UNSEALED 4X4 ISSUE 022

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ISSUE 022

E L T T A B MID-SIZE WAGONS AUSTRALIA'S MOST POPULAR 4X4 MAGAZINE

O F THE

T TOYOTA PRAD O VS FO RD EV ER ES

wIN A yamaha

1KVA INVERTER GENERATOR

PROVEN WAYS TO

KEEP DUST OUT REVIEW ARE FORWARD-FOLD

EARTHCRUISER

AUSTRALIA’S BEST TOURING 4X4?

7 FOR THE CAPE

TIPS TO PREPARE

CAMPERS TAKING OVER? WHERE MADIGAN WENT

PLUS

WHERE HE DIDN'T...

KINKUNA:

MINUS ] LIKE INSKIP[THE HOLES FREE... NO REFUNDS

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|REVIEWS

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|REVIEWS

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|TRAVEL

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|TIPS

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|REGULARS

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MAGAZINE

CONTENTS|REGULARS

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WIN THE RIGHT TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIA IN AFRICA The ‘Spirit of Amarok, Australia’ challenges you and a mate to run the Amarok through its paces for the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to represent Australia in the finals at ‘Spirit of Africa’.

We’ll supply the Amarok, you supply

the action. Put your skills to the test against challenges designed by rally champ Sarel van der Merwe and Aussie 4X4 legend Pat Callinan, who’ll be on hand to pass on some tips. Reckon you got what it takes? Prove it.

Visit spiritofamarok.com.au to find out more

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drive yourself to africa 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

FIND OUT MORE

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ed to When your breathers ne 4 look faster than your 4X

Now you too can roll your eye as other people have accident right in front of you

GEAR N

Zenec will allow you to know just how lost you are

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es ts Darche brings us thei r scale model of the Sydney Opera House

Shiny parts for the dirtiest part of your vehicle. Makes perfect sense...

NEWS Are those cup-holders on the top of that box? Sweet!

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Find power anywhere w

Introducing REDARC’s new range of inverters for 2

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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

with a REDARC Inverter.

240V power from 12 or 24V auxiliary batteries...

Read more Buy now!

Right power for the job

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UNSEALED 4X4 I

INDUSTRY

LEADS T

IN SUSPENSI For the majority of us, suspension modification has always been a grey area in terms of legalities, differing state and federal regulations, and what we are and aren’t allowed to do to our suspension in order to improve vehicle safety, towing ability, ground clearance and load-carrying capacity.

But rest assured, the Australian 4 Wheel Drive Industry Council (A4WDIC), which is a specialist section of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, has been busy in the background.

Until recently, the national Vehicle

Standards Bulletin (VSB 14) stipulated that any vehicle fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) and which had any increase in vehicle height (tyres, suspension etc) must be certified to ensure the ESC was not affected.

However, after extensive testing, the A4WDIC has recently been successful in changing the national regulation which had previously required the additional certification.

The testing, conducted both in Australia and in the US, involved modifications to three popular vehicles. The Ford Ranger, Toyota

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Y COUNCIL

THE WAY

ION TESTING LandCruiser and a Jeep Wrangler were all modified using suspension kits from Australian aftermarket suppliers and were tested alongside identical non-modified vehicles.

said: “In all cases the test results were well within the normal operating capabilities of the vehicles’ ESC systems and ADR 35 requirements.”

The same test protocols used by vehicle manufacturers and major component suppliers around the world were employed to simulate vehicle dynamics for the development and testing of new chassis system components, engines, power trains, drivelines, suspension setups and vehicle electronic control systems.

As a result, the National Code of Practice has been amended to remove reference to ESC testing requirements for vehicles with suspension height modifications of up to 50mm.

Ray Smith-Roberts from A4WDIC

Proof that with the right approach and the right attitude towards change, common sense can prevail.

Well done A4WDIC!

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NEW VEHIC

IS THIS TH

ALL MITSUBISHI PA

BEEN YEAR

(Well probably no

In a recent interview with UK-based Auto Express, Mitsubishi UK boss Lance Bradley confirmed plans to launch a brand new SUV every year for the next five years.

Bradley outlined the firm’s plans to sell around 45,000 new vehicles a year by 2021, thanks to a full range of SUVs which will comprise a combination of electric, plug-in hybrid and conventional petrol and diesel engines.

The five SUVs include a competitor to the Nissan Juke, a large ASX, a brand new Outlander, a Pajero Sport and, wait for it… a new Pajero.

Bradley said: “A vehicle reaches an age and doesn’t get any older and Pajero is kind of there. It’ll be appearing in 2020 or 2021 as Mitsubishi concentrates on the sectors with the most volume potential.”

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CLE NEWS

HE NEWS

AJERO FANS HAVE

RNING FOR?

ot, but it was a good headline)

Read our pajero sport review here Whilst this is great news for UK Pajero fans, we spoke to Mitsubishi Australia which has confirmed that, at this stage, “Mitsubishi Motors hasn’t made any formal announcements about a Pajero replacement and we will continue to sell and make improvements to the current model for the foreseeable future.”

It therefore looks like the new Pajero Sport will remain as the modern mid-sized SUV choice, and it is likely to include a 7-seat option by the end of the year.

For any die-hard Pajero fans, time could well be limited to buy the last of the current breed Pajero which first launched back in 2000.

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Family Owned Australian Company Since 1958

auto electrical

led lights winches suspension

Penny Wells

TALKS simps

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4X44X4

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FIT MY

4X4

FIT MY FIT MY

4X44X4

ONLINE QUOTE

rear bars

FIT MY

4X4

canvas seat covers

bullbars

fridges

drawer systems

son desert

Ironman 4X4

ESERT teaser

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SPIRIT OF

DO YOU HAVE W

The Chance This coming May, VW Australia are giving you and a mate the chance to run the hard-working Amarok through a gut-wrenching challenge that will test both man and machine.

The Spirit of Amarok (previously known as Mud, Sweat & Gears) is a professionally designed, all-terrain, allskills, money-can’t-buy experience for those who are ready to show us what they have got…

… and here’s the best part: The top team on each day will represent Australia at the international finals of the Spirit of Amarok in South Africa.

The Challenge A mud-sliding, sweat-breaking, gearshifting series of speed tests, 4WD terrain and technical challenges. You and your nominated partner will get behind the wheel of the Amarok and test yourselves in a series of 4WD activities – with the winner from each group winning the ultimate prize.

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F AMAROK

WHAT IT TAKES?

The Experts: Pat Callinan – ‘MR4X4’ Pat is Australia’s leading authority on all things Aussie 4X4, and for a second year running Volkswagen is proud to partner with the 4X4 guru. Having competed in last year’s Spirit of Africa finals, Pat will be on hand to pass on tips and techniques for the make or break challenges.

This year Pat has worked with the Spirit of Africa founder Sarel Daniel van der Merwe to design the most challenging of 4X4 events.

The Ultimate Prize: If your team has got what it takes to take out the day at Spirit of Amarok, you’ll WIN an all-expenses trip to South Africa to represent Australia against the best in the world in the elimination finals of The Spirit of Africa – The Ultimate Test Drive.

Run over five days, and designed by South African off-road rally legend Sarel van der Merwe, The Spirit of Africa is a thrill-packed challenge of competitive off-roading against the best teams from the African and Sarel Daniel van der Merwe – ‘SuperVan’ South American elimination rounds.

To top it all off, camping under the A household name in South Africa stars will add to this once-in-a-lifetime ‘SuperVan’, as he is known, has won experience. just about every motor racing and rally title on the African continent.

Check out last year’s Spirit of Africa Over 10 years ago, SuperVan here: spiritofafrica.info created The Spirit of Africa Trophy Venue: Melbourne 4X4 Werribee, VIC with a view to providing the ‘average’ driver with an opportunity Dates: 6, 7 & 8 May 2016 to test their off-road driving ability in If your two-man, two-woman or mixed a competitive environment. In 2016, team is ready to show us what you’ve SuperVan has helped Pat Callinan got, you’ll need to ENTER BELOW for design the Australian course – the exclusive chance to compete in ensuring the most challenging, gutthe Spirit of Amarok. wrenching and adrenalising Aussie spiritofamarok.com.au leg of the Spirit of Amarok.

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ROUND LED D

COMPA

JOIN THE SLEEP-DEPR TEAM AS WE PUT EIGH DRIVING LIGHTS THRO

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DRIVING LIGHT

ARISON

RIVED RIVED UNSEALED UNSEALED 4X4 4X4, HT SETS OF ROUND LED OUGH THE WRINGER.

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Round LED driving lights or an LED light bar – which is better?

This is a question that must be asked daily in four-wheel drive shops and on online forums around the world. And truthfully, I don’t feel anyone has accurately been able to answer until now.

An old saying I heard while working in the tyre industry was: “The best product is the one you have in stock.” Consequently you as a consumer are at the mercy of an overbearing pitch from a salesperson with potentially no first-hand knowledge of the topic. Well, that all ends now. You see, back in Issue #19 of Unsealed 4X4 we took 10 LED light bars bush to see which deserved a place on your four-wheel drive. While that particular test proved to be extremely popular and well received, we couldn’t simply rest on our laurels could we?

Now we have the data and images to highlight which is the best set of round LED driving lights on the market, and we can finally put the rumours to bed surrounding which is most effective. Round LED driving lights, or LED light bars? Let the battle begin!

Managing Editor Tim kept himself busy flying his ‘whirly copter’, and capturing aerial images. I think he just wanted to play with his new toy

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Editor Dex lined up each light with a spirit level, while I constantly asked if he knew what he was doing. We’re good mates, in other words.

TESTING

equipment. Light measurements were recorded at 1m, 10m and 100m increments from the vehicle. To METHODOLOGY gauge spread, we took readings five Consistency is key on tests such as metres to the side of the vehicle, at this, so we employed the exact same the 10m marker. We also decided to methods as in our previous LED light measure current draw of each light bar comparison. We used the same this time around – to see just how photographer (cheers Scott) with much pressure each light is placing the same GU Patrol to power the on your vehicle’s charging system. lights; and the camera was locked off at 1 sec, F8, ISO 1600 (same as on Last time around we had the previous test) for those who are manufacturers send out light bars, brave enough to switch away from which potentially opened us up to auto mode. The same Lux meter receiving products that could have was dragged out from the shed, as been modified. I’m not saying this was the temperature gun used to was the case, but with so much on record how hot the lights got. The the line we needed to take things same property in the very dark NSW seriously and not take any chances.

Snowy Mountains was borrowed So we drove to retail outlets around (thanks Dad) and we mapped out Sydney and physically picked the the length and width of the test lights out of their stock… just as you course with the same measuring the consumer would be doing.

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EXPLORE�AUSTRALIA�� WITH�CONFIDENCE�� ON�USA-BORN�TYRES

Born in the USA, at home in Australia General Tire‚s core values are reliabiliy, performance and its long standing American Heritage. For nearly 100 durable and high-value tyres for passenger cars, light commercial, SUV‚s, vehicles to meet our customer‚s needs.

At General Tire we believe that ANYWHERE IS POSSIBLE. With General Tire the boundaries are limitless and fear has no meaning!

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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Yes, I look like a goose wearing a hat at night. It was actually to stop the brutal LED goodness from burning my retinas… It didn’t work.

Who said that? Show yourself!

VS LIGHT BAR

ROUND

The answer to this riddle is somewhat obvious, unfortunately.

Judging purely by eye, round LED driving lights had more oomph in the distance stakes but didn’t fill the gaps as cleanly as an LED light bar would. Light bars offered more spread, but didn’t have the same level of straight-line penetration.

So the answer? Having both is

going to give you the best of both worlds. The round driving lights will provide you with distance, and the LED light bar will fill any gaps and boost spread to the sides of the track. I know, this means you have to buy two sets of lights; but trust me when I say you will be amazed at how much illumination this combo will produce.

TECH INFO

how they work. So I’ll spare you the rants on colour temperature and the importance of dust and water sealing. But if you do want to learn a bit more about LED lights, click back to Issue #19 of Unsealed 4X4.

Some feedback we received from the previous LED light bar test we undertook was to please, please, please cut back on the technical info and get straight into the comparison. And in retrospect, I agree. When it comes to lights, seeing how they work is much more interesting than reading about

Read our LED LIGHT BAR comparo here

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keeping you connected

We have the products for your next adventure Whether you need to keep in contact with friends in the convoy, or simply communicate when you’re outside the vehicle exploring, there’s an ideal Uniden product to keep you connected. Even in the most remote locations without mobile reception.

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RU

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VShid

led

halogen on

VS

Coming so

While we were testing these round LED driving lights, it seemed fitting to grab a few Halogen and HID units to see how they stack up next to LED technology. Now, this particular test is about round LED driving lights,

ART VS SCIENCE

Lux readings are valuable, but in the real world the beam pattern produced is more important. So while extra care was taken to measure Lux readings in the same position each time for consistency, this can’t take into account the overall picture as every light BUILTperforms differently. This is why UGGED R AUS & NZwe photographed each light – so ONDITIONS you can play along at home and

so I won’t go into too much detail.

But as a heads up for our readers, we will be covering this topic in an upcoming issue of the mag. Keep an eye out for that one… the results were genuinely fascinating.

decide which light works best for your situation. This is also why we took each light to an independent LED test lab to scientifically measure the output in a strange-looking contraption called a Light Integrating Sphere. That way, we could crossreference our results and 100% stand behind this comparison. Also, an independent testing lab legally cannot release false statements or edit its results. What you see is what you get here, folks!

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ARB AR32

what we

LIKED

Built like a tank with looks to die for what we

SPECS PRICE: $745 each

dislIKED Certainly not cheap to purchase

IP RATING: IP68 warranty: 2 years CLAIMED wattage: 90W actual current draw: 7.1A per(peak light) WATER RESIsTANCE:

PASS

The AR32s feel like quality units. They have a solid mounting bracket and passed water testing without issue. They are down on performance compared to more modern lights (don’t forget that ARB pioneered round LED driving lights), which is no doubt testament to advanced technology flowing through this sector of the lighting industry at a rapid pace.

And while down on numbers in the test lab, real world testing highlighted that they produced a smooth beam of light, great spread to the sides and good long-distance penetration. So while the numbers on paper might not be blistering, the build quality really is second to none.

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BUSHRANGER NIGHTHAWK

what we

LIKED

Competitively priced what we

SPECS PRICE: $320 each

dislIKED Failed water submersion testing

IP RATING: IP68 warranty: 3 years CLAIMED wattage: 48W actual current draw: 3.5A per(peak light) WATER RESIsTANCE: (one light no longer works)

FAIL

Bushranger’s entry comes in at the cheaper end of the scale price-wise, yet these lights definitely have some key benefits. Firstly, the small size makes for an easy fit on vehicles with tight bullbars or even on SUVs with nudge bars.

The current draw was really low at just 3.5A, reducing strain on the vehicle’s charging system. They were also the coolest running lights on test, which is always a good thing. Close-range performance was solid, but the output definitely dropped off quickly the further away we tested them. Unfortunately water submersion testing killed one light, which no longer powers up at all.

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DRIVETECH 4X4

what we

LIKED

Wow they are bright! what we

SPECS PRICE: $435 each

dislIKED Failed water submersion testing

IP RATING: IP67 warranty: 3 years CLAIMED wattage: 120W actual current draw: 7.0A per(peak light)

FAIL WATER RESIsTANCE: (both lights fogged up internally)

This is a new product for Drivetech 4X4, and they were quietly confident when we first spoke with them. It is obvious to see why; these lights are rippers performance-wise! Amazing spread, and a really concentrated beam straight down the middle provides a perfect balance of spread vs spot.

The only negative I could find: Perhaps they don’t look as ‘sexy’ as some other lights externally, which really is a moot point unless you shop for form over function. Secondly, small amounts of water entered both lights causing the lenses to fog up. This really was sad to see, as the performance from these driving lights was right up there with bigger players in this sector; and the price is rather competitive too.

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GREAT WHITES 220

what we

LIKED

Sterling performance and build-quality what we

SPECS PRICE: $900 each IP RATING: IP69K

dislIKED Big, (really) heavy and expensive

warranty: 5 years (or 50,000 hours) CLAIMED wattage: 133W actual current draw: 10.1A WATER RESIsTANCE:

(peak per light)

PASS

Immediate impressions are these lights are seriously heavy. I could barely carry both of them at the same time. They are also huge, both in diameter and depth – so fitting them to some vehicles might be physically impossible.

Which is a shame, as the performance from the Great Whites was excellent both in terms of the distance they could cover as well as spread.

Build quality was also right up there; they just felt like a quality product (water testing proved no issue for them). Current draw was higher than any other light on test, but they still remained cool which must be attributed to the huge heat sink on the back of the lights.

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IRONMAN 4X4 7-INCH BLAST

what we

LIKED

Low current draw

what we

SPECS PRICE: $275 each

dislIKED The amount of spread offered

IP RATING: IP69K warranty: 1 year CLAIMED wattage: 48W actual current draw: 3.1A per(peak light) WATER RESIsTANCE:

PASS

These are another relatively new inclusion in the Ironman 4X4 range, and they performed well on this test. Especially considering the low purchase price! Short-range performance wasn’t the best in the field, but they certainly made up for it when it came to mid and long distance output.

Scott Mason our photographer noticed the wiring to the light is incredibly thin which was of initial concern, however as these lights only drew 3.1amps (less than any other light) it explains why they haven’t gone with thicker wiring. Based on our results, if you need a small diameter light with low current draw and solid straight-line performance these fit the bill nicely.

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LIGHTFORCE 215

what we

LIKED

Impressive buildquality & performance what we

SPECS PRICE: $705 each IP RATING: IP68

dislIKED Less long-range punch than some

warranty: 3 years CLAIMED wattage: 108W actual current draw: 6.6A per(peak light) WATER RESIsTANCE:

PASS

The second we fired up the 215s we knew they were serious contenders. I was blinded while testing close-range performance; they were painful to be in front of. This is obvious when you look at the Lux readings, which were stronger than any other light tested up close in the field.

Mid-range performance was also extremely impressive, but there were better lights on test in terms of long-distance performance. The mounting brackets are strong and simple to install, and the supplied Torx head theft-deterrent security screws make for easy adjustment. Water testing was conquered with flying colours as well; these really are great quality driving lights.

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The OFF GRID is your ticket to UNLIMITED freedom

STRONG

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CLADDING

SUSPENSION

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• Huge storage & outdoor kitchen

• Huge amount of storage in a compact vehicle

• Personalised, customisable design!

• The OFFGRID promises to raise the bar in off-road touring

• Luxury interior in a compact van

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE COMPLETE SPEC LIST.

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All NEW 2016 models now come with an amazing 2 YEAR manufacturer’s warranty

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ULTRA VISION

NITRO 120W MAXX

what we

LIKED

Output and warranty what we

SPECS PRICE: $695 each

dislIKED Failed water submersion testing

IP RATING: IP68 warranty: 5 years CLAIMED wattage: 120W actual current draw: 9.8A per(peak light)

FAIL WATER RESIsTANCE: (lenses fogged up on both lights) We had an issue with these particular lights, as the cable leading into the body must have been damaged internally – causing one light to flicker. This is what happens when you pick stock directly from the shelf unfortunately; and also what warranties are for (Ultravison offers a huge 5-year warranty). With the cable held in place, we were able to record impressive results.

The lights did run hottest out of the field, but performance-wise they blitzed all other lights in terms of long-distance output, and nearly took the top spot in terms of close-range output too. Water testing highlighted issues with the lenses fogging up, so it seems there is room for improvement with build quality. In terms of overall illumination however, Ultravision lights certainly are hard to beat.

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XRAY

VISION

what we

LIKED

Unique design with consistent results what we

SPECS PRICE: $630 each

dislIKED The finger like beam pattern

IP RATING: IP67 warranty: 2 years CLAIMED wattage: 60W actual current draw: 3.5A per(peak light) WATER RESIsTANCE:

PASS

While these lights from Xray Vision look a little different to the others on test, it must be said the LUX readings were very consistent. The light beam produced did have some cold spots, which must be a result of running fewer yet larger LEDs in the housing. Combined with an LED light bar though, and this wouldn’t be an issue anymore… but it is worth mentioning.

Current draw was equal second lowest out of all lights on test, and the same result was achieved when it came to running temperature. While hard to speculate, you would have to imagine those statistics point to good results for longevity.

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Comp

the sp

ARB AR32

drivetech 4x4

ironman 4x4 7-INCH BLAST

ultra vision 120w maxxMAGAZINE NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | nitro PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE

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pare

pread

bushranger nighthawk

great whites 220

lightforce 215

xray vision

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how they s

lux close-range

100,000

98.7

91

80,000

85.6

60,000 40,000

39.2

20,000 0

ARB AR32

37 Bushranger Nighthawk

35.51 Drivetech 4X4

Great Whites 220

35.2

22.3 Ironman 4X4

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

Xray Vision

lux mid-range 4,000

3,000

2,000

3.2

3 1.83

1.9

ARB AR32

Bushranger Nighthawk

3 2.4

2.4 1.5

1,000 0

Drivetech 4X4

Great Whites 220

Ironman 4X4

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

Xray Vision

lux long-range 60

54.50

50 40 30

31.50

20

31.85

ARB AR32

Bushranger Nighthawk

Drivetech 4X4

Great Whites 220

30.73

29.06

19.29

10 0

28.67

38.51

Ironman 4X4

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

Xray Vision

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stacked up

spread lux

50 40

46.10

39.84

30 20

21.60

10 0

19.29 11.59

ARB AR32

Bushranger Nighthawk

20.22 11.24

9.60 Drivetech 4X4

Great Whites 220

Ironman 4X4

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

temperature

Xray Vision

ยบC

60 50 40

49.6

48.4 36.4

30

28.9

20

32.7

32.7

Great Whites 220

Ironman 4X4

37.0

31.2

10 0

ARB AR32

Bushranger Nighthawk

Drivetech 4X4

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

Xray Vision

$

PRICE 1000

$900

800 600

$745

400

$320

200 0

ARB AR32

Bushranger Nighthawk

$705

$695

Lightforce 215

Ultra Vision Nitro

$630

$435 $275 Drivetech 4X4

Great Whites 220

Ironman 4X4

Xray Vision

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our pick...

(Tell us yours)

Click here to see the scientific testing results

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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winners

overall winner

Lightforce 215 The numbers are consistent and the product is of high-quality

overall

in terms of overall construction. While the 215s from Lightforce are not the cheapest light on this test, you are paying for quality.

These are the lights I would happily install on my bullbar.

winner Lightforce 215

notable mention

Great Whites 220 These are the most expensive lights on test, as well as being the

heaviest and largest in size. If that is of no concern to you, you will not be disappointed with these lights from Great Whites. The fact they drew the most current, yet ran cool (thanks to the large heat sink) is a sign they know how to build a high quality LED driving light.

bang for buck

Ironman 4X4 At just $275 per lamp, it is hard to deny the Ironman 4X4 Blast

notable

mention Great Whites 220

bang for

LED driving lights are a great bang for buck lighting solution.

Especially considering they passed our water submersion testing with ease, a sign of good quality construction.

BRIGHTEST LIGHT

Ultra Vision Nitro 120W Maxx Look at the real-world image, compare that to the LED Lab scientific testing results and it is not hard to see that offering from Ultra Vision produces a staggering amount of light. Water submersion testing is the only black mark against their name, something Ultra Vision are working with us to resolve. Stay tuned for further testing!

buck

Ironman 4X4 7-inch blast

brightest

light

Ultra Vision Nitro 120W MAXX

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BATT

E H T F O

MID-SIZE W

FORD EVEREST VS

HAS THE FORD EVE BENCHMARK FOR MID THE SOMEWHAT OL

LE OF THE M

STI LL REIG N

WORDS BY EVAN SPENCE, PHOT

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TLE

WAGONS

S TOYOTA PRADO

EREST SET THE NEW D-SIZE 4X4 S , OR DOES LD-SCHOOL PRADO

MID-SIZE WA

N SUPR EME ?

TOGRAPHY BY BRETT HEMMINGS

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***IMAGE*** PC4x4_0722.jpg

***COPY***

What can be said about Toyota Prado 4WDs that hasn’t been said before? They are comfortable, capable and reliable. They command a premium on the second-hand market and they draw envious respect throughout suburbia and school pick-up zones in the never-ending pursuit of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’.

I’m going to come out and say it though: The Prado has always been a soulless four-wheel drive.

The same can be said for many modern wagons really; I’ve even heard people refer to them as ‘cardigans on wheels’ or ‘a Camry with a transfer case’. Still, there is no denying the Prado has been designed for a specific task (being a practical family all-rounder),

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and historically this is a task it has Prado? Well, why speculate? performed exceptionally well.

It’s time to separate fact from fiction. Sam Purcell (the Editor When the Ford Everest was of Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures released last year, the Internet magazine) and I spent a few days went wild with overwhelming out in the bush to see which positivity. Could there finally be vehicle had the ace up its sleeve a mid-sized family four-wheel in terms of all-round liveability. drive that had some heart-andsoul while matching the off-road And to be honest, the verdict genuinely surprised us. cred and dependability of the NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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BACKGROUND

INFO

FORD EVEREST Engine: 3.2L 5-Cylinder Turbo Diesel Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic Power: 143KW Torque: 470Nm Safety: Five Star ANCAP

LE OF THE M Seating: 7 Seat Wagon

Claimed Fuel Economy: 8.5L/100KM

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TOYOTA PRADO Engine: 2.8L 4-Cylinder Turbo Diesel Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic Power: 130KW Torque: 450Nm Safety: Five Star ANCAP

MID-SIZE WA Seating: 7 Seat Wagon

Claimed Fuel Economy: 8L/100KM

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ON-ROAD PER

FORD EVEREST

The reality is, both of these vehicles will spend the majority of their time driving on-road. So this component of the test was one both Sam and myself were eager to compare notes on throughout our loop on the tight and twisty roads of the Blue Mountains in NSW. First impressions revolved around just how different these vehicles are. The Prado has lovely soft supple suspension that absorbed undulations and speed bumps with confidence; yet put it on a fast and sharp corner, and it would roll and pitch like a boat.

The Everest was firm and sporty, but on rough roads the suspension was harsh. The insanely low-profile tyres don’t help in this regard. The same differences existed when it came to power delivery. The Prado was somewhat doughy and linear in how it pushed forward, yet felt like it would (eventually) reach speeds no Prado should ever be driven at. The Everest pounced from the line with a sudden surge of power, which is genuinely exciting… however just like a packa-day smoker, it eventually ran out of puff. It was faster than the

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RFORMANCE

Prado though, no doubt thanks to the larger 3.2L turbo diesel engine versus the smaller 2.8L turbo diesel found in the Prado.

TOYOTA PRADO

The Everest has electronically controlled steering, which was light enough to turn on firm ground with your pinkie finger; yet lacked feel at speed. The Prado was actually quite firm in steering feel, thanks to the traditional power steering which made tight manoeuvres somewhat tedious; but it had a far more ‘planted’ feel at speed.

While both interior layouts were modern and inoffensive, the Everest was definitely the nicer place to be … both when it came to long-distance comfort and overall design. It makes you feel special; especially the generous sunroof.

As a side note, both vehicles have rather sensational stereos, but the one sound I couldn’t stand was indicator noise produced by the Ford Everest. Its BING BONG BING BONG was teeth-grindingly annoying. I know, I know, such a minor point on paper; but once it starts to annoy you there is no way to forget or change it.

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OFF-ROAD PE

FORD EVEREST

This is a four-wheel drive magazine, so in our eyes this component of testing would be the defining factor in which of these wagons was a winner.

The Ford seems to have a more advanced traction control system with Land Rover inspired Terrain Response Modes as well as a factory-fitted rear differential lock in the rear end.

There is Hill Descent Control and proper low-range gearing, too.

So on paper, it should spank the Prado silly and steal its lunch money in the process.

Unfortunately… it didn’t.

The Everest certainly isn’t bad off-road, far from it in fact. But the Prado is just better. Put it this way: We drove the Prado in places, with its centre diff lock disengaged, where the Everest needed everything switched on to tackle the terrain. With the centre diff lock engaged, the traction control fitted to the Toyota Prado just made a

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ERFORMANCE mockery of any track we pointed the vehicle at – with ground clearance being the only limiting factor. The traction control system used in the Prado is just superb … quick to engage and effective; whereas the Everest crabbed and shuddered until it found traction. The Prado’s soft suspension that floated through corners on-road was in its element off-road. It has more suspension travel than the Ford, and was more compliant over washouts and ruts while the Everest bottomed out on a few occasions. This could be due to the traditional 5-link rear suspension arrangement over the less seen (in a 4WD anyway) Watts-Link found in the Everest.

Toyota has a long history building four-wheel drives for Australian conditions; Ford does not (let’s not talk about the Explorer). And while Ford claims it built the Everest (and Ranger) for Aussie tracks, it certainly could learn lots from Toyota in this regard.

TOYOTA PRADO

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EV’S

OPINION I’m a purist I suppose, and for me the Prado looked like a people mover for those who wanted to visit wineries in National Parks…

Man, am I wiping the egg off my face now.

I have a well-modified GQ Patrol, and it is safe to say the Prado would eat it for breakfast on most tracks. And this saddens me to the rusty core. But at the same time, it excites me for the future of offroading in this country. So to any

Prado owner I have taken a cheeky jab at in the past, I apologise.

The Everest was a hoot to drive onroad, and if this is more important to you than off-road ability it would be the logical choice. But personally, I found myself disliking it more and more as the days went on. Kind of like a drunken onenight-stand where you convinced yourself early on that you had met the girl of your dreams, only to wake in the morning and discover she has an Adam’s Apple.

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ADVENTURES INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW NEBULA HYBRID. PART TENT, PART SWAG. LEARN MORE.

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SAM’S

OPINION

Comparing cars is a funny thing sometimes – normally because of the preconceptions that you might bring into the comparison. It’s important to stay as unbiased as possible before doing some testing; but staying 100% on the fence, in my experience, is 100% impossible.

Standing in front of these two cars, I thought I had my mind made up.

The Prado has been around longer than Cher, and has just about as much sex appeal (none, in case you

think I’m into that sort of thing…).

The Everest, on the other hand, looks bright and fresh: A new model that has been designed and engineered in Australia. It’s based on the new Ranger ute, which I like; so I thought this would be a shoe-in.

Things aren’t always as they seem, however. We spent a lot of time behind the wheel of each 4X4, both on-road and off-road. And we came to a conclusion of which was better.

And geez, it was a close call.

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ELECTRICAL PARTS YOU CAN TRUST. No matter where you are in your vehicle, any electrical breakdown is something to be avoided.

And when you’re a long way from home, having to replace a failed alternator or starter motor is a major inconvenience.

At Terrain Tamer, our parts are manufactured by an Original Equipment Manufacturer to ensure strength, reliability and longevity.

Each unit is tested post production and all come with an individual test certificate, so you can trust Terrain Tamer to bring you home.

For more information visit terraintamer.com or call 1300 888 444.

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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CONCLUSION

MID-SIZE WA So the verdict? Well rather than have us spell it out here, click on the video link to watch both wagons in action… and see which vehicle we crowned the winner.

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KIN KUNA:LIKE

INSKIP [

T

THE BEST C T H AT O N LY

WORDS AND P

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M I N U S [

]

THE HOLES

CA M P IN G O U T O F B R IS BA N E , Y T H E L O CA L S K N O W A B O U T. PHOTOGRAPHY

BY WAYNE ‘NUGGET’ NIEL

SEN

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There’s plenty of shade to be found at most of the campsites. And to save us getting a heap of letters; it’s a Hannibal rooftop tent… because we know you were wondering

It is tough living in Brisbane where we are blessed with an almost embarrassing number of beach camping options. Double Island Point, Fraser Island, Moreton Island and Straddie are all only a decent cooee up, down or off the coast.

What only the real locals know though is the best beach camping

of the lot is a little-known gem called Kinkuna.

Of course it depends on what you enjoy. If it is campgrounds with neat pine logs separating sites, shower and toilet blocks neatly in a row with night lights… then it might be best to leave the T-bar in ‘D’ and truck straight on past Kinkuna.

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NOW AVAILABLE NOW AVAILABLE NOW

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IN-STORE or ON-LINE IN-STORE or ON-LINE IN-STO * *

ce of this light was “...staggering the performance and excelled of this in light all was areas.” “... staggering the performance and excelled of thisinlight all areas.” was staggering and e Unsealed 4X4 Comparo - Dec. 2015 Unsealed4x4 C Unsealed4x4 Comparo - Dec. 2015 Unsealed4x4

TRALIAN • 1st MADE* AUSTRALIAN LIGHT BAR • 1st MADE* AUSTRALIAN LIGHT BAR MADE* L LIGHT • MORE LIGHT • MORE LIGHT DISTANCE • MORE DISTANCE • MORE DISTANCE LED WARRANTY • 5 YEAR LED WARRANTY • 5 YEAR LED WARRANTY

NS MORE WHENTHAN PERFORMANCE THE BRANDMEANS MORE WHEN THAN PERFORMANCE THE BRAND MEANS MORE THAN THE BRAND

u

SPECIFICATIONS LIGHT PATTERNS

SPECIFICATIONS LIGHT BUY PATTERNS NOW

LIGHT BUY PATTERNS NOW

www.ultra-vision.com.au www.ultra-vision.com.au 1800 66 HERE 55 66FOR INTERACTIVE Call: MAGAZINE 1800 66 55 66 NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION |Call: PLEASE CLICK

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ORE or ON-LINE

excelled in all areas.”

Comparo - Dec. 2015

LIGHT BAR The route sometimes gets closed as it is

prone to flooding

But if it is bush camping at the beach with only the sea breeze to keep you company that gets the juices flowing, then work your way down through the gears, drop the tyre pressures when the gravel starts smacking the insides of the guards and rock on in to a world of no-numbered campsites, no toilets, BUY NOW no showers, no rubbish bins, no water and no rice burners with thumping subs.

The Burrum Coast National Park is an easy 3.5-to-4 hour drive north of Brisbane. Hang a right at Childers and the Kinkuna turnoff is just before Woodgate. Don’t forget to book online, as the old

Self Registration huts are only markers for the start of the Park these days…

From the northern or Bundaberg end, sand tracks lead through flat sandy areas dense with vegetation waiting to welcome you with some new bush pin-striping to your truck. From the southern, or Woodgate end, the tracks are wider and meander through teacoloured swamp areas. When we visited there was just enough water for a bit of fun on the track – but after heavy rain it pays to check. The route sometimes gets closed as it is prone to flooding.

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1 1. Chair, book, feet in the water… how good is this?

2

2. Coonarr Creek access is very tight – but muddies heaven 3. Beach access is steep and soft

4

4. We have seen some big ’roos but this monster must have been at least 7 ft

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Getting around is a lot simpler these days with a relatively new track running the full length of the camping area, north-south and parallel to the beach – which saves winding past other campers who might be sharing the sea breeze.

The Park is limited to 40 campsites which sit on top of the sand dunes shaded by magnificent Casuarina trees, scattered along 10km of pristine beach ensuring plenty of space.

3

Once you’re out of city clobber and looking like a local in singlet and shorts, yesterday seems an eon away as the big city tension begins to drain out of your big toe and slowly disappear into the sand.

But now it is important decision time. Grab a stubbie or the fishing rod first? Actually it is a no brainer as any Queenslander will know: You grab them both and head for the water. Your mate will have the winch ready to pull in the big one as anything under 20kg gets thrown back in this neck of the woods… well that was what happened in my dreams, although expectations were lowered to filleting anything bigger than the bait.

For the less-dedicated fishermen who only fish all night and half the day, a walk along the shoreline

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RIGHT NOW

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EXTRA GRIP IS WORTH GOLD

That’s why you fit Cooper tyres Beware of tyres that imitate the Cooper look but are not built to perform

M

ost 4WD tyre brands make only one all terrain tread either one with a round edge or one with a square edge. Cooper

tyres come in a choice of tread edges so you can match your tyres to your terrain. The result?

Extra grip off-road.

SHAUN WHALE TIPS ON WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN YOUR 4WD TYRES

CLICK HERE TO GENERATE A QUOTE FOR YOUR VEHICLE To find out more visit coopertires.com.au or call 1300 COOPER

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Burrum Coast National Park is an easy 3.5-4 hour drive north of Brisbane with the better half is a must.

Seemingly endless white sand stretching as far as you can see in either direction with the biggest decision being which way to go… up or down the beach.

There are some local rules. You need to be totally self-sufficient so bring in your own food, water, medical kit; and take out all of your rubbish. The nearest sitdown toilets are a minimum 16km away, which is a LONG walk with your legs crossed – so you need to have those events covered as well. Always use the established ‘beach access’ ramps when driving onto the beach as these are boarded which helps minimise

the considerable damage being done to the dunes by those who insist on making new tracks. Also don’t forget to bring your own firewood, as the rangers here are particularly vigorous in this department. On a previous trip one grey-shirt picked through our fire pit looking for unburnt ends of local wood, so be warned.

Having said that, it is great to be able to have a campfire as this is no longer permitted in a lot of Parks. Nothing beats cooking up a storm on an open fire and then settling back and just watching the flames whilst having a good chinwag with family and friends.

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anything under 20kg

gets thrown back in this neck of the woods…

August to October sees the Park explode with springtime wildflowers when it seems like every bush and tree is covered in white, pink or yellow blossom.

There are no specific walking paths but a drive around the maze of tracks is a must. Although predominantly Suzuki Sierra friendly, once a Patrol has cleared the path and some of the low

branches remind you that the roof rack is still there, you find there are numerous ways to everywhere.

The sand into campsites varies from soft to very soft to very, very soft whilst the beach is generally good except if you are tight up on the dunes at higher tides.

Always best to travel a couple of hours either side of high tide, with lowered tyre pressures.

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Nearest toilets are at Woodgate, which is a long way to hold on

over bumpy tracks!

Two creeks bound the Park: Coonarr Creek to the north and Theodolite Creek to the south. Both present great opportunities for anyone with a tinnie or kayak and a couple of crab pots to bag some muddies. Access into Coonarr Creek will leave the duco looking like it has lost a fight with an angle grinder. The way in is off the 4WD Dry Weather Access road to Coonarr – but be warned, this is not for the faint-hearted.

On a sobering note, the dune top memorial to best mates Hayden Goode and Josh Nixon, who were tragically killed in 2008 when their motorbikes collided head on, is

a serious reminder to play things safely. The boys were passionate about the outdoors and were avid four-wheel drivers, bike riders and surfers. The memorial is beautifully placed overlooking one of their favourite playgrounds and stands to remind us to all to be just that little bit careful whilst indulging our passions.

Being our personal favourite beach camping spot, this was not our first visit to Kinkuna. And it certainly will not be our last.

When it is tent peg sharing time elsewhere, we will head back for some peace, quiet and fish.

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FACT FILE

WHERE: From Brisbane, hit the left-hand indicator at the Woodgate turning off just before Childers. The park entrance is on the left, 3km before Woodgate Beach township.

From Bundaberg head 14km south out of town on the Bundaberg-Goodwood-Childers road, turn into Coonarr Road just before the railway overpass and follow for 8km. Turn right into Palm Beach Road for 1km to the Park boundary and then follow the signs to the camping areas.

After wet weather, check with the Woodgate Ranger Station as access may be restricted due to local flooding.

Kinkuna is accessible by 4WD vehicles only and sanddriving experience would be an advantage.

CAMPING: Beach camping is available behind the dunes overlooking the beach. You need to be selfsufficient as there are no facilities provided. Nearest toilets are at Woodgate, which is a long way to hold on over bumpy tracks!

Permits are compulsory and can be booked online: i epa.qld.gov.au

Follow the links to Queensland Parks and Forests, Find a Park, Search by Alphabet (hit the ‘B’) and select Burrum Coast National

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Park. Click on Campsite Booking and then at the Campground tab, select Kinkuna Section from the drop-down menu.

Alternatively you can phone 13 13 04, or call in at the Woodgate General Store. When booking by phone or online, you will receive a booking number which you are supposed to record on a camping tag. Because there are no longer Self Registration huts from which to get camping tags, I keep one from previous trips and change the booking number on it.

SUPPLIES AND FACILITIES: Be totally self-sufficient for food, water, medical supplies and firewood. Nearest fuel

and supplies are at Woodgate and Bundaberg.

Domestic animals are prohibited in National Parks.

TRIP STANDARD: Sections of very soft sand on tracks; and the beach can be loose as a goose as well. Carry a snatch strap and shackles and someone will always help if you get into strife. Don’t forget a tyre gauge for deflating tyres, or a set of Stauns.

MAPS AND GUIDES: Beach conditions are updated on the EPA/Parks and Wildlife website.

i nprsr.qld.gov.au

August to October sees the Park explode with

springtime Wildflowers

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We’re starting with

a blank canvas...

In Issue 18 of Unsealed 4X4, we introduced you to our Project Vehicle – aptly named ‘Project Rusty’. But then we hit a hurdle... how on Earth were we going to make this thing pretty with nowhere to kit her out? Our car park wouldn’t work. The office backyard was bush and Dex’s place already had 27 other vehicles to contend with.

We like to think that our team is pretty handy with the tools, but our aim isn’t to replace the 4X4 workshop – far from it.

We’ll focus on practical installs, education and know-how. We aim to inform, and we’ll call in the experts when it gets too tricky. We are seeking to build our industry through partnership in education while keeping it as Welcome to Unsealed 4X4 Garage. simple as possible.

What better way to fit out a project Unsealed 4X4 Garage will be vehicle than in our own purposeyour go-to library with ideas, tips built garage. A filming studio and and tricks from the people who workshop in one, Unsealed 4X4 Garage will transform Project Rusty know best – our 4X4 industry. So keep watching. into a beautiful tourer.

But before we start,

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check out project rusty in more detail Let us know what you’d like to see from Unsealed 4X4 Garage and Project Rusty.

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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S TATION CREEK, NSW Just north of Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid north coast is the beautiful campground known as Pebbly Beach. Access to this spot is limited by the tidal creek crossing you have to do to get there. At low tide a Rav-4 could drive it; however on a king high, you’d better bring your lifejacket!

The Ranger up this way tells us

the problems start when people ignore the ‘cross only a couple of hours either side of low tide’ rule and give it a go when the water’s up. Not only can it get deep, but it can flow pretty quick too… and more than one 4X4 has been sent to the insurance gods thanks to the driver not walking it first and deciding that discretion is the better part of valour.

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N OLANS BROOK, FNQ Head up the Old Telegraph Track on your way to Cape York, and you’ll come across the infamous Nolans Brook up the northern end of the Tele. This is the deepest and most difficult water crossing on the entire track and it catches several vehicles out each year, with some folks even writing their pride and joy off completely. It has a soft sandy base, and most

people assume it’ll be fairly firm and neglect to air down – which is why so may punters get stuck, often drowning their vehicles in the 1m+ water. According to the locals, you have to drop some air out of your tyres and get wet by walking it first if you’re going to have a hope of driving it. Having a snatch strap or winch rope ready to go probably ain’t a bad idea either.

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CRYSTAL CREEK, FNQ While this one isn’t a water crossing in the traditional sense, the log bridge over Crystal Creek – again up at Cape York – could most definitely be described as hairy. A few logs loosely laid side by side to form a bridge looks more like something out of an Indiana Jones movie than something a 3T fourby is meant to drive across.

Taking it slow and steady and having a good spotter is the key here. One wrongly placed wheel could spell disaster; so don’t rush.

There are gaps between the logs that are just the right width to snag a poorly placed tyre. Once you’re over, you can smugly tell Harrison Ford to eat his heart out.

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STEEL BULLBARS

RAILS & SIDE STEPS

Opposite Lock bullbars are designed in Australia for Australian conditions, each bullbar is designed specifically to follow the contours and curves of every vehicle fitment.

Brush Bars can be indispensable when fighting back against tight tracks, closed in rocky points and dangling tree branches. A set of Brush Rails might be the cheapest investment to protect your paintwork you will ever make.

This is accomplished using 3D scanning tools and AutoCad design techniques, every Opposite Lock bullbar is ADR and Airbag compliant and comes available in Post-Type, Triple Loop, Single Loop Prestige and Fleet configurations.

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PENTECOST P ENTECOST RIVER (AFTER WET), WA We’ve all seen the Pentecost River crossing in just about every ad photo for the WA Tourism Board since time began. The river rises below the Durack Range in the Kimberley Region and flows north through El Questro Station and crosses the Gibb River Road.

Now, under ordinary circumstances this crossing wouldn’t belong in this article – with roughly 10 months of the

year seeing the water levels drop to around 50cm or so. But directly after a decent wet in April-May it becomes one of the nastiest crossings in the country. We’re talking 60m+ wide of deep, fastflowing water that has enough punch to leave a B-Double on its side… we know this because last time we were up that way there was a truck frame buried in the silt.

On top of that, saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the area. Oof.

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ELI CREEK – FRASER ISLAND, QLD Fraser Island is about as iconic as off-road destinations get. There are two types of four-wheel driver: Those that want to go to Fraser and those that have been to Fraser and want to go back. However the beach crossing at Eli Creek always seems to catch a few people out each season. Perhaps it’s to do with the sharply eroded banks

providing a steep drop-off, overinflated tyres and inexperience behind the wheel; but our mates at Five Rat Towing sure have seen their fair share of full vehicle recoveries over the years.

If you’re up this way, maybe take a few minutes to assess the situation before charging in. You don’t want to become another Eli victim.

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HENTY RIVER, TAS

The beaches at Strahan offer some of the best sand driving in Tassie, but the spot where the mouth of the mighty Henty River bisects the beach has brought many a 4WD to its knees. To start with, there’s deceptively tame-looking quicksand before you even get to the crossing.

Once you’ve made the bank, the drop-in can be steep and the water

fast-moving… never a good combo.

It only gets worse after heavy rain too; so choose your battles and give it a miss if you’re not 100% confident. The locals reckon they’ve seen plenty of 4X4s wrecked after they became stuck and needed a tractor to pull them out. Apparently tractor buckets and sheet steel don’t mix…

tell us about the hairiest crossing

you’ve ever undertaken 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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WE NEED YOU TO HELP SAVE LIVES. No one knows the roads better than the people who drive them.

That’s the idea behind Queensland’s innovative Flooded Roads Map – where locals mark out the roads prone to flooding and the safe routes to get around them. The more people contribute, the better it is for everyone!

As experienced 4WDers, we’re calling on you to share your knowledge.

Hit the road enough and you’ll know that floodwater can change conditions massively; subsidence, slippage,

maybe you’ve even seen sinkholes on roads you’ve driven a hundred times before. You also know that it doesn’t have to be that deep or fast to float a 4WD, and once that happens even the most experienced driver is pretty much helpless. Basically, no matter who you are, or what you drive, if it’s flooded forget it.

But it’s your knowledge of local roads and conditions that we really need.

Please go to the map, check it out, and add what you know. It could literally save someone’s life.

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Add your local knowledge to the Flooded Roads Map right now!

www.qld.gov.au/floodwatersafety

Authorised by the Queensland Government, George Street, Brisbane.

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If you haven’t seen a forwardfolding trailer before, you’re about to see something pretty impressive. Unlike a traditional hard floor where the floor folds rearwards off the bed, a forwardfolder has the bed coming up off the ready set-up dinette and it ends up sitting over the drawbar.

It’s a great design and offers a ready-to-go lounge/eating area/ double bed where a rear-folder would have just a bare floor. In fact, I’d have to say it’s a more efficient design than a rear-folder… and I love those things.

The trailer we picked up was an EzyTrail Stirling GT. This is up towards the top end of what EzyTrail produces, and at first glance you sure do get a lot of bang for your buck. For 20-odd grand you get a hard floor, quick to set up trailer that has all the top-shelf inclusions such as independent coil suspension, fourburner pull-out stainless BBQ/ kitchen, fridge slide, ample storage, external speakers and even a TV! If this got any closer to ‘glamping’ there’d be a complimentary spa and shiatsu thrown in.

However forward-folding trailers are not without their drawbacks either. But we’ll get into those in a minute.

After 1,000km or so with this trailer, we got a pretty good idea of what it’d be like to live with one of these things long-term.

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1. There’s a privacy screen for the bed area that is a nice touch, good for discouraging the kids from crawling into bed with you at 3am anyway…

3

2. The design is very clever, with plenty of space for a family on the lounge 3. The stainless kitchen looks to be top quality – with four burners, LED lighting, a sink, pull-out table and drawers for your cutlery and incidentals 4. LED lighting is all over the place, including the tail lights 5. There’s plenty of storage space.

Deputy Editor Ev mentioned you could hide a dead body in there… things got awkward after that

4 5

2

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First off, it towed nicely with our Prado tow mule easily able to stay at the speed limit on the freeway. However, you wouldn’t say it was overly light. At 1,600kg it’s not really suitable for anything smaller than a mid-sized 4X4; but then you do have to consider the inclusions – of which there are plenty – and the sheer beefiness of the thing. The frame is constructed from depleted-uranium-density 4mm thick hot-dip galvanised steel for starters.

That’s thicker than your average 4X4 rock slider… so while it has plenty of strength and corrosion protection you have to wonder if anything would really be lost if they dropped the wall thickness down a millimetre or two. The boat rack is again made from heavy steel, and is without a doubt a perfect setup for those who get as much enjoyment from being on the water as they do on land; however it is still extra weight, and may be worth unbolting if it’s not needed.

Towing off-road we noticed that the polyblock coupling actually seemed to be doing more work than the suspension – with the limiting straps on the trailing arms having only about an inch or so of slack at ride height. EzyTrail tells us that the suspension is adjustable, though. So this may be something that can be tweaked.

The twin gas shocks look the business, but for serious trips I think I’d rather swap them out for quality single shocks that are aligned a little better, but that’s me…

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The suspension as tested was OK, but not great. Getting the shocks on a better angle and having a bit more slack in the limiting strap would go a long way. Note the rear mounted 120L water tank

Getting the trailer set up for camping is a doddle. Simply hook up the front winch and wind the roof forward over the drawbar.

Roughly 30 seconds later you’re ready to push up the internal hoops and click the spreader bars into place. The whole thing takes about 90 seconds. Pro tip: Wind out enough slack on the rear winch and hook it up before you unfold the camper. That way, when it comes time to fold her back up, you simply wind it closed rather than having to loop the

strap over the top of the camper.

We found out the hard way.

The interior is spacious, with 18m2 of floor space – which is impressive no matter how you swing it. The U-lounge is comfy and versatile – becoming a dining area, a couch or an extra double bed for the kids.

There’s plenty of storage under the seats and the dual 100A/h batteries are accessed there too. One thing we noted was that the bracket for the panel support, which allows it to become a bed, was quite sharp.

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Setting up only takes a couple of minutes on the winch and popping up a few internal poles

A crew member actually managed to cut his shin open on it. Not a huge negative, but something to be aware of.

We like the fold-up side panel that allows the living area to be fully enclosed or to serve as a verandah. Perfect for those hot nights on the beach.

The canvas is 450gsm which should be pretty hardy, even in our conditions; although it is recommended that you season

the canvas a couple of times before taking it out in the bush.

The queen-size bed is easily big enough to accommodate two adults without being claustrophobic and the bed area has a zip-close privacy screen which is a nice touch. There are storage pockets all over the place for your knick-knacks, and LED interior lights provide ample illumination after dark while drawing next to no current.

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Outside the trailer there’s an awning that you can attach; however we were experiencing high winds on the day of our test and after about an hour of wrestling with zips, and some accidental paragliding episodes, we thought we’d leave it off. Truth be told it’s one of those things that’ll take you an hour to set up the first time you do it, and ten minutes the 100th time.

The stainless kitchen, fridge slide and storage drawers are all on rollers and pull out easily. If you’re staying at the one site for a few nights and have the awning and annexe in place you’ll be wind, sun and rain protected and have a heap more undercover space available.

The wheels are fancy-looking alloys and there’s quality 265/75R16

Cooper rubber wrapped around them. There are even external speakers so you can enjoy your favourite Metallica track while cooking up a storm… or annoy everyone else at your campsite.

There is another huge storage locker on the far side of the camper and the electrics and water pumps are all easily accessed via swing-open doors. Underneath are two water tanks, one 35L and one 120L, both powered by electric pumps – so you’ll pretty much never go thirsty.

There are more storage boxes on the drawbar and on the rear of the camper. The front box has provision for a couple of jerries and the rear is the perfect size to accept dirty recovery gear or general rubbish.

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At the end of the day, this isn’t the best trailer we’ve ever taken out. But it’s not meant to be.

It’s a budget trailer for those who want plenty of creature comforts without having to fork out a premium. Yes, there are a few things I’d want changed: A lighter frame; a few tweaks to the suspension; brackets that aren’t going to require me to carry a ‘Sewing Stitches for Dummies’ book; ditch the rack (I don’t need it); and just a generally simpler package overall. With that said, this trailer represents excellent value for the money. It’s offered at a mid-level price that delivers a lot of inclusions for the coin. And that’s hard to argue with.

SPECIFICATIONS:

EzyTrail

Stirling GT Coupling

100 x 75 x 4 mm hot dip galvanised steel 360 degree poly block

Rims and Tyres

16in alloy rims and Cooper tyres

Chassis

Independent trailing Suspension arm with coils and twin shock absorbers U-lounge, converts to double bed Water Tanks 120L, 35L 1,600kg tare, Weight 2,250kg ATM 450gsm fine-weave Canvas with midge-proof mesh Living Area

Price as tested

$20,000

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DRONE RECONNAIS NO LONGER JUST A CAMERA IN THE SKY… WE CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BEST DRONES ON THE MARKET, WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR AND HOW TO GET MORE OUT OF THEM THAN JUST PHOTOS.

WORDS BY TIM STANNERS

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If, like me, you love your gadgets, then chances are you’ve already got one of the many and varied camera drones. But other than taking aerial photos, what do you need to know about drones, aerial imagery and what other uses

will give you the best excuse to go and buy yourself one?

We also check out three of the most popular consumer drones and some of the rules you need to get yourself across BEFORE you take off!

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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Images,

Video and Reconnaissance Drones, Quads, whatever you want to call them, unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs have opened up a whole new world of excitement and opportunity for people. Integrated with built-in cameras or the ability to attach aftermarket cameras, drones have become a big industry with sales skyrocketing and costs, well… coming down a little bit.

Historically, quality drone imagery was limited to the very top end of town and it was really only dedicated photographers and other industry folk who could afford the drones and cameras necessary to take

decent photos or video.

Now however, new models directed more towards the mid range of pricing have allowed hobbyists to get into the game.

Full 1080 HD video at 60 frames per second, up to 4K video as well as 12-14 megapixel photos are common among the many and varied drones on the market – allowing stunning imagery to be taken with the click of a controller button.

Many come with ‘out of the box’ video preset functions which allow the drone to record a range of

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Check out our

latest drone EXPLORATION… video styles such as the ‘Follow Me’ function – where the drone will sit comfortably behind a moving object while keeping that object in the centre of the video frame.

We’ve been running a couple of drones at Unsealed 4X4 for slightly different reasons though.

Sure, they take magical imagery and video at a significantly reduced cost over a helicopter and photographer. But we’ve also been using them as part of our trip planning and decisionmaking processes.

Whilst struggling with a wet and

boggy track, we wanted to make sure we didn’t make more of a mess than was necessary; and, uncertain of the track condition ahead, we stopped and sent the drone up to take a look. Then, just like the military, Unsealed 4X4 ‘drone reconnaissance’ was born.

We now use this regularly to ensure a ‘tread lightly’ approach whereby we can pick the best lines or even find alternate tracks to ensure sustainable and ethical offroad touring and 4X4 adventure… and the best part about it is we can record our adventure while we’re doing it.

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The Legalities

and CASA Be warned! There are laws which sight at all times. affect you as soon as your drone Drones also need to be kept lifts off the ground. at least 30m away from boats, Let’s face it: With drones utilising vehicles, buildings or people. technology that can give them Voyeurs beware – you cannot literally kilometres of range, all fly a drone directly over any the while streaming live video back to the controller. However, populous area. Be it a beach, backyard, sports oval or other CASA stipulates that drones do populated area. Drones must need to be kept within line-ofbe kept below 120m while being NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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Click here for

important

safety information from casa

flown in any controlled airspace which, incidentally, covers most cities and major towns throughout the country. If you’re within 5.5km of an airfield, forget it!

CASA also stipulates that ignorance of location is not a defence and it is therefore up to the individual to find out if

restrictions apply to any area where a drone is intended to be flown … so be warned.

Additionally, there are restrictions on flying drones for commercial purposes without certification. We won’t bore you with them here, so for further information refer to: i casa.gov.au

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PRICE

From $850 to $2,400

The Most popular

DJI Phantom 3 If you’re serious about drones, then you’ll have heard of the DJI Phantom. The Phantom has been around for a while and is now in its fourth incarnation with the Phantom 4 having just been released.

The outgoing Phantom 3 has been hugely popular among hobbyists for its streamlined flight controls and simple features while delivering staggering video and stills photography. The only downside to the Phantom is the cost, although you can pick up earlier models at reasonable prices.

Everything else works beautifully.

The Phantom comes with a built-in camera and has a flying time of just over 20 mins on one battery.

Standard features include:

» Up to 4K Video/12 MP Photo » Integrated 3-Axis Stabilisation Gimbal » Intelligent flight mode system with multiple flight functions including POI, way points, return to home, follow me, course lock and home lock as well as the standard free flight » GPS + GLONASS Positioning System The Phantom integrates with the controller through the DJI app on your phone or tablet device and has built-in safety features through the pre-flight GPS lock, limiting the chance of an unexpected flyaway.

If you’ve ever wanted to get into drone imagery, then we reckon you can’t go past the DJI Phantom.

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PRICE

Around $1,400 (without a camera)

Catching Up Fast

3D Robotics Solo A big competitor to the Phantom, and looking like it’s come straight off the set of a Thunderbirds movie, is the 3D Robotics Solo.

The Solo is an option for those who may already have a GoPro camera in the kit bag. Rather than the all-in-one concept of the DJI models, the Solo comes without a built-in camera and instead has a GoPro-ready mount on a 3-axis gimbal.

Setting up smooth aerial shots with the Solo is a breeze through its range of GPS-reliant ‘Smart Shot’ settings. The smart shots are selected easily through the Solo app and include Cable Cam (which allows you to select two points and almost any track between these). The drone will then fly the course as if attached to an imaginary cable, while controlling the camera’s tilt and pan to produce a smooth, professional-looking video sequence.

Other Smart Shots include Orbit, Selfie and Follow. Likewise, each of these functions produces some pretty amazing video although the wider field of view of the GoPro ‘fish-eye’ style lens can create slightly distorted horizon imagery from the air. As with most ready-to-fly drones with a similar price point, the Solo comes standard with GPS locking and return-to-home button as well as two userconfigurable buttons.

Streaming HD video straight to your phone or tablet via the Solo app allows simple unobstructed viewing and recording, as well as easy-to-control inflight adjustable camera settings.

With around 25 minutes of flight time on a single battery and a top speed of 88 km/h, the 3DR Solo is a nice choice for simplicity and ease of use… as long as you have a GoPro.

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The Parrot or

the Bebop The other popular drone in the category is the Parrot Bebop.

The name and colour aside, we reckon this thing looks like a cross between a budgie and an old World War II Spitfire. You’ll pay around $1,500 for the full kit including the drone and the controller. However, there is the option of foregoing the expensive ‘Skycontroller’ and running the drone through a phone or tablet – reducing the cost by around $700.

Without the controller, the Bebop becomes a little more competitive when compared to the bigger two in the market as, in our view, it’s simply not as refined as the others. For around $800 for the drone itself, it does become a little more appealing however; and it will certainly give you some quality imagery through the built-in 14 megapixel fish-eye camera.

The Bebop does have a limited range without the Skycontroller; using only WiFi connectivity, the maximum range sits at around 250 metres. Using a phone or tablet, one cool feature of this drone is the ability to perform ‘stunt’ manoeuvres (flips, backflips and the like). We don’t really know why and you’ll probably get bored, but it is a caper the others can’t pull off.

Battery life is a little limited with just under 10 mins flight time per battery. The drone does ship with two batteries however, giving 15-20 mins flight time in total for what represents a cheaper reconnaissance drone.

Would we buy one? Maybe… but if we had the cash, we’d definitely go for one of the more refined models.

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Something has to be said for those out there who don’t give up; the kind of people who get stuff done without the excuses.

Meet Shaun Worden and his custom 2012 HiLux SR dualcab. In a little less than a year Shaun has modified the vehicle

from stock, doing most of the work himself, and tackled one of Australia’s most popular off-road destinations… all from a wheelchair. Searching for deadset inspiration?

Look no further.

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TUFF’N UP There’s tuff and then there’s Safari Tuff. When you head off the beaten track you need components you can rely on. The last thing you need is to get stranded out here. Sure you’ve got a satellite phone and help is only a couple of days away, but your reward is to beat the track, not let the track beat you.

These kind of conditions are tough on drivelines so don’t skimp on quality, always make sure you’re fitted out with an EXEDY Safari Tuff Clutch.

EXEDY’s enhanced design and quality material specifications give you the confidence to attack the toughest tracks.

EXEDY Safari Tuff clutch range, for serious four wheel driving.

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Shaun picked up the 2012 dual-cab ’Lux at the end of 2014 with only 32,000kms on the clock. Back then the only modifications were a Toyota steel bullbar and an ARB rear step – both of which have since been replaced.

It was an adventure from day one; Shaun had picked the

vehicle up in Adelaide and had nearly 3,000km ahead of him just to get back home to Townsville. The long drive proved to be an essential part of the build process. Time behind the wheel let Shaun dream of all the things he could do with the new rig, while dirty fuel and boggy dirt-track shortcuts put a few necessities on the list.

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This model HiLux is a popular starting point for many, with an endless supply of bolton mods readily available and a strong community of like-minded enthusiasts ready to offer advice. Of course, it doesn’t take a HiLux aficionado to notice the transformation Shaun’s rig has undergone. The black painted bonnet and dark tinted windows are the first signs of a long-distance tourer – but the heavy-duty bar work hints that this is one ute that’s built for more than just a scenic drive.

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3 1. The cockpit has everything that opens and shuts 2. Bash-plate central protecting the underbody 3. Fishing, camping or towing.

This thing is good to go!

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DRIVING LIGHTS: REIMAGINED The shape of driving lights has changed forever!

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The dual beam models of the 900 Series and 1200 Series quad-optic LED linear driving lights have individual pencil and spread beam switching. This eliminates distracting hot spots while navigating tight winding roads and off-road tracks, but allows full long distance output once you’re back on the open road.

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OM HILUX Protection up front is taken care of by a tube-style Axis bullbar, while Buds Customs sliders protect the sills. A common weakness, especially on the newer Toyota off-roaders, is the low-hanging sump and gearbox – so a heavy-duty Monster Rides bashplate was installed.

The chunky steel slab replaces both the original gearbox crossmember and the factory-issue tinfoil sump guard for a big step up in protection.

Many make do by just chip-tuning stock engines, but this rig has a little extra grunt thanks to a Munro Racing turbo, 3in turboback exhaust from Redback, and 4.11 cogs in the diff. “It started with the chip and exhaust, then I decided to get the turbo as well,” Shaun tells us. “It makes a big difference, and a new intercooler is on the way.”

Getting all that grunt to the dirt is made easier with 33in Nitto Trail Grappler muddies, which fit just a little bit easier thanks to custom flares and lift. After doing his research, Shaun opted for the 3in Matrix lift kit with Monster Rides upper control arms, progressive bump stops and droop limiters.

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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

Inside the cab is an off-road driver’s paradise. Pillar mounted Redarc gauges keep tabs on essentials like EGTs and boost, as well as oil, water and transmission temperatures. Top of the dash is a Hema HN7 to keep the bonnet pointed in the right direction.

The Hema unit is also the display for the reverse camera, with a dash-mounted switch allowing the camera to be used any time to check on trailer couplings and tailgaters. Further down is where you’ll find the fun stuff: A mode selector for the Unichip, and a Pedal Torque controller to change the throttle sensitivity. “I haven’t used the Pedal Torque as much

since the turbo install,” Shaun mentions, “But it’s great to wind it right down for smooth crawling.”

Few will disagree that a highquality sound system is an essential modification for a 4WD. Regardless of the breed, factory-issue speakers just don’t do justice to any music style and struggle to be heard above the roar of a well tuned, turboed and exhausted diesel engine.

Theme music for Shaun’s unsealed adventures is brought to life by an Alpine amp powering Polk Audio splits up front, and a Rockford slimline sub hidden behind the seat.

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Out back, the factory tub was ditched in favour of a custom job built by Shaun himself. The canvas covered steel frame provides protection for his wheelchair and a monstrous 75L Ironman 4X4 dual compartment fridge to keep everything ice cold. Finding a drop slide for such a massive fridge proved to be a challenge; a traditional drop slide simply wouldn’t be able to handle the weight. As is often the case, custom-built was the answer. Shaun sketched a design, then handed the task over to his local engineering mob to finish the job. The result is pretty cool. A 10-second buzz of the rattle gun drops the fully-loaded fridge down next to the rig. Smart camping at it’s best.

Under the custom tray is a drawer for all the extra recovery essentials, while up top a Rhino tradie bar track provides tie-down points for a high-lift jack, traction boards, and the rest of Shaun’s gear.

Preparing a vehicle for off-road touring usually involves installing extra lights, fridges, and all the extra gadgets we love. The result is often 1. The Matrix lift kit keeps the rubber on the road 2. A custom switch panel keeps everything neat and tidy

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a mess of wires going all over the place. As well as being a potential fire risk, it just makes it bloody confusing to try to fix anything later on. A sparky by trade, Shaun kept everything neat and tidy by running power to the tray and installing a custom switch panel for all the extra camp gear. Here you’ll find switches for camp lights on all sides as well as accessory sockets for anything else. Back in the cab, there’s a switch to cut power to all that extra stuff – making pack-up even easier.

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What, your drop-down fridge slide isn’t operated via electric drill and you’re still doing it manually like a sucker?

As tough as this HiLux is, the bloke who built it is even tougher. Shaun’s love of the outdoors started out as the single-track kind on two wheels, but a motorbike accident in 2012 left him with a broken back and in a wheelchair. The HiLux build gave Shaun a way to still enjoy his fishing and camping, and something to take his mind off the prang. “Most of the work I’ve done myself,” Shaun mentions.

“It’s kept me sane while I recovered and helped me to realise what I can still do.”

Soon after the build was completed Shaun and girlfriend Marina left for a three-week

trip to Cape York. “The HiLux was unstoppable and showed up a lot of bigger cars,” he says proudly. “We met some awesome people and I managed pretty well in my wheelchair.”

Shaun’s not done yet, with another trip already planned for later this year.

So there you have it. Where some would reluctantly kick the off-road habit and occupy their time with a less adventurous hobby, Shaun built a vehicle to suit his needs and got straight back out there. No more excuses… get out there and explore this amazing country.

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WHERE MADIGAN WENT, plus WHERE HE

DIDN’T...

THREE GENERATIONS OF FATHERS AND SONS TAKE ON THE NORTHERN SIMMO. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY WAYNE ‘NUGGET’ NIELSEN

MADIGAN LINE | GEOSURVEYS HILL | GEOGRAPHIC CENTRE OF THE SIMPSON | HAY RIVER TRACK | NORTHERN SIMPSON DESERT | NT/SA

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After two failed starts over five years, doing the Madigan Line was looking like the stars just weren’t going to line up and it would remain an unfulfilled dream. Then out of the blue, four XXXX cans lined up in a row and we had a road trip.

Joining me were my son Jake, and his father and grandfather in-law Chris and Nev – making this one very special trip with two father-and-son sets, spanning three generations and aged from 26 to 75.

WHERE HE

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The game plan was pretty simple.

Nev and I drive to Alice Springs, meet the boys at the airport, stock up on tucker and beverages, then pin the ears back for Mt Dare, Old Andado Station, the Madigan Line with a detour to Geosurveys Hill, crosscountry to the centre of the Simpson Desert, back to the Madigan Line, and then at the Hay River decide whether to complete the Madigan or slip down the Hay River Track to Poeppel’s Corner. Then the coldie at the Birdsville Pub.

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1 1. Centre of the Simmo … DONE AND DUSTED!

2

2. Camels like those used by Madigan now roam the desert areas in big numbers 3. End of the line and time for a well deserved refresher

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Chariots of choice were my 2013 130 Defender with stock engine and suspension – but rigged with long-range sill tanks, an almost completed canopy, front and rear winches, a set of MTZs, roof top tent and most of the other pretty standard accessories; whilst Nev’s Prado was stock except for a 2in suspension upgrade, rear storage and roof rack. The Defender carried 145L of water plus five jerry cans of emergency fuel; whilst the Prado was an endless supply of tricks and treats.

3

As we topped up fuel at Mt Dare, we reflected on how differently Madigan did his crossing.

Cecil certainly didn’t rush into the expedition but prepared with great attention to detail. In 1929 he flew aerial reconnaissance in RAAF Wapiti aircraft fitted with Eagle cameras – the first time they were used in Australia and the first time they were used for geological work in the Commonwealth. They covered Birdsville to Alice Springs, Alice Springs to Oodnadatta via the desert’s centre, and an area covering Lake Caroline. He subsequently named the Simpson Desert after A. A. Simpson who was president of the Geographical Society.

Over the next nine years he completed aerial investigations of the Lake Eyre region, and a ground expedition of the same area; plus traversed the northern end of the desert through the Jervois, Tralton and Toko Ranges.

He sought out everyone who had probed the desert from every direction, gathering as much information as possible. Whilst Ted Colson had crossed the southern Simpson with Eringa Peter of the Antakurinya tribe and five camels in 1936, Simpson was keen to see the northern section explored further and agreed to finance an expedition.

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The people involved in this expedition were a

‘who’s who’ of Central Australian legend Madigan also chose camels and sought out the legendary Bejah Dervish in Maree, who had been on the 1896/7 Calvert Expedition which travelled from Willuna to the Fitzroy across the Great Sandy Desert. Because Bejah was now too old, he recommended his son Jack, who became the first team member. The other positions were more difficult to fill as no salaries would be paid … but eventually R. L. Crocker was the botanist, H. O. Fletcher the field biologist, Robert Simpson the wireless operator, David Marshal the photographer, Andy Dieriman the sample catcher, Noorie Moosha the camel driver and Albert Hubbard the cook.

Nineteen camels were required:

seven carrying water, seven for riding and carrying personal gear and five to carry the stores and equipment (which included a Traeger wireless). This enabled communication with Harry Ding in Yunta who relayed messages and also supplied a truck driven by the famous Birdsville Mailman, Tom Cruise (who would move stores from the railway at Abminga, through Charlotte Waters to Andado). The people in and around this expedition were a ‘who’s who’ of Central Australian legend.

Jack had walked the camels from Maree and was waiting at Charlotte Waters when the rest of the party, supplies, Tom Cruise and the

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truck offloaded at Abminga. Once they joined up, the camels were loaded and headed for Andado Homestead (built in 1922), whilst the scientific staff took the truck.

It was at Old Andado Station (a new homestead was built in 1949) that we started to cross paths. Old Andado is a ‘must visit’ where one virtually steps back in time. Molly and Mac Clark owned Andado Station but following the death of Mac in 1978 and the destruction of the stock following a Federal Government decision to eradicate Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in NT cattle, Molly sold the property and moved back to the original homestead – restoring it and running it as a tourist destination.

Today it is just as it was back in the day with all the furniture, clothes, sapling roof beams, corrugated iron roofing, cement floors … it is even complete with enough holes and gaps in the walls and roof to be somewhat air conditioned in a bush sort of way. Volunteers now manage the place and greet visitors with freshly baked scones.

As it turned out, Madigan’s party didn’t actually meet up here as Jack had found there was not enough feed for the camels and had moved on; and then a problem with the wireless caused a further delay. It was at Andado Bore No. 1 that the entire expedition finally came together and headed off into the unknown.

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1. Each camp is now marked with a plaque on a star picket

1

2. Geosurveys Hill cairn and trig marker. It is surprising how rocky the hill is 3. It is amazing to see ямБnches way out here

2

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Today it is remarkably simpler in our 4X4s with Hema maps loaded into the GPS, but it is still a real adventure. This is remote travelling, and getting it wrong inevitably has consequences … often dire. This is isolated sand dune country and whilst the dunes start relatively easy, speed needs to be monitored and caution taken as you never know when someone might be coming up the other side of a dune.

Keen to experience as much of what Madigan did as possible, we climbed The Twins near the junction of the Todd and Hale to stand where he stood, next to the cairn they built and where they recorded the names of the expedition members on a note left in a tobacco tin. As we took in the view and read the plaques it was humbling to reflect on how brave these men were (trying to achieve what all before them had failed to do) and the conditions in which they travelled.

The dunes start to increase to 15 metres after Camp 6 – but as we were late in the season and clearly a number had preceded us, the track was well defined and easy to follow. Earlier in the year the tops of dunes would still be formed with soft sand, making the going much tougher.

Just after Camp 8 we cracked a right to Geosurveys Hill. Even in this country, ‘track’ is a very generous term and the 39km trip took us nearly five hours. Despite travelling parallel to the dunes, it was very harsh terrain ramping over hummocky mounds while trying to miss the spinifex humps. Chris and Nev in the Prado were starting to question the sanity of all Land Rover drivers and one Defender driver in particular.

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Jake did his first Simmo crossing when he was four, Nev had done a fair bit of touring including the Canning; but it was Chris’ first desert trip and a pretty full-on initiation for someone more comfortable in gale-force seas off Fraser Island.

Geosurveys Hill is a very rare feature in this sand-dominated desert. It’s a rock-covered hill, discovered by Reg Sprigg whilst making the first southnorth motorised crossing of the Simpson in 1964. His party erected a stone cairn, which still

survives; and a trig point was added later. Did we climb it and stand by the cairn? You betcha we did. And despite being nearly blown off the top, the picture of my son Jake and I will be going straight to the pool room.

From Geosurveys Hill, we crosscountried to the Geographical Centre of the Simpson Desert.

Given the roughness of the ‘track’ just completed, trepidation was high as the GPS plotted a southeast course knowing that the suspensions under our vehicles had been in the comfort zone

Even in this country,

‘track’

is a very generous term...

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1. Wildflowers make the desert come alive with colour 2. Wild flowers bordered the track with yellow and green 3. Camp 11 has a visitors’ book to sign

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compared to what they were about to be asked to endure. After the first 15 to 20 massive dunes it was evident that going back would be significantly more difficult as the dunes had already increased in size and softness. This was slow, thumping and bumping stuff with any straight line of 20 metres a bonus; but was it fun … my oath it was. The 130 was carving a road for the Prado which was doing great even if the underside was bush-polished to a mirror finish and the sides were a bit pin-striped.

Another 40 odd km, another five hours … desert touring heaven. And then we popped out onto a shot line and thought we had hit the highway. A few more klicks, a couple more sand dunes and bingo there we were, 25°22’00.01”S 137°05’00.06”E, standing slap-bang at the Geographical Centre of the Simpson Desert.

3

After a hard day on the trail, everyone was hungry enough to eat a horse and chase the rider. Chris had promised a very special meal at the centre – and true to his word, beer battered fish and chips were for tea.

Red Emperor and Deep Sea Perch fillets materialised from Cryovac bags, spuds were sliced and the beer batter prepared just like in an old-time fish and chip shop. The hardwood coals proved too hot so some were spread on the claypan until the oil was the perfect temperature and the fillets were dropped in.

Fair dinkum, they were to die for; and after washing them down with a cold ale, every one of us slept particularly well that night.

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As we started back toward the Madigan Line we picked up a track that seemed to be heading in the right direction and, as it turned out, it took us all the way. Again ‘track’ is a very loose term as no more than a couple of trucks had been through leaving faint tyre marks to follow – but it was better than bush bashing the 88km. We were particularly grateful as we got closer to the Madigan and the spinifex became thicker, higher, clumpier and generally more painful. Thankfully the tops were

knocked off, saving us constant checking around the exhausts.

Back on the Line and the further east, the higher the dunes became – increasing to 20 metres. Luckily some recent rain had packed the sand a bit and the going was generally good. We came across some tremendous campsites at Madigan Claypan and there was wood galore for a roaring fire.

Along this stretch we also saw some camels and plenty of dingo

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and lizard tracks; even the odd snake trail. The dunes were literally alive with wildflowers and Chris’ expectation of nothing but red sand was replaced with seas of brilliant white, red, yellow and purple.

stood over 70 years before.

The day started to get exciting.

First, a sharp rock slashed the sidewall of one of the MTZs as clean as if it were a surgeon’s scalpel … nothing that six plugs wouldn’t fix (to get us back to civilisation, anyway). Then We ticked off the camps one by one. At Camp 15 on the Hay suddenly we were engulfed by thousands and thousands of River we hung a right and went down to the tree blazed with budgies (which even impressed Jake). They coloured the sky M39 by Madigan at Camp 16.

Sadly it is almost grown over bright green and then black, as they turned and twisted en these days… but again it is amazing to be standing where he masse. Spectacular stuff.

as we gotcloser to the Madigan and the spinifex

became thicker, higher, clumpier and generally more painful

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We decided to continue on the Hay as neither Chris or Nev had been to Poeppel’s Corner. It turned out to be a fun decision as it put us on an east to west leaning – requiring numerous crossings on the more difficult sides of the dunes. This provided several opportunities for the 130 to snatch the Prado over the top, with no photo opportunity missed. It never hurts to remind the Toyota boys with some gentle ribbing that Land Rovers do it better, I reckon.

The QAA Line provided excellent dunes culminating in Big Red, the big daddy of dunes; and then Birdsville … the most iconic of pubs, a cold beer and a shower (in that order).

It was a fantastic trip into some of the most remote, inhospitable areas our continent could throw at us. We got through with one punctured tyre, some sore bums, no broken bones, fuel in the tanks, no beer in the fridges and fathers and sons smiling from ear to ear. It was a corker of a drive and despite the hardships, the guys all want to know: “When are we doing the next one?”

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FACT FILE

WHERE: Northern Simpson Desert with access from Old Andado if travelling west to east; or from Hay River Track if heading east to west.

PERMITS: Sections of the Madigan Line are off limits with permits very difficult (or impossible) to obtain. Camps 3, 4 and 5 are in Aboriginal Lands; and travel through Munga-Thirri is at the discretion of Queensland National Parks.

TRIP STANDARD:

VERY DIFFICULT Extreme remote travel. Maximum planning required for fuel and water usage. Satphone, navigation, reliable vehicle carrying essential spares and tyres a must.

MAPS AND GUIDES: iHema GDT North East

iThe Outback Travellers Track Guide Series 1 Track 5 North Simpson Desert

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ood FFODDER Th is iss ue:

WITH

ALLYSIA

FROM RUSTY TO RUSTIC:

HOW TO RESTORE YOUR CAMP OVEN

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WHAT YOU NEED

i Steel wool or a wire brush attachment on your drill

i Hot soapy water

i Protective gloves for handling a hot camp oven

Ever brought out the camp oven and found it in such a bad state that even the community of bacteria that once lived in it have packed their bags and moved on? I’m talking about rust. Rust so thick you could get tetanus just for looking at it the wrong way – never mind the dirt, dust and dried-on remains of what was probably that casserole from last Easter’s camping trip.

With that tasty image in mind, welcome to Food and

i A hot oven or fire

i Oil – flaxseed is supposed to provide the best non-stick surface but vegetable, olive or peanut oil will also do; I’m using coconut oil.

Fodder. As the name suggests, I’ll be writing about food and everything related to it, including easy recipes, food storage solutions and nifty gadgets. I want to help make sustaining yourself in the bush that little bit easier, especially when the nearest takeaway to your campsite will be something from your 12V fridge. What’s a better introduction then, but to show you how to restore a rusty camp oven to its former glory – and how to keep it that way.

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1

2

WHAT T

1. Get your camp oven hot. Really 3. Give it a mean clean. Use hot soapy water and steel wool hot. Leave it in a campfire or kitchen oven at around 200º to wash off all the remaining for one hour. This will help lift rust, dirt and steel filings. the dirt and rust.

This is the only time you are allowed to use soap 2. While it’s still warm, use steel and water on your camp wool or a wire brush and get oven – just think of it as a to work. Be thorough, because camp oven baptism. if rust is left it’ll eat away all your hard work and you’ll have to do it all again.

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TO DO

3+45

2

4. Pat dry with a tea towel and throw the camp oven and its lid back into a hot oven for another 15–20 mins.

This will draw out any extra moisture and opens the pores in the metal.

6. Put it back in the oven – the oil will smoke, so if you’re doing it inside, open some windows.

Leave at 200º for one hour.

Putting it in upside down will stop oil from pooling in the bottom of the pot.

5. Use a rag or paper towel to rub a thin, even layer of oil into every square centimetre of the cast iron while it’s still warm.

7. Repeat step 5 and 6 as many times as you like. I seasoned mine twice; some people do it three or more times.

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CAMP OVEN MAINTENANCE

iAvoid cooking acidic or sugary foods in your camp oven – especially for the first couple of meals after your initial seasoning – as they tend to break down that hard fought protective layer.

iFood should wipe off easily in a well-seasoned camp oven.

Rinse with warm water and wipe out with a paper towel.

If food has stuck, heat water in the bottom and lift food

with a plastic spatula or plastic scrubbing brush.

iDon’t use soap! Detergent breaks down the oily seasoning and because the metal is porous, your next meal will taste like soap. iDry it on an open fire or camp stove to expel any left over moisture. Once dry, wipe a thin layer of oil over the camp oven and its lid – inside and out. Do this after every meal.

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IT'S AN EXTRA INGREDIENT...

Food tastes better from a well-seasoned camp oven.

The more you cook with it, especially oily or fatty foods, the thicker the seasoning becomes. Over time, the seasoning should become non-

stick and even easier to clean.

So next time you get called out for making too much bacon on your trip, tell them that you’re performing a public service and improving the quality of your camp oven.

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USES FOR RE

RESCUE TAPE, SILICONE TAPE OR SE PRODUCTS REGULARLY SEEN AT 4X4, C WHAT IS IT, CAN IT REALLY FIX ALMOST

WORDS AND IMAGES

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ESCUE TAPE

ELF-FUSING TAPE IS ONE OF THOSE CARAVAN AND CAMPING SHOWS. BUT T ANYTHING AND SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

S BY TIM STANNERS

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Rescue Tape is the most common name for the self-fusing silicone tape with a thousand uses. It’s claimed to fix everything from radiator hoses to space shuttle components. It can stop leaks in your garden hose and even stem the flow of a bleeding finger.

Stretched and wrapped, it will seal a leaking radiator hose, gas lines, water pipes and air hoses… and pretty much anything in an emergency. It can insulate electrical wiring and is claimed to withstand temperatures beyond 200ºC with a tensile strength up to 950psi. Rescue Tape will bond fully in under a minute by

stretching the tape while you wrap it around a repair.

Regardless of the claimed specs, I’ve found the tighter it is stretched over a repair, the tighter the seal; and while I generally only use it as a short-term fix, it does seem to stay in place indefinitely.

It is easily cut away, too; and leaves no sticky residue.

Do I like it? Damn right I do! And I wouldn’t leave home without it in my toolkit.

So, without sounding like a dodgy snake oil salesman, what other cool uses does rescue tape have?

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1

SEAL FRAYED ROPE Fraying can be the death of a rope, not to mention your ability to tie things down with it. Synthetic rope can be sealed with a flame but this will often cause the end of the rope to bulge to a much larger diameter than the rope itself. If you have a black belt in origami, you may be able to splice the rope… which will create a very neat finish but also increase the diameter of the rope end.

wrap the tape around the rope and work your way towards the end by overlapping roughly half the previous layer each time. Keep wrapping around the rope until you’re almost off the end of the rope. Fold the tunnel-like overlap of tape back down the rope and continue to wrap the tape back down to the starting point. Once you’re done, you’ll have a completely sealed rope which won’t fray.

FOR RES Sealing a rope with rescue tape is easy. Starting a few inches from the end of the rope, stretch and

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2 2

CREATE AN EMERGENCY

Creating an ‘O’ ring or rubber washer is also a cinch with Rescue Tape. This is achieved by wrapping the tape once around an object of the desired size, and then stretching two or three more layers around (depending on how thick you want the actual ‘O’ ring), before rolling one end of the layered tape towards the other end and sliding it off like a mini doughnut.

SCUE TA ‘O’ RING

The result is a neat little rubber ring, which can then be used as a washer, grommet or ‘O’ ring.

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3

WRAP TOOL HANDLES FOR A NON-SLIP GRIP

Hammers, axes, tomahawks and shovels – or any other woodenhandled tools – can be prone to splintering. Even some of the newer plastic-handled tools can scuff up in the bottom of a toolbox, causing sharp edges or barb-like splinters.

Wrapping these handles up with rescue tape will not only save your hands but also create a soft, supple and non-slip grip.

Wrap the entire handle from one end to the other. To cover a splinter, start at the repair point itself and wrap the tape 3-4cm either side until you’ve got around four layers of tape covering the repair point.

4

3

4

FIX YOUR FISHING ROD

Whether it’s a crumbling old cork handle, loose eyelets or even a loose fishing reel, Rescue Tape can rescue your fishing trip to ensure you come home with the catch of the day.

Eyelets and reels can be securely fixed back into place with five or six layers of Rescue Tape wrapped neatly around each end of the mounts. The best way to ensure a solid fix is to stretch the tape as each layer is wrapped.

This helps the fusing process and creates a rock-solid fix.

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5

EMERGENCY

LOCK NUT

Vibration is the enemy of vehicle nuts and bolts and there’s nothing more frustrating than having to repair your vehicle due to a nut Even better than dropping off a mounting bolt. a lock nut…

Bullbars, roof racks, aerial mounts, well with Rescue Tape as a binding driving lights and just about any other vehicle accessories can suffer force, once a nut has been nipped up nice and tight. Wrap the tape from the effects of vibration. around the nut two or three times A bush ‘nut and bolt’ anti-vibration to seal it onto the bolt, and Bob’s repair can be effected exceptionally your uncle.

We’ve heard you can even make a fan belt from this stuff.

Tell us what you’ve used Rescue Tape for…

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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OUTBACK GOURMET

ASIAN-STYLE

COLESLAW WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JO CLEWS

I am sure you are all familiar with the traditional coleslaw that is smothered with thick mayonnaise and one version tastes much the same as the next.

Well, to add a bit more interest and change of flavour to your summer time salad recipes here is a simple one to get you started.

Coleslaw, regardless if it’s this recipe or a mayo-based one, is a great on-the-road salad because all the ingredients transport easily with little or no fuss with their storage.

A good sharp knife is a must for finely slicing the cabbage, although I have a V-blade mandoline slicer that I use all the time for making light work of a big job.

INGREDIENTS i 1/8 small red cabbage, finely sliced

i ¼ small white cabbage, finely sliced i 2 spring onions finely sliced

i 1 grated carrot

method Combine all salad ingredients, except noodles and nuts, in a large salad bowl.

Just before serving, roughly crush the packet of noodles and combine with the rest of the salad. Sprinkle the nuts over the top and either allow your guests to add their own dressing or pour dressing over the whole salad.

Tip. Cashews or pine nuts can be substituted for peanuts.

Tip. The vegetables for the

coleslaw, except the onion, can be prepared a couple of days ahead and stored in a zip lock bag or air tight container in the fridge. Add the noodles, onion and dressing just before serving. i ¼ capsicum finely chopped or sliced i 1 packet of fried noodles

i ¼ cup chopped roasted salted peanuts

i Asian dressing – either store bought or follow this recipe.

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Tip. Pre-make a jar of dressing at

home so you don’t need to carry all the ingredients with you when you are travelling.

Tip. Goes great with fish baked in a bag.

ASIAN DRESSING

i 2 tbsp. sesame oil i 1 tbsp. fish sauce i 2 tbsp. soy sauce

i 2 tbsp. sugar or honey

i 2 tbsp. sweet chilli sauce

i ¼ cup apple cider vinegar Add all ingredients to a small screw top jar and shake till sugar has dissolved.

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HOW TO: HAND

WINCHING

HOW TO FORGET CROSS-FIT. BUY A HAND WINCH. POSSIBLY THE MOST VERSATILE OF RECOVERY TOOLS, BUT ARE THEY NOW REDUNDANT? WORDS AND IMAGES BY SCOTT MASON

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For those of us old enough to remember, four-wheel drive recoveries once used to be a lot of hard yakka. Sweat pouring – every second word out of your mouth a curse word type of hard yakka – and yep, slow as a wet week too.

A simple bog recovery could take hours of work with several people often taking turns pumping the hand winch handle. No, not at all like today’s winch recoveries which are simply a matter of rolling out the rope and operating a switch while an electric motor whirs away shouldering all the load.

HOW TO HAN

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In times past, electric or hydraulic winches were very expensive with only a few manufacturers to choose from. Today we are spoilt for both choice and price range, so it is no wonder most of our 4X4s now sport an electric winch of some sort.

With this in mind we decided to first take a look at how a hand winch recovery works; and second, to find out if the trusty old hand winch still has a useful place in today’s off-road recovery world.

ND WINCHING LONG RANGE FUEL AND WATER TANKS

THE BIG TANK

BIG COUNTRY

DISTRIBUTED BY

BY THE LONGRANGER

THELONGRANGER.COM.AU

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THE MECHANICS Hand winches work by moving a steel wire rope in-line through a dual clamping system. At no point does the cable become bent or rolled over a drum. A clutch mechanism allows the cable to be initially fed through the winch, and slack to be taken up. Once the clutch is disengaged there are two levers (one forward and one reverse) onto which the hand lever bar is fitted. When the hand lever is

operated, the rope is moved a few inches at a time through the winch before being re-clamped (and allowing the process to be carried out again).

You have no doubt figured out that in order to operate a hand winch you have to be standing right next to it (and the highly tensioned wire rope) during a recovery. Hardly ideal, is it? Using

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an electric winch you can operate the recovery from the relative safety of your vehicle. So how is hand winching safety achieved?

During a hand winch recovery you should still put all of your usual safety list in place: Cable dampeners, keep bystanders away, rated shackles and recovery points; but there is a built-in safety device in all hand winches called a shear

pin. The shear pin is located at the base of the forward handle and is deliberately designed to be the weakest link in the system. In the event that excessive force has been applied, the shear pin is designed to fail well before a wire rope, a hook or a rated shackle. That being said it is important to have that extra safety net in place. A badly damaged wire rope may fail before the shear pin if it has gone unnoticed.

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If the shear pin fails, the load is still supported and it is simply a matter of replacing the pin and then mechanically reducing the load being recovered (double line pull, more shovel work, etc). Most manufacturers supply spare shear pins (usually located in the carry handle), and additional spares are readily available.

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If hard larbour in 30 degree heat and the increased risk of a heart attack sounds enjoyable to you, you’ll love hand winching

easily achieved – often without the need for complex offset pulls with multiple snatch blocks and extension straps that you would be compelled to perform with a frontmounted electric winch. Another benefit is that you will no longer require your Danoz Aerofit – yep, pack that bad boy away because you are going to get all the exercise you need with your hand winch.

Water crossings… no problem, you no longer have that lingering thought in the back of your head about exactly how waterproof the winch housing is because it simply

does not matter; no electrics means one less thing can go wrong. Simply keep the hand winch free from dust and mud build-up, and no worries.

On the downside though, you have now found yourself a fairly bulky and weighty item that you need to store along with the rest of your gear… and recovery times are greatly increased. Other than that, there is really is no reason why you should not carry a hand winch on your travels. It really is a very versatile piece of gear that has withstood the test of time.

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WINCHING SAFETY The loads and potential energy during any winching operation can be potentially fatal if something goes wrong. Hand winching should be treated with the same diligence as electric or hydraulic winching.

iOn that note, never use a tow ball as a recovery point: It could fail and become a deadly missile.

iUse dampeners or ‘air brakes’ over winching ropes. Multiple dampeners (2m from EACH end, over joins and on each side of multiple line pulls) should always be used – a simple blanket or jacket can be used if required.

iInspect your gear for damage before and after each use.

iUse only rated shackles and recovery points. Using a factory tie-down point or tow ball is a disaster waiting to happen.

iKeep bystanders away, at least 1.5 times the length of the recovery.

iDo not exceed equipment work load limits (WLLs). iAlways use tree trunk protectors. iIf you would like to improve your skills and learn advanced techniques, book in for an accredited winch recovery course – you will be amazed at what you will learn.

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HANDY HAND WINCH TIPS If winching solo, use a dragging chock on inclines (see picture) – it will act as your ‘brake rider’.

Change your stroke from handle upright to a sideways motion, so you can use your whole body weight.

Make sure you carry spare shear pins. Your hand winch is pretty well useless without them.

Don’t forget to pack your normal recovery kit: Those extension straps, extra shackles, dampeners, tree trunk protector, bridle and snatch block can still come in very handy.

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UNSEAL

READER

DAVID’S LJ50

You might recall seeing Dave and his LJ50 in our Suzuki Across the Simpson article from Issue 018 of Unsealed 4X4, check it out below if you missed it. He’s back to show off his LJ81 restoration, which quite frankly, is awesome. Dave says he bought it 15 years ago from a local farmer when he moved down to Bairnsdale, VIC. It was covered in black mould, the floor and chassis were rusty, the tray was falling apart and the front end was worn

out – but it ran. He was lucky enough to find a donor car and did a full restoration from the ground up, including all-new suspension and a full reco on the 1L engine.

Further mods include a disc brake conversion, 50mm lift, Federal Couragia MT tyres, Piranha dualbattery system, Sierra radiator and UHF radio. Dave originally trained as a motor mechanic but didn’t stay in the trade, but at 73 he’s doing alright for himself, and hopes to drive this little LJ across the Simpson for the 4WD Solar Challenge later this year.

Read about david’s

simmo trip here

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LED 4X4

RS’ RIGS

MELISSA & KAMERON’S

serenade the V8. A Great White light bar and two 50W HID Narva Extreme spotties light up the tracks.

Custom checkerplate rear guards Melissa and Kameron may have were made up to accommodate only had it for a year, but listing the 16in Goodyear tyres on King all the mods on their 2014 GXL 79 Wheel black steelies, which run Series is going to be a challenge… more negative offset in the rear so here goes! They’ve added an Ironman 4X4 bullbar, sidesteps, rails to match the trackwidth to the front end. Kameron installed a 3in and 12,000lb winch. Their sound system is out of this world with the exhaust with a single hotdog, and help of Sony Xplode’s stereo system, with the rest of the mods I couldn’t squeeze in it’s not hard to see why front speakers, rear pods, and a GME CB radio, though I wouldn’t be this ‘Cruiser was Beaurepaires/ surprised if they also had a speaker Goodyear’s show car at the Perth 4WD and Adventure Show! tucked away in the engine bay to

79 SERIES

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EMAIL US HERE

We want to see your 4WD in Unsealed 4X4. So much so, that we’re giving every vehicle we publish a one-year subscription to the Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures magazine.

Send in some photos and tell us a little about your rig!

TREVOR’S GU PATROL

arms from Superior Engineering.

HID spotties sit on his Ironman Going off of Trevor’s list of mods, it 4X4 bullbar, as does his 12,000lb looks like he’s turned his 2000 GU Patrol into one hell of an adventure Ironman 4X4 winch. Up top he’s got a 20in light bar and Darche rooftop vehicle. The 3L turbo diesel ZD30 tent. The 35in Cooper muddies get has had the NADs (Nissan Antihim wherever he wants to go, which Detonation) treatment, had an in the past has included the High aftermarket intercooler fitted and Country, Ophir, Dixon Long Point has a performance chip to give the Rd, Abercrombie River, Wattagans fuelling levels a tickle. He’s thrown 3in worth of lift underneath courtesy and Birdsville. The next big trip he’s planning is to Cape York, and with a of EFS and fitted Panhard rods to keep the diff where it should be.

60L ARB fridge and custom drawers for all his gear, we reckon he’ll have He’s also got swaybar disconnects a pretty sweet time of it. and replacement suspension

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ROBERT’S 200 SERIES

unit with GPS, an ARB bullbar, IPF lights, an Oricom CB, fog lights and Robert owned his 2012 HiLux from a before heading to Fraser, a Safari new and had ticked off most of snorkel. During the Easter break, he the boxes with ARB. When fate plans to install a Warn winch and intervened (in the form of an unruly OME suspension kit. Robert learned driver crashing into him) and how to work on cars on his dad’s wrote off the car, he upgraded to 1985 Toyota 4Runner and he wants something bigger with the insurance to pass these skills on to his own payout and bought a 2011 200 kids. So when the time comes to fix Series. It came standard, and he’s up his second project car, a 1989 since prettied it up with a few choice 4Runner, you can bet his kids will be mods whenever time and extra there handing him the tools – like pocket money allowed it. Robert father, like son! installed a later model Toyota head

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O KEEP THE

BECAUSE NOTHING’S WORSE THAN TURNING THE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR ‘ULURU RED’…

WORDS BY SAM PURCELL

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Do you turn up at your destinations looking like a stunt extra from Mad Max? I know I do sometimes: After a bit of dirt road driving, my Defender leaves me dustier than the morning after a B&S Ball. New 4X4s are much better in this department, but aren’t always perfect. Here are some tips to keep your dust ingress to a minimum.

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Check your

seals

Your main lines of defence against dust ingress are your seals: Ideally, when you shut a door, these seals form an almost impermeable barrier against dust, and even water. But, if they are tired or damaged, they will allow dust to get in. It only takes a small gap, as well… large volumes of air will funnel through a small gap, bringing dust with the air.

When your 4X4 has got a few full moons under its belt, it’s not just the seals you have to think about: Doors, latches, strikers and hinges all get a bit loose and out of whack as time goes on. So if you’ve got excessive dust ingress for your doors, investigate how they are hanging… so to speak. Pay special attention to your rear door(s), especially if it has a spare mounted on it. These are most likely to rattle loose, and often cop the most in terms of dust.

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Positive

seals in other parts – making it much harder for things to get in.

If you’ve got an old 4X4 with flaps and vents, use them when you’ve got clear air ahead of you. What this does is pressurise your cabin slightly: That air that comes in through the front flaps is trying to escape via doors and

If you’ve got a modern 4X4, use your air-con or fan. This does the same thing: Ensure it’s sucking in nice clean air, and you can pressurise your cabin against the swirling dust towards the rear of the vehicle.

ventilation

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Air-con

tricks

Your air-conditioning system has another trick up its sleeve here: Recirculation. This effectively makes a closed loop of air, rather than sourcing it from the outside.

Use this only periodically, when you’re going through a patch of bulldust, or when other traffic has left a cloud of dust sitting in the air. You won’t have a pressurised cabin, but you can dodge the big clouds of dust without taking a massive gulp.

The Forgotten

Filter

Did you know a lot of modern 4X4s have a filter element that filters air coming into the cabin?

If you don’t know when yours has been changed last, it’s probably worth throwing in a new one (or at least checking its condition). If you’ve got allergies, this becomes a potential lifesaver.

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EP THE

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Drop back a bit,

slow down

Nothing says ‘touring newbie’ like sitting right up somebody’s proverbial backside when you’re convoying along a dirt road. There’s a gamut of reasons why this is foolish behaviour: Braking distances, visibility and, of course: Dust. Pull over for a couple of minutes. Ensure you’re still in UHF range, but give that dust a chance to settle or waft away. It’s not just about you, either.

Your engine will love the lack of dust, as well. Believe me. It might also avoid a filter change, and save you a few bucks.

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THE EDITOR Dex.

READ THE COLUMN HERE

So it seems my last column caused a bit of a stir. If you didn’t catch it, you can read it above. My article was quoted in a local newspaper and admittedly came across as harsher than it actually was in the original copy; and the subsequent online debate raged hot and heavy.

Throughout the personal insults and passionate rhetoric being thrown around, the interesting thing I found was the clear division within the four-wheel drive community that emerged.

On the one (thankfully smaller) side, there are people who don’t care much about track damage, treading lightly or driving on closed tracks.

Cries of “What else do we buy 4WDs for? To use them!” and “Only a treehugger would care about this!” and other colourful and more poorly spelled catchphrases were thrown out with wild abandon.

Then on the other (much larger) side of the divide we had folks taking a more measured and thoughtful approach with

AND AN

THIN

statements supporting Tread Lightly and condemning driving on closed tracks and the general ‘full throttle no matter what the track conditions’ state of mind. Ultimately, this side of the fence believes that we all have to take a little personal responsibility for our behaviour in the bush. No leaving trash behind, no ripping up tracks needlessly… essentially a ‘leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but photos’ sort of mentality.

This is exactly what we here at Unsealed 4X4 want to stand behind.

For too long the loud minority of simpletons have been the voice of our lifestyle that people hear.

It’s time for the silent majority of responsible off-road drivers to speak up so that we can propagate intelligent, responsible and sustainable four-wheel drive use.

Two things will come of this. One: People who have no idea about the love and respect almost all 4X4 owners have for nature will see that we’re not out to ruin our land, dump rubbish or indulge a teenage fantasy

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R’S COLUMN

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NG...

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of driving like a Mad Max wannabe (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but keep it on private land eh?).

Two: Tracks will remain open, and those previously closed thanks to perceived ‘environmental damage’ will be re-opened. Neither of these things are bad for the lifestyle we all love.

It’s time for us all to start calling out the idiots for their piss-poor behaviour and open up a line of communication between us and the government agencies that control our lands – in order to work together to maintain track access.

Victoria has a dedicated bunch of 4WDers already who do just this (with fantastic results) and there are numerous examples within NSW and other States or groups that are working with National Parks to maintain accessibility.

For too long our media has been under-representing us true off-road enthusiasts. It’s time to re-establish the fact that intelligence and 4X4ing are not mutually exclusive, as we’ve all been led to believe…

Dex.

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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BUREAUC

ROOT HOG FIRE TRAIL – UPDATE WORDS BY TODD HORE

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As some may be aware, a rock fall and landslide occurred on the The Bridle Track at Monaghans Bluff (between Bathurst and Hill End, NSW) in 2010 – closing the track to through traffic. Due to multiple factors the road was never repaired and, in the six years since, Council has advised people that access to Hill End should be via either Sofala or Root Hog Fire Trail.

Recently it has been discovered that the fire trail leaves its designated alignment and runs through a section of private property. The owner of said property, Mr Serge

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Panayi, has approached Council enquiring why this is the case and asking for the trail to be amended to the correct alignment.

After speaking with Mr Panayi, it is clear that the major concerns facing residents are shooters and litterers.

“I saw two dead cows yesterday from shooters,” said Mr Panayi.

“These are $1,000 animals.”

R THE C In addition to shooters, it seems a minority of four-wheel drivers are causing issues too.

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ON THE

19TH OF OCTOBER 1872,

THE WORLD’S LARGEST PIECE OF REEF GOLD WAS DISCOVERED AT HILL END NSW

According to Mr Panayi, “After rain here, when it gets all boggy, that’s when the four-wheel drivers love to turn up. That’s when the roads get really rutted and destroyed and we can’t get home.”

To prevent access for troublemakers, Mr Panayi has recently erected gates at each end of the section of the trail that enters his property. This means, temporarily at least, that there is no access to Hill End via Root Hog Fire Trail.

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

In the last couple of months since the gates went up, they have been ripped out; chains have been cut and gates have simply been pushed over. Now Mr Panayi, at this point in time, is understanding that it’s the complete dropkicks of the 4X4 community doing this and he has even been understanding enough to consider arranging access for four-wheel drive clubs … but his patience can only run so far.

The more pressing matter for local residents is the closure of The Bridle Track. This closure

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has redirected a large amount of traffic down a dead-end road and onto a fire trail (Root Hog) that was never meant to carry tourist traffic and (in the opinion of Mr Panayi) has restricted visitor numbers to Hill End. As Mr Panayi puts it: “We want you to go to The Bridle Track. We want people to go and fish and have a great time with their families and mates.

Should people be allowed to rip through farmland to get to their favourite spot, or should that favourite spot be open directly?”

Bathurst Council has acknowledged the fault with the trail alignment and the latest rumblings are that a new fire trail will be constructed through the correct alignment in the near future. In fact, the correct alignment of the track was recently surveyed.

We contacted Bathurst Mayor Gary Rush for comment on the state of Root Hog Fire Trail.

“The current status of Root Hog Road is that it is closed to the

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general public. Once Council has completed the appropriate survey and preparatory works, work will then commence on-site. It is anticipated that the preliminary work will be completed within the next three to six months.”

When asked the big question regarding the state of The Bridle Track, Mayor Rush provided the following comments: “The

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damage to the Bridle track is such that repair will be very expensive and ongoing; i.e. if we repair one section, how long before the next rockslide/landslip, as has happened in the past? As a result Council is investigating alternative routes in an effort to realign The Bridle Track at the Bluff. At the time of the rockslide Council took the option to provide alternate access via Root Hog Road.”

Mayor Rush was quoted recently saying that: “…visitation to Hill End has increased coinciding with the upgrading of the roads from Bathurst to Hill End and Sofala to Hill End to sealed roads.”

When queried on these comments the mayor provided the following statement: “The final section of the sealing works on the Sofala-Hill End Roads was finished in March 2015.

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As part of our regional tourism promotions there, we have focused attention on the visitor experience of Hill End in recent years. As a result, we have figures on camping and numbers through the Hill End visitors’ centre provided by the National Parks and Wildlife Service which show a steady increase of between 500 and 1,000 visitors since the roadworks were completed in 2010.”

It seems visitation to Hill End as a destination has increased; however, there are no figures

available for through traffic (from Bridle Track users) available. Given that this has, in the past, been where the majority of business to Hill End was generated, it seems unlikely that up to 1,000 additional visitors per year would be sufficient to offset the shortfall.

We, as four-wheel drivers, appeal to everyone in our community to show a little patience and wait for a resolution. Damaging property (whether you think gates are appropriate or not) only hinders our cause. Stay smart out there.

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4X4 BOX

ADVENTUR

4X4 motorhomes for hire, historical clips from the 80s Camel Trophy a Unsealed 4X4 Adventure Cinema. Oh, and there is a cool custom Unimog

Pat sheds some light on the benefits of alloy roof racks, as well as a few tips on securing loads when you’re on the rough stuff.

Is it true… are all Land Rover owners pathological liars?

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X OFFICE

RE CINEMA

and a pathological liar of a Land Rover owner… never a dull moment in too… you didn’t think we would forget to include a Unimog clip, did you?

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

This landcruiser got stuck crossing palm creek, lucky there is a Mitsubishi L300 to pull them out

If the idea of hiring a Hyundai Getz on your next holiday terrifies you, why not rent a 4X4 motorhome instead?

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Pat and his boys explore the ruins of Cadelga Homestead, a souvenir of times gone by and an excellent photo opportunity

So you thought your last trip away was tough?

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Unimogs are cool, but they look even cooler when driving through the gorgeous Brindabella Ranges in NSW

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Have you heard of the Bush Winch before?

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GOT A TRACK UPDATE FOR US? If you see or hear of any road or track closures due to weather or restricted vehicle access, get in touch with us so we can let the rest of the four-wheel drive community know. editor@unsealed4x4.com.au

ROAD AND TR

WHAT’S HA

IN YOUR NECK O

NORTHE TERRITO

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

S AUS

› WARNING! This road and track guide is as up-to-date as possible, but weather conditions can change in the space of minutes. Before venturing into the bush, check with local police, National Parks or the managing authority for the area you will be travelling in before leaving.

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RACK REPORT

APPENING

OF THE WOODS?

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UNSEALED 4X4

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VEHICLE

Patrols are known to break coil towers, the anodised brace fixes this

EV’S FNB 4WD COIL TOWER BRACING

The old GQ Patrols are damn near bulletproof… but considering how many miles they have racked up since they rolled out in 1988, any weak points have been found and addressed through the aftermarket industry. One such area of concern: The rear coil towers have developed cracks if

overloaded or driven hard. As it turns out, my old Pooie is in really good nick underneath. Thankfully.

So while my GQ was on the hoist at Dobinsons Suspension in Sydney having the coils and shocks upgraded (cheers again Marty and team), I decided it was a smart idea to keep it this way.

Chris at FNB 4WD Supplies in South Australia is fiercely

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Easy to read instructions, who would have thought

proud of the products his team manufacturers in Australia. His solution to the coil towers issue is unique and simple at the same time. More importantly, he promised his coil tower braces would be a direct boltin fit with basic hand tools. So I had to grab a pair.

FNB dual battery tray I’ve recently installed). While the bracing installation was a little fiddly for me in this first instance, if I was to install a pair again it would take half the time. I hope to never need to use this new enhancement to the vehicle’s strength… but it’s nice to know it’s there.

The quality of welds and finish was For more information, visit: fnb4wd.com.au first-class (the same goes for the NON-INTERACTIVE VERSION | PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

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No it’s not a DIY boomerang…

TIM’S ROADSAFE 4WD RATED RECOVERY POINTS My Prado 150 has been involved in numerous recoveries over the years, but (thankfully) as the recovering vehicle in most cases. However, I thought it was about time I got serious and made sure that when I

am inevitably the ‘recovered’ vehicle, rated recovery points can be used on the front end.

So I grabbed a set of Roadsafe 4WD rated recovery points and got to work. The recovery points have a working load limit (WLL) of 3,250kg and are designed to improve the safety

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of a recovery – rather than using the tie-down points which come standard on vehicles and which are often mistaken for recovery points themselves.

wrenches to ensure the plates were fitted up tight. They sure look the biz and should come in handy for our upcoming recovery feature.

Installing these took me around 15 minutes on each side of the vehicle and only required a couple of different sized socket

Grab a set of rated recovery points for your vehicle.

Check them out at: roadsafe.com.au

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TIPS

REPARE YOU

THE CAPE DRY SEASON IS NEARLY HERE, AND WITH IT COMES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRIPS TO THE TOP END. SO HERE’S OUR TIPS ON GETTING YOUR FOURBY READY. WORDS BY DEX FULTON

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Summer is officially over. While that means we’ll all be cutting back on the swimming, surfing and sitting in a camp chair on the beach (tinny in hand and baitsoaking) for the next few months, winter is one of the best times for those of us who want to head north or west (or east for you leftcoasters) and get into some of the more remote touring destinations like the deserts… or 4WD Mecca, aka Cape York.

Now, as accessible as the Cape is these days, a lot of 4WD owners still haven’t managed to get up there. If you’re one of them, why

not? It truly is an amazing part of the world and one of those places that just has to be experienced first-hand.

“But Dex, my 4X4 isn’t ready and I have no time!” I hear you argue.

Well, the time thing I can’t help you with (although I hear faking a pregnancy or major surgery is a great way to get a few weeks out of work… or so I’ve been told); but as for getting your vehicle ready, we’re here to help with these tips to get your trusty steed – and yourself – ready for tackling one of the most iconic off-road destinations in the world.

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For those of us who are forever

young at heart Why go to an insurer who specialises in age brackets, when what you really need is an insurer who understands your hobby?

At Club 4X4 we recognise the investment that goes into setting up a touring rig for that ultimate trip, which is why we offer to insure it for what it's really worth, including your modifications and accessories.

With Club 4X4, you can be sure you have the best coverage on the market with policy inclusions designed to keep you on the road like Off-road Recovery Cover and Australia Wide Personal Valuables Cover.

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Did we mention the water crossings up this way? Snorkels make them much more doable, but they’re also an advantage in the dust too

1

SNORKELS

THEY’RE CHEAP INSURANCE

If there’s one thing the Cape has plenty of, it’s water crossings. Truth be told, there’s really only a couple that leave you in any real danger of hydro-locking your engine and they’re up the northern end of the Tele and fairly easily bypassed; but the Old Telegraph Track is definitely one of the highlights of the Tip, particularly the infamous Nolans

Brook or Gunshot. However you can ride the blacktop almost all the way if that option sounds better… but where’s the fun in that?

The other big advantage of having a snorkel bolted to the front guard is that they raise the air intake up and out of the dust – which is tremendously helpful, particularly when travelling in a convoy. Sure beats changing the air filter out every few days.

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THE ULTIMATE NAVIGATOR

Introducing the new Z-N626 Universal Naviceiver from Zenec with optional Hema 4WD Nav upgrade!

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Highway Terrains and this sort of mud won’t get on well together.

Plus driving long distances at low pressures can lead to sidewall blowouts – invest in some LT ATs

2

TYRES AND PRESSURES THEY MATTER

bugger-all traction on anything but smoothly paved roads.

You do the right thing, you drop a bit of pressure out and start driving along the hundreds of kays So you’ve decided to hit the road of corrugated roads… The insides and head to the northernmost point on the continent. You’re going of the tyres start to heat up, the to need your fridge, camping gear, sidewalls weaken and a couple of hundred klicks out of Cairns they a comprehensive toolkit, a full spares box including an alternator blow out in spectacular fashion – stranding you trackside wondering and CV joints, a generator for what went wrong. powering up the TV; and oh yeah, better throw your partner and Before you leave, invest in some kids in too… By now your vehicle proper Light Truck (LT) designated is perilously close to, or over, your all-terrains and make sure you GVM. Not only that, but it’s still keep below your GVM. Yes, you wearing the passenger car rated may have to leave the espresso highway terrain tyres. These have much thinner sidewalls and a tread machine at home – but your trip pattern that will offer four-fifths of will be much smoother for it.

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SUSPENSION MORE THAN JUST SPRINGS AND SHOCKS

So you’ve realised that the Cape will require you to carry a fair bit of gear on board, placing your springs and shocks under increased load. Multiply that load over about a billion corrugations, creek crossings, whoops and muddy bank driving… and you can appreciate that the chance of the stock gear giving up the ghost is higher than Willie Nelson.

The key here is to talk to a reputable suspension mob and let them know what you’re going to be doing, what weights you’re expecting to carry and what size tyres you’re planning on running. They should be able to sort you out with a suspension package to suit. For touring duties, the important thing to pay attention to is your spring rate. This is essentially how stiff your springs are and how much weight they can handle when you’re loaded up (while still being under GVM, of course).

Heavy loads and big distances mean your suspension has to be up to the job

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Trust me, right now this guy is working out the optimum way to get in front of your vehicle while making you think he’s running away from it…

4

BULLBARS YES, YOU NEED ONE

Despite a lot of uneducated media opinion surrounding bullbars and the danger they represent to pedestrians, if you talk to anyone who’s ever driven a couple of hundred kilometres beyond the city limits they’ll tell you that the probability of animal strike is not a matter of if, but when. This goes double when driving a couple of hours either side of dusk or dawn

– and you should really avoid doing so if possible. Roos, emus and feral pigs will travel a fair way into your engine bay if hit at speed without some sort of frontal protection; not to mention that they pose a serious risk to occupant safety.

Bullbars also allow you to mount things like winches, lights and aerials. However, keep in mind that you will need to factor the extra weight into both your GVM calculations and your suspension setup.

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5

This guy is a dentist, so we can’t show you his face…

BREATHERS YOUR DRIVELINE AIN’T AMPHIBIOUS

Let’s go back to High School Science 101 for a sec. As you’re cruising along, your diffs, transfer case and transmission are all running faster than Usain Bolt on a party drug. This movement generates heat. While it’s all well within each component’s design parameters, when you drive into a creek crossing they’re all rapidly cooled by the water. My old science teacher Mr Taylor would tell you that this will lead to a pressure differential, and the hot air inside the driveline will need to escape somehow.

Now, the clever engineers at the factory have accounted for this,

and there will be breathers fitted to your driveline. The problem is, they’re positioned directly on top of the diffs, gearbox and transfer case. As the hot air escapes, cold air will be sucked in to replace it… only the breathers are now underwater so they gulp in mouthfuls of muddy, sludgy creek water to mix with your oils and gears. Not good.

Luckily, breather kits are readily available from just about every 4X4 store or website these days. They work by clamping a hose over the breather tube and extending it up somewhere high and dry (the engine bay is a popular choice).

And most breathers these days come with a one-way filter on the top of the hose, to prevent any sort of contaminants from getting where they shouldn’t go.

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Long kays on harsh roads with an overloaded vehicle will mess with all sorts of things on your vehicle, so make sure everything’s in tip top shape before you leave

6

SERVICING

4X4s THAT WORK ARE BETTER THAN ONES THAT DON’T

There’s no getting around it. A Cape trip is tough on a vehicle. That’s why a full, and I mean full, service is mandatory before you leave. Fluids (yep, driveline too), filters, hoses and belts should all be changed out for quality replacements; and it’ll be worth your while to swap in new wheel bearings and closely inspect the brakes while you’re there.

Heavily loaded vehicles can wreak havoc on ‘well worn’ bearings and brakes, so make sure you swap

them out a couple of weeks in advance. Don’t leave it until the last minute and you’re up until 2am the night before you’re leaving, tightening up the calliper bolts (ask me how I know this sucks).

Once you’re up there, remember to take it easy. Pushing your 4X4 hard is not going to do it any favours. You’re in one of the most beautiful parts of the world; take your time and enjoy things while sparing yourself the worry and the headache a busted front end will bring. Slow and steady wins this particular race. Besides, why would you want to rush a Cape trip?

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FRIDGE

NOT NEEDED BUT DAMN NICE TO HAVE

Look, we all know someone who has visited the tropical north and got by with just their esky and some block ice. We’re not saying it’s not achievable; however having a 12V fridge and dual battery system set up to run it will make your journey so much more comfortable it’s not funny. Food

I don’t know anyone with a fridge who’s ever regretted having it

will last longer, drinks will be colder (important when it’s 30deg+ at night) and you’ll be much happier in general with a fridge humming away in the back of the vehicle.

While it’s not a necessity, it is a creature comfort that I wouldn’t want to do without anywhere north of the tropic of Capricorn.

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AUSTRALIA’S T S E B TOURING 4X4?

NOT DOING THINGS BY HALVES, THE AUSTRALIAN-MADE EARTHCRUISER IS A CAPABLE AND COMFORTABLE OFF-ROAD MOTORHOME THAT IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE. WORDS AND IMAGES BY SAM PURCELL

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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

It’s raining. But, I couldn’t give two hoots. I’m snuggled up in bed under the breeze of a fan, and I’ve just reached across to grab a cold beverage from the fridge. If it gets a bit chilly, I can turn the heater on. Or if I’m peckish, I can cook up some tucker without a sweat.

Nothing is a problem. If I wanted to drive off, all I would have to do is stand up, press a few buttons, and jump in the driver’s seat. I don’t have to step outside.

I’m not. Normally, I’d be in a swag under an awning, looking forward to seeing the rainclouds clear. Don’t get me wrong: I love swags and their simplicity. And there are more comfortable options out there with more protection from the elements – but nothing satisfies that sense of adventure like spending a night under canvas, rain or sun.

But, this trip is different. My 4X4 is at home, and I have borrowed another one. No, it’s not a caravan.

It’s not a motorhome, either.

ARTHCRUIS It sounds like I’m at home, but

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Those monikers simply don’t suit it. It’s an EarthCruiser.

What it definitely is, is a 4X4. 37in mud terrains, triple locked, and a two-stage gear reduction giving 24 forward ratios to choose from.

Bullbar, snorkel, long-range tank, winches front and rear… you get the picture.

This sort of capability normally comes in the form of a roughand-tumble 4WD: A chopped and bobbed GQ that is built purely for

competition, and probably gets trailered around most of the time.

Not this thing, however. You can live in this.

We spent a week in an EarthCruiser on the road, and would have sacrificed multiple limbs to spend longer with it. All of that capability is great, no doubt; but the thing I like most about this rig is the thorough amount of thought and design that has gone into it. Everything has a place, and that place has a reason.

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1 2

1. Clean, simple and reliable control of your electrics. Easy peasy, lemon-squeezy 2. Smart design means you have a fully functioning toilet and shower on-board, which is incredible when you look at the size of the unit

3

3. ISRI Suspension seats have great support and adjustable bounce, according to your weight.

They’re pretty much a one-off in Australia as well

THE BASE The 4X4 is based on an Iveco Daily 4X4 cab-chassis, which has big tyres, double reduction and lockers as standard.

The powerplant is the Iveco FIC three-litre intercooled turbodiesel, which puts down 125kW and 400Nm. This runs through a six-speed gearbox. It doesn’t sound like much, but all

of those 400Nms are available between 1,250 and 3,000 rpm – and the EarthCruiser does get along well enough. It’s sedate, but you wouldn’t really want to go much faster. Importantly, it will cruise comfortably at 110km/h; but we preferred sitting on 95-100km/h.

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1. The easiest camp setup I have experienced 2. Heating and cooking is all diesel-powered Webasto, which works really well 3. After popping the roof and dropping down the steps, you’re ready to relax

2 3

1

THE MODS The body is all custom-built in Australia, and it’s made to the highest standards. Not once did I have any issue with the camping setup. An awning, electrically operated, deploys itself; as do the roof and the steps. So setting up for camp involves stopping the car, walking two steps, and pressing three buttons. There’s integrated lighting at all sides; and a big hatch for storage towards the back, which also acts as an outside table.

We had zero dust ingress, as well.

much speed I could carry through corners. The EarthCruiser is a truck, and it drives like one. Our model wasn’t terribly huge though.

It can be fitted in an average carpark space – which is handy. It is tall however, which you need to keep in mind. But jeez, the forward visibility is great.

The only bad thing about the EarthCruiser (or any Daily, for that matter) is the braking power.

When you’ve got a bit of load, and need to head downhill, the Getting back into my Defender 130 brakes do sometimes feel quite after driving the EarthCruiser felt inadequate. You’ve got the gearing like it was a Lotus Elise. I thought for compression braking, but better brakes would be nicer.

I was going to scrape my bum on the road, and couldn’t believe how

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ARTHCRUIS That touchscreen controls just about everything on the camper from one place, and there is another one in the kitchen area

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THE MILLION

DOLLAR QUESTION…

No, no. It’s not a million bucks. But when you rest up in your mini apartment after conquering a tough track or crossing a desert, it will feel like it…

All jokes aside, if you want to buy the EarthCruiser you see in this story, you won’t get much change out of $300,000. You can opt for a basic setup without all of the options (to decrease the price), depending on what you want. Would I? Yes, I would.

SER AUSTRA If I could.

But I can’t, so I’ll just keep hassling them for another loaner, and dream.

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EARTHCRUISER Engine

Transmission Tyres

3-litre, 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel. 126kW, 400Nm. Full-time 4WD. 6-speed manual gearbox, two-stage reduction transfer case.

37x13.50x17 Toyo MT, mounted on forged alloy wheels.

Wheelbase

3.4 metres.

Fuel Capacity

300 litres.

Price

Starts from around $260,000.

For more information, go to earthcruiser.net.au, or call Mark on 0412 642 437.

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CREDITS Managing Editor Tim Stanners

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where the adventure beg

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THE PILB And wh ARA y should you n off get ’t put ting out the re

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THE LITHIUM age

Have batteries been changed forever?

CHASSIS EVOLUTION

As vehicles get newer and heavier, are their frames getting weaker?

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