Turas Camping and 4WD Adventures Magazine - Issue Eleven

ISSUE

11

EXPLORING ACHILL &

ICELAND ABENTEUER & ALLRAD

2019 SHOW SPECIAL

CAMP COOKING

FIRE PITS RESPONSIBLE TOURING

EUROPEAN PICK-UPS

AND MUCH MORE

V T .

S A R U T .

W WW COPY E E R F R U O Y R O F E B I R C S B U S

EDITORIAL Thanks for stopping by and we do hope you enjoy our pre summer issue. In this issue we once again report on some amazing Camp-ing and 4WD adventures in Europe and beyond with visits to Iceland, Achill Island and to Botswana in Africa.

We have a look at the 4WD pick-up revolution in Europe and we cover the 2019 Abenteuer & Allrad show giving you an overview of whats in store at this years expo. As always we showcase some top quality camping and touring equipment including fire pits, cooking griddles, solar lights, awnings, storage boxes, annexes and much much more. We also have the second episode of podcast, this time with Philip Bond and we discuss the benefits of a campfire and the best type of wood to use when having one.

As always, the magazine contains plenty of interactive video and other camping and touring tips that we hope you find useful.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our brand partners for playing a very important role in helping to make our magazine a reality and to our readers for joining us on our adventures.

Enough said...we do hope you enjoy issue 11.

The TURAS Team

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Camp 4WD

ping & D Gear

ICELAND Forgotten tracks - with Geko Expeditions. In this article we join Peter, a participant, in a recent Geko expedition in Iceland..

No other country offers such diversity : black, red or gray deserts, young volcanoes, exuberant calderas, magical lakes, gigantic glaciers, canyons, aerial ridges, lava fields covered with 30cm of mosses, torn fjords, black beaches ...

NO OFF ROAD DRIVING Before planning any trip to Iceland, it is important to remem-

ber one of the fundamental rules. The practice of driving off-road in Iceland is strictly prohibited and strictly repressed. As soon as you drive off the ferry , you see the police distributing flyers containing information on these rules.

And many sign posts exist across the island to continually remind you of this. No one can pretend not to know it. ‘Newly made’ off-road tracks can remains visible for over 20 years, where fragile mosses struggle to survive and where, even dry on the surface, the soil is full of water. The sustainabil-

ity of fragile ecosystems and the beauty of these pristine landscapes is at the cost of this simple rule :no off-road driving . However in truth, offroad driving is not necessary to enjoy touring Iceland.

There are many tracks already

laid out allowing access to the most remote and interesting places in the country.

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY Any trip to Iceland for anyone who wants to go with their own vehicle starts as you exit

the ferry exit in Seydisfjordur . The same ferry has served Iceland for many years and its capacity has not grown to meet demand and as such, it is highly recommended to plan your summer trip to Iceland well before Christmas of the previous year and the same logic applies if you decide to booking a trip with Geko Expeditions .

HIGHLANDS After stocking up with solid fuel and groceries for a week of autonomy, the group, consisting of 6 vehicles and 14 participants and the Nissan Patrol of Geko Expeditions occupied by our guide and expedition leader Oliver, rushes out of Seydisfjordur to attack the highlands of eastern Iceland

travelling over a small winding road. The clouds move aside and reveal Mount Snaefell (meaning Snow Mountain), a real beacon in the landscape.

This part of the island is a typical northern taiga setting. The few trees still present in Iceland are at the bottom of the valley that we leave behind.

We soon drive onto a small track that takes us over a ridge to discover some small lakes hidden behind the hills. As we approach these, we see some wild geese fly away. Oliver knows every corner of this magical country. He is quick to remind us all about the rules for river crossing: engage low gears, and maintain a constant and low speed in the water.

REMOTE & EXOTIC

ICELAN

ND stream g n i r a o r A ed lava l o o c y l h s gh fre cuts throu Large stones that can open a differential case can easily lurk in the icy bed of the streams.

Fast spectacular crossings producing big sprays of water squirting at 5m high are best kept for the movies, it’s now to do it in real life! This is the first big test of nerve for most participants. It’s not every day that your hood disappears under the water of a river ... It is particularly important to follow the trajectory outlined by Oliver, on pain of falling into a hole and getting stranded. . That first evening, the clear sky of July and the excitement of the beginning of the trip kept us awake for a long time

in a sublime camp location at 700 m altitude.

day. Most of the Askja volcano lava flows, date ,however, from 1875 . The weather is IN THE HEART OF A VOLCANO not so good this morning, The cold and the frost on our but we could not resist a trip tents in the morning reminds up the sides of this mythius that we are at 65 ° north cal volcano . The access path latitude. After a quick breakhad just been opened for the fast and a briefing outlining day and, after a 45 minute the day ahead, we’ll go to visit walk inside the caldera, still our first lava field ... and it will covered with snow, we arrive not be the last. The landscape at the edge of the Öskjuvatn created by the solidified lava, frozen water lake . It seems layers of unreal shapes and crazy to be in the heart of a basalt blocks , never ceases volcano that is still active, the to amaze. Some of the group last tremor having been felt even claim to see some trolls in August 2014, (during the ... It looks to us like the erup- eruption of the glacial volcano tions took place only yesterof Bárdarbunga) . Beside the

THE POETRY OF EARTH IS NEVER DEAD -

JOHN KEATS

of

crater of the cold lake is another lake, much smaller, Lake Viti (lake of hell in Icelandic ). It consists of warm water and is opal in colour. It was hard to resist the temptation to take a bath here.

THE OLD TRACK Tonight at our next camp, Oliver receives a call that cheers us all up. Rangers at Vatnajรถkull National Park have invited us to attempt the crossing of

the famous old track Gaesavatnleid next day.

We will be the first to attempt the crossing this particular year . This legendary track is considered one of the most difficult on the island.

It is the original track crossing the country from east to west and was created well before the F910. Crossing the island along the northern foot of the huge Vatnajรถkull Glacier has always been considered difficult and dangerous.

With an altitude of over 1200m. It is usually one of the last tracks to open in summer. There are years when it remains impassable , still covered in snow. The team at Geko Expeditions is well known to the guards of the Vatnajรถkull Park and in particular to rangers present in this region. They know the expertise of the Geko guides and know they can be relied upon to enforce the rules while re opening a track for the first time of the season : Respect the original layout of the track , including when the latter is covered

or obscured in snow.

And that it is forbidden to make a detour through an area of open ground in order to bypass snowfields or mounds of snow.. This activity would cause irreparable damage to delicate terrain.

The rangers also relies on the fact that the Geko vehicles as well as those of their customers are generally well prepared and able to travel in difficult terrain.

A sign at

the beginning of the track indicates that this track is reserved for ‘superjeeps’ . The rangers are usually busy enough running education and relief operations conducted for over a century for the benefit of tourists venturing into the Highlands by Dacia Duster or similar vehicles.

THE ALLUVIAL PLAIN The first obstacle on our east-west crossing is an immense alluvial plain of about 15 km in length. It is especially important not to venture into the floodplain at the wrong time.

Indeed, various weather conditions can transform the plain into a lake thanks to the melting of ice from Vatnajökull . We need to deflate our tyres according to Oliver’s instructions. And the instructions from Oliver are clear, vehicles must remain in tight convoy and drive in the tracks of the preceding vehicles. Passing 2m to either side may result in the immediate stalling of the

rivers in e h t of e n Fording o or the interi

vehicle. Oliver tells us to maintain an engine speed above 2500 rpm so as not to be surprised by a soft zone. We lock the central differential, and hit third gear…low range..

portion, on off ... it’s a long 15 km !

And suddenly, we all hear a call on the radio : “ Oliver, I’m stuck ! “. The second last vehicle , a heavily loaded HDJ100 has crashed into a soft HIGH IN EMOTION area . Despite the warning, he The weather is unfortunately remained in high gear .... Fortunot favorable today. A strong nately, the last vehicle was able wind blowing horizontally rais- to stop on a patch of hard sand. es lots of sand, making it difOliver then gathers all the other ficult to read the terrain. The participant s and leads us out water already partially covers to the other side out of danger the plain from 20 to 30cm. of rising water. He turns back Again the leader’s instructions to rescue the unfortunate vehiare clear , maintain momentum cle. The Nissan pulls the Toy.. The areas of soft sand are ota out of this bad scenario. It eventually replaced by harder was time timely too because areas on which vehicles begin during the hour necessary for to regain grip and speed. Some the maneuver, the water level sandbanks cause us to stop rose around us by an additional competley and when out of 20cm. them we go on again for a new

A SPECTACULAR VIEW After a welcome lunch break, the group leaves and starts the climb to the foot of the glacier with heavy snow. The track is almost invisible.

We must slalom between big stones that the lowest vehicles can not always avoid. We soon meet first patches of snow. Sometimes using our momentum, sometimes at extra-slow speed, Oliver gives us his science of driving on snow. Vehicles with large wheels are at an advantage. A Hilux with 18 “wheels and original size tires will not be able to ‘float’ and will not be able to cross one of the snowfields.

As we gain altitude, the weather improves and the

view becomes striking. We soon see the Northern Highlands at our feet . We can see at least 50 km into the distance . We realize how tough and unforgiving this country is. No living soul or sign of life as far as the eye can see. We continue along the face of the glacier, covered in sand and stones, sometimes the ice seems to glow a sublime emerald green. After some adventures and many photo stops, we again head down and return to a valley covered with soft green

grass . Wild geese are nestled at the edge of the river and watch us, curious to see these big beasts of steel intruding in their territory . Tonight, we’re camping next to a deliciously hot spring. After this extraordinary day that everyone will remember, the participants are feeling very relaxed and simply happy after a day of great adventure.

The heat of the bath finishes off even the most energetic of us and sleep finds us all very quickly.

many Fording one of the mountain streams

BLACK DESERTS We continue our journey into the Highlands by approaching the region of the black deserts. If black or gray rocks are omni present on most of the island, the area we discover is special. No vegetation grows on this corner of the country.

Gray sand and black volcanic rock cover everything, as far as the eye can see. A really lost track meanders between peaks and lava fields, before climbing over a ridge where a vista looking something the end of the world is revealed. No color at all

on the horizon. From this gray austerity nevertheless comes a feeling of harmony and very particular beauty.

When the sand is wet, it is black. The wind sculpts ripples and dries out the exposed areas giving rise to a fantasy of gray and black.

Sometimes it seems like a Hallucination. If the sand was yellow or orange, we could almost be in the Saharan Tadrart .

At the heart of this dull and dreary sight, a string of lakes hemmed in fluorescent green suddenly appears. As if the desert vista

DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERIOR IS LIKE VISITING ANOTHER PLANET

was not enough, the track then alternates between crests and lakeside, sometimes being 4m wide between 2 expanses of water ... We have no words to express how amazing this felt,.

Iceland has conquered the hardest hearts today.

THE BOILING HEART The next day we start out on some fast and easy tracks, before committing ourselves again on a small lost track known only to Geko Expeditions and the locals. We continue to turn around the glacier

VatnajĂśkull, which is as big as Corsica. We are approaching this time its west side.

Unlike previous days here the mountains are generously covered with grass, moss and lichens. The track approaches the high mountains in the center. We come across some snow passages which we need to negotiate in short bursts of speed and torque with tires at 0.8 bar. Between the 2 peaks,

we enter a valley with dozens of steam fumaroles. The ground is hot. We get out of vehicles to explore this magical region on foot. A symphony of colors that is offered to us. Ocher earth or dark red, fluoro green lichen, gray sand, green-gray moss. Iceland definitely conquers us by welcoming us to its secret and bubbling heart. Oliver’s high mountain guide qualification is useful in

making sure that none of us venture into dangerous terrain.

Indeed, some areas of snow seem solid and buoyant, while in fact the earth is boiling below. Understanding where you are walking in this landscape is very important here.

CROSSING A LAKE IN 4X4 We continue our progress and descend 300m. We then tra-

verse several valleys each one more beautiful than the next.

The rivers are sometimes spread over several kilometers, creating wetlands colonized by magnificent fields of cottongrass ( Eriophorum ) which look immaculate and silky.

At the bend of a rocky escarpment, we tumble in front of a lake between high mountains.

We hear Oliver on the VHF : “

Are you ready to cross a lake ? “ And of he goes alone and sinks into the lake with his black Nissan Patrol . He asked us to wait ... which is not always a good sign ... The vehicle progresses 5M from the shore in about 60cm of water where there is a flat bottom. The Patrol is soon only a dot in the distance. But we can clearly see that he has just come out of the lake on the other side. Unbelievable.

Oliver then explains that he wanted to make sure that no stones that had rolled from the mountain were blocking the passage before allowing the whole group to cross. Is with a mixture of tension and elation that we travel the 400m across the lake, of course, not without forgetting to engage the GoPro.

After another day of discovery more and more amazing sites, and we reach the south coast of the island where we make a well deserved stop for a night in a comfortable hotel, after 1 week of travel and living on the road . We will continue now for a second week different tracks but equally intense, before joining Seydisfjordur to catch the ferry. The two day ferry crossing will be neccessary to assimilate as much as we can, the emotions of this unforgettable trip. We feel like we left yesterday ... These 2 weeks have passed so fast for us. We saw so much beauty and lived so much intense experiences.... Intense. This word best summaries our trip. Highly the next, life is too short.

GEKO EXPEDITIONS off the beaten tracks 4x4 tours selfdrive and guided in english and french E-mail: explo@geko4x4.com www.gekoexpeditions.com Facebook:facebook.com/gekoexpeditions/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/geko4x4com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ geko_expeditions/ Address: Amaris 1 - CH-1645 Le Bry Switzerland

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

2019

l a i c e p S w o Sh

e d o i s p E h c t re Wa e h 1

I

’ts nearly that time of year again when the world’s largest Camping and 4WD touring show takes place between the 20th – 23rd of June 2019 in Bad Kissingen in Germany. Having now attended the show over the last few years it never ceases to amaze us just how big and well organised this show actually is. With over 300 exhibitors and anything between 50,000 and 55,0000 people attending, this show has something for everyone.

If you are into camping and 4WD touring there really is no other show like it on the planet, at the showgrounds you will be treated to approximately 110,000 square meters of back to back camping and touring vehicles and equipment. Everything from all the latest roof top tents,specialised 4WD camping equipment vehicles of all shapes and sizes, camp cooking equipment

and the list goes on. The show has been blessed in recent years with hot sunny weather so if you are attending for the first time bring your shorts and your sunscreen.The show grounds also provides various types of entertainment where visitors can get a ride in some serious 4WD vehicles on the custom made tracks, the kids can also get a ride on some all terrain junior vehicles.

If you get hungry or thirsty which no doubt you will,the show provides plenty of choice when it comes to food and beverages.

If it’s your first visit to the Abenteuer & Allrad you have to try the traditional currywurst and pommes which is always a popular choice and is served in the main food hall, all of this coupled with some cold German beers and lots of entertainment on the main stage and you will not be disappointed.

THE LARGEST CAMPING & 4WD SHOW IN THE

W0RLD

For the fifth year in a row you will be able to attend a series of lectures. These lectures start with Konstantin Abert and “Auf dem Landweg nach Australien” on the 20th of June. On the 21st of June Thomas Rahn and Sabine Hoppe will share their experiences from exploring South America followed by Friedl Swoboda on the 22nd of June who will tell tales of his globe-trotting around the world in his 6x6. And also don’t miss Reiner Harscher who will share his experience from exploring Africa.

For many people this is a ‘must-go’ annual event with many travellers visiting this show ever since it started over twenty one years ago. Many return visitors choose to stay in the designated shows campground that is located just outside Bad Kissingen.

The campsite is home to possibly the largest gathering of 4WD tourers in the world and is a show all by itself. You will be amazed by the sheer size and number of 4WD rigs, camper trucks and camping tourers on display at the campsite and the evening atmosphere is always magic with the smell of barbecues, the sound of music and chatter amongst travellers as they share their stories from their adventures around the world.

The temporary campsite has toilets and you can also have a shower on site for a reasonable €2.The temporary site is on grassland and when the weather is good you will have no issues but if it gets wet, expect muddy conditions.

Reservations for the CAMP-AREA are not possible so if you are planning on meeting friends, there is no guarantee that you will be able to park and set up camp together, best advice is to arrive at the same time in order to be guaranteed that you can set up camp in the same place.

OVER 300

EXHIBITORS

campd a o r f f o , s k c ment, sho ip u q e S P G uipment, q to e g in k o o c from tents p nings, cam w a , s g a w s h more c , s u m h c u m er trailer d n cessories a c a g in r u to D 4W

STAND

E09/Halle1

STAND

E09/Halle1

STAND

Z60

STAND

E03

STAND

C43

STAND

M37

STAND

Z110

STAND

C43

SOME DETAILS

Date: 20th of June – 23rd of June 2019 Place: Exhibition-ground Bad Kissingen Opening-hours: Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm Sunday 10 am – 5 pm Tickets: Day ticket adults: EUR 15,Day ticket reduced: EUR 10,Day ticket children: EUR 10,Commutation ticket: EUR 30,Family ticket: EUR 35,Organizer: pro-log GmbH Professionelle Rallye Logistik Kapellenstraße 11, 97688 Bad Kissingen Tel. 0971-7854460

Fax: 0971-7854461 E-Mail: info@abenteuer-allrad.de

tion

forma n i e r o m for click here

the

KHAYA

4

t the a y a l p s i d On ad r l l A & r e u e Abent Show 2019

W

hen it comes to building complete overland solutions for adventurers and explorers, for us, the Khaya 4 is our greatest build to date… and it took only 18 years to make it happen’’, well that’s according to Alu-Cab who take great pride in their creations..

The Khaya 4 is a four sleeper camper that balances comfort with real adventure capability.

Alu-Cab highlighted that thanks to collaborative efforts with various rental companies and overland tour operators, they are now very happy with the end product particularly with the space achieved within the frame

of this lightweight, flexible, and corrosion-resistant aluminium camper.Let’s have a closer look.

Distributed by Genesis-Import in Germany the Khaya 4 is a driveon / slide-off unit, basically meaning that the camper is not permanently attached to your vehicle and can be removed in forty five minutes. Which means that the functionality of your pick up is never compromised and you can still use it as your daily work horse or daily driver.

The Khaya 4 has been designed to fit most mid size load beds allowing the Khaya 4 to be easily attached to another vehicle.

CHECK OUT THE KHAYA 4 AT THE 2019 ABENTEUER & ALLRAD SHOW GENESIS-IMPORT STAND E09 / Halle 1

POP TOP Also similar to other Alu-Cab camping solutions the Khaya 4’s roof (and tent) pops up in seconds; and because the bed also flips up, you can stand upright in the camper.

For more information on the Khaya camper click here or if you are attending the 2019 Abenteuer & Allrad show you can visit the Genesis Import stand and have a closer look. E09 / Halle 1

LAZER LIGHTS

perforh g i h e r ghts a lutions o Lazer li s g n i t igh mance l

Triple-R Elite-3 Upgrade Strengthens Lazer Lamps Road-Legal and Motorsport Lighting Solutions.Available through Genesis-Import the Triple-R Elite range of high performance lighting solutions, used extensively across the passenger vehicle, 4x4, light commercial vehicle, heavy truck, and motorsport sectors. Come and check them out at the Genesis-Import stand at the Abenteuer & Allrad show stand E09 / Halle 1

SNOMASTER

Genesis-I mport ha ve a large lection of seSnoMaste r product s

The very popular range of Snomaster fride freezers will once again be on display at the Genesis-Import stand.With some special show prices and anyone who purchases products will get them delivered to the customer car park at the show.

FALCON AWNING

w James e n e h t ed for ning w A S tay tun n o c Fal Baroud

James Baroud have a new awning coming out soon with orders presently be taken by Genesis-Import staff .So if you have any queries about this impressive new product dont forget to visit the Genesis-Import stand at this years show stand E09 / Halle 1

IRONMAN 4X4 R E N T R PA with GENESIS-IMPORT

S E I Z Z O THE

HAVE LANDED

BIG NEWS…...The German based Genesis-Import have recently announced a partnership with the Australian company Ironman 4x4. Both companies are household names in their native countries when it comes to 4WD touring with Ironman 4x4 also now recognised as a global player in the 4WD after market industry. The Ozzies recently celebrated 60 years as an Australian owned family business and It seems logical that they are now going to have a strong presence in Germany under the Genesis-Import umbrella. As a company, Ironman 4x4 started back in 1958 when Günter Jacob who was originally from Germany began making leaf springs in his backyard in Australia. Now sold in more than 120 countries customers have being putting their trust in Ironman 4×4 products ever since.

Timing also seems to be good for the Australian brand as they have recently gained formal approval for its range of suspension kits by German TÜV Nord and the

German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).This is a big deal for the Australian company as they are the first suspension company in the world to successfully receive this stringent approval for the most popular current model 4x4 pickups.

The pickups include the Toyota Hilux, Toyota Prado 150, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara NP300, Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, Mercedes X-Class, FIat Fullback and the Renault Alaskan.For German customers this means that their 4x4`s can legally install the KBA/ABE certified suspension kit upgrade. For other European 4x4 owners the TĂœV Nord approval also allows for legal installation and conformity with all national and international road laws.

The German based and well established Genesis-Import continues to spread its wings across Europe offering a wide range of top quality camping, touring, overlanding and 4WD accessories. As European distributors for SnoMaster and Alu-Cab they have a wide variety of touring products including the very popular James Baroud Rooftop tents. With this partnership with Ironman 4x4 Genesis-Import continue to associate their products with high quality 4WD accessories and aftermarket products like those that will be now available under the Ironman 4x4 and Genesis Partnership. Stay tuned for more updates on this significant industry news.

European Distributors

WWW.SNOMASTE

ER.DE

ICE COLD ywhere An

E L D D I GR & FIREBOWL

N

ow here is a clever cooking product from the German camp cooking gurus, Petromax. The high-quality griddle and firebowl is a multipurpose steel plate with removable legs that can be used to cook up your favourite camp meal and can then be used as a fire pit to keep you warm on those chilly nights. One of the key selling points here is the multipurpose use but also the fact that you can remove the legs and neatly store the flat packed griddle and fire bowl in the back of your vehicle or

camping trailer. The fire bowl is also designed in a way that you can cook your food at different temperatures with the centre of the bowl giving the most heat and allowing you to cook other foods slower around the edges of the plate on the generous space provided. If you don’t want to cook with the legs on, no drama you can simply place the fs48 and fs56 plates on the Petromax Atago and cook away without worrying about scorching the ground. (Note that the Atago is available in Europe but not yet available in the US).

o e d i v h c Wat

Breakfast

The Petromax Griddle and Fire Bowl comes in three sizes the fs38, fs48 and the larger fs56, all three come with a high quality bag for storage and with the two handles this product is very easy to handle. The three attachable legs can be screwed into the thread bushings on the bottom of the plate ensuring that the griddle stands safely on the ground, the removable legs makes this product a breeze to transport in the back of your vehicle, camper trailer or caravan.

COOKING

The multi-purpose griddle and fire bowl can be used on an open fire, with the Petromax Atago, on a suitable barbecue or on a gas flame. As the centre of the griddle gets hotter than the outer surface, it is possible for food that requires different cooking temperatures to be ready at the same time. More-

owl can b e r fi x oma g The Petr a cookin s a d e s be u fire pit a d n a griddle

over, meals that have already been prepared can continue cooking or be kept warm on the edge of the griddle.

LIGHTING A FIRE

You can also use the fs38, fs48 or fs56 as a fire bowl by simply placing wood on the plate this will help you avoid burnt patches at your favorite camping ground.. It goes without saying that you should not use the fire bowl in a closed room and always let the griddle cool down after use, then remove the ashes from the fire, dispose of the ashes properly,in the morning all you have to do is clean the plate and you are ready cook up your favorite breakfast, it’s as simple as that.

USING THE GRIDDLE FOR THE FIRST TIME

On leaving the factory your new griddle and fire bowl will be coated

Enjoy an open fire on the Petromax firebowl

s with a e m o c l bow er bag. i The fire r r a c y t ali high qu

Put the

utter on b / e s a e r a some g heat at d n a e l gridd rature e p m e t high

Screw in the 3 legs

Spread evenly on the plate

potato The Petromax griddle is no w a r e m o w s ) t l pee t u Add pu o h re t ad i y to be used ith or w lt a s of n slices (w o a teaspo d d a d an

with a food safe paraffin oil this prevents corrosion. However you must season your griddle initially before using it for the first time.

Here are some recommended tips;

1. Put some grease on the griddle and heat at a high temperature (e.g. clarified butter or coconut butter) then when melted spread the grease on the whole surface of the plate , e.g. with a brush.

2. When the griddle is hot, put some raw potato slices (with or without peel) and add a teaspoon of salt

them over frequently, cook until the potato slices become dark and brown. After a while you will notice that surface of your griddle will change colour and is dark in places as the patina (Patina is of italian origin and means “Green or Brownish colour�) characteristic develops.

4. Dispose of the potatoes and let the empty griddle cool down.

Wash your griddle with hot water and carefully remove any possible cooking remains. Then dry up the griddle thoroughly and grease it again.

5. The Petromax fs is now ready to be used for your next camping trip.

3. Fry the potatoes and turn

THE FIRE BOWL CAN BE USED WITH THE PETROMAX

ATAGO

NOTE: The ATAGO is not yet avaialable in the USA

TIP It is important that after each use you wash the griddle with hot water or wipe it down with kitchen paper. Dry thoroughly and then grease lightly in order to seal the surface of your griddle and fire bowl, this will protect your firebowl from corrosion. In order to protect from corrosion, there should always be a thin layer of grease on the griddle. The seasoning process can be repeated as often as required.

Conclusion Like all Petromax products this is made from high quality materials in Germany and if you follow these simple instructions your griddle and fire bowl will last you a lifetime. Stay tuned for more stories on petromax cam cooking products in future issues. Happy camp cooking. s

on

rmati o f n i e r o for m click here

E V O L L L WE A A VIBRANT

E R I F P M A C images: TURAS & Aleksandar Veljković www.rustikatravel .com

‘‘the importance of fire in human evolutionary history is widely acknowledged but the extent not fully explored’’.

D

id you know that sitting not fully explored’’. Fires inaround a campfire has volve flickering light, crackling proven health benefits? sounds, warmth, and a distinctive smell. For early humans, fire likely extended the day, I’m sure those of you provided heat, helped with huntwho regularly enjoy a campfire fire already knew about ing, warded off predators and insects, illuminated dark places, its positive effects, right? The and facilitated cooking. following research was carried out some years ago by the University of Alabama in a study It is also believed that called ‘Hearth and campfire incampfires also may fluences on arterial blood pressure: defraying the costs of the have provided social social brain through fireside nexus and relaxation relaxation’, and it came up with effects that could some very interesting findings.

The research concluded that sithave enhanced proting by the campfire has a numsocial behaviour. ber of health benefits that include reducing blood pressure.

According to this hypothesis, “calmer, more tolerant people The very interesting piece of would have benefited in the research highlighted that ‘’the social milieu via fireside interimportance of fire in human actions relative to individuals evolutionary history is widely less susceptible to relaxation acknowledged but the extent response. In using a randomised

CAMPFI e fire th y b g n ti it s h c r a e s according to re

can reduce your blood pressure

IRE

crossover design that disaggregated fire’s sensory properties, pre-post test blood pressure measures were compared among 226 adults across three studies with respect to viewing simulated muted-fire, fire-with-sound, and control conditions, in addition to tests for interactions with hypnotizability, absorption, and prosociality.

Results indicated consistent blood pressure decreases in the fire-with-sound condition, particularly with a longer duration of stimulus, and enhancing effects of absorption and prosociality.

Findings confirm that hearth and campfires induce relaxation as part of a multisensory, absorptive, and social experience. Enhancements to relaxation capacities in the human social brain likely took place via feedback in-

Findings confirm that hearth and campfires induce relaxation as part of a multisensory, absorptive, and social experience.

volving these and other variables�. As interesting as this is, for us it really just confirms what we kind of already new. There is no doubt about it that sitting around a campfire after a day’s touring while enjoying your favourite beverage is one of the most relaxing things you can do.

Unfortunately, it is now becoming harder to find places where you are allowed to have an open fire but this issue can be overcome by simply using a portable fire pit that can be used to cook up your favourite camp feast but also allows you to sit around it while keeping warm - without breaking any laws.

CHOOSING

THE BEST WOOD FOR YOUR e r fi p m Ca

DENSE r e tt e b s n r u b d o o w

Choosing the best wood for your fire Man has been using wood to make fires for over 1.5 million years and when we go camping it is still the main source of fuel that keeps us warm on those chilly evenings and allows us to cook up our favourite camp feasts. Over time man discovered that some woods burned better than others and in this article we are going to have a closer look at the best woods to use on your campfire.

Over the years selecting the best trees to cut down for firewood depended on a number of factors. These included, the soil type and where the trees grew, acidity and moisture content, the topography of the land and the prevailing micro-climate (wind direction, sun and shade).

Over time man soon figured out that certain types of wood just naturally burned better than others. This reasoning came down

OAK IS ONE OF THE BETTER WOODS TO BURN

to the density of the wood, with hardwoods usually being the best option for burning but also some softer woods could also be a wood of choice as they often started quicker and also had a relatively good burning longevity. Other factors that came into play over time was the importance of drying out ‘’seasoning ‘wood before being used on the fire, we all know that freshly cut wood does not have near the same effect as well seasoned wood.

springtime and then stacked in a sheltered area for up to 12 months with some woods like oak taking anything up to 24 months to fully dry out .It is important to note that in general wood burns most efficiently when the moisture content is at 20% or less. Damp wood burns at a cooler temperature, resulting in incomplete combustion and giving out more smoke which is not healthy or enjoyable when sitting around a fire.

Why is it so important to season your wood?

How do you know if your wood is well seasoned ?

Wood that has dried properly will almost always burn hotter than wood that still has moisture in it, basically because much of the heat energy is used to evaporate the remaining water.

First of all unseasoned wood will be smoky and will smoulder, the experts will also tell you that wood should be cut in the

The first sign of your wood being well seasoned is that it will feel lighter in weight and will have visible radial cracks at each end of the logs. Dry wood will also “ring” on impact, while wet wood will make a thudish sound when logs are hit off each other. You will also hear a hissing sound from unseasoned wood when it is burning.

have an y l n o d l You shou n permitted i open fire ............ s n o i t a c lo

When possi ble always use dry wood on yo ur campfire

DRIED WOOD BURNS MUCH

HOTTER

So what are the best woods for burning on your campfire?

It is widely recognised that hardwoods are the best wood for burning on a fire.

- Oak is an excellent camp fire wood that gives out great heat when well seasoned, it can take up to two years for Oak to be well seasoned. Oak also burns slowly and does not spark it is the perfect wood to keep you warm on those colder nights.

- Maple similar to Oak is a dense wood that generates little smoke and also gives out great heat and will burn for a long time. There are different types of maple wood, examples include Sugar, Manitoba, Silver, with Red Maple being one of the best ones to use on your campfire.

- Apple stands out as a good wood for using when camp cooking, it burns slowly giving out good heat it also does not spark much.

- Cherry when seasoned well is also a slow to burn wood that produces good heat.

Woods for instant, great warming heat include: - Ash is probably the best green wood for a using on a campfire mainly because of its low moisture content.

It also gives out good heat.

- Birch burns quicker that the harder woods but despite this it also gives out good heat, it has a pleasant aroma when burning. Birch gives out very few sparks which is always a bonus and it also has an interesting blue flame. Like may other species there are a number of types of Birch with Black Birch often described as the best type of Birch to use on a campfire.

- Cedar like Ash is a good wood for cooking with, it gives out good heat and has a small flame.

- Beech produces high amounts of heat, and lets

Maple

Chestnut

Pine

Pine

You just cant beat an open campfire ...........

Maple Tree

off few sparks. It is also easily split and burns with a bright flame.

- Eucalyptus is a fast burning wood that has a distinctive smell, it should be well seasoned as it is made up of oils and sap.

Coniferous Trees Coniferous softwood trees are not good for burning, they are not dense and do not produce much heat. Coniferous trees also create sparks and can be very smoky and really should be avoided for use in your campfire. One of the worst coniferous tree is hemlock and you should definitely not put it on your campfire.

Deciduous Trees Some deciduous trees also don’t make great firewood. Aspen, basswood and willow trees all have very soft wood and are generally of a poor quality for burning and producing heat.

That said, this wood is a little better than most coniferous trees mainly because it doesn’t spark as much.

Pine can be used to get your fire started but should not be used as your main fuel as it does not give out great heat and it also burns quickly.

So in summary choose your campfire wood wisely and also make sure that your wood is well seasoned there is nothing worse than sitting around a smoky fire that does not give out much heat. Happy Camping

NEW PARTNERSHIP We are delighted to announce that we have teamed up with the German based Petromax. In future issues of the magazine expect to see more camp cooking recipes where we will be using the wide range of high quality camp cooking products from dutch ovens to skillets. Say tuned..................

check out the video of the road shower in use on a recent camping & fishing trip

FIRE PITS

e h t n ere o k clicideo h v

P

ortable fire pits are great for cooking on and keeping you warm all year round. In keeping with the leave no trace principles you should take care when placing your fire pit on the ground, particularly in places where you are not allowed to have an open fire.

Keeping this in mind many of the new fire pits now on the market are designed to ensure that the ground underneath the fire pit is well protected. When

looking at purchasing a fire pit this should be considered but also storage of your fire pit should be an important factor.

There is no point in taking a large fire pit on your next camping trip if it takes up a whole bunch of space in the back of your 4WD or camper trailer. So how your fire pit can be stored in the back of your 4WD to reduce space is an important consideration, flat packed fire pit solutions are best option in our opinion. DARCHE have recently launched some new fire pits that include the DARCHE Stainless

PORTABLE FIRE PITS

ly used BBQ heat sources.Also, Steel BBQ 310 or the larger BBQ the DARCHE Stainless Steel Grill 450 and the Stainless Steel Grill 440 is suitable for places where 440 which can be used in areas you are allowed to have an open where open fires are allowed.

The BBQ 310 and the larger BBQ campfire. The simple throw over 450 are a great solution for cook- campfire solution is perfect for ing your favourite camp grub cooking up a char-grilled steak when either entertaining friends or to heat your pots and pans or family in the back garden or over an open flame. when camping and for keeping you warm on The lightweight The foldable design allows for those cooler foldable design simple setup, pack down and allows for simevenings. space saving storage in the ple setup, pack The foldable down and space back of your vehicle design allows saving storage for simple in the back of setup, pack down and space sav- your vehicle or tucked away in ing storage in the back of your your garage. Constructed using vehicle or tucked away in your food grade stainless steel and garage. The 310 weighs approx- suited to most commonly used imately 4.5 kgs and the larger BBQ heat sources, similar to the BBQ 450 weighs in at 11.5Kgs. BBQ and the BBQ 450 the steel These products are constructed grill also comes with a high-qualusing a food grade stainless steel ity storage bag. and are suited to most common-

Constructed

using food grade

stainless steel

Features & Specifications 310 Size: 310mm L x 310mm W x 270mm H. Pack down: 360mm x 60mm x 360mm. Weight: 4.5kg Grill: 304 stainless steel (foodgrade). Body: 201 stainless steel Grill area: 310mm x 310mm Feature & Specifications 450 Size: 450mm L x 450mm W x 440mm H.Pack down: 560mm x 80mm x 560mm.Weight: 11.5kg Grill: 304 stainless steel (foodgrade).Body: 201 stainless steel Grill area: 450mm x 450mm

Features & Specifications 440 Steel Grill Size: 440mm L x 320mm W x 200mm H. Pack down: 450mm x 350mm x 30mm. Weight: 1.8kg Grill: 304 stainless steel (foodgrade) Grill area: 440mm x 320mm

e r o m r o f e r e h k n o i clic t a inform

re started fi e h t g n i tt Ge

All up a fire pit is a must for us when we go camping, a night camping just does not feel the same without the glow of a fire. And with all of the new restrictions being introduced about having open fires, having a fire pit does help get around these concerns. These foldable fire pits don’t take up much room in the back of your 4WD and if looked after will last you for many years. For more information on the DARCHE fire pits that are now available in Europe click here.

steel is s s e l n i a t s e Food grad of the used in all re Pits DARCHE Fi

HOT

NEODW UCT

PR

STAINLESS STEEL

BBQ 310

Take the Darche Stainless Steel BBQ 310 from the campsite to the backyard as convenient cookware to feed your tribe or as a heat source to warm up your outdoor area on cooler nights. The foldable design allows for simple setup, pack down and space saving storage in the back of your vehicle or tucked away in your garage. Constructed using food grade stainless steel and suited to most commonly used BBQ heat sources, the BBQ 310 will perform for years to come.

275mm MAX HEIGHT

205mm MIN HEIGHT

BBQ SPECS • • • • • •

Size: 310mm L x 310mm W x 270m H Pack down: 360mm x 60mm x 360mm Weight: 4.5kg Grill: 304 stainless steel (food-grade) Body: 201 stainless steel Grill area: 310mm x 310mm

Stainless steel

Flat pack design

4 adjustable heights

Stable heat shield

Portable carry bag

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darche.com.au

ISLAND LIFE T

he TURAS team touring with Phillip Bond of APB Trading Ltd., recently enjoyed a few days camping and greenlaning on the Western fringes of Europe in County Mayo and on Achill Island Ireland’s largest offshore Island. Achill Island is one of the last true wild frontiers located on the Western edge of Europe.

Driving towards Achill we enjoyed some green laning and camping in the wilderness of Mayo in Ballycroy National Park, before making our way to Achill.

As we approached from the Ballycroy National Park , we were soon presented with amazing views of the Islands mountainous landscape in the distance. Achill’s geography makes the Island the most mountainous Island in Ireland, with some of its peaks including Slievemore (2,214ft / 671m), Croaghaun (2,192ft

ast tic co n a l t The A ill Island of Ach

/ 668m) and the Land Rover accessible summit of Minaun Heights towering 466m and also giving incredible views of the west coast of the Island.

The north-east face of Croaghaun features almost perpendicular cliffs which claim to be the highest sea cliffs in Europe totalling a staggering 2,000ft (606m) .

The island is surrounded by pristine unpolluted waters with five Blue Flag beaches.

Sea anglers will have plenty of spots to choose from and will not be disappointed with their trip as the islands waters hold a number of sea angling records most notably in 1932 when a porbeagle shark weighing 365lb was caught with a rod and line by Dr O’Donnell Browne, a keen fisherman.

p camp Setting u roy c in Bally l Park Nationa

history e h t t u o ill reads ab Phillip g on Ach n i h s fi of shark

Parked up on t he shor of the A es tlantic ocean

You can still see the head of this specimen mounted and displayed on the wall of the bar in the Achill Head Hotel, in Keel. Other record fish caught off Achill include a 5.5kg Tub Gunard caught near Bullsmouth in 1973, and a Blue Shark caught off Achill Head in 1959 weighing over 93.4kg On the island, we enjoyed some remote coastal driving on the famous ‘Atlantic Drive’.

The island boasts a spectacular coastline that spans over 80 miles of (often cliff hugging) roads, that are only a few meters at time from the wild Atlantic ocean. Atlantic drive covers about 12 miles of spectacular scenery starting at Achill Sound. The coast road runs very close to the cliff edge and provides spectacular views of Clew Bay in the distance with its 365 islands, you will also be able to see Croagh Patrick (764m) to the southeast, Mweelrea, the Sheefry Hills and the Maamturks in Connemara and the inhabited Clare Island to the south east.

There are several lay-bys and parking spots along this stretch of narrow and twisting road, perfect for picnics

ive from the dr k a e r b a g ches Takin ’s rocky bea ll i h c A of e on on

The beac h at Keem, A chill

or to stop and take a few photographs and explore this wild coastline. One of these lay-bys is at the site of the Spanish Armada memorial where a plaque was erected to commemorate the ship San Nicolas Prodaneli which was wrecked on the shore at Toorglass, Currane Peninsula, in 1588.

An interesting note about Currane is that the founder of the British police force, Sir Robert Peel, once resided here.

As you approach the Atlantic drive to the west of the island you will pass by on your left the Kildavnet Tower, a 16th century Irish tower house that was formerly used by Granuaile, the legendary pirate queen.

This road ends at a junction with at which we took a turn

nuaile a r G of tle The Cas te queen a r i p e h t

THIS PLACE IS ONE OF THE LAST WILD FRONTIERS LOCATED ON THE WESTERN FRINGES OF EUROPE

For more information on APB Trading Click here .

towards Achill Sound, our starting point on a beautiful scenic loop.

A fascinating site to visit on the Island is the deserted village, the haunting ruins of a village at Slievemore comprises of nearly 100 stone cottages located along a mile long stretch of road on the southern slopes of Slievemore mountain. While some of these dwellings were occupied as summer ‘booley’ homes within living memory, the area itself is rich in ar-

chaeological artefacts including megalithic tombs dating from the Neolithic period some 5,000 years ago.

We also drove the track to the top of Minaun Heights, the highest point on the island. A very photgenic location. This steep road ends at a hill-top viewing point, giving a breathtaking view across the Island.

Learn more at https://achilltourism.com/

Phillip Bond -founder of ABP Trading

. . w o N n e List

EPISODE #2

APB at an Ex po

Rallye Des Cimes 1984

In this second episode we chat with Phillip Bond, founder of APB Trading Ltd. Phillip is one of the UK pioneers of 4WD Touring and vehicle expedition preparation and equipping. In this episode Phillip tells us about his time rally racing, he explains how and why he came to found APB Trading and later to launch expedition-equipment.com. Phillip shares somes stories of some notable vehicles that have come through his depot. He also gives us some insight into the development of the 4WD touring and overlanding in-

On the pier

dustry and provides some important advice and things to consider when deciding how to kit out your vehicle for an expedition.

Elsewhere in this issue you can also check out some images from a recent trip made by TURAS and APB to the western fringes of Europe, and learn more about Big Country drawer systems, distributed in the UK by APD Trading Ltd.. See the full range of products sold by APB at https://www.expedition-equipment.com/

DR

Suspension kits built for: Comfort - Performance - Constant Load

Australia’s leadin formal approval f and the German F

For German custo the KBA/ABE cer annual re-certifca

TURASADPS(1)111018

The approvals co

www.ironman4x4.com

RIVE LIKE A PRO WITH SUSPENSION KITS FROM IRONMAN 4X4

ng 4x4 accessory company, Ironman 4x4 has gained for its range of suspension kits by German TÜV Nord Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

omers this means that their 4x4`s can legally install tified suspension kit upgrade without requiring ation.

over 10 different vehicles:

• Toyota Hilux

• Ford Ranger

• Toyota Prado 150

• Volkswagen Amarok

• Isuzu D-Max

• Mercedes Benz X-Class

• Mitsubishi L200

• Fiat Full Back

• Nissan NP300 Navara

• Renault Alaskan

IRONMAN 4X4

YEARS SINCE 1958

Family Owned Australian Company Since 1958

COMING

SOON n o c l a F the

AWNING

J

ames Baroud has a new awning on the way simply called the Falcon 250. This is an impressive looking self-supporting awning that has an integrated tunnel pass through to your James Baroud tent. The awning is made from reinforced aluminium and stainless steel construction and is also available with fully-screened sidewalls and vertical support poles/guy lines for windy conditions.

The cleverly designed tunnel attachment allows shelters the entrance to your James Baroud tent meaning that you don’t have to worry about getting wet when getting out of your tent on a wet or misty night.

There are a couple of enclosure options for the Falcon Awning these include the net room which provides e an enclosed inity hing l a u q h g i n h o c e l Th sect-proof area e new Fa h t n o around the ladsystem

The awning is made from reinforced aluminium and stainless steel construction

e h t n o e r k e c i cl ideo h v der entry section, also the wraparound sidewalls form a large sheltered space, both enclosure options can be used together or separately, depending on your requirements.

The canvas used in the awning is similar to that used in the James Baroud tents which incorporates aluminized coats that reflect the sun’s ray. This is important as in warmer climates it will reflect heat, the canvas is also UV resistant.

The Falcon Awning Includes: - James Baroud Falcon Awning - Mounting Bracket Kit - Support Poles - Guy Lines & Stakes

THE UNITED COLOURS OF

JAMES BAROUD

We all know that James Baroud build premium hard shell roof top tents that are both designed and handcrafted in Porto in Portugal but did you know that you can also purchase by special order any of the five rooftop tents in over 250 colours. Yes that’s pretty much any of the RAL colours, so you can now order a tent to match your hair colour, your vehicles colour or simply your favourite colour in the whole world.

The process is simple you just select your favourite colour from the provided colour reference and James Baroud will do the rest.

You will have to pay an additional sum for a colour that is not standard and wait a little bit longer for the tent to arrive as it will be a special order. Should you decide to put in an order for a specialised colour of your choice , James Baroud simply apply your colour by using a colour dyed protective gel coating, James Baroud have been using this process on their standard colour tents since they first started building their high quality tents.

e h t n ere o k clicideo h v

Contact Tel. +351 936 296 798 - E-mail: infos@jamesbaroud.com

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Garantie comprenant la coque, la toile et mécanisme.

facebook.com/JamesBaroudOfficial instagram.com/jamesbaroud

BOTSWANA

SA FAR

A

RI

B

otswana is a sub-Saharan country located in Southern Africa. It was formerly a British protectorate of Bechuanaland,and adopted the name Botswana adopted after becoming independent within the Commonwealth in 1966.

Since then, it has been a republic, with a steady and continuous record of uninterrupted demo-

cratic elections. It is currently Africa’s oldest continuous democracy.

The landscape of Botswana is mainly flat, with the Kalahari desert covering about 70% of the country’s area. It is bordered on the south and south east by South Africa, to the north and west by Namibia and to the northeast by a very short border

with Zimbabwe. The Okavango Delta, which is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, is in the northwest.

The Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan, is located in the north.

The population of the country is just over 2 million people, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

The primary industries across Botswana are mining, cattle and tourism.

1

Botswana has many diverse areas of wildlife habitats, in addition to delta and desert areas there are also savannas and grasslands where a wide range of fauna make their homes, antelopes, wildebeest, elephants and more.

Botswana’s first national park,Chobe National Park is the most biologically diverse. Located in the north of the country, it is Botswana’s third largest park, after

TECHPRO SAFARI

BEGAN AS A DREAM BY A CAMPFIRE UNDER A STARRY AFRICAN SKY..

.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Gemsbok National Park, and has one of the greatest concentrations of game in all of Africa, including lions and African elephants. Some people say that there is no better place to go on a safari than in Botswana. We recently spoke to the guys at TechPro Safari to learn more about what Botswana has to offer.

The story of Techpro safari began, as a dream by a campfire under a starry African sky. What would it take, wondered seasoned Africa traveller Dmitry Rudenko, to create the ideal safari vehicle? A vehicle that wouldn’t break down in the middle of no-

Photo :Louise Blythe Creative Commons CC0 1.0

On Safari with an old Land Rover

where because it was unsuited to the terrain and poorly equipped. A vehicle that was safe, easily maintained and a pleasure to live from on a long journey in remote lands. As the embers of the campfire died down and the night grew cold he realised that the vehicle he was dreaming of didn’t yet exist. It

wasn’t on any showroom floor waiting to be bought and driven away. To create the ideal safari vehicle, he would have to take the best of what was available – and make it better.

And so he began searching for off-road fitters and engineers – anybody who shared his passion for creating the ideal expedition

Photo: Pharaoh Hound Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

vehicle. His search led him to Paul Marsh and R&D Offroad, a specialist off-road fitment and engineering firm based in Cape Town.

With Paul’s long experience in creating adventure vehicles in several continents they quickly honed in on the ideal base vehicle to begin with – the Toyota Land Cruiser. From there, they planned an extensive modification programme to bring the vehicles to the right fitment

and performance levels. Everything from the mechanical and electrical systems to the tents and camping equipment were upgraded, redesigned and modified to create a system that worked perfectly and gave the ultimate in safety and quality.

With the first Land Cruisers fully upgraded and kitted out, Techpro Safari was born and the first part of Dmitry’s dream was realised.

Now,having created and kitted out these vehicles, Dmitry offers the vehicles for hire and provides touring and travel guidance so that others can also experience the magic of an African Safari.

Techpro Safari offers self guided safaris in 6 African countries, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Botswana self drive routes offered by Techpro reveals a land of contrasts, ranging from the central Ka-

lahari Desert to the moonlike environment of the Makgadikgadi salt pans in the east and the watery expanse of the Okavango Delta in the north.

Popular safaris include a Maun safari and Kasane safari; these are definite must-dos when it comes to exploring the wilder side of Botswana. The country’s flagship, Chobe National Park, boasts Africa’s biggest elephant population estimated to be around 120,000 ele-

phants. The park is located ments of the participants. only 80 km away from the majestic Victoria Falls so be sure Techpro Botswana Routes to add it to your safari itiner1. The Classic (North and ary. north-east) Techpro offer three self drive A route for those who wish to Botswana routes. Each route offers 2 weeks or more of 4x4 explore Botswana’s most popular highlights. Includes Nxai self drive safari adventure.

Pan, Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti, Chobe National Park, There are also three tour levels that determine the type of finishing off at Zambezi river. accommodation on the route, 2. The Classic with a Twist from self-catering and camp(Central and north-east) ing to luxury safari lodges.

There are hundreds of accommodation options along these routes, which TechPro can adjust depending on the require-

A route similar to The Classic just with a few extra additions.

This route is slightly longer offering more travel days to ex-

plore. Includes Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Central Kalahari, Moremi, Savuti and Chobe National Park.

3. All in Luxury (Central and north-east) Similar to The Classic with a Twist the All in Luxury route

offers only the best in luxury accommodation. All authentic tented camps and luxury lodges are unique and fall in line with the desert-adapted landscape and wildlife surroundings. Includes Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Central Kalahari, Moremi, Savuti, Okavango Del-

ta and Chobe National Park.

There are also options when it comes to accommodation on the routes with options to camp almost every night, to stay in mid range lodges to staying only in luxury lodges and campsites.

About the vehicles.

The vehicles use the raised Old Man Emu suspension and rugged Cooper tyres. These upgrades give the vehicles better ground clearance and grip, resulting in improved road handling and a safer drive.

Inside the vehicles you’ll find VHF radios, inverters and strategically placed USB ports to charge cameras and laptops. A GPS system and satellite phone ensure you’re only as

Photo: Diverman~commonswiki - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

lost as you want to be and can call for support if needed. Fire extinguishers, custom-built console, silencing floor mats, and top-end seat covers with lot of pockets complete the picture.

You get a full complement of luxurious bedding for restful nights under the stars.

Something you’ll notice after a day or two of use is that everything in the vehicles has its place and is easy to reach and use. Specially designed All camping equipment has been selected for its reliability bags and containers keep all and ease of use. A two-person equipment neat and secure, meaning you won’t have to roof tent unfolds securely on scrabble around trying to find a platform over the vehicle, while a ground tent offers things when you need them. accommodation for two more.

The vehicles can take up to four people and are suited to a wide range of uses from family holidays to scientific field trips and expeditions. Techpro also have a dedicated photography vehicle with A-shell roof tent, external camera mounts, sliders, gimbal head and an elec-

tric hatch in the roof enabling you to work without leaving the safety of the vehicle – just what you need when photographing Africa’s Big 5 game animals.

If you don’t have a specific route and destination in mind, the guys at TechPro will create a unique safari itineraries for

you. Having gained some great local knowledge they are in a position to create unique routes and travel plans that avoid the crowds and that can take you straight into the heart of the Africa experience. Dmitry says

that “We know that the best way to let Africa get under your skin is to wind the window down and drive at a leisurely pace, taking the time to watch the game that crosses your path or stopping to take in an awesome view. Enjoy

South Africa: Marmer street, Stellenridge, Bellville, 7530 Phone +27 (0)72 830 9157 Namibian base and booking office: Plot 26, Mountain View B1, South Windhoek, 9000 Phone +264 81 263 0168 Email: info@techprosafari.com

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

straight into the heart of the Africa experience. Dmitry says that “We know that the best way to let Africa get under your skin is to wind the window down and drive at a leisurely pace, taking the time to watch the game that crosses your path or stopping to take in an awesome view. Enjoy the freedom of setting up camp where you want to or heading for our recommended lodges to enjoy a touch of

luxury�.

You can learn more about TechPro Safari and the countries in which they run their safari tours and also learn more about these customised vehicles and can also get in touch with the team to make a booking or to enquire about a customised itenerary via the Techpro Safari website. www.techprosafari.com

CAMP

COOKING as a chore but en se be ot n ld ou sh g in ok Camp co ping trip m ca r u yo of rt pa n fu a er rath

CAMP COOKING

T

here is something very special about cooking food in the great outdoors, for us the food always seems to taste better when we cook it on the open campfire. All that fresh air, sea breeze and extra energy used when outdoors does wonders for your appetite. Our camp kitchen is now an integral part of our trips and we love nothing more than setting up camp and cooking basic but tasty camp food. Camp cooking should not be seen as a chore but rather a fun part of

your camping trip and in this article we are going to look at a couple of our favourite camp kitchen utensils and set ups.

In our opinion it’s all about equipping yourself with the right gear and developing simple cooking techniques that will deliver the goods and will have the entire family giving you the thumbs up. Camp cooking can mean different things to different people, some like to go all out spending as much time as they would at home preparing a complicated dish, where others are happy to eat beans straight

A good quality chopping bo ard and knife like the Snowpeak (DRIFTA) product is an essen tial piece of kit.

e h t n clickeoo here vid

from a tin. For us it’s all about simplifying the process, taking your time and enjoying the experience as you cook top notch dishes that will have everyone shouting for more.

You really don’t need to have every cooking gadget under the sun to be able to cook and present top-class camp food. Whenever we are going camping we will normally always bring a couple of core camp cooking items that include, a suitable table, our dutch oven, a portable fire pit, sometimes our battery-operated rotisserie and a good quality chopping board and knife to name but a few.

A good table should always be considered as this makes life simpler when preparing your food in the middle of nowhere, we use the DARCHE TRAKA table, this clever design folds neatly in half, with the four removable legs easily attached to the base of the table. The table is light and can be easily stored on your roof rack or in the back of your 4WD or camper trailer. One of the real selling points of this eye-catching camping table is the alloy surface, no more worrying about burning the surface of your table with a hot coffee pot or a dutch oven that has just come of your fire.

Another one of our favourite pieces of kit has to be our Petromax Dutch Oven (Cast Iron Pot) We normally cook most of our camp food in it and this includes, fresh bread, roasts, stews, baked potatoes and vegetables, it has been the focal point of many a great camping trip over the years and hopefully many more to come. Dutch Ovens and made to last and have been used for hundreds of years, by both pioneers out exploring new lands but also up until the turn of the century where they were

traditionally found hanging over open fires in people’s homes where bread, and hearty meals were cooked for the entire family. These multi-use pots are made of cast iron and are perfect for baking bread, cooking roasts, stews or anything really, they are so versatile. Our Petromax Dutch Oven features a specially designed lid that can be used as a skillet or a platter.

If you do decide to experiment cooking with a dutch oven on your next camping trip, you will get the best results by cooking on an open fire but you can also use your Dutch Oven in fire pits.

Rotisserie - another one of our favorite pieces of cooking equipment is our easy to pack and set up rotisserie. This piece of kit has provided us with some very tasty meals over the years. So what is it? A rotisserie basically is a style of roasting where meat is slowly cooked over the open fire using a battery operated rotating motor. This method of cooking has been used for centuries with the name first emerging in France where it first appeared in Paris shops as far back as the fourteen hundreds. The results have to be tried to be believed, the process could not be simpler and the results are fantastic. You should always place the meat on the middle of the rotisserie skewer and fasten as firmly as you can. If you are cooking chicken or some type of bird remember to secure the wings and legs in as tightly as possible, use a bit of string if you have it, if parts of the meat are loose and can flop

CAMP COOKING SHOULD BE FUN

TIP

Bring the small plastic tubes of garlic, chilli sauce, ginger etc, you can get these in most supermarkets, avoid bringing glass containers. food in S tore your containers

around as it rotates this can affect the speed of the rotisserie, you can also burn the meat if it is not balanced correctly on the rod (remember no flames on the fire), keeping your meat balanced on the skewer will provide guaranteed perfect results. You just marinate the meat as you go, you can get on with other things while the meat is cooking, as it’s cooking slowly over a medium heat. We have cooked, lamb, beef, pork and chicken on our rotisserie and I have to say the crispy coated meat always tastes superb.

A necessary piece of kit is a good knife and chopping board. The large Snowpeak chopboard and knife set is a real camping luxury but for those of you who take your camp cooking seriously, who says you can’t have good quality cooking implements as part of your camp kitchen setup. The large Chopboard/Knife Combo now sold by DRIFTA through their new European online store includes a well-crafted folding timber chopboard with kitchen knife stored inside and a DRIFTA made bootliner bag that protects the wood when stored away. Overall this is a lovely and useful piece of kit that can be easily stored in the back of your vehicle and has a permanent place in one of our 4WD vehicles.

Fire Pits

If you can’t have an open fire to cook on for whatever reason, no dramas, you can always use a fire pit, preferably one that is raised off the ground, as this will prevent the ground from being scorched. Some of the new fire pits on the market now come with grates and are collapsible and easier to store and they are also perfect for using with a rotisserie as the same cooking process applies, in

You don’t need every cooking gadget under the sun to be able to cook and present top-class camp food, you can still enjoy delicious food while on the move.

fact we also use our dutch ovens with our portable fire pits.

In general, plan your menus before going camping, you don’t want to end up bringing lots of food with you and then having to waste it at the end of a camping trip. If you have meat in a portable fridge, good advice is to vacuum pack your grub, if you don’t have the machine ask your butcher to do it for you.

This process is where the meat is wrapped in plastic and the air is extracted from the package allowing the meat to last for several days without the need to freeze it.

Camp cooking does not need to be a complicated exercise and if planned and executed correctly it will bring a whole new and enjoyable dimension to your next camping experience. So when you are planning your next camping trip, take your time and plan ahead, put some thought into designing a workable camp kitchen that will suit your needs, and most importantly enjoy cooking your next camp feast.

G N I K COO

THE PERFECT

STEAK

When cooking on an open fire, the most difficult thing is getting the temperature right, particularly if your cooking your favourite steak.

This is where the pertromax griddle and firebowl comes into it’s own. Because of its size the temperature varies from the centre to the edges of the firebowl.

It’s perfect for cooking a nice piece of juicy steak in the wild.

We usually select a thick cut of steak like a striploin or fillet due to the intensity of the heat you are going to get on an open fire.

If possible take your steak out of the fridge about 15mins before you cook it, this allows it to warm slightly and the fibres to relax and expand.

We like to start off by seasoning it with a some sea salt and black pepper and using a tongs I place the cut of steak in the centre of the firebowl to seal it. Monitor your heat carefully, if it’s too intense in the centre of the firebowl, move it slightly outwards.

We prefer our steak smedium rare so 3-4 mins a side should do. Once cooked, we then rest it on the outer edge of the firebowl for about 4mins while we prepare the rest of the food. For convenience, we usually serve some onions and mushrooms which you can cook alongside your steak and some greens.

An easy and quick meal, full of goodness and very satisfying after a day on the road”

Make sure you r griddle is go od and hot before adding the ste aks

Cooking S teak on a hot plate/griddle Fillet Steak Onions Mushrooms Tomato Green Beans

Use hard wood on your fire

The perfect ca mp grub

n a e p o r u E e Th

PICK UP

REVOLUTION

I

n recent years right throughout Europe we are all seeing a very visible increase in the number of pickups entering the market. In what is a very common sight in the US and in Australia, pickups of all shapes and sizes are now appealing to Europeans in a way that has never been seen before. It’s now a common site to see pickups driving on the autobahns in Germany, exploring the greenlanes in the UK, tackling the tracks in Romania and exploring the great outdoors in general right throughout Europe, and according to recent figures the increase in numbers being purchased annually is set to continue.

ican Ford r e m A 2 2 9 A1 ckup Model-T pi

So why the sudden change in consumers interest in driving pickups in Europe?.Firstly, pickups are no longer seen as just working vehiA 1925 Chevr olet Pick Up cles and with the improvements in fuel consumption, comfort and technology they are now seen as a viable alternative to traditional 4WD vehicles. Also, with the disappearance of vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, which is no longer in production, pickups are now filling a gap in the market for those in search of a 4WD that looks good, is economical to run and can also pull a boat, camper trailer or caravan.And with this increasing lden trend we are also now seeing more A 1971 Ho manufacturers who traditionally

THE EVOLUTION OF THE

PICKUP

t eute the s r fi ’s a i l a r t Aus Coupe 1936 Ford

A 1925 Chevr olet Pick Up

SO WHERE DID

IT ALL BEGIN?

never built pickups introducing new models into the marketplace. We are also starting to see companies developing aftermarket accessories for this emerging market and so the cycle begins.

So where did it all begin? ‘ Ford Australia’ claimed to be the first comA 1922 Amer ican Ford pany to produce an Australian “ute”, Model-T pick up which was released in 1934. Apparently, the concept was the result of a letter sent in 1932 from the unnamed wife of a farmer in Australia asking for “a vehicle that could travel to church on a Sunday and which could also carry the pigs to the market on Mondays”. In response, Ford designer, Lew Bandt, designed a two-door body with a tray at the rear for the American Ford Model A chassis, and the model was named ck “coupe utility”. The original picki P d r o F n a ups were introduced in the USA as An Americ early as the 1920’s and we all have seen them appear in the black and white movies.

A Holden FJ U tility

It’s interesting to note that the worldwide market for pickups is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 3.7% over the next five years with the mid-size pickups proving to be the most popular in Europe (GIR Global Info Research study). So, it looks like we are in the midst of a Pick-up Revolution worldwide.

has gained 4 x 4 n a m n o In 2018, Ir nge of susa r ts i r o f l rova formal app n TĂœV Nord a m r e G y b pension kits l Motor a r e d e F n a rm and the Ge ty (KBA) i r o h t u A Transport

The Afermarket Industry With this new interest in pickups in Europe, aftermarket companies like Ironman 4x4 certainly have been making headway when it comes to developing after-market shocks for pickups. In 2018, Ironman 4x4 has gained formal approval for its range of suspension kits by German TĂœV Nord and the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). The Australian based Ironman 4x4 is the first suspension company in the world to successfully receive this stringent approval for the most popular current model 4x4 pickups that include the Toyota Hilux, Toyota Prado 150, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara NP300, Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, Mercedes X-Class, FIat Fullback and the Renault Alaskan.

For German customers this means that for their 4x4`s they can legally install the KBA/ABE certified suspension kit upgrade without requiring annual recertification. For other European 4x4 owners the TĂœV Nord approval also allows for legal installation and conformity with all national and international road laws.

NISSAN NAVARA terior A stylish in

Plenty of space in t he rear

The Navara has been designed and engineered for the specific requirements and preferences of the European market, and is manufactured locally at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona, Spain.

Improving comfort and refinement while maintaining the Navara’s acclaimed off-road ability, durability, loading and towing capacity, was the overriding goal during the new NISSAN NAVARAS vehicle’s development. The model has a robust and tough chassis which introduces a host of new engineering features designed to further improve drivability and practicality.Using the same crossover DNA that has produced popular passenger cars such as the class-leading Qashqai and X-Trail.

Nissan’s five-year / 160,000 km manufacturer warranty on the Navara is impressive and highlights the companies confidence in this vehicle.

Nissan designed an all-new five-link rear suspension system for the Double Cab, providing enhanced ride comfort and improved handling on and off-road. It is also 20kg lighter than the previous leaf spring layout.The King Cab features an updated version of the leaf spring design fitted to the previous generation model.

The ‘shift-on-the-fly’ four-wheel drive system builds on the strengths of the design fitted to the previous generation model, and delivers sure-footed traction over rough terrain.

l has been i a t e d y r e v E ngineered precision e

The Ford Ranger Raptor looks the business.

Every detail has been precision engineered for a tough life of mountain climbing, river wading and desert driving. From the built-forpurpose front and rear bumpers, and front skid plate, to the distinct Ford Ranger Raptor grille and the alloy wheels with durable tyres.

The Ranger Raptor makes a bold statement everywhere you go. The vehicle includes a powerful, new Terrain Management System.

With the push of a button you can choose from six different modes, each one optimising performance for a different terrain: Normal mode, Sport mode, Grass, Gravel and Snow mode, Mud and Sand mode, Rock mode, and for unbeatable off-road performance, Baja mode.

The Ford Ranger Raptor perfectly fuses Ford Performance DNA with good off-road capability. The well regarded Fox Pro performance-inspired suspension has been precision tuned to tackle the toughest terrains – soaking up big impacts, and smoothing out bumps

FORD

RAPTOR

FORD

RANGER

and ruts with ease. The ladder frame chassis has been forged with high-strength low-alloy steel to meet the extreme demands of off-road performance driving.

All-terrain BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 tyres have been specially developed for the Ranger Raptor. Measuring 838 mm in diameter and 285 mm wide, the design offers a tough sidewall to take on the most formidable environments with confidence, and an aggressive off-road tread pattern which provides an iron grip in wet, mud, sand and snow conditions.

Ranger Raptor also features unique underbody protection to deflect off-road obstacles.

The new bash plate is made

from 2.3 mm thickness highstrength steel in addition to the Ranger’s standard engine and transfer case under-shields The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.

mfort Built for co

2018 was the 50th anniversary of the Hilux and to mark the big birthday the 2018 Hilux Special Edition entered the market.The Hilux Special Edition boasts all the toughness, robustness, and legendary Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) that have made the Hilux a very popular pick up all over the world for a very long time.Available in Double Cab format with automatic transmission, this Special Edition features an exclusive exterior design appropriate to its range-topping status.The new front new styling incorporates a revised grille, bumper, and fog light designs, and the integration of a silver under-run, reinforcing the Toyota pickup’s tough, robust, go-anywhere credentials.

The rear benefits from a new step and the addition of a silver under-run beneath the license plate. The Hilux 2018 Special Edition reflects the ongoing growth in European sales of Toyota’s renowned pick-up as a lifestyle choice.

TOYOTA

HILUX

VOLKSWAGEN

AMAROK

The Amaro k V6 combi nes everyth that you ex ing pect from a n e xclusive , premium-c lass all-rou nder

The Amarok V6 combines everything that you expect from an exclusive, premium-class all-rounder: The Amarok has an 8-speed automatic transmission and while first gear has been specially optimised for pulling off when towing a trailer, eighth gear reduces fuel consumption through low-speed driving on long journeys. Equally unique: the option to combine the gearbox with the permanent 4MOTION all-wheel driveThe 150 kW2 and 165 kW3 six-cylinder turbodiesel engines with 3.0 l capacity have more than enough reserves even in the most demanding situations. Additional power comes from the overboost function, which briefly increases the performance of the V6 165 kW TDI engine by up to 180 kW depending on the driving situation.

The Amarok’s wide selection of 3.0 litre V6 TDI engines boasts enough power to tackle the most demanding terrain. 163hp to 224hp (overboost of 245hp) and 580Nm of torque.

The V6 Amarok also comes with an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 17-inch disc brakes at the front and 16-inch disc brakes in the rear as standard with the trailer stabilisation system providing good protection against snaking d s an 8-spee trailers. a h k o r a m The A ansmission r t c i t a m o t au

MERCEDES

X-CLASS

The X-Clas s comes in 3 designs

r des interio e c r e M c i s s A cla

Launched in Europe in November 2017, the X-Class unites the typical characteristics of a pickup with the classical strengths of a Mercedes: The new performance pickup has a comfort suspension with a ladder-type frame, rear multi-link solid axle, front independent wheel suspension and coil springs at both axles. On this platform it enters the market with different design and equipment lines, various drive variants, a wide choice of materials and colours and an extensive range of accessories developed by Mercedes-Benz which allow for further individualisation. The X-Class accommodates various uses from a robust, off-road capable pickup to an urban lifestyle and family vehicle.This pickup comes in three design and equipment variants for different working and life styles:These include the X-Class PURE,the X-Class PROGRESSIVE and the X-Class POWER Engageable 4MATIC all-wheel drive, is available for the X 220 d 4MATIC and X 250 d 4MATIC models.With it, the front wheels can be engaged or disengaged by electric means depending on the surface. The permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive system will only be offered in conjunction with the six-cylinder engine. All the all-wheel drive models come with Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) on board as standard.

According to the manufacturers almost a century of truck-manufacturing DNA has gone into the ISUZU D-MAX to deliver a kick ass pick-up With extensive experience in building diesel engines ISUZU have created a 2.5L Two Stage Turbo diesel engine with 120kW/400Nm flat torque performance. .With 3-tonne towing capacity, a larger and stronger rear tray and 4X4 electronic shift on-the-fly, this is a capable pick up.. The onboard Intelligent cabin design allows good road visibility

while Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and projector headlamps actively work to keep drivers alert to potential hazards and in control.

When combined with its tough, high tensile steel cabin, energy absorbing front end, side impact anti-intrusion bars and dual front airbags with pre-tensioning seatbelts you can be assured that the D-MAX is made stronger and safer for you and your passengers.

telligent In d r a o b The on n cabin desig

Built for ta ckling challenging terrain

ISUZU DMAX

MITSUBISHI

TRITON The TRITON/L200 design comes with a design concept “Rock Solid” that embodies, both inside and out, the full essence of its “Engineered Beyond Tough” development keyphrase.The front face incorporates the “Dynamic Shield” front design concept. The high engine hood line and beefier-looking lamps located higher up gives this pick up an imposing front face.

interior The Triton

The New TRITON/L200 4WD models are fitted with either Super-Select 4WD, which delivers optimum traction and handling characteristics for any given surface, or Easy-Select 4WD, which simplifies switching between drive modes for different road surfaces.

Both Super-Select and Easy-Select 4WD systems use a new Off-road Mode which has GRAVEL, MUD/ SNOW, SAND and ROCK (in 4LLc only) settings. When engaged, Off-road Mode integrally controls engine power, transmission and braking to regulate the amount of wheel slip and thereby maximize all-terrain performance and self-extraction performance in mud or snow.

4WD

PARTS p o h S p o t S e On

W

ith over 70000 parts and accessories available for 99% of all 4x4s on (and off) the road in Europe, Euro4x4parts is the one-stop shop for preparing your vehicle. From products such as wheel bearing kits, filters and belts through to performance suspension euro4x4 offer a catalogue that is unique in Europe. More and more of us are learning new skills when it comes to looking after our vehicles and with excellent customer service systems in place euro4x4parts staff are always on hand to advise you on what you need to get your vehicle back on the tracks.

Things have never been easier when sourcing quality parts at competitive prices and all in the one place. Euro4x4parts prides itself in customer service and developing an on-line euro4x4parts catalogue that easily allows you to select the precise 4X4 part you need, avoiding unnecessary returns. You can call one of the experienced sales team who will guide you to ensure that you get the correct 4WD part or accessory. The euro4X4parts range of products is extensive including quality rebuild kits including brakes, transmission, steering, engines, axles, and swivels to name. These guys have developed a solid reputation for providing a top quality service not only in Europe but also throughout the world. With an impressive 80% of parts dispatched the same or the next day they do not muck about and will ensure that you receive your required on time.

So if you are looking for a one stop shop where you can purchase all your 4WD mechanical parts, camping and overlanding gear and much more at competitive prices and all topped off with an excellent customer service well Euro 4x4 parts provides all of the above. For more information on the range of euro4x4parts available check out their website at www.euro4x4parts.com

s e l c i Art

Just in case you have missed them , check out some of the recent articles on euro4xparts products and advice that can now be read in 45 languages. Everything from all you need to know about gearboxes, to overland vehicle preparation to using soft shackles, the euro4x4parts rear wheel storage bag to using the RAPTOR protective coating thats is now also available on the euro 4x4parts website.

supplying

70,000 PARTS,

SPARES & ACCESSORIES

FOR 99% OF 4WD VEHICLES IN EUROPE

EUROPE’S NUMBER 1

ONE STOP SHOP

FOR ALL YOUR 4WD PARTS

& ACCESSORIES

Check out RAPTOR’s tough Protective Coating ithat provides surfaces with a protective barrier that can withstand the toughest situations.Now available on the euro4x4parts website Check out the video showcasing the euro4x4parts Soft Shackles. Soft Shackles have started to get very popular in recent years as they are now seen as a safer alternative to hard shackles.

e h t n ere o k cliicdeo h v

e h t n ere o k c cliideo h v

the electric

BUNDUT0P t n e t p roofto

A POWERFULL ELECTRIC MOTOR LIFTS THE BUNDUTOP

W

e recently caught up with Dara from TuffTrek at the April Overland and Adventure show in the UK to have a closer look at the very recognisable BUNDUTOP Electric Rooftop Tent. As you approach this tent the first thing that comes to mind is how unique it looks in comparison to any roof top tent on the market and the closer you get to it, the more intrigued you become particularly when you see it being opened and closed simply by the push of a button. Taking less than 20 seconds to set-up, your comfortable bedroom for the night is just the press of a button away.

So how does it all work...a powerful electric motor lifts the BUNDUTOP using an innovative elevating mechanism, and automatically deploys the four-sided rain flaps at the same time, adding a useful gutter for wet weather. When it comes to packing away, simply leave your sleeping bags, pillows or duvet in place taking care that doesn’t disrupt the mechanism, press

TUFF-TREK ARE THE EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTO FOR BUNDU

K

N ORS UTEC

tric m The elec usin DUTOP elevatin

www.tuff-trek.com

the down button and in less than 20 seconds later and after latching four clips, you’re ready to leave camp and hit the road. e BUNh t s ft i l motor The BUNDUative v o n n i n a g n TOP offers a ism n a h c e ng m very generous 100mm mattress guaranteeing a comfortable night’s sleep. Size wise the tent measures 2100mm long x 1350mm Wide x 300mm high when closed when opened it reaches 1030mm in height. The tent weighs approximately 73 kg and the ladder weighing 7kg.

The tent is handcrafted in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is made from durable but low weight aluminum, these roof tents have been built for tough African conditions. If you live in a hot climate the aluminum sheet on the roof ensures maximum heat reflection creating a cooler environment within your tent. All four sides of the tent have fully zipped and mosquito/midget lined windows and doors, allowing you access from all four sides with the supplied folding ladder. The BUNDUTOP roof is also well insulated and lined, combined with built in LED lighting, a 12 fan and a useful internal power-

e h t n o e r k e c i cl ideo h v

point to charge your gadgets, you pretty much have all you need here.

Optional Extra As optional extras you can now also have your tent pre wired for attaching a solar panel. You can now also attach an annex to the tent offering you more privacy when camping.

Attaching the tent to you your vehicle is straight forward, the tent can be bolted directly to your load bars or roof rack.

SPECIFICATIONS: - Full 12v Electric Operation (the only rooftop tent you can pitch with a sundowner in hand‌) - Automatically deployed Shade awning around all four sides of the tent - Tent fully erect, with awnings in 20 seconds / fully closed, all sides & awnings folded away automatically in 20 seconds!

- 2100 Long x 1350 Wide x 300 High mm Closed / 2100 x 1350 x 1030 Opened - Window covers zip open/closed from the inside - Built in LED light and 12v accessory socket (charge phones etc) - All aluminum construction, Insulated roof inside - no condensation - 100mm High Density Foam Mattress - Heavy Duty Sliding Aluminium ladder.

Tuff-Trek are the European distributors for the BUNDUTOP tents. The UK based Tuff-Trek also offer a range of quality 4x4 accessories & specialists Overland/Expedition 4x4 parts and equipment from a selection of top manufacturers that are suitable for most vehicle types and models.

Some of these products cover vehicle storage solutions like the RSI Smart Canopy and the Tuff Trek designed and patented tailgate storage piece, Front Bumpers & Underbody Protection,

th a fan i w s e m also co The tent

a very s r e f of DUTOP N U B attress e m h T m m s 100 generou

www.tuff-trek.com

GOBI-X Rear Bumpers with Swing Away Wheel Carriers etc, Rock Sliders for Hilux, Ranger, DMax, Land Cruiser etc, Camping Equipment Camping equipment Fridge Freezers Fridge Slides,Drop Slides and much much more.Tuff Trek also offer a wide spectrum of tents to suits all need from Soft top a s y a nt is alw ows.Style Roof Tents right through e t p o t u d w at sh to a specialised and premium e i The Bun v o t t n e t r range of Manual and Elecpopula tric Hard Shell Roof Top Tents, Alu-Cab Land Rover Defender Roof Conversions and vehicle mounted Awning systems.

The tent is 2 1030mm 100 x 1350 x when op ened

QUICK PITCH

Tuff-Trek are the exclusive European distributor for the

Quick Pitch en-suite .The revolutionary South African designed Quick Pitch En-Suite is the ultimate solution for overland vehicles, camper vans and caravans that do not already come with an en-suite toilet or outside shower facility.

Designed to be seriously Quick and Easy to open the Quick-EnSuite can be ready in less than 10 seconds, giving you a convenient and private cubicle for showering,

toilet stops or getting changed at the beach! Ideal for families and couples. Also ideal for getting changed for bed if you have a hardtop tent with no annex room.

Tuff-Trek are the exclusive European dist ributors for th e Quick Pitch e nsuite

can be e t i u S ck-En ds The Qui s than 10 secon les ready in

ALU-BOXS E X O B E G A STOR from Denmark

A FAMILY BUSINESS

T

introduce portable storage soluhere is no doubt tions to help us to organise our about it, a key part of gear more efficiently and one of any trip, be it a short these companies, Alubox cercamping or fishing tainly has started to grab the weekend away or a attention of campers and tourlonger trip with your ers around the world in recent family or friends for a years. couple of weeks, how you store and access your gear is someWe recently caught up with thing you should put a fair bit Soren Wiberg to get an insight of thought into. It can be very into how the Alu-Box storage frustrating pulling into camp af- boxes ter a long day’s driving, feeling exhausted and finding yourself having to spend wasted time searching for your camping gear in the back of your camper trailer or 4WD. The time spent coming up with a system that suits your needs and saves you time when setting up camp is time very well spent. In recent years been used e v a h s e x o we are seeing more companies Alu-b s for years n o i t i d e p x on e

have been taking the world by storm, but also to put some faces behind this well known Danish brand. A family-owned company that was established in Denmark, Alu-Box is headed up by Ole Wiberg who founded it back in 1999. The company is now spearheaded by his son Soren who is ably assisted by his own son Peter.

Three generations - this is a real family affair.

Soren, a keen outdoor adventurer and Land Rover enthusiast whose first vehicle was a Blue Series IIA 109, initially trained as a Landscape and Forestry Engineer before focusing his career on further

developing the family business with his Dad. Soren tells me that in the early days, they started off specialising in high quality aluminium boxes, cases and containers and they were contracted to supply the Danish Army.

Now you know that a product is of a very high quality when the Ministry of Defense start to place orders. Alu-box have also always had a close connection with the adventure and exploration community, as keen adventurers themselves their products have always been in demand from the global exploration community, be it expeditions to

Alu-Boxes are the storage box of choice for ex treme expeditions and ra ces.

You will find AluBoxes at events all over the world

Pop-Top x o B u l A e Th Camper

uge selech a e v a h Alu-Box choose from o t s e x o b tion of

the Poles or across the Sahara desert the Alu-Box have been the storage container of choice for many an epic expedition.

Not everybody might not know this, but for a couple of years Alu-Box were also involved in the expedition touring industry where they sold expedition related equipment like roof top tents and developed their own innovations like the impressive Land Rover roof conversion simply called the ‘’Pop Top Camper’’. Alu-Box built between forty to fifty “Pop Tops” before the tax regulations changed in Denmark affecting these conversions, making them expensive to build so they then decided to halt

production back in 2010. It was around this time when Alu-Box started to focus solely on the ever expanding Alu-box range of storage solutions.

The Wibergs love the great outdoors and Soren highlighted that both himself and his family love nothing more than packing up Soren’s beloved Land Rover and heading off camping. It is from this passion that they continue to strive and come up with the ultimate storage box that suits this and other types of lifestyles. Alu-box now offer a huge variety of storage boxes that cater for the expedition, military, industrial, emergency

cent Soren and his family on a re ke trip to visit and camp with Lu and his team in Australia.

Soren recently visited the DRIFTA HQ in Australia to catch up with Luke Sutton DRIFTA’s manager in chief. DRIFTA now distribute Alu-boxes all over Australia.

e h t n o e r k e c i h l c o e Serve with someid v hot soup

services, transportation and now also widely used amongst the Camping and 4WD touring communities all over the world.

A closer look at the Alu-BoxThese eye-catching and high-quality storage containers are light, dust and waterproof and can be easily secured to your roof rack and can be locked with a padlock ensuring safe transport and storage for valuables, fragile items and sensitive equipment.

Soren told us that despite having a huge range of box sizes on offer, they also build bespoke boxes that suit customer’s requirements. All of the aluminium boxes can be made with in-

ner fittings and added foam and they can also fit a high quality internal insulated liner, which is ideal for the transportation of blood, vaccines, medicines, food and drinks ,camera equipment and camping gear, the list is endless.

The company also supply a range of checkered plated load boxes, these are made for mounting on trucks, but can also be used in a variety of other areas. The company’s latest product includes a coffin for deceased persons, these coffins are presently being used by the Defence, Police and other foreign services.

ALU-BOX

teners Quality fas

The slend er Alu-Bo xs externally on the roof its rack

1 ave easy to h s e x o B u The Al es grip handl

1.Spring loaded insulated handles.

2.Resistent against sea water. 3 Choose from various sizes. 4. Perfect for using as a tucker box.

Soren highlighted ‘’for us it is all about manufacturing quality products and that is why we focus a lot of our time working on and improving the existing Alu-Boxes’’. ’’One of the recent improvements came about two years ago when we switched from using pop rivets to solid rivets making a strong storage box now even stronger”

cure in the back of your 4WD or in your camper trailer. They can be easily secured to your roof rack using a ratchet, they can be locked and with the new solid rivets they are now even stronger and will last a lifetime if looked after. Added to all of this they also just happen to have that authentic expedition look and look the business, they can dent a bit but in our opinion that only adds to the authenticity of these unique boxes.

For campers and tourers these boxes continue to gain popularity worldwide for a number of tion a m r o f n i reasons. Firstly, they are light, for more durable and portable but also, click here they have sprung handles and can be stacked on top of each other making them more se-

2

3

4

G N I P M A C D W

4

IS IT FOR

Experience a kitted out Defen Photos : Si Cox

R YOU?

nder with Higher Adventure

woods e h t n i g Campin

T

hinking of getting into 4WD Camping and touring?

Or thinking of planning an overland expedition somewhere in the world, but not sure if it is for you? Or perhaps you would like to evaluate some top quality off road equipment and accessories before commiting to buy it?

Higher Adventure hire out 4x4 Land Rover Defenders equipped with roof tents and everything you need to enjoy an overland adventure. From a two-day micro-adventure in The Lake District to two weeks exploring the Scottish Highlands, these vehicles can take you there.

Few vehicles deliver the spirit of freedom and adventure like the iconic Land Rover Defender and Higher Adventure’s expedition-equipped vehicles come with roof tents, awning, fridge, stove, table and chairs, utensils and more, everything that you need and nothing that you don’t.

An Adventurous

OFFROAD Getaway

The company can provide three door Defender 90 Station Wagon (for two people) and the five door Defender 110 Utility (for up to five). They are highspec XS models with rugged 2.2 Turbo Diesel engines, heated front seats, air-con and heated windscreen.

Chris Barrington of Higher Adventure explains that “If you have never driven a Defender before, It’s an experience you’ll never

forget and may require a certain adjustment in your driving style. But you’ll quickly learn to deal with their quirks and they’ll soon put a smile on your face, particularly when the going gets tough. With high and low gear ratios and differential lock, nothing can beat them in the rough stuff.”

The vehicles are comprehensively equipped, including top of the range Stealth roof tents from

South African company Eezi Awn, Big Country drawer units, National Luna fridges, and Partner Steel stoves from the USA. And pretty much everything else – apart from bedding and food – that you need to go on your own adventure. You can also hire a Prairie Tent from Dave Ellis Tents of Colorado if you need more sleeping space than the two-person roof tent and a range of optional add-ons include a motorcycle trailer, bike

rack, awning sides and portable toilet.

If you book a vehicle from Higher Adventure you can pick up your vehicle from them (they are located minutes off J13 of the M1) or let them deliver a vehicle to your choice of location. If you are flying to the UK they can deliver/collect a vehicle to/from most UK airports.

e r o m r o f e r e h k c i l on i c t a m infor

W

hen on a long or short trip , if you don’t have an organised storage system in place for all of your gear, things can quickly become very disorganised, and can become increasingly disorganized as your trip progresses. Packing up camp and setting up camp , or making a meal can become increasingly complicated and frustrating as you search for the missing stove or wonder where you left the plates.

In addition fragile equipment such as cameras or laptops may become dislodged from a precarious storage location and be damaged in a fall from the vehicle. One of the best solutions to organised storage while on the road is a 4x4 vehicle drawer system.

ABP Trading Provides a range of South African designed and built ‘Big Country’ Drawer units for a variety of vehicles. These tough and hard wearing drawers have been extensively tested in the bush in South Africa and are designed to carry heavy loads of up to 200kg per drawer.

The ‘Savute’ range drawers can be installed in the following vehicles, LandCruiser 76 SW, Fortuner pre

HEAVY DUTY FITS TO EXISTING MOUNTING POINTS

2016, Fortuner 2016+, LandCruiser 80, LandCruiser 100, LandCruiser 200, Prado120, Prado150, FJ Cruiser, Disco 3 or 4, Defender 90/110, Pajero CK LWB, Merc GWagon, Nissan Patrol Y61, Jeep Wrangler.

(LDVs) The Savute Range drawers are all Carpeted Inside and on top, with drawers that slide out to their full length. Most models supplied with dividers & trays for optimum packing efficiency. The Mounting kits designed to use existing holes and mounting points The ‘Zambezi’ range can be installed in LandCruiser in the vehicles.It is also 79, Hilux,Ford Ranger, VW Very easy to add a fridge Amarok, Defender 130, slider & remove it between Nissan, Isuzu, Triton, Colt. trips.

Learn more about these The Savute range is best drawer systems on suited for SUV’s while www.expedition-equipthe Zambezi is best suitment.com/ ed for Light Duty Vehicles

installed m e t s y s wer Two Dra Rover Discovery in Land

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

FORD Ranger

S U C O IN F

ford

RANGER

FORD Ranger

T

he stylish and versatile new version of Europe’s best-selling pick-up* recently introduced Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for optimised emissions, delivering up to a 9 per cent fuel-efficiency improvement when combined with an advanced new 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Ranger engine line-up incorporates a powerful Bi-turbo version of the 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine, delivering 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque – up by 13 PS and 30 Nm compared with the current 3.2-litre TDCi diesel – giving greater load-hauling capability.Available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Double Cab body styles, the new Ranger features four-wheel drive as standard, and offers business and leisure users new tools to boost convenience and productivity, including Ford’s SYNC 3 connectivity and FordPass Connect on-board modem technology.From a safety perspective the Ranger is the first vehicle in its class to offer Pre-Collision Assist with

Pedestrian Detection and Intelligent Speed Limiter as standard.

Active Park Assist is now also available, in addition to the existing range of advanced driving technologies designed to make driving less stressful and to help avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions.

for improved refinement.

The Flagship Ranger Wildtrak models and luxurious Ranger Limited both also offer new premium features, including an easy-lift tailgate.For the more series tourers and off roaders the vehicle can also wade through water up to 800 mm deep, and with 230 mm of ground clear“The new Ford Ranger provides ance. The new Ranger is decustomers with an unbeatable signed and engineered to tackle combination of pulling power, extreme terrains and with a A fuel-efficiency and smart driv29-degree approach angle and er-assistance technology, and 21-degree departure angle the our cutting-edge EcoBlue enRanger enables drivers to feel gine equipped with the latest confident when taking on steep SCR technology exceeds the obstacles. Off-road strengths are new stringent emissions regulations,� said Roelant de Waard, matched by towing capability of vice president, Marketing, Sales up to 3,500 kg and payload capacity of up to 1,252 kg. & Service, Ford of Europe.

Ford recorded class-leading The Double Cab, high-power new Ranger variants now feature Ranger sales of 51,500 units in Active Noise Control technology Europe in 2018 which is pret-

The new Ford Ranger also introduces advanced connectivity features to keep owners and operators connected on the move.

ty impressive , an increase of more than 15 per cent compared with 2017, so things are looking up for the Ranger.Ford engineering data, based on a real-world driving cycles, indicates an improvement in fuel-efficiency of up to 9 per cent using the 10-speed automatic transmission and 4 per cent for the manual powertrain versions compared with equivalent outgoing powertrains.

The 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine features friction-reducing innovations including a 10 mm offset crank design that reduces rubbing forces against the cylinder walls of the downsized four-cylinder iron block, and an optimised valve-train featuring a single-piece camshaft module.

Enhanced refinement is supported using piezoelectric technology that uses electrically responsive crystals to closely control fuel delivery – typically found in premium passenger-car engines – incorporated into the body of the engine’s injector units.

The new Ford Ranger also introduces advanced connectivity features to keep owners and operators connected on the move.The FordPass Connect on-board modem turns the Ranger into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot with connectivity for up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices, and also enables a range of features to be accessed via the FordPass mobile app – making the vehicle ownership and operating experience easier and more productive for owner-drivers and fleet drivers, including: - Vehicle Status, allowing the driver to remotely monitor items such as oil level, tyre pressures and mileage before setting off.

- Vehicle Locator, helping drivers find their vehicle in busy car parks or unfamiliar work locations

Other enhancements include a revised front bumper design and a new grille.

Ranger Wildtrak

The new eye catching Ranger Wildtrak sports a Saber Orange exterior colour, and a contrasting dark, titanium-effect finish for the trapezoidal grille and distinctive outboard air-intakes. The same titanium-effect accent colour continues to the side mirrors, door handles, side air vents and load-bed rails, for a bold and sporty appearance.

- Remote lock/unlock, allowing the driver to allow access for colleagues, or giving the driver peace of mind that the vehicle is locked Drivers can activate an Intelligent Speed Limiter using steering wheel controls to set a maximum vehicle speed. The system uses a windscreen-mounted camera to monitor road signs and when the speed limit is lower than that maximum set speed, slows the vehicle as required.

As the speed limit rises, the system allows the driver to accelerate up to the set speed, providing it does not exceed the new speed limit.For the first time, the new Ranger also offers the Ford KeyFree System and Ford Power starter button, and the tailgate lock is now integrated into the central locking system.

Other enhancements include a revised front bumper design and a new grille, the central horizontal bar now split along its length into two slim sections. New premium colour options include Diffused Silver and Blue Lightning, and higher-series versions feature premium xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights.

The interior of the vehicle incorporates an Ebony Black environment, and the painted surfaces are given a greater shine and depth. Models equipped with 10-speed automatic transmission also feature a more upscale gear-selector knob.

The luxurious Ranger Limited features black leather seats and introduces an exclusive 17inch alloy-wheel design.All up it looks the business

CAM Family Owned Australian Company Since 1958

Rechargeable Outdoor Camp Shower

Mid Sized Low Back C Eco-Pressure Shower

-5° Swag B

Quick-Fold Stre

TURASADPS(3)111018

For

www.ironman4x4.com

MPING MADE EASY

Chair

Deluxe Soft Arm Chair

Deluxe Hard Arm Chair

Deluxe Lounge Chair

120W Solar Mat Kit

Bag (Sleeping Bag)

Folding Bush Toilet

D 2 SECOUNP SET

etcher

44Ah Portable Power Pack

Quick-Fold Table and Step

a full range of camping accessories visit www.ironman4x4.com IRONMAN 4X4

YEARS

SINCE 1958

Family Owned Australian Company Since 1958

WWW.OFFROAD-

-MONKEYS.DE

O

tured from high strength aircraft grade aluminium with high quality lubrication. Things are going from strength to strength for Offroad Monkeys and they have just opened a UK website for their growing UK customer base. As the brand has grown in popularity they have also begun to sell some great high qualiSince 1985 they have been pro- ty branded accessories such ducing parts for the automotive as fuel caps, sliding window covers, custom (and very cool) and motorcycle industry. The petroleum lamps and t-shirts. company credo: “Build things Check them out online at : with passion and for eternity.

Because only satisfied customers www.offroad-monkeys.de are loyal customers. For this we and www.offroad-monkeys.uk use only the best materials and file at one part until it is absolutely perfect.�

The Company has specialised in Land Rover hinges that can take extreme use that would quickly cause less well made components to break down. ffroad Monkeys a small family business in Bavaria has made it its mission to make great vehicles, even better.

From the development and construction to the finished product, they build everything in their premises in Klingsmoos.

Designed and built in its own high tech premises in Germany, these hinges are manufac-

s on tour y e k n o M Offroad them at h c t a c n a you c ummer s s i h t d a and Allr r u e t n e b A o:Z110 n d n a t s t a

ges are n i H y e k on Offroad M gineered n e n o i s i prec

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e r o m r o f e r e click h rmation info

D-MONKEYS.UK

250SA CTEK D ass Smart P

A with s 120

C

TEK designs and develops advanced battery charging technologies for vehicles. Including dual battery systems and charging systems. When on a tour or camping trip , having reliable power to power your lights, your portable fridge, and keep your phones and devices charged is essential.

CTEK systems let you add a second deep cycle, or leisure battery to your vehicle. The dual battery system ensures that the leisure battery is charging whenever your engine is running. These systems also monitor the health of both the starter and leisure battery and help to ensure that you do not accidentally drain your starter battery, causing you to become stranded in

your vehicle.

Deep cycle (or ‘leisure’) batteries can be discharged down to 20% remaining power over numerous charge/discharge cycles without being damaged. (In contrast to starter batteries which are design to deliver a very short high capacity burst of power to start your engine). Deep cycle batteries can provide a steady amount of power over a long period of time and can surge if needed but are not designed to do so.

When installing a second battery it is important to ensure that it is mounted securely in a location that is sturdy enough to take a heavy battery.

Some vehicles are manufactured with a spare spot for a second battery others aren’t. Depending on the size of the battery it may make sense to

locate it on rack in the back, under a seat or somewhere in the cabin.

A leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries CTEK has recently launched two complete onboard charging systems, compatible with Smart Alternators.

Designed to maximise the performance of leisure batteries and provide information about the state of battery charge, these easy to install solutions deliver piece of mind, leaving you free to get the most from your leisure time.

The dual input CTEK D250SA allows you to enjoy your vehicle more with maximized bat-

tery capacity as the ideal charger for vehicles without access to a mains power supply.

The D250SA is a fully automatic, 5 step charger that supplies up to 20A of power to any 12V lead acid service battery from 40-300Ah, including Wet, EFB, MF, Ca/Ca, AGM and Gel. It has selectable charge voltages for AGM batteries and can use power through its dual input from alternator, solar panel and wind power. When the service battery is fully charged, the D250SA will automatically redirect maintenance charge power to the starter battery.

The D250SA can maintain a stable output up to 20A to

vehicles fitted with smart ECU controlled alternators and also has a temperature sensor for optimised charging, regardless of weather conditions. Smartpass 120 is a 120A Power Management Solution which distributes, controls and maximises the available energy from your alternator to power service batteries and consumers, it handles all 12V batteries between 28800Ah. The Smartpass 120’s Battery Guard function ensures that critical equipment such as radio, emergency lights and navigation systems always have power and take priority when the voltage

on the service battery is low disconnecting non-critical consumers. The unit’s Battery Guard will protect your service battery from total discharge and built in over temperature protection reduces charge current before the battery temperature gets too high.

Dual battery systems are a good and a very popular choice for providing power to your campsite while on extended journeys off the grid, and where your vehicle is going to be responsible providing your primary source of electrical power.

click here for more information

ATTACHING the

PANORAMA 2 ROOF TOP TENT

ANNEX

tion for camp lu so t c fe r e p A ing with kids

Plenty of r oom in the awning for sto rage

In a previous issue of the magazine (issue 7), we had a look at the very popular DARCHE Panorama 2 rooftop tent. A high-quality Annex can be attached to the Panorama 2 and we are going to have a closer look here at how easy it is to attach it to your deployed tent.

young kids. They also add additional shelter, luxury and convenience to your camping set up.

Basically, for those of you who have not used one they offer additional sheltered space underneath your rooftop tent.

Annexes hang from the area of the roof tent that folds out and enclose the area underneath the Those of you who use annexes know how beneficial they are tent including the roof tent ladparticularly when you travel with der. They generally come with a

the n o clickeo here vid

1

2 3

1Attach annex to tent base 2. Zip around the base of the tent.3. Attach the seperate PVC floor to the base of the tent.

floor that helps to seal the room from the elements and can also help to keep out unwanted visitors such as bugs and other unwanted creatures. The quality of your Annex really depends on the type of tent you purchase with some cheaper models not always guaranteeing that they will keep the rain out, and there’s nothing worse than waking up and finding your belongings on the floor of your annex all wet after a downpour.

ing in and providing a play and changing place for young children in bad weather. Other uses include storage or it can even be used as an additional room where the kids can sleep and leave the parents to the comfort of the roof top tent.

The DARCHE Panorama 2 Annex comes with a strong 550gsm PVC zip off bucket floor that can be quick attached to the annex with the high quality zips. The annex also packs up very easily into the provided bag. The anHigh quality Annexes like the one that fits onto the Panorama nex provides a number of entry 2 offers a perfect living space options/windows that also give excellent ventilation for those where you can shelter in the event of harsh weather, it is also hot nights. With the option of using the DARCHE telescopic the perfect solution for cook-

poles you can open the annex windows using various combinations. The Annex dimensions are 2500mm long and 2000mm wide offering plenty of room for shelter and storage.Large 90cm W x 140 cm H annex windows.Strong and fine insect mesh throughout Attaching the Annex is quick and simple, firstly you should secure the ladder to the base of the tent using the strap provided, this will prevent the ladder from getting in your

way. Then simply remove the annex from the bag and zip the annex to the base of the tent frame, when this is done you can then zip the PVC bucket floor to the base of the annex, peg it down and that’s it. The zippers are a very high quality and easy to zip.

re o m r o f e r e click h rmation info

STEP 1 VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.TURAS.TV FIND THE ARTICLE YOU WANT TO READ.

STEP 2 ON THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE WEBPAGE WWW.TURAS.TV CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE OF CHOICE CLICK ON IT AND THE ARTICLE WILL THEN BE TRANSLATED ...THATS IT !

READ OUR ARTICLES

0NLINE IN

S E G A U G 45 LAN WWW.TURAS.

TV

o r e n r o c n w Find your o

NAVIGATT OFFROAD GPS NAVIGATION

of the world..

TOR FOX 7 N SYSTEM

with the

ROBUST OFF & ON ROAD NAVIGATION

The FOX 7 is the latest GPS Navigattor device from Spanish company Navigattor. In last month’s podcast we caught up with Ferran, owner of Navigattor, and developer of the Navigattor range of GPS Navigation products. You can learn more about Ferran his travels and his company in episode one of our podcasting series.

The The FOX 7 is a GPS built as a rugged and waterproof tablet PC. Its rugged and waterproof construction allows it to be used in 4x4, buggys, maxi trail bikes and quads.

The device contains a high gain

‘

The FOX 7 is watertight an d can be used on quads, buggys and bikes as well as in 4x4 vehicles.

‘‘

‘‘

FIND THOSE HIDDEN PLACES

ng nted usi u o m s i 7 ts system n u o The FOX m AM uality R the top q

al ase is c g n i ry dy car Fox 7 A han ble for the avila

GPS reciever which means that it will provide extremely accurate positioning information, normally below 1 meter in open spaces (for reference a mobile phone or a tablet normally have an accuracy close to 10 m in open spaces in the best case).

The device , as with all of the Navigattor GPS

systems can be used for both off road and on road navigation. The Fox 7 posesses a 7 inch high resolution bright screen of 1280x800 pixel and is readable in direct sunlight.

The device gets its power from a cradle which powers it directly and keeps it waterproof.

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

lso

The operating system in use is Android 6.0 which means that the end user can install third party applications if they wish to.

OziExplorer application, with a custom made interface developed by Navigattor.

As with all of the GPS systems provided by NavigatThe Internal memory has a capacity of 16GB and there tor, worldwide topographic maps for OziExplorer are is also slot for a micro SD card with a capacity of up to provided free of charge for the owners of Navigattor 64GB. GPS devices and can be requested directly from the The device has 4G conneccompany via its website. tivity which also means that it can be used to make OziExplorer also allows usphone calls and access data ers to upload WP and Track files in GPX format. broadband Bluetooth version 4 is used to enable helmet headset communication.

The Offroad Navigation mapping is served by the

The on-road navigation is provided by OSMAND which also allows users to download free worldwide maps and which can also be operated in offline mode.

LEAVE NO

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

Never le ave rubb ish at y our campsit e.

A

s 4WD owners and people who love exploring remote areas and finding that perfect campsite it is very important that we protect and respect the environment and always take out what we take in. Every country throughout Europe and beyond have 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 thus give us all a bad name. The Leave No Trace principles is predominantly geared towards non-motorized use of the outdoors where transportation is made possible by human or animal power, but these principles should also apply to those of us who like to get off the beaten track with our vehicles and do some wild camping and the term Tread Lightly is often used.So what does that mean?

Similar to the Leave No Trace principles, these are the Tread Lightly principles that we should all consider:

Travel and recreate with minimum impact

Travel on designated tracks only.

Never create new routes, expand existing trails, or cut switchbacks.

Avoid sensitive habitats Avoid muddy trails when possible as driving on them can further damage the tracks.

Respect the environment and the rights of others Respect and be considerate of other users so that all may enjoy a quality outdoor experience.

When driving, yield to horses, hikers, and bikers.

Respect wildlife. Be sensitive to their life-sustaining needs by

keeping your distance.

Comply with signage.

Leave gates as you find them and always obtain permission to cross private land.

Educate yourself, plan and prepare before you go.

Know local laws and regulations.

Know which areas and routes are open Make your trip safe. Have the right information, maps, and equipment and know how to use them.

Allow for future use of the outdoors, leave it better than you found it.

Take out what you bring in.

Properly dispose of waste.

Leave what you find Restore degraded areas.

Discover the rewards of responsible recreation Do all you can to preserve the beauty and inspiring attributes of our lands and waters for yourself and future generations.

Outdoor recreation provides the opportunity to get away from the hustle of everyday life and builds family traditions.

Respect the environment and other recreationists. By using common sense and common courtesy, what is available today will be here to enjoy tomorrow.

ubbish r r u o y take E Always O TRAC N E V A ..LE with you

IF YOU TAKE IT IN

TAKE IT OUT

OUT N

NOW the Click on video here

RESPONSIBLE SUSTAINABLE & ENJOYABLE

GREENLANING

I

f like me you live in the UK and find yourself driving through the countryside constantly coming across inviting looking turnings off lanes that look like they could be the start of a great BOAT (byway open to all traffic) or UCR (unclassified road) but are hampered from investigating them further due to being unsure whether you’re legally allowed to venture up it or not then read on.

ful team from All Terrain UK. If you’ve not discovered this company and their service yet then they’re definitely worth taking a look at. Combining their active promotion of responsible and sustainable green laning, an ethos that mirrors of own values here at TURAS, their innovative SmartTrail solution enables you to effortlessly and clearly uncover where you can, and more importantly, can’t drive in the UK’s plentiful complex network of green lanes.

During our recent visit to the Adventure Overland Show at Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse in April, we were fortunate enough to find our own TURAS stand located next to an impressive looking stand manned by the extremely friendly and help-

100% accountable to their members and operating the highest levels of transparency at all times, their network of local representatives regularly arrange family friendly meets and provide members with local knowledge, as well as hosting events

Red, Amber, Green.

By hovering your mouse over the track you wish to know more about, information appears telling you whether it is legally accessible (Green) and also highlight any possible issues or restrictions that are worth knowing about prior to venturing up it eg. it’s only open and accessible during certain months of the Their exclusive mapping system, year (Amber). Those highlighted in Red are a no go and the reaSmartTrail, is available to all soning for this will also be highmembers and was demonstrated to me at the show by Darren lighted.

Roberts, one of the Directors Members also have access to a and founders of All Terrain. centrally held maintenance fund, The SmartTrail software compro- from which you can apply for mises of a user friendly mapping project funding. To date their projects have included; lane solution that overlays online Ordinance Survey maps of areas clearances, gate and fence reacross the UK and clearly labels pairs and provision of way marking signage. tracks and green lanes utilising a simple traffic light system of such as map reading workshops, SmartTrail tutorials and green lane awareness days.

Membership of their organisation, costs just £25 p.a. (plus a one-off £5 joining fee), and gives you access to their forum where you’re able to share or download routes from their library of GPX files.

The SmartTrail software compromises of a user friendly mapping solution that overlays online Ordinance Survey maps of areas across the UK and clearly labels tracks and green lanes utilising a simple traffic light system of Red, Amber, Green.

THE INNONATIVE

SMART TRAIL

SOFTWARE

Funds can be sought by all members, for any project that helps keep green lanes open and accessible for ALL users.

As initiatives go this is something that we can all learn from, with so many countries in Europe having different rules and regulations when it comes to tackling greenlanes and remote tracks, one thing is for sure is that we should all be universally be promoting sustainable and responsible touring particularly when off the beaten track

To find out more why not take a look at their Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram feeds or simply log on to: www.allterrainuk.com to see a comprehensive overview of their service, meet the members of their team and complete the simple membership form to start making use of the service and start safely and legally enjoying the UK’s green lanes.

SPRING 2019

OVERLAND SHOW STRATFORD-UPON AVON

T

he TURAS team recently attended the spring Adventure Overland Show at Stratford-upon-Avon.

This was a great weekend, with lots of interesting exhibitors and a full schedule of interesting seminar talks - freeto-attend talks given by both professional and amateur speakers, which provided fascinating tales of adventure, coupled with ad-

vice and tips galore, these talks have become so popular that the organisers have had to increase from one to three rooms to accommodate all of the talks.

This spring show also saw the introduction of the International Campervan Show featuring mainly two-wheel-drive vehicles, and this opens the field up to an even wider audience and a wider variety of

exhibitors, seminar talks and attendees. This show also welcomed a lot of motorcyle tourers to the mix.

As usual the onsite campsite was filled with a variety of fascinating vehicles.

There were plenty of delicious food options available near the bar tent, and of course the bar tent was also hopping on Friday and Saturday night. This spring show also introduced a new after hours feature, an

acoustic music tent, where a variety of talented performers entertained all evening on the show’s ‘unplugged’ stage. If you haven’t been to the show yet, you should definitely check it out, and we will see you at the late summer show in September.

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

W

hen off the grid for extended periods, its very useful to have an independent source of light and power. Dual Battery systems are a great solution and are covered elsewhere in this issue, and while it is possible to charge dual battery systems using solar power, they are normally best charged while driving your vehicle. If you plan to stay in a location for several days (or weeks) then an alternative and reliable

source of power and light can be very useful.

Solar Lighting is a great option. Using a solar panel to charge a power hub during the day, enables you to have a reliable source of light and power in the evenings on an ongoing basis.

The SolarHub 64 from Solar Tehnology International is a complete lighting and power kit in a box. These new Solar Hub lighting kits provide easy to fit lighting and power for a variety of locations. Solar Technology kits are used in stables workshops, sheds, garages

–anywhere there is no grid connection. These kits are also ideal for providing power or light when touring off the grid.

The kit contains a high efficiency Solar panel, an advanced lithium battery hub and 4 x super bright 300 lumen led Strips (bulbs are also available as an option) the SolarHub 64 kit provides enough light to illuminate an area of 8m x 8m (64m2) The system is also expandable allowing for additional solar panels and led strips or bulbs to be added into

s sit well The LED strip ck rail of in the roof ra ders our LR Defen

the hub setup. The SolarHubs solar panel can collect enough energy during the course of the day (even in cloudy climes) to power its lihgts for between 2 and 7 hours every day of the year (2 hours in the winter – 7 hours for the rest for the year based on the 3w LED bulb).

TURAS have been using the SolarHub 64 for several weeks now, we park a vehicle in a position to maximise orientation of the solar panel to the sun, mount the panel and set the hub

charging. Setup is very easy and the charging indicator shows the charging progress and when not charging, shows battery remaining.

We found that the LED strips fit very well in the roofrack rail of our Land Rover Defender. We normally mount the lights in the rail underneath our roof tent. This provides illumination from the side of the vehicle in a sheltered area. The strips can also be used to illuminate a roof tent annex or indeed can also be used inside a roof tent, with sufficent length of cables provided in the box.

You can use just one LED strip or chain 4 (or more LED strips together) based

on the amount of lighting that you require/ the location where you are using the lighting.

In addition to powering the included LED strips, the Hubi Hib can also be used to power a wide variety of electronic devices, including smart phones and tablets, Laptops, tyre inflators, portable showers and more.

The hub contains two USB sockets and one 12V socket, two sockets to attach the lights and also an on/off switch for the lights.

The SolarHub’s main battery unit has a 2 year warranty and the included solar panel has a 10 year warranty.

e r o m r o f e r e h k c n i l o i c t a inform

used to break vehicle winThe ‘SUV Car Doorstep’ is a handy little gadget available dows in an emergency.

This device is very handy, from suvdoorstep.com extremely quick to install, The doorstep is made from merely hook it on your vehiaircraft grade aluminium cle hinge latch and then you with a stainless steel hinge can use it as a step up to pin. Its multiple contact points disperse the load on allow you very easy access to your vehicle roof. your vehicle’s door latch.

The device has a maximum load limit of 230KG. A rubber bumper on the side of the device which is placed against your vehicle protects the vehicle from scratches.

The doorstep folds up very neatly and comes in a fabric carrying pouch.

A hardened point on the tip of the device can also be

This can make working on a roof rack, setting up or taking down a roof tent or accessing any gear stored on your vehicle roof rack much easier. Its compact size means that it’s easy to leave in your vehicle under a seat or in a cubby box or glove compartment, and have it always ready should you need quick and easy access

to something on your roof.

It fits on most vehicles, we have found it does not work on Land Rover Defender hinge latches which are a little too wide to accommodate the hook, but it fits well on the Discovery and most other vehicle with bar type hinge latches.

You can learn more and buy the doorstep online here: https://suvdoorstep.com/

e r o m or f e r e click h rmation info

CAMP KITCHEN

www.adventu

e h t n ere o k clicideo h v

ure-trucks.nl

e r u t n e v d A Built for

SNOWPEAK gs e P g n i p Cam

COULD THESE BE THE STRONGEST CAMPING PEGS ON THE MARKET ?

We have been using the Snow Peak camping pegs for a while now and are very impressed with how strong these pegs are.

These pegs can be used in hard ground surfaces and won’t bend in fact you would nearly want to beg them into concrete to damage them they are that good.

You can get these stakes as part of a Snowpeak hammer and stakes combo that are sold by DRIFTA in the EU. The stakes are made in Japan from forged steel and are incredibly strong

and durable. The striking looking hammer is fitted with a replaceable copperhead that will decrease the shock incurred when striking a stake and helps deliver an even blow from the hammer.

The copperhead also helps reduce potential slippage from the head of the stake when hit.The Snow Peak Hammer’s handle is made from a beautiful natural evergreen oak, so its very hard wearing and will age beautifully .The hammer also comes with an attached strap for safety when in use.Click here for more information .

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