Innehållsförteckning för April 2016 från NZ4WD

Australian 4WD accessory specialist Opposite Lock has established its first foothold on this side of the Tasman – in Christchurch – thanks to expat Scott Newble. Opposite Lock is a specialty 4WD accessory store covering sales, installation and maintenance for a broad range of practical 4WD accessories, and Scott is a proud Cantabrian with a 13-year history with the company in Australia who felt the time was right to return home. “My wife and I were living in Perth and had been owner/ operators for five years at an Opposite Lock franchise store in Jandakot, and I had spent a number of years previous to that working in Opposite Lock stores in Midland WA, and Preston, Victoria,” explains Scott. “However, starting a family changed our thinking and we decided we…

Beach, track and now riverbank clean-ups are becoming part of 4x4 club life as keen enthusiasts work hard to show that they care about the environment. The latest was near Christchurch on Sunday January 31 when around 100 people gathered to help local 4WD enthusiast Sam Wright gather up rubbish along a section of Waimakariri riverbed. “We had 38 trucks in all and we collected 4.8 tonnes of rubbish, about 1.5 tonne of scrap metal and four wool sacks full of recyclables,” Sam told NZ4WD late last month. “We worked on both sides of the river from the river mouth up to Harrs Road.” Sam says that the majority of those who turned up were not affiliated with any one 4x4 club and that the range of trucks was huge,…

Luxury car maker Bentley Motors finally ‘officially’ launched its groundbreaking new SUV, the Bentayga, at a famous Alpine ski race venue at the end of January. After months of drip-feeding images and info on social media, the company presented what it claims is ‘the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world’ at a function in Kitzbühel in Austria. The twin-turbo W12-engined Bentayga joins the Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne in the Volkswagen Group-owned, British-based company’s expanded luxury line-up.…

With SUV sales making up an increasingly large segment of the new vehicle market (where sales in 2015 were up over 20 percent on 2014), Toyota’s ruggedised, seven-seat Fortuner joins RAV4, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200 series in Toyota New Zealand’s SUV arsenal. That’s a lot of choice, let alone from one manufacturer. Not to mention the fact that after years of relatively slim pickings ‘utebased’ station wagons have all of a sudden become flavour of the month again. Ford kicked things soff with Everest, Mitsubishi chimed in with Pajero Sport, and now Toyota joins the party with Fortuner. Toyota here is confident, however, that the new ‘un will carve out its own particular – Surf-like – niche. And certainly, from the evidence of the…

January 29th 2016, and the last Land Rover Defender rolled off the assembly line at the factory in Solihull, UK. At the end of that same day around 50 New Zealand Land Rover owners gathered at the NZ Army’s training base for the weekend to commiserate and celebrate the end of the Land Rover Defender as we know it. The weekend was the brainchild of Bruce Gibson and Ray Wong, members of the Land Rover Owners Club Auckland and the idea of a simple outing grew into a full on weekend for Land Rover owners from around the country. To obtain the necessary access to the Waiouru training grounds the Off Limits Charitable Trust came to the party with the logistics and planning which even included accommodation in the army…

When it comes to parts and servicing of a 4WD it helps to break the word ‘maintenance’ down into its component parts, ‘maintain’ (stay with me here) and ‘ance.’ Why? To make the point that we must maintain our vehicles if we want them to be low maintenance. Low maintenance is not the same thing as no maintenance. Many people don’t understand that. New or near new vehicles should be serviced by the agents or a good service centre that understands the peculiarities of the make or model. This will be essential for the validity of the warranty. From that point, and as vehicles get older, there will be more scope for owner involvement with servicing. The depth, of course, depends on the person’s knowledge, experience and attitude. Some owners…

Whether it’s off-roading, going bush, or hitting the beach, it is important to have the right equipment, and that includes the battery. New Zealand’s unforgiving climate and extreme off-road conditions can put intense demands on a vehicle and equipment and if the battery is not up to the job and built to handle these challenges, it could be a short trip. Excessive under-bonnet temperatures, continuous vibration, repeated impact and the demands of power hungry accessories, create havoc for batteries, attacking critical internal components which can lead to early battery failure. Unlike some imported batteries which focus on delivering higher starting power at the expense of more critical design features, Century Batteries, such as the Hi Performance Series, are designed specifically to suit our climate and extreme conditions. Developed using industry-leading…

The new Projecta HDBM4000, eight-stage 6/12/24V 3-40A workshop battery charger caters to all vehicle, equipment and marine battery types in a clever, single unit that provides effective and worry-free testing, charging and maintenance. The Projecta unit is light and compact and, once connected to the battery automatically sets an ideal charge rate (3-40A) which can be manually adjusted, if required. The HDBM4000 also analyses overall battery condition, tests charge level and starting capacity, and checks for alternator faults. Another excellent feature is the clever engine start mode for batteries that have gone flat. It delivers a short and powerful charge that can have a vehicle ready to start in five minutes, while a ‘showroom mode’ allows the unit to operate silently if charging at night or in a quiet environment.…

Switzerland, being a small landlocked nation, has a fortress mentality. Every male is military trained, many own guns. The Swiss have a unique focus on survival. Every dwelling has a shelter that is stocked to support the residents for days and each town has a major one with supplies for much longer. Their kitchen cupboards have doors on opposite sides of the wall and the drawers go all the way through. Food goes in one side and out the other so oldest is used first. In our lovely quake-prone country we should adopt that. Where am I leading with this? Well, the Gypsy Rover usually has supplies for a few days in case I get marooned somewhere due to weather or decide to extend a day trip to an overnight.…

The Sunday was a sizzler with just a little cloud cover, but the dust was amazing, and once the surface broke it became a mission to see. At day’s end many people were fighting the grit in their eyes and that horrible feeling of grit film covering the teeth, along with some very red bodies. Not a good day to have a camera out, you were not only dealing with the dust but the trees, to get a good shot. A relatively small group of 53 with once again D Class dominating the field, no A or B present and only three in each of the E and F Class. Is this because of the way the obstacles are targeted for the more extreme trucks? If it is we need…

We have had a great summer so far this year; like the summers I recall from many years ago. With such good weather it is ideal to get out camping and the usual 4WD Safaris provide excellent opportunities to camp. This year I needed to look at replacing the trusty tent that I have had for the last 12-14 years. It had done a lot of travelling around the country over the years and proved very comfortable but at the Hereworth Trek last year it was battered by heavy winds while we were out driving for the day. We returned to base and quite a few people were sorting out tents that had succumbed to the wind. My tent had snapped a pole which had then ripped through the top…

Specialist aftermarket 4WD equipment manufacturer TJM has an established network of global distribution centres, and here in New Zealand, Fully Equipped bring the Australian company’s quality, innovative products to all 4x4 enthusiasts. A recent visit from Michael Everett, TJM’s International Business Development Manager, coincided with Fully Equipped’s annual national conference, an exclusive event for the staff to learn and become familiar with the latest products soon to be hitting our shores. The company’s story began in the early 1970s when founders Lloyd Taylor, Cliff Jones and Steve Mollenhauer were making hand-made custom bars for a growing number of fans. As the demand continued to grow, they decided it was time to get serious, founding TJM, the first company in Australia to manufacture and distribute quality 4WD equipment like their Tradesman,…

It’s the Jeep that fans of the legendary brand have spent years calling for; and a Jeep Wrangler double cab ute called the Brute is now available for sale here now thanks to local importer Fiat Chrysler NZ and US company American Expeditionary Vehicles (AEV). Based on the four-door Jeep Wrangler, the Brute ute takes the Wrangler’s chassis and extends it by 59cms ahead of the rear axle to lengthen the wheelbase and another 41cms in the rails behind the rear axle to extend the rear overhang so as to provide the additional length for a useable ute tray. The entire passenger space is retained, providing comfortable space for five people. The Jeep Wrangler Brute ute is available in New Zealand based on the Sport and Rubicon specifications, both powered…

They say that winners are grinners, and that is definitely the case with Alan Gulleford from Mid-Canterbury. Alan is the lucky winner of our latest NZ4WD magazine reader competition draw, his prize, a set of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 4WD tyres. Alan picked up his brand new tyres at Neumann Tyres in Ashburton and says it was a great thrill to find out that his name had been drawn and that he is very grateful to Goodyear and NZ4WD magazine for the opportunity. If you would like to go into the next draw to win a set of Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 4WD tyres all you have to do is sign up to receive the monthly NZ4WD e-newsletter. To do so go to www.nz4wd.co.nz or email your name and contact details to…

March 25-27 2016 (Easter) Red Winch ‘King of Palace’ Winch Challenge; by Norwest OHV Club Inc and supported by Force4 and Red Winch. Competition will cater for three classes of vehicles – Club, Challenge and Modified. Cost of entry is $260 and entries are limited to 25 trucks. Scrutineering will start on Friday morning and the competition will start around midday on Friday 25th March and continue through to Sunday 27th where things will finish off with prize giving. Camping on-site with BBQ’s, hot showers and toilets provided. An all-day BBQ will be going for all competitors at the Hub. All drivers must be NZFWDA affiliated. Please note that this will be a non-spectator event. For an entry form and all inquiries email possumpalace4x4@gmail.com or call Ben Blyth 021 047…

Friday January 15 2016. It’s mid-afternoon and with ‘Little Whale’ in tow, I was heading north for a weekend of 4WDing in the King Country. After a brief stop at Taumarunui for petrol and general top up it was onwards for the last 25km to Ongarue and the school ground, home for the next two day and nights. On arrival the campsite on the school grounds and the next door rugby paddock was already starting to fill up with 4WDers and their tents, caravans, etc. A very relaxed evening was had, along with a restful night’s sleep. The morning was cool and overcast and around 8.45am the call was made to assemble in our trucks for a briefing. Newest was a toss-up between a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport VRX with 1500km…

Common-rail diesel injection systems run at extremely high pressures, with the new 2016 Toyota Hilux recording levels as high as 38,000 PSI. Such extreme pressures have allowed modern engines to achieve power and efficiency that was previously unattainable; however this technology comes with a downside, a sensitivity to contamination. Contaminants including water, dirt or algae within the fuel system have created incidences of excessive damage and disturbingly expensive repairs. Such contaminants can easily get into the fuel tank at refuelling, especially if this occurs shortly after a fuel drop and is far more common than most drivers realise. To combat this growing need for repair, Terrain Tamer have released a new range of complete Common Rail Injector Kits for the mechanic who is replacing not only the damaged injectors, but…

The ARB Air Locker has been internationally synonymous with traction since 1988, becoming the mainstay traction aid for 4WDers, dirt racers, rock crawlers and government agencies around the world. Air lockers are often seen as the best of both worlds because when engaged the compressor delivers high-pressure air to the diff centre, pushing a clutch gear that locks a splined bevel gear, effectively ‘locking’ the diff. When disengaged, however, the diff operates like any other open one. ARB has continued to evolve its Air Locker design, incorporated features such as forged gears, timed gearing and a two-piece design, and backing the investment up with a five year warranty. Forging ahead Forged gears, which deliver increased load carrying capacity and strength, are typically found in the most demanding applications, including heavy…

The Harrop/Eaton E-Locker is manufactured in Australia in conjunction with Eaton Corporation and Harrop Engineering and it is a new-age electromagnetic design which is maintenance free. The range of E Lockers covers Toyotas, Nissans, Fords, Holdens and Mitsubishis. They have been engineered to capture 100 percent of the available torque sending it equally to both ends of the axle. • Ironman 4x4 diff lockers feature: • Heavy duty four-pinion design. • Push button operation (no air system or plumbing required). • Maintenance free • Driver controlled to provide full axle locking. • Three year warranty. • 12 volt activation with patented electric locking. • Front and back activate individually. How an E Locker works When the locker switch is activated, electric current is supplied to a powerful electromagnet. As the…

During February, the ‘access lobby’ in New Zealand lost a champion with the death of the long time Public Access NZ chairman, Alan McMillan. Alan was a retired pharmacist with a gracious but firm manner that gained him respect from government departments and council staff around New Zealand. He’s going to be hard to replace. The Walking Access Commission recognised the retirement of its founding Chief Executive, Mark Nelson, in February too. Mark has a long history of public service, having been with Lands and Survey, Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. He recognised and supported a 4WD relationship with the Commission and in past years has spoken at New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association conferences. Thank you Mark for your efforts to maintain access options…

When the Mainland Winch Challenge series started a few years ago I was lucky enough to be a navigator and compete in some awesome events held throughout the South Island. The person I was navigating for retired from competing but I guess once you get a love for the sport it never really leaves you. Also, I often heard competitors from earlier events talking about how winch challenges used to be held over several days and included camping out together and enjoying the social side of the events more. Even playing field Fast forward a few more years and after finding a few helpers we decided to run a winch challenge in the southern area for the members of the local clubs. We decided that in order to get enough…

Land Rover celebrated 68 years of history on Friday January 29 as the last of the current Defenders was produced at its famous Solihull production facility in the UK. To mark the occasion Land Rover invited more than 700 current and former Solihull employees involved in the production of Series Land Rover and Defender vehicles to see and drive some of the most important vehicles from its history, including the first pre-production ‘Huey’ Series I as well as the last vehicle off the production line, a Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top. At the same time, Land Rover announced a new Heritage Restoration Programme, which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line. A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will oversee the restoration…

South Island 4WD adventure specialist NZ Adventures’ five-day Mackenzie Country Explorer and Southern Ranges Explorer are very popular tours through the heartland of the South Island high country. The Mackenzie trip starts in Geraldine and heads straight into the South Canterbury hill country on the way to the first overnight at scenic Lake Tekapo. The tracks and scenery in the Hunter Hills area behind Albury are amazing. Subsequent nights are in Omarama, Cromwell and Twizel with highlights of the trip including the huge plateaus of the Hawkdun Range on the border between Canterbury and Otago and the huge sheep stations on the Lindis Pass. Day two of the tour takes in the Macaulay Valley and offers the opportunity to drive well into the Southern Alps up the boulder-strewn glacial valley.…

Excitement is building ahead of the second Suzuki Extreme 4x4 event to be held on Sunday April 10 (starting at 9.00am and finishing at 5.00pm) at Turakina (21kms south of Wanganui) and filmed for later viewing on TV3’s CRC Motorsport show. “I am 100 percent committed to showing this exciting 4x4 motorsport concept to New Zealand and hope to make it an annual event in years to come,” says promoter Dan Cowper of Cowper Trucks. Suzuki is again the naming rights sponsor of the event and Dan has just announced the 12 course sponsors who are: Course sponsors • Fast Track Customs and Logistics • Hermansen Contracting • Akarana Timbers • Harrison’s Hiremaster Wanganui • ARB 4x4 Accessories • Brunt • Mickey Thompson Tires • Pirtek Wanganui • Roof Improvements…

Look, I don’t mind admitting, like a lot of you I’ve idly wondered in the past, ‘nice try, Volkswagen, but it’s basic physics, how can a two-litre Amarok turbo diesel engine produce enough practical and usable power and torque to tow up to 3000kgs? It’s just not physically possible. Fortunately for the likes of – in this case Volkswagen – I’m happy to put my hand up and say ‘I’m wrong.’ Because in this case I am. Not only is it physically possible, towing a close to 2000kg load from Auckland to Taupo and back was, if not quite a joy, at least a pleasure. And if you do a lot of towing yourself, particularly on such a busy stretch of road, you’ll know that that is rarely the case.…

Here we are a couple of months into 2016 and in just a few months we will be starting the Superwinch Mainland Challenge Series. Winch Challenges are all about winching and driving your trucks beyond their limits. You get stuck, you winch yourself out. Winch Challenges are also about a team (driver and co-driver) working together and knowing how each other thinks. Proper maintenance carried out between challenges/ rounds on your winch truck helps keep them going and possibly prevents mechanical damage. If you have a hoist at home or in a workshop you can use certainly makes life easier when checking your truck over. Scotty’s short-list My husband, Scotty Newport, probably needs little or no introduction when it comes to winch competition. And it is his brain I have…

Rear leaf spring bushings and shackles are often overlooked when upgrading the suspension of a 4WD. Leaf spring bushings stabilize the movement of the rear axle. Inferior bushes in this area will cause the solid rear axle to move and impart rear end passive steer to the vehicle. It also causes the vehicle to “wander” all over the road and be unstable under heavy braking. This can be especially noticeable carrying a load or towing a boat or caravan. Original equipment (OE) rubber-style bushes are designed to work at standard height with standard tyres and with standard loads. By fitting SuperPro Bushings and upgrading to greasable shackles the rear end of your 4WD will handle just about anything you can throw at it! You could benefit from a SuperPro Greasable…

Once the design, engineering and manufacturing work is completed ARB tests its prototypes in the harshest environments Australia has to offer – from Outback NSW to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia and Victorian High Country. Some units are also sent internationally to be put through their paces in extreme off road racing events like the iconic King of the Hammers in the Southern California desert. World class ARB Air Lockers are all manufactured in a world class, aerospace standard machine shop in Melbourne. Utilising aerospace grade materials and state of the art machinery, the facility ensures that the Air Locker maintains its reputation for quality, durability and reliability throughout the world. Backed by an industry leading five year warranty, the Air Locker is available for an extensive range of…

One of my main goals was to drive up the beach to Cape Turnagain, a place I had been very taken with when I was there as part of a trip in my early days with the 4WD club, and somewhere I had always wanted to revisit. What we would do after that was whatever seemed a good idea at the time – a great way to have a holiday. We met up with our frequent travelling companions Gilli and Ashley at Dannevirke for a late morning tea before heading south to join SH52 at Weber and follow this delightful, sealed back road to Wimbledon. Here we would detour down to the coast at Herbertville, then up the beach to Cape Turnagain before returning to Wimbledon and continuing north on…

Sloan Cox is the Kiwi king of rallycross and shares the title with Aussie Steve Glennie after the pair won their final events at the Teng Tools International Rallycross, defeating a field of 60 entries from the diverse disciplines of rallying, offroad racing and circuit racing. Local racer Dyson Delahunty won the offroad category in his Polaris RZR 1000 when factory Polaris driver Ben Thomasen was slowed with transmission problems then went off in a fast section of the course during the finals. Thomasen was racing his all-new Polaris RZR 1000 turbo and lost front wheel drive on the second day, then blew a half shaft trying to put the UTV’s power and torque through just one end of the vehicle. A New Zealand first The event was the first…