Innehållsförteckning för March 2019 från NZ4WD

In the spirit of ‘why can’t we have one like that here?’ we run this little press release from Nissan UK regarding one of its limited edition Navara models it sells there. “The formidable Nissan Navara Off-Roader AT32 has reaffirmed its unrivalled ability in the rough stuff,” the release starts, “by winning the ‘Best Off Road’ category in the Pickups section of the 4x4 Of The Year Awards 2019.” Hosted by the UK’s 4x4 Magazine, the annual awards recognise the very best vehicles available across the SUV, pick-up and off-road sectors. That said, here at NZ4WD we think the key to the AT32’s appeal is the inclusion of a locking FRONT diff. Revealed in 2018, the Nissan Navara Off-Roader AT32 is the most capable Navara ever. Standard features include bespoke…

February 15 – 17th 2019  Te Awamutu Rotary 4WD Safari Kawhia; Te Awamutu Rotary Safari in conjunction with King Country 4WD Club based at Kawhia. Plenty of camping and accommodation options available along with fuel which doesn’t have the Auckland fuel tax added. Friday is registration and scrutineering with trip starting Saturday morning. The documentation and registration forms can be found at http://www.teawamuturotary.org.nz/4wdsafariand registrations close on 1st February. Any queries to David Samuel at dbsamuel7551@gmail.com or phone 07 871 5889 or 021 0814 0663 March 2nd 2019  Bay Of Islands 4x4 Club Safari; Bay of Islands 4x4 club tag along safari over some beautiful local farm land. Will be suitable for all 4wd vehicles that have ground clearance with some play areas for those more adventurous. Please Janet email for…

Being a specialist supplier of utility vehicles, which has successfully run out its existing model range to make way for new product only to have its replacement delayed, is not a desirable situation. It was, however, exactly where Korean brand SsangYong found itself partway through 2018. The brand had introduced a replacement for the very successful Actyon sports utility at the 2018 Fieldays, but demand for the vehicle in Korea rapidly exceeded 30,000 units, and that was before Korea had started assembling! Late January 2019 then saw the first of the replacement utes arrive. This then, is the charge of the Rhino from SsangYong. Rhino is the name SsangYong New Zealand has opted to run with for the fourth generation of the original Musso, launched in 2002 to 2006 when…

An experienced team of designers and engineers ensure that ARB products not only keep up with style trends, but still remain industry leaders in strength and compatibility with vehicle systems such as SRS Airbags and vehicle sensors. Comprehensive testing goes into each and every product to guarantee not only perfect fitment but also compliance with regulations such as ADR (Australian Design Rules). ARB assesses each vehicles crush characteristics and replicates the crush rate into the Bull bar and mounting design. ARB’s production facilities are equipped with state of the art tooling such as CNC sheet fabrication, guillotining, robot welding, CNC bending, machining and turning machines as well as in-house powder-coating and spray painting plants. Bullbars ARB makes a vast range of Bullbars to suit 4x4s manufactured in the 1970s to…

Being a bach owner on the south coast (as I am very fortunate to be) is a great privilege, for which I have to thank the council for its continued lease agreement in allowing the baches to remain as part of the area’s heritage. When I’m down ‘in town’ from the farm (near Eketahuna in the northern Wairarapa. Ed) it’s great to just sit and reflect on life in general, watching the walkers heading for Sinclair Head to see the seals (even during a winter southerly), or just the different vehicles (mostly 4x4s) that come around the coast, some only as far as Devil’s Gate (and yes there was a gate there once), or those that go beyond. Some return in a short period of time, others come back the…

Where to start? Hmmm, where better than hubby Scotty Newport’s new-for-2018 Jeep Wrangler which Editor Ross has been hassling me to write up since he first heard Scottie was going to build a second Jeep-based truck for the 2018 Superwinch series down here. 2018 Superwinch Mainland Challenge Series Outlaw Class #1 – Scotty’s Jeep Wrangler So here goes. Scotty Newport has been involved in Winch Challenges for about 10 years now, first as a co-driver nmainly and now as a driver. Three seasons ago he decided to build himself a winch truck and just four months later he had a yellow cut-down Jeep Cherokee built. That season Scotty and co-driving daughter Megan got first in the series in the Outlaw Class. The next season in the Cherokee Scotty – this…

Rules rule. We love rules, don’t we? One of the standout changes to the championship rules for this year is to open up north and south regional rounds so any racer can race any of the six regional round and take their best results to the final. With our iconic Woodhill 100 back on this year that means racers from the south can come north for Queen’s Birthday Weekend and tackle our oldest and toughest one-day enduro. Bucket-list stuff. A plan so cunning... In a first for offroad racing, Mike Fraser has announced that his lovely Toyota-powered single-seater will contest every round this year. Nobody has ever done this before, but the ambitious campaign is even more clever than it seems. After some extensive testing, Mike’s putting his wife Davena…

Here it is, Jeep’s all-new MY2020 Wrangler-based ute, the Gladiator. “Unquestionably a truck and instantly recognizable as a Jeep,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Jeep Brand – North America at the official launch at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November last year. “Gladiator combines rugged utility, versatility and functionality resulting in the most capable mid-size truck ever.” Tough talk, but the blokes got a point. One which will not be wasted on buyers here with a need to mix the rough with the smooth. True off-road capability, for instance, is a given thanks to Jeep’s proprietary Command-Trac and Rock-Trac 4x4 systems, third-generation Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lock electric front- and rear-axle lockers, Trac-Lok limited-slip differential, segment-exclusive sway-bar disconnect and 33-inch off-road tyres. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator will be available in…

After 50 years in the business, the directors of Active 4x4 have re-focused their business yet again to keep abreast of the trends in the car parts business. Leading New Zealand into SUV 4x4 dismantling 20+ years ago now, with the Japanese import gold rush, Active has had to up its game yet again to cater for the great amount of high quality 5-10-year-old imported and local Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche-type SUVs which are needing parts often not available new, or so expensive the car would not be economical to repair. Active 4x4 can supply advice, and send the guaranteed correct part anywhere in New Zealand or overseas quickly, at mostly less than a fraction of new cost. Active would have over 100 damaged cars for parts 2005-2017, European models…

Built tough to take on the most challenging recoveries, the all-new ARB Hydraulic Jack features a heavy-duty body which utilises the same grade aluminium as ARB’s flagship Old Man Emu BP-51 Bypass shock absorbers. Running up the body are nine hooking points for a wide range of lifting heights, capable of lifting up to a total of 2,000kg. The foot can pivot to match the terrain and can even be used to break the bead on a tyre. ARB has designed the lift to work with even the lightest force applied to the handle then lowered with an easy-to-access lever with dual lowering speeds – meaning recovery has never been safer or more reliable. For more information and advice contact your nearest ARB agent on 0800 272 493 (ARB 4WD)…

First units of the new S-drive electronic throttle control are now arriving in New Zealand, offering owners of later model vehicles refined throttle control across five different modes. Aimed at the four wheel drive market, the S-drive throttle controller gives the driver greater control in all on-road and off-road situations, and can reduce ‘accelerator bounce’ in offroad bumpy going. Used in the performance setting the unit sharpens throttle response – an advantage when towing or staying with traffic flows. The northern agent is 4WD Bits on Auckland’s North Shore. Owner Warren Adams says the unit fits inline allows drivers to sharpen or lengthen throttle response – the latter being useful for precision work often required in narrow going offroad. There are five modes selectable using the unit’s controller, all the…

Like most people living up North (until recently, anyway!) I generally have limited time to visit the South Island, and upon arriving in Picton, I tend to head south as quickly as possible to explore Canterbury and Otago. Having sold up in Auckland and being on an extended South Island adventure, we had the time and decided to explore the Wairau Valley. Being with my partner, Andrea, it has been important to mix overlanding with other activities and the Wairau Valley is an excellent place to spend a few days. I had been there a few times before and had logged a couple of routes that I was keen to drive again. Road less travelled We decided to base ourselves at Mill Flat, an immaculately maintained DOC campsite accessed off…

All Ironman 4x4 products are carefully designed, engineered and tested in Australia. Products include replacement Bullbars, Side Steps and Rails, Rear Bars and Underbody Protection. Bullbars Every Ironman 4x4 bullbar is carefully crafted from premium grade materials and components to deliver the most comprehensive frontal protection and styling available. Ironman 4x4 bullbars are modelled using 3D vehicle scanning techniques to achieve optimal cosmetic design whilst providing maximum vehicle collision protection. All bars are made from the highest quality SPHC oil and pickled steel (not mild steel) to give maximum strength and rust resistance. The finish on Ironman 4x4 bullbars is top quality using the Akzo Nobel powder coat system, which gives a thicker, smoother and more durable coating. Along with winch and air bag compatibility, Ironman 4x4 bullbars offer affordable…

Protect (verb); to keep or guard from harm, attack etc and protection (noun) is the act of protecting. We are always protecting our rights at work and in society. When you think of it we do a lot to keep those around us, ourselves and our assets protected. For example we protect ourselves from the weather; if it is raining we put on a rain coat. If it’s hot and sunny and we are outside we put on a hat and sunscreen, or for many New Zealand men, we should put on sunscreen! On a night out then you use protection, especially if you don’t want to have your activities curtailed nine months later. At home we have security systems and locks on the doors and even in some instances…

Key elements and new features have been revealed for the 2019 Land Rover Legends at Bicester Heritage (May 25th and 26th) so if you’re planning to be in the UK at the time tickets are available via www.landroverlegends.com. Following the success of the inaugural event in 2018, the Legends event will again showcase the very best examples of the Land Rover, including a number of rare and unusual vehicles from the Dunsfold Collection. The 2019 event will celebrate four important Land Rover anniversaries: • The 50th anniversary of the entry into service of the Series IIa SAS Pink Panther supported by examples of the Series I and later 110 SAS vehicles. • The 40th anniversary of the 100-inch prototypes – considered by many to be the best Land Rover that…

You might remember a year or so ago, NZ4WD ran a story on a ‘small urban ute concept’ built by Hyundai. Well, in November last year Volkswagen well and truly beat the Korean company to not only have a prototype ready, but to have an example – the Tarok – virtually production ready! Officially unveiled at the São Paulo International Motor Show, the all-wheel-drive all-rounder features a Targa-style roof bar and large variable loading area which can be extended thanks to a folding rear panel being incorporated into the four-door double cab architecture. According to Klaus Bischoff, Head Designer at the Volkswagen brand, “the Tarok Concept’s expressive design makes it the first pickup to combine the stylistic elements of an urban SUV with an authentic off-road design.” The ‘variable loading…

Living in Timaru, I love getting out at weekends and on longer trips around Otago and Canterbury in my 1997 diesel Toyota Prado. Being a regular reader of NZ4WD magazine, I’ve read a lot of the “Cunning Hacks” and have been inspired to see what I could do myself. What I really wanted to do was to clear some space inside my truck while out Overlanding. The obvious solution was to buy a roof platform to enable me to carry recovery gear and luggage on the roof. Recovery gear tends to be covered in mud or sand once used, so storing it inside the truck is not ideal. There are lots of great roof products on the market but they’re quite expensive and always being on the lookout for a…

The Triton has – like so many Mitsubishi products – not only endured but thrived in a very hostile financial environment. It hasn’t been an easy ride, but the fact is Triton has evolved to take its place as a contemporary utility with a strong position in the overall automotive landscape. Still unmistakeably a Mitsubishi Triton, the MY 19 facelifted model has seen a significant range of enhancements to its transmission, suspension, brakes and 4WD systems as well as acquiring many safety features normally associated with the SUV and passenger car markets. In fact, one of the most distinctive features of the MY19 facelift occurs right at the front of the ute, which – in addition to being about 40mm taller – adopts the ‘diamond shield’ family face of the…

Owners of premium VW four-wheel-drives are heading for the sunny Hawke’s Bay in numbers, and it’s not for the sun or the music. Well, not exclusively anyway. Established in 2013, Brent Currie’s SUSD companies began as a manufacturer and supplier of suspension gear for the Amarok and other VW four-wheel-drives. Their flagship was the development of a proprietary Suspension Levelling Kit. It’s all very international - Australia is currently the company’s biggest market, with Europe following close behind and growing fast. Three parts Today the business has three divisions: • the suspension manufacturing and exports division known as SUSD Suspension • the import and distribution branch which distributes AFN, Bilstein, and other reputable brands nationwide and is known as AFN 4x4 NZ • and lastly the engine performance division that…

Did I hear Paul Cornwall, school principal and organiser of the Motu Safari correctly? Have I just attended the last Motu East Cape Safari as we know it? The Motu East Cape Safari has been a highlight of the four-wheel-driver’s calendar every two years for the last 21 years being one of the original 4WD safari events. One of the things that make the Motu so special – apart, of course, from the rural hospitality and the remoteness – is the proper safari format rather than a tag-a-long event. Participants are put into teams or groups of 3-4 vehicles and travel in these groups at 5-10 minute intervals with a road book and signs and arrows marking the route each day. Helping hand The Geyserland 4WD Club from Rotorua helps…

A request from the NZ Land Rover Forums group resulted in an enjoyable weekend with my purple Toyota Prado leading a convoy of Land Rovers around a maze of Wairarapa back roads. After some careful planning and liaison with Greg, the NZLR organiser who was sorting out the trip promotion and accommodation, I had a two-day route planned that took in a network of back roads without being too far from a main road should problems arise. The trip started with a meet-up at Martinborough for a quick coffee and briefing. Before we started on the first on-road section I was presented with a pair of Land Rover badges, one to cover the Toyota logo on the grill and the other to convert the ‘Landcruiser Prado’ badging on the rear…