TURAS Camping and 4WD Magazine-Issue Thirteen

&

EXPLORING SVALBARD

AWNINGS DISCOVERING WALES & AUSTRALIA

ISSUE

13

CAMP COOKING REMOTE TOURING

4WD SECURITY & MUCH MORE

V T .

S A R U T .

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

EDITORIAL

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elcome to our winter 2019 Issue. In this issue we have some wintry articles, a fascinating look into Svalbard, land of the polar bears with the guys from Alubox, and also some tips on cold weather camping. On the other side of the world we explore the Aussie Bight on a fascinating trip with Ron and Viv moon.

We have a report from the winners of this year’s Balkan Offroad Rally and we learn some more about greenlaning in the UK from GLASS UK. We make some recommendations on 12 essential things to consider when remote touring and as always we look at some great camping and 4WD Touring equipment including some camp cooking tips for Petromax Dutch ovens and lots more. We hope that you enjoy Issue 13the TURAS team!

Marie

Ali

Russ

Mark

Paul

Trish

WWW.TURAS.TV

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Camp 4WD

ping & D Gear

the

LAND OF

POLAR BEARS d Svalbar

on , Soren ti a d n u o F IK e Images; Th d Tourism r a lb a v S & g r Wibe

Remote

SVALBARD

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hen Soren from a number of perspecWiberg tives.They basically conduct and his in-depth field research carried family are out by experts all over the not design- world and present its findings ing and through exhibitions and pubbuilding the world famous lications.

Danish Aluboxes for the overlanding, touring, military, Soren explained that he was expedition and the aerospace asked a few years ago if he industry they are often off would be interested in helpvisiting remote parts of the ing design a Micro Field Staworld working on very worth- tion that would be located on while projects. We recently Forlandet Island which is one caught up with Soren after of the islands to the west of returning from a trip to the the Svalbard Islands. The brief remote Svalbard Islands which was simple, the field station are located north of the Arctic would need to be easily transCircle and are one of the reported, insulated, strong and motest inhabited places in the able to withstand an attack world. So why the Svalbard from a Polar Bear but also Islands? Soren explained that be able to withstand the sea couple of years ago , they vere Arctic were approached by the IK foundation, who are a not for profit organisation which deploys small teams with specific expertise around the world to carry out research with the aim of getting a better understanding of the natrs ural,environmental m membe a e t e h t one of ip to start h and cultural history s Soren and c a i d o eZ leaving th he Field S tation work on t

winter conditions. Alubox and Soren who is a trained engineer accepted the challenge for a number of reasons, including their appreciation for the work the IK foundation was doing but also because they have a strong interest in nature, climate change and the world’s ever changing environment. The Wibergs designed and built a weather station using the Aluboxes that would safely store and protect the sensitive monitoring and recording equipment. Soren’s objective was to install the weather station and be part of a team that would record relevant information on one of the most remote places on the planet. Little is known about the area and the information gathered includes recording wildlife sounds particularly that of bird life and very important meteorological information from what is the second most northerly weather station in the world.

The second most northerly weather station in the world.

SVALBARD the cated in o l e r a s d ard Islan an The Svalb Artic Oce

Soren explained that the Svalbard Islands are a fascinating place, it is a Norwegian archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, right on top of the world enjoying endless areas of unspoilt Arctic wilderness. It is widely believed that the area was discovered by Norsemen in the 12th century and the name Svalbardi literally means “the land with the cold shores”. The Svalbard region is made up of all the islands, islets and skerries between 74° and 81° north latitude and 10° and 35° east longitude.

The largest island is Spitsbergen and the highest mountain is Newtontoppen wowering 1,713 m above sea level..Approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers, and the islands feature many mountains and spectacular fjords.

The residents of Svalbard have come here for various reasons. Some are adventurers in search of a new Arctic adventure, some are researchers who have come to study the fascinating geology and others are normal families who like to live an ordinary life in a place that is anything but ordinary.

Only 6-7% of the land area of Svalbard is covered by vegetation. It’s a cold place with permafrost covering the entire landmass of Svalbard,with only the top metre of earth thaws during the summer,this is a harsh place to live.

The research center of Ny-Ålesund being is the northernmost settlement in the world with a permanent civilian population. Other non permanent settlements can be found farther north, but are populated only by rotating groups of researchers.

One of the first known and documented scientific studies of Forlandsøyane took place on the first of July, 1758. Then, Anton Rolandsson Martin, one of the Linnaeus Apostles, managed to get ashore from a whaling ship and study the landscape at the

Forlandsøyane islands.The islands were first used as a whaling base by whalers who sailed far north in pursuit of whales for blubber in the 17th and 18th centuries, after which they were abandoned. Today around 2,100 people now call this place “home.

The geological diversity of Svalbard is very interesting, in fact it is recognised as one of the only places on earth where rocks can be found in nearly every geological period.

During the period from 2004 to 2012, the Palaeontologist Dr. Jørn Hurum mapped more than 60 reptile skeletons, with one of these excavated reptile fossils measuring a massive 10-metres in length.Other fossils discovered include giant dinosaurs and rocks that date back to hundreds of millions of years.

IK Foundation

So who are the IK Foundation, the NGO has since 2015 developed the next generation of scientific Field Stations. The work with FIELD STATION | NATURAE OBSERVATIO is a long-term project and is part of the BRIDGE BUILDER EXPEDITIONS – aiming to establish eco-designed autonomous Field Stations, which can operate unattended, all year-round and will observe a selected landscape and its wildlife. The weather station sends a report every sixty

Soren Wiberg from Alubox building the indestructible Alubox Field Station.

seconds via its own satellite link (Iridium Next), with cameras also sending images daily. The BRIDGE BUILDER EXPEDITIONS are the overarching definition for a series of contemporary and scientifically sustainable projects established by The IK Foundation, an undertaking which aims to inspire and contribute to understanding of our shared planet! END

LOCATION The location of the Field Station - Coordinates: LAT: 78.363333 LON: 11.614458. Altitude: 5.5 m – is positioned just a short distance from the coastline along the west side of the majestic Forlandsletta. This location has unrestricted visibility in all directions giving simultaneously a good overview of the surrounding landscape.

ONLY 6% OF THE LAND IS COVERED IN VEGETATION

re s there a d n a l Is ore d albar , thats m s r a e B On the Sv r a Pol ely 3000 le t a m i x o r than peop app s r a e B r a Pol

THE SVALBARD ISLANDS ARE HOME TO OVER 3,000 POLAR BEARS

Polar Bears

Today Svalbard has a very lively Polar Bear population in fact at any one time there are more Polar Bears than people on the islands with an average population of approx. 3,000 polar bears, now that’s a lot of claws.Soren highlighted that the islanders always take precautions when venturing outside the settlements by always carrying a firearm as a protection against a possible polar bear attack. This is one of the few places in the world where it’s not uncommon to see mothers pushing a pram while carrying a rifle on their backs.

Soren explained that when they were working on installing the Weather Station they would depart daily from the Zodiac ship that was anchored 4km from the shore in dinghies as the water levels were too shallow for the expedition ship to get any closer. They would then make there way towards the shore, before getting out of the dinghies they would have to ensure that there were no Polar Bears in the area and two members of the crew known as hunters would land first in order to give the all clear,safety always took priority.

Polar Bears are the world’s largest land carnivores and for many people they have become a symbol of the arctic wilderness weighing anything between 200 to 800 kg, so respect should always be shown to these majestic creatures. Humans are considered an alien element in the polar bear habitat. These animals are incredibly strong and even smaller and younger bears can be very aggressive and dangerous. The polar bear has been protected since 1973, and it is considered a criminal act to pursuit, allure, disturb or feed a Polar Bear.

In Svalbard you can see Polar Bears pretty much all year

round.The bears do not usually look upon humans as food, but they are naturally curious and will check out everything in their search for food. A really hungry bear will eat almost anything. If the bear moves directly towards you the advice is to make yourself visible early and also make noise. Shouting and clapping hands or starting an engine, i.e. a snowmobile or outboard engine will make the bear aware of you or fire a shot with your signal pistol into the ground in front of the polar bear or a warning shot with a rifle if the polar bear is within 50 metres.

This may be enough to cause the bear to withdraw, well at

The team would depart in dinghies from the Zodiac ship that was anchored 4km from the shore.

Images 1,2 & 3.....

The eco-designed autonomous Field Stations, which operate unattended all year-round observe a selected landscape and its wild life. The weather station sends a report every sixty seconds via its own satellite link (Iridium Next), with cameras also sending images daily. Here are some of the images captured of some curious Polar Bears.

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1 3

The Alubox protected Field Station was visited by Polar Bears on four separate occasions and were caught by the cameras. One of the bears “attacked the field station and luckily the station was not damaged thanks to the strenght of the Alubox dsign. However some of the cameras were taken down by the Polar Bear and that is why in image 3 the picture is taken looking up at the bear.

least you hope it will, with that said It is important to remember that Polar Bears are an endangered species and are protected by law , and for that reason you will not find polar bear safaris in Svalbard.

they always had someone who was armed on watch just incase a Polar Bear approached them, you are always keeping an eye out for any movement.

The work that Soren and the IK foundation does is very important, providing very important One of the first species you’re information that helps us underalmost guaranteed to see in stand the changes on our planSvalbard are reindeer which et, but also making this transgraze like sheep close to Longparent information available yearbyen There are also three species of terrestrial mammals, with no influence from Governments or Private interest groups 19 species of marine mammal, that include Walruses, so plenty to the international community. to see when it comes to Wild Life For more information on the IK Foundation click here or if you want to discover more about the Soren told us that when they Svalbard Islands click here. were doing their research and installing the weather stations

How to avoid confrontations with Polar Bears

It’s important to prepare well and think in advance about how to act in the Svalbard nature. We strongly recommend going on an organised trip. However, if you choose to explore alone, the following points are extremely important: • Be extremely observant and try to move only in open areas.

• If you see a polar bear, retreat calmly and never pursue it!

• Most polar bear visits are at camps. Find a location with a good view in all directions and, if there are several in your group, sit facing different directions.

• Avoid setting up camp near the seashore as the water and ice edge are natural places for polar bears to search for food.

• Set up tripwires around your camp. Polar bear watch (someone always awake) is regarded as the only safe strategy when it comes to camping in the outdoors.

• Store food away from tents but within view of the tent opening.

• Avoid cooking inside your tent as the smell remains on the canvas and may attract polar bears.

• Arm yourself correctly. A high powered big game rifle (7.62, 30.06 or 308 calibre) and a signal pistol are the best weapons for protection against polar bears.

• Ensure you have knowledge of the weapons and experience using them before you set off.

As an independent non-governmental organisation - with a strong reputation for interdisciplinary thinking, in-depth knowledge and a focus on long-term results, the IK continues to develop unique international networks of cooperation and finance in order to fulfill its mission. The IK Foundation believe that it is the right of everyone to have access to accurate Natural and Cultural History information. The IK Workshop Society wel.

e stom mad u c e h t ag parin IK Found e h t t c Soren pre e prot nts. at would h t s e the eleme x o m b o u r f Al n o i S tat tion Field

IK FOUNDATION As an independent non-governmental organisation - with a strong reputation for interdisciplinary thinking, in-depth knowledge and a focus on long-term results, the IK continues to develop unique international networks of cooperation and finance in order to fulfill its mission. The IK Foundation believe that it is the right of everyone to have access to accurate Natural and Cultural History information. The IK Workshop Society welcome individuals and organisations to participate in using their open sources.

The IK Foundation is and will remain an informal, pure and simple not-for-profit organisation. The IK Workshop Society is a unique phenomenon, in some respects an experiment with very long-term ambitions to evolve in accordance with its motto “Sharing Observations to Understand Planet Earth�.

for e r on e h n o k i t c i a cl m r o f n i n o i t more a d un o F K I the

GENERATION 2

ECLIPSE 180 Awning with walls

We love utilising our awnings and nowadays never go on a trip without one attached to our 4WD vehicles, be it during the winter or the summer months. We recently attached the new Generation 2 Eclipse 180 Degrees Awning to one of the TURAS 4WD’s and have been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks.

The new DARCHE Generation 180 awning with optional walls has been developed as a follow up on the previous and hugely successful 180 Eclipse awning model. With a number of NEW features that include a new high quality Aluminum hinge system, a new 320gsm poly/cotton grid ripstop canvas and a new lightweight box tube alloy rafters, the Generation 2 Eclipse 180 awning just got even better. Hinged from both ends, the awning spans 6m along the side of the vehicle and looks the business.

Walls

In previous issues of the magazine we have covered how the Australia Camping gurus DARCHE have taken the concept of an enclosed walled awning to an entire new level with the development of the pole

O E D I V W E N

2 N E G E S P I L C E 0 8 1 E RCH

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G N I N W A ick here cl

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1. The high quality velcro straps release the awning quickly 2. The NEW Aluminum hinge system. 3.

Designed as a freestanding unit for easy setup and pack down only.

(The Darche Eclipse awning canvas is rated UPF 50+, the highest achievable rating possible).

BUILT FOR Adventure

pivot systems that give you extra covered camping space, and this concept is also available with the new Generation 2 180 Eclipse model.

The two pivoting alloy telescopic leg poles are cleverly and neatly stowed along the rafter when packed away but also making it easy to deploy when setting up the awning.This awning can easily be set up by just one person.

The addition of side walls to this top quality awning offers a number of advantages including acting as a windbreaker, providing an enclosed sheltered space that allows the kids to play in comfort sheltered from the sun or while waiting for a show-

er of rain to pass. The additional wall completely enhances your base-camp by providing a space where you can cook and relax without worrying about the elements.

Another advantage includes being able to provide additional shelter for those who want to roll out a swag under the awning or even set up a small tent under the additional expansive space at night.

With walls fitted and anchored down, an impressive 16.5m2 of coverage can be achieved depending on the height of your vehicle.

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Awning Walls Features & Specifications • 1300mm wide zippered door on center panel • Zips separating panels allow for various wall configurations • 260gsm poly/cotton grid ripstop canvas • 1500mm PU waterproofing with HF seam sealing • Pegs and guy ropes included • Dimensions: 9500mm L x 2250mm H (Bottom length) • Packed down: 500mm L x 400mm W x 120mm H • Weight: 7kg

an impressive

16.5M OF

COVER

to the aw s e h c a tt a s l easily ality zip u q h g The wal i h ing the ning us

Weight

The new 180 Generation awning weighs in at 20kg and is covered by a 2-year manufacturers warranty.

Ultraviolet Protection Factor.

The Darche Eclipse awning canvas is rated UPF 50+, the highest achievable rating possible.UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and is a rating system to indicate the UV (Ultraviolet) protection provided by fabrics. UPF measures how much of the sun’s UV radiation is absorbed or “blocked” by fabric, effectively protecting the skin underneath. UPF ratings range from 15 to 50, and a higher UPF rating indicates greater protection. Garments that are rated UPF 50+ offer excellent UV protection, this is as good as it gets when it comes to awning protection. ning fea

Mounting

0° Aw 8 1 e s p i l ng alloy The Ec i ot v i p o tures tw g poles e l c i p o c teles

This awning also comes with heavy duty mounting brackets that can be attached to most roof rack systems. The Eclipse 180° Awning can be mounted to either side of your vehicle and is ideal for dual,single and space cabs as well as general canopy and wagon setups.

Features & Specifications

8.2m² of cover easily mounted to passenger or driver’s side of the vehicle.(16.5m with the walls added) Designed as a freestanding unit for easy setup and pack down only (Easily set up by one person) (New) Aluminum hinge system. Hinged from both ends, the awning spans 6m alongthe side of the vehicle (New) 320gsm poly/cotton grid ripstop canvas (New) Lightweight box tube alloy rafters The Eclipse 180° Awning features two pivoting alloy telescopic

GENERATION 2 ECL features

Aluminum hinge system. Hinged from both ends, the awning spans 6m along the side of the vehicle

Lightweight box tube alloy rafters

LIPSE 180 AWNING The Darche Eclipse awning canvas is rated UPF 50+, the highest achievable rating possible

320gsm poly/cotton grid ripstop canvas

The two pivoting alloy telescopic leg poles are cleverly and neatly stowed along the rafter when packed away but also making it easy to deploy when setting up the awning.

E H C R DA -180

Gen 2ing & Awn ls Wal

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Panorop Tent Rooft Set Up

12

THINGS TO

CONSIDER FOR

REMOTE

TOURING

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n a previous issue of the magazine we discussed the history of overlanding and it is generally agreed that the term overlanding originated in Australia as a word to describe the herding of livestock across great distances, either to open up new grazing grounds or to transport the livestock. Back in those days having the correct gear relevant to the type of travelling stockmen did related to them being comfortable and feeling safe when out in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end.

The traditional attire of an Australian Stockman included a good quality water bottle and a hat known as a Akubra that shaded them from the sun, a bedroll/ swag, cotton shirts, a good quality pocket knife, tin cans for cooking in (what was traditionally known as a Billy), a good quality oilskin coat used during wet weather and of course a good horse and saddle. So, when setting out on one of these remote trips the Stockmen were pretty much well pre-

image; Alek Veljokovic

pared and carried essential gear and equipment that allowed them to successfully complete their journey.

Today the whole overlanding and 4WD touring scene has become very popular and people are now looking at tackling journeys to remote parts of the world in their 4WD vehicle.

As a result of this, the aftermarket industry has seen huge potential in introducing new products and trying to persuade travellers that their products and accessories are essential to have on board when heading on a remote touring/overlanding trip.

Vehicle preparation for a touring/ overlanding trip can be a daunting task particularly when trying to decide what to bring and what to leave. There’s no doubt that unlike the Stockmen who always travelled light we now have a tendency to bring more gear than we actually need. Of course, it is all about being self-sufficient but sometimes we can overlook some of the key items that we should always have onboard when heading on an extended trip.

We could dedicate an entire magazine to this but we are just going to cover some key essentials that we think are important .

e bring th o t t n a ort It ’s imp t on any n e m p i u as right eq mote are e r o t p i tr

Vehicl e pre overla paration for nding trip ca an be a d n auntin g task

WATER

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s r e t l fi & s r e n i a t Con

Having good quality products that will allow you to carry water is essential in our opinion.

Not everybody has the luxury of installing water tanks on-board so descent portable water containers should always be one of the key priorities when prioritising your gear particularly if you are going through remote areas. The last thing you want is to get stranded miles away from anywhere with little to no water on board. As highlighted by the World Health Organisation insufficient water and the consumption of contaminated water are usually the first and main causes of ill health. It is also important to note that the amount of water required to support life and health in an emergency varies with climate, the general state of health of the people affected and their level of physical fitness. Bottom line is, bring plenty and store it in good quality water storage containers.

t

sufficien y r r a c o re t p Make su your tri r o f r e t wa

r o f e r e h n o click i t a m r o more inf Have you ever run out of water when camping, touring, hiking, fishing or just out enjoying the great outdoors and been tempted to drink some water from a stream or water source that you just happen to stumble across? Care should always be taken if doing so, with nasty pathogens like cryptosporidiosis, drinking what seems like safe and clean water can quickly make you ill. If you are unfortunate enough to drink contaminated water that has viruses, bacteria or cryptosporidiosis you will soon experience unpleasant symptoms like diarrhoea or others that will quickly upset your day or weekend in the great outdoors. by using a simple filtration bottle you are pretty much be guaranteed to get safe and parasite free water without worrying about nasties getting through.

That’s why we always keep the Kelly Kettle in our vehicles.

FIRE s r e h s i u g Extin

Hopefully you will never have the need to use a fire extinguisher in your vehicle, but with that said electrical, temperature and mechanical related fires can happen, and should you be unlucky enough, the least you should have is a fire extinguisher in your vehicle on at least prevent a fire from spreading. But it’s also good practice to have fire extinguishers on board should you come across another vehicle that may be in trouble.

Some thought should go into where you store your fire extinguisher, with one of the key considerations being that it is at the very least easily accessible. In Europe some countries including Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark recommend that every car/4WD carry at least one extinguisher.

It is interesting to note that there are a number of types of fire extinguishers available but there is no one extinguisher type which works on all classes of fire.

What’s the best Fire Extinguisher should I have on board?

It is recommended that Dry Powder extinguishers are good as they can be used on flammable liquids (including Petrol & Diesel and Combustible Solids (such as the textiles and plastics found in a car’s interior).

ve a fire a h s y a ld alw You shou isher with you extingu

2RECOVERY ar Ge

What you bring in terms of recovery gear should reflect the terrain that you are planning on tackling and whether you will be travelling with more than one vehicle. Some key things that comes to mind includes a compressor, hi-lift jack, recovery bag that includes a Snatch Strap, Winch Extension strap,Tree Trunk Protector, Tyre Deflators, Tyre Pressure gauge, safety dampener, Snatch Block, D Shackles or rope shackles, Gloves and a descent Shovel.

Recovery Tracks are a great addition to have on board and have certainly gotten us out of many a predicament over the years. Specially designed for when you find yourself stuck, off the beaten track without any help in sight. Recovery tracks are the ultimate recovery device to get you out of trouble when traction is lost in even the toughest of conditions; whether it be in sand, mud or even snow.

ry A recove tracks

ecovery r d n a t ki tial are essen

A good first aid kit is also another essential piece of gear to have on board, and also a little bit of training on how to use it always helps. First aid kits are necessary so that you can treat ailments and injuries that happen when on the road. From the minor ailment to the more serious injury a first aid kit can help reduce the risk of infection or the severity of the injury.

Sample items that a First-Aid Kit should include? (note this is just an example and additional items should be considered depending on where you are traveling to.

• an up-to-date first-aid manual.

• a list of emergency phone numbers.

• sterile gauze pads of different sizes.

• adhesive tape.

• adhesive bandages (Band-Aids) in several sizes.

• elastic bandage.

• a splint.

• antiseptic wipes • Scissors • antiseptics First aid kits can also help to apply temporary solution or medication to a person in an accident.

3FIRST AID t n e m p i Equ

er d consid n a t i k ore first aid urse bef o c d Bring a i a t g a firs ut attendin you set o

ill make w s e r y t ality er Good qu rney saf u o j r u o y

Choose the righ t ty terrain you exp res for the ect to c ross

Tyres are an integral part of any off-road or overland checklist.

It’s very important when setting out that you know that you have a tough and reliable set of tyres on your vehicle. Tyres will be called upon in a variety of difficult circumstances, steep ascents and descents, fording rivers and wading through water, driving over deep sand or across sharp rocky surfaces. It is no wonder that there is such a wide variety of high-quality tyre options available at the moment from a number of manufacturers.

Generally speaking, 4x4 tyre types can be split into categories depending on the type of terrain and usage that they are designed for.

So which tyres should you use?

Well this depends on how you plan to use your vehicle and where you plan to go on your big trip. If you plan to mostly stick to green-laning and use your vehicle for commuting, then road tyres are a good choice. If you see yourself driving in sandy conditions or often have to deal with muddy or snowy conditions when driving, then all terrain tyres may be your best bet.

If you are regularly trying to travel on difficult off-road routes or you compete in any off road competitions or racing, then mud terrain is probably the optimal tyre. You need to be honest with yourself and choose the tyre which most closely matches the reality of your use of your vehicle. Everyone generally agrees that mud tyres look cool, but do you really need them? Or in fact might All Terrains be a better choice for your own usage.

TYRES

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GPS 5

We all live in a world that is becoming more and more reliant on internet access, for those of us who love getting off the beaten track to remote areas, internet access on our phones and access to online maps is improving but should not be relied on entirely when using a phone to navigate in isolated terrain.

That’s why having a dedicated offroad GPS system is an essential tool to have on board your vehicle when heading on a remote trip.

Unlike most mobile phones, GPS systems like the Navigator products do not require the internet to access off road maps as these maps are already downloaded on the GPS units and are guided by satellite signals and hence giving you peace of mind when you are out and about touring in remote areas.

X GPS O F w e n the vigattor from Na

6EMERGENCY r e g n e ss e M Satellite

An Emergency Satelitte Messenger

Emergency Satellite Messengers give you a critical, life-saving line of communication when you travel beyond the boundaries of mobile phones. The latest generation of award-winning SPOT devices, SPOT Gen3 lets family and friends know you’re okay, or if the worst should happen, sends emergency responders your GPS location - all with the push of a button. These have come down in price in recent years with the annual subscriptions becoming more reasonable. If you are going on a very remote trip you really should consider having one on board as it could get you out for trouble and maybe even save your life. Another consideration is a satellite phone and like the Satellite Messengers they are also becoming more affordable, you also have the option to rent one for the duration of your trip,

REMOTE

7

Power

Having a dual battery system on board is essential to any extended/long haul trip particularly if you will be travelling in remote areas and need to camp away from any services or amenities for extended periods of time.

Dual Battery Systems simply involve adding a second, deep cycle leisure battery to your to set up u o y s w llo vehicle. power a s y a d Remote r amp fo c

The system ensures that the battery gets charged when your engine is running, monitors the health of both your batteries and ensures that you do not drain your starter battery, and become unable to start your vehicle. Deep cycle batteries can provide a steady amount of power over a long period of time. Battery Management systems automatically isolate and charge the auxiliary battery. But it is important to note that some of the vehicle electronics such as the cabin light, radio and alarm systems are still powered by the starter battery, so continued use of these items will still drain the starter battery.

A system like the CTEK smart pass system can ensure that your auxiliary battery charges as fast as is possible when you are driving or using a solar panel or blanket, and also ensures that the battery will eventually be fully charged to 100% capacity, which orA system like the CTEK sma rt dinary smart alternators pass system ca n ensure that your cannot do. auxiliary batt ery charges as fast as is possible wh en you are dr iving

8FRIDGE FREEZERS Not always a necessity for short trips as cool boxes can and will suffice ,but for longer touring trips, they will not only save you money as you will be able to bring frozen foods but also they will make your extended trips a lot more comfortable.

The idea of being able to take a cold drink from your fridge freezer on a hot dusty track just makes things a lot more comfortable.

There’s nothing quite like pulling into your camp, getting the fire going and taking a cold beer from your fridge freezer. Portable dual fridge freezers now allow you to separate your frozen food from your drinks etc. With the addition of a dual battery system or a portable battery power pack you can now literally stay at your favourite camping spot and have the fridge running for a couple of days and not worry about draining your vehicle’s battery.

Portable fridge freezers don’t come cheap but if you are heading off for longer trips, they really are a great product to have in the back of your vehicle. If you are in the market for one you should consider the size of the unit, whether it has removable baskets, the power draw (they do vary amongst products on the market), also if you are going off road you should make sure that your unit has tie down points to prevent the unit from moving around,

ROOFTOP

9

Tents

Over the last few years our tent of choice has been a rooftop tent, they have been growing in popularity over the years with a number of new manufacturing companies producing them and as a result they have become more affordable and a very popular choice for people heading off on an extended road trip.

There are a number of reasons why we enjoy using roof top tents, the main ones being that you can set it up in 5 minutes, they keep you off the ground, and for further convenience they can be folded up with all your sleeping gear inside i.e. sleeping bag and pillow, perfect for an overlanding trip. The main disadvantage is that they can be bulky and take up most of the space on your roof rack.

AWNINGS

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Awnings have been used in hot climates for years mainly to protect tourers from the heat and the sun’s rays. In fact it’s very unusual to see vehicles equipped for camping and touring in places like Australia without awnings attached. The interest in having them onboard has increased significantly in Europe over the last few years with them becoming particularly popular for people who are hitting the road for weeks on end. Awning designs for 4WD vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and are simple to attach to your vehicle. All you really need is either a roof rack or roof bars with attaching mounts and when fitted, all you do is just roll them out and you will instantly have increased your camping space that is sheltered from the elements.No more sitting in your vehicle waiting for the rain to stop.

Some designs also add side walls which will give you extra comfort from windy conditions and this also allows the kids to play in comfort while the bad weather passes.

11

CHAIRS Having a good quality chair on board is essential when on the road for weeks on end. In our opinion, it is something you should take your time choosing so that it suits your comfort and practical requirements. Don’t try and save money by purchasing a cheap one as chances are after a couple of weeks on the road it will probably end up in the bin.

Having a good quality table that is foldable, built to take a beating makes a big difference when preparing your meals after a long day’s driving .

We have been using the Darche TRAKA 1800. This table folds neatly in half with the four removable legs easily attached to the base of the table. The table is light and can be easily stored on your roof rack or in the back of your 4WD or camper trailer.

One of the real selling points of this eye catching camping table is it’s alloy surface, no more worrying about burning the surface of your table with a hot coffee pot or pan that has just come of your burner.

TABLE

12

SHOW

11th-14th

JUNE 2020

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

2020

TICKETS

The Abenteuer & Allrad show might still be months away but the team in Germany are busy working on putting together what will no doubt be another amazing show. So if you have not yet attended one of the worlds best Camping and 4WD show be sure to put the 11th to the 14th of June 2020 dates into yor diary.

For many people this is an annual event with many travellers visiting this show ever since it started over twenty one years ago. Many return visitors choose to stay in the designated shows now famous campground that is located just outside Bad Kissingen and is a show all in itself You can now get your tickets in advance on the Abenteuer & Allrad website

G N I C U D O R T IN W E N l l a e th

SHOWER

CABIN

A little bit of privacy when show- when having a shower but also can be used as a changing room ering after a day’s touring. and a toilet. When you travel with small children this private James Baroud has had a busy space is a great addition to your 2019 having introduced some touring set up. Also changing new high quality products that your clothes in the upgraded included a new awning simply James Baroud shower cabin is called the Falcon 250. An impressive looking self-supporting much more pleasant experience than trying to change your awning that has an integratclothes in a roof tent. ed tunnel pass through to your James Baroud tent. The Portuguese company has also recently The Falcon Cabin is much more released the new Falcon Shower spacious and quicker to set up in comparison to the previous Cabin. model. Giving an impressive 1m2 of space in the self-supThis new shower and changing cabin is an upgrade on the pre- porting unit. The Falcon Shower vious James Baroud Shower cabin Cabin is made from an anti-UV and waterproof tissue, coated and looks the business. Shower cabins play a very important role with 6 layers of aluminium, the product also has a transparent for those of us who enjoy their soft plastic windows for light privacy when out camping. The stylish and spacious Falcon Cab- that are tinted in black. in not only provides privacy for

O E D I V W E N

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

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

excellence’16

Garantie comprenant la coque, la toile et mécanisme.

facebook.com/JamesBaroudOfficial instagram.com/jamesbaroud

JAMES BOND

&THE ALL NEW

LAND ROVER DEFENDER

Land Rover puts fans inside the New Defender on the set of No Time To Die, the 25th official James Bond film, in a teaser video released to announce its continued partnership with EON Productions.

Well its a couple of months now since the launch of the Land Rover Defender and for those of us who drive and love this iconic vehicle we now have had plenty of time to take in what has been doing the rounds on the internet since the vehicles launch.

Land Rover recently put fans inside the New Defender on the set of No Time To Die, the 25th official James Bond film, in a teaser video released to announce its continued partnership with EON Productions.

No Time To Die is the first movie to feature the New Defender, the latest legendary vehicle to star in a James Bond car chase sequence. The New Defender has been tested by the 007 expert stunt team in the most extreme off-road conditions,

demonstrating its very capable performance. Land Rover’s pioneering off-road tech, wading ability and ground clearance combine to make New Defender the ultimate 4x4 for No Time To Die’s challenging action sequences.

In the recent display Stunt Coordinator Lee Morrison and stunt driver Jess Hawkins give insight into creating No Time To Die’s spectacular car chase sequences “Designing and co-ordinating the action sequences for the Bond franchise requires a non-compromising mindset. We needed an unstoppable vehicle to help us battle against the elements, steep descents and river crossings so we chose the new Defender. I’m beyond impressed that the Defender is not only

e h t n ere o k clicideo h v back but much, much better!�

Lee Morrison, James Bond Stunt Co-ordinator The New Defender provides ground clearance of 291mm and world-class off-road geometry, giving the Defender 110 approach, breakover and departure angles of 38, 28 and 40 degrees (Off Road height) respectively. Its maximum wading depth of 900mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system, so drivers can ford deep water with complete confidence.

Land Rover’s design team worked closely with Special Effects and Action Vehicles Supervisor Chris Corbould on the specification of the Defenders in the film.

Based on the Defender X model in Santorini Black, with darkened skid pans, 20in dark finish wheels and professional off-road tyres, they were the first Defenders to be built

at Jaguar Land Rover’s new production facility in Nitra, Slovakia.

Britain’s biggest vehicle manufacturer has a long-standing partnership with EON Productions on the Bond films, which began in 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in Octopussy.Alongside the Defenders, No Time To Die also features the Range Rover Sport SVR, Series III Land Rover and Range Rover Classic.

The film will be released globally in cinemas from April 2 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures International and in the U.S on April 10, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios via their United Artists Releasing banner.

going t a e h d e goo Get som et S tove k c o R r in you

DEF

FENDER

MOVING

The New Defender has been through more than 62,000 tests for engineering sign-off, while the chassis and body architecture have been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedure – repeated and sustained impacts, above and beyond the normal standard for SUV and passenger cars.

During development testing, prototype models have covered millions of kilometres across some of the harshest environments on earth, ranging from the 50-degree heat of the desert and sub 40-degree cold of the Arctic to altitudes of 10,000ft in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

ON

going t a e h d e goo Get som et S tove k c o R r in you

DUTCH

OVEN

COOKING With

T

here is something very special about cooking your food in the great outdoors. For us, we always seem to appreciate the food much more when we eat camp grub straight from the open campfire, all that fresh air, sea breeze and extra energy used when outdoors does wonders for your appetite.It's no secret that our favorite piece of camp cooking equipment are Dutch Ovens (Cast Iron Pot). We usually cook most of our camp food in them and that includes, fresh bread, roasts, stews, baked potatoes and vegetables and much more. It has been the focal point of many a great camping trip over the years and hopefully many more to come.

Dutch Ovens are made to last and have been used for hundreds of years, both by pioneers exploring new lands and found hanging over open fires in homes where bread, and hearty meals were cooked for the entire family. The Petromax Dutch Ovens are ideal companions for outdoor activities such as travel, camping etc. Perfect for cooking over an open fire and in the home kitchen, they allow cooking food such as vegetables and meat very gently in its own juice. They feature a specially designed lid that can be used as a skillet or a platter.

The Petromax Dutch Ovens are made of durable cast-iron and have a pre-seasoned finish ready for immediate use. With the Petromax Dutch Ovens one can prepare delicious and healthy food for family friends and the beauty about these is that

le re availab a s n e v O ax Dutch m o r t e P e l sizes, Th in severa

they can be integrated with the Atago, giving you plenty of additional cooking options.

Product Features at a Glance: • Pre-seasoned surface for immediate use • Food is cooked very gently to preserve nutrients • Notched carry handle ensures safe and comfortable handling • The Petromax Dutch Ovens can be stacked • The Petromax Dutch Ovens come with three legs and feet on each lid (except ft1) • Optimal heat transfer thanks to specific surface structure • Hole for thermometer in the lid • Truly unique taste of food thanks to the specific heat transfer • Specially designed lid that can be used as skillet or a platter.

The Petromax Dutch Ovens also feature a specially designed lid that is also made from durable cast-iron and can can be used as a skillet or a platter..The pre-treated surface (seasoned finish) on the Petromax Dutch Ovens makes a first seasoning unnecessary,making it usable pretty much straight out of the box.

Another useful feature includes the very practical raised edge of the lid that makes it easy to place embers or charcoal on the Dutch without

worrying about them falling off.

Beside all these ingenious details, the Dutch oven has a traditional Petromax design: The lid is decorated with the elegant dragon logo, which has always stood for excellent quality and top-of-the-range products.

The Petromax Dutch Ovens are available in several sizes,the small model ft3 of the Dutch Oven has a capacity of max.

1.6 litres (pot). It allows to cook meals for up to 1-3 persons, with various models available to suit your needs.For the Petro-

max Dutch Oven, other accessories than the Lid Lifter are also available, like the Transport and Storage Bag, the Care Conditioner and also cleaning utensils for cast iron.

You can also get a Dutch Oven Trivet and Cast-iron Trivets (ft6 and up) that make it possible to cook and bake food without burning anything.Check out the large range of Petromax Dutch Ovens by clicking here.

The roots of this innovative company that now offers innovative camp cooking and general camping accessories started making petroleum lanterns over 130 years ago in Germany.

The name Petromax derives from the word Petroleum and and a man called Maz Graetz (1851-1937) who was the initial designer of these stylish and distinctive lanterns , hence the name PETRO MAX. Around 1916, the lantern and its name started to travel around the world. The design was such a success that it is still being manufactured to this day all overthe world.

NEWo

Vide

LAMB ROAST

b Make incisions in the Lam and add in your herbs

Dutch Ovens are made to last and have been used for hundreds of years, both by pioneers exploring new lands and found hanging over open fires in homes where bread, and hearty meals were cooked for the entire family. These multi use pots are perfect for baking bread, cooking roasts, stews or anything that can be cooked in the oven at home.

One of our favourite roasts to cook up when camping is Lamb, mainly because its very tasty but also very easy to cook.

The ingredients here are simple and convenient. All you have to do is get a good leg of lamb , some herbs,salt, oil

Place your ro ast in the pot and cook for a pprox 90 min

and some potatoes, veg , peppers or what ever you have at your disposal.

All you have to do is wrap your leg of lamb in some tin foil place in your seasoned Dutch Oven and throw in your veg ,peppers or potatoes into your pot. Put the lid on the Dutch Oven and then put the cast Iron pot on your fire, don’t forget to put some of the hot coals or embers onto the lid to spread the heat around the bread so it bakes evenly. Depending on the heat of your fire, you should have your roast in 90 minutes s. You will know it’s cooked if you hear it crackling in the tinfoil.

Roast Lamb A semi-boneless leg of lamb, Garlic cloves.

Fine sea salt.

Chopped fresh rosemary.

Black pepper.

Serve with potatoes, peppers or vegetables.

Enjoy

VIDEOS

t e k c Ro S tove

A tago

e l d d i Gr & t i p e r i F

The cliffs and beaches and mighty dunes of the rugged southern coast of Australia, between Esperance in Western Australia, and Ceduna in South Australia, offer some of the most challenging 4WD adventures and the best coastal 4WD trip in Australia. Ron and Viv Moon take you for the ride.

The strip of soft sand I was travelling on was more of a narrow ledge than anything else, slight-ly above the jagged twisted spires and clumps of sea-eroded limestone rock that threatened me on my immediate right, while the wave tossed sea just a little further out was downright intimidating. To my left was a steep scrub-cov-ered The cliffs and beaches and mighty ridge of sand that effective-ly dunes of the rugged southern barred any deviation that way. coast of Australia, between Esper- Suddenly the sandy ledge gave out ance in Western Australia, and Ce- completely and the Discov-ery duna in South Australia, offer some lurched sideways into a fetof the most challenging 4WD adtuccine-like porridge of sand and ventures and the best coastal 4WD weed. trip in Australia. Ron and Viv Moon take you for the ride.

I thumbed the gearshift paddle back to second, the low range box growling in time with the increased rumble from the V6 turbo engine. The only real response though, as forward motion came to a quick end, was a plume of sand thrown through my open door window; ‘Bugger’, I thought as I hit the window ‘up’ button.

I clambered out the partly opened door and surveyed the situation; it wasn’t a great place for a recovery, but you can’t really pick and choose the spot where the situation goes belly

up; you just do the best you can.

With a flurry of activity, a couple of Maxtrax and a bit of digging I scrambled backwards onto more level territory out of the way of jagged rocks, wind and waves ... and then breathed a big sigh of relief.

We had left Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia nearly a week previously where you can hit the sand right on the outskirts of town and within a few minutes climb Wylie Head.

This dome of granite rears upwards in an unbroken curve of unblemished rock and for first-

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YOU CAN’T TRAVEL THIS LONG SECTION OF COAST BETWEEN HERE AND STREAKY BAY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND NOT BE AWARE OF EDWARD J EYRE, THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO EXPLORE THIS COAST IN 1840

‘‘

time devotees it can be a daunting experience as you nudge your vehicle up to the rock-face and then, in low range, drive up the steep slope with only sky to be seen through the windscreen.

From the lofty crest of granite we dropped down onto the sand of Wylie Beach and travelled the sweep of coastline all the way to Cape Le Grande and delightful Lucky Bay before wandering on to Rossiter Bay. You can’t travel this long section of coast between here and Streaky Bay in South Australia and not be aware of Edward J Eyre, the first European to explore this coast in 1840. His faithful native guide, Wylie, has his name perpetuated in the beach and headland we had just left, and Rossiter Bay takes its name from the captain of the ship, Mississippi, who by sheer luck was anchored in the bay when Eyre

and Wylie staggered along this long stretch of sand. It was one of the most fortunate meetings in Australian exploration history and the two tattered and worn explorers stayed on board for 12 days repairing body and soul and equipment before continuing the gruelling trek to Albany, another 500km west.

We had it a lot easier but even so a few soft sections along the beaches saw us using a snatch strap and the Maxtrax to keep us all mobile and reaching our camp site for the evening at Membinup Beach - a shire maintained camping spot outside of the nearby national parks.

Next day we passed through Cape Arid NP, which has a plethora of places to visit, sandy beach drives and some pleasant camping areas. Sadly, the old Overland Telegraph Track through the park to Port Malcolm is generally closed so the other option is via Fisheries Track, which leads through the adjoining Nuytsland NR to Israelite Bay. Eyre had passed this spot on his epic trek from east to west but didn’t name the bay.

That was left to the Dempster brothers, white pioneers of the district, who in their travels in 1863, noticed that the area around the bay seemed to be the boundary between Aboriginal tribes who did and did not practice circumcision. Think the bible, the Israelites and you get the connection!

The bay then became the important site of its historic telegraph station that operated there from 1877 to 1927 and helped link Perth, via the Overland Telegraph Line (OTL), with the eastern states. The current building dates from 1896, while nearby is ‘Glencoe’, a small stone cottage built in 1883. Built around the same time as the grand new telegraph

station was a timber jetty to help load the increasing volume of wool that was being produced from the sheep properties in and around the bay. Two small cemeteries not far away also date from those pioneer times and can be easily visited. These days Israelite Bay and the surrounding coast is best known for its great fishing while it also attracts keen four wheelers and campers wanting to get away from it all.

Next morning we bypassed the first section of beach directly north of Israelite Bay because of the deep seaweed that covers the shore; in four trips along this coast I’ve never been able to burst through this southern section of beach - even though we’ve given it a good go!

Instead, we followed the old OTL Track that basically parallels the beach, occasionally ducking between samphire covered flats and across dry shallow, billiard-table flat lake beds, before winding our way onto the beach for the beach run north.

The history of the OTL is often obvious when you drive this route across the Great Australian Bight.

In fact, in places the lone wire that once carried the telegraphic signals of a nation across it lies along the track, acting something like a breadcrumb trail in your GPS and letting you know you are on the correct route, east or west. At other times solitary poles from those bygone days (this OTL line closed in 1926 to be rerouted along what is now the Trans Australian Railway line further inland) can be seen, as well as the ruins of old telegraph stations.

Close to where the Wylie Scarp meets the sea, just west of Point Culver, the Bilbunya Dunes crowd up to the near sheer escarpment. The prevailing

Jetty at Fowler’s Bay e s i r n u S t a

t vehis o l a of s Remain beaches e h t of e n cle on o

southerly winds have built these white masses of sand into some of the tallest dunes in Australia, their peaks sitting atop long, sinuous, almost sensuous, ridges of steep-sided sand. They were mightily impressive and we pulled up at their base a few hundred metres inland from the sea and called it a camp.

er to a passing vehicle.

The long sheer and impressive cliffs of the Great Australian Bight start just east of here at Point Culver and a track climbs from near our camp up the Wylie Escarpment to begin its slow and tortuous way east either across harsh limestone outcrops or through mallee scrub that only changes in density and the amount of scratches it can deliv-

After two near full days of, ‘the horror of the limestone’, as I call it, we dropped down the escarpment and wound our way through low dunes to Twilight Cove, certainly the remotest beach camp you can find along the south coast of Australia between Brisbane and Perth.

1

Along the cliffs, this stretch known as the Baxter Cliffs, you pass miniscule Toolinna Cove and further east, just inland from the cliff-lined sea edge, the monument to Eyre’s friend and 2IC, William Baxter, who was killed near here by natives.

On our latest trip we stayed here

2 4

3

1. Camp in the Dunes before the storm hit 2. The old jetty at Eucla is a popular resting spot for birds. 3. Near Membinup Beach 4. Memorial to Baxter, Eyre’s companion who was killed near here 5. Heathland of Nuytsland 6. Climbing Wylie Head just east of Esperance.

5

6

for a couple of days it was so enjoyable and then headed for the Eyre Bird Observatory – once an OTL station and the only one in anywhere near its former glory ... and that’s where my narrow strip of sand almost brought us and the Disco undone.

we passed into the Wahgunyah Conservation Reserve where the Dog Proof Fence that stretches for thousands of kilometres across outback Australia makes its final run to the sea and the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight.

That evening we camped amongst some dunes east Three days later after tak- of Dog Fence Beach where ing the OTL track east and a rocky headland jutted a short drive along the out into the wind swept fantastic beach at Eucla we sea. East from our vantage crossed the SA/WA border point amongst the high just back from the cliffs set dunes, a long sweep of Wilson Bluff. Then takof beach stretched away ing the Old Eyre Highway eastwards into the sea we stopped at the ruins of mist. the Koonalda Homestead, once an important stopOver the next couple of ping point on the dirt road days as we pushed east crossing of the Nullarbor we went from the Ocock and now in the Nullarbor Sandhills to the vast exNP. After camping near the panse of the Wahgunyah Bunda Cliffs, south of the Sandhills and then into the Nullarbor Roadhouse, we Chalgonippi Sandhills, the passed through the Yalata names a separate identity Aboriginal Lands, where on the map, but in reality a with a permit you can accontinuous mass of white cess the beach and some peaks paralleling the coast remote campsites. This is with the dune fields varyone of the top mulloway ing in width from 100 mebeach fishing spots in the tres to over a kilometre. country and some gigantic fish have been landed The track through here is here. often hard to follow due From the Aboriginal lands to the constantly shifting

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From the Aboriginal lands we passed into the Wahgunyah Conservation Reserve where the Dog Proof Fence that stretches for thousands of kilometres across outback Australia makes its final run to the sea and the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight

‘‘

track Overgrown ards w heading to ove Twilight C

Be prepa red to bogged .. get

sands but finally we came out on more defined tracks and set up camp just east of the spectacular coastline of Cape Adieu. Next day after more beach driving and cliff crawling while passing Cheetima Beach, Wandilla Bay and Mexican Hat we found our way onto Scott Beach for the long drive around the sweep of sand. Our exit from the beach was hard to find and wound amongst some steep sided dunes as we drove onto yet another

beach that led to the small hamlet of Fowlers Bay.

Our remote adventure was nearly over as we came into a more popular stretch of coast but there was still plenty of beaches, four wheel driving and great camping to enjoy as we pushed onto Ceduna, Streaky Bay and Baird Bay, where we had an appointment with the delightful Australian sea lions that congregate here. There is no better

place in Australia to interact with a group of friendly, playful seals than this place and their friendly attitude and captivating antics win over even the hardest sceptic and you are soon trying to keep up with these aquatic mammals as they dive and cavort around you. It was a fitting end to our latest trip along this wild, little visited coast!

Travel Planner -The southern r coast of Australia is pretty poorly

covered as far as decent mapping is concerned. Use a Hema Navigator and the included 1:150,000 map.

Be prepared to get bogged and be well versed and equipped at getting out of such situations. Watch the tides!

Diving with the seals at Baird Bay has to be one of the great wildlife experiences available in the world

today! For more details contact Alan and Trish Payne, ph: (08) 8626 5017, or www.bairdbay.com.

For more info, check out: www.visitesperance.com, or: www.nullarbornet.com.au. Learn more about Ron and Viv Moon and their range of guidebooks and cookbooks on their great website: http://www.guidebooks.com.au/

NEW ROOF

FTOP TENT

Euro4x4parts have just released a brand new Rooftop Tent the “Bivouac - Equip ‘Maxx Soft Roof Tent” (4TT1019) The tent is made from very high quality fabric , uses SBS zippers and comes supplied with an annex and sliding ladder. We really like the dark gray colours of this tent. This tent weighs 65Kg and has the following dimensions: Open dimensions 163x310x126 cm - Dimensions closed 163x120x26cm - Mattress dimensions 160x240x6,5cm You can learn more and order the tent online -click here

EURO4X4PARTS TEST THEIR PRODUCTS IN SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

supplying

70,000 PARTS,

SPARES & ACCESSORIES

FOR 99% OF 4WD VEHICLES IN EUROPE

D L O C

WEATHER CAMPING

M

ost people probably do all of their camping during the summer time, and summer is a good time to camp, with the warm weather and longer days.

But we think there is nothing quite like camping in the wintertime, waking to a crisp winter morning, where everything outside your tent is covered with frost or snow. Winter ‘sounds’ different too, everything sounds more quiet and muted when covered in a blanket of snow, the only sound, the crunch of your footsteps.

Camping in winter and in cold weather does bring some challenges, however, and you should never attempt to camp in very cold weather unless you are well prepared to do so. One of the most important thing is to check (and to know) the weather forecast and not to take any unnecessary risks, obviously if a storm or other harsh conditions are expected, it’s probably wise to rethink your trip.

Make sure you dress appropriately for the conditions, and the old advice you often hear about dressing for the cold is also the best - wear lots of layers.

Wearing layers makes it much easier for you control your temperature and to add or remove layers in order to avoid getting too hot or too cold. A sweat wicking base layer is always a good idea.

Your sleeping bag should be rated for cold weather and ideally should be rated for weather a few degrees colder than you expect to encounter.

If you have the option it’s always best to make your camp in a sheltered area, and this becomes more important in the winter time. Find a site that is protected from the wind, behind some trees or behind a hill. It is important to eat small amounts of food regularly as your body’s digestion process will generate heat and help to fend off the cold.

Make sure also to stay hydrated and to bring and to drink plenty of water. Speaking of water, one useful tip is to store your water bottles upside down as water freezes from the top down this should help to ensure that

your bottle does not freeze shut. You can also keep a bottle with you in your sleeping bag in order to prevent it from freezing.

In terms of gear to bring, obviously a fire pit will be a great addition to a winter camp, providing lots of warmth and atmosphere. And having lots of sheltered area to sit inside like an enclosed awning will also help to keep you warmer. If you are in a large ground tent like a tipi a camping stove is a great option. We also like to have some heat pads with us on winter trips, these pads are activated by exposure to the air and can help to keep your gloves or boots warm for hours on end.

If you are into photography, like us it’s essential to keep your batteries warm, we do this by keeping them in an inside pocket during the day and in our sleeping bags at night time.

We camp all year round but we are really hoping that we get a few white days this Christmas we will be right out there!

E L C I VEH

THEFT

? o d e w n a c t Wha

A

The thieves, it turned out, had obviously carefully selected my vehicle and sat and waited for my family and I to return home in it from an evening out. After placing the keys in a drawer in our kitchen my wife and I went about putting our two children to bed. Moments later one of

fter several years of declining figures, sadly since 2014 combined figures from police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland have shown a sharp rise in vehicle thefts, having shot up by 45% since 2014.The worst affected area is the West Midlands in England where thefts have tripled in the last 5 years with 16 claims per 10k vehicles now the norm.

This is bad enough but when you factor in the growing rates of theft of 4x4 vehicles, in particular the Land Rover Defender which sees itself earn the unenviable position of 2nd most stolen vehicle with 5.8 per 1000 being taken, it’s clear that as owners of these much loved vehicles that we need to do what we can to protect ourselves as much as possible.

Unfortunately I found out to my own personal cost back in December 2017 the trauma having a vehicle taken can cause when my own was taken off my driveway in the West Midlands.

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

them broke into our property via rear external door, took the keys from the drawer and passed them out through our letterbox in our front door to his awaiting accomplices who seconds later were to be heard racing up the road in my hard earned and much loved vehicle – which was never seen again.

To be fair the police were quick in responding, dusting the house for prints and taking statements etc but all to no avail. However, as disturbing and upsetting as the initial break in and theft had been nothing prepared me for the following months of arguing, frustration and wasted time that would be taken up with my having to fight with insurance companies to try and get back anywhere near the correct value of the vehicle that I’d lost. In the end being forced to settle for a several thousand pound loss and then having the task of hunting for a replacement with less funds than before.

So, having finally found a suitable replacement I was determined to do all I could to ensure that this sorry episode would not be repeated. After doing all the obvious upgrades at my home, fitting upgraded locks on all doors and CCTV cameras around the property my focus turned to the vehicle itself. I undertook some research into the best steering wheel lock available, in the end going for a StopLock.

Whilst this gave me some small peace of mind and acts as a decent visual deterrent, I wanted to find something far more substantial and effective, some sort of tracking device that should I be unfortunate enough to have the vehicle taken that next time the thieves wouldn’t be so lucky as to be able to hang on to it.

Defender Defender It was the search for this solution that led me to Gloucester based company, Defender Defender. There are many different tracking style devices on the market all with varying cost and reliability, but what really got my attention from this product was the many features it has – this was not just a tracker by any means.

As with many other products on the market it enables you to Geo Fence your vehicle once it’s parked alerting you if it moves out of the chosen distance you have set and then allowing you to track it in real time if it does start to move however this is just the start of the Defender Defender’s weaponry.

A simple to use App on your phone controls the device and alerts you via various means when the vehicle is even tampered with let alone opened or attempted to be started – this ensures towing away is not an option or indeed having any expensive accessories such as a roof top tent being removed from the vehicle without you being made aware of it. And even if they do manage to

p on younrd p A e s u o t A simplentrols the device sawhen phone covia various mean d with .. e alerts you r e p m a t le is the vehic

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THE PEACE OF MIND THIS HAS GIVEN ME HAS BEEN WORTH THE INVESTMENT ALONE

crease in n i e g u h been a ce 2014 n i There has s s e l c i of veh the thefts

click here faotrion more inform

quickly gain entry and start to drive away from your phone you can simply press a single button stops the engine from running and disables the vehicle.

The peace of mind this has given me since fitting it has been worth the investment alone, with further comfort given to me after speaking to the companies owner, Dan Knight, who explained that to date, 1% of all fitted units have been triggered by an attempted theft, (a figure that tallies nationally in the UK with the number of Defenders that are stolen a year), but as yet not one has been lost and every one recovered!

tailed instructions at point of purchase and feel free to ask us for advice, we are available during normal office hours. All necessary fitting components are found within the contents of the box. The inclusion of rust proof marine quality wire connectors means less wires to cut throughout the process improving the standard of installation.

We also have a growing number of registered fitters around the country, so please get in touch and make that request if you are struggling or simply do not have the time to DIY.

A big thanks to Greg at Town and Country Land Rover Repairs, And don’t be fooled by the Cubbington, Warwickshire, UK. name of this great bit of kit, if you’re not a Land Rover Defend- for fitting the unit. er owner the kit can be simply fitted to any number of other vehicles and protect them just the same. Let’s be honest, it’s annoying that we have to spend any of our hard earned cash on a device to simply ensure that what’s ours remains ours rather than getting those cool looking rock sliders or new LED spotlights.

But, at the end of the day vehicle theft isn’t going to go away anytime soon and better to have a vehicle to actually fit rock sliders to than be left ruing the fact you delayed protecting your vehicle properly. Check out www.defenderdefender.co.uk INSTALLATION You will be provided with de-

with des e m o c t c The produ ructions t s n i g n i tailed fitt

D250SE

POWERFUL ON BOARD, ON THE MOVE CHARGING

THE CTEK DC-DC CHARGING SOLUTION JUST GOT SMARTER

The CTEK DC-DC on-board charging solution just got even smarter thanks to the launch of two new units. They will be direct replacements for the D250SA & SmartPass 120 units.

D250SE

The D250SE unit boasts all of the features of the D250SA, but also has in addition Flexibility: to work with any 12V service battery, including lithium (12V LiFePO4).It has three specially developed charging modes: normal (14.4V), AGM (14.7V) and now also lithium (12V LiFePO4).

Smart alternator compatibility: the D250SE will continue to operate even when there is low alternator output, maintaining a stable output of up to 20A to fully charge your service battery in the shortest time. 


SMARTPASS 120S

This unit boasts all of the features of the SmartPass 120, but also has: Smart Alternator compatibility:

continuing to deliver power to the service battery, and any loads applied to it, even when there is low alternator output.

SMARTPASS 120S

120A DC/DC POWER MANAGEMENT SOLUTION The new D250SE and SMARTPASS 120S units mean that CTEK can guarantee a solution to any 12V set-up regardless of vehicle type SEPARATE, PRIORITIZE AND BOOST – offering or battery chemistry BATTERIES AND EQUIPMENT even greater flexibility.

Both of SMARTPASS 120S is a 120A Power Management Solution which distributes, controls and maximises these unique products have been the available energy from your alternator to power service batteries andto consumers.

120S developed workSMARTPASS as standalone handles all 12V batteries between 28–800Ah. The units or together asfunction a complete SMARTPASS 120Ss Battery Guard ensures that critical equipment such as radio, emergency system, with dual input for alterlights and navigation systems always have power and take priorityand when the voltagepower. on the service battery is nator solar Combined low disconnecting non-critical consumers. The unit’s together, safe Battery Guard will our protectpowerful, your service battery from and total discharge and built in over temperature protection flexible charging solution gives reduces charge current before the battery temperature gets high. SMARTPASS 120Smanage is compatible with the youtoothe ability to and D250SA and D250SE 20A on board chargers. control power more effectively – whatever your requirements.

SMARTPASS 120S charges and supplies the service battery and equipment with 120A, separates critical equipment from non-critical equipment ensuring that radio, emergency lights and navigation systems always have power.

Please contact your CTEK sales representative for further details of launch dates.

• Smart alternator compatible • Delivers 120A for quick recharge of batteries 28-500Ah • Compatible with D250SA and D250SE for the ultimate 140A power management solution • Prioritizing critical consumers and supplies consumers directly from the alternator • Start assistance function

GLASS UK

GLASS

on started i t a i c o s s A reen Lane 995 the UK G back in 1

T

he Green Lane Association – helping you plan your next adventure!

Words and pictures by Lauren Eaton.

Green Laning is an enjoyable hobby for many within the 4x4 community. An opportunity to get away from it all, leave the hustle and bustle behind, turn off the tarmac and head out into the stunning countryside that the UK has to offer. But, as

we all know it can sometimes feel like a bit of a minefield; where can I legally drive? What’s the terrain going to be like when I turn off the paved highway? Has this lane been closed?

Just like the seasons, lanes change, legalities change and no one wants to fall foul of the law, so the Green Lane Association is here to help.

Run by and for green laning enthusiasts, the Green Lane As-

sociation opened its collective knowledge to the public back in 1995, making it the longest running 4x4 vehicular user group in the UK. The idea is to bring the community together to enjoy the huge network of unsurfaced rights of way in a safe, enjoyable and sustainable manner. GLASS fights to keep our hobby alive and well and they do this in a variety of ways.

Membership of the organisation firstly gives you access to TrailWise2, currently the most comprehensive green laning mapping tool available. Not only does TW2 give lane locations, but also designations, current TROs, voluntary restraints, etc, but more than that it allows users to record their comments and even add photographs. If you want to know where a lane is, if you can drive it legally and what the terrain is like before you head along the route, TW2 can give you those answers.

Recording route usage is also vitally important to keeping these ancient byways open, if GLASS can prove usage then it is less likely that lanes will be closed permanently.

Working alongside the technology, GLASS have a UK wide network of local reps at your disposal, people who are passionate about laning and know their local area well who can advise you on all aspects of your hobby.

These motivated volunteers also work with local councils, land owners and authorities to organise and fundraise for maintenance work, sign posting and repairs. Area reps organise all sorts of events, laning days, pub meets, maintenance days, show stands, fundraisers, there is always something to join in with that gives a little back to our community at large. As an organisation GLASS has a voice right up to government level, they speak for us as a community where it really makes a difference, challenging closures in court, proving that our community contributes time, money and effort into ensuring our lanes are driven

e ice for th o v t n a rt an impo s i S n the UK S i A y L t i G n u e Comm Greenlan

cted and respe d i l o s a n the UK w has i o s n l i S c S n A u L G Co in many h t i w n o i posit

responsibly and that we assist in maintaining these routes for future generations to drive.

Recently some of the most iconic routes, Happy Valley and the Wayfarer, have been discussed with GLASS and maintenance plans put in place to return them to their former glory. Wooton Lane in Shropshire has been saved from proposed closure thanks to discussions with local GLASS reps and volunteers, these are just a few examples of many from the last 6 months. This information is shared with members through monthly bulletins, their Green Lanes magazine, forum and area Facebook groups.

Twenty four years of representing the 4x4 world has given GLASS a solid and respected position within many councils, user groups and the laning community at large. Membership fees are directly pumped back into the organisation and their Fighting Fund, TrailWise2 goes from strength to strength with updates from their

GREENLANING UK e h t in

ever increasing member commu- use continues to increase it is now as important as ever for nity – us all to abide by the Leave No Place principles. It goes without GLASS is committed to keeping your green laning adventures saying that the vast majority of alive for years to come! tourers and campers do respect their environment but unfortunately we will also have a minority who do not and give us all Every country throughout Eua bad name. not and give us all rope and beyond have differa bad name. ent laws when it comes to wild camping and driving in remote areas and all of these laws should be respected.

LEAVE NO TRACE

As pressure on our landscapes from recreational

of local k r o w t e n ide e a UK w v a h S S A disposal GL r u o y t a reps

ation m r o f in e r o m Click here for on GL ASS

GLASS is committed to keeping your green laning adventures alive for years to come!

GLASS

WALES The Land of Lanesre& , n to a E n u a L s rd o W ins Mounta Media & Communications GLASS

W

hen it comes to green laning in the UK North Wales has to be the most scenic area that offers large numbers of green lanes and stunning views. Ok, so I’m a little biased, but that doesn’t stop people travelling from all over the world to sample our Cymraeg delights!

Snowdonia, the largest national park in Wales proudly boasts any joys of the m e the highest mountain in Enh t of One donia is w o n S n i gland and Wales as well as 823 ing Greenlan terrains. of r e b m square miles of national park u sheer n land surrounded by hundreds more that are ripe for exploring.

One of the many joys of laning in Snowdonia and North Wales is the sheer number and variety of terrains and challenges. From gentle open scenic routes, to extremely tight and scratchy squeeze through byways, old roads that skirt the coast delivering stunning vistas and even ancient Roman roads like Sarn Helen, still drivable on the very surface the Romans laid; although it’s somewhat more challenging to traverse today! North Wales has something for everyone to enjoy, whatever your vehicle or off tarmac driving experience may be. Thankfully you can easily check the legality and even terrain condition of routes using The Green Lane Association’s TrailWise2 laning database; their local area reps are also on hand to give local advice when planning your adventure.

A visit to North Wales will never disappoint, there are always new nooks and crannies to

WALES

SNOWDONIA

A VISIT TO NORTH WALES WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT

explore and beauty to discover no matter how many times you visit. You could happily and easily fill a week off tarmac in North Wales, but when you do please tread lightly, we’re very proud of our homeland!

The following route takes in 6 lanes over approximately 55 miles of Welsh countryside. It is suitable for those who are confident with off road driving. As things change in the laning world it would be sensible to check current designations before setting off.

1 2 3 5 6

– Corris – Hidden Gem & 4 – Rhydymain – Bwlch Goriwared - Sarn Helen

reek explo w a l l fi , easily rth Wales o N You could n i s e reenlan ing the G

The variety of Greenlan es in North Wales offer various cha llenges

CAMPING Campers really do love North Wales. Many of other campsites are set in secluded countryside, the ideal location for an escape.

Complementing that seclusion feel are the quality facilities on offer for campers. Campsites now come equipped with all the necessities.

Adding to the popularity with campers is Snowdonia’s status as an International Dark Sky Reserve. This means the stars shine brighter, making your

sleep under the stars even more special. All up North Wales is a land of adventure. Snowdonia offers some of the world’s most beautiful and thrilling mountains, with the bustling resort of Betws-y-Coed a great base.

You’ll never be far from the beach either - there are over 250 miles of coastline on offer here, including the famous Colwyn Bay and seaside resorts of Llandudno and Rhyl Click here for more information .

THE ALL NEW 0ZTENT BOX

A

lubox continue to innovate when it comes to designing and building some of the best adventure and touring boxes on the market and a recent edition to the catalogue includes the impressive Oztent box. The Oztent box is perfect for storing the OZtent RV 1, RV2, RV3, RV4, RV5 and will protect your OZtent against the elements. The new boxes are also great for putting your skis and longer items into. Like all Alubox products the Oztent box is light, dust and waterproof and can be easily secured to your roof

the long g n i y r r for ca Perfect Oztents

Alubox have a huge range of storage boxes

3 GENERATIONS

ALUBOX HAVE A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

rack and can be locked with a padlock ensuring safe transport and storage. One of the things that makes the Alubox stand out is the materials used in their build and having a IP54 standard they are made of EN AW-5754 (AlMg3),this material offers excellent corrosion resistance against seawater and industrial polluted atmospheres. AW 5754 is a mid-strength material, non-hardening alloy that also gives good weldability.These new boxes will prevent you Oztents from damage and the elements keeping them dry and protected from branch dame etc when off roading.

Added to all of this they also just happen to have that authentic expedition look .

Alubox Pro Aluminum

Storage Cases have; • Spring loaded insulated handles.

• High quality piano hinges • Quality fasteners ready for locks and security seals • Easy to grip handles • All internal seams are sealed with silicone and rubber gasket giving them an IP54 rating (dust and water resistant).

• The stacking devices are of avery high quality

more r o f e r e h Click ion informat

X O B U AL o e d i v

Create a Customised Alubox........

Did you know that Alubox have partnered with Vorova to bring you 100% customisable graphics for your Aluboxes. Vorova´s software makes creating your custom Alubox simple and fun. Alubox and Vorova have worked together to ensure you can choose from a variety of colours and materials. Be it a personal design or with company colours this is a great way to brand

your Aluboxes. With worldwide shipping, 100% satisfaction and online user support, creating graphics for your Alubox is very straight forward.

• Design anything for your personal or business needs.

• Perfect form fitting templates, no cutting required.

• Designed for easy application.

• Sharp image quality.

• Vibrant colours.

CUSTOMISE YOUR

ALUBOX ore m r o f e r Click he ion informat

W

e recently met up with Phill and the team at APB Trading Ltd. at their workshop in

Hartlebury.

Phillip Bond, the founder and managing director of APB is very familiar with Land Rovers, having spent 20 years competing in Specialist Land Rover & 4×4 off-road events with AWDC (All Wheel Drive Club) (such events as the Rallye des Cimes & Plains & Vallies both in France) and over the past 50 years has assembled a professional team around him, whose combined years of experience and knowledge has helped to make APB one of the leading Land Rover servicing and repair specialists.

At its workshops APB can carry out Land Rover & 4×4 vehicle servicing, repairs & M.O.T’s, vehicle overland travel & expedition preparation, specialist vehicle preparation, waxoyling and rustproofing. Its parts and warehouse department supplies parts, spares and adventure travel gear & equipment to a wide range of countries throughout the world.

Back in the early 2000s APB

APB C arries a ran robust K9 Roof ge of racks

d. ing Lt d a r T APB Retail & s rt Pa ses Premi

BACK IN THE EARLY 2000S APB BECAME THE SOLE UK IMPORTERS FOR A NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES; A COUNTRY WHERE ADVENTURE TRAVEL WAS BORN

me stock in so s ck e ch l il h P the APB Depot

n eed for a n u o y g in dition Everyth e p x e g n upcomi

APB S toc ks a wide range of vehicle p arts and a ccessories

became the sole UK importer for a number of South African companies; a country where adventure travel was born.

APB stock many products which have been imported from South Africa, including Eezi- Awn K9 (the pioneers of the roof tent), National Luna ( the inventors of a fridge for the transportation of vaccines for world health organisations), Escape Gear (high quality canvas seat covers), Bushtech (superior heavy load canopy tops) and Campmor (high quality canvas ground tents and many more products).

As a genuine enthusiast, Phill, has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in Land Rovers and assembled a professional team whose combined years of experience puts APB ahead of the competition as Land Rover and

4×4 specialists with a top quality 4×4 sevice centre for all 4×4 repair, 4×4 servicing, 4×4 tyres, Land Rover servicing & Land Rover Parts.

Servicing & Repairs The Workshop

APB’s workshops are fully equipped with the latest Autologic diagnostic equipment to carry out 4×4 servicing and maintenance on the full Land Rover range without affecting your manufacturer’s warranty.

Performance tuning and power upgrades are available for most Land Rover vehicles.

Not only do APB service and repair Land Rover, Range Rover, Freelander and Discovery but also most makes of off-road

4×4 vehicles to include Toyota, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu, Nissan, Pajero and Isuzu.

The experienced 4×4 mechanics at APB can handle minor or major repairs, MOT preparation, and arrange MOT testing by appointment, and the bodyshop can rectify anything from a slight scratch to serious damage. Chassis change and rebuilds are also available.

Servicing & Repairs Extensive Parts Stock

APB’s warehouse has literally thousands of parts in stock, covering all Land Rover models, right back to Series I,& II, including tyres for models of all ages.

PHILL AND THE TEAM AT APB TRADING ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE ON KITTING-OUT YOUR VEHICLE

The salvage department has an extensive range of used parts for most vehicles. Phill explains that it is often “owners of older models in particular who appreciate APB’s specialist knowledge. Sourcing hard-to-find spares for veteran Land Rover vehicles is our forte. From ex-military dealers to vintage clubs and societies, we know who keeps what and where”.

Servicing & Repairs - APB Recovery & Loan Cars

APB has its own vehicle recovery service, and can provide loan cars or Land Rovers whilst

your vehicle is being repaired, it can also provide Land Rover hire and a full valeting service.

Basically, APB can deal with anything from a full scale rebuild to a quick wash and brush up.

Rust-Proofing Your Land Rover/4×4 At APB

The team at APB has been rust-proofing customer Land Rovers and all makes of 4×4’s for over 40 years, offering a highly comprehensive (11 litre Waxoyl) full vehicle underbody protection package. Your vehicle’s underside is ‘high

pressure steam blasted’, clearing away any surface dirt/rust, and then left overnight to fully dry before sprayed Waxoyl application, to ensure a high quality corrosion protection. Chassis and door body internal injection

can also be included as an extra package, to further increase your level of rust protection.

Servicing & Repairs - Wynn’s Automatic Gearbox Flush

APB also has the latest Wynn’s and contact the team at APB Flush system which automatically Trading by clicking on the button changes your auto gearbox oil by below. flushing the system of existing ATF and replacing the Automatic Transmission Fluid in an efficient and effective way. Learn more

the

BALKAN OFF-ROAD

RALLY 2019

e n o in w m a e t s t r a euro4x4p e m e r t x e t s o m ’s e of Europ of f road rallies

Race report by Françoise Hollender - the

Euro4x4parts team really had a great race and a great experience racing. The first stage often called ‘extreme toaster’ resulted in a broken axle and limping through the stage on 2 wheel drive only, lots of winching and only 2 wheel drive resulted in 6th position 38 minutes behind the leader. Day 2 - Leg two on day two, a two stage race allowed us to pull ahead and finish in first position 4 ‘ahead of Romain Porchère and 11’ ahead of Christophe Moine. Day 3 , a very mountainous stage, lots of navigation, taking bearings , steep climbs and rapid descents, we again finish is 1st position 5 ‘ahead of Romain Porchère.

Day 4, an average of 15kmh, we drive through river beds congested with pebbles and boulders,tough but fun, we finish in 1st again only 50 seconds ahead of Christophe Moine, and 6 ‘over Gilles Girousse. We need to fix a small radiator leak. Day 5 - two stages 221 km in total. We like the idea of reaching the Black Sea with the incomparable charm of driving on the beach, but we are warned from the briefing: this year, no driving on the beach, under any circumstances, this is disappointing but those are the rules. We finish the stage in first place there too, 2 ‘before Christophe Moine. We need to tune a wheel bearing and a belt tensioner. Day 6 - the ‘dry mud’ day luckily it is dry. It starts at a famous sticky mudhole but we are the first vehicle to pass it and get by. Climbs and ascents, more river beds, and GPS points to attain. On this

point, I applied the technique that proved to be the right one on the second day of the race in Borovets: dare to move sufficiently far from the point to circumvent the obstacle and find a path that goes back in the opposite direction towards the desired point.

Risky technique, especially when the driver starts to worry about getting too far from the target, but rewarding! 1st place again 52 ‘(yes, you heard right!) ahead of Sven Syfrid. We need to tighten the upper rear tie rods. Day 7- the ‘Euro4x4parts special’. This leg is really beautiful but the weather has changed and it is now raining. The misty rain obscures the normally beautiful vistas. This leg has some tough passages, places that you have to drive with sensitivity, guts and without fear, if you don’t want to crash or hurt your car. For

example, this extremely digged ravine to take downhill at Km75, with holes sometimes higher than the car itself and that you have to take crossway at the end before descending a vertical wall 3 meters high and follow up with azimuth navigation in a riverbed. This is the true spirit of the Balkan Offroad! We were really enjoying ourselves until we broke a an upper rear tie rod, which forced us to strap / winch the rear axle, to idle and stop regularly to control / tighten the whole lot to avoid further breakage. Fortunately, we had built up a good lead at this point.

In spite of that problem, we finish this last stage in 4th position, 56’ after Christophe Moine. So we maintained our overall position. Final podium: 3rd = Sven Syfrid / Michael Ginter (CH / POL, 32: 38h) 2nd = Christophe Moine / Olivier Vailleau (FR / FR, 30: 16h), 1st = Franck Daurelle / Françoise Hollender (FR / FR, 29: 28h)

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

D N LA

R E V RO

T

he Offroad Monkeys are a young team of off-road enthusiasts, developing and producing high quality parts for Land Rover Defender.

This high tech company produces high-quality products for off-road vehicles. It is currently primarily offering parts for the Land Rover Defender, with products and accessories for

other vehicle brands to follow.

The brand is an imprint of MĂźller Motorcycles which has been making parts for the automotive and motorcycle industry since 1985.

The company credo is: Build things with passion and for eternity. This is because the team at Offroad Monkeys believe that only satisfied customers are loyal customers. And For this reason they use only the

best materials and work on and finish each individual part until it is absolutely perfect.

The company also prides itself on working with supplier from the local region and all Offroad Monkey’s parts are 100% made in Germany.

The quality hinge range is made from high strength aircraft grade aluminium with high quality lubrication. Made with inner stainless steel bolts with helical grooves to distribute grease in an optimal man-

1

ner, these hinges also feature stainless steel bearings which can be replaced if needed without having to replace the entire hinge.

The product catalogue from Offroad Monkeys continues to grow, and it now produces a range which includes door and rear door hinges, window blocks and window blocks with LED lights, bonnet hinges, sliding window covers, and adjustable mirror arms.

Things are going from strength

to strength for Offroad Monkeys and they have just opened a UK website for their growing UK customer base. As the brand has grown in popularity they have also begun to sell some great high quality branded accessories such as fuel caps, sliding window

covers, custom (and very cool) petroleum lamps and t-shirts.

You can learn more and find pricing information, and can also order on the website: https://www.offroad-monkeys.de/

Service Hotline +49 8433 2490010 (Germany) Contact Address CONTACT ADDRESS 86669 Kรถnigsmoos, Pรถttmeser Str. 166, Germany

Email info@offroad-monkeys.uk or online: https://www.offroad-monkeys.de/ kontaktformular

for more n informatio

GO-OUTSIDE

CAMPING o r c i M x o b n e Kitch

O

ne of the greatest pleasures many of us enjoy about being in the outdoors is cooking and eating. Because of this common love there are numerous cooking appliances and kitchen set ups of all shapes and sizes available in the market, from those which we fit out inside our vehicles as a permanent fixture to various portable gas burners and open stoves. However a company in Austria called Go-Outside.at have taken on the

brief of an outdoor kitchen to the next level and are producing beautifully crafted handmade outdoor kitchens of a quality that is second to none.

At the start of last summer I picked up one of their so called Kitchen Box Micro, one of their smaller end units which they say is for 2-3 people, but which I found worked perfectly for my family of four. The robustly engineered item weighs in at just 17kg when all packed down into its cleverly designed 570x510x400mm box. Inside of the in-

ternal storage space fits not only the 2 burner Outwell cooker, high quality Epicurean cutting board, utensil hooks, folding Outwell wash basin and folding water canister that come with the kitchen, but I have also been able to pack in all my cutlery, plates/bowls and cups for the family, plus a couple of gas canisters.

Once you unload the kitchen out of the back of your vehicle the set-up couldn’t be easier due to the beautifully engineered and yet simple folding mechanism that instantly has it erected and set up to its 82cm working height with just a couple of moving parts where ever you want – whether that be under the awning when the weathers not so clever or in the middle of field or down on the beach when the suns out. If needs be it can then be adjusted with independent adjustable feet to ensure a good level working space. To be honest as I tend to always be using it on grass or muddy ground and with it being so robust, I’ve tended to simply lean my weight onto it to push it down into the ground a little to level it up rather than have to fiddle with the feet.

Along with the flexibility of being able to set wherever I want, and it being able to neatly contain all your kitchen items self-contained within it, I think the one overriding feature of this kitchen that still amazes me now after several months of using it is its sheer strength and robust design. It is incred-

The robustly engineered item weighs in at just 17kg when all packed down into its cleverly designed 570x510x400mm box.

ibly strong and amazingly well balanced when erected. This was something that was unexpectedly tested by a friend of mine on one trip who decided, (admittedly after a couple too many beers one evening), to lay his full 90 kgs weight across it! I winced as I saw him do it waiting to hear a sickening cracking sound as it collapsed to the floor.

But no, it took in its stride, in fact it hardly moved. Indeed the extremely clever balancing of the erected kitchen means it’s nearly impossible to knock over, even if you lean full weight on one of the ends of the unfolded wings it sits steadily on the ground without tilting up or spilling things off the hob. Very clever!

So if you spend a good amount of time in the great outdoors or are planning an epic trip then I can whole heartedly recommend you take a look at go-outside.at and see the range of kitchens they offer, from the compact 1-2 person Nano right up to the awesome looking Kitchenbox Expedition or Deluxe. And sure, these kitchens don’t come cheap, but then as the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and that’s definitely the case here.

One things for sure, this cracking little kitchen is going to prove to be great value for money in the long run and will last me for many years. Indeed after heavy use over the past few months it doesn’t even have a scratch on it and still looks as good as the day I took it out of the box which with two high energy young kids I usually have in tow is testament enough.

r o f e r e h click ormation more inf

‘‘An offroad GPS navigation system is an essential item of equipment to have on any remote offroad trip”

e h t n ere o k clicideo h v

O

n some of our recent trips we had the opportunity to use the new FOX 7 rugged off-road navigation GPS from Navigattor.

This is a great device and we really think that an off-road gps is an essential item of gear to have on any off road journey. The Fox7 is great for both planning trips, where you can actually plot your entire route and mark waypoints and other points of interest before you set out on the road.You can also upload WP and Track information files in GPX format.

Navigattor will add any maps that you request to your device before they ship it to you, and you can contact the team at Navigattor any time to request additional maps. This is a very versatile device, you can

have multiple maps available for the areas which you are driving through and you can also add your own maps if you have them, it is even possible to add scanned paper maps or specialist maps.

The Fox 7 has a high-gain GPS receiver which is 10 times more accurate than the positioning available on a phone or tablet.

The device uses Ozi-Explorer for off-road navigation and iGo or OSMAND for on road navigation.

This is a rugged device and you won’t have to worry about it too much if using it in rough conditions, it can also be used on bikes and quads. Navigattor also sell a range of RAM mounts, which are very tough and hard-wearing mounts, that are made in the USA. A powered RAM mount ensures that the Fox

NAVIGATION

OFFROAD

7 starts to charge as soon as you clip it into the mount.

One of the features that we have relied on the most on recent trips us the ability to access detailed topographical maps and to automatically mark and overlay our track onto these maps as we drive, this ensure that no matter how many twists and turns on the route, we were always confident of easily finding our way back.

The Fox 7 uses Android 6 and so is also a very capable tablet and additional Android apps can be added via the Google Play store if required. The Internal memory has a capacity of 16GB and you can also add a MicroSD card (up to 64GB) for extra storage capacity. The device has 4G connectivity which also means that it can be used to make phone calls and access data broadband.

Our Fox 7 currently contains detailed maps for Portugal and Iceland and we are using it to create a planned route including points of interest for some of our upcoming trips. You can learn more and can order the Fox 7 directly from Navigattor.com Rambla Salvador Lluch, 4, 08850 - GavĂ , Barcelona +34 936 332 292 mail@navigattor.com

THE WORLDWIDE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS FOR OZIEXPLORER ARE FREE OF CHARGE FOR OWNERS OF NAVIGATTOR GPS DEVICES

C

on , for more informati click here

e h t g n i c u d o r Int

PODCAST

Starting in this issue, we have introduced the first episode in our series of regular podcasts.

These podcasts will consist of interviews with a variety of people, from guides running Offroad tours across the world, to Offroad equipment and accessories designers and manufacturers, to automotive company reps and engineers - all of which we hope you will find as fascinating to listen to as we have found to record them..

EPISODE #1

In this first episode we discuss off-road navigation with Ferran Revoltos, Managing Director of Spanish Company Navigattor.

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.

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. In this episode Phillip tells us about his time rally racing, he explains how and why he came to found APB Trading and later to launch expedition-equipment.com

EPISODE #3 In this third episode we chat with Francoise Graciet Holllander.

Francoise is one of the founders and owners of Euro4x4parts and is also an avid and very successful offroad racer.

Francoise Graciet Holllander

Francoise grew up in Alsace close to the German border. From an early age she had a yearning to travel and to explore the world.

SA FARI

SEAT COVERS uff Trek From T

M

elvill & Moon is South Africa’s ‘retro Safari brand’. The company manufactures high end Safari luggage, canvas Seat Covers, Campaign Furniture and Safari accessories.

These seat covers are now available in the UK via Tuff-Trek. Melvill & Moon started manufacturing its original seat cover in 1998.

Often referred to as the seat cover that started an industry.The range includes the Original 100% Cotton Canvas, Premium Range with added luxury features,and the 510g Bokseil made from hard wearing heavy duty material. All of the company’s products are inspired by the era of great African Safaris which lasted for one century. From 1836 – 1839 unique conditions and eccentric individuals created a

style of adventure that can never exist again. Abundant big game, ungoverned landscapes, a zest for discovery and an appreciation for both hardship and luxury, came together then in vast bush of South-eastern Africa. The heyday of the great African safari, particularly during the White Mischief / Happy Valley / ’Out of Africa’ Edwardian era, has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Melvill & Moon design and product inspiration. The product inspiration resulted in solid brass zippers and buckles, heavy canvas, wide webbing, vegetable tanned leathers, bridle hide

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straps: ‘Hardy on the outside, fine on the inside’.

These hardy seatcovers are available in the UK via Tuff Trek for Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Defender (pre-2007, 2007-2011, 2012-2015) and other makes by special order.

All of the seatcovers are Airbag compliant, have side pockets on front seats and are waterproof resistant.

The Premium covers come with leather piping and are available with personalisation options by

means of embroidered initials.

Unlike synthetic seat covers (made of Nylon, etc.), cotton breathes and is exceptionally cool to sit on.

nal seats new underneath no matter how harsh your vehicle usage may have been.

When they get dirty you simply remove them and hand Owners of the top of the range wash them. Suddenly the likes 4 x 4 vehicles purchase these of wet gun dogs, messy kids Safari Seat Covers for a num- and the dust of Africa or mud of the Highlands shoot is no ber of reasons; they give the vehicle interior a superb qual- longer an issue. ity finish, which looks as good in the city as it does in the bush. Melvill and Moon Safari Seat Covers keep the origi-

on , for more informati click here

TUFF-TREK

OVERLAND SERIES Aluminium Hard Top Roof Tent

The OVERLAND Series ® Aluminium Hard Top Roof Tent is hand made exclusively for Tuff-Trek ® and available in a choice of GREY or BLACK powder coat to suit your vehicle.

Featuring an ultra low profile (only 19cm) design with all aluminium construction for ultimate durability and strength, with a quick and reliable twin gas assisted opening mechanism. This model has a secondary Aluminium chequer plate on the roof to carry items, such as solar panels, tool roll, sand ladders etc on top.

OVERLAND Series ® Roof-Tents can be supplied with optional Rear or Side mounted lower annex rooms, giving you the option of a fully covered room (ideal for slightly longer stays or when weather is bad) combined with the Speed and Convenience of a hard top tent. Side mounted version of the annex rooms are designed to use with the Tuff Trek 270 degree Wing Awnings.

on , for more informati click here

a n i g n i r u 4WD To

DEFENDER with

HIGHER ADVENTURE

R r

rove d n a L e r Adventu Rentals

THERE IS NO OTHER VEHICLE THAT FEELS LIKE A DEFENDER

H

ave you ever considered a life on the road. Perhaps you have always thought that you would like to set out on a long journey, where you are entirely self sufficient and carry everything you need to enjoy a multi day journey. Carrying your own accommodation, cooking equipment and comforts, everything that you need to make a road trip truly comfortable. Perhaps you would also like the reassurance of travelling in a reliable vehicle that is undeterred by changing terrain, and which is unlikely to get stuck in soft or challenging conditions. You have seen those rugged looking 4WD vehicles with the roof tents, and thought that they look really cool, yet you are not sure if they might be for you. Some of this gear can seem expensive, especially if you are not too sure about the whole thing.

Well, did you know that you now have the opportunity to try out a well kitted out expedition ready Land Rover Defender in the UK and also enjoy a nice few days travelling and camping with it. Higher Adventure, rent expedition ready Defenders that you can take on the road to enjoy anything from a twoday micro-adventure in The Lake District to two weeks exploring the Scottish Highlands.

The Defenders are comprehensively equipped,

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‘‘

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ADVENTURE AWAITS

with gear, including top of the range Stealth roof tents from South African company Eezi Awn, Big Country drawer units, National Luna fridges, and Partner Steel stoves from the USA. And pretty much everything else apart from bedding and food – that you need to go on your own adventure.

Higher Adventure is located in Milton Keynes, and easily accessible via major routes including the M1 (J13 and J14) and is minutes from Central

Milton Keynes railway station (the London­-EustonBirmingham main line). Luton, Stansted and Heathrow Airports are all within easy reach.

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

www.higherad

dventure.co.uk

ICELAND WEBISODE

OUT FEBRUARY

2020

s e d o s i b e w l e v a r t y Our first of man eck h c , 0 2 0 2 y r a u r b e goes live in F . w o l e b o e d i v r e s out the tea

D N A L E IC r e s a te

LATE SUMMER 2019

OVERLAND SHOW STRATFORD-UPON AVON

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rganised twice a year (Spring & Late Summer), the last weekends of April & September at Stratford Racecourse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9SE England, the Adventure Overland Show and the International Campervan Show (both held alongside each other at the same venue over the same weekend) is the largest event of its type in the UK.

Spanning the entire overland and adventure travel scene, it features massive all-wheel-drive expedition trucks through to every conceivable make of 4x4 vehicle, twowheel-drive campers and motorhomes, off-road adventure bikes to tourers, mountain bikes to tandems, adventure sports in the UK to treks, expeditions and explorations in far-flung foreign lands.

The show has experts in bush-

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e recently attended the Adventure Overland Show (Late summer edition) this is a great show and is held twice a year (Spring & Late Summer), the last weekends of April & September at Stratford Racecourse, Stratford-upon-Avon. The 4x4 and overland vehicles have in recent times been joined by campervans

e music v i l t h g Late ni the outside tent.. acoustic

and the International Campervan Show is now held alongside the overland show at the same venue and on the same weekend. The show spans the entire overland and adventure travel scene and at this show there were a lot of massive all wheel drive expedition trucks on show. There was plenty to see and to do (and to buy) at the show, and the weather gods were relatively kind to the visitors and

exhibitors.We visited the bushcraft zone where experts gave advice and demonstrations as well as providing all those survival skill essentials such as wild food preparation, animal tracking and first aid. The food court area continues to expand too, and this show had a ‘tastes of the world’ theme, a beer tent hosted by Severn Cider and evening entertainment featuring live music Friday and Saturday nights. There was music in the main bar tent and also latenight jamming sessions in a very atmospheric setting around the fire-pit at the International Campervan Show marquee.

A wide range of talks and lectures were available for those seeking advice and guidance on preparing for upcoming travels and large indoor & outdoor trade areas with all the equipment, tools and accessories you could possibly want for any journey.

This was our fourth show and we really enjoyed it, perhaps you got to meet one of our team over the weekend? Keep an eye on the Adventure Overland show website for information on next year’s installment. https://adventure-overland-show.com

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

LANDYS GALORE For Land Rover Enthuasists this show For Land Rover Enthuasists this show

A large number of exhibitors and visitors attended the Great British Land Rover Show that took place in Stoneleigh Park in the UK on Sunday 24th November 2019. It was our first time exhibiting at this Land Rover focused event and we were very impressed with how well it was organised. Not the biggest show in the UK but the main attraction for both exhibitors and attendees is that it is Land Rover specific and that the event is held indoors. The fact that this show is held indoors is a big selling point for all attending given the unpredictability of the UK weather. With the crowds building outside before the 10am opening there was a constant flow of attend-

ees throughout the day. The 2019 event introduced the ‘Adventure and Outdoor Leisure Zone’, this new area of the show built on the popularity of Land Rovers ‘go-anywhere’ nature and the outdoor adventures of its owners. People who attended the show also had the opportunity to drive their own vehicle round the on-site 2.4 mile off road course.The course had several levels of difficulty and was suitable for all levels of driver ability and experience.All up well done to the organisers for putting on a top class Land Rover event.

ation m r o f in e r o m Click here for

ders were n e f e D w and Ne Lots of old play at the show on dis

Setting u p the TU RAS

stant at the show

Bravo Snorkel has just revealed its snorkel for the Volkswagen T5 / T6, and the snorkel for the Jeep Wrangler JL. Bravo Snorkel created a real buzz at the recent 4x4 Fest, an off-road fair held in Marina di Carrara, Italy, from 11 to 13 October with the unveiling of its first snorkel prototype for the VOLKSWAGEN T5/T6.

2020 at the www.bravosnorkel.com online store.

The company also offered the first images of its snorkel for the new JEEP WRANGLER JL.

Two versions of the model have been developed: a standard version and a more tailored compact version compatible with the fold of the front windscreen. Designed to match the aesThe unique design of this kit thetics of the vehicle and makes it a leading product in the layout under the bonnet, priority has been given to the market. With sleek lines ensuring optimal air flow in and more integrated aesall air passage sections. This thetics, it provides optimal model will be on sale from pre-filtering and improved March 2020. performance. This model will be on sale from January

TURAS Camping & You Tube Chan

& 4WD Adventures nnel is now live..

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