TURAS Camping and 4WD Magazine Issue Twenty Two

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

G DARCHE AIR-VOLUTION SWA

FREE

E-MAGAZINE

SPRING 2022- ISSUE 22

EXPLORING NORMANDY

N TYRES AT NEW NOKIA WITH THE ATAGO

CAMP COOKING THE CANOO ECO RANGE THE TURAS LANDROVER PLUS BUILD MAGAZINE... & Much More

INSIDE

INSIDE FREE LAND ROVER BUILD MAGAZINE - OVER 250 PAGES OF CONTENT

Editorial Welcome to Issue 22 of the TURAS Camping & 4WD Touring magazine. As we all experience the turmoil that is happening around events in Ukraine it is very difficult for us to focus on planning future trips, given all that is going on. In this issue, we had scheduled an article that was focussed on some Russian built 4WD vehicles. But in light of what has happened in Ukraine over the last few weeks, we have decided to pull this article from this issue. We can only hope that hostilities will soon come to an end and bring peace back to Ukraine.

Ok, so what’s inside this issue; following the welcomed lifting of Covid restrictions we get back out into nature while camping with kids and look at the health benefits this brings.

We Introduce the awesome new OUTPOST AT from Nokian Tyres and the DARCHE Air-volution Swags. In our travel section, we explore Normandy in France.

We also jump across the Atlantic to chat with the guys from GTFO Overland in California.

Photo:Nicolas Genoud - Geko Expeditions

Sticking with the whole eco-vehicle theme we have a look at what Cannoo are doing and have a closer look at the innovative vehicles that they are bringing to the market. As always, we have some camping cooking content. We chatted with Francoise from euro4x4parts who recently took part in the recent DAKAR 2022 rally.

Lastly, we introduce the TURAS Land Rover Build magazine. In this issue you can check out the 250-page Interactive Magazine where we give an overview of all the works carried out over the last eighteen months on the 90, from changing the clutch to adding a new suspension, reclaiming old parts to rust proofing the vehicle amongst a number of other upgrades.

We do hope you enjoy this action-packed issue.

The TURAS team

EDITORIAL TEAM

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Frith Trish Melody Alison Scanlon Marie Frith Frank Cassidy

Russ Mark

DESIGN TEAM

Paul

Russ Ryan Mark O’Toole Marie Frith PUBLISHED BY

TURAS Camping & 4WD Adventures Ltd.

Trish

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

Ali Frank

SALES & ADVERTISING

info@turas.ie

Marie

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

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

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Back to Nature Camping with Kids

10

DARCHE Air-Volution Swags

Introducing The Outpost AT

32

18

42

The TURAS Landy Build Special

Touring Normandy

48

contents.

Nomad Fox Robust Storage Boxes

72 DAKAR 2022 Françoise Graciet Hollender

102

Over 70,000 4WD Parts euro4x4parts

84

Campfire Cooking with Petromax

96

GTFO Overland California

110

Latest Gear The latest camping gear

08

200

pages Full of

outdoor lifestyle

Fuel Pressure Regulator from BEARMACH

Window Guards from Mobile Storage Systems

128 142

122

Power-up Off-Grid with CTEK

152

4WD Vehicle Servicing APB Trading Ltd.

contents.

German Engineering 4WD Parts from the Offroad Monkeys

160

Leave No Trace

The Canoo an Ultra-cool New EV

168 188

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

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A.DARCHE Air-Volution Swag The DARCHE® Air-Volution™ AD Series is a top of the line swag that gives you an instant set up in all weather conditions, anywhere you want to take it. You’ll be set up in just 20 seconds with the patented Air-Volution™ inflation system.

B. Nokian Tyres Outpost AT This summer tyre offers extreme durability for professional driving and off-road enthusiasts. This sturdy new tyre is a tireless workhorse with a thoroughbred compound that can handle even unexpected impacts during demanding off-road use.

B

C. Nomad Fox Storage Boxes The Nomad Box was designed not only with recreational purposes in mind, but built tough enough for professional and military uses as well.

C

E

E. Vehicle window guards Keep the contents of your vehicle safe with secure window guards from Mobile Storage Systems.

D

D. Bearmach Fuel Pressure Regulator Top Quality parts compatible with Land Rover Vehicles, fuel pressure regulator from Bearmach

Getting the kids back out there ..

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from their friends and from their xploring ithIceland’s evCulture and Traditions Given the history of the Landy and the places we have explored in Icelanderyone offers a combination normal lives. ofSome intriguing people landalso it, I think deep down we always knew that the vehicle would hopescapeson from therugged have coastlines, not had the glaciers, opportunity and hot to fully keep going for as long as we were able to keep enjoying the get outside and a sense of springsplanet to geysers, volcanoes, andenjoy lava deserts. great outdoors. Truth be known we were just a bit too attached to from restrictions, Eleven now percent ef- of freedom the country is these covered in glait to let it go. In the future, we will no doubt embrace newer 4WD this time by haswater. takenThe its toll cial icefectively and is surrounded landon is technology, but with the knowledge that the 90 has had a makeplateauhavwith mountain the emotional peaks, and and ice mental fields,health with over and the very thought of being able to take it on future trips inga lived coastline through marked several by fjords, long which of children are deep and inlets adults carved alike. by without having to worry about it too much is very comforting. lockdowns glaciers. due It’s no to the wonder Covid-19 that much of Iceland’s culture and traWe learned a huge amount completing this project and for those pandemic, ditions revolve with kids around having enjoy outdoor With things activities now like starting swimming to open in of you who followed our progress you will have noticed that it was up again, a sense of nor-up to hot attend springs, their classes skiing, horseback using riding, and and of course–looking not all about adding new parts but equally enjoyed salvaging as Zoom,and to enjoy many the spectacular people expeaurora borealis—the malcy and safety Northern beginning lights! to much as we could on the vehicle. We were delighted to have had riencing Icelanda also sense offers of isolation a rich literature re-emerge traditionaround of poetry theand world, sathe opportunity to have worked with some of the best in gas to enjoy cold winter nights. Much of the power and heat in this country is generated naturally—90% of Icelandic houses are

many families are again beginning to plan a return to those activities that have long been unavailable. Planning nights out, holidays away and returning to those activities that have not been possible for so long. Having been effectively locked up indoors for a couple of years now, there is possibly nothing better you could do for your mental health or that of your family than going on a camping trip.

When camping kids can be directly connected back to the natural world that surrounds them. It has long been known that spending time in natural environments offers a very wide range of benefits for our mental health.

Spending time out in the open air, in forests, near flowing water, potentially seeing some wild animals all have a beneficial effect on and influence on our mental health. In fact, studies have shown that kids that have less contact with nature in their younger years can be more susceptible to psychological stress and have less opportunity for the type of mental rejuvenation and recharging of the ‘mental battery’ that kids that do get to spend lots of time outside from an early age benefit from.

Camping provides kids with a very important need that is expressed throughout their young lives, that is a sense of autonomy. Waking up in a tent or a hut in a wild area is very different from waking up in your bed-

room in a house where the necessities of living a modern urban life mean a very regimented and repetitive experience for kids on most days. Camping provides kids with the freedom to wake up at dawn and create some new adventures every day. Even a holiday by the pool, in an apartment or ho-

tel, while no doubt relaxing, does not provide the sense of freedom that camping does.

Sleeping outside, hearing the sounds of nature, the wind, insects, distant calls of animals, looking up at a sky filled with stars helps to provide a refreshing

sort of ‘mental reset’ and really does break us out of any normal routines that we tend to fall into when living in our houses or staying in hotels or apartments when on holiday.Immersing yourself in nature provides a real antidote to the regimented stresses of urban living and helps people to expe-

rience much higher alpha brainwave activity and also leads to an increased production of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain which is strongly associated with happiness. Did you ever wonder where the term ‘Happy Camper’ came from? :)

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R Y T N I A R R E T L L UTPOST AT - A

NEW VIDEO:O

click here

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e recently had a chance to try out the new Nokian Tyres Outpost AT All-Terrain tyre. Exploring some forest and mountain tracks, things often got steep and very muddy en route to our final camping destination for the evening. What can we say? We were very impressed by the performance of this tyre, maintaining its grip and traction

on all wheels and expelling mud and grit with ease, we never once got stuck, in fact throughout 2 days of driving over muddy mountain tracks we never once got stuck, slowed down or had a wheel spin.

The Outpost AT is the successor to Nokian Tyres well known and well respected Rotiiva AT tyre.

According to Steve Bourassa, Director or product and pricing for Nokian Tyres, “As the light truck segment has grown, customers are asking for a variety

of performance characteristics from their tires. Some want to be able to carry heavy loads as well as drive offroad. Others are your “weekend warrior” types that use their car for their commute during the week but seek adventure on the weekends. affecting the all-terrain tire segment with “The Outpost AT is forged to make work productive and leisure time limitless for drivers of large SUVs and light trucks. Hans Dhyrman, director of marketing, added that the company expects its Outpost AT line to have a similar “cult following” to its Hakkapeliitta line.

“The Outpost AT line is a passion product for consumers and drivers,” Dhyrman said. “The AT style of customer is just as passionate about their vehicles and tires as that winter tire enthusiast.”

This tyre has Aramid sidewalls and Gravel Guards that boost the tire’s durability as well as 3D siping that enhances grip in rain, slush and snow conditions but it now also has some new feature an ‘Aramid Shield’, with Aramid fibres embedded beneath the tread to provide resistance to road hazards; Summit Sidewalls, peaks at the top of the tire’s sidewalls, that offer extra grip when the tire sinks into soft surfaces. They also provide an aesthetic that symbolizes the rugged

ambitions of the tire’s drivers, Nokian says. Shoulder notches cement the tire’s grip at the point where the sidewalls meet the tread pattern; Canyon Cuts form at the intersection of the 3D tread and the shoulders, allowing drivers to experience extra grip when they encounter unpredictable surfaces.

depth with 14/32s for P-metric sizes and 18/32s for LT-metric sizes, Bourassa added.

“The Outpost AT was intended to be a hardworking product,” Bourassa said of the tire with a 60,000 mile treadwear warranty. “Individual sizes were built up with the highest possible load ratings to handle the most A Triple Pitch Design that varies the size of the tread blocks challenging loads, whether within a single compact patch. you’re carrying your work tools This allows for acoustic harmo- and equipment to the job site nization to help lower the over- or hauling loads of wood for the fireplace.” all noise of the tire, Bourassa said.

Compared to its predecessor, the Outpost AT also has The strong structure of the Outpost AT supports high load improved rolling resistance thanks to a sustainable rubber capacity and has deep tread

compound. With today’s EV pickup trucks mandating low road noise and Driving the ring road or the greateron rolling resistance, the roads Out- in Iceland’s and capital is relativepost AT towns is “futureproofed” for years to lycome, straightforward these roads are according and to Bourassa. generally open all year round and can be driven in any car. However, the mountain Extend your tracks in Iceland alsoterrain known as-‘F-Roads’ are only open for a short few months at The Nokian Outpost ATare helps the height of Tyres the summer and imdrivers remove their limits and conpassable for the rest of the year due to fidently go weather whereverconditions their journeys the adverse that they demand, bolstering onand off-road experience (the F stands for Fjall, which experiences through supreme traction means mountain).

F-Roads can only be for all driving conditions.

Summit Sidedriven on by 4x4 vehicles, and not all walls and notches offer extra F-Roads canshoulder be driven by all 4WDs. When grip when the tire sinks into soft surthe TURAS team visited Iceland some faces, andone Canyon provideofsturdy years ago, of theCuts highlights our handling on challenging terrain like visit was our experience driving across mud and sand. the highland road F-26 also known as the Sprengisandsleið a mountain track that Extend toughnessruns throughyour the Sprengisandur an essentially ‘desert’ region in the Icelandic The Nokian AT helps highlands.

F26Tyres is byOutpost far the longest Icedrivers remove landic F-road.

It’stheir one limits of the and onlycon2 roads fidently go wherever their which connect southern andjourneys northern demand, bolstering and off-road Iceland directly.

Hereonis an excerpt from experiences traction our account ofthrough our visitsupreme to Iceland where fortravel all driving conditions.

Summit Sidewe the F26 towards Mývatn. walls and shoulder notches offer extra grip when thewe tire sinksdrive into soft sur“From Háifoss would to Mývatn faces, and Canyon Cuts provide via the Sprengisandur track, a legsturdy which handling terrain like would takeon uschallenging right into the centre of mud and sand. the highlands, where we Iceland, through would drive and camp between the two glaciers Hofsjökull Vatnajökull.

Extend yourand travel The NOKIAN TYRES Outpost AT offers high mileage thanks to a tailored tread

whose landscape is forged with protective features. A canyon-deep tread pattern extends the tire’s service life. And a sustainable rubber compound gets the most out of every journey, creating an efficient and sustainable driving experi-

ence. You can learn more about the Outpost AT and see the different sizes that are available on the Nokian Tyres website. This tyre is now available globally.

Nokian Rockproof Nokian Rockproof offers extreme durability for professional driving and off-road enthusiasts. The Nokian Rockproof is a fearless performer at quarries, forests and mining areas.

With extreme cut resistance – more working hours. The new Nokian Rockproof Hybrid mining compound provides the tyre with excellent resistance even in rough offroad conditions.

Better durability. Stone ejectors prevent sharp stones from attaching to the tyre’s tread surface and penetrating the tyre structure.

Durability and protection. The sidewall compound includes extremely durable aramid staple fibre. The fibre makes the tyre more resistant to impacts and cuts that could otherwise easily damage it

AIR-VOLUTION

SWAGS

O E D I NEW V TION AD 900 U L O V R AI

S

wags have evolved significantly over the years, from simple designs to some very innovative options that come in all shapes and sizes. DARCHE has taken the design of swags to the next level with the Dome Swag entering the market a couple of decades ago. Designed to withstand harsh conditions, the DARCHE swag range is more than impressive and we can honestly say that camping on a swag with a stretcher is one of the most comfortable ways to camp.

Heading into its 31st year, DARCHE revolutionised the traditional swag market with the introduction of some very innovative models. Having had a chance to use some of the DARCHE progressive range like the Dirty Dee, the Dusk To Dawn and the Nebula now all available in the UK, Europe the US and around the world, we recently got to experience using the revolutionary Air-volution AD 900 on a recent trip to France.

The DARCHE Air-volution range is extremely durable and just so simple to use,for those who like to get into camp and get set up as quickly as possible, well this is a game changer, the technology replaces traditional tent poles with fast set up air poles that can be inflated in minutes. The Air-Volution™ technology eliminates

lost, broken or forgotten poles and issues related to broken or jammed quick set-up frames. This technology has been used for a while and despite already ticking all the boxes they have recently been enhanced thanks to DARCHE ongoing research and development and their ongoing focus on trying to make existing innovations even better.

than 20 seconds! With a single inflation point and puncture resistant air poles, you won’t have to worry about setting up times or emergencies! It’s also very comforting to know that the inflatable poles in the AD are made from puncture resistant TPU covered by durable PE pole sleeves for an extra level of protection.

The AD Swag has a two-way entry with storm covers/awnings and The recently released next genercomes with a high capacity hand ation AD swag now sees campers and tourers setting up camp even pump! The seam sealed 260gsm ripstop canvas and reinforced faster than before. With now only 600gsm PVC bucket floor is duraone inflation point (the previous ones used to have two), the Air-Vo- ble and suitable for tough conditions, and the swag also includes lution high capacity hand pump a 50mm mattress giving you awewill inflate the entire swag in less

“JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT COULDN’T GET ANY EASIER”

1. Lay out the AD 900 2. Connect the pump & 3. Inflate your swag..that’s it!

it will look a bit bulky in comparison to the smaller tents we are used to camping in particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. Our view is that if you have the room on your roof rack or in the back of Add in a DARCHE stretcher to your vehicle to store a swag and this and we guarantee you will be a stretcher, well it’s definitely going to give you a whole new exblown away on how comfortable this combo is when camping. They perience when camping, its really have been doing this in Australia hard to explain how comfortable for years and it is a relatively novel and enjoyable this set up is. Some way to camp in Europe, when you of the benefits experienced by us included being raised off the see the set up packed away first some comfort. We spent 10 nights in the AD and loved it, like all DARCHE swags the durable canvas blocks out any early morning sunshine.

ground, this gives you easy access to your sleeping quarters but also it makes it a breeze to take off your shoes or get access to your clothes and items from your travel bag before you go to bed. Also for those of you who like to have a couple of beers around the camp-fire before you go to bed, leaving the swag in the middle of the night when nature calls is no longer a big deal, no more crawling out of the tent and trying to put your shoes on at ground level.

Being off the ground also means that you do not have to worry about camping on a damp and muddy ground which most of us have experienced, not sure which is worse being cold from the dampness or getting your gear ruined with the mud. All up honestly this is one of the most comfortable ways to camp and well given the quality of these swags and stretchers it’s a great investment.

Air-Volution AD 900

KEY FEAT AD 900 Single air pole inflates in

less than 20 seconds.

Puncture resistant air poles.

Two way entry with storm covers/awnings (awning poles not included).

Under canopy full zip down head and foot ventilation windows.

High capacity hand pump included.

Canvas swag bag with side grab handles.

Single inflation point.

ATURES

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS

INTERACTIVE

MAGAZINE

OUT NOW

AFTER Over 250 interactive pages with demonstration videos showcasing this exciting project.

Check out the 250 page TURAS Land Rover Build Interactive Special Magazine. In this special build issue we give a little bit of history about the 20-year-Old Defender 90. We also give an overview of all the works carried out over the last eighteen months on the 90, from changing the clutch to adding a new suspension, reclaiming old parts to rust proofing the vehicle amongst a number of other upgrades.

BEFORE

This build has pretty much given this twenty-year-old Land Rover a new lease of life. We hope that this magazine will give you an understanding of what was done. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners who helped make this project a reality.

0VER 250 PAGES

& 20 VIDEOS

SHOWCASING

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TOURING HISTORIC

There are plenty of things to see and do in Normandy, you could visit for many years and still make new discoveries

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e love driving and exploring, seeking out new and interesting places to visit, to see and to camp. Mostly the TURAS team are seeking out wild and remote places, but this does not mean that we don’t enjoy other kinds of touring.

In Europe, there is so much to see and do, so many tracks and roads to travel, and they are not all mountain tracks. In this issue, we thought that we would take a look at some fascinating places to explore by car, where most of the journey takes place on the road.

Normandy, in Northern France, is a beautiful and fascinating region. In fact the region of Normandy encompasses also parts of the channel Islands. It covers over 30,000 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 3.5 million people. Normandy has a long and fascinating history, from the Celtic and Gaul invasions of 50BC, through Saxon pirates, Viking invaders and the Norman expansion and conquest of England. In the 19th century, Normandy became known as a seaside tourism resort, with the advent of beach holiday resorts. Normandy perhaps became most well known during the 20th Century as the location of the allied D-Day Landings in June 1944 which led to the eventual allied victory of World War II. When visiting Normandy today, it can be hard to imagine the hell that existed along this now serene coastline during the war, but reminders are everywhere to see, from the remains of concrete bunkers to the graveyards

with white crosses marking the were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno location of Allied soldiers lost in and Sword. the war.

There are some fascinating muVisiting these beaches on a seums and historical sites to tour of Normandy is a must. visit near all of these beaches The armed forces used codeand many monuments to the names to refer to the planning bravery of the men who fought and execution of specific miliupon them. tary operations to prepare for D-Day. Operation Overlord was When touring Normandy, drivthe code- name for the Allied ing is definitely the best option, invasion of north-west Europe. having explored the beaches The assault phase of Operation and WWII landing zones there Overlord was known as Operaare lots of other fascinattion Neptune. This operation, ing things to see and do. The which began on June 6, 1944, church at Sainte-Mère-Église is and ended on June 30, 1944, in- known for the incident where volved landing troops on beach- paratrooper John Steele of the es and all other associated 505th Parachute Infantry Regsupporting operations required iment (PIR), had his parachute to establish a beachhead in caught on the spire of the town France. By June 30th, the Allies church, and could only observe had established a firm foothold the fighting going on below. He in Normandy — 850,279 men, hung there for two hours, pre148,803 vehicles and 570,505 tending to be dead before the tons of supplies had been land- Germans took him prisoner. ed. Operation Overlord also be- Steele later escaped from the gan on D-Day, and continued Germans and rejoined his diviuntil Allied forces crossed the sion when US troops of the 3rd River Seine on August 19th. The Battalion, 505 Parachute InfanBattle of Normandy is the name try Regiment attacked the vilgiven to the fighting in Norman- lage. dy between D- Day and the end of August 1944. Allied code Mont-Saint-Michel is tidal island names for the beaches along , located just a few hundred the 50- mile stretch of Norman- meters from land and accessible dy coast targeted for landing at low tide. An abbey was built

on the island with construction started in the 10th century and it was finally completed nearly 500 years later. From the 14th century, the successive conflicts of the Hundred Years War, opposing France and England, required the construction of new powerful fortifications. Today it is possible to visit the Abbey, walk around, shop for some mementoes on its small street and even to stay in a hotel on the Island where at high tide you are entirely surrounded by the sea.

The Bayeux Tapestry is a masterpiece of 11th century Romanesque art, which was probably commissioned by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror’s half-brother, to embellish his newly-built cathedral in Bayeux

in 1077. The tapestry is 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall. It depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It is thought

D-Day landing at Omaha Beach

to date to the 11th century, within a few years after the battle. It tells the story from the point of view of the conquering Normans but is now agreed to have been made in England.

At the time of writing this article, it is planned to move the tapestry from Normandy to the UK during 2022, both for some restoration work and to go on display while its museum in Normandy is renovated.

There are numerous famous locations in Normandy dedicated to or related to the history of art, from the house Claude Monet (now a museum) to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, which has artworks representing every major movement but is a mustsee if you like impressionist paintings. For fans of fashion the Musée Christian Dior in Granville is definitely worth a visit.

No matter what your interestest , there is guaranteed to be something available for you to see and do while touring around Normandy, from adventure sports, to historical re-enactments and medieval festivals, to food , music and art festivals, the list goes on and on. Depending also on what month you travel the programme of available events changes, and there is always something new to discover.

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here are around 400 campsites dotted across Normandy, from luxury lodges to campsites located near beaches or at the foot of famous tourist attractions. When exploring the beautiful coastline or lush and gorgeous countryside, you are likely never too far from a nice campsite. Being a region so full of history and of culture, there is so much to see and do, so camping around the region can give you the freedom and flexibility to explore wherever you want at your own pace.

There are many standard campsites where you can pull up and open up your roof tent or pitch your ground tent, or pull up with a caravan or campervan. There are also lots of sites where you can up the luxury a little and stay in a well kitted out glamping location where cabins, huts, yurts, lodges and many other quirky options are available. Most of the campsites in Normandy are very picturesque,

Photos: Huttopia.com

with pitches available in forestedHáifoss areas, on the shores of lakes and just generally in beautiful We then drove from Gulfoss countryside.

Huttopia, the nato Háifoss one of the highest ture-loving camping company waterfalls in Iceland.

Though founded

by French couple Céline these two waterfalls are and Philippe Bossanne, andphysnow only 25 km apart the an ically international movement of drive-by road between them eco-friendly camping locations is has nearly 100km. areas Háifoss also 3 camping in was beautiful, the water falling thealso Normandy region.

(Today, down a long canthere areinto more than green 60 Huttopia yon that have been locations onwould threenot continents, out of place in one of the Lord

with more preparing open of the Rings movies,tothis wasin 2022 andmajestic beyond).view, Some of another again the the fallrewemany couldcampsites follow thein river gion have been around forand many ing down the huge drop years some are quite new. see itand disappearing into the There arehorizon. also a few locations distant From Háifoss inwe the grounds of châteauxs or would drive to Mývatn via stately homes, surrounded the Sprengisandur track, aby leg beautiful gardens. which would take us right into the centre of Iceland, through The benefitwhere if camping in themain highlands, we would Normandy, apart between from the the savdrive and camp ing onglaciers hotel orHofsjökull apartment rental two and Vatnajökull. You can read a bit

fees is the flexibility it gives you to explore the region. In Rouen apart from Musée des BeauxArts de Rouen, mentioned earlier, this Norman city is the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake and you can learn more about her fascinating life and story in a museum dedicated to her.

Touring around you will see many of the landscapes that inspired Monet to create his magnificent paintings. If you like Camembert Cheese, why not visit the village of the same name where it is made? The village also produces Calvados apple brandy with which you might also be familiar. There are 34 castles located in Normandy, some of which are in ruins, some intact and some which

have been restored. Many of these castles are worth visiting.

Falaise Castle is a fortress located in the south of the commune of Falaise in Normandy, France. William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at an earlier castle on the same site in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king, and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France The Château de Pirou is a castle in the commune of Pirou was initially built of wood, then of stone in the 12th century and belonged to the lords of Pirou. It was constructed near the shore

of the English Channel, and used to watch upon the west coast of the Cotentin, to protect the town of Coutances and a strategic shallow-water harbour.

As the coastline receded, the castle lost its strategic significance, and thus was not militarily upgraded and was spared during the systematic destruction of fortifications during the French Revolution.

Château Gaillard is a medieval castle ruin overlooking the River Seine above the commune of Les Andelys. It is located some

95 kilometres (59 mi) northwest of Paris and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Rouen. Construction began in 1196 under the auspices of Richard the Lionheart, who was simultaneously King of England and feudal Duke of Normandy. The castle was expensive to build, but building it took just two years and, at the same time, the town of Petit Andely was constructed. The castle consists of three enclosures separated by dry moats, with a keep in the inner enclosure.

The Northern Lights

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If you are looking celand an forIsland some counaction-packed tryfun on Normandy’s the northern exciting natural fringes landscapes of Europe is make for perfect frequently adventure described playgrounds, with as ‘the amazing land of beachfire and es, rivers, lakes ice’. Recent and islands archaeand some fantastic ological watersports discoveries on offer. show that Iceland was inhabited by its first settlers believed Walkers, to be Irish cyclists monks andaround other na800 ture AD, enthusiasts who were shortly can enjoy overrun the 100 years later by the natural Vikings diversity of Normandy’s landscapes, who then claimed from vast this woodland land. Its vast geologically active land-

wilderness scape dotted andwith milevolcanoes, upon mile ofgeysers, rolling countryside, hot springs and to drafumatic maroles coastal withcliffs vast and areasareas of its ofinterior outstanding landscape natural shrouded beauty.

Whether in enormous you’reglaciers interested offers in a golf, unique fishing, four-wheel adventure driving sports, experience.(including As a result of millions kayaking some guided ofkayak years tours of volcanic of theactivity historic WWII shaping beaches this Island, and thethe remains land is ofnow theapontons four wheel anddrivers cassions). and photographers paradise.

For The range of activities available indrivers the region of 4WD is extensive, vehicles Icesurfing, landsupping, containsclimbing, an extensive sailing network of rough mountain tracks

on tall ships. We could go on but instead will refer you to the very useful Normandy Tourism website. There are also lots of interesting festivals on offer in the region throughout the year including multiple music festivals,the first week of May sees gourmands trek out to Cambremer to celebrate the best of Normandy’s cheeses, wines and culinary delights. A two day event, markets, tastings and games are enjoyed by families and children alike. The Joan of Arc festival, also in early May, the medieval festival in early July where people parade the streets of Bayeux in Medieval costumes, with feasts, a ball and period pieces throughout the town and much more.

We have made numerous visits to Normandy over the years, and plan many more in the future. It is a region that is easy to drive to from anywhere in mainland Europe and is easily accessible also to visitors from the UK and Ireland by ferry and also via the Eurotunnel.

E L B A K C A T S ROBUST -

E G A R STO S E X O B

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n any camping trip where you are bringing along a lot of gear it is very important when packing the gear that one- your gear remains safe, undamaged, and dry and two- that it is easy to access, to use and to stow away and that it does not require rummaging through a disorderly mess of equipment stowed in your vehicle. Vehicle drawer systems and storage systems are a big step in terms of organisation, but you just cannot fit everything in a drawer system and you can also not take a drawer system into your tent or down to the river.

The Nomad Fox stackable storage boxes are designed and manufactured for extreme and intensive use. These storage boxes are perfect for off-road travel, expeditions, military use, for campers, hunters, fishermen, rescue professionals, bikers, kayaking, and adventure sportspeople, …basically any activity that may require the proper storage of your gear for transport and outdoor use.

These boxes are lightweight yet extremely tough. Check out the video linked from this article where the guys at Nomad Fox drive a Defender onto one of the boxes, park it, wait and then reverse back off it, revealing… an absolutely undamaged box! The box and top are manufactured with polypropylene copolymer (PPC), which is highly, impact, and stress crack resistant. This material also retains its characteristics very well at low temperatures.

The rugged, reinforced design is attractive

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and the boxes come in 3 colours, black, olive green and sand.The boxes have two comfortable locking clasps on the short sides which snap securely closed to attach the lid and also act as lift and open handles. There are also two lift handles on the long sides.The boxes have two main tracks for cargo straps in the widthwise direction and also have a strap notch above the clasps for lengthwise strapping.

There are also some notches to allow you to strap down to the box below allowing for multi-level strapping.

There are eight zip tie holes that allow you to very securely seal the box in case it should fall or be subject to rough handling or conditions, or should it need to be shipped somewhere.There are long holes on the reinforced corners that allow for bungee cord hooks to be inserted which allows you to tie lighter equipment onto the tops of the boxes.There are two rectangular areas on the lid where labels can be attached to make identifying the contents of the box easier.

The Nomad Fox Accessory Cooler Bag helps to keep your food cold

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It is obvious that a lot of deep thought and experience has gone into both the design of these boxes and the choice of materials used to build them. These boxes are designed and 100% manufactured in the EU.

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A range of accessories is also available for these boxes. Foldable thermal storage bags are foldable while not in use and are moisture and water-resistant.

The two handles make lifting the bag out of the box easy. Enough space has been left between the bag and the Nomad Box to ensure that a fully stuffed bag will easily slip into the box. The heavy-duty zipper is tough for overland use. The Nomad Thermal Bag is lined with an insulating sheet finished with a food grade foil. It is intended as a food bag, but due to the interior foil lining, you can also use it for anything that may require to wipe the interior of the bag clean. This bag also comes with a shoulder strap, so it can be used as a picnic bag or to fetch supplies from the local market. It can also be used as a fridge bag with ice packs. The Storage Bag is also specially designed for Nomad boxes allows you easy access to your stored things without the need to move the box. With its rigid sides and bottom, its fabric-lined interior is ideal for storing clothing or similar items. It has two practical additional side pockets at the ends of the bag and two handles to carry it. The zipper closure is very resistant and allows intensive use.

The storage bag comes with a divider (also available separately), is foldable and resistant to moisture and water.

Tough locking storage straps secure the boxes to your vehicle and can be used both to fix cargo outside and inside the vehicle. The standard webbing buckle comes with an orange rubber cover to prevent marks and scratches.

DAKAR

2022

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e recently had a chance to catch up with Françoise Graciet Hollender of Euro4x4parts, and we had a chance to ask her some questions about her recent experiences racing as part of the ony woman only crew that took part in the DAKAR 2022 , racing in the T3 category . In this short interview Françoise gives us an insight into DAKAR 2020 . “What makes racing special is the sense of danger and risk, and .the adrenaline it releases in you. Once you realise what situation you have put yourself in, and especially how well you have mastered it, you get a strong sense of achievement. It’s rare to find this feeling in other situations in everyday life”.

How did it feel to represent the only female-only team competing in the competition?

We were the only French female crew in the T3 category, there was another one of Spanish nationality, who unfortunately had to abandon. In the Dakar itself, there were only five 100% female crews and we came 3rd in the end. The female fight for equal opportunity and treatment is something that is important to me in general and that’s why we put the slogan “no violence for women” strongly on the car. The Saudi Arabia context seemed particularly adequate to do so. I’m also happy that women are increasingly taking part in the competition because they have the right and capabilities to do so. However, to be quite honest, I find that the male/female complementarity in competition exceeds in skills and results what can be achieved by a same sex crew, whatever sex we are talking about.

How big an element is strategy in racing a competition like the DAKAR and what different kinds of strategy can be used in races of this type?

Strategy is important in a competition like the Dakar, but the different strategies you can use depend primarily on your starting point, you can only do with what you have got:

Racing in the desert landscapes of Saudi Arabia during DAKAR 2022

- your skill level, both driver and co-driver - the technical capabilities of the car, its mechanical condition - whether or not you have access to assistance during the race in the event of a mechanical problem (as opposed to just abandon the stage) - the level of supervision and comfort of the team at the bivouac (some of the competitors sleep in tents on the ground, like us, and others sleep in luxury, silent and comfortable motorhomes) Once these factors have been taken into account, the possibilities of performance and therefore of the available strategies either increase or decrease. Generally speaking, however, the Dakar is an endurance race: it is not about being first in the standings, it is about being consistent above all, and avoiding taking too many risks to end up with a mechanical breakdown and abandon.

What attracted you to racing in DAKAR 2022?

What pushed me to try the Dakar 2022 adventure was an opportunity to accompany a girl friend who had wanted to do it for a long time - without really knowing what she was getting into. It was the first time for her too and her family supported her very strongly to try and race the Dakar.The collective unconscious is still very much marked by the early Dakar years and all the public imagery that developed around it and that, I have noticed, is still very prevalent despite all the changes that the Dakar has undergone over the years: change of territory, evolution towards factory crews versus amateurs, predominance of rich teams versus simple passionate amateurs, safety taking precedence over adventure... All in all, I find that the public image of the Dakar is only partially deserved.

In the end, for me racing Dakar was an opportunity but not the dream of a lifetime. It was a great experience but I could have done without it.

What was your favourite stage?

The stages that I liked the most were the ones that didn’t have endless asphalt connections (the loop stages around bivouacs),

which was rather rare. And, on the other hand, I liked the stages that offered the most variety in the landscapes, which is also rather rare in Saudi Arabia given the vastness and emptiness of this territory once you leave the cities. A balanced percentage between dunes, sand, earth and rocks was more fun than a stage with 60% of dunes, for example. Besides, we had some really challenging sections on this Dakar, and this rather surprised me, and pleased me, as these sections could pretty well have been part of some of our usual races like Breslau!

Do you have any memorable moments that you could share with us?

- surf the dunes with this impressive machine that is the T3: it was really pleasant and disconcertingly easy, compared to the same experience in a 4x4, the vehicle being much lighter, and much more agile - find yourself with a breakdown in the middle of the desert with night falling at 5:30 p.m., with the only company of camels returning to their place for the night - early in the morning of the rest day, fall upon Nasser Al Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel, shake their hands and have a picture taken with them, quite simply and without asking for anything - spend 5 hours at administrative and technical checks for a single vehicle that has previously raced Da-

kar, just because the FIA, who has entered Dakar for the first time in 2022, makes things even more complicated - try and save a couple of hours of real sleep per night while racing hours are so wide due to the number of participants and the different categories that cannot race together for safety purposes, and racing vehicles are being test-driven all night long by the mechanics.

Would you race the DAKAR again?

Never say never, but, no, I don’t think so. There are so many smaller competitions that have as much sporting interest as the Dakar and much more merit to exist. They also do their best for their competitors and deserve all our attention because, besides racing, you also get a good atmosphere, you can talk to each other, you can share moments of conviviality.

What other competitions do you hope to participate in the future?

We are already registered for Breslau Poland in June and Balkan Off-road (Romania) in September, and look forward to participating.

from

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hen it comes to kitting out, servicing or repairing your 4WD vehicle there is no match for Euro4x4parts. The company provides a massive catalogue of parts with over 70,000 parts available for 4WD and SUV vehicles. This essentially means that they have parts readily and quickly available for over 95% of the 4WD vehicles that are on the road today.

In addition to selling individual parts, the team at Euro4x4parts also create and sell rebuild kits (Brakes, transmission and transfer, steering, engine, axle, swivel etc).

The Euro4x4parts website enables you to order original manufacturer parts, OEM/OES parts or replacement and aftermarket parts. Because the primary shop for euro4x4parts is its website, you will find that the prices there are less expensive than its competitors, this is because the company has drastically reduced the number of intermediaries between the manufacturer and the client/end-user. And because Euro4x4parts holds a massive stock it can rapidly ship parts, with 80% of all orders received being dispatched the same or the next day.

Pneumatic Suspension Kits The versatility of our 4x4s means that they can be used for a wide variety of purposes so the weight load can vary according to its use. In some cases, too much weight will cause buoyancy on the front axle, it will not grip properly on the ground because of the pressure exerted on the rear axle.

To solve this problem, we offer you an air suspension kit for the rear axle of your vehicle in order to maintain its stability.

Each kit contains everything necessary for its installation, no need to drill or engage in major work. It includes 2 suspension tubes, supports, pipes and valves.

Inflation and deflation of the air springs is controlled manually using a control kit to be installed in the passenger compartment of your vehicle. It includes a compressor, dual gage panel, relay, harness, tubing, connectors and mounting accessories.

A simple and affordable solution for transporting heavy loads with your 4x4.

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erman Company Petromax is renowned for its range of camp cooking equipment and accessories. All of the products produced by the company are extremely robust and are designed with regular outdoor use in mind. One of the flagship products of the company is the Petromax Atago. The Atago is an impressive mult-functional product that can be used as a BBQ, a stove, an oven and as a firebowl using either charcoal briquettes or firewood as fuel. The Atago is a core item of equipment for us on any of our camping trips.

When used with a dutch oven the heat yield is very high because the Dutch Oven placed inside of the Atago is completely surrounded by the Atago walls.

DutCh Ovens are a fantastic option for baking, especially for baking bread. and some bread is actually better when baked in a dutch oven rather than a conventional oven in a baking tin. The reason for this is that the sealed environment of the Dutch oven creates a steamy environment and this steam helps the bread to rise even more and also makes for a very crispy crust. Steam also does a lot to help bread to improve as it bakes, as it prevents the crust from forming too quickly, which allows the bread more time to risse, it also gives the yeast more time to work in converting starches to simple sugars, which gives the bread more flavour. When

the crust eventually starts to form the starch that remains on the surface of the bread absorbs moisture and this makes the crust thick and glossy.

People have been cooking over open fires for thousands of years, mankinds earliest cooked meals were obviously cooked over open fires, and there is just something really special about cooking over a fire and eating outdoors.

Its possible to grill food directly on the Atago which comes with a grilling grate, and therefore allows you to use the Atago as a conventional BBQ, or you can use some of Petromax additional accessories such as its cooking tripod which can be used to hold a dutch oven, a Perkomax coffe pot or a cooking skillet over the Atago (or indeed over an open fire). The Atago has the advantage of focussing the heat onto whatever implement is being hung over the fire, and also prevents the fire from creating scorch marks on the ground.

The tripod is has the height adjustable legs and the chain and hook that come with it allow for the Dutch oven/skillet/ coffee pot height, and therefore , cooking temperature, to be easily adjusted.

And of course, when you are finished cooking, you can just remove the grill, or tripod add some wood and enjoy using the Atago as a firepit.

Its twin-wall combustion chamber pre-heats secondary air and introduces it into the flames to create a very clean burn. It also burns (and cooks) well when conditions are windy, not something every firepit or BBQ is good at.

We have cooked everything you can imagine, using the Atago as the core piece of equipment, from freshly baked bread, to roast lamb, to a full meatybreakfast, to a traditional BBQ. In addition to making a wide range of camp cooking equipment, including Petromax produces a wide range of accessories such as wrought iron and cast iron frying pans, mugs, plates and bowls, extremlely stylish storm lanterns (both gas

and electric), coolboxes and more. And the company has also recently introduced its own clothing range.

The team at Petromax continues to innovate, creating modern, easy to use and hard wearing gear that is inspired by classic and timeless designs.

The lineage of Petromax products began in Germany in 1910 and the company proudly continues to make top quality camp cooking equipment based on the principles of highest quality most durable design.

You can learn more on the Petromax website.

CAR CAMPING IT’S NOW A GLOBAL

TREND

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Why do you enjoy the great outdoors?

amping with your 4WD,SUV, or Van has never been more popular around the world, and because of this trend, an entire industry has arisen around the activity and with this a wide range of vehicles, accessories and customisation services available for those planning extended trips in distant lands.Over the next couple of issues we are going to have a series of articles where we catch up with enthuausists who are part of this growing global industry to see what makes them tick. We are delighted to start our IN FOCUS series in sunny California where we recently caught up with Chris, Curt and the team from GTFO.

‘‘Most of us grew up in an era when—and in places where—there was a greater importance placed on being outdoors when you can, so this is now a part of who we all are. Spending time outside is humbling and centering, which is why it’s our mission to help people experience it’’.

Do you wild camp?

If I’m getting this straight, here in the US, “wild camping” is called “dispersed camping,” which refers to camping at sites away from developed campsites OR “boondocking,” which refers specifically to dispersed camping on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land. All

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Spending time outside is humbling and centering, which is why it’s our mission to help people experience it.

of us here at GTFO camp this way almost exclusively. It’s the advantage to having a 4x4, being able to take that extra step beyond the crowds—plus having access to all the gear that makes it possible. We also have access to an enormous amount of BLM land in California (approximately 15 million acres, or 15% of total), which is federally owned, and open to the public for a variety of uses, but not really “managed,” so there are no services, etc.

What’s so cool about camping?

Camping is one of the best ways to really appreciate the wonder of the natural world.

What type of vehicle(s) do you drive?

We have all types of personalities here at GTFO—Our daily drivers are a 1997 Land Rover Discovery, a 1988 Toyota XtraCab pickup, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler JK, and a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. Supposed our next hire will have to drive a G-Wagen, or a Land Cruiser…

Can you tell us a little bit about camping in California?

We almost have it too good. From our front door, within 2-3 hours we can be in the middle of the desert, middle of the mountains, or on a secluded beach somewhere. The possibilities for exploration are endless, and there’s no time of the year that isn’t the perfect season for camping somewhere.

With reference to rules, regulations and laws,the biggest issues we face here are fire restrictions. There have been times recently where you couldn’t even use a gas stove in the forest and mountains. It is a very narrow window of time each year when traditional wood bonfires are allowed, and even then there are still risks, so a lot of us are switching to propane-powered firepits. Beyond that, the only other rule that is pretty standard is that you cannot stay in one spot for more than 14 days. Other rules and regulations vary depending on where you’re at—obviously the more populated developed campgrounds have a number of rules, where there are generally no rules at all when boondocking.

Any recommended trips or locations

If we closed the doors right now, Jaff would head up Highway 395 into the Sierra Nevada mountains, Curt would head to a super-secret spot on the Colorado River (or the beach in Baja, Mexico), Chris would head to the Mojave National Preserve, and Scotty would head in the woods outside Big Bear, California.

Any tips for people considering camping in California?

Just come here and do it. Pick a spot, and make it happen. There’s a lot of variables, and places to choose from, but it is almost impossible to have a bad time camping in California.

Do you see many roof tents,swags,overland vehicles in California?

Rooftop tents, awnings, and overland rigs, yes. Swags, not yet (but we are trying to change that!) This scene has exploded in Southern California in the past two years. I don’t think any of us go anywhere these days

without seeing multiple decked-out rigs on the road every day.

What’s your favorite type of camping and why?

We are all over the board here, as well. One hardshell RTT, one soft RTT, one swag, and Curt sleeps on a mattress on the floor of his Darche Retreat Annex under the Eclipse 270-degree awning. Of course, they all have pros and cons, so we all just go with what works best for us individually.

What’s your favorite Camp Cooking Food or meal?

Most of us here stick with simple stuff, like dried fruits, ramen, and packaged stuff, and sometimes get crazy cooking some meats over the fire (or on our Tembo Tusk Skottle). But we are all hoping to get a bit more adventurous, and have some content about camp cooking in the works with the chef from one of our favorite local restaurants.

Tell us a little about GTF Overland ?

GTFOverland is a shop that really strives to expose as many people to this world as possible.

It’s been part of our mission statement since Curt first wrote it years ago, that a single mom piling all her home bedding in the trunk over her sedan and taking her kids camping at a crowded campground is equally exciting to us as the most epic far-flung overland trip in a sick rig. It may seem counterintuitive coming from a shop trying to sell all the latest gear, but you don’t need the latest and greatest to just go out and do it.

What do you like about the DARCHE Gear?

When you see the Darche line as a whole, their history and longevity really shines through— there is a consistent story throughout all the products. These are high-quality items that have been tested and proven, and will last through some shit. This is especially so, considering that Australia has more extreme conditions, and nastier critters than we do!

Well that’s our first IN FOCUS chat with the guys in the US, stay tuned for the next couple of issues as we make our way around the world catching up with with some more like minded folk..

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR

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couple of days before a big trip we did recently, we noticed a puddle of fuel in the driveway under the Land Rover 90.

Now, anyone who owns a Land Rover Defender or dare I say any type of Land Rover will be well used to fluids appearing under your pride and joy.

We were not sure where the fuel was coming from,but the issue had to be figured out as the 20 year old Defender would have to complete a 3000km round trip in just a couple of days. After some further investigation and after asking for some advice from our Land Rover Guru, Martin, we discovered that the issue was with the Fuel Pressure Regulator. This is not unusual in fact it can be quite common in TD5 Defenders. Basically wear a tear and aging seals normally can cause the issue. A faulty fuel pressure regulator can cause more than one issue if not addressed including leaks and a loss of fuel pressure but it can also affect performance.

Funnily enough a couple of months ago the vehicle was losing power and we could not figure out what the issue was as nothing was coming up on the

the diagnostic machine, could it have been the issue with the Fuel Pressure Regulator, it probably was. Other issues can also include rough running when idle, misfiring and stalling. Basically issues arise when the injectors are not getting fed correctly, in other words a fuel injector injects fuel at high pressure into the combustion chamber and this is an essential aspect for health engine function.

Replacing a new Fuel Pressure Regulator can be a tricky job, you should take your time when doing it for the first time and refer to your vehicle’s manual for advice.

A fuel system mostly comprises of a fuel tank,a fuel filter, a level sender unit,a pump, a fuel injection pump,a pressure regulator, injectors and associated components.

1. Td5 Fuel Delivery System 2. Removing some of the bolts can be tricky.

3. Bearmach Fuel Pump

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GUARDS SECURE YOUR GEAR

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couple of issues back we had a look and ways to prevent your pride and joy from being stolen and how modern technology with apps for your phone have helped in protecting your vehicle from thieves. Sadly the trend in vehicle theft in many countries doesn’t look to be decreasing anytime soon, and worse still, high amongst the most desirable vehicles for the highly organised gangs that steal many of these vehicles to order and then ship them abroad are Land Rover Defenders and the other kitted out 4x4 vehicles that we use and love.

So what can you do to stop your vehicle from being robbed? Well as highlighted new tracker technologies are helping us monitor our vehicles by using apps that can for example send us an alarm in the middle of the night should the engine be turned on or if your vehicle starts to move, alarm bells are raised. But not every thief wants the hassle of trying to steal your vehicle outright with many happy with just breaking into it and taking any valuables inside. It only takes a thief a couple of seconds to break the glass in your vehicle and take its contents.

For us this is always a concern as we are nearly always carrying expensive camera equipment, the same of course applies to tradies who carry expensive tools or for those of us who carry

1. Instructions are supplied with the kit. 2.

Textured black powder coat finish on all parts.

3. All guards are easily attached to your windows.

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expensive camping gear etc.

So what deterrents can we use? Well, first of all having an alarm on your vehicle is a help, but this will not guarantee that a thief will be deterred by this given they can pretty much be gone with your contents literally in a couple of seconds after they get what they want, with the chance of being caught pretty low.

But there are other ways to increase the security of your vehicle and these are in the form of window guards.

We recently installed the Mo-

bile Storage Systems Defender Window Guards on the 90 and since completing this job it has given us added peace of mind when leaving the Defender with all of our gear in it unattended All of our guards are manufactured from heavy-duty non-rusting material and finished in a textured black powder coating.

They are designed to be fitted internally and pick up on existing mounting points where possible on the body frame.

The smaller of the Guards on the rear door pick up on ex-

Vehicle Security from

MOBILE STORAGE SYSTEMS

taken off if someone, unwanted, was trying to gain entry. Interior installation also means that there is no exterior drilling to be done to your vehicle on installation.

When installed you are still able to open and close your windows with ease as the guards do not obstruct their use. We are also using some of the guards as a platform to place some MOLLE They have an offset rectangular bags, the modular lightweight patterned design which doesn’t just allow a lot of light to gain en- load-carrying equipment” works try to the vehicle but also doesn’t perfectly well with the guards and they double up as a guard to hamper looking out of the windows that much either. Unlike keep the thieves out but also a way to easily access items stored many other Land Rover Window in the MOLLE bags.

Guards, the Mobile Storage SysFor additional storage you can tems’ Guards are installed into the interior of the vehicle. This also hang elasticated nets, bungees and more off the guards. ensures that they can’t be easily isting mounting points under the plastic trim.All guards come with instructions and fitting kits and are supplied with the necessary brackets & fixings required for fitting at home. The design also allows you to replace the plastic trim in the vehicle once fitted if required.

Mobile Storage Systems offer a wide range of innovative storage solutions including drawer systems that are finished to a very high standard. All of their products provide the strength, durability, and practicality that customers are looking for when kitting out their vehicles.They are also proud to boast that all of their products have been designed and manufactured within the United Kingdom.

With demand on the rise, this innovative company has been extending its range of products to provide quality secure storage and security systems for other makes of 4X4’s. As part of the TURAS land Rover build we are delighted to have partnered with Mobiles Storage Systems and added some of their awesome products to the TURAS Land Rover build.

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GUARDS FEATURES

Manufactured from heavy duty non-rusting material.

Textured black powder coat finish.

Fits internally to your vehicle.

Uses existing mounting points.

Can still open windows.

No exterior drilling needed.

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CS FREE

KIT

POWER-UP OFF-GRID with

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hankfully, here in the Northern Hemisphere at least, we’re reaching that time of the year again where the long, dark and dreary winter days are starting to wane, and the longer warmer days of the Spring are slowly emerging and with them the promise of days the more ‘fair weather’ campers amongst us relish where there’s likely to be a bit of warm sunshine to accompany us on our trips out into the countryside.

As the weather warms those of us lucky enough to have the CTEK CS Free unit, the world’s first fully portable battery charger and maintainer with Adaptive Boost, in our kit bag can think of it less of the reliable power source to get our vehicle restarted should the vehicle battery fail in the freezing temperatures and more for its multi-functional charger properties enabling us to get off-grid

for as long as we want whilst keeping all our electrical peripherals charged up and working via it’s USB-C and USB-A connectivity.

As much as the CS Free unit holds plenty of charge to power up those items reliably over a weekend, if you’re thinking of getting away from things for longer then the CTEK Solar Panel Charge Kit accessory is well worth the investment.

Made from a tough fibreglass, measuring 422mm x 537mm x 20mm and weighing just 4kg when packed into their handy carrying case, these 60W panels are a fabulous partner to the power unit itself. Once out of the case, unfolded and simply clipped back onto the case, which now doubles as a stand to hold the panels in position when being used, the efficient Monocrystalline cells work along with the specially developed Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) in the CS Free unit and

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the safety box situated on the 3.5m cable to ensure that they deliver exactly the right amount of power to protect your battery and devices from excess voltage.

The fact that CTEK chose to use the more expensive Monocrystalline solar cells in these panels will come as no surprise to those used to using the high-end quality CTEK are renowned for. These sorts of cells have the highest level of efficiency usually between 15-20% and are generally known to be the type of cell that perform efficiently the longest with most manufacturers happy to give them at least a 25 year lifespan.

For those of us living in the UK and having to suffer our usual so called ‘Summers’, one of the other key benefits is their ability to perform well in low levels of sunlight and cloudy conditions, and the fact that they’re waterproof being encased in that strong fibreglass casing is again a particularly useful feature.

So whatever the weather, the Solar Panel Charging Kit from CTEK is a really useful addition to your kit list, enabling you to relax safe in the knowledge you’ve got a reliable power source with you at all times and giving you the ultimate freedom to stay away from a mains power source for as long as you want – so come on Spring… hurry up and bring us some sunshine to go play

in. CTEK is the global market leader in battery management solutions, constantly pushing the boundaries of research and development to bring new battery charging technologies to the market.

The CTEK Sustainability Program has been implemented since 2017 and is designed to meet our stakeholders’ expectations, and includes Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) engagement, to create a long term value and contribute to reduce waste and negative climate impact.

CTEK’s products are the result of continuous extensive investment in quality, safety and performance at our state of the art facility in Dalarna, Sweden.

CTEK products meet all the necessary legal and operational requirements, and are independently validated and verified by the world’s most renowned testing institutes.

APB TRADING LTD.

4X4

VEHICLE Servicing

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hillip Bond knows 4WD vehicles , having spent 20 years competing in Specialist Land Rover & 4×4 offroad 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 UK’s lead-

Have your 4WD serviced by the experts and ready for adventure

ing Land Rover servicing and repair specialists.

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. 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.

Not only does the team at APB Trading Ltd. service and repair Land Rovers, but it can also service most makes of off-road 4x4 vehicles, including Toyota, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu, Nissan, Pajero and Isuzu.

The company’s experienced mechanics can minor or major repairs, MOT preparation, and arrange MOT testing by

Brake Kit Upgrade in Progress

appointment, and the body shop can rectify anything from a slight scratch to serious damage. Chassis change and re-builds are also available. In addition, 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”.

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. APB also has the latest Wynn’s Flush system which automatically changes your auto gearbox oil by flushing the system of existing ATF and replacing the Automatic Transmission Fluid in an efficient and effective way. APB also 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.

GERMAN

ENGINEERING 4WD VEHICLE PARTS

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avarian company the Offroad Monkeys continues to innovate. This small, family run business specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality replacement parts for

4WD vehicles.

Initially focussing on parts for the Land Rover Defender, specifically replacement hinges for the doors and bonnet, the company grew its range of Land Rover parts to include replacement wing mirrors, window frame holders with and without LED lights, replacement internal door handles, fuel caps and more. In recent months this range has expanded to incorporate parts for Mercedes G-Class vehicles, including door and tailgate hinges and windscreen wiper shafts. The approach of the company is to take the existing part and to totally improve upon it, focussing on replacing original parts that tend to rust and wear down, and replacing them with high quality, precision machined aircraft-grade aluminium parts.

The same level of engineering is incorporated into all Offroad Monkeys products, whether it is hinges for the doors, tailgate, window frames or bonnets.

The fact that 4x4 driving takes a toll on every vehicle, makes all parts of a 4wd vehicle work very hard, everything is stressed and can eventually start to wear down and fail. This was the challenge

that was taken up by Fabian Müller, the manager of Offroad Monkeys. Sick of seeing hinges fail, Müller decided to design his own solution to the problem, his personal motto is ‘Build things with passion that will last forever.’The team at Offroad Monkeys design and builds the hinges on their premises in Germany, using top quality materials. All of the parts are made 100% in Germany.

Like the 4WD vehicles they are designed to fit, these parts are designed to last forever. As Müller says, “satisfied customers are loyal customers”.

An example of the type of problem solved by Offroad Monkey’s products is its range of replacement door hinges.

Original door hinges on both vehicles (Defender and G-Class) have quite a few problems. Rust tends to build up and leaks down on the door in a rather ugly manner. Humidity can get into the car.

The Monkeys have a permanent solution for that problem. Their door hinges are made from high strength aluminum and are built to last for an eternity.

Optimum protection against corrosion and external influences with protective anodizing. The hinges contain easy to use lubricating nipples. Stainless steel bolts with thick helical groove for optimum grease dispersion. Exchangeable friction bearings(stainless steel). The parts are complex and precisely milled

to give your Landy a new optical highlight. If you install these hinges you will have a permanent end to rusting and jamming door hinges. The Offroad Monkeys Hinge Kits fit all Land Rover Defender 90, 110 and130,1988 and up and parts can be created for other models on request. A full set of replacement hinges is also available for the G-Class.

The Team at Offroad Monkeys really stands behind the quality of its products, and are proud of the fact that these products are built within Germany. You can see their passion shining through in the products. And the team there is always ready to help you to fit the parts or to make special orders for your vehicle. Business is booming

for the company as more and more people become aware of the products , and the positive experience of customers is leading to strong growth within the marketplace for Offroad Monkeys parts and accessories.

The team regularly exhibits at trade shows across Germany. Be sure to drop over and visit their stand the next time you see them. These parts are also available via Bearmach in the UK. We recently replaced the hinges on our Defender 90 and you can learn more about these hinges and see us install them in our Land Rover Defender Build special magazine supplement.

L O O C A R T L U THE

0 0 N CA

I

n issue 21 we had a closer look at new Climate Action regulations being introduced throughout Europe and beyond giving us an overview of what’s coming down the road.The increase in the number of electric and hydrogen powered vehicles is inevitable, and in truth, much needed as we race to try to reverse the effects of climate change before we go too far past the tipping point. With many governments now putting ambitious targets in place with a focus on significantly increasing the number of climate friendly vehicles, we are seeing a lot of new concepts and EV vehicles entering the market.One of these companies and their vehicles that have caught our eye mainly because they were looking at building some of their vehicles in Europe includes the very innovative US based company Canoo.

So who are Canoo?

The US company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that defies traditional ownership to put customers first. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle life-cycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses.

Canoo see governments, investors, and consumers aligning with exponential speed be-

hind sustainable transportation, and the world is shifting boldly to embrace ESG goals. The UK has banned sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as of 2030 and sales of hybrids as of 2035; Norway’s ban takes effect in 2025; France in 2040; and the state of California in 2035.

These shifts are raising expectations, creating market demand, and deeply challenging current business, technology, and infrastructure capacity. The US and EU are considering and have committed unprecedented government spending to target sustainable infrastructure, technology, and mobility.

Globally, there are trillions targeted at ESG-related investments. Canoo says that “We are designing for people who work hard, play hard and need something reliable, that will last and give you value. So let’s have a look at what’s on offer;

Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle

The Flex-Vehicle for Everybody Canoo designed the Lifestyle Vehicle to be cabin forward to maximize interior space and function, with exportable power and customization options – all on a small footprint. Now available in four trims: base, premium, adventure and

-

Lifestyle Vehicle Delivery – the Lifestyle Vehicle is the ultimate multi-tasker. Without the need for an engine compartment, the Lifestyle Vehicle features Canoo’s unique street view window for improved driver visibility. Canoo claim that the Adventure trim has more ground clearance and a more muscular profile.

The bumpers have been enhanced and a metal skid plate was added for increased vehicle durability.

And Canoo’s signature headlights and taillights serve as core brand identifiers without the need for a logo. Like all Canoo vehicles, the Lifestyle Vehicle is a purpose-built EV based on the company’s proprietary and highly versatile multi-purpose platform architecture. The Lifestyle Vehicle has the interior space of a large SUV, with the exterior footprint of a compact car and is made for urban, adventure, families, fleet, ride hailing and more. Anticipated specifications include up to 300hp and 332 lb.-ft. of peak motor torque with 250 miles of battery range. The Lifestyle Vehicle has targeted pricing starting from $34,750 -$49,950 for Delivery, Base and Premium models, before incentives, or optional equipment. Range topping Adventure trim pricing will be announced in the coming months. Canoo designed the Lifestyle Vehicle to be cabin forward to maximize interior space and function, with exportable power and customization options – all on a small footprint. Now available in four trims: base, premium, adventure and Lifestyle Vehicle Delivery Van Campers take note., this is the future.........

The Canoo Pickup Truck

Canoo’s fully electric pickup truck looks the business, ready for work and the weekend. Featuring a cabin-forward design, steer-by-wire technology and proprietary multi-purpose platform architecture, the pickup truck has an extendable flatbed that competes with America’s best-selling pickup trucks on a smaller footprint—making it easier to manoeuvre and more convenient to drive.

The pickup truck was built to work for users and features accessories that accommodate on-site jobs, including exportable power, advanced exterior lighting, fold down work table and cargo storage, flip-down side-tables, sidestep and storage, extendable bed with space dividers and multi-accessory charge port. Specifications include dual or rear motor configurations, with 500+hp and 550 lb.-ft. of torque with dual motors, vehicle payload capacity of 1800 lbs. and 200+ miles of battery range.

“We are so passionate about building vehicles that can change people’s lives,” said Tony Aquila, Executive Chairman, Canoo. “Our pickup truck is as strong as the toughest trucks out there and is designed to be exponentially more productive. This truck works for you. We made accessories for people who use trucks – on the job,

weekends, adventure. You name it, we did it because it’s your platform and she’s bad to the bone.”Canoo’s pickup truck was built with several unique features to help customers do more with their vehicles: Pull-out Bed Extension: The pickup truck bed is six feet long and can extend to a fully enclosed eight feet, allowing big items such as a 4 by 8 ft sheet of plywood to easily fit inside. The pull-handle bed extension also helps with loading and unloading

the truck.

Fold Down Worktable To offer the greatest customer utility, the pickup features a front cargo storage area that can hold tools or gear, also includes a fold down worktable with electrical outlets.

The workstation table is extendible to allow customers to have maximized work surface on the go, in addition to providing an area to put on gear before heading out exploring.

Flip-Down Side Tables: Both sides of the vehicle house a flip down table in two expandable depths. Built into the side panel of the truck bed, the flip-down side table becomes a workbench with multi-functional power sources in close proximity.

Integrated Overhead Bed Perimeter Lighting: The third brake light doubles as an overhead light to see inside the cargo bed at night. The vehicle is also equipped with perimeter

lighting on all sides of the bed wall for added visibility.

Roof Rack: The pickup truck has optional roof racks in variable sizes for added cargo storage. The roof rack is easily accessible from the flat-bed or via the sidestep.

Camper Shell:

The pickup truck has been designed to accommodate a variety of camper shells to fit as many use cases as possible.The pickup truck is the third vehicle that will be based on the company’s proprietary multi-purpose platform architecture, enabling the accelerated development timeline.

Canoo’s EV platform functionally integrates all the critical components of an electric powertrain to be as flat and efficient as possible. Traditional EV platforms have power units, shock towers and mechanical steering columns that protrude into the vehicle and take up space. By incorporating steerby-wire and other space-saving technologies, Canoo’s thin platform, with no need for an engine compartment, allows the company to offer a flatbed size comparable to America’s best-selling pickup truck on a smaller footprint. According to Canoo,this makes the vehicle easier to manoeuvre and more convenient to drive and park in any terrain.

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16th-19th JUNE

2022

IF YOU TAKE IT IN

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

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

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BrandPartners Partners

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

The TURAS Charter

T

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

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

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

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

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