chassis, Bilstein Performance Suspension and an All-Terrain Wheel and 35” Tyre Package offer confidence when driving off-road while the AT35

drives with a great deal of comfort and control. William Brown, Isuzu UK’s Managing Director, commented “It is a pleasure to work with Arctic Trucks on this prototype in advance of the launch of our new AT35. Following the success of the all-new D-Max launch in 2021, it feels very exciting to be launching another new vehicle in 2022. We wanted to build upon the D-Max’s

strengths to make a highly desirable and highly competent 4x4 pick-up and we are so pleased with the result. Through using Arctic Trucks’ impressive expertise alongside the D-Max’s impressive abilities the AT35 is truly an outstanding truck.”

GOES S S E L P TO

I

t’s funny how you can start out thinking “We’ve got this figured out - Jeep Wranglers are all we will ever need.” They are a great vehicle, but then the Gladiator came out with more cargo space, a much higher payload capacity and most importantly: enough space to have both a roof top tent AND a fully convertible roof. Yes, you know where this is going ….

Our shiny new Gladiator arrived in July and within minutes the orders for kit and equipment were dispatched. Priority #1 was for high quality items, with plenty of organized storage and a durable setup which would withstand years of use.

Priority #2 was to keep the costs in check, to be clever on where we spent our limited budget.

Priority #3 … and this was new for us: the ability to have a convertible truck and a roof top tent on that very same vehicle.

However, they say the window to the soul of a vehicle is displayed via its wheels, so first step was for our friends at Extreme Terrain to hook us up with a set of Mammoth Split 8 matte black wheels. These allowed us to use the stock size tire, while providing an offset to give that wider stance. The Gladiator looked meaner immedi-

JEEP

P GLADIATOR

ately.With a convertible roof, the need to keep the black cloth seats is an important consideration, so a set of neoprene seat covers was next on the list.

We expect to be vacuuming tons of dirt out of this thing over the coming years, so protecting those seats is key. That was the extent of our interior ‘modifications’.Excellent - our costs were in check so far.

Next step - get the open truck bed enclosed - we need somewhere safe to put all of our Overlanding gear. Our local friends at Nomad Ventures in Escondido (SoCal), took our order for an Alucab Canopy with a roof rack kit. While this was the biggest spend (apart from the Gladiator itself), we needed something solid upon which to mount our 3 person soft shell tent. The canopy only took about 2 hours to install and in our opinion, makes the Gladiator look even better.When it comes to organization, we wanted the bed to be clutter free with everything easily reachable. Building a custom drawer system was considered, but in the end it made sense to purchase an off-the-shelf system as it does 95% of what a custom solution does, but at a much lower cost.

To summarize, we’ve just built a fully capable Overland Gladiator using just 3 big purchases: the canopy, a roof top tent and a truck bed deck system … that’s really it! Most important of all, the convertible top still slides back. Going topless in California is now available for anyone who wants to try out our brand new Gladiator on their next big adventure. We will even help you plan the trip, no previous experience required!

REMOTE POWER

ANYWHERE SMARTPASS 120S

120A DC/DC POWER MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

IF YOU TAKE IT IN

TAKE IT OUT

Every country throughout Europe and beyond has different laws when it comes to wild camping and driving in remote areas, and all of these laws should be respected.

As pressure on our landscapes from recreational use continues to increase it is now as important as ever for us all to abide by the Leave No Trace principles. It goes without saying that the vast majority of tourers and campers do respect their environment but unfortunately we will also have a minority who do not, and give us all a bad name. So if you take it in , please take it out.

WWW.OFFROAD

D-MONKEYS.DE

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Thanks to our Brand partners, with whose support we are able to produce the magazine, and thank you to you, our readers for joining us on our adventures. The TURAS team.

The TURAS Charter

T

URAS is the ancient Celtic word for Journey and we think it fits perfectly to describe our overall editorial philosophy. Originally, the Celts spread out across Europe from Central Europe ending up represented in many countries across Europe, and now over two thousand years later, we are looking to travel and traverse Europe again, though with more modern equipment. As keen campers we love nothing more than packing up our 4WD’s and hitting the tracks, in search of those perfect camping locations.

We constantly strive to improve the magazine and to seek out the best and most useful Camping and 4WD products and accessories.

In our free e-magazine we focus on high quality content that includes articles on all things camping, touring, fishing and 4WD adventures. From finding the best 4WD tracks, setting up camp in some of Europe’s most picturesque locations to cooking up some cracking camp cook feasts. This is all about discovering places off the beaten track and enjoying the great outdoors. We tour to the very corners of Europe and beyond, while reviewing and testing the latest top quality camping and 4WD gear.

Our magazine is free to readers, and is supported by our advertising and brand partners, but this does not mean that the magazine is a glorified product catalogue, far from it. We focus on identifying top quality products and produce informative, interactive articles that explain the features and benefits of these products to our readers, and demon- strate how the products can be used to increase the comfort and quality of their camping and touring experiences. We also regularly produce short videos to demonstrate and showcase these products in use by our team.

The magazine invites our readers to become a part of the story and join us on our own adventures as we, use, test and demonstrate these quality products from top brands.