UNSEALED 4x4 ISSUE 004

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YOUR SPRING SURVIVAL GUIDE Melbourne 4X4 Getaways | Ultimate Outback | 4X4 History

ISSUE 004

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Because you’ve heroically chosen to download your copy of Unsealed 4X4, you can’t see what’s on this page. But trust us - it’s well worth looking at. To see it in all its glory go to unsealed4X4.com.au

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CONTENTS

Because you’ve heroically chosen to download your copy of Unsealed 4X4, you can’t see what’s on this page. But trust us - it’s well worth looking at. To see it in all its glory go to unsealed4X4.com.au

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CONTENTS

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CONTENTS

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I’ve had a long relationship with Opposite Lock, so it wasn’t that much of a surprise when they asked me if I’d like to take on the role of their Track Tester. Getting out and going bush to test new products and being involved on the ground floor sounded right up my alley. To be frank, I don’t think any other company would be game to take a Roothy on in such a role!

OL’s Managing Director himself told me they wanted honest and straight forward reporting on both the products in the range already and ones they were thinking of for the future, and that was the deal clincher for me. So that’s it, I’m officially Opposite Lock’s Track Tester!

Keep your eyes peeled and you might see me out ‘working’ on a track sometime.

Cheers, John “Roothy” Rooth.

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

WATCH ROOTHY’S INTRO

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GEAR NEWS

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New kno

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THE SOFT-ROADER OF

THE FUTURE? Land Rover launches its new Discovery Sport

In any given year, most major automotive manufacturers will release more new models than Land Rover has in its entire history that dates to 1948. Ford, for example, is releasing 16 new models this year in North America alone. So when the British beacon of 4X4 innovation unveils a completely new vehicle, it is wise to pay attention.

Terrain Response® system helps lessexperienced off-road drivers take full advantage of the vehicle’s capability by selecting the best settings for the terrain you’re in. It’s also equipped with Wade Sensing™ technology to tell you if you’re driving into water that’s too deep.

When fitted with the 110kW TD4 diesel engine, the most economical of three The Discovery Sport is a 4X4 for modern engine offerings, it’s capable of achieving 5.7L/100km, a seriously impressive times. It isn’t suited for the rigors of expedition use. While it probably could, feat for a seven-seater. Land Rover has also fitted the Discovery Sport with a it isn’t designed to take on the Canning plethora of techno-goodies, including six Stock Route. What it is is comfortable, USB power ports, an 20cm touchscreen fuel efficient and practical, with the infotainment system, and an available availability of seven seats.

17-speaker Meridian sound system.

The Discovery Sport features an There’s also an industry-first pedestrian active driveline that shifts between airbag – a byproduct of ever-tightening two- and four-wheel drive, giving you safety regulations, which we’re told has traction when you need it and better been tested rigorously to not interfere fuel economy when you don’t. It also with off-road use. features advanced torque vectoring, Prices haven’t yet been which transfers power to the tyres that have the most grip. Land Rover’s announced, landrover.com.au

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GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE …

RANGE ROVER #1 SELLS AT AUCTION If you follow us on Facebook, or regularly visit our website, you’d have known that the world’s first production Range Rover (built in 1969) was going to auction at the exclusive Salon Privé in London. Originally thought to be lost forever, the vehicle was found in the 1990s and underwent a comprehensive restoration. It has sold for $238,000 to a private buyer.

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ULTIMATE O

PUMP UP THE VOLUME ON THI

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OUTBACK

IS SYMPHONY OF ADVENTURE

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Andrew is a music connoisseur and right now he is in the mood for something more serious and solemn. He pushes a CD of French-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma into the CD player in his 4X4: Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites fill the car. Rather sombre, it is the perfect music to catch the mood of a landscape that explorer John Edward Eyre called “one vast dreary waste”.

We are below sea level, on the shores of Lake Eyre South. A blinding, shimmering expanse of salt disappears into infinity. The surrounding land is flat, covered in stunted vegetation, the sky huge. There is a sense of exposure, and no sign of life. But let it rain up in far away Queensland, let a cyclone dump its load into the catchments of the Diamantina River and Cooper Creek, and the scenario will change.

Murky floodwaters will then slowly travel over hundreds of kilometers and fill the lake. Then life will explode.

Not far from the shores of Lake Eyre South, surrounded by barren sand and gravel plains, is life.

Strange mounds, some covered in grass and reeds, interrupt the flatness like mini volcanoes, their craters not filled with boiling lava but water – mound springs.

Little finches twitter hyperactively around, and dragonflies zip through the air. The area around the springs is an ancient waste dump: flakes, core stones, occasionally a beautifully crafted spear head, grinding stones. A long time ago, craftsmen of the Arabana people skillfully created stone tools here while their families camped around the springs and kids played in the vicinity of life-giving water.

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My friend Andrew, a wannabe-DJ with an eclectic taste in music, is a former chef and irrevocably taken by the sparse beauty of Australia’s arid interior. With him on this trip are his other two buddies: John, a doctor from London, and the bearded giant Simon. It is not quite clear what he actually does. We are on a journey through perhaps the most inhospitable areas of Australia: the great salt lakes of South Australia, the lifeless expanses along the Oodnadatta tracks, the waterless Simpson Desert, the desolate Martian landscape along the Birdsville Track, the desert mountains of the Flinders Ranges. It is a journey through what Andrew calls “The Ultimate Outback”, a journey through the highlights of Australia’s arid interior.

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Like a dotted line on a map, mound springs follow the western rim of the artesian basin and mark an ancient trade route from the Flinders Ranges to central Australia and beyond, used by Aboriginal people over thousands of years. These springs made it possible for humans to venture into a vast and hostile country. Explorer John McDouall Stuart took advantage of the springs on his epic crossing of the continent from south to north in 1862. Nowadays the unsealed 619km Oodnadatta Track mainly follows his route and marks part of the Overland Telegraph line which joined Australia with Java and ultimately Europe. Parallel to the Oodnadatta Track runs the original Ghan railway line between Adelaide and Alice Springs.

It is mid morning, the air still crisp, the sky a light hazy blue. Just off the Oodnadatta Track is the railway siding of Curdimurka. A red water tower, a restored shed, and a few kilometres of rail are reminiscent of the old days, when steam engines pulled carriages through this arid country. Once there was life here, sounds, people. Now it is only silence, but a silence that can tell so much. What was once a lifeline is now reduced to a string of ruins: Curdimurka; Beresford, which had giant water softeners to prepare water for the steam locomotives; the 578m Algebuckina Bridge over the Neales River. Then there are the ruins of a repeater station at Strangways Springs, Peake with its photogenic ruins of the old telegraph station and the copper mine on the hill behind. The common denominator along the track is water, and although many of the springs have dried up, in Wamba Kadarbu Conservation Park two active mound springs, Blanche Cup and The Bubbler, can be visited. The water bubbling out of the ground fell as rain two million years ago and 2000km away.

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The old narrow-gauge Ghan railway arrived in Oodnadatta in 1891 and it seems not much has changed since the years between 1891 and 1929, when the town was an important railhead. Although the famous Pink Roadhouse now dominates the southern end of town and the days where all freight was loaded onto camel backs for the journey on to Alice Springs are over, the outback town has preserved its pioneer character.

About 100km after Oodnadatta a track leads east through Hamilton Station and on to Dalhousie Springs.

Black storm clouds are gathering, and the sun dips below and bathes the landscape in an unearthly light. It’s like a road movie. Andrew chooses

blues and Eric Clapton sings “I’m gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my Gatlin’ gun. You made me love you, now your man has come”. Our feet tap, the scenery in panoramic format and technicolor passes by. At Dalhousie Springs, the largest outlet of the artesian basin, we immerse ourselves in 38-degree warm soft water. It is an absolute luxury in this arid country. From now on, water becomes very scarce. Dalhousie Springs, a vast oasis of 80 square kilometers and part of Witjira National Park, lies at the edge of the Simpson Desert, where no permanent surface water, apart from the artificial wetland at the uncapped Purni Bore, will be encountered.

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The Simpson Desert is one of the world’s great sand-ridge deserts with an area six times the size of Belgium. A low cloud cover and a cold wind create a bleak atmosphere on that first day.

Camp is in a clay pan between two sand dunes. Gnarly trees, the famous gidgee tree or stink wattle, grow in the vicinity. They supply “the champagne of firewood”, according to Andrew. On the edge of the pan, baked in clay, I find stone tools. Aborigines lived a nomadic life for at least 5000 years in this desert, following a string of nine wells that they maintained. That evening Mario Lanza’s divine voice at full volume echoes across the desert expanse. Arreviderci Roma! Andrew cooks Italian. Only the wine is Australian.

The nature of this vast desert remained unknown to Europeans until 1929, when geologist Cecil Madigan flew over it. From his plane he saw a sea of parallel dunes like sand flats at low tide. The first recorded crossing by a European took place in 1936 when local bushman Ted Colson rode across the innumerable sand dunes to Birdsville and back. His incredible achievement becomes clear over the next few days, when our vehicles get a true workout, battling sandy tracks, climbing mighty dunes, crossing soft and wet clay pans due to recent rain.

The Simpson Desert’s beauty is not obvious. Getting through is a challenge and many hours are spent in the vehicle every day. Many a

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dune needs several attempts. It all depends on the driving technique. And the weather. “We are lucky that it is relatively cool,” says Andrew. “If it is really hot, the sand becomes liquid.” Come late afternoon, when camp is established, we venture up to the crest of the nearest sand dune. The sand takes on a deep red in the low sun. A multitude of animal tracks are evidence that the desert is full of life. Ripple marks and wind-created patterns grace the sand. The hidden beauty of the Simpson Desert becomes apparent and has a deep impact on us.

The last sand dune on the way to Birdsville is a celebrity. It even has a name: Big Red. The last and highest obstacle, it marks the end of the Simpson.

From the ridge of the giant sand dune the view goes out into the flat, heat-shimmering wasteland. Not far from here lies Birdsville. It offers all the mod cons we are used to, including a famous pub. The sense of adventure, the feeling of insignificance out there between the dunes, is left behind.

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Further south along the Birdsville Track we could be on Mars. The famous stock route leads through a flat red expanse of polished gravel: gibber plains. Mirages lure in the distance. The track flanks the Simpson Desert, runs through Sturt Stony Desert and between the Tiara and Strzelecki Deserts. Through this forbidden landscape stockmen used to drive cattle south to Maree, where they loaded them onto trains bound for the slaughterhouse. In 1972 road trains took over and the era of epic cattle drives through the desert ended.

In Maree the circle closes. The Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track meet here. At the railway station, two narrow-gauge diesel-

electric locomotives used on the old Ghan are restored and on display.

Another one, defaced by grafitti, sits rusting in the sun where the track used to head north, out into the desert. The rails are gone, pulled up and sent to the Queensland cane fields in 1981. Further south of Maree the flatness of the country makes room for the peaks, ridges and hills of the Flinders Ranges. Ry Cooder’s haunting slow guitar riffs from the movie Paris, Texas pour out of the speakers on the way through the barren northern Flinders Ranges to Chambers Gorge and the mighty Mount Chambers. It seems just right: the simplicity of his music, its melancholy grabs the soul – just like the outback.

Words and photos: Don Fuchs

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LET’S TAKE THIS SHOW

OFF-ROAD FROM JEEP TO MINI, A BRAND-BY-BRAND HISTORY OF HOW THE MOTORING WORLD WENT 4X4

Today just about every manufacturer offers a car that drives all four wheels, has a bit more ground clearance than it needs for the bitumen and is therefore marketed as a SUV. But which SUV appeared when?

It’s hard to say exactly, as you need to consider military examples, or maybe rebadged versions, overseas or local launches, or vehicles made by companies that were later taken over. So to make the question manageable here’s a list of the major manufacturers on the Australian market with their first mass-market SUV or 4X4, and a representative picture of an early model.

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4X4 HISTOR

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1941 1948 1950 1950 1966 1970 1972 1979 1978 1982 1983 1991 1993 1996 1998 1998 1998 1999 1998 2002 2002 2002 2010

Bantam Reconnaissance Car Land Rover BJ Jeep 4W60 Bronco LJ10 Leone G-Class LUV Pajero Korando Galloper Crossroad LX450 Allroad Quattro Safe Retona X5 AZ-Offroad Cayenne Touareg XC90 Countryman

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1941 JEEP – BANTAM RECONNAISSANCE CAR

The Bantam Reconnaissance Car was designed for the US military as part of the war effort. But Bantam was too small to produce the numbers, so Willys and Ford got the job. Both made improvements, and the Willys design became the standard from which today’s Wrangler is still recognisably derived, and should that ever change American will re-run its Civil War.

1948 LAND ROVER – LAND ROVER

Inspired by the Jeep, the Land Rover saved the Rover company, and gave bearded sandal wearers something to repair for the rest of eternity. Yet what Land Rover show today will be in their cars tomorrow, and the competition’s about a decade later.

1950 TOYOTA – BJ JEEP

Toyota’s first 4X4 was the AK10, reverseengineered in 1942 from a captured Bantam Jeep.

The second was the BJ Jeep, developed in 1950. It had no low range.

1950 NISSAN – 4W60

Nissan won a Japanese government contract and the result was the 4W60 Patrol, which survived until 1960 when it was replaced by the G60.

1966 FORD – BRONCO

For such a large car-maker Ford haven’t really had much of a history with 4X4s, but their first effort was the Bronco of the mid-’60s.

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1970 SUZUKI – LJ10

Suzuki’s tiny LJ10 is another vehicle developed from an older company, in this case the Hope ON360. The Jimny is a direct descendant, but times have forced a complete redesign we hope to see next year – the iV-4.

1972 SUBARU – LEONE

Subaru is associated with the car-based 4X4 more than any other brand, and it all began way back in 1972 with the Super Touring Leone wagon, which led to the famous L-Series being sold in Australia.

1979 MERCEDES-BENZ – G-CLASS

Mercedes-Benz have at one point made one of everything, including the Unimog which began in 1947. But this is about car-sized 4X4s, and the first there was the venerable G-Class in 1979, which hasn’t changed since. Well, unless you count a stonking V8!

1978 HOLDEN – LUV

Holden’s first wagon SUV was the Jackaroo wagon from 1981, and since then the company has rebadged a variety of vehicles such as the Captiva and Colorado 7. But before the Jackaroo there was the Rodeo, which was also an Isuzu design and first sold in Australia by Holden as the LUV in 1978.

1982 MITSUBISHI – PAJERO

The first Pajero protoypes were shown to the public as far back as 1973, but it took until 1982 for the vehicle to enter production and it hasn’t stopped since!

1983 SSANGYONG – KORANDO

The Koranda is another license of an existing model, and in this case it was the Jeep CJ-7 being resold under another name.

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1986 LAMBORGHINI LM002

In 1986 Lamborghini launched their first 4WD, a consumer version of a vehicle originally designed for military use only.

With a 7.2 litre petrol V12 engine, and a 290 litre petrol tank, it’s easy to work out why this vehicle was nicknamed: ‘Rambo Lambo’. Be still, my beating heart...

1991 HYUNDAI – GALLOPER

The Galloper was just a second-generation Pajero rebaged. Hyundai’s own 4X4 was the Terracan, released in 2001, and even that owed its chassis to the Pajero. It acquired a following thanks to its budget off-road and towing capability.

1993 HONDA – CROSSROAD

The Crossroad was simply a rebaged Land Rover Discovery Series 1, but it didn’t end well, so Honda replaced it with the entirely different CR-V from 1995.

1996 LEXUS – LX450

The first Lexus was the LS400 road car in 1989, and first SUV was the LX450, based on the 80 Series LandCruiser.

1998 AUDI – ALLROAD QUATTRO

Audi famously took the rally world by storm in the ‘80s with the four-wheel-drive Quattro, a moniker which their marketing department has since squeezed dry by applying to it every all wheel drive Audi. But the Quattro wasn’t an off-roader, although if you watch the exploits of rally ace Ari Vatanen you’d be forgiven for thinking differently. The first Audi SUV seems to be the Allroad Quattro which is essentially a lifted A6 wagon, with adjustable air suspension and, in manual variants, low range.

1998 GREAT WALL – SAFE

Great Wall was only formed in 1984. You have to love any company that produces cars called the Florid, the Wingle, the Coolbear, the SoCool and their first SUV, the Safe.

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1998 KIA – RETONA

Kia’s subsidiary Asia Motors released the Rocsta in 1990, and that became the Retona of 1998.

1999 BMW – X5

The X5 is the SUV that influenced more than it is generally given credit for, sparking a new wave of premium vehicles and raising the bar for on-road handling.

1998 MAZDA – AZ-OFFROAD

Before the current CX range there was the Tribute, first appearing in 2000 as a joint venture with Ford which called the same car the Escape, and in 1998 they rebadged Suzuki’s Jimny as the “AZ-Offroad”.

2002 PORSCHE – CAYENNE

The car that saved Porsche. It’s taken until 2013 for Porsche to dare to introduce a second SUV, the Macan.

2002 VOLKSWAGEN – TOUAREG

VW have a long history with off-road vehicles, but they started off as air-cooled, rear-engined 2X4s. The first real VW SUV was the Touareg in 2002, which also formed the basis for Porsche’s Cayenne and Audi’s Q7. Shhh.

2002 VOLVO – XC90

The first Volvo SUV was the XC90 which first appeared in 2002 and became the kid-carrier of choice for the family who wants something a cut above a Territory or Kluger.

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WHO HASN’T COME TO THE PARTY – YET? The SUV is something of a wheeled gold mine; a car that buyers snap up yet one that can be sold at a premium compared to its reasonable development costs. For example, sportscar maker Porsche agonised over the decision to introduce the Cayenne in 2002, but had it not done so there would be no Porsche today, as the Cayenne accounts for the vast majority of its sales and profit – be sure to mention that to the next 911 worshiper you encounter. The story is similar wherever you look from BMW to Mazda – SUV line-ups are common and they sell very well, beaten only by anodyne massproduction shopping trolleys like the Mazda 3 and Hyundai i20, which are far less profitable per unit.

But not quite everyone has a SUV. Holdouts at present include Jaguar, Maserati, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Bentley. All these have either announced SUV plans or there’s strong industry rumours that they will.

And that leaves just five – Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lotus, Rolls Royce and Morgan – with no known or firm plans for an off-roadish vehicle.

This little list raises a number of interesting observations. Firstly, all these manufacturers are niche operations that are amongst the most storied and evocative marques in motoring; ones that have a band of devotees that’s strong and loyal, but small. The bosses are rightly loath to sully such heritage with bandwagon-popular vehicles like SUVs.

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Alfa Romeo have flirted with SUV concepts in the past and remain a potential SUV developer, but perhaps owner Fiat have decided they’re better off spending their money developing automotive lust-objects like the 4C and leaving the SUVs to their other marques like Jeep, not to mention Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat itself. They also own Ferrari, and Ferrari are of course special (just ask them).

Ferrari are quite happy deliberately selling very few vehicles at extremely high prices so have no need to increase sales, and indeed extra volume would start to destroy the exclusivity which is their brand strategy. Did you know you apply to buy a Ferrari and you need to be assessed and approved – you don’t rock up with a ute-load of cash?

For the moment though, the closest Ferrari has to a SUV is the FF, an all-wheel-drive road car that accommodates four people and some skis. Anyway, Fiat Group’s top end SUV is covered by their Maserati brand who intend to give us something called the Levante. Interestingly, this

Levante was to be built on Jeep Grand Cherokee underpinnings but that idea has now been scrapped because of, apparently, buyer expectations around engineering. Rubbish! Let’s be honest, it was marketing. If you’re going to pay Maserati coin for an SUV, you don’t want people laughing at you and pointing out that it’s just a Jeep with bling, like we do with Lexus/Toyota.

A competitor in the super-expensive SUV market will be Lamborghini, who have successfully targeted the chest hair and gold chain market, so a brash Ess You Vee would be perfect for their clientele. Their forthcoming SUV, the Urus, looks sleek and sexy.

As for Rolls Royce, I could easily see Roller SUV, which let’s face it couldn’t be any heavier or larger than the current limos, and if Bentley are going to do an SUV, why not arch-rival Rolls. The Phantom already has air suspension, so they just need to jack it up a bit, add another diff, gutter-roll the wheelarches to take a set of 34inch Jungle Trekkers and she’s sweet.

Words: Robert Pepper

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Early Jeeps and Land Rovers, none of which were the first 4X4s.

TRIVIAL PURSUITS

THE ANSWER TO THE WORLD’S EASIEST TRIVIA 4X4 QUESTION IS WRONG Which was the first 4X4? Everyone knows it’s Jeep, right? Wrong. There are much earlier 4X4s than the Jeep such as the Steam Touring Car, made

by Cotta Automobile all the way back in 1901. The marketing spiel sounds familiar, if olde worlde – “No road too slippery, muddy, sandy, nor ley” and “all four wheels driven, yes, and guide too; no slipping of wheels when you Auto Go”. This was arguably the first true all wheel drive, even if it had a steam engine. But nobody can be sure, because at the time there were so many inventors across the world experimenting with cars and no smartphone-toting 4X4 enthusiasts using the internet to track their progress.

Wrong!

military between 1908 and 1918, and many other similar vehicles before 1941, including one from the Dodge Brothers in 1934. Part-time 4X4 and transfer cases with low range were invented before the Jeep, yet it’s the Jeep that somehow managed to capture popular imagination.

And while I’m making myself popular with Jeep owners, their car was not the first vehicle to drive on all seven continents either, despite the muchshared meme. The Model T made it to six of the seven, and the first production car on the other continent, Antarctica, was the Beetle, so it’s a fair bet the all-seven prize goes to VW’s finest. And just to ensure I get a lot of Jeep fanmail, that much-loved sevenslot grill was a Ford idea, too!

There was also the Badger Four Wheel Drive Auto Co, which sold tens of thousands of 4X4 light trucks to the NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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1 x AIR LOCKER $995

1 x AIR LOCKER, COMPRESSOR

AND PUMP UP KIT $1195

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For your closest ARB outlet call 1300 ARB 4X4 or visit arb.com.au Promotion runs from 29th September to 28th November inclusive. Offer applies to CKMA12 compressor only and excludes RD99CE Air Locker. Normal fitting charges apply. Available to Australian customers only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

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KICKS

CROWDFUNDING FO

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OR LEFT-FIELD 4X4 DREAMS

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Crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo are the platforms upon which many of today’s entrepreneurs are taking their business and creative projects to market, seeking financial support from the masses.

Backers do not receive equity in projects, but may be offered involvement in production, or receive first orders of the final result. Project success can be huge. Just ask the American man who generated over US$50,000 on Kickstarter to make a potato salad. His goal was US$10.

ROUGH STUFF

Australian movie director Jonathan Adams this year successfully sourced more than $40,000 through Kickstarter to help fund an Australian 4X4 movie, Rough Stuff.

“It’s Star Wars meets Die Hard meets Indianna Jones,” Jonathon said of the movie. “Han Solo in a 4X4 on a treasure hunt.”

He had already secured $60,000 through his own capital and private Much of his campaign’s success lay in its investors, however he knew he needed quirky and shareable nature, which led more. Coming up with $40,000 from to widespread media attention. Driven people he had never met was tough. by social media, ideas can be easily spread, and the market will very quickly “Credibility was extremely challenging tell you with their wallets whether your to create,” he said, citing a teaser idea has merit. trailer as being the centrepiece of the fundraising campaign.

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“I thought ‘people will be so blown away by this trailer they will throw money at us’.”

Thirty-six hours before the campaign was scheduled to end he was still $12,000 off.

The reality was that money did not come flying in. While Jonathan had a seemingly great idea, the challenge was reaching people who thought likewise.

“It was a horrible 36 hours. Really intense. A lot of running around and not sleeping, working out a Plan B,” Jonathan said.

Luckily, Australian 4x4 accessories manufacturer ARB saw the movie’s potential early on and became a supporter of the project, agreeing to fit out vehicles and promote fundraising through their media channels.

“We got very, very lucky in that a couple of major backers decided to back us … when we made it, it was an enormous relief.”

Thanks to ARB’s large following, and that of a select few other 4X4 media channels who beat the drum, Jonathan reached his target. Just.

Shooting is scheduled for October 2014 and the movie will be released mid-2015. www.roughstuff.com.au

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BAJA BOARD

Another Australian Kickstarter story is the Baja Board, a motorised 4X4 off-road skateboard. While founders George Li and James Murphy reached only $116,637 of their $200,000 target (and so receiving nothing), they still describe their Kickstarter campaign as an excellent public relations exercise.

With features such as an electronic diff with traction control, double wishbone suspension, an adjustable ride height and launching from a standstill to 30km/h in about one second, the Baja Board has more in common with your fourbie than a skateboard.

“The suspension design provides a lot more ability for off-road use as well as being able to handle jumps and drops,” George said.

It also weighs in at only 18kg.

Speaking about their Kickstarter campaign, George said the $4000 price tag and 12-month wait put people off.

“We found that Kickstarter is good for products up to $1000 where people were happy to outlay and wait a year,”

adding that it was disappointing Kickstarter did not allow backers to place a deposit rather than paying $4000 up front.

“If we thought about doing this whole thing again we might have gone with Indiegogo,” George said, describing them as more flexible on receiving funds.

However, he said their initial research found Kickstarter offered the best publicity. Indeed, their fundraising campaign generated publicity which later led to revenue from venture capitalists as well as 28 pre-orders, distributor interest, a couple of hundred email enquiries and a large increase in Facebook likes. Pre-orders will arrive early 2015.

George also said Kickstarter on its own was not enough and you must ensure you have an audience to market your fundraising to.

“We spent a good six months building about 5000 followers on Facebook and then we built the Kickstarter campaign.” www.bajaboard.com.au

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CROWDFUNDING

Crowdfunding is not a magic money wand. You must have a marketing plan and be able to reach and resonate with your target audience with inspiring videos, images and words.

Kickstarter and Indiegogo are two better-known crowdfunding networks.

Pozible is an Australianbased network. They all charge a percentage fee of funds earned.

Kickstarter is an all-ornothing system. If you don’t reach your target, you receive nothing.

Other networks offer different terms.

Crowdfunding has seen a recent resurgence, but has a long history. Mozart crowdfunded his concerts in 1783, offering backers manuscripts of his music.

Words: Tom Haynes

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5

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4X4 ADVENTURES AROUND MELBOUR NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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Melbourne is perhaps the 4X4 capital of the world; home to the likes of ARB and Ironman, with a very strong club scene and state association, access to tracks other states just dream about, and a range of terrains from rainforest to rock to sand to snow, all within a few hours’ drive. It’s hard to pick the five best areas for off-roading, but this

Because you’ve heroically chosen to download your copy of Unsealed 4X4, you can’t see what’s on this page. But trust us - it’s well worth looking at. To see it in all its glory go to unsealed4X4.com.au

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selection should get you started.

Remember, prepare well beyond what you think you may need as Melbourne weather can turn in an instant. You should also be independently confident with your navigation and carry recovery gear as you never know when you’ll end up bogged far from help.

1. Toolangi

Perhaps the most famous off-roading forest in near Melbourne, Toolangi is home to many a difficult track from the aptly named Rocky Track, which has kept panel beaters in business for years, to numerous mud and hill challenges. The forest starts from south of the town of the same name, and runs as far north as Yea, where it’s known as the Black Range State Forest. Yet while Toolangi is beloved of the hardcore, it’s also accessible by dirt roads leading to the pretty Murrindindi Scenic Reserve with its cascades, camping areas, walks and suspension bridges. Further south, near Toolangi itself, is the Wirrawilla nature boardwalk, or if you’re in the north the old-times Cheviot Tunnel is near Yea, and although it’s been closed to vehicles for a few years now you can still walk through. Toolangi is a wet, temperate forest and at the right time in winter you may well find snow amongst the tall trees, or on rainy days, lyrebirds gliding through the mist.

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2. Marysville

There’s something for everyone in the Marysville area. There are plenty of difficult tracks – take your pick from hills, mud and rocks, or all three, or just keep to the dirt roads. As an example, head east from Narbethong over the Acheron River then choose between Paradise Plains Rd or Strickland Spur to roll into Marysville itself. The area is hilly for a challenging drive or just great views, for example from Keppel Lookout just south of Marysville.

There’s plenty of lush, wet forest and water runs on the scenic dirt road loop that is Lady Talbot Drive.

Marysville itself has everything from fuel to cafes to playgrounds, and is the gateway to snow – if you follow the C512 past Lake Mountain it narrows, then turns to dirt as you travel on to Mt Matlock, which has an elevation of nearly 1400m, perhaps the most reliably accessible place for car-based snow fun near Melbourne. But if you’re just after a forest drive you need not go much further than Marysville into the Big River State Forest – there is a vast network of tracks and campsites off Big River Road, but watch for rain as any water can change a track from easy to hard in moments.

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3. Mount Disappointment

So named because early explorers Hume and Hovell ascended the ‘mountain’ and were not impressed with what they saw. “Mount Diss” has been a firm favourite with Melbourne off-roaders for many years. It was severely burned in the 2009 fires, but has recovered and enough tracks have reopened to give the area many options for daytrips, but be warned, many tracks are quite overgrown with regenerated green life. The driving is easy to medium, but the wet ups the difficulty level. Those looking for a real challenge should head a bit further north to Tallarook. Still, Mount Diss has some very decent hills, a few bushwalks here and there and while there is the large Sugarloaf reservoir there’s not really many places to view it. Our favourite post-drive destination is the Hume and Hovell Cricket Ground, a themed pub/café that makes an ideal postdrive airing up and coffee point.

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4. Wombat & Lerderderg

Moving out to the west and we have the Lerderderg State Park and Wombat State Forest.

You can drive right through Lerderderg on O’Briens Rd, via Ractcliffe’s Track if it’s open and you want a harder run, stopping off at O’Brien’s Crossing for a river dip, then wandering in via a network of muddy tracks to Blackwood, which is my favourite town in the area. It’s kind of a smaller, prettier and less pretentious version of Daylesford, and it is also home to two mineral springs which are worth a taste. From Blackwood to Daylesford the Wombat has lots of tracks to explore, or you can take the Wombat Forest Drive, which is just a pleasant dirt road following the Lerderderg River with lots of options for secluded river stops. But if you’re after hard off-roading then forget Lerderderg, and you’d better like your challenge muddy, not rocky or hilly if you venture into the Wombat. I’ve even had to recover a HiLux from the carpark, let alone the tracks!

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5. Otway National Park

Mostly seasonally closed due to wet weather, in summer the Otways nevertheless offers a wide variety of tracks that often lead south to the internationally famous Great Ocean Road. Many of these tracks are muddy, but the Denham’s track near Anglesea has good views, requires decent clearance and even includes a sandy section. The area is full of waterfalls, walks and other tourist attractions so you can break up your off-roading with a wide range of activities, and there’s myriad coastal towns and beaches for walking on, but not driving. The park extends a long way east, and the further you go that way the less traffic you’ll see. There will be no beach driving, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find a fairly quiet beach for a walk once you’re away from the major towns.

Words and Images: Robert Pepper

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What, no sand?

There’s no beach driving to be had in Victoria save the Portland Dune Buggy Club by special access, which is why Robe in South Australia is so popular. But you need not go that far, as you can get onto the beach just over the South Australian border. Or you can try a bit of desert driving in the Little Desert or Wyperfeld, but that’s nothing like as difficult as soft beaches.

For 20 detailed trek notes including waypoints, maps, directions and commentary grab a copy of Robert Pepper’s book 4WD Treks Close to Melbourne. www.4wdmelbourne.com

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THE

ULTIMATE NISSA

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AN ADVENTURE GIVEAWAY THE PRIZE POOL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 X Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis ST. ARB 4X4 Accessories and installation 1 X Cub Camper Spacematic Drover 1 X Metalink GX Canopy.

2 X Recaro Expert M seats 1 X Nomad 3.5 Metre V Nose Punt.

1 X Redarc 108W Solar Blanket 1 X Yamaha EF2000is Generator 9 X Cooper ST Maxx tyres 9 X ATX Ledge Teflon-coated wheels Old Man Emu Suspension Warn Zeon 10-S Winch GME UHF Radio and Antenna 2X Maxtrax Hema HN7 Outback Touring Solutions drawers Out Of Town Longranger tank Century Batteries Wurton LED light bar Redarc BCDC & Towpro Enmach Industries PolyRV water tank Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures Pack

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GADGETO

SPRING SURV

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OGRAPHY

VIVAL GUIDE

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This spring, we’re taking a look at some of th Once you get your hands on this stuff, yo

GET HYDRATED

LIFESAVER BOTTLE

People seem to joke at the idea of bringing a water purifier with them, but the hard facts are that each year, more than 100 million people die from waterrelated illness. Through the use of ultra-filtrate membranes and an activated carbon filter, the LIFESAVER bottle keeps you safe from 99.99999% of nasty water-borne organisms. $230 livesaverbottleaus.com

OPPOSITE LOCK 40L FOOTWELL WATER TANK

Water is one of the heaviest things we carry with us, and the simple fact is that we need a lot of it to survive. This water tank from Opposite Lock carries 40L of water in the unused space of your rear footwell, keeping the weight – and your centre of gravity – down low. It’s perfect if you have kids that don’t need the leg room. $195 oppositelock.com.au

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he latest and greatest 4X4 gear we could find. ou won’t know how to survive without it!

STAY CONNECTED

JETBOIL FLASH

IRIDIUM GO!

$179 jetboil.com

$875 iridium.com

Boiling water is the old-fashioned way to make sure it doesn’t kill you. The Jetboil is the newschool way of doing it quickly in the outdoors.

The Flash will bring a litre of water to a full boil in about two minutes, and it’ll make you coffee, soup, and noodles. Anything that’ll fit inside, it’ll cook.

I’ve always thought that the point of driving far, far away from people was to get away from people. The Go! from satellite pioneer Iridium brings data connection to places that probably shouldn’t have it, which is a seriously impressive feat. We featured this great bit of kit in Unsealed 001, but it still didn’t have a price back then.

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STAY CONNECTED

ORICOM UHF300 5 WATT UHF CB RADIO

Oricom’s UHF300 Micro is … micro, which means it’s super easy to install in your vehicle. This radio might be small, but it’s certainly not light on performance and features. The seven-colour LCD display is reversible to give you more mounting options, and the die cast metal chassis with an integrated heat sink means you’ll consistently get the highest possible output power.

HIGH SPEED, LOW DRAG

NEMO HELIO SHOWER

Weighing in at only 750 grams, the Helio Shower from Nemo Equipment is the lightest camp shower on the market. It holds 11L of solar-heated water that’s pressurised by a lightweight foot pump.

It’s also perfect for washing dishes in camp, or watering plants at home. $149 nemoequipment.com

$199 oricom.com.au

SNOW PEAK TITANIUM CAFE PRESS

Just because you’re in the middle of the bush doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a good cup of coffee. Stop settling for something that sucks, throw out the instant coffee and pick up Snow Peak’s Titanium Cafe Press. It’s durable, good looking, and makes a fantastic French press coffee in parts unknown. $79 drifta.com.au

SPRING SURVIVAL GUIDE

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STAY SPEED, HIGH CONNECTED LOW DRAG

“The Hoffy stores away into itself for portability and convenience.

PLAY VIDEO The Hoffy is the perfect outdoor cooking equipment. It has a Compact and Stylish Design and is made of Quality Materials that are not only Tough but Easy to clean as well. Comes with a pot, kettle and frying pan, all assembled in one sturdy carry bag.

For more info & to purchase please contact us

SEA TO SUMMIT SLEEPING MATS

No matter what sleeping mat you choose from Sea To Summit, you won’t be losing out. And with the heaviest weighing in at just 1015 grams, you won’t exactly be weighing down your 4X4 either. The mats feature innovative Air Sprung Cells™ that function in the same way coil spring mattresses do, allowing it to conform to your unique body shape.

Launching this October, price to be announced. seatosummit.com.au

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HIGH SHELTER SPEED, LOW DRAG

JAMES BAROUD GRAND RAID EVOLUTION

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the James Baroud Grand Raid Evolution is the Rolls-Royce of rooftop tents. It has a ventilation fan that’s solar powered, a rechargeable LED lighting system, the option of thermal insulation for colder areas, and plenty of storage options. Needless to say, they’re also quite comfortable and well shielded from the elements. $4800 jamesbaroud.com.au

OUTDOOR RESEARCH BUG BIVY

Looking to keep the bugs off of you and the night sky in full view? Not too worried about getting rained on? The aptly-named Bug Bivy from Outdoor Research is designed to be a lightweight, easy-to-set-up solution for you. Amenities are slim, but it does have a waterproof floor to prevent the wet ground from soaking you in the middle of the night. At 454g, it’s seriously lightweight. $149 outdoorresearch.com

DARCHE AIR-VOLUTION SWAG

A swag held up by high-pressure air poles is a bit excessive, but completely and utterly awesome. It’s not a gimmick either; it actually works. Just use the included hand pump and in less than 10 seconds you’re ready to go. Plenty of ventilation keeps you cool when it’s warm, and heavy-duty 400gsm proofed poly/cotton ripstop canvas keeps you dry when it’s pouring rain. Without question, this is one of the coolest swags we’ve seen to date. $499 darche.com.au

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MINING TH

THIS NEW FORD RANGER HAS BEEN TOUGHENED BUT WILL PUT A SMILE ON THE FAC

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HE MARKET

D UP SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RESOURCES SECTOR, CE OF WEEKEND WARRIORS AS WELL

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ck Ba r u olo 7C

Oricom’s range of hand-held, in-vehicle UHF CB Radios and accessories are recognised in the market as high quality products priced for every day use.

Available from leading 4WD, automotive and communication specialists.

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y pla s i lit D

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There’s no denying that the Ford Ranger has already developed a strong following. Its sales figures have powered past Nissan and Mitsubishi pick-ups and are threatening to bump the benchmark HiLux off its “King of the Mountain” perch, further closing the gap by 1000 units so far in 2014.

Not prepared to just rest on its laurels, the Ford Ranger is set to further broaden its appeal with the arrival of the 4x4 XL Plus – a vehicle purpose-built to attract attention from cashed-up mining companies.

Making its debut at the 2014 Mining and Engineering Expo in Western Australia, the XL Plus meets five-star ANCAP safety rating requirements – an important aspect for selling into the mining sector (and kind of nice for Average Joe and his family, too).

Based upon the popular XL, the Plus is geared toward the specific needs of large fleet purchasers in the commercial and mining fields. Standard features include the potent 3.2-litre TDCi I5 diesel engine coupled to a sixspeed auto with locking rear differential when things get slippery. Add in a hefty 3500kg towing capacity and this is a no-nonsense workhorse.

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A key design feature with the XL Plus is an expanded wiring harness complete with additional pre-wired electrical circuits and auxiliary switch bezel to accommodate easier installation of electrical equipment such as light bars, driving lights and radios. This greatly simplifies life for aftermarket accessory installers by standardising fitment and reduces the servicing complexity for ongoing maintenance or repairs.

There’s also a list of practical features on offer such as no-fuss molded black bumper bars and proper 17-inch steel wheels with realistic all-terrain tyres.

Canvas seat covers help keep grubby overalls, mud and dirt at bay without affecting the seat-mounted airbags.

There’s even an additional 80 amp hour deep-cycle battery with isolator to power those must-have extra items, and keep the main battery ready for starting duties. For added safety and greater visibility on site there’s day-time running lights, with running boards (double cab only) to make constantly getting in and out easier.

The optional steel bull bar genuinely provides solid protection against animal strike but, importantly, it still

retains compliance with the five-star ANCAP safety rating. The bar has been specifically designed with commercial applications in mind, providing mounting points for driving lights, antennas and high-visibility safety flags.

All of the 4x4 XL Plus models are compatible with the existing range of genuine Ford accessories.

The new features in the Ranger 4x4 XL Plus came about from Ford’s aspiration to broaden sales in the lucrative commercial sector. But weekend warriors are sure to be pleased by those same functionality upgrades.

Ford vice-president of marketing, sales and service, Graeme Whickman, said: “The fact that Ranger was designed and engineered in Australia means it has proven capability in our harsh conditions; something that our customers recognise.”

The Manufacturer’s List Price ranges from $46,280 for the XL Plus Single Cab Chassis to $52,760 for Double Cab Pick-Up with the optional steel bull bar $1800 including GST. Words: Ray Cully

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THE G TO DOCAPE Y

YOU N

For many four-wheel drive enthusiasts, Cape York is the trip of a lifetime.

Whether you are heading up the Old Telegraph Track, going for a cruise on the Peninsula Development Road, or intent on exploring those little sidetracks to parts unknown‚ it’s important to have the right gear. While there’s plenty of room for fun and enjoyment up the Cape, there’s also little room for error. It’s isolated, so invest in quality products.

SIMPLE ADVICE FOR THE CAPE:

1 Pack only what you need.

Less weight means better performance and fuel economy.

2 Give your vehicle a thorough check before you leave and replace anything that is suspect.

3 Carry spare oil and fluids.

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GEAR YORK

NEED

FRESH FROM A THREE-WEEK TRIP TO THE TIP, UNSEALED 4X4’S MATT SCOTT TAKES US THROUGH THE GEAR HE USED

COOPER DISCOVERER S/T MAXX TYRES

Whether you’re commuting to work or exploring the bush, a quality set of tyres is one of the most important upgrades you can make to your 4X4.

If you’re not sure where you are going on the Cape, or exactly what conditions you’ll encounter, you’re going to want a tyre that’ll handle almost anything you throw at it. We used Cooper’s Discoverer S/T MAXX, as it is a proven choice and a great all-round tyre.

Its medium-void tread pattern is aggressive enough to handle the muddy bits and has enough surface area to float above the sand, yet also provides plenty of traction on bitumen.

MAXTRAX

Cape York is filled with soft sand, muddy tracks, and slippery creek crossings.

So there’s a good chance you’re either going to get stuck, or you’ll need a little help to make sure you don’t get stuck.

MAXTRAX lift you up and out of the dirty bits and keep you moving forward.

They’re tough, and almost anyone can use them – another important feature if it’s just you and the family (who might not be trained on more complex recovery equipment). They make quick work of beach recoveries, and if you’re on the Telegraph Track, they’ll make getting up some of the steeper creek crossings a piece of cake. $299, maxtrax.com.au

Price varies by size, coopertires.com.au

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MSA WATER BRA This keeps as much water as possible out of your vehicle’s vulnerable engine compartment by creating a water barrier that takes less than 10 seconds to fit. Constructed from 420 denier PVC-backed nylon, it’s designed to put up with the repeated abuse your 4X4 will put it through. It also helps to create a better bow wave, reducing the level of water your vehicle actually drives through. For those tricky water crossings in Cape York, this could mean the difference between a big tow bill and continued adventures. $149, msa4x4.com.au

DON’T FORGET TO CALL HOME

Mobile service isn’t brilliant in Cape York – and that’s great! But if you absolutely must make a call, then you’ll want to look into a satellite phone. We used a phone on Thuraya’s network, which covers Australia in its entirety, and had great service throughout Cape York.

OVERLOADING YOUR SUSPENSION IS BAD NEWS

On your trip up the Cape, you’ll see long distances on shock-killing corrugated roads with spring-sagging heavy loads, and muddy technical terrain thrown in for good measure. On our trip, we had quite a few vehicles in our group with suspension setups ranging from Terrain Tamer to TJM to Old Man Emu, and we experienced no failures. However, even the best suspension systems will fail if they are improperly selected or overloaded. If you carry a heavy-duty load, make sure you have a heavy-duty system. Fit airbags if your load requires it.

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Because you’ve heroically chosen to download your copy of Unsealed 4X4, you can’t see what’s on this page. But trust us - it’s well worth looking at. To see it in all its glory go to unsealed4X4.com.au

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SOMETIMES YOU STILL NEED A PAPER MAP

Even though our main form of navigation in Cape York was HEMA’s suite of digital map apps for the iPad, there was something special about their paper map for the region. Not only did it prove to be a great souvenir, it was also incredibly handy for when you’re out of the car, trying to figure out which of the stunning sights you’d like to visit next. Passing an iPad around the campfire just isn’t the same. $15, hemamaps.com.au

UNDERWATER LIGHTING

There’s a good chance your headlights and auxiliary lights will come back from Cape York filled with water and looking like fishbowls. That’s because most lights are water-resistant, not waterproof. If you’re buying lights before your trip up the Cape, you’ll want to make sure they’re rated to be submerged.

DON’T DROWN YOUR DIFFERENTIALS

If you drown your diffs in water, your oil will break down rapidly and your ring and pinion gears won’t have the lubrication they need to work. Fitting diff breathers relocates your important factory differential vents to a higher location that’s less likely to get flooded during a creek crossing.

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YOUR ENGINE NEEDS AIR

Your engine doesn’t like to run on water.

In fact, it hates it. If you’re trying to drive through a deep water crossing without a snorkel, you’ll almost be sure to hydro-lock your engine, rendering it as useful as a boat anchor. There are several options on the market, and you’ll want a quality unit as almost all of them require the cringe-worthy task of drilling into your bodywork. Look for UV-stable materials, quality engineering, and durable construction.

TAKE YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU Cape York is not your personal rubbish bin. If you use it as one, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will make you clean up your mess. Or you can just get a spare tyre rubbish bag and carry your junk out with you. They’re cheap, easy to use, and they keep those nasty smelling bits out of your vehicle’s interior. There’s dozens of them on the market. Find one that suits you and use it.

ENJOYING A DRINK You can have a good time on the Cape, but it’s important to recognise that most of the area is under some form of alcohol restriction. Generally speaking, you’re okay to have a reasonable amount of alcohol for personal consumption, but read the signs and stipulations for each area.

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OUTBACK GOURMET

BERRY DELICIOUS PUDDING A DISH THAT EVEN MIXES ITSELF, SAYS JO CLEWS

This is a simple recipe that has just come my way, and after a number of road tests and no failures I am happy to say it will be a family favourite for many camping trips to come.

You may peek occasionally to check on the pudding’s progress, though it should take about 25-30 minutes to cook to perfection.

In the last 5-10 minutes, scrape I have cooked my pudding in a the coals to the centre of the lid small cast iron camp oven, although to brown the top so it is golden it will work if cooked in a baking and crunchy. dish inside a large camp oven, Serve with a drizzle of cream, caravan or home oven. a scoop of ice cream or a dollop METHOD Place berries evenly over of double cream or vanilla yoghurt, the base of the camp oven, sprinkle and enjoy! cake mix over the berries then pour HINTS lemonade over the top of the cake mix and berries.

• For more sauce use a 600ml bottle of lemonade

There is no need to mix it as the cake mix will froth up with the lemonade and mix together of its own accord.

• Other flavoured cake mixes can be used

Place the lid on the camp oven and transfer it to the cooking coals.

• Home brand cake mix is all that’s required

Arrange a small amount of coals, equivalent to six heat beads, under a low rack that the camp oven will sit on.

• Two cans of berries can substitute for the frozen ones

Put the camp oven on the rack and add a ring of coals, heat beads or bagged charcoal around the lip of the lid.

• Other canned fruit works beautifully as well • Have fun experimenting

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INGREDIENTS » 1X 375ml can of plain lemonade » 1X 500g bag of frozen mixed berries » 1X sachet of vanilla cake mix » 1X small camp oven » Coals, heat beads or charcoal ready to cook with

ENGELAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

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REVIEW | CUB SUPA

TIGER

IT HELPS TO BE AT THE T

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CUB

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AMATIC ESCAPE XTD

R CUB

TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN

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CUB

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YOU’RE IN SAFE HANDS. TERRAIN TAMER suspension has been proudly designed, modified and manufactured by a team with decades of engineering experience.

When tailoring a suspension kit to suit your needs, you can be assured all that experience is built in.

Talk fluent 4WD with us on 1300 888 444 or visit us at terraintamer.com/suspension

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Making the transition from tent to camper trailer was a no-brainer.

Twenty years camping with tents, tarps, stretchers, sleeping bags, gas cookers and of course the old Esky full of ice meant our set-up time often felt like half our holiday was gone before it started.

Our penchant for extended touring drove the desire to have less time setting up and more time enjoying the tranquil surroundings we began finding ourselves in more and more.

However, the decision on the type of camper was never going to be easy.

In fact, the more we looked, the more daunting that prospect seemed to be.

We knew we wanted a camper trailer

that we could take off road. We thought we wanted a hard floor camper – just because! Then came the camping show … and confusion reigned.

Many months and many shows later, we settled on our list of camper trailer requirements which finally led us into the showrooms of Cub Campers and before long, a new Tiger Cub was born.

Since 2010, our camper trailer has travelled the length and breadth (well, almost) of the country. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the gear we had built into our Cub Camper, as well as some extra camping gear that keeps us comfy on the road and ensures we’re set up in next to no time.

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Cub Supamatic Escape Camper Trailer We chose the Supamatic Escape model, which we then optioned up with a number of Cub’s accessories.

Starting from the bottom up and wanting good off-road capability, we opted for a galvanised chassis and independent coil and shock absorber suspension. We also matched the wheels to the Prado – a decision that effectively gave us two spares in case of a puncture to the camper or the vehicle. We then added an 80-litre water tank, which was an upgrade from the standard 60-litre.

Inside the camper is pretty standard with a queen-size bed and loads of under-bed storage. The only downside is the need to have the camper open to access the underbed storage, but an optional extra is a right-hand side access door – something I regret not adding to my original camper spec. We then added a deep-cycle battery to ensure we could be as self-sufficient as possible, powering the LED lights and the fridge.

roll-out stainless-steel pantry, which carries all of our condiments for selfsufficient culinary excellence. We left the awning standard to ensure we have the quickest set-up possible.

Up the front is two 4kg gas bottles, two jerry can holders and an upgraded stainless-steel checkerplate fridge box which carries the fridge on the left-hand side with a huge storage area on the right for tools and spares. The Trigg off-road hitch mounted to the drawbar gives plenty of articulation for tight off-road adventure, and the Cub stone guard was also added to deflect the little stone missiles kicked back from the vehicle when off-road.

With our kids generally sleeping external to the camper in swags, this gives us plenty of room inside and out. Occasionally on a wet night they might return to the nest, but it’s an easy set-up for the three kids on the hard-floor section of the Cub.

For a family of five, we’ve found our little Supamatic ‘Tiger Cub’ to be On the outside, we had the standard terrific value for money and a really stainless steel roll-out kitchen with well built, fast getaway camper which sink and two-burner stove and we enables us to take off for a short optioned that up with the side-by-side weekend or month with ease.

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ARB 47L FRIDGE

It fits perfectly into the Cub fridge box and slides in and out with millimetres to spare.

Frozen and vacuumsealed meats will keep for weeks with the fridge set at 2C, which we find optimum for keeping our food and drinks cool without draining the battery too quickly.

CAMP OVEN

As I’ve mentioned a few times, camp oven cooking seems to add an extra ‘secret’ ingredient that can’t be replicated in other forms of cooking.

Whether it’s curries, scones, roast dinners or dampers, learn to use a camp oven and you’ll never leave home without it.

OZPIG

A terrific little Aussie invention originally built from old gas bottles, our OzPig has seen some pretty amazing country, cooked some spectacular meals and kept us warm on cold nights. You can use it with timber or an optional heat bead basket. This is one of my favourite bits of camping gear.

CHAIRS

After many years in the cheap and cheerful $12 chairs from the local hardware store, we’ve recently picked up a few slightly more comfortable and robust Oztent Goanna chairs.

Quite simply, they’re just comfy when falling asleep around the camp fire at night.

HILLBILLY COOK STAND AND LARGE FRYPAN

There’s nothing better than food cooked over an open fire, and again one of the best little Aussie inventions is my ‘spike’ cook stand and frypan from Hillbilly Camping Gear. The stand can hold a billy, a camp oven or the frypan and cooks a terrific bacon and egg breakfast.

LIFETIME TABLE

With bench seats that click into the underside of the table, this little setup offers a flat, lightweight and sturdy table which is quick to pack up and lies flat in the under-bed storage of the camper.

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SEA TO SUMMIT X PLATES AND BOWLS

ROMAN SWAGS

Getting the kids into swags from an early age gave us plenty of flexibility in deciding on a camper trailer.

Packing neatly is always But more importantly, a challenge, but these folding plates and bowls the kids now love them mean we can easily stack and they’re able to set themselves up in some five of each under the sink in the camper. Made pretty damn cool camping spots. We use a couple of from food-grade nylon different Roman Swags and silicone, they’re and my eldest boy Connor another terrific little reckons he’s spent over Aussie invention from five months sleeping Sea to Summit. in his and it’s still going strong – not bad at 15.

SLEEPING BAGS

Rolled up inside the kids’ swags are Roman sleeping bags. With a comfort rating of -5C and in the cocoon of the swags, these sleeping bags have kept the kids toasty on many a winter’s night.

Words and images: Unsealed 4X4’s Tim Stanners

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MR 4x4 PAT CALLINAN

PAUL WORSTELING FROM IFISH (ADELAIDE ONLY)

JASON ANDREWS FROM ALL 4 ADVENTURE

WIN AN ENGEL! Enter at the stand for your chance to win a 40 litre Engel fridge-freezer!

ROOTHY (PERTH ONLY)

*See website for details

TERRAIN TAMER’S ALLAN GRAY

www.4wdshow.com.au @4wdAdventure

@4wdAdventureShows

Find us on facebook!

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ON THIS MONTH!

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SYDNEY

17-19 OCTOBER 2014

Western Sydney International Dragway, Eastern Creek NSW The Sydney 4WD and Adventure Show is the most interactive 4WD Show in Australia, and in 2014 it gets even bigger! The Show will feature more exhibitors than ever before with new and exciting displays, plus heaps of special guests, new fishing stage, Extreme 4x4 Show and heaps for the family to enjoy. Don’t miss it!

ADELAIDE

24-26 OCTOBER 2014 Adelaide Showground SA

The Adelaide 4WD and Adventure Show is presented with the Club Marine SA Boat and Fishing Show, two shows in one! All the best products for camping, 4wdriving, new vehicles and accessories; plus fishing gear, new boats and more! Special guests include Pat Callinan and Paul Worsteling. Make sure you bring the family!

COMING NEXT MONTH!

PERTH

7-9 NOVEMBER 2014 McCallum Park, Victoria Park WA

LANDROVER TERRAPOD (SYDNEY ONLY)

ISUZU TEAM D-MAX

TUFF TRUCK CHALLENGE

4WD TEST TRACK

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WATCH

A GUIDE TO OUTDOOR A TIMEP

Suunto Ambit 3

A full-function GPS computer on your wrist.

The just-released Suunto Ambit 3 takes outdoor performance watches to the next-level.

Capable of recording your tracks, heart rate, elevation, speed and more. It’s just as perfect for 4X4 touring as it is for trail running or mountaineering. It’ll also pair with your smartphone. $TBA suunto.com/en-AU/

TomTom MultiSport GPS Watch

Runners, cyclists, and swimmers rejoice. The TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch brings you the statistics you want to know right to your wrist. It features a highresolution, easy-to-use interface that’s great for those on the go. It also includes a bike mount and a desk dock. $249 tomtom.com/en_au/

SMA

Remember the good-o just told you what tim watch doesn’t check y you a latté while do

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H THIS

O 15 GREAT ADVENTURE PIECES

Timex Ironman One GPS Watch

ART:

old-days when watches me it was? Now if your your email and order oing it, it’s old news.

Samsung Gear 2 Smart Watch

The Samsung Gear 2 gives you the power to make and receive calls, check your email, and even take a picture. The built-in heart rate monitor is a plus for active people, and the ability to sync with apps on your Galaxy smartphone gives the watch massive room to expand. $369 samsung.com.au

The just-released Ironman One GPS Watch from Timex has a built-in cellular data connection, so it doesn’t require a tethered cell phone to work. It’s also waterproof, Bluetoothequipped, and has a GPS to measure speed and distance. As it is brand-new, we’re still waiting to hear if it’ll be available in Australia. $TBA timex.com/one

Garmin Fenix 2 The Garmin Fenix 2 is the do-it-all GPS watch that has more features than we could possibly hope to list. Waterproof to 50m, it’s capable of creating a “bread crumb trail” that’ll give you all the information you need to get home – or download to Garmin’s BaseCamp software so you can repeat the track later. $499 garmin.com/en-AU/

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FACTORY & S SPECIALDS SECON

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CLASSIC LUXURY:

They’re iconic, they’re luxurious, they’re seriously proven, and they’re all made in Switzerland – just don’t ask how much they cost.

Omega Speedmaster

The first watch worn on the Moon and choice of astronauts, pilots, and others who depend on accurate performance in extreme conditions. In production since 1957, the Omega Speedmaster sets the standard for exploration to parts unknown. It’s the only watch certified for spacewalks, so it should prove sufficient for your jaunt through the bush.

Rolex Submariner

For an adventurer exploring the depths of the deep blue ocean, there is only one watch that will suffice, the iconic Rolex Submariner.

Capable of diving to 300m, the simple reality is that this watch is more capable at diving than you are. It’s a Rolex – the name and quality speak for themselves.

Breitling Emergency II

The Emergency II from Breitling is perfect if you’re looking for the modern-day equivalent of a secret spy watch.

With a built-in COSPAS-SARSAT radio and satellite emergency beacon, no matter where you are in the world someone will be able to find you. It’s all housed in a virtually indestructible titanium housing that’s covered in sapphire crystal.

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ACTIVE:

Looking for a watch that’s dedicated to your outdoor lifestyle? We take a quick look at some of the coolest watches for catching a wave or taking a quick run.

Freestyle Killer Shark Tide

The Killer Shark Tide from Freestyle gives you the information you need to get out there and hit the waves. In addition to telling the time, it gives you sunrise and sunset times along with tide tables for over 150 of the most popular beaches around the world. $140 freestyleusa.com

Soleus GPS Fit

Looking for an affordable, simple watch that tells the time and happens to track your pace and distance by GPS? The Soleus GPS Fit is your solution. The “bare-bones” watch has a four-button user interface that’s easy to use, and includes a cable for downloading your training data. $150 soleusrunning.com.au

Rip Curl SearchGPS Watch

Every other sport has a performance tracker watch, so why not surfing? Rip Curl’s SearchGPS watch records your wave count, distance traveled, top speed, and GPS location so you can upload it to the iOS App later via Bluetooth for viewing. It even gives you access-topoint tide data. $499 ripcurl.com/searchgps

IT MIGHT NOT BE THE FANCIEST, BUT THE G-SHOCK HAS A HABIT OF ALWAYS WORKING

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SIMPLE AND DURABLE:

Sometimes you don’t need a high-tech smart watch, you need a good-looking workhorse watch that won’t complain when it gets run over by a LandCruiser.

Timex Expedition Military Field

Styled after World War II aviation equipment, the simple Timex Expedition Military Field watch is perfect for the minimalist that demands serious performance and classic looks. It’s waterproof to 100m and has a reputation for being able to survive a serious beating without issue. $139 timex.com.au

Casio G-Shock

It might not be the fanciest, but the G-Shock has a habit of always working, and that’s earned it a reputation you can’t put a price tag on. These days, there are more models and colours than you could know what to do with, and most still have the G-Shock’s legendary 10year battery life.

Starting at $159 gshock.shriro.com.au

Traser H3 P6600 Shade

Durable, simple, and understated. The Traser H3 Shade is the choice for professionals who need an accurate, easy-to-read watch that’ll handle extreme environments without complaint. It’s manufactured in Switzerland with Traser’s own seriously bright trigalite® illumination and it’s also waterproof to about 200m. I’ve been wearing mine without issue for three years. $320 traserh3watches.com

Luminox Navy SEAL 3000 Series Luminox built their brand on the fact that their watches were so tough that they were issued to the US Navy SEALs. They continue this with their 3000 Series watch, which is Swiss-made and features a battery life of 60 months with dial illumination that’ll last a solid 25 years. $300+ luminox.com

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DIRTY

THE UNSEALED GUID

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Y FUN

DE TO MUD DRIVING

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There’s not much precision about mud driving. When the track turns to slop, you and your two-tonne four-wheel drive are often at the mercy of the track. But I can’t remember ever having as much fun as I’ve had in the mud.

Yet over the past few decades, we’ve garnered a new respect for the environment that often means we have to be a little selective about where we have our fun, and on what sort of tracks. Mud often means that the track might be subject to erosion and degradation. If that’s the case, after rain the run-off water might silt up our rivers and streams.

And of course, we don’t just go charging off tracks in search of the biggest mud hole anymore. The fourwheel driver’s doctrine is to never leave a track in worse shape than when we arrived. This is especially the case for outback roads, where the tracks aren’t just there for our fun, they’re there for the locals who rely on them. If we drive through ripping up these roads, we’re harming the good name of four-wheel drivers everywhere. Not to mention if you drive on roads that are closed, you could be up for hefty fines.

Often enough, though, mud is just part of the journey of going from A to B. You can’t always predict it, and you can’t always avoid it or turn back. So, you might as well know how to drive it!

THE PREPARATION

One of the best forms of preparation you can do is to invest in a set of allterrain or mud-terrain tyres. These tyres feature a more open, blocky tread that is designed to self-clean in the mud.

Your mud-terrain tread is traditionally the more aggressive tread, which is also considerably noisier on-road, while the all-terrain tread is quieter and has a more closed tread. If you’re an occasional weekend warrior, the all-terrain tread is the best option, as it offers a good balance of on- and offroad ability.

Whereas the mud terrain offers buckets more grip off-road, its noise and handling characteristics onroad suffer as a result. And while manufacturers are doing a great job of making mud-terrain tyres quieter, you still can’t have it both ways.

One other side benefit of all-terrain and mud-terrain tyres over your standard highway tyres is that they are generally of a more robust construction. Hence, they’re also more puncture resistant, and will be far better suited to those long outback sojourns.

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MUD DRIVING BASICS • Engage traction aids • Keep up momentum • Stick to wheel tracks/wheel ruts • Abide by road closure signs • Adhere to low-impact driving techniques

Now that you know what tyres you want, you’ll want to know what pressures to run. Like most other serious low-range conditions, deflation is the way to go. Around 20psi is a good place to start, but again, it’s up to you to calculate the best tyre pressure based on your vehicle weight and tyre size.

If there’s one thing that always seems to be lacking in the mud, it’s traction. So, before you go wading into the slippery stuff, engage every traction aid you can get your hands on. For those with selectable diff locks, reserve your front diff lock until you really need it as your steering will be affected.

THE DRIVE

The trick to successful mud driving all comes down to good throttle control.

Accelerate too hard, and you’ll go nowhere – simply spitting plumes of mud into the air. Go too easy, and you will stop wherever the traction stops.

As they say, practice makes perfect, and you’ll soon work out which technique gets you the furthest.

Momentum is also your friend in the mud, but it does need to be measured.

You want enough momentum to drag you through boggy bits of track, but not too much so that you slide off the track.

Particularly on outback dirt roads, if you carry too much momentum your vehicle can quite easily spin 180 degrees or more. If you’re going too fast and this happens, you could end up in the weeds by the side of the road.

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If you start to head in the wrong direction, keep your wheels pointed in the correct direction all the time.

Experienced drivers might like to try and give a few blips on the accelerator to get the 4X4 back in line, and while this can work, it doesn’t always. It really depends on the road surface at the time.

On bush tracks, staying on the track is usually the rule of thumb. If there are wheel ruts, stick in them and you’ll never stray off the track.The ruts work like rail lines to keep your 4X4 in check. Sure, the road might be (and often is) a lot bumpier in the ruts, but it’s invariably where the best traction lies.

The moment you decide to head off the track is the moment you’re in trouble.

Usually the track surface is the best in the middle, so while it might look like it’s filled with sloppy puddles, there is usually some kind of road base under there to firm up the track and make it drivable. Off the track often looks better, but rarely is. On many occasions, I’ve come across vehicles stranded off the side of tracks “because it looked better over there”. It never is!

It’s important in mud that as soon as you lose forward momentum, you must immediately stop spinning your wheels. Many a minor bogging has turned into a major recovery because the driver tried to rev their way out of trouble. This not only chews up the track, but it also digs your 4X4 deeper into the bog.

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COMMON MISTAKES

• Driving off the track • Trekking onto muddy salt pans • Too much momentum and spearing off the track

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Okay, so what do you do if you succumb to the almighty bog? After you’ve tried the obvious (backing up and trying again), the best bet is usually a gentle tug with a snatch strap. This will free most light-duty boggings. I should emphasise here that a ‘gentle tug’ means just that. Often if a 4X4 ‘bellies out’ in mud, it can turn into a massive suction cup. Hence, the vehicle might be two tonnes, but if the suction takes effect on flat surfaces like fuel tanks, it can turn your 4X4 into a four to six-tonne load. So you see why I caution against pulling like buggery with a snatch strap!

If you do look stuck hard, it’s time to grab the long-handled shovel and start to dig out underneath your vehicle. Your other option is to jack the vehicle up with an airbag jack (great for mud) or a high-lift jack. Once your vehicle is elevated, you can simply pack underneath the tyres with fallen timber and drive on out. A winch is another good option, but if the load looks very heavy, still clear out underneath your rig to lessen the load. And a snatch block will also help you along by halving the load on the winch.

MUDS AIN’T MUDS

There are lots of different surfaces around Australia, plenty of which constitute mud when a little water is added. There is clay, which is not unlike driving on grease. It’s usually quite firm, so you’re unlikely to get completely bogged, but your control will be minimal. A good example of clay is on the CREB track out the back of the Daintree Rainforest.

Then there is black soil. When this stuff gets wet, it often seems like a bottomless pit of despair. It’s a seriously low traction

surface, but worse than that, it’s a surface that seems to often have no base, so your 4X4 can bog down very easily. If you’re in a high-clearance 4X4 you’ll have fewer problems ‘bellying out’ on the crown of the track, but low-clearance 4X4s should get out while they can.

Another seemingly unlikely place for mud to form is underneath crusty salty lakes in the interior of Australia. While they look like a dry and perfectly solid surface, drive onto some of these and you’ll rapidly sink into a black, tar-like substance that’s almost impossible to get out of. If you intend on crossing salt pans, only do this on well-used tracks – never go and make your own.

AFTER THE STORM

After you’ve been doing a heap of mud plugging, it’s not unusual to jump back on the highway and feel some major shudders and vibrations go through your 4X4. Often it’s simply caused by a heap of mud getting caught up in your wheel rims and throwing your tyres out of balance.

Once you’ve cleaned the offending mud away, you’ll be back to smooth sailing.

Incidentally, if your mud plugging has been quite vigorous, you could find your engine overheating. If this is the case, mud has probably blocked the fins in your radiator, blocking the airflow. Once you’ve cleaned out your radiator, you’ll be all set to roll.

It’s easy to forget that dirt and mud naturally contain traces of salt. So, after you’ve had your fun, give your 4X4 a good bath – preferably with a detergent that features anti-rust agents.

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ECOTIPS

In years gone by, if you were heading for the mud, you would throw in the tyre chains for some extra traction. Now it’s acknowledged that there are better, lowerimpact ways of getting out of trouble.

Differential locks and winches both serve much the same purpose, but their impact on the environment is far less. So, leave the chains at home, or only use them if it’s a serious emergency and you can’t get out any other way.

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UNSEALED PROJE LJ80

YES, IT IS THIS TINY SUZUKI

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D GARAGE ECT X

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Did you know that Australia is in the grips of an obesity epidemic? And the 4X4 community is not immune. I’m not just talking about the shocking body mass index of some large four-wheel drivers here. I’m talking about the size of their vehicles – and the price tags they come with.

They just keep getting fatter and fatter and fatter. It’s not a good look, it’s downright unhealthy for the planet and your bank balance and here at Unsealed 4X4 we’re doing something about it with our little no-frills, two-door, two-seater Suzuki built in 1981 (and also known as the Stockman in Australia).

We want to show that you can buy an older, smaller vehicle for very little money, trick it up with the right accessories and have just as much fun as those who have bought a brand new LandCruiser (for more than $100,000) and are towing a camper trailer that didn’t cost much less.

What did we get for our money? We got a vehicle with charm, history, personality and potential. We got a vehicle that feels massively underpowered in this day and age thanks to its four-cylinder 800cc engine.

It has a four-speed gearbox, drum brakes, and no power steering. There’s It was purchased (for $3000*) in the rust and the seats and suspension hope of proving a point – you don’t have deliver a ride that’s jackhammer-like. to spend a fortune on a huge, modern There’s wiring dangling about the place.

4X4 to have great unsealed adventures.

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We also got a vehicle that weighs just 750kg, compared to the new Nissan Patrol V8, which weighs in – unacessorised – at more than 2.5 tonnes.

The spare is still the original rim and tyre (and has a circumference quite a bit bigger than the other four tyres). Where the other original rims are I do not know.

There’s also some other mysterious stuff Ultimately we want to turn the Suzuki missing from our LJ. Gone are the heater, into a competent touring vehicle that the radio, the glovebox lid, the speakers can also cope with any rough stuff that in the doors, the support bracket that comes its way. I’d like it to be able to usually runs across the middle of the cross a desert and I’d like it to be able to interior roof, the support handles for carry my mountain bike and surfboard. the passenger and the bolts that are It’ll need a CB radio, roof rack, recovery supposed to hold the spare on the gear, a tool kit, a better storage system, outside of the back door and a better jack. It’ll need camping gear, storage for water and extra fuel, By the way, I’ve decided to name our and emergency spare parts. little 4X4 Banjo, after the patron saint of Unsealed 4X4 journos, Banjo Paterson.

But we need to be very smart about And ultimately I hope he’ll get taken to what we do to it. Everything needs to be some of the landscapes made famous ultra-lightweight and space-conscious. by his namesake. I’m thinking the High Country and Cooper Creek here.

And do we want to do restoration or preservation. Should we give the LJ a new coat of paint, or is it better left with its original spray job? Should we drop in a bigger engine for more grunt, or leave the original that’s there?

We’re after your help here. What do you think we should do to the Suzuki?

Email us

dan@unsealed4x4.com.au

Do you know a good mechanic who specialises in Suzukis? Can you recommend good places for spare parts?

What about good vehicle restorers?

Would any of our wonderful advertisers like to pitch in to give us a hand?

From what I can see, nothing new has been added to the vehicle except for new rims and tyres (and some very ugly patches of bog).

We’ll get to that once we’ve whipped Banjo into shape. Stay with us for the journey. * The bloke we purchased Banjo from was every bit as interesting as the vehicle. He was a Blue Mountains carpet layer, but boasted a BA majoring in ancient history. In (what was left of) the glovebox he had a copy of The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem first written in the now-dead Sumerian language several thousand years ago (That’s about as dated as the Suzuki feels!) He also informed me that having already learned ancient Greek, he was planning to have a crack at learning Sumerian. Who says four-wheel drivers aren’t also deep thinkers?

Words: Dan Lewis Photos: Brett Hemmings, Kirsten Broadley and Dan Lewis

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A GUIDE TO CATCHING

FLATHEAD

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CHARACTERISTICS There are numerous flathead species of significant importance to recreational anglers in Australian waters. The king of this ‘depressedhead’ clan is undoubtedly the dusky flathead. Also regionally popular are the sand flathead, tiger flathead, marbled flathead, rock flathead and blue spotted flathead.

Flathead are hugely popular due to their widespread abundance, uninhibited feeding habits and the fact that they are accessible to all anglers – either land-based or boating.

Dusky flathead have by far the largest growth potential of all the flathead species. They are reported to grow to almost 15kg and 1.2m in length.

While most commonly taken at under 1kg in weight, they are quite regularly encountered up to 5kg in NSW and southern Queensland estuarine waters.

The other flathead species mentioned have maximum growth of about 3kg, but again are more common up to about 1kg in size.

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WHERE TO FIND ‘EM Wherever you reside or travel in Australia you will find a flathead species, but the largest growing and most widely distributed is the dusky flathead. They can be found along the east coast of Australia from about Cairns in north Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. They reside mainly in estuaries and large coastal bays, but can be encountered in shallow coastal waters. They will range well upstream to fresh water at times.

Sand flathead are found from Wooli in northern NSW down the east coast and across the bottom of Australia to about Lancelin in WA. They range through Bass Strait and Tasmanian waters. Sandies inhabit shallow coastal areas seaward to about the 100m depth range and prefer similar bottom structure as dusky flathead.

When sandies venture into estuary systems it is usually only in the larger, more open systems.

Blue-spotted flathead can be found from Moreton Bay around the bottom half of the country to Kalbarri in Western Australia. Similarly to the sand flathead, this is a species that prefers offshore waters, however it may enter large open harbours or bays.

The tiger flathead is endemic to the waters of south-eastern Australia. It ranges from Coffs Harbour in NSW to Portland in Victoria, including Bass Strait and Tasmanian waters. They are predominantly an offshore species to be found in water depths from 10400m, but more commonly in water of half that maximum depth.

All flathead are bottom dwellers, generally living on sand, mud and gravel substrates.

They utilise their shape and colouration to ambush prey. Small fish make up the bulk of their food source, however they will eat a range of food items including molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms.

TACKLE REQUIREMENTS Flathead can be caught on a wide range of tackle from the humble handline to hi-tech fly gear. Probably the most popular tackle for estuary fishing for them would be light to medium weight spin (threadline) rod and reel combinations. Reels from 1000-2500 sizes loaded with 3-6kg line are perfect. Rods from 1.7-2m with soft tip sections are well suited.

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REVIEW | CU

YOUNG A GEN-Y 4X4: IT’S,

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USTOM HILUX

G GUN LIKE, #AWESOME!

CUSTOM

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NEXT GENERATION ENGEL IT’S A FREEZER! IT’S A FRIDGE!

The new MT45FCP Combi is part of the Next Generation digital range, which have all new features plus the same Engel reliability.

ANNOUNCING THE LATEST IN THE ENGEL FRIDGE FREEZER RANGE

THE NEW MT45FCP COMBI The new MT45FCP is a fridge and freezer in one and has different options for use!

Option 1 Freezer 16 litres and Fridge 23 litres. Total 39 litres

Option 2 Freezer 23 litres and Fridge 16 litres. Total 39 litres

Option 3 Refrigerator Only - User friendly LED Digital control, with built in (divider removed) battery protection Total 40 litres - The famous Sawafuji swing motor with only one moving part - Lowest maximum power draw - Rugged steel cabinet with LED interior light.

- Tri-voltage - Removable wire baskets and divider with easy clean interior.

- 3 year warranty and Australia wide service network

For stockists call 1300 302 653 or visit www.engelaustralia.com.au

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The first thing Matt did was to replace the standard rubber with Mudstar Radial 265/75R16s, ‘only cheapies’, but with a good, aggressive tread pattern.

“I’ve already gotten 50,000 kays out of them, and there’s still plenty of tread left.” (They’re made by Nankang, a Taiwanese company that exports all over the world, and has recently opened a factory in mainland China.)

BULLBAR

What does any Gen Y bloke (Matt just makes the classification) do when he wants a bullbar? Gets on the ’net, of course. He found Perth-based Offroad Back in the 1970s, people bought 4X4s Accessories, which makes the Xrox because they wanted to go four-wheel bar, sold by a variety of 4X4 outlets driving, not because they needed throughout Australia. It’s a stylish but something with seven seats to take the practical unit, coming with a bespoke kids to soccer, or haul a van around front bashplate. The bar supports a Australia. Now those people are old couple of Ironman spots, and a Narva timers, and no longer search for torture LED strip that really lights up the tracks purely for the driving challenge night. “You have to turn it off when and the sense of achievement when you’re coming towards road signs – they’re tackled successfully. They enjoy the reflection blinds you!” Matt says. tough stuff … when they need to get It also houses the aerial for a Uniden through it to see something memorable. UHF and a Mean Mother winch. “I saw But that old spirit of outdoor adventure them on display at the Lismore 4WD for its own sake is alive and well in the Show – looked alright and the price younger generation. Matt McGoulrick is was right.”

21, and this is his rig, modded for very practical reasons.

TYRES Retro man Matt bought his first 4X4 – a Rodeo – when he was 17, moving up to a HiLux just over a year later. The Lux had only 16,000 clicks on the odo, was stock standard, and had been used by Tenterfield Shire Council.

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SUSPENSION

North to Ballina to Auto & Performance to arrange a bit more under-body clearance. The Northern Rivers company used a Superior Engineering lift kit to get four more inches of height.

The system, which utilises heavy-duty springs, new top arms and Bilstein shocks, can be lowered if required by reseating the shocks. (Queensland engineering concern Superior Engineering works out of Burpengary and has earned an enviable rep for hardcore 4X4 product.)

a mangled heap on the high centre.

Replacement is a work in progress.

The Rock Armour side steps, however, emerged unscathed.

EXTERIOR

Apart from the bar work and attachments, the Hilux exterior is largely unadorned, save for a Safari snorkel and reversing LEDs mounted on the standard Toyota towbar. Inside the tray, however, are a couple of improvements Matt made himself, fashioning a bracket on one side

UNDERBODY PROTECTION

What underbody protection? It used to be there, full length, but dropping into some deep wheel ruts on a mate’s property then skulldragging for about 40 metres saw bash plates morph into smashed plates, lying in NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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Just twelve monthly doses of Unsealed 4X4 will cure you of the following common ailments: à Traffic congestionitis à Red Dirt Deficiency Disease (RDDS) à Transfer-case-itis à Low Range Deficiency Disorder à Sunset Deficiency Influenza à Work / Life Balance Disorder

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for his axe, on the other side for a long-handled shovel. There’s also a massive toolbox secured flush with the headboard, with a full recovery kit stored within the cabin.

INTERIOR

No trendy gadgets here, just ‘leather’ seat covers, RM Williams floor mats and an onboard compressor for beach work.

ENGINE BAY

Again, as little as required to make a true off-road weapon is visible once you lift the bonnet; just a dual battery set-up to look after the Engel fridge that’s also stored in the tray on camping trips.

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For your free monthly prescription, simply enter your email address in the box, and your lifesaving medicine will be mailed to your inbox.

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HOW TO ENTER: 1. LIKE UNSEALED 4X4

2. LIKE ENGEL

3. LIKE SYDNEY 4WD & ADVENTURE SHOW

4. ENTER YOUR EMAIL BELOW # Note subscribers will need to reenter their email address

CONTEST DRAWN 5PM SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2014 BONUS! - BY ENTERING YOU WILL RECEIVE UNSEALED 4X4 MAGAZINE EACH ISSUE FREE! Simply follow the steps on the left hand side to enter. A winner will be automatically drawn and notified via email and our Facebook page.

By entering this competition you agree to receive further information from UNSEALED 4X4 and the 4WD & Adventure Show only. *This competition is no way endorsed or associated with Facebook.

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FAVOURITE SPOTS

Living at Wardell on the NSW North Coast, Matt’s beach driving at Seven Mile Beach south of Ballina, and in Broadwater and Bundjalung National Parks, is a given, but he often heads inland to a mate’s place at Busbys Flat, near Casino. Rover Park, near Tabulum, and MacCalman’s Crystal Vale 4WD Park near Murwillumbah (when it was open), have also been regular weekend destinations.

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SO SHE SAYS



KIRSTY IS OUR RESIDENT UNSEALED 4X4 FEMALE COLUMNIST. SHE HAS NO FIXED ADDRESS, JUST FINISHED A BIG ADVENTURE AROUND AUSTRALIA AND YOU’LL CURRENTLY FIND HER DRIVING THE BACK ROADS UP EAST AFRICA IN HER TRUSTY OLD LANDCRUISER. FOLLOW HER ON WWW.AUSSIEOVERLANDERS.COM.AU

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ABOUT US

MOTORHOMES

CARAVANS

CONTACT

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4x4 Expedition Vehicles SLR’s range of new generation of 4x4 expedition vehicles are built on years of four wheel drive and adventuring experience. From a compact off road camper, to the most imposing terrain eating machine, SLR are sure to have the ultimate 4x4 motorhome to get you where you need to go........

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KIRSTY HOBBS

I met a human excuse machine. He really wanted to go camping. But he couldn’t find the time. He didn’t like the tents in the store. He didn’t have the right set-up in his car. He hadn’t figured out where to go. He thought it would probably rain. And he was worried about the traffic before, during and after, and all of this before he had even left his front door.

If these aren’t excuses, I ask you, what would you call them? Reasons.

Resistance. Problems. Even the Real McCoy of not doing anything: ‘Thinking things through’? Whatever you call it, the truth is this: He is stopping himself from getting out there.

There are a couple of people who come to mind that prove this.

Meet Mike. Mike has two young children and a beautiful wife.

Devastatingly, Mike’s wife has been battling cancer. I met all four at a campsite just outside Adelaide. They could have been sitting at home watching My Kitchen Rules or people

brush their teeth on Big Brother, but instead they had hoisted themselves out their front door. They camped within 50kms of their home in a humble caravan park. Their boy had just caught his first fish. There were smiles all round. It was their holiday, their way. They didn’t make an excuse.

Given their circumstance, it would have been completely understandable to lay low indoors, but instead they wanted to get out there and live a little.

Then, there’s Matthew. Matt is my family friend. Single with a chunk of money, but he just spent a lot of that on a Toyota that needed some extra love once it reached his driveway. He wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday with an adventure. He could have made every excuse in the world. I can hear them now ... “I don’t have any recovery equipment yet”, “There’s not enough time to prepare”, “I don’t want to go alone”. But guess what? He booked a 4WD training course, bought the most basic recovery equipment and chucked a swag in the back of

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Follow Kirsty on www.aussieoverlanders.com.au

his ute ... and drove from Sydney to Cape York! This message came in from him today: “Captured some beautiful images. Got my cooking down. Home now. Twenty days on ute tray. Bed so soft. Hahah.”

Life throws all kinds of hurdles at us, but it’s a crying shame when we let ‘getting out there’ amongst nature and living life slide, particularly because our wellbeing is at stake. Did you know that 80 per cent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas?

And it’s no secret that depression levels seem to be increasing daily amongst Australians. Well, earlier this

year the academics in Environment and Behaviour journal reported a distinct relationship between spending time in nature with increased levels of happiness and, most significantly, feeling content in life. Isn’t it funny how we have to scientifically prove what we all already know.

So, the next time we feel the excuse card being drawn, by ourselves or by our friends, perhaps we all better make ‘getting out there’ a non-negotiable.

Just like brushing your teeth or grabbing your iPhone first thing in the morning. It’s our choice.

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STUCK

IN THE GULF

GOING TO THE 4WD AND ADVENTURE SHOW IN SYDNEY, ADELAIDE OR PERTH? YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK TV ADVENTURER JASE ANDREWS ABOUT THIS LITTLE INCIDENT

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Deep in the heart of Gulf Country in June 2013, driving on a saltpan at the upturn of a king tide, Jase Andrews got bogged while making his popular TV series All 4 Adventure.

Asked whether the stress of being bogged compromised their judgment during the recovery, he concedes that there were things that could have done differently such as performing snatches on harder ground or Simon not snatching at an angle.

The chaos that ensues as he and his wingman, Simon Anderson, frantically try to beat the incoming tide sees However, he adds that their multiple winchings, boggings and preparedness for any situation meant a vehicle rollover in a rollercoaster that even when Simon’s vehicle rolled ride that will have you cheering over or when both vehicles were for these two bogged they were plucky lads from able to deal with Queensland’s the situation.

Sunshine Coast.

Because you’ve heroically “I could think on chosen to download your (Now is a good my feet and get copy of Unsealed 4X4, time to watch the vehicle back you can’t see what’s on the video if you upright,” Jase this page. But trust us - it’s haven’t already). said. well worth looking at. To see it in all its glory go to

“I wasn’t too He added that unsealed4X4.com.au concerned when preparation and I first got stuck. I good recovery had no idea the gear were key to tide was gonna come in so fast,” Jase being calm under pressure. said, adding that tides in the Gulf are “People ask me, ‘Why do you carry so unpredictable, especially as the coast much gear Jase?’. Well, for that one is a few kilometres away. particular time we can get ourselves “Nine to 10 months of the year you’re out.” not going to see water on those salt pans ... It’s not as simple as looking at He also said the second vehicle some guide books and saying ‘let’s not enables them to push the limits. go there’.”

“If you are by yourself I’d stay away Jason stands by his decision to make the crossing, even though it wasn’t necessary.

“That’s just the name of the game … you take that risk.”

from salt pans,” Jase laughed.

Given his experience, one could argue that salt pans should be avoided even with a second vehicle, yet that doesn’t make for very exciting television.

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And exciting television is exactly why All 4 Adventure is surging in popularity as it begins its sixth series in October 2014.

Jase admits the journey to success has been a double-difflocked puckerfest that began with leaving his job as a construction supervisor and re-mortgaging his house around eight years ago.

“I just wanted to go to those places that blow your mind. Remote locations where the fishing is insane, there is nobody there, the wildlife doesn’t see people, the fish don’t see lures … and then I wanted to show people that I had been there.

“I was flat broke for three years. My wife and I lived off our mortgage and I was down to my last payment before I got a contract with the network.”

This risk-taking approach to life permeates through the show as he and his best mate push their fourbies, boats and ATVs to the limit in Australia’s wilderness, with often boggle-eyed consequences.

Unsealed 4X4 editor Dan Lewis and Peter Woods from the 4WD and Adventure Show in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. Unsealed 4X4 is delighted to be the major partner and sponsor of these fantastic shows.

All 4 Adventure series six begins October 26 at midday on Channel 10.

Words: Tom Haynes

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TAKING IT TO THE D-MAX

UNSEALED 4X4’S TIM STANNERS LOVED GOING FOR A SPIN WITH ISUZU’S PRECISION DRIVING MASTERS It’s no secret that we love our dirt tracks at Unsealed 4X4, and what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than on the dirt with the precision driving legends from Isuzu Team D-MAX. One of the crowd favourites on the show circuit, the team has been around in various incarnations for nearly 50 years in a range of vehicles, and now drives pretty stock standard Isuzu D-MAX 4x2 SX Crew Cab Low Ride Utes.

We were lucky enough to score a front-row seat in car two of Team

D-MAX with precision driving legend Dave Shannon at the Penrith District Show in late August. Dave has been part of the precision driving team on and off for the last 25 years and was one of the first exponents of the black art of two-wheel balance driving in Australia.

Dave talked me through some of the routines, which vary from show to show but generally include a mix of high speed drifting and formation crossovers, handbrake turns, slides, spins, jumps, and of course Dave’s favourite – the two-wheel balance.

With that in mind, I strapped my helmet on, jumped into the racing harness and waited to see what these guys had to offer. I mean, how fast could it be? These are standard turbo diesel utes, right?

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Entering the arena, we kicked off with a quick handbrake spin, a wave to the crowd and we were off. Being able to legally drift around the corners at high speed was a blast! Then we did it backwards with some close formation nose-to-tail precision driving before the flick ramps came out with Dave asking me to get a good grip on my digital SLR. Hitting the ramps at high speed sure gets the internal organs moving about as the vehicles slam back down before hitting the corners for another high-speed drift and a few more handbrake turns. They use two-wheel drive vehicles because

four-wheel drives would be too grippy for good drifting.

The finale was one of the best examples of vehicle control I’ve witnessed, with Dave driving the D-MAX up an extended flick ramp and onto a gravity-defying two wheels for the length of the straight before gently dropping back down to earth with four wheels planted firmly on the ground.

From the passenger seat or the grandstand, the skills these guys demonstrate are simply amazing.

Don’t miss them at the shows.

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WHAT A GOAL

GEAR WORTH MORE THAN THE PRICE OF ADMISSION Here at Unsealed 4X4 we love to champion innovative gear that improves outdoor adventure experiences. What we love even more is gear that is also environmentally friendly, helps those less fortunate and boasts a great back story.

That’s why we urge you to check out the Goal Zero products on display at the 4WD and Adventure Show in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

The company is all about clever products that allow you to capture, store and utilise the energy of the sun. “Power anything anywhere,” is its motto.

At Unsealed 4X4 we’re testing some Goal Zero products, including its Guide 10 Plus solar recharging kit, Rockout 2 portable speaker and Lighthouse 250 lantern/USB power hub.

The Guide 10 Plus is a portable solar panel small enough to hang from your backpack that charges AA or AAA batteries. You can then use those batteries in your electronic devices or use the USB port to charge things like your phone, tablet. speaker or lantern.

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And be sure to check out the Goal Zero Yeti. It’s a serious alternative to a dualbattery system in your 4X4.

Goal Zero has also been working with humanitarian organisations to help communities in The Philippines recover from last year’s devastating Typhoon Goal Zero is a US company founded by Yolanda. And it has helped provide power Robert Workman, a man dedicated to to the isolated Navajo Nation of the helping lift people out of poverty by giving United States. them the technology to harvest solar power. His goal is a world where there is One of Goal Zero’s ambassador’s is a zero illiteracy and zero hunger, hence the personal adventure favourite of mine – name of the company. rock climber extraordinaire Alex Honnold.

As Workman puts it, buying a Goal Zero product is really a wonderful form of wealth distribution that benefits all. “At Goal Zero, our products are designed to lift the poorest of poor, and are still extremely relevant to the richest of rich,” he says. “Think about that for a moment.

If we have products that will really do that, those products are a great equaliser in lifting us all to a higher place. We can put reliable power into every human hand on this Earth without overwhelming our resources.”

Words: Dan Lewis

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REGULAR

Q&A GARETH WRIGHT AND KIRSTY HOBBS, THE AUSSIE OVERLANDERS, ARE YOUNG ADVENTURERS TRAVELLING THE WORLD IN THEIR 4X4 Over the past few years they have built their knowledge from the ground up.

They don’t pretend to know everything but are happy to share what they have found to work best. Around here that’s what we call an Unsealed 4X4 expert.

Q: How do you guys carry water with you on your big trips? Georgie, Carringbah, NSW A: Our 4X4 is designed to go anywhere and sustain us for days in remote areas. It’s an old rig, but when we did the internal build we designed it to have a best-in-class water system (and everything else).

We wanted to carry a lot of water and be able to filter it on demand.

We decided on a 54-litre Long Ranger water tank fitted under the body. It is crafted from stainless steel in Australia and has a filling point in our engine bay. Gareth installed a water pump to pull the water from the tank out through the taps mounted on our back door. We can choose if we pump straight out or divert it through a filter system. A word of advice: when it comes to carrying water it’s important to keep your centre of gravity in mind – keep it low – our Long Ranger sits around our chassis.

We also carry an emergency 20-litre Life Saver jerry can that has an insanely robust filter built in; it can turn sewage into drinkable water. I like it for when we draw water from a questionable source and really don’t want to put it in our main tank.

I’ve heard that other people drop water purification tablets into their tanks. Personally, I’m not interested in digesting unknown chemicals over long-periods of time if it’s avoidable.

Kirsty

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kilometres lunch always sneaks up on us. Then it’s like, BAM! I have to eat then and there or I will implode and it will not be pretty!

After a few less than stellar moments, and spending far too much on café food, we ended up gravitating towards actually being prepared. In Australia, lunch is usually a wrap, puffed corn bread topped with yummo stuff or a straight up salad. We like to keep a couple of packets of smoked salmon Q: What do you and Gareth eat in the fridge and five or so tins of while travelling in the Troopy? tuna in the cupboard at any one I’m not a fan of basic camp food time. Once it’s coupled with rocket, and it would be great to get some avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, alfalfa, inspiration from you. too much aioli and goat cheese, we’re Sam, Batemans Bay, NSW extremely happy. It’s all about making A: Since we began writing and blogging sure we are stocked up with something that makes both our mouths water. about our 4X4 travels my inbox has A few of our favourite ingredients are received a steady flow of questions expensive. But smoked salmon with from people interested to hear what goat cheese with some green stuff is food we are eating. At first I thought better than going to a café! And that’s it was a little bit strange, but as time how we twist our own arms that it’s went by I realised how important a good feed is when you are living simply better to ‘eat in’. and outside the comforts of home.

Kirsty There aren’t enough words on this Q: I have seen your photos on Aussie page to cover every meal. So, let me Overlanders and I love them. What cover off the most important meal camera do you use? on the road in our world – LUNCH! When we are covering some serious Sarah, Gladstone, QLD NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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“I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CANON MAN AND THE 6D WAS AN OBVIOUS UPGRADE FOR ME FROM MY CANON 40D.”



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Thanks Sarah. Very kind of you to say. I have two cams with me while travelling – a DSLR and a small point and shoot.

The DSLR I have is the Canon 6D. I have always been a Canon man and the 6D was an obvious upgrade for me from my Canon 40D. It is a perfect mid-weight camera for travelling but obviously the weight will increase with the size of the lens you have attached.

I have taken three different lenses with me but only really use two of them. The 6D can handle the L series lenses well. I bought it a while a go now so the price has dropped significantly, which in my mind makes it a great camera to start with if you’re in the market for one.

One of my main reasons for wanting DRIFTA kitchen and cupboards was the fact that they don’t use any moving parts, other than the little push buttons to open the short drawers.

Our kitchen drawer and bottom storage drawers – which hold most of the heavy items we carry – slide in and out with ease. No rollers or ball bearings are required. Our kitchen and drawers are still like new, bar a couple of small cosmetic dents in the drawers from everyday use.

As for your question about whether I think it is worth it – hell yeah! I didn’t research or compare costs with others because I knew that this was the system The point and shoot I have is a Sony I wanted. We also did a factory tour in RX100 Mark II. This is not the first Sony their northern NSW headquarters and camera I have used but it is the best. we were able to see the quality of work Superb low light capabilities and very that these guys produced. After the way versatile – which is what you need these have proved themselves I would when travelling. I never use it in manual not even consider any other drawers or (that’s what the DSLR is for) but you kitchens to use. can. I highly recommend them both.

Gareth Gareth Q: I am thinking of getting a DRIFTA kitchen for my camper trailer. Do you think it’s worth it and how is yours holding up?

Martin, Northern Beaches, NSW A: Apart from our rig being a Toyota LandCruiser, I think our DRIFTA kitchen and drawers are one of the best things about our car. It is the main component of our rear cabin space and after nearly two years of living in our Troopy I can’t fault it.

ASK G + K Want Gareth + Kirsty to give you an A to your Q? Send your questions to questions@unsealed4x4.com.au Follow along with their adventures at facebook.com/aussieoverlanders

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HEY TRUE BLUE

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALLEE BOY JOHN WILLIAMSON

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There’s a few nice “gee whiz” moments in this memoir. Did you know that John Williamson doesn’t sing some of his old songs because they mention smoking dope? That he was no great mate of the late Slim Dusty? That the trademark buck teeth of another country legend, Chad Morgan, are falsies? That Williamson did his first performance in Tamworth in shorts to rebel against country music stereotypes? That’s he’s so passionate about an Australian republic he bets tails when they are tossing two-up pennies on Anzac Day because he’d rather his luck ride on a kangaroo’s backside than a British monarch’s head?

Williamson (born 1945) first lived.

He was the son of a wheat farmer and grew up to do the same thing himself around Moree in NSW before a comic song called Old Man Emu became a hit in 1970. He wrote it while driving a tractor.

This book is like the hundreds of songs Williamson has penned – it’s True Blue. It feels authentic and proudly and uniquely Australian.

Williamson believes his success is due to “the fact I’ve never waivered from my belief in writing about us, as Aussies … about how this ancient land is our most precious heritage, about how this island continent makes us a unique mob.”

It was this growing up on the land that saw Williamson form his love of untouched Aussie bush – a passion that still burns bright and is a constant theme of this book. Former Greens leader Bob Brown is one of his heroes.

Another passionate theme of the autobiography is Williamson’s And there are old photos that will give contempt for Australian country performers aping their American you a chuckle too. What was it with counterparts. fashion in the 1970s?

It begins in the Victorian Mallee town of Quambatook, where

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MUSIC

TUNES

JOHN WILLIAMSON

THE WOLFE BROTHERS

HONEST PEOPLE (Strinesong Pty Limited) Williamson’s 50th studio album pays tribute to the hard-working honesty of country folk, the fierce beauty of the Australian outback and Grandpa’s unparalleled love of cricket. There’s heatwaves, Tamworth and a call for a republic. There’s marital spats and Mightymite on toast. Evocative guitar work carries Williamson’s charismatic drawl through his relatable narratives, all delivered with a true blue sincerity that is difficult to beat.

NOTHIN’ BUT TROUBLE (Independent/ABC) From Australia’s Got Talent to touring with Lee Kernaghan, The Wolfe Brothers have made their name in leaps and bounds. Nothin’ But Trouble shows us why: whether they’re singing about one-night passions or childhood sweethearts, their youthful zest is delivered with slammin’ rock influences and textbook riffs. There are an awful lot of red dresses and cherry lips, but apparently they make the beer taste better.

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Unsealed 4X4 music editor Jessie Cunniffe Jessie Cunniffe is a classically trained pianist, self-taught guitarist, qualified music educator and freelance journalist.

When she’s not rocking out in the classroom with the next generation of musicians, Jessie can be found critiquing the music industry’s latest offerings for The Sydney Morning Herald and, of course, Unsealed 4X4.

JIMMY BARNES

THE SUNNY COWGIRLS

30:30 HINDSIGHT (Liberation Music) Who better to revive Jimmy Barnes classics than … Jimmy Barnes? While other music veterans may have been content to oversee a tribute album on their 30 th anniversary, Barnes does the hard yards himself. He draws breath only to let talented collaborators (The Living End, Keith Urban, Bernard Fanning and Tina Arena, among others) help kick new life into these rough diamonds. It’s alive, relevant and rockin’.

MY OLD MAN (WJO) This is The Sunny Cowgirls’ musical upbringing, courtesy of their dad’s taste in tunes. From Bob Dylan (Blowin’ In The Wind) to The Beatles (Can’t Buy Me Love), to Stevie Nicks (Dreams) and Don McLean (Vincent), the Clabburn sisters bring their sunshine to oh-so-familiar classics by way of ukulele, banjo and homegrown drawls. The arrangements aren’t revolutionary, but it’s hard to complain when you’re singing along.

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GEAR GURU FOX 2.0 IFP SHOCKS

If you’ve ever seen an off-road racer barreling through rugged terrain at ferocious speeds, there’s a good chance the vehicle they’re driving is outfitted with Fox suspension. They’re one of the largest brands in off-road racing, and regarded by many around the world as the best. The problem, if you could call it one, is that their shocks have traditionally been a bit of overkill for what most 4X4 tourers do. With the launch of the new 2.0 IFP shocks, Fox is finally available for those of us who spend more time on corrugations in the outback than we do airborne in the Dakar Rally.

After six months and 15,000km of testing at Unsealed 4X4’s American ‘office’ (which varies between Moab’s slick rock, Colorado’s alpine tracks, and California’s desert) I’ll say that I’ve been quite happy with Fox’s offering. The heavy-duty aluminium body isn’t just great for heat dissapation, it’s also great for those who drive in rust-prone beach environments as it won’t turn to Swiss cheese after a few outings.

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You also get Fox’s legendary valving technology and experience, along with a race-derived internal floatation piston monotube design.

The hard chrome-plated, heat-treated alloy steel shock shaft has proven tough enough for the environments I’ve tested it in, which aren’t easy; but I’d be happier if the shock came with some kind of protection as standard for the shaft (Fox sells an optional Roost Shield Kit.) Starting at $140 per shock. Available in Australia from Double Black Offroad. doubleblackoffroad.com

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CAMELBAK ALL CLEAR WATER PURIFIER

Water purifiers and filters aren’t exactly groundbreaking news these days; there’s even some that claim to make wastewater drinkable … but that’s a bit extreme. If you’re the kind of person who just wants to take a drink from a stream without worrying about death by diarrhoea, the CamelBak All Clear Water Purifier is perfect for you. Using a USB-rechargeable UV light that’ll last for 80 cycles, the All Clear easily takes care in just 60 seconds of those evildoing microscopic critters that could ruin your trip. As long as you take care of finding reasonably clear water, you’re “All Clear”.

Unlike other water purifiers, the All Clear won’t make turbid water look clean. If you put dirty-looking water in it, the UV light will not magicaly make it crystal clear, but it’ll do just fine at

killing everything bad inside. A press of a button and one minute of your time is all it takes for the All Clear to do its job, which means you’ll actually use it when compared to other units that take longer. After about a year of usage, I’ve been impressed with the All Clear, the bottle is durable, and the UV unit still works like a champ. $100 Available from most major outdoor retailers. camelbak.com

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EXOFFICIO BUGS AWAY CLOTHING (SHIRT TESTED)

While I’m not trying to offend any of our readers who happen to be entomologists, I would like to state something clearly: insects suck – and the ones that bite you suck even more. I’ll try almost anything that’ll keep the mozzies and other insects off of me. ExOfficio’s BugsAway® line of clothing makes a bold statement, claiming that it’ll repel mozzies, ticks, ants, flies and midges for up to 70 washes, without having to put on bug spray.

How does it work? ExOfficio starts with their excellent, comfortable outdoor wear, and then treats it with permethrin, an insect repellent and insecticide which is the active ingredient in Insect Shield®. This essentially turns you into a walking bug-free zone. I’ve had a few BugsAway shirts and I can report they work, and it most certainly isn’t a gimmick. When paired with your favourite brand of bug repellent, they work even better. So far, I’ve given my BugsAway about 30 washes, and it’s still kicking today.

While ExOfficio’s gear is perfect for camping, some of their designs are just as welcome in the city. The added bonus of BugsAway becomes apparent when you randomly end up at a mozzie-infested venue, and there’s no bug repellent in sight. I’ve found absolutely no drawback to the BugsAway lineup.

ExOfficio’s Bugsaway Collection is available for men and women and offers a wide selection of shirts, pants, jackets hats, and even socks.

I’d recommend trying on the clothing before purchasing, as the fit can be a little bit generous.

Prices vary depending on the item. exofficio.com

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Hema Explorer App ON and OFFLINE GPS navigation with interactive content • Map-overlaid rain radar and weather forecasts • Clip ’n’ save Australia-wide satellite, street and terrain mapping • Share & download trips from the Hema Explorer Cloud track database

OFFLINE • Hema off-road base maps • 40,000+ interactive touring POI • Navigate and record trips with real-time GPS tracking

ONLINE

PLAY VIDEO

hemamaps.com

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WATERSHED WATERPROOF BAGS

We fit snorkels, differential breathers, and wading bras to our vehicles, all in an attempt to overcome the damaging effects of water. However, when it comes to our gear, little effort is given to protect it from getting wet.

Why? Because waterproof storage is usually either heavy and bulky, or cheap and fragile, so it’s not exactly practical for 4X4 touring.

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with a knife, I’ve subjected them to everything that can make them fail – in other words, I’m not gentle with them. One of my bags, Watershed’s US-based Watershed comes in Colorado model, has survived over somewhere in the middle of those 100 flights as checked luggage, two. They offer a tough-as-nails and it’s still waterproof today. The waterproof bag with the durability of a hard-sided case, without the fragile Colorado is the perfect size for 4X4 tendencies of most dry bags. I’ve been enthusiasts who frequently travel and want to ensure their belongings relying on their products for the last 18 months without complaint, and I’ve arrive safe, secure, and dry, no matter if they’re fording a creek or flying to been impressed to say the least. parts unknown.

The biggest fear with spending Prices start around $100, depending the money on a waterproof bag, on the size of the bag. You can obviously, is that you’ll puncture find a local dealer here. it and render it useless. Short of drybags.com/dealer-locator.php stabbing my two Watershed duffels

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CREDITS Editor Dan Lewis Deputy Editor Matthew Scot Journalist Sam Purcell Digital Media Manager Eldon De Croos Sales and Marketing Manager Mark Muras Account Manager Allan Goldby

Publisher Pat Callinan Publishing Pty Ltd

Brand Manager and Junior Publisher Kirsten Nutting Video Editors Melanie Galea and Gavin Rawlings Sales and Promotions Manager James Fox Administration & Advertising Art Director Laura Boshammer

Contact us here

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ROOM WITH A VIEW

BUSH BAPTISM

MR 4X4 PAT CALLINAN GIVES THE Y62 NISSAN PATROL A BUSH CHRISTENING (PLUS A FEW EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS) The Y62 Patrol is such a vast leap away in design from the Y61 (GU) Patrol that very little can be taken for granted. In particular, I’m referring to how the vehicle will go off-road. Its predecessor has spent the last 16 years proving its worth, and despite a few engine issues between 2000 and 2002, its design and build quality remain rock solid. We’ve run a fleet of up to five GU Patrols for the past six years, and have never had reliability issues.

PAT CALLINAN

So when Nissan turfed out the diesel in favour of petrol, and the beam axles in favour of independent all around, there was to be some hesitation in the marketplace. Actually, hesitation is too kind. Downright disappointment would be more accurate. As a result, very few Australians have had the pleasure of driving the new Y62 Patrol in the bush, something I’ve just done. But before heading into the scrub, I managed to throw a few sweet accessories on the rig. An ARB front winch bar dresses the vehicle up beautifully, and in my opinion, makes it start really looking like a genuine 4X4. Inside the winch bar Matt McDonald and the team at ARB Wentworthville mounted a 10000lb Warn Zeon winch.

I’ve used these new winches extensively in the bush, and believe me when I say they can pull all day. And the much larger control lever means that engaging and disengaging the winch is easier than ever. ARB also installed Dynamica winch rope, to help keep some weight off the front end.

ARB Intensity LEDs not only finish off the great look of the vehicle, they are simply an outstanding light.

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ROOM WITH A VIEW CONTINUED With an unbelievably bright lateral beam, they are brilliant in heavily forested areas in that all-important front area from where animals appear. They boast a spot and a spread beam, which really does the job well. In really open country they won’t give the absolute depth of a HID beam, but most people are content to be able to see well for 500m or so, rather than 2km.

PAT CALLINAN

Old Man Emu suspension holds the Patrol around 40mm higher off the deck, and also allows more of a load to be carried or towed. Heavy-duty springs were installed initially, but I found these to be too much of a departure from the silky-smooth original ride, so I elected for medium duty instead. This proved to be a good choice, as the handling is sharp, but not jarring.

The additional room inside the guards created by the lift also allowed me to slap some Cooper ST Maxx rubber on the alloy rims. Okay, now it was starting to look like a genuine 4X4. In my opinion this tyre is pretty much the gold standard for off-road touring these days.

The chip-resistant compound is a near bulletproof carcass that has already taken me on around three laps of Oz with no issues whatsoever. And the additional grip over the standard tyres is phenomenal.

Our road test took us from Forbes River west of Wauchope, through to Sydney via every dirt road possible. The first thing you notice in this big rig is the comfort, and the quiet. Even while stupidly holding gears down steep hills with the engine ticking over at 5000rpm, the engine noise was barely audible. It was so quiet, it was weird. The slippery back roads near The Cells are renowned for their skating rink-like red clay. It’s the sort of surface that can send a vehicle off a track in an instant.

I’m not quite sure whether it was the Cooper rubber or the wide stance of the Y62, but the Patrol gripped like a fat kid on a donut. Talk about impressive.

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But the real off-road challenge came out the back of Big Yango, a National Parks-managed property surrounded by Yengo National Park (and no, the difference in spelling is no mistake). The tracks here are steep, and offered plenty of articulation challenges.

The Patrol traction control system murmured away in the background, braking spinning wheels as we went.

Its only stumbling point came on a steep pinch where the front wheel lay a few feet off the deck, but this was solved quickly with the introduction of the rear diff lock.

So in a way, the Patrol proved that you can have your cake and eat it too – with impeccable on-road manners mixed with solid off-road performance. Incidentally, we were followed up that track by our locker-less Y61 crew car. We both made it to the top of the mountain, but they required no diff locks, the assumption being that the beam axles lay their power down to the ground a little better.

I should also point out a mistake that I made when playing with the 4WD modes. We were driving on a track with a sandstone base, so I engaged the ‘Rock’ mode. I then complained for the next half an hour as to why the throttle response was so doughy. My bad, the rock mode should be reserved for literally rock hopping, as it severely limits your ability to stomp on the gas; this allows the most controlled driving possible. Oh well, you live and learn.

Stay tuned as we continue to keep you up to date with our V8 Patrol long termer.

Keep the shiny side up!

Pat Callinan

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