Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från NZ4WD

Drones, it’s fair to say can be a bit of a pain in the arse, particularly if you are a spectator at an event when the incessant buzz of the bloody things can really get on your nerves. In saying that, in the right hands, they can add an all-new dimension to the way someone like me can cover a story. Case in point is this stunning image taken by photographer – and drone convert – Cam Henderson (of the Hunters Journal magazine) on occasion of the official local launch of Isuzu’s new D-Max ute line at the appropriately named High Peak Station in the foothills of the great South Island High Country due-west of Ashburton.…

The fastest off-road race cars and trucks going wheel-to-wheel on a custom-designed stadium race track in New Zealand’s biggest city – what’s not to like? The Counties-Manukau International Stadium Race Track at Colin Dale Park in Manukau will host the inaugural Mickey Thompson Stadium Offroad Race Championship over two weekends in early 2021. Racing will take place on 13 February and 6 March. With grids of ten or more in every class and a speedway-style rapidfire race format, the events will turn on some spectacular action in a family-friendly format, according to organiser Tony McCall. He reckons off-road racing is probably the most spectacular loose surface motorsport in the world, but like rallying has been hidden from view. The new championship puts racing on show in a region of 1.5…

SOLAR POWER in modern off-roading has never been more popular as enthusiasts endeavour to extract as much power as possible in order to have their batteries primed and ready to support their adventures. In order to run an efficient solar set up there are a number of components that need to be present and working. A Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar regulator is integral to the efficiency of any solar set up. With MPPT, solar output is optimised by using the maximum current possible at the required voltage to continuously extract all the power available from the panel. It is particularly useful in varying and low light level situations, such as cloud cover or dusk/dawn. The solar regulator will automatically adjust and find the new point at which the…

Right then, in the interest of brass tacks (as in, ‘getting down to brass tacks’) what can I tell you about Isuzu’s all-new D-Max ute, having recently spent a good day and a half behind the steering wheels of five different models on but mostly off the road deep in the heart of the South Island’s incomparable High Country. 1) Put simply, and in language most readers will understand, the new Gen-3 D-Max is a bloody good truck. Like the Gen-2 it replaces, the Gen-3 has a solid, hewn-from-rock feel which is the polar-opposite of the, er, lightweight, touch and feel of some of its competitors. That said I wouldn’t even bother comparing the old with the new. Where the Gen-2 was rugged and reliable but – in later years…

As many of you will hopefully know from previous articles in NZ4WD we spent last winter in Europe driving the French and Italian Alps and the Pyrenees. My good friend Aaron Rich, meanwhile, of 5GoOverland fame, spent nine months traversing Central Asia with his wife Silwia and three kids. Both of these trips were amazing, but as soon as we were both back in New Zealand, we began planning our next trip as we both had a few things we wanted to tick off our individual and collective wish lists. Aaron, for instance, had a few routes he wanted to do, which mainly included River Valleys, and I wanted to join the dots on a major Expedition that we are offering through our guiding business www.4x4exploreradventures.co.nz. This trip will run…

Recognising the value of education, the wild and crazy mid-Europeans from Slovakia-based extreme off-road load and transport 4x4 specialists Torsus have created a dedicated school bus version of their radical go-anywhere Praetorian ‘people carrier.’ Based on the same platform as the standard Praetorian model, the School Bus version retains all the off-road features that make the Torsus vehicle a durable off-road all-rounder. The heightened ground clearance of the bus allows the Praetorian to clear obstacles with ease, while the 4x4 drive adds to its capability in challenging conditions. The ‘bus can carry up to 35 children on any of the world’s toughest school run routes, whether on- or off-road. Special features include bespoke original seat belt-equipped seats styled around mathematics and science designs and covered with a polymer protective…

The four-wheeling community is comprised of a widely diverse cross section of the general population, along with the same foibles and variety of opinions. Maybe that is why it can be so difficult to get overall agreement on recreational use of vehicles in public places. I have been following an ongoing discussion in Australia’s NSW… “With school and public holidays recently, and the extension of the border bubble, residents of the beaches south of Ballina are reporting that the 4WD traffic, volume and behaviour is getting worse every weekend.” That newspaper article concluded with “It would be so easy to close the beaches off to safeguard the public and the environment immediately, until such time as land managers could be appointed,” said Ms Ward. “To just allow a coastal ecosystem…

In the first four weeks it was on sale Toyota dealers around the country sold more than 1900 of its new 2021 Hilux models. Toyota New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, Neeraj Lala said one month does not define success, however, the initial demand has been phenomenal across both fleet and private customers. “Delivering 731 new Hilux to customers was a big effort by our Toyota Stores, however, delivering the additional 1,200 vehicles over the next six weeks will be a challenge given supply and logistics constraints,” says Neeraj. “Demand for Hilux accessories is also exceeding all our initial expectations as customers continue to invest heavily in customising their own Hilux.” So far this year, Toyota New Zealand has sold 4,720 Hilux in both 2WD and 4WD variants. It is proving…

Last year the Plimmer family from Hamilton took their 1956 Land Rover Series 1 on the Matariki Forestry Charity fund-raising Safari hosted by the Whangamata 4WD Club – and this year they invited me and my own 1955 Series 1 along. How could I refuse? I bought my Series 1 back in 1984 – back when they were as cheap as you could get a 4WD and set it up as a ‘Club Truck’ complete with a roll-over bar, side rails and a sturdy bull-bar as well as under belly protection – other than that, the vehicle is pretty well standard, but the bottom line is, the vehicle was specifically set up for the tough clay conditions found on the Coromandel peninsula – as will be revealed later… Assembly point…

Like everyone else who experienced New Zealand’s first full Covid-19 Level 4 Lockdown earlier this year, we had plenty of time to scheme on what we would do as soon as we were free. We also knew that when that time would eventually come it would be heading into winter, but we were ready to face anything as long as it meant being out in the bush again. As it turned out, Mother Nature proved to be on our side absolutely cranking the sunshine and we had one of those adventure weekends that kept us buzzing for weeks. THE PLAN: an overland adventure beginning in Inangahua, a small townlet north-east of Reefton. From here, take the 4WD track from New Creek west to Denniston and have a play on the…

Months ago now I got a touch-screen audio head unit (HU) but only recently installed it – fine for the price. There was an immediate catch. The ‘manual’ was a folded card 120x150mm with some good advice but lots missing – important guff like how to set up accessories and options. Happily it included the menu password, without which I’d be even deeper in the crap! Basic wiring was eased by buying a vehicle adapter cable. Though the HU’s make was not listed (did I say it was cheap!) I figured it was probably a clone or old stock of a known brand so worked my way through a rack of cables at Repco. That worked, providing power and speaker connections. Also needed was a pair of filler strips that…

December winner: Merv Moodie Cast your eyes over these stunning pics taken by keen Blenheim reader Merv Moodie (of his nicely set up late model Land Rover Defender in the Clarence River area west of Kaikoura) and consider yourself lucky that you are seeing them at all. After emailing them off to the Editor Ross MacKay, Merv waited and waited for a reply… and when one was not forthcoming he decided to text Ross on his mobile number to ask why? A quick check of the editorial inbox on the day in question revealed no such email, so - suspecting that four large hi-res .jpgs attached to a single email might have given the company’s server a migraine Ross asked Merv to re-send his shots one at a time. Which…

The high-lift jack was invented 115 years ago and originally called a farm jack or railroad jack. AS four-wheelers we refer to them as hi-lift jacks these days and generally consider them to be an off-road jack, however they have many uses, and not just off-road. I recently used my own hi-lift on the farm while repairing a gate hinge that had been bent. How the gate was damaged is another story but it got me thinking about the versatility of the high-lift jack or as it was originally called, a farm jack and here I was using it on “the farm”. These days the hi-lift jack is a popular item in any good off road recovery kit for four wheel drivers but can be a deadly item if used…

Fans of plus-size US utility vehicles here and across the Tasman can now access some of the biggest and best full-size trucks – beginning with the Chevrolet Silverado – through the newly established General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) network. The Silverado 1500, remanufactured to right-hand-drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group, is the first entry in the GMSV portfolio, with the Silverado 2500 and the C8 Corvette to follow in late 2021. Customers can use the new ‘Find a Dealer’ tool on www.gmspecialtyvehicles.com to find their nearest GMSV dealer. North American full-size trucks are redefining the ute market in Australia and New Zealand, and GMSV will offer some of America’s most successful and highest selling vehicles in the segment, said Joanne Stogiannis, Director of GMSV. “We have launched with over fifty GM…

With the move to Tiny Houses and to declutter our lives, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles might indeed be onto something with its new ‘mini camper’ model, the Caddy Beach. The new Mini-camper is based on the all-new fifth generation Caddy and boasts a host of new features. One example is the entirely new bed concept that has been redeveloped to offer greater versatility. Since 2005, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been selling a compact mobile home based on the Caddy as a standard production model. And from the outset, the aim has been to retain everyday utility and to design the fittings such as storage bags and bed area to be removable. This is also true of the latest generation. The small brother of the California is an absolute all-rounder, intended for…

Nissan NZ teamed up with its Australian counterparts in early November, in fact, to announce the details of its new-look Navara, despite production models not set to go on sale until early in the New Year. Key to the new range is an all-new ‘hero’ model, the Pro-4X. Though no pricing details were released at the virtual launch conducted via a YouTube link on Thursday November 05, the Pro-4X looks and is specced like a Wildtrak version of Ford’s Ranger so we can expect a similar price tag. Nissan execs who spoke during the virtual launch also made much of the inclusion across the range of an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features and safety systems, making it the most advanced Navara yet. “We packaged the new model with a…

Venue for the official launch of the new Gen 3 Isuzu D-Max was High Peak Station (and Game Estate) located in a picture perfect valley at the head of the Selwyn River Valley just up the road from the Mt Hutt skifield. High Peak Station is the Guild family property upon which High Peak Game Estate is located. High Peak was established in 1856. Comprising over 4000 hectares (ten thousand acres) High Peak is home to two primary ventures – pastoral farming and guided trophy hunting. Since 1973, High Peak has been owned and run continuously by James and Anna Guild and their family. James has spent over forty years’ dedicated to hunting, conservation and farming, and is the immediate past chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, the…

Ironman 4x4 has a large and comprehensive range of accessories to make carrying that load in the back of your 4WD utility or station wagon easier and safer. Products include deck liners, ute boxes, rear sliding draws, canopies and a range of deck mounted tool boxes. DECK LINERS Deck liners are available for late model double cabs including Hiluxes, Navaras, Ford Rangers, Mazda BT-50s, Mitsubishi Tritons, and the Isuzu D-Max . The liners are produced from three mm thick extruded polyethylene which is UV stable and gives high impact resistance, as well as protection from most common chemicals including oil, petrol, paint and battery acid. Liners are compatible with canopies and come standard with chrome tie down points and require no drilling to fit. UTE BOXES To offer a secure and…

Arecent 4WD club trip I ran in the Ashhurst area (see the October issue) showed some strong photographic potential but overcast weather and a convoy of over 20 vehicles meant photography took a back seat to leading the trip that day. This time we just had our friends Ashley and Gillian for company, and we had picked a day with plenty of potential for good lighting. Meeting up at Ashhurst, our first section was to work our way along the roads in the range of hills overlooking the northern Manawatu, looking for photographic inspiration among the lush green fields and rolling hills. GOOD ROADS, VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC With good quality gravel roads and very little traffic, we made many stops to enjoy and photograph the views as we looped our…

Everyone’s life and leisure time has so many options these days yet in and around the Capital our enforced lack of ability to travel, plus the uncertainty of any sort of sporting calendar dates has left us staying near home. To that end our club has had some good trips since May; to the Skyline track off Odlins Road, the MacKenzie Trail at Foxton beach, Orongorongo Station and more recently, to various tracks around the Akatarawa forest. It’s been great to be an active club again, so first and foremost, thanks to everyone who has organised one of the runs. Nothing compares to a day out with people you have been wheeling with for over 10 years, people you trust, and you know that under pressure, jobs are done automatically,…

This month, as we dare to believe we are emerging from beneath the Covid-19 cloud that has loomed over New Zealand and the world for the past nine months we might pause to think about what shape the sport is in, and where we want to take it? Off-road racing is coming back. It isn’t ‘resurging’ like MotorSport New Zealand events, but then it hasn’t had the benefit of the active financial support MSNZ has provided to its clubs. Instead, the return is coming on a gradual basis at club level. Standalone races and regional club series are teasing reluctant racers out of the garage and onto the dirt. It’s also family-based. People like Tuakau’s Bishop family with Dad Leigh stepping out of his UTV and into a V8 truck…