TURAS Camping and 4WD Magazine - Issue Sixteen

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

EXPLORING

BULGARIA 4WD CLUBS

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS VAN BUILD

COOL BOXES THE HISTORY OF WOOL

BRONCO

FREE

E-MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2020 - ISSUE 16 - SUMMER ISSUE

PLUS

THE BIG SUR

COOKING TRIPODS NORTH AMERICA

INEOS GRENADIER & THE DARCHE GEAR

SPECIAL MAGAZINE

Editorial

We have been busy making some tweaks over the last couple of weeks and we hope you like the new look magazine.

Trying times still for us all, though on a positive note we have been able to get out and about a bit more. It also seems that the interest in camping has been taken to new heights with people from all over Europe and beyond trying it out for the first time as they enjoy their staycations. The down side to this surge in interest has been the increase in litter being left behind on campsites. It’s such a bug-bear for us, and we just don’t understand why some people (in truth the minority) don’t adhere to the basic leave no trace principles, and just muck (that’s being mild) things up for us all. We feel a TURAS campaign coming soon to explain how to take a dump in the wild without leaving a mess behind...excuse the pun.

Anyways, in this issue we explore awesome Bulgaria with 4x4 Camping Bulgaria,Ron

Photo:Nicolas Genoud - Geko Expeditions

and Viv Moon bring us on a fascinating tour across North America. We take a look at some great camp cooking equipment, including the new cool box, cooking tripod and also clothing from Petromax.

We share some tips on adventure and outdoor photography.

This issue also sees the first part of a cool new camping van build with Funki Adventures.

If you have not already seen it , learn more about our special DARCHE gear supplement ‘A Life Outdoors with Darche’ showcasing some of the best camping products on the market. We have a new feature on 4WD Clubs worldwide, where we meet some clubs in Australia, Bulgaria, Belgium and the USA. As always we take a look at the latest camping and 4WD gear and accessories that can help to make your trips more comfortable.

We do hope that you enjoy this new look issue

The TURAS team

EDITORIAL TEAM

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole CONTRIBUTORS

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

Russ Mark

DESIGN TEAM

Paul

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole Marie Frith PUBLISHED BY

TURAS Camping & 4WD Adventures Ltd.

Trish

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

Ali Frank

SALES & ADVERTISING

info@turas.ie Copyright © 2020 TURAS Camping and 4WD Adventures Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: info@turas.ie

Marie

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

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A Life Outdoors with DARCHE

Petromax Coolbox

Exploring Bulgaria

12 40

24

54

4WD Clubs Worldwide

VAN Build

With Funki Adventures

76

contents.

Leave no trace

Hardshell Rooftent From Euro4x4Parts

90

Ineos Grenadier

124

94

104

Petromax Cooking Tripod

Defender Parts from Offroad Monkeys

114

North American Odyssey

132

Latest Gear The latest camping gear

10

240+

pages Full of

outdoor lifestyle

Bravo Snorkel New Models

Expedition Equipment APB Trading Ltd.

32

154 Alu Boxes

166

172

The History of Wool Clothing

Ford Bronco

182

contents.

Gas Grill

Skotti

198

JeepGladiator Farout

Adventure Photography

204 218

Wash your clothes On the go..

The TURAS Podcast

224 238

Premium Digital eMagazine get out on the tracks with TURAS

E E FR Includes over 200+ pages on everything camping & 4WD

Featuring: • Over 200 pages of quality content • Read on any device • Interactive video and audio • Gear news and review • Camp cooking tips and recipies • Touring routes and travel stories

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

A

G

A. Petromax Coolbox The Rugged Petromax Kx50 - 50 Litre Passive Cool Box. Keep your food and drinks cold for up to 12 days.

B

B. Petromax Cooking Tripod The Petromax Cooking Tripod enables you to easily cook over a C campfire or firepit, simply hang a firebowl, Dutch oven or a kettle over your fire using the adjustable chain and hook.

C. DARCHE RTT Accessory Storage Bag Keep shoes and personal belongings dry and protected with this handy storage bag from DARCHE.

F

G. DARCHE Gear Special If you haven’t checked it out already, be sure to take a look at our recent DARCHE ‘Gear Special’ Magazine supplement ‘ ‘A Life Outdoors with DARCHE’ for lots of top quality and innovative gear from the Australian brand.

E

F. Petromax Loden Strong woolen clothing for campfire and adventure from German brand Petromax.

D

E. Portable Camping Gas grill from SKOTTI This neat portable grill brings the convenience of a gas BBQ grill to the campsite, its easy to use, looks great and packs flat for easy transport.

D. Scrubba Tactical Wash & Dry Kit Finally a way to always have clean clothes available to you while on the road. This is a clever solution that makes hand washing your clothes easier, faster and more efficient..

W

ell, if you are a frequent reader of TURAS Camping and 4WD Magazine channels, you will no doubt have seen some photos or videos of our team using or demonstrating some DARCHE products. We are big fans of DARCHE here at TURAS, and are glad that we have been able to help bring this brand and its high quality range of products to the attention of our readers in Europe and beyond.

In Australia, the name DARCHE is synonymous with quality and innovation, and the company produces a range of camping and 4x4 touring equipment and accessories, including Tents, Swags, Roof Top Tents, Awnings, Sleeping Gear, Furniture, Gear Bags, Fire Pits and more.

Product design is overseen by experienced product developers and passionate staff who are keen outdoor enthusiasts with sound knowledge and experience to match.

THE DARCHE BRAND

IS SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY &

INNOVATION

The company’s innovative products are sometimes copied but never improved upon, with an unmatched attention to detail and focus on quality, DARCHE has been revolutionising the 4WD camping and touring market for nearly 30 years. Beginning with shaking up the (then-traditional) swag market with the introduction of the Dome style swag, which is now the most recognised style swag around the world.

Founded almost 30 years ago

by Darren O’Dwyer and his wife Cheryl, the DARCHE brand is still going strong and enjoying an expansion internationally as more and more people become aware of its high quality, tough wearing and long lasting range of products. DARCHE uses superior quality materials in all of their outdoor gear range and constantly develops, researches and refines new materials and technologies to ensure DARCHE products remain leaders in terms of innovation, quality and

durability.Now that these products are being seen by the international camping and touring community they are also becoming more widely available worldwide with distributors now in Europe, the Far East, the USA , Mongolia, Thailand and Japan.

TURAS is proud to participate in this effort to bring DARCHE products to the attention of a wider audience in Europe and beyond.

We hope that you enjoy our special celebration of the joys of ‘’a Life Outdoors with DARCHE’’.

QUALI gear guaranteed .

ITY

ROOFTOP TENT SHOE STORAGE

BAGS

Features & Specifications

•2 x Roof top tent shoe storage bags •Slide onto your roof top tent as a shoe or accessory storage bag •Keep shoes and personal belongings dry and protected •Convenient front mesh pockets •Easy access fold over lid design •Attaches to most roof top tents •Store empty RTT Shoe Storage Bags flat inside roof top tent when use •600D Polyester Oxford PVC laminated Dimensions:2 x 450mm L x 450mm W x 60mm D.

The simple ideas are always the best right? But seriously having a place to store your dirty boots and other items before you hop into your Rooftop tent just makes perfect sense. For so many years we have been jumping into our tents at night and had to leave our dirty boots in the bottom corner of our rooftop tent and this is never really a great idea. Between bringing in the muck and sand into your tent and dirtying your sheets, sleeping bag or the canvas walls of the tent this was always an issue.

That with the added issue, for those of us who have smelly feet, of stinking up the tent and driving your partner or loved ones to near suffocation. Who, me? A roof top tent bag is a great and simple solution. The DARCHE Roof top tent bag has

been a blessing in disguise and like all of the DARCHE gear this is made from high quality materials. And it’s not just a bag for holding your dirty boots, it is also ideal for storing essentials in the mesh pockets that are easy to get to, like a bottle of water, flash light, your vehicle keys, sunglasses, phone, toilet paper, sanitisers and so on.

No more frantically looking for your keys or mobile phone after packing up from a weekend camping and wondering if you’ve left them all packed away in your rooftop tent. Other advantages include not having to climb up or down your rooftop tent ladder in your feet which can be annoying.

exploring

BULGARIA

IN YOUR 4WD

BULGARIA GETS A LOT OF SUNSHINE AND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SUNFLOWERS

W

ith so many countries throughout Europe that we have yet to cover in the magazine this is one camping and 4WD touring gem that we were keen to focus on.

Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing the Black Sea coastline, a mountainous interior and rivers, including the Danube. A cultural melting pot with Greek, Slavic, Ottoman, and Persian influences, it has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, costumes, and crafts and also just happens

to be an awesome destination for exploring remote tracks in your 4WD.Sitting between 44°13’ and 41°14’ north latitude, 22°22’ and 28°37’ east longitude, it’s geographic location places it on the crossroad between Europe, Asia and Africa.

The total length of Bulgaria’s borders is 2,245 km. Of these borders, 1,181 km are on land, 686 km are on rivers, and 378 km are on the sea. Bulgaria borders to the north with Romania, to the east with the Black Sea, to the south with Turkey and Greece, and to the west with

Macedonia and Serbia.

Weatherwise, it falls within the southern part of the temperate climate zone with subtropical influence. The country’s geographic position also determines the relatively wide angle of sunlight that falls on the country, making the country predominantly sunny and perfect for the touring lifestyle

and of course growing sunflowers for which the country is famous.

We recently caught up with Bulgarian native Kiril Lliev where we had the opportunity to discuss what Bulgaria has to offer the 4WD touring community. Adventure seekers Kiril and his wife Doroteya are involved in the local Overlanding Community where they run tours

and share details on remote trails and off the beaten track camping locations to fellow tourers.They also produce videos for their YouTube channel, where you can find gear testing and GPS coordinates for landmarks with a bit of historical background.

“We are keen mountain bikers and rock climbers and given our

love for adventurous activities it was a natural progression for us to get involved in off road touring in Bulgaria’’. ‘’Our beloved Hilux takes us and our three kids much further into the wilderness and this has allowed us to explore remote areas in Bulgaria’’. Kiril and Doroteya have since started a company simply called “4x4

Kiril and his wife head up 4x4 Camping in Bulgaria

Camping Bulgaria� and have begun importing quality 4WD touring products that they also use and test on the trails. Kiril said that the 4WD touring lifestyle is relatively new in Bulgaria and that is why we are spreading the word about awesome products available like the DARCHE brand and the benefits of this adventurous lifestyle.

Kiril told us that while the Balkans is popular among 4WD tourers, Bulgaria is often overlooked as a touring destination despite the fact that it possesses incredible trails, plenty of history and a stunning landscapes.

Camping

Bulgaria is blessed with plenty of free camping spots, in recent years the iOverlander app has flourished highlighting places to stay for a day or two before venturing further into your adventure. Generally, you can free camp anywhere, unless it is explicitly forbidden or not allowed for your own safety, explained Kiril. For example,the Rila mountains is home to a bear population so caution is required. Kiril also told us that near the Stara Planina it is not unusual to hear the howls of native wolves as you settle down for the night, how cool is that.

But its not all about the awesome camping and 4WD tracks, when travelling in these remote areas, you are likely to stumble upon high mountain villages ( 1,000m above sea level) with some of them accessed by challenging dirt or rocky roads.

Some of these villages are now partially abandoned with trees coming out of the roofs of some of the dwellings. Close to the

remote Strandja mountain, you will find ancient Thracian ruins which are well worth checking out,Kiril recommends seeking out a local guide who will unfold the amazing history surrounding this ancient terrain.

National Parks

There are three National Parks and eleven nature parks in Bulgaria.

Generally, the national parks do not allow vehicle access however some tracks are opened with special permission from the respective park administrations.It is also worth noting that there can also be a quota for the number of vehicles exploring the National Parks,for some parks it is around two vehicles per weekend). Each park has a website where you can get familiar with each area’s rules and regulations. For example, the Rila National Park has a detailed map which highlights the routes open to 4WD vehicles and the ones that are not. https://www.pirin.bg/ https://rilanationalpark.bg/en/

Mapping

When it comes to navigating yourself off-grid in Bulgaria, Kiril pointed us towards the free BG Mountains

There are three National Parks and eleven nature parks in Bulgaria

SPOT THE BULGARIAN

SAUSAGE

EXPLORE ANCIENT

ROMAN

ROCKY ROADS

(https://bgmountains.org/ en/) which is regularly updated with new tracks. However Kiril highlighted that these maps are more suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Another recommendation includes Wildmaps (Android / iOS based app) these are maps especially developed and supported for offroad usage. They have distinctive trail markings for 4WD / 4x4 or ATV / cross-motor. If you happen to have a proper GPS unit,

you can buy a lifetime license (per device) for that map – OFRM (https://karta.bg/index.php?nobody=nobody?language_id=2).

There are some discrepancies in all of the digital and paper maps, but you can still pretty much plan your route with them.

There are still lots of ancient Roman rocky roads preserved to this day and usable,good suspensions are recommended before tackling these tracks.

The local community

Kirirl and Doroteya are also members of the local Land Rover Club who run lots of initiatives to preserve the tracks and places of interest.For example, the club has run various restoration activities, where they have restored shelters, tables, and benches for tourists and visitors to rest.

They have planned more initiatives with other national parks in the future.

All up, we will be keeping a closer eye on developments in Bulgaria,one thing for sure is that it certainly has plenty to offer the 4WD tourer when it comes to exploring remote tracks, enjoying amazing vistas and experiencing a culture that is rich in history.

WILD

l u f r e d n & wo

BULGARIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HASN’T CHANGED ITS NAME SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 681 AD

Nearly 1/3 of Bulgaria is covered in Forests

7 INTERESTING FACTS

ABOUT BULGARIA Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that hasn’t changed its name since it was first established. This happened in 681 AD. The oldest gold treasure in the world was found in Bulgaria (in 294 graves were found 3000 gold objects dating back more than 6000 years).

Bulgarians shake their heads to mean yes and nod for no.

The Bulgarian army has never lost a single flag in battle.

Nearly one third of Bulgaria is covered in forests.

The roses grown in Bulgaria’s “Rose Valley” produce most (70-85%) of the world’s rose oil – a component in most perfumes.

In 1976 UNESCO declared the ancient Bulgarian calendar as the most accurate in the world.

PASSIVE Cool box

THE NEXT GENERATION

Most of us who read this magazine love camping and enjoy nothing more than packing up our vehicles and getting off the beaten track as far away and as often as we can. A key part of a successful trip is being able to keep your drinks and food cold, particularly on those hot summer days.Having the right storage solutions is also important to protect your food and drinks from getting damaged in the back of your vehicle.

Fridge freezers are a great option but not everyone has the luxury of a dual battery system to keep their fridge freezer ticking over while they explore and camp at their favourite locations for extended periods of time.If you are getting into the touring lifestyle and if a dual battery system is not yet a priority well there are options, with some new and improved solutions that are capable of doing a great job.

in cool boxes

Petromax is very well respected in the camp cooking world and as this innovative company evolves, they have started to introduce some awesome new products including the recently launched Petromax Icebox range. Like all Petromax products they are very well made and are a great mobile storage solution for storing your drinks and food in the back of your touring vehicle, camper

trailer, boat or camper van for an incredible 12 days.So before we get into having a closer look at the new Petromax coolbox let’s have a look at the benefits of coolboxes in general. When you invest in an coolbox for the first time you will more than likely end up asking yourself the question why you did not have one before, the joy of having a cold drink sitting by your campfire is just the best thing ever. Whether you want to store ice cold drinks or safely keep food at a fridge-equivalent temperature at a picnic or barbecue, these ice boxes add their weight in gold. Iceboxes should most definitely be the first step prior to purchasing a fridge freezer for your touring needs, particularly if you have just recently got into the touring and camping lifestyle.

The decision to purchase a coolbox instead of a refrigerator often comes down to your budget but also if you just want to get away on a shorter trip they are the perfect solution. Don’t get me wrong fridge freezers have major benefits but an icebox can also be a great solution for many.

Introducing the new Petromax range of coolboxes. When we first got wind that Petromax were bringing out a new range of coolboxes we knew that this was going to be interesting. Having worked with Petromax over the last twelve months we have been using its camp cooking products on various camping

trips and we are very impressed with the quality of this gear.

The team at the German based company clearly take their time when designing their products and only use the best of materials, this stuff is built to last the test of time. These new ice boxes certainly have an edge over other models on the market, not only do they look great and can take a beating they will also keep your beer and food cool for up to 12 days , yes 12 days ,now that’s impressive. Available in an Alpine white,Sand & Olive

the kx25 and kx50 models are ultra-passive cooling systems offering a completely autonomous supply. The insulating layer of at least 1.7 inch enables the robust PE corpus of the cool boxes to keep ice cool for up to 12 days.

The double walled construction with void insulation is made from optimally chosen, durable materials. The Cool Box is made from durable polyethylene and extremely sturdy.With 25 l capacity for the kx25 and 50l for the kx50, the cool boxes offer enough storage space for your

‘‘

KEEPS YOUR FOOD & DRINKS COLD FOR UP TO 12 DAYS

‘‘

FEATURES & ACCESSORIES

Built Strong

Drain Plug

Locking Plate with bottle opener

Storage Basket

favourite beverages and food. The inside of the cool boxes is designed to accommodate 1l or 1.5l bottles and thanks to the fully integrated handles you can easily move these boxes around when fully loaded. Some of the features include the integrated drain system which allows you to easily drain melted water, this also makes it easy to clean your cool box after use.

Some other features worth noting include the non- slip lid that is strong enough to be used as a seat when sitting around the campfire or when fishing.

The unit also has reinforced latch plates allowing you to lock your cool box and prevent your favourite honey being taken by a wandering bear or your favourite beer being taken by strangers or your camp buddies. The cool boxes also have some great accessories that include: The Dry Rack Basket for the Kx-series- The basket is simply placed on top of the inner edge of the Cool Box keeping its contents dry and away from the ice and melted water. A perfect pace for placing your fruit, vegetables or cardboard packaged foods.

You can also get a locking plate with an integrated bottle opener so no more looking for an opener around you camp site or trying to open your favourite with your teeth.

This stainless-steel accessory fits perfectly in the position of the lower locking plate of your Petromax Cool Box The Locking Plate is a universal design and is suitable for all cool box models.

Some Tips

The optimum cooling performance of the Cool Box is achieved when it is cooled down one day before your outdoor adventure begins.

• Only stock with pre-cooled beverages or food.

• Use larger blocks of ice if possible.

• Always place dry ice, cold packs or ice on top of your beverages , as the cold sinks downwards to the base of the icebox.

• Try and limit the amount of times you open your icebox • Try and store your icebox where possible away from direct sunlight.Also, try and pack your icebox with as much ice as possible as this will keep the ice cooler for longer. The less air the better.

• Always transport in an upright position.

We now have been using the Petromax icebox for over eight weeks and are very impressed with the quality and its ability to keep your food and drink cold for extended periods of time. We have taken it on numerous camping and fishing trips and have also been using it in the back garden where it is a feature in the new TURAS Camp kitchen. One of the real selling

points of this product is its ability to keep your beverages For more information on this cold for up to 10-12 days but awesome product click here . also the quality of the build it’s pretty much bullet proof and will take a lot of abuse for many years to come.

Like all Petromax products they don’t mess around and don’t cut corners this is a very high quality product that is well priced. All up we love it.

4WD CLUBS WORLDWIDE

4WD

The benefits.

L

ike most 4WD owners, I have always enjoyed a sense of adventure and a real desire to get out and about as often and as far away as I can in my Landrover Defender. Sometimes in order to experience unique and adventurous excursions you have to take your vehicle a bit further afield and this requires a bit more confidence and knowledge. Un-

fortunately you don’t always get this from reading a book or watching a documentary. I have been fortunate enough to have negotiated green lanes, rainforests, deserts, beaches, mountain ranges and glaciers in my standard Land Rover Defender 90.During its relatively short life by Land Rover standards, I have been lucky enough to have taken my short wheel base over the volcanic ranges and

D CLUBS

...............

The first club that I joined was in Australia, after shipping my vehicle to Sydney, I immediately made some enquiries and it was not long before I signed up with the Sydney Land Rover Owners Like most people who buy a Club. After meeting some of the 4WD for the first time, we all members I was given plenty of have big plans for what we are going to do with it and where we expert knowledge about four want to take it.In my opinion the wheel driving in Australia , pre trip preparation and the potenfirst thing we should all look at doing is joining a 4WD club and tial dangers of heading out into remote locations in the Australisurround yourself with people an Outback. who will over time give you the confidence to learn more about your vehicle and in turn will help The first bit of advice received when going bush was to always you be better prepared to take carry plenty of water, a second your pride and joy further into the unknown. Personally I would spare wheel, fit a radio for communication and to carry recovery not have done a fraction of the equipment. Other accessories things I have experienced in my Land Rover had I not been a added over time included a roof top tent, awning, fridge freezmember of a 4WD club. glaciers of Iceland and through the deserts, rainforests, and the remote outback on that big dusty rock, Australia.

SO WHY JOIN A 4WD sCLUB? wag on a stretcher in a

er and shower.I knew Australia was a big country, but I didn’t realise that you had to drive nearly 1000 km from Sydney before you reached the red dirt.

Over time both myself and the Land Rover got pretty used to having to drive long distances before reaching our preferred remote destination. And thanks to the members of the Sydney Land Rover Owners club, I got to learn loads and experience some awesome places with confidence.

passion for the lifestyle, making new friends, going on adventures and learning new skills and of course the benefit of getting access to restricted tracks.

It’s not just beneficial from the perspective of shortening your learning curve should you be a newcomer to the 4WD world but also many 4WD clubs do some great work in their local communities all over the world and this is often forgotten. Let’s have a look at some clubs from the northern and southern hemSo why join a 4WD club? Well the isphere and compare some of their activities and the great simple answer is why not? With so many benefits it really is a no work that they do in their lobrainer. Some examples include cal communities. Having joined being able to hang out with like the Sydney branch a number minded people and sharing your of years ago,I was immediate-

I knew Australia was a big country, but I didn’t realise that you had to drive nearly 1000 km from Sydney before you reached the red dirt

ly very impressed with how this club was structured and the variety of activities that took place all year round.

The Sydney based NSW Land Rover Owners Club (LROC) was established in 1966 and since its inception the club has promoted responsible four wheel driving as a legitimate recreational and family activity. Some of the monthly activities include weekend and extended trips that cater for both novices and experienced Four Wheel Drivers. Other activities include monthly club meetings,regular 4WD trips of varying duration,access to areas otherwise closed to the public and 4WD’s, access to the The LROC News - monthly magazine, access to the book and video library,training Courses including Driver Training, GPS navigation, and so on.

One of the cool things about this Land Rover club is that you don’t have to be a Land Rover fanatic to be part of it,in fact they have lifelong members who don’t even own a 4WD, so they have a very open policy.This club has many members with historic vehicles from original 1948 series 1 to Range Rovers.

Trips are organised to cater specifically for historic vehicles as well as technical days for those who want to do their own spannering. There is a wealth of knowledge within the club covering every model and aspect of rebuilding older vehicles . Rebuilding engines, gearboxes, differentials, fixing electrics, welding firewalls, paint spraying -

C O R L A I L A R T S U A

This club has many members with historic vehicles from original 1948 series 1 to Range Rovers

there are members who would be considered to be a experts.

The club also look after their environment by organising events where they tidy up pristine locations and maintaining tracks, my first impression after joining this club was how environmentally aware and focused members were,they really do care.

The Bulgarian Land Rover club was founded informally in 2005 and was simply called

‘’Land Rover Enthusiasts Bulgaria’’, and in 2018 it was re-registered as the Land Rover Club Bulgaria. The organization started as a group of enthusiasts who had initiated activities for preserving tourist infrastructure in some of the most picturesque places in Bulgaria.

nations and who want to adhere to the Leave no Trace principles.

All of its members share technical advice and make efforts to establish contacts with other enthusiasts and clubs both from and outside of Bulgaria.

The club recently had the opportunity to test the new Land Rover Defender.Having spoken to Kiril LLiev from 4x4 Camping he said that ‘’overall they were very impressed with its capabilities,the new Defender had a good play with some of the older vehicles owned by members of the club.

The club also now takes care of a number of military monuments and several picnic areas that have benches and tables in the western and central part of the Stara Planina. The club also actively supports municipalities during times of natural disasters and emergency situations.

Having spoken to Henk ter Mors This club also focuses on unitfrom the Land Rover Owners ing people who share their interest in preserving tourist desti- Club Belgium, he highlighted

B U L C R E V O R D N LA

A I R A G L BU

LRO

M U I G L E B

that the Belgium Land Rover Owners Club (LROCB) was founded in 1992 and now has approximately 200 members. Henk also highlighted that the club organises at least one club activity per month. Examples include group members venturing on trips to tackle the tracks in the neighbouring France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The club also arranges longer trips to Poland and Romania (8-10 days) where they put their Land Rovers to the test as they tackle much more challenging tracks.

That’s one of the advantages of living on mainland Europe, being able to explore neighbouring countries and having access to thousands of kilometers of green lanes.

One of the main club highlights in recent years included mobilising a whopping eight hundred vehicles in a sand quarry in Wavre. In 2017 the club also celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Chateau de ChĂŠrimont aka Sclayn wan area in Belgium, an area that offers some top class 4WD tracks. One of the main events in the clubs 2018 calendar was in Oostduinkerke which is approximately 50 miles from Calais, this event fitted in well with the 70th anniversary of Land Rover and incorporated the club bringing together hundreds of vehicles on the beach.

Massive, wide open spaces, a love of large vehicles and an abundance of cheap fuel makes the US a natural incubator

for a growing Overlanding community. One of the better known clubs is Socal Overland, a group who are active in not only enjoying their hobby but who also are working to protect the valuable natural wilderness on their doorstep in Southern California.

ilies out on Overland trips, with the goal of educating them on how to travel on dirt safely while avoiding any damage to the surrounding areas.

They run 2 - 4 day trips on which typically 24 to 30 rigs take part and they split them into groups of 7-10 rigs, each of which has a seaSocal Overland was started by 3 friends John, Adam and soned guide on the trail. The Matt, who had enjoyed Over- groups are divided up for landing as parents, introduc- safety, then all meet together at camp for the evening. ing their kids to the open John estimates that 60% to deserts, vast forests and 70% of the participants are imposing mountains of the couples or families. “We also region. They made the decision to ‘take the lead’ and host larger camp events help others bring their fam- where we host free classes

Socal Overland was started by 3 friends John, Adam and Matt.

S B U L C D W 4

A S U

Colorado has a thriving Overland community, which tends to overlap a little with the more technical off road groups. The clubs in this region are generally families and typically the One of the focuses of the club is membership ranges in the 40 to to teach kids to ‘leave no trace’ 50 years age group. The clubs as well as providing instruction in the region vary in size, though on First Aid as well as how to use emergency communication some of the larger ones such as equipment.

Grand Mesa Jeep such as first aid, recovery, and land navigation. Those camp trips can host up to 150 rigs with over half being families” according to John.

Club and Mile Hi Jeep Club, for example, have over 100 dues paying members.These clubs typically schedule one or two big events per year where a full week will be spent on the trails. However, most outings are single day or one night camping trips.

In Colorado, Jeep vehicles are most prevalent among the clubs and on the 4x4 roads, especially the Wrangler TJ and Wrangler JK models. Toyota is likely the second most popular brand, with Tacomas, 4Runners, etc.

There are some clubs that are brand-specific (for example, one must drive a Jeep) but a number of clubs are open to all brands.

Notable exception-we have one member club named “Colorado Jeep Girls� which is comprised of women only, sorry boys. They are relatively new (3 years old) but they are growing rapidly and are very active with monthly tech/maintenance workshops, monthly trail ride outings, and contributions to stewardship projects such as rubbish cleanups, erosion mitigation, etc.

In our next issue of the magazine, we will dive into what these clubs are doing to protect and preserve their environments and we will also take a look at some of the legislative efforts underway to work with land managers.

So for those of you who are new to the 4WD touring and camping scene, we highly recommend joining a 4WD club in your area, its just a great way to reduce the learning curve and by being part of club it will give you the skills and confidence to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors safely. Stay tuned for the follow up article in issue 17 and happy touring.

The Colorado Jeep Girls club is girls only, sorry lads.

COLORADO LAND CRUISERS

THE

VAN BUILD IN ASSOCIATION WITH

1 T R PA

M O R F G N I N R LEA

YOUR MISTAKES

H

aving recently teamed up with TURAS, we agreed to take on a challenge,led by myself, a little like a Top Gear Challenge to build a vehicle, which can do some light offroading, carry a ton of gear, sleep a family of four and generally make an adventure pretty comfortable.Our project? The Ford Transit.

Not usually the first choice for Overlanders, or families, or anyone who isn’t a

plumber. Online ads were scanned, phone calls made and occasional outings to used car dealers undertaken. Ultimately the effort resulted in locating a 15 passenger, 2017 mid-roof Transit in Los Angeles.

Step 1

Pulling out 10 of the 15 seats (I needed to keep one bench seat in the rear (for the screaming offspring).

Step 2:

Install a bed. The mounting points for the seats and seat belts were now available (with seats gone), and those mounting points are rock solid. After a few days of blood, sweat and tears (that’s not a phrase, that’s what it really took), a basic bed was created from box iron and wood, topped off with a 6� memory foam mattress.

Step 3:

Having at least 2 bikes inside the van is important, as parking overnight in a city, with expensive mountain bikes on an outside rack is just asking for trouble.

Some aluminium lengths and 2 drawer slides were mashed together and somehow, a sliding DIY bike rack materialised.

We had a family trip planned for the van and with approximately 1 week to go, the entire result of about 6 weeks of work included a grand total of one bed and one bike rack, still no kitchen.

Step 4:

Thankfully the cavalry arrived in the form of Dave and Parker from Motive Design LLC, with a Pull Kitchen which absolutely elevated this van from a DIY melange of random metal and wood, to something that looked cool, professional and organised.

A basic bed was created from box iron and wood, topped off with a 6� memory foam mattress.

This awesome product is a fully contained kitchen unit complete with its own water supply, power, water pump, sink/tap, ample storage and lighting. Within a couple of hours we had a professional, fully functional kitchen in the van.

Step 5:

Introducing the Rinse Kit+. Simply fill it using a tap or hose. It ‘bottles up’ the pressure from the water supply and whenever you want a jet, shower or mist of water, pull the lever on the hose and a strong flow of water is instantly available. No need for a shower inside the van!. We also used the Rinse Kit to wash the larger pots and pans which wouldn’t fit into the sink … and we had warm water thanks to its clever in-built heating element.

The Maiden Voyage:

Evening time at the first campsite, I nonchalantly slid out 5 feet of gleaming pull kitchen (magically suspended by its heavy duty slides bolted to the Transit’s floor). The entire unit magically extends, revealing a Dometic sink and 2 burners. As the sun set, a panel mounted button turned on the lights - not only in the storage units or the work surfaces, but also underneath with the ground being illuminated. This is a cracking set up.

Our trip took us up the California Coast to Big Sur, one of the most beautiful coastlines I’ve had the pleasure to drive. Not only is the Pacific Ocean there for swimming, but there are also hidden waterfalls and streams as well as some off-road

FUNKI ADVE

only campsites. Unfortunately as our developing a ‘van kit’ that will Transit does not yet have lifted susaddress this. pension or off-road tyres,we couldn’t access the off-road sites. Next time! Cost So what have I spent so far?, Verdict well for a camper/adventure On the van after 4 days of camping? van that’s functional Bed? Good. Though we might need (but maybe not so pretty ... some height adjustments as present- yet): heres the breakdown. ly it is too close to the ceiling.

Van $22,000 Pull Kitchen? Amazing, however, for Registration etc $640 our Adventure Van, we need someServicing, thing that can be easily lifted out alignment, repairs $410 and moved to a picnic table. The Bed rame materials $654 team at Pull Kitchen are presently Foam mattress $220

ENTURES Small interior cabinet $25 Sliding bike rack

Frame materials $445 Sliding drawer rails for Bike rack $182 Rinse Kit + $155 Pull Kitchen $4385 Misc items $210 Total $29,326

or â‚Ź24,000

So what was learned from the maiden voyage? First up storage and organisation is key and a solar/battery combo is definitely needed. When

parked for a day or two, it’s annoying to have to start up the engine to get the fridge cold again.

good off road tyrese are likely in its future.

In summary … there’s still a lot of work to be done. If you learn by failing, then Next steps?

I’ve learnt a huge amount!

Install a roof vent fan, figure So much work to do. On the out if solar is an affordable option and add a roof top tent bright side, the TURAS Magazine will keep you updated, for more sleeping options. step by painful step. Learn This van needs to look the part too, especially if it is join- from my mistakes! Stay tuned ing the Funki Adventures fleet. for the Van Build Part 2.

A suspension lift and some

The impressive Pull Kitchen with the lights on.

chilling out

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2

Funki Adventures are an Overland 4x4 off-road adventure provider based in San Diego, California. We get you ‘off the beaten path’, in luxury, throughout California and neighboring states, by renting you a self-drive 4WD Jeep off-road camper. Each Jeep has a Roof Top Tent for Overlanding luxury. Whether you want to experience the desert, drive forest trails in the mountains or surf in the Pacific Ocean - we’ve got a tailored trip for you.

Funki Adventure’s goal is to send people to locations and trails they simply wouldn’t find on a regular road trip, so we offer custom designed trip plans which factor in time available and adventurer preference for what you want to see and do.

I K N U F

S E R U T N E V D A

o e d i v

CAMPING WITH

KIDS

Well, for several of the team here at TURAS who have young families and often take our children adventuring with us the benefits are clearly visible from the instant smiling faces and watching them embrace the different environment and instant found freedom that they love. Indeed the very fact that most Friday evenings involve us being begged ‘Can we go camping this weekend?’ is proof enough, but thinking about it further ther are some obvious tangible benefits such as: Learn new skills: Help develop their creativity: Increase fitness: Build confidence: Develop resilience: Connect with nature: Sleeping under the stars and being immersed in a new environment full of new sights, sounds and smells can help them gain a new love and respect for the beauty of the world around them and ensuring you employ the ‘leave no trace’ ethos helps reinforce that message of respecting the planet.

LEAVE NO

TRACE

There is a lot of bad press out there all over Europe and beyond at the moment focusing on on the minority of campers who are not respecting the Leave No Trace Principles. As campers and people who love exploring remote areas and finding that perfect campsite it is very important that we are seen to protect and respect the environment and always take out what we take in. Every country through-

out Europe and in the British Isles 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 particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic it is now as important as ever for us all to abide by the Leave No Place principles. We can learn a lot from the little ones.

E

uro4x4Parts has just announced a new range of hardshell rooftop tents.

The tents are available in four models,with a choice of large or extra large sized tents and also a choice of two colours, with black and white colour options.

These great looking tents are contained within an ABS hardshell case. The tent material is waterproof ripstop fabric. The tents are very easy to open with the aid of the built-in pop-up gas struts. Each tent has two side enterances with zippered doors , and the hardshell case can be held tightly closed with its 10 security latches.Other features of this tent range include built in mosquito nets, a tele-

scopic ladder and a handy built in solar powered ventilation fan to keep you cool on those humid summer nights.

The range also has a rechargable interior solar LED light with built in USB port and a handy storage net for your bits and pieces in addition to 3 storage pockets. The 7cm thick anti-condensation mattress is avaiable in 1.25m x 1.9 (Ltent) or 1.35mx 1.9 m (XL tent) The large version weighs 55kg and the extra large version weighs 57kg You can learn more, and get up to date pricing at http://www. euro4x4parts.com/en/4x4mechanics.html#!article/5423/ Hardshell_Rooftop_Tents

France and International 4600, route de Bayonne 40390 STE MARIE DE GOSSE France +33 (0)5 59 45 11 44 +33 (0)5 59 45 11 55 (fax) monday to friday 8h30 - 12h30 / 13h30 - 18h30 welcome@euro4x4parts.com

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the contender

The challenger to the Land Rover Defender ‘workhorse vehicle’ mantle.

“4 Pints of beer and a new iconic off road vehicle please!”

The all new INEOS Grenadier Off road Vehicle

Whether you’re a Land Rover fan or not, back in 2016 when the last of the original Defenders rolled off the production line in Solihull, England, most lovers of outdoor life were sad to see this iconic utilitarian vehicle disappear.

However, the promise of a new modern day version of the off-road icon kept many of us on tenterhooks as we waited to see what Land Rover would deliver as its worthy replacement.

Love or hate the new Defender, and there’s plenty that seem to do both, it’d be fair to say that a replacement for the original the new Defender it is not. Featuring air suspension, although very able, if it breaks on you whilst out in the middle of nowhere there’s going to be no fixing it there and then

and with 85 ECU’s on-board its reliance on electronic wizardry is fine when it’s all working but again get a fault and you’re not going to be fixing it with a lump hammer and spanner.

So suddenly a void opened up in the market for a truly modernised version of the ultimate utilitarian off road vehicle.

Now, it’s often said that some of the world’s best inventions were devised ‘on the back of a fag packet’, indeed legend has it that Maurice Wilks himself drew the first plans for the Land Rover Defender in the sand of Red Wharf Bay in Wales back in the day. So it’s rather fitting then that the men behind the now potential successor to the Defender’s best off-road vehicle mantel reportedly came up with the idea for a stripped back, no nonsense utilitarian vehicle, over a pint in a pub in Belgravia, London. With a reputation for being the most haunted pub in London, ‘The Grenadier’ dates back to 1720 and was originally built to house the First Royal Regiment of Foot Guards, known as the Grenadier Guards. The resident ghost, Cedric, is thought to be that of a soldier caught cheating at cards in the pub in 1818 and who was beaten to death outside. Since then he has been seen walking through the rooms with most of the paranormal activity taking place each September, the month of Cedric’s murder. However, rather than some supernatural being it was five gentlemen from global chemical company, INEOS, who came up with the

idea of building such a vehicle and aptly its name ‘Grenadier’ is taken from the name of the pub in which the idea was first mooted. INEOS, a global manufacturer based in 26 countries with 183 sites and over 22,000 employees is amongst other things a principal partner of Formula One giants Mercedes AMG Petronas, own two professional football teams, OGC Nice in France and Lausanne F.C. in Switzerland, are creating the world’s first biomass based PVC and in partnership with Forever Plast recycle millions of plastic bottle tops.

Aside from the Formula One link, not really the sort of profile you would associate with the potential producer of what could end up being one of the best off road vehicles in the world. However, completely struck with the idea conceived in the pub, INEOS chairman, Jim Ratcliffe, pulled together a senior team of automotive experts and combined with the company’s manufacturing expertise launched INEOS Automotive Limited to do just that. The past few years has seen the company steadily dripping out information to an expectant market about the exciting new vehicle they are building, and just a few weeks ago in July 2020 they finally released the

first long awaited exterior images which it has to be said bear an uncanny resemblance to the vehicle whose previous position in the market they are looking to replicate. Jim Ratcliffe, who once tried to buy the rights to keep building the original Defender, insists that it’s purely coincidental and is just down to the fact that the vehicle has been designed with capability at its core that it’s ended up looking almost exactly like the old LR Defender 110. However JLR’s lawyers disagreed and tried to stop the

Grenadier being built looking so similar, but in early August 2020 the court’s dismissed JLR’s appeal and it turns out Land Rover never trademarked the Defender’s shape, so INEOS are free to continue on and bring the new vehicle to life. Looks apart, it’s clear what INEOS are developing in the Grenadier is going to be very different and much improved once you get under the skin. From its box section ladder frame chassis, solid axles front and rear and permanent 4 wheel drive, it’s got the underpinnings

of a great off roader, However it is some of the other key component differences which are pointing towards this being a real game changer. Take the fact that the A frame locating arm used on the Defender to stop the lateral movement of the axel has instead been designed using the superior Panhard rod design.

Around the back of the vehicle the rear door, again replicates that of the Defender with the spare tyre fixed to it, however on closer inspection you’ll see they’ve cleverly designed a

split rear door system that gets around the issue of the heavy large single door holding the spare wheel and features a small second door independent of the spare wheel which allows easy quick access to the rear.

Looking all around the vehicle sides it features a number of utility rails sitting there ready for you to attach to them whatever your heart desires.Add to this the ‘heart’ of BMW’s TwinPower turbocharged straight six diesel and petrol engine options and automatic gearbox from ZF and

it’s starting to sound like a serious bit of kit. In fact it looks as though they’ve taken the Defender and tried to fix and improve all the little annoyances and bits people didn’t like about them – arguably what Land Rover should have done themselves when creating the new one. The vehicle, currently being developed in Bridgend, South Wales but with recent rumours circulating about its build being moved out to Moselle in France in the future, it is described by the INEOS CEO as being “a massively capable offroad vehicle, but it is up to you to go and make it your own”. And it is surely this attitude that is pure music to the ears of any wild camping, overlanding, off-roading enthusiast, and I for one cannot wait for the next instalment and its eventual release in 2021… watch this space...

Camp

A GREAT CAMP COOKING SETUP

t

The Cooking Tripod and Hanging Firebowl from Petromax make a versatile combination for camp cooking..

he Cooking Tripod from Petromax is a very versatile option for camp cooking. The tripod is a three legged stand which comes with an adjustable chain and a large hook, and which allows you to hang a variety of different cooking equipment over your campfire or firepit.

The sturdy hook enables you to hang a large Petromax Dutch oven, kettle or hanging fire bowl.

Using the adjustable chain the distance between the Dutch Oven or firebowl can easily be adjusted. The chain itself does not get very hot, so it is easy to adjust the height when required.

The chamfered feet ensure that the Tripod stands safely on all kinds of different surfaces and each leg can be adjusted individ-

ually to ensure that the Tripod remains evenly balanced on uneven ground.

ENTRORAE NIHINTE NOXIM URSULES! SCIT

PALICAVOCUM REI SA LIFC HUIDI

The Hanging Fire Bowl from Petromax is simply suspended on the hook of the Cooking Tripod via an eye rod. The Firebowl provides a large cooking space for meat, vegetables & other foods. Over the fire the bowl quickly reaches the right temperature for cooking and is ready to use in no time. Just like with the Petromax Griddle and Fire Bowls, the food juices are not lost on the fire but are retained in the bowl, which enables you to prepare especially juicy steaks or burgers and fried potatoes and eggs as well as mixed, grilled vegetables, cooking these delicious foods in their own stock.

Thanks to the different temperature zones on the cooking plate, burger buns or prepared food can be kept warm on the edge of the bowl while meat is UNUM AUT CONSULUM DIUMLOR roasted in the centre. The tripod and hanging bowl together provide a very flexible cooking option.

The cooking equipment can be suspended over a regular campfire or can be placed over a firebowl like the Petromax Atago.

The Petromax Cooking Tripod has quickly become one of our favourite setups for camp cooking.

The large cooking surface allows for the ‘chef’ to cook lots of food at the same time which is great for larger families or groups.

The amount of control that is possible over the cooking temperature, by raising and lowering the firebowl using the chain and also due to the different temperature zones on the firebowl gives great flexibility when cooking food and also keeping it warm when needed.

It is also very obviously built to be tough and hard wearing and it looks great too and provides a great focal point for a camping setup.

This excellent camp cooking setup is definitely going to be in our vehicles for all future camping trips.

COOKING TRIPOD SPECIFICATIONS Transport size (folded): 4.7 x 38.5 x 4.7 in (12 x 98 x 12 cm) Height (mounted, from the ground to the highest point): 34.5-56.5 in (88 -144 cm) Length (leg): 34.5-62.5 in (88159 cm) Weight: 9 lbs (4.1 kg) Maximum load: 88 lbs (40 kg)

COOKING WITH PETROMAX IS ALWAYS EASY

E D A M % 100 Y N A M R E G N I

LANDROVER PARTS

ALUMINIUM HINGES Made in Germany from high strength aircraft grade aluminium with high quality lubrication. feature stainless steel bearings which can be replaced if needed without having to replace the entire hinge.

COMPANY PROFILE 100% MADE IN GERMANY

Landrover Defender Parts built for extreme use.

These parts are designed and built to endure, and to make an already great vehicle, the Defender, even better...

German Parts Built to last

T

he Offroad Monkeys continue to grow from strength to strength. This small, family run Bavarian company continues to innovate in the production of high quality, precisely manufactured parts for the iconic Land Rover Defender vehicles.

The company’s founder Fabien Muller saw an opportunity when he saw that most Defenders eventually suffer badly damaged or badly rusted hinges, on the doors and bonnets of the vehicles, being the workhorse

DEFENDER that it usually is, the normal hinges on a Defender are continually under strain and, unfortunately, the original vehicle hinges are not up to the task. The original door hinges have quite a few problems. Rust tends to build up and leaks down on the door in a rather ugly manner. Humidity can get into the car. Experienced Landy drivers are familiar with this problem. The Offroad

Monkeys have a permanent solution for this problem. Their door hinges are built for eternity.

Precisely manufactured from aircraft grade aluminium, the Offroad Monkeys Defender hinges were the first products to be manufactured by the company.

However, since these beginnings, Offroad Monkeys has continued to add high quality replacement

R PARTS parts for the Defender to its product catalogue. Today the Monkeys provide a wide range of replacement parts, including hinges for all of the doors,tailgates, and the bonnet, replacement mirror arms, replacement window frame holder and replacement window frame holders with built in LED lights.

With Offroad Monkey’s new window blocks, 2 powerful low beam headlights with 2 power LEDs

(each 8 watts) can be mounted.

The cables are laid invisibly into the interior without having to drill additional holes. Also, replacement sliding window covers, fuel caps and interior door handles, spacers for raising Chassis, Hardened brake pistons and more.

These parts are all designed to replace the original parts, and

are all constructed with superior materials and precision by the company in its own plant and all of these parts are 100% made in Germany.

And, as a small and agile business, the company can also produce custom parts for its customers. Fabian and the team at Offroad Monkeys pride them-

selves on the quality of the products, and the company’s stated mission is is to make an already great vehicle, the Land Rover Defender, even greater.

As an established premium brand the company also sells a small variety of branded lifestyle accessories, such as a range of petroleum lamps and T-shirts. You can check

out the range of products, get in touch with the team and order online

NORTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY Ron and Viv Moon’s pilgrimage around the North American continent takes in the best and some of the lesser known delights of the USA, Canada and Mexico. In the last five years they have spent 17 months there, clocking up 76,000km in their quest to discover the continents secrets.

Words and Images : Ron and Viv Moon

M

eat Cove is located close to the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, while the camping area of the same name - not a glamorous one to be sure, but the title is deceiving – is perched on the steep rounded hills overlooking the bay where precipitous jagged cliffs plunge into the cool waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is an impressive place with gannets wheeling overhead and dolphins

Gettysburg Virginia Memorial with General Robert E Lee on his horse

Coal Mine Canyon, Arizona

and whales cruising offshore. It was one of the best camps we have had in our traverse across North America and probably the only one in the east of that magnificent continent I’d go back to.

ferocious biting black flies can cause!

Our first four months of American peregrinations had been spent wandering the south-west where we lost ourselves in the But, in proof of the old saying more remote country and environs of Nevada, Arizona, New that there is no perfect place, that was where and when we Mexico, and western Texas found out all about the irritation before coming back into Utah, and annoyance that Canada’s now our favourite state in the

“

Colourful birds down Mexico way..

Lower 48. The second phase of our adventure had seen us wander down into Mexico savouring the delights of the La Ruta del Tequila (The Tequila Trail) and the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which was the first route traced by the Spaniards in America and ran between Mexico City and Sante Fe in New Mexico. We spent some time in the historic town and World Heritage Site of

“

San Miguel de Allende, once an important part of the Royal Road before heading to the tumultuous Mexico City. Our plan being to see the Teotihuacan Pyramids, with its mighty Pyramid of the Sun and smaller, but no less impressive Pyramid of the Moon, both dating back to 100BC. But, somehow along the way, we got involved in a parade of striking school teachers with literarily

thousands of armed police around while the next day we enjoyed a much more colourful and friendly Lesbian and Gay march with hardly any police presence at all. Aaah, the unexpected delights of overlanding!

Turning north we crossed back into the USA and the state of Texas where we took a tour of the impressive King Ranch, which once owned sprawling properties in Australia and introduced, amongst other innovations, the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle to the continent.

Still the biggest ranch in the USA, stretching across nearly 400,000ha it runs 35,000 cattle and 200 fine quarter

horses, along with vast areas of cropping plus wilder areas for recreational hunting and bird watching.

From our camp on the nearby Padre Island National Seashore we poked our way through eastern Texas to Arkansas and Tennessee and to the Smoky Mountains National Park before heading along the Blue Ridge Parkway through the greenery of the Appalachian Mountains to Washington DC and its incredible monuments and museums.

We got to New York too, a week or so later after leaving Washington DC, going there via Gettysburg (man, the

“

Glad to get away from the big smoke we headed to Acadia National Park

“

Yanks do their historic and battlefield monuments exceedingly well), but we could have easily bypassed the ‘Big Apple’.

less populated fields including West Quoddy Point Lighthouse - the most easterly point of the USA.

Glad to get away from the big smoke we headed to Acadia National Park - my diary for the trip stating we passed through four states in the one day - New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and then Vermont - before we found a pleasant camp in a state park surrounded by the verdant forests of eastern America. The national park though, when we got there, was crowded, so we pushed on to lesser-known and

It was a just a veritable hop, step and a jump to Canada from there and we headed to Nova Scotia with its gigantic tides in the Bay of Fundy and pretty Prince Edward Island where some of the biggest tuna on the planet can be caught (and released under strict environmental controls).

Ron and one of the marchers at the colourful and friendly Gay and Lesbian parade in Mexico City

On our return the following year we started our adventures with Quoddy Head, the most easterly lighthouse in the USA

We took the long sweep of dirt and muddy road north, and then west.. a camping foray to Meat Cove and then caught the ferry to Newfoundland and headed to the Cape Spear National Historic Site and the most easterly point of the North American continent, the roads remaining blacktop all the way. Swinging back west we stopped for a few days along the coast of Gros Morne NP and its sheer sided Western Brook Pond, which is a land locked fjord reached by a mile or so wander along a boardwalk and a boat trip. On the northern tip of Newfoundland we discov-

ered L’Anse aux Meadows, thWWe only authenticated Viking village in the whole of the continent.

With yet another ferry ride across the Gulf of St Lawrence we landed in Labrador and took the long sweep of dirt and muddy road north, and then west, to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. This is a pretty remote part of the planet, but things are changing rapidly here with a couple of hydro dams and power developments pushing a long, wide

THROUGH INDIAN LAND

and sinuous power line through the virgin forest and across the bogs and marshes of remote eastern Canada to bring electricity from the remote parts of that province to the more settled precincts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Soon the whole route from Blanc-Sablon, where the ferry deposits you in Labrador (really just across the border in remote eastern Quebec), to Goose Bay will be boring bitumen.

From the industrial-come residential base of Goose Bay (there’s not much to say about the place) we found our way through the remote parts of the vast province of Quebec passing

huge hydro dams and monster iron ore mines to the historic capital on the Saint Lawrence River - the old walled town of Quebec being the only such fortified city in all of North America. We enjoyed the old part of the city and the history, but Quebec and its French-speaking citizens are, it seems to us, a bit of an anomaly in the wider, vaster and more populated expanses of the country. Certainly, it feels like a different country with its French-only signs, language and customs, and to be honest, we felt more like an outsider here than in any other province in Canada.

Fog shrouded our trip along the coast of Maine to Canada

Sick of the crowds and looking for quieter quarters we headed north from Quebec City and then west on roads used mainly by logging trucks, hydro workers’ pick-ups, or mining exploration vehicles.

At one lonely camp on the edge of a small nature reserve we had a black bear take an uncommon amount of interest in our vehicle, waking us up in the middle of the night as he pushed the back end of our Ram 2500 this way and that, before wandering off into the dark.

Passing over the great shoulder of Lake Superior we crossed the border back into the USA and into Minnesota, finding the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi in the pleasant Lake Itasca State Park. Heading westward next day (in our quest now to reach the

most westerly point of the USA) we stopped for a quick photo at the Geographical Center of North America in Rugby, North Dakota.

The fracking and subsequent oil and gas boom that has gripped North Dakota, especially, has done little to enhance the natural rolling grasslands, part

Boats at Blanc Sablon

North Dakota Lewis Clarke Fort

of the Great Plains or Grand Prairie, which covers much of north-central USA, west of the Mississippi and adjoining Canada. South of Lake Sakakawea, on a much-tamed Missouri River, we came to our first Lewis and Clarke monument at a reconstructed Fort Mandan where that great exploring expedition had wintered in 1804-05. If you are a fan of their travels and endeavors (like we are) this is one place not to miss.

Then, for the next few days, we wandered the badlands in and around the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, reveling in being back in ‘The West’, finding some dirt roads and rougher

tracks to explore, discovering remote, or at least remoter campsites and enjoying the wildlife - bison, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and big-horn sheep, amongst others.

Pushing ever onwards towards the setting sun we found ourselves amongst the high peaks of the Rocky’s with the fabulous Glacier National Park to enjoy, then the Cascade Mountains with its impressive Mt Rainer.

We were lucky to fluke a day when it was clear and the mountain stood proud of its verdant surrounds of pine forest and tranquil lakes, the Fall colors adding even more vitality to a splendid scene.

Circumventing the built-up areas of Tacoma and its surrounds in northern Washington State, we found our way along the edge of Olympic National Park and skirted the rocky shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Makah Indian Reservation and the small community of Neah Bay. Five miles further on a car-park marks the road’s end and from here it is a half-mile walk

through Pacific temperate rainforest of tall and ancient Sitka spruce to the rocky, heavily indented coast at Cape Flattery.

This is the most western point of the Lower 48 ... and it shares its name with Australia’s Cape Flattery (Queensland), both being named by that eminent navigator and explorer, Captain James Cook.

Turning south we found our way through the backwoods of Oregon and magical Idaho, camping

North Quebec Hunting Camp

on the mighty Snake River and well off the beaten track on the edge of the McGraw Creek Wilderness Area. For the next few days we wandered along the South Fork of the Payette River and then the Salmon River before meeting up with the Snake River once more, our travels taking us through national forests, national monuments and designated recreational areas, the country ever changing from rugged snow-capped mountains

to lush rolling plains to verdant forests. Throughout, our overnight stays were in some magical, pinewood shrouded campgrounds.

Crossing into Wyoming we headed for the Grand Teton NP, surely one of the most impressive landscapes on the planet.

Rugged jagged peaks, there sides slashed by glaciers rear up abruptly from the plains and make up the 65km long Teton Range, the youngest mountain chain in the Rocky Mountains with snow-capped peaks reaching up to over 4000 metres. Driving some of the back roads here - once again along the edge of the upper reaches of the Snake River - we came across large herds of grazing bison, wandering groups of elk and small mobs of deer ... and just one or two other vehicles.

All with a backdrop of impres-

sive mountains .... it was pure magic! Heading south through Colorado, our route always searching for dirt roads and less used campsites we crossed into New Mexico and camped under the towering bulk of Shiprock, the only sign of human habitation that evening was the light of a single farmhouse twinkling in the distance.

Then we climbed across a mountain range (as you always seem to do when touring the west of the USA) topping out at 2600m as we sidled over Buffalo Pass, the view across the plains back to Shiprock stunning to say the least. That evening we camped in the Cottonwood Campground of Canyon de Chelly National Monument, a park run by the local Navajo Indian people. This sheer sided convoluted and long defile was the last strong-

Pretty Prince Edward Island Fishing village

World heritage listed San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Canyon de Chelly

Looking towards the Pyramid of the Moon over the extensive ruins of the great city of Teotihuacan

hold of the Navajo when Kit Carson led a US Army detachment into the chasm to root them out in 1864. The tribes were relocated far away; ‘the Long Walk’ as it became known, a blot on Carson and the US Army that still lingers today.

A couple of days later we crossed the border to camp

overlooking the little known and far less visited Coal Mine Canyon in north-eastern Arizona. It was a fitting end to our travels, but as we were placing the Ram into storage for another year, we were already drawing up plans to return ... our love affair for ‘The West’, barely sated!

Steam shrouds a couple at Grand Prismatic Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Info & Travel Planner Travelling in the States and Canada is easy; Mexico is a little more difficult with language, border formalities and police check points being the greatest hurdles, but it is still a relative pain free experience and more than worth the effort.

Hiring a vehicle or camper for travelling in the US and Cana-

da is again easy with a lot of choice, but if you want to travel in Mexico with it, you’ll need to check with the vehicle hire company. If you want to buy a second-hand vehicle in the USA check Craigs List in the city you want to buy; ie: http://phoenix. craigslist.org.

California is the most stringent state with annual vehicle smog and safety checks - we bought our Ram 2500 in rural Arizona, which doesn’t have annual checks at all.

About the Authors Ron and Viv Moon have been four wheel driving, touring, canoeing and diving for over 50 years.

They wrote their first guidebook on Outback Australia in 1984 and have since written over 18 guidebooks for different publishers.

Ron was editor of Australia’s leading 4WD magazine, 4x4 Australia, for 15 years and for the last 18 years has been their roving Editor-at-Large and has been involved with numerous TV and video productions.

Over the last 14 years Ron and Viv have overlanded around the world, and have spent a total of 25 months touring in North America and more than two years wandering through Africa. They still spend at least four months each year travelling in remote Outback Australia.

For more information: www.guidebooks.com.au; www.dirtroaddiaries.com.au Or follow them at: www.polarsteps.com/RonMoon Instagram: travelwithronandviv; or FB: www.facebook.com/ MoonAdvPub/

S

NEW MODEL

In such cases, the snorkel supplies air for both the engine and the sealed crew compartment, allowing total submersion. Often, the snorkel pipe is of large diameter and fits over the crew hatch, to provide an escape route for the crew in case the vehicle becomes stuck or disabled while underwater.

SNORKELS from

Military wheeled vehicles, such as a HEMTT transport or a Unimog are often capable of mounting snorkels for the engine air intake only, to allow them to wade through relatively deep water, limited by the height of snorkel intake and the driver’s head (usually slightly less than the height of the roof). Generally, the crew compartment is not watertight, and the crew will be immersed, unlike in tracked vehicles, which are generally totally sealed. The maximum depth is dictated by the height of the snorkel; if the water level should reach the snorkel intake, it will be drawn into the engine, immediately killing it. In the case of a World War II-era amphibious Jeep, all of the engine openings and electrical wiring are sealed, and the driver must first operate a damper that prevents water from entering the intake manifold. After fording, all vehicles wheel bearings must be repacked with new lubricants due to water contamination. Modern military vehicles typically come from the factory with waterproofed wiring sys-

Spanish Company Bravo Snorkel designs and manufacture high performance, modern vehicle snorkel systems. The company launched a new website earlier this year, and has launched several new products that will be of interest to both professional and private customers.

This new website provides a range of product information to an international market and content will be available in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian. This new site replaces the company’s older Snorkel4x4 distribution platform website,

and going forward all sales and interaction between Bravo Snorkel and its customers will be through the new Bravo Snorkel website, including the availability to make online orders.

The company has also worked to make the export of products out of Europe an automated and streamlined process.

Focussing on professional distributors and resellers, Bravo Snorkel offers detailed product information including information about the product, its fabrication and logistics in addition

to the performance and testing results of the kits and various designs.

The website also provides product information videos and other interactive resources. Bravo Snorkel is a top snorkel producer at the European level with

the stated goal of satisfying its customer base of demanding and experienced off-road users who seek a high standard snorkel with the best warranty at an affordable price; a combination that has never existed before.

ion will become available in June 2020, with a standard configuration of a replaceable head for users who hest wading capabilities, or for those that need to install a cyclone pre-filter installation for use in exy conditions.

This new snorkel design was revealed at the end of

t version is specially designed for those Wrangler owners who love to fold down the windscreen on sumlast year in Italy, and now is finally coming to the marstill need to protect the engine, this snorkel option is very capable and still offers the opportunity for ket performance. with both shown, standard and compact. also for great Thisversions option will also be available during summer 2020.

snorkels can be installed in less than 15 minutes, and the bodies and components are designed to be The first version will become available in June 2020, nd so the standard can be swapped out for the compact in 5 minutes and vice versa. The configuration with a standard configuration a effort replaceable head provides the required airflow to the engine.

Bravo has put aof huge into keeping the sections of the as createdfor a configuration that doesn’t require holes or cuts to be made on the vehicle. A Replaceable users who need theany highest wading capabilities, or na will also be included in the kit.

for those that need to install a cyclone pre-filter installation for use in extremely dusty conditions.

The Compact version is specially designed for those Wrangler owners who love to fold down the windscreen on summer’s day but still need to protect the engine, this snorkel option is very capable and still offers the opportunity for fresh air and also for great performance. This option will also be available during summer 2020.

Both of these snorkels can be installed in less than 15 minutes, and the bodies and components are designed to be compatible and so the standard can be swapped out for the compact in 5 minutes and vice versa. The configuration of the ducts provides the required airflow to the engine. Bravo has put a huge effort into keeping the sections of the airflow and has created a configuration that doesn’t require any holes or cuts to be made on the vehicle. A Replaceable shorter antenna will also be included in the kit.

JEEP WRANGLER SNORKEL

The most in-demand snorkel kit since it was revealed is very clearly the Bravo Snorkel SVW6 for Volkswagen T6 and T5. The snorkel is designed for easy installation on 2.0 vehicles and left hand drive, and later this year a variant for 2.5 engines and also suitable for right hand drive and both 2.0 and 2.5 engines will be released.

This snorkel has been tested by the team at Bravo under the very harshest conditions of the Morocco desert. This snorkel noticeably improves the performance of the Volkswagen vans whilst also looking great and having a unique design that differentiates from any other snorkel seen before. Aesthetics are a very important issue for the team at Bravo and the believe in striving to create the

perfect balance between the best performance increase and also providing a modern and good-looking accessory for the most exacting customers. Bravo say that you should ‘Be proud of what you are driving’.

VOLKSWAGEN

L E K R O N S 6 T5/T

rinter p S s e d e c The Mer e lines h t s w o l l fo Snorkel hicle of the ve

MERL MERCEDES E K R O N S 7 SPRINTER 90

L E K R O N S 7 0 SPRINTER 9

Owners of the New Mercedes Sprinter 907’s have been clamouring for a snorkel since the vans have been launched on the market, both for the 4x4 and 4x2 versions.

The new design of the sprinter focussed on the fender and bonnet , and it made this made the design of a snorkel for the vehicle more difficult, as the design made it quite difficult to reach the inner ducts and airbox. However the final design of the Bravo snorkel is a very nice snorkel body that follows the lines of the sprinter design, making it appear very integrated to the vehicle’s shape.

The kit was to have been revealed at the 2020 Abenteuer & Allrad Expo at Bad Kissingen, as we all know the expo had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, however the snorkel is available via the Bravosnorkel.com website and may be presented at other expos before the end of the year.

e r o m r o f e click her n o i t a m r o f n i

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A

PB Trading Ltd. located near Birmingham is a one stop shop for all of your expedition outfitting requirements. At its workshops, the team at APB can carry out a wide range of services, including Land Rover & 4×4 vehicle servicing, repairs & M.O.T’s, vehicle overland travel & expedition preparation, specialist vehicle preparation, waxoyling

and rustproofing. In addition its parts and warehouse department supplies parts, spares and adventure travel gear & equipment to a wide range of countries throughout the world.

Since the early 2000s the company has been the sole UK distributor for a number of high quality South African expedition equipment companies, these include Eeezi-Awn K9 (Roof tents, roof racks ,awnings and more),

National Luna (very high quality and extremely tough and reliable portable fridge freezer and vehicle battery systems), Bushtech (top quality heavy load bearing vehicle canopy tops), Campmor (superior quality ground tents, and camping furniture and accessories), Escape

Gear (high quality canvas seat covers) and more.

In addition to fitting out your equipment and providing a wide range of expedition equipment, the company’s founder and owner Phill Bond, who has many years experience in kitting out

vehicles is always on hand to advise you on the optimal kit out for your vehicle depending on where you are planning your adventures to take you.

This is Phill’s 50th year at the helm of APB Trading which is going strong.

Learn more and get in touch at: https://www.expedition-equipment. com/

W

OOL has long been used by mankind to produce clothing.

Wool fibres can be obtained from a variety of animals, including sheep, goats and rabbits amongst others. The most common type of wool today is sheep wool. In the past however, wild sheep were more hairy than woolly. Sheep were first domesticated as long ago as 11,000 years and archaeological evidence from Iran suggests that sheep may have begun to be bred for their wool around 6000BC. The earliest recorded surviving wool clothes have been dated to circa 3000 to 4000 BC. Woolly sheep were introduced into Europe from the Near East during the fourth millennium BC. In Europe, the

oldest surviving wool fabric has been dated to circa 1500BC and was found preserved in a Danish bog.Before shears were invented, sometime during the Iron Age, wool was most likely plucked from sheep by hand or using bronze combs.

During the Roman era, wool, linen and leather were the most common materials to be used in clothing. In the medieval era, some trading fairs revolved around the production and sale of wool cloth and the trade in wool became a big and important business in Europe. In the 13th century this evolving wool trade became an engine of economic growth for what is now the Netherlands, Belgium and Southern Italy, and by the end of the 14th century Italy was the biggest producer. In Eng-

1. Huldremose woman’s clothing found preserved in a Danish bog 2. Wool before processing 3. Wool before and after scouring 4.

The worlds oldest woollen trousers 5. Petromax/Loden adventure wool jackets 6.

Sheep Shearing

WOOLEN CLOTHES HAVE BEEN FAVOURED BY FISHERMEN & ADVENTURERS FOR CENTURIES

land during the black death, ten percent of wool production was used for textiles and this English trade grew during the 15th century and the exporting of wool from England was strongly discouraged. Strict laws controlled the wool trade and the use of wool. Smuggling wool out of the country was for a time punished with the cutting off of the hand of the offender.

In 1699 the English crown prohibited its American colonies from trading for wool with any other country than England.

Later, the industrial revolution introduced methods of mass production into the wool and cloth manufacturing industries.

For a time Germany overtook England as a top producer and Germany was in turn overtaken

by Australia in 1845 and Australia is today still the top producer internationally, with China and New Zealand in second and third places. Today global wool production internationally is about 2 million tonnes per year, and 60% of this is used to create clothing.Woollen clothes have long been favoured by fishermen and those working in cold and wet climates, as the clothes used by these outdoor workers, working in tough conditions had to be warm, hard wearing, water repellent and easy to repair.

Untreated wools still maintain the fatty lanolin from the sheep

and can make the wool almost waterproof. In addition wool fibres can absorb a lot of water, around 20% of their weight in water before it starts to permeate the fibres, and this is why tightly woven raw wool fabrics have been worn by fishermen and outdoorsmen over the years.

It’s no secret that Germany have been world leaders in the production of wool over the centuries and like most things that come out of Germany this product is also of a very high quality. The recently launched Petromax Deubelskerl Loden jackets has taken the wool jacket for outdoor enthusiasts to a whole new level. Designed for adventures, campers, fishermen and basically anybody who loves the great outdoors and who appreciate the importance of wearing high quality products. The traditional Loden fabrics used in their wool jackets are combined with modern and athletic cuts that are made from a robust wool fabric, are spark-resistant, warm and also water repellant. The outer material is 100 % milled sheep’s wool and manufactured in Germany, they are exceptionally breathable, extremely durable and made from sustainable materials ,they also just happen to look the business. Product features of the Deubelskerl at a glance

-Hood adjustable in three positions, high collar, two chest pockets and two large side pockets (one-handed operation, lined with mesh), cuffs with hook and loop fastener, adjustable elastic bottom, two-way zip. Embroidered dragon logo on chest and back of the jacket.

Technical Details

Outer material: 100 % Loden (milled sheep’s wool) Material thickness: 1.1 lb / rm Colours: green Sizes: XS - 3XL

How to care for Petromax Loden?

Petromax Loden Clothing is very low-maintenance and when observing the following tips it will endure many years of adventures: After wearing your jacket, a simple airing of the garments suffices for them to smell fresh once again. Milled Loden does not absorb odours and also proves resistant against body odours or smoke odour. Accumulated dirt can be simply brushed off when dry. For strong and persistent dirt Loden clothing can also be simply dry cleaned if necessary. It is also interesting to note that regular ironing condenses the garments surface and also preserves the water-resistance. You should always adjust your iron to medium and smooth out your garment surface with low pressure. It is recommended to cover the logo and lettering embroidery with ironing paper. If looked after this jacket will last a lifetime.

FORD Bronco S U C IN FO

THIS BEAUTY WILL

NOT BE AVAILABLE IN

EUROPE

FORD

F

Bronco

ord certainly got the look and feel to this beauty right, and it has been well worth the wait. The bad news is that it will not be available in Europe, yip, it does not meet the strict EU regulations, and so it won’t be seen anywhere on the tracks over here.

According to a Ford Germany spokesman “The Bronco has been developed entirely for the North American market,” said the spokesman. “There are currently no plans to bring it to Europe.” This has so far been a huge hit in North America, with the first pre-booked run of 3500 vehicles advertised in July they were all ordered in just a couple of hours. Given the huge initial pre-booking frenzy of the first edition models Ford has since doubled the run to meet demand, apparently. Any chance we could see a hybrid version that could then meet the European regulations, it is possible right?

While the 2021 Bronco makes for one thrilling adventure partner, this isn’t its first rodeo. In 1966, this new breed of off-road vehicle stampeded onto the scene and into wild hearts everywhere, setting the mould for the modern SUV. Back then Bronco challenged the competition right out of the gate. The first generation offered advanced capability, stability and maneuverability, while its rugged good looks made it stand out from the competition.

And now the Ford Bronco returns as the flagship of a new all-4x4 family of rugged SUVs, with a classic two-door and a first-ever four-door; both are engineered with Built Wild Extreme Durability Testing, Capability and Innovative Design for segment-leading 4x4 capability, long-term off-road performance and dependability Bronco features powerful EcoBoostÂŽ engines with segment-exclusive 7-speed manual transmission and available 35-inch tires; According to Ford it excels with available bestin-class 94.75:1 crawl ratio, ground clearance, suspension travel and water fording capabilities, plus breakover and departure angles. The two-door and four-door models have quick-release stowable roof panels and doors on select versions and seg-

OLD

In 1966, this new breed of off-road vehicle stampeded onto the scene and into wild hearts everywhere, setting the mould for the modern SUV.

VS NEW

2021

PRODUCTION BEGINS IN EARLY

ment-exclusive digital trail mapping allowing owners to easily plan, record and share their experiences via an all-in-one app.

“We created the Bronco family to elevate every aspect of offroad adventure and equipped them with class-leading chassis hardware and exclusive technologies to raise the bar in the rugged 4x4 segment and take people further into the wild,” said Jim Farley, Ford chief operating officer. “They’re built with the toughness of an F-Series truck and performance spirit of Mustang – and come wrapped in one of the most stunning and functional off-road designs that’s true to the original Bronco design DNA.” The all-new Bron-

co re-enters the scene with an all-4x4 lineup with production beginning in early 2021 and first models arriving in Ford dealerships next spring.

“Bronco’s advanced four-wheeldrive technology is at the core of its off-road capabilities, and at the heart of it all is Bronco’s exclusive Terrain Management System™ with G.O.A.T. Modes™ that is designed to help drivers better navigate any type of terrain,” said Mark Grueber, Bronco consumer marketing manager.

Up to seven driver-selectable modes are offered including Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand, with Baja, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl for off-road driving.

Two 4x4 systems are offered

on all Bronco models, a base setup and advanced 4x4. The base system utilizes a two-speed electronic shifton-the-fly transfer case, while the optional advanced system features a two-speed electromechanical transfer case that adds an auto mode for on demand engagement to select between 2H and 4H. Power is distributed to a Dana™ 44 AdvanTEK® solid rear axle and Dana AdvanTEK independent front differential unit – both with available Spicer® Performa-TraK™ electronic locking differentials for improved traction over rough terrain. Available segment-first Trail Toolbox gives Bronco owners a suite of exclusive technologies to elevate their off-road experience. This includes Trail Control™ – cruise control for low-speed trail driving, while Trail Turn Assist tightens off-road turning radiuses through torque vectoring, and the innovative Trail One-Pedal Drive acceleration/braking control makes for more precise and confident slow-mode rock crawling.

Segment-leading levels of off-road capability are possible thanks to Bronco’s 11.6-inch ground clearance, maximum 29-degree breakover angle and 37.2-degree departure angle, plus best-in-class water fording capability of up to 33.5 inches. Off-road capability is further reinforced by exposed tow hooks in the front and rear and available heavy duty modu-

Segment-leading levels of off-road capability are possible thanks to Bronco’s 11.6-inch ground clearance

How cool is this, seriously we love it, for anyone who had a toy version of a Bronco when they were a kid, this design certainly does jog the memory, even if it is a modern version of what was always a very cool looking 4WD.

This custom concept looks awesome

HERITAGE INSPIRED STYLE

lar steel bumpers with integrated Ford Performance accessory winch mount. Bronco’s strategically placed steel shields protect critical hardware. Higher-capability models get an available front bash plate, plus shields for the engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank. For those taking on the roughest rocky terrain, Bronco’s available side rock rails are strong enough to support the weight of each side of the vehicle. Bronco two and four-door models leverage the company’s Built Ford Tough durability and performance testing and take it further offroad with Built Wild Extreme Durability Testing in harsh environments.

These are just some of the features that this awesome vehicle offers .Given that the first orders will be arriving to customers in the US in early 2021 there is no doubt that we will be seeing them feature on social media as lucky owners take them out to play. It’s such a shame that we will not get to experince the Bronco in Europe ...unless Ford decides to develop a hybrid version.

2021 3-6th June

REMOTE POWER

ANYWHERE SMARTPASS 120S

120A DC/DC POWER MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

T O TI K S

G

AS

COOK

LL

CAMP

I GR

W

e recently got a chance to test the new Skotti Portable Grill and we really like it.

This grill is quite different from most other portable grills in that you don’t need to carry along bags of charcoal or any other bulky equipment The Skotti Grill is a flat-packing gas BBQ grill which can run from a normal camping gas canister. The grill packs almost entirely flat in its tough velcro sealed pvc case and weighs only 3.3Kg including the case.

Having now assembled and used the grill on several occasions, it does take us only about a minute to setup.

The Skotti is made of stainless steel and when assembled, preheating the grill for 2 minutes is required- and then you can get grilling. The grill is a little cooler at the ignition end and so this difference in temperature can be used to keep food warm or cook it more slowly with less heat.

We found the convenience of a portable gas grill to be great, removing the need to carry heavy fuel, to wait for charcoal to get to the right temperature for cooking

(and to cool afterwards) and also removing the need to dispose of burnt coals. But.. if you want to, you can also use the Skotti Grill as a charcoal or wood grill, simply assemble it without the gas burner and baffle , and you can put solid fuel in the base of the grill and use this to cook instead.

When you have finished cooking, the dirty grill can be packed away in the bag with the grill plate facing inward and covered by the

bottom plate, to be brought home and cleaned with steel wool or BBQ brushes, and all of the parts including the bag (but not including the burner pipe and gas hose) can be put in the dishwasher.

This is a great,durable, portable and versatile little grill. Learn more at https://skotti-grill.eu/

t

COMING SOON.....

GLADIATOR

FAROUT

CONCEPT

The Jeep® brand has introduced its new Gladiator Farout concept, an overlanding vehicle that we also think looks the business.The Jeep Gladiator Farout concept was originally intended to debut at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari in April 2020. It builds on the popularity of the Jeep Wayout concept from the 2019 Moab Easter Jeep Safari event.

“Although we didn’t get to celebrate in Moab this year with our latest round of concept vehicles, we’re pleased to introduce the Jeep Farout concept today as a vehicle that blends Gladiator EcoDiesel’s fuel efficiency with an area of features fans of overlanding will love,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA North America.

“Building on the popularity of last year’s Gladiator Wayout concept, and as overlanding continues to grow in popularity, this year’s Farout concept is another opportunity to gather feedback from our passionate customer base.”The Jeep Farout concept features the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine, which joins the Gladiator lineup for the 2021 model year and is rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque with engine stop-start (ESS) technology standard. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine is available on Gladiator Sport, Overland and Rubicon models.

E G A R O T S Y T I L A U Q H HIG

ALicUkBhOerXe cl

COMING SOON

The Eezi-Awn T-TOP Xklusive Rooftop Tent

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PB Trading is the UK and European Distributor for a number of high quality South African brands. Many of these brands in South Africa are considered to be the original manufacturers of products in their cat-

egories, brands like Bushtech, National Luna and also Eezi-Awn. And APB stocks a variety of Eezi Awn tents, including hard shell and ‘traditional’ Eezi Awn rooftop tents.

Two of these traditional tent models are the Series III and the T-TOP Xklusive.

l a n i g i r O e Th

from These tents are both well made and very durable and are suitable for use in our colder European climate. You can learn more about these great tents on the APB Trading Ltd online webstore and if you are in the UK can also go and check them out in person at the APB depot near Birmingham.

RAM Mounts

Aero Rails

www.navigattor.com

NEW ADDRESS: Navigattor - C/Sant Eudald, 115

2° 2ª 08859 Begues (Barcelona)

COMING

SOON LANDROVER DEFENDER

BUILD

THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER

BUILD

5

T

he Scrubba Tactical Wash & Dry Kit is a handy item to have with you when on the road for extended periods of time. This kit allows for you to wash and dry your clothes without the use of any powered equipment.

Simply fill the Scrubba wash bag with water (warm water works best but is not required) and add a little clothes washing detergent (liquid detergent works best). If you don’t have clothes detergent with you, you can use shampoo,soap or even washing up liquid for this purpose. Indicators on the bag show how much water is optimal to add for different sized loads. Then add your clothes to the bag, roll it up and seal it like a normal dry-

bag, you then open the air valve and push out the air to flatten the bag. It takes about 3 minutes of ‘scrubbing’ pushing the bag against the clothes inside and against its built in internal washboard, to clean the clothes.

Larger items, like a pair of jeans might take a few minutes longer or require two scrubbing sessions to clean.The handy transparent panel in the bag lets you see the clothes while you are washing them.

We found that a couple of t-shirts, pairs of underwear and pairs of socks was an optimal load size.

When you have finished scrubbing the clothes, pour out the dirty soapy water (at least 60M from any water course if wild camping, and in a suitable dis-

posal area if in civilisation) and then add some fresh water to rinse out the clothes,and then dispose of the water again.

You can then wring out your clothes to remove most of the water and then par dry them by patting them dry in the extra large microfibre towel provided in the kit. Your clothes can be

then hung out to dry on the two included inflatable coat hangers or can be hung onto the heavy duty pegless travel clothes line which is also included in the kit.

This kit is a great solution for ensuring that you always have some clean clothes available when travelling, and its manual nature means you can use it al-

most anywhere, it is environmentally friendly and also very quick to set up and use. The kit packs up very small 19cm x 19cm x 8cm and is very light. Having a scrubba with you also means that you can afford to pack a lot less clothing than if you were not planning on washing clothes on the road.

BY JOHNATHAN SMITH

UR AUT VOLOR MAGNI ALIQUIDUS QUE ENEMQUATE PORUM ET ANDI RERIBUS ESTIISS UNTIONSERAE POREMODIT QUI BERUM REPERUP TATECES ARUM QUAM ET,ANESTI UR AUT VOLOR MAGNI ALIQUIDUS QUE ENEMQUATE PORUM ET ANDIAUT RERIBUS ESTIISS ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY IS ABOUT TELLING A STORY AND PROVIDING FRONT ROW CONDUCIMUSCIET QUUNDAM VOLENEC EPEDIATENDI DOLUPIS QUE RE,ET,ATIO UNTIONSERAE ERIT POREMODIT QUI NUM BERUM REPERUP TATECES ARUM QUAM AUT NESTI SEAT TO THE ACTION YOUR VIEWERS. SHOOTING PHOTOS DOES BRING CUM, ASPEDIT HARUM IN FOR NUM, OMNIMPE NOSSINC TESTIO ET FUGA.OUTDOORS EX ESTORE, CONDUCIMUSCIET ERIT QUUNDAM NUM VOLENEC EPEDIATENDI DOLUPIS QUENE RE, ATIO VELLORESENT UTAHARUM NUM AUT AUTEM RECUS ITS OWN CHALLENGES AND INSUNT. THIS SHORT FEATURE, WEEXSHARE SOME CUM, ASPEDIT INHOWEVER, NUM, OMNIMPE NOSSINC TESTIO ET FUGA. ESTORE, NE TIPS VELLORESENT UTACAPTURING NUM AUT AUTEM RECUS SUNT.

BY JOHNATHAN AND TRICKSSMITH FOR YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES ON CAMERA.

ADVENTURE ADVENTURE PHOTOGRPAHY PHTOTOGRAHPY PHOTOGRAPHY

T

hey say that a picture paints a thousand words, and at TURAS we believe there is truth in this old proverb. Photography is obviously a big part of the magazine. For us, travel and adventure photography is about telling a story.

Photographic technologies have never been better, lighter or more robust. There is a very wide range of equipment available from the humble smartphone camera to very expensive digital SLR and video cameras.

However another old adage is

also true, that ‘it’s not so much about the tools as how you use them’. And with that in mind we thought we would briefly share some tips with you on getting the most out of your outdoor travel photography, some things to do , and some not to do, that could help to help improve your images.

All good images tell a story, and sequences of images more so, but your photos should also be well composed, well exposed and interesting. Composition is primarily important, one simple rule for improving your composition in general is to divide your image into nine

1. Look out for interesting silhouttes after dark

2. Long exposures add detail at night

5. Depth of field helps to focus on the subject.

3.Artificial lighting can create atmosphere

4.Food looks good in close up.

FOR LANDSCAPE SHOTS, GENERALLY YOU SHOULD SHOOT IN THE F/8 TO F/11 FSTOP RANGE equal squares in a grid and to locate important elements in the photo along these lines or at their intersections. A tripod is a very useful tool to have on photoshoots and can enable a wide range of options for both photography and videography, timelapse photography and long exposures being two of these. Long exposures can look great in the night and add real atmosphere to images. A neutral density filter is a great option.These filters, which screw onto the lens of your camera , reduce the amount of light getting to the camera sensor and allows you to use wider apertures and longer shutter speeds than would normally be possible in daylight conditions. These filters can add multiple ‘stops’ of exposure to your image. This enables you to use wider apertures, thereby

Close up shots can help to tell a story.

Composition is KEY

The sky can look great just after sundown

reducing your depth of field graphs of our camp cooking and giving the images that sessions for the magazine borrow some of my camping equipment to are the focus of your shot a and food cooking over your make their weekend adventures more comnice blurry background, this campfire can look great, and fortable. This is where the idea for Funki also causes the viewer to hopefully delicious also, parAdventures was born, i.e. provide an all-inreally focus on the subject. ticularly in close up images. clusive package that helps pretty much anyWith these filters on your one find the hidden spots of California and camera, you can also reduce When shooting outdoors, the surrounding states, without having any the shutter speed, which there are a few things you previous knowledge or owning so much as a can look great when you can do to ensure that more sleeping bag. are shooting moving water of your images are quality. for example, as it blurs the Some of these are obvious motion of the water and cre- but, nonetheless are imFrank told us that they provide epic selfates a very dramatic image. portant to remember. Try drive trips and adventures…..‘’We get you Narrow apertures are great to avoid shooting into the ‘off the beaten path’, in luxury, throughout for landscape photography light/into the sun as this California and neighboring states, by renting as they ensure that all of the can create harsh images and you a self-drive 4WD Jeep off-road camper. image from the foreground shadows and lens flare. Use Each Jeep has a Roof Top Tent for Overlandto the horizon all remains a lens hood to shade your ing luxury. Whether you want to experience in focus. F/8 and F/11 are lens from the sun if you can, the desert, drive forest trails in the mounsome great aperture settings as this will reduce lens flare. tains or surf in the Pacific Ocean - we’ve got for landscapes.

Try to avoid capturing your a tailored trip for you.The Jeeps are simply a own shadow in your images, tool (but a great tool) to help us ensure our Taking photos from unique sometimes the sun can cast adventurers experience their trip in comfort or different angles can also long shadows, and you are and in safety. make them more striking, best to remain far enough for example from a very low away that your shadow is Funki Adventures goal is to send people or a high perspective, phonot captured (unless you to locations and trails they simply wouldn’t tos taken straight on tend to want to capture it of course). find on a regular roadtrip, so they offer cusbe less interesting.

Similarly for drone photogratom designed trip plans which factor in time You can look for reflections phy, try not to capture the available and adventurer preference for what in the water of the landscape pilot in the shots, and have they want to see and do. Frank highlighted or of the sky, our eyes are them stand far enough back that traditional campervans (or cars) simply drawn to reflections. Silhou- to be out of the frame, or cannot access the best canyons, off-road ettes can also be very inter- else be obscured by sometrails and mountain tracks that a properesting and attractive and can thing overhead like the ly equipped Overland Jeep can comfortably also be quite artistic imagbranches of a tree or a vehihandle. One major bonus is camping in the es. We take lots of photocle awning. wilderness with nobody else around equals peace and quiet! No nearby parties, no gen-

USE A SUBJECT TO ADD FOCUS TO A LANDSCAPE

As you get used to your camera we would encourage you to experiment with manual mode. Most cameras have this mode, that allows you to manually set your aperture, shutter speed and film/sensor speed.

You can use your camera’s built in light meter to ensure that your selected combination of settings is correctly exposed. For example, in daylight a very wide aperture will normally need a very fast shutter speed (unless you are using a neutral density filter to reduce the light getting to the sensor).

These are some very high level tips, which we hope you will find useful, and we will have some more features on photography in future issues of the magazine.

5. Use a tripo you can 1. Be careful not to capture your own shadow.

2. When shooting drone photography, try to avoid capturing the pilot in your images

3. Use a lens hood to prevent lens flare

od when

4. A neutral density filter can reduce your exposure several stops and allows for wider apertures in bright light

RON & VIV MOON have spent much of their lives exploring and writing about Australia’s

wild and remote areas. In their travels they combine many interests such as 4wd touring,

camping, bird watching, diving, hunting, canoeing and fishing, as well as photography, and this is reflected in the many articles that they have written for a wide range of magazines in Australia and worldwide.

E-Book versions of the guidebooks produced by the couple and both of Viv Moon’s cookbooks are available for your iPad, iPhone, Kindle or other tablet as eBooks.

www.guidebooks.com.au

ABOUT THE

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MAGAZINE

SOME NUMBERS

Who are our readers? We recently put these statistics together to give you an idea of where our readers come from and how they access the magazine.

The magazine is read primarily in Europe but is also read all around the globe, with readers in most countries.

Our content is available via a number of channels, including our, website, www.turas.tv , our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/turas.outdoor.adventures/ The Issuu Magazine platform and more.

80 % of our readers are men aged between 26 and 65+

Devices used to visit our online channels:

Desktop 37%

Tablet 14.4%

Phone 48.5%

Our Readers are mostly male and are in age range 26 to 65+ They are strongly interested in the outdoor lifestyle, Overlanding and 4WD Touring, Camping, fishing and 4WD vehicles accessories and maintenance.

Have you heard any of our podcasts yet?

In each episode of the TURAS podcast, we interview interesting personalities from the 4WD Touring and overlanding industry. Each of our guest brings unique expreiences, stories and advice to us and our readers. You can listen to all of the podcasts and also subscribe at http://podcast.turas.tv/ Episode 1: Ferran Revoltos

We discuss the most important aspects of off-road navigation and Ferran also lets us know a little bit about a new GPS Product about to be released by his company. Navigattor. com

Episode 2: Phillip Bond 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.

D

o you have any suggestions for people that you would like us to invite onto the podcast?

If so let us know!

In the meantime we hope you enjoy listening to our previous guest as much as we enjoyed chatting with them.

The TURAS team!

Episode 3: Francoise Graciet Holllander

Episode 4: Jose Almeida Jose’s company Dream Overland runs varied and fascinating 4WD Tours within

Francoise is one of the founders and owners of Euro4x4parts and is also an avid and very sucPortugal with a cessful offroad racer. strong emphasis on Portuguese culture, history and food.

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

The TURAS Charter

T

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

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

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

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

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

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD A RECENT COPY OF THE TURAS MAGAZINE AND READ IT WHEN ON THE ROAD ............