Innehållsförteckning för Annual 2022 från NZ4WD

Welcome to the end of 2021, and to NZ4WD’s special edition Annual and Buyer’s Guide. Your reference to all that is good and exciting in the 4WD world. What a year. What a time to be alive. Twelve months ago we were all having a big sigh of relief because Covid was ‘over’. I know I was very happy to dropkick 2020 into touch. Whoops. Wrong. How wrong we were. Turns out the nasty wee bug hadn’t finished with us. We have all had to learn lessons about resilience this year. A very wise Chinese fella once advised his pupils to be like a blade of grass in the wind – bend this way, bend that way and return to your purpose. I’m sure our beef, sheep and dairy farmers…

It’s a split decision, really. Before anyone starts making frustrated pffft noises, we can explain. Sean likes the Ranger better, I like the D-Max. He acknowledges the years of work that have kept the champion at the top of its game and the immense NVH and refinement knowledge available to Ford’s engineers to do so. I narrowly handed top points to the D-Max on the basis of a newer package, newer tech and engineering and the distinct individuality on offer. That contributes to the Isuzu’s driving dynamics and ease of use on tarmac. Each of these utes will do its job very well, the common points in spec and pricing mean it’s down to the buyer to decide, which is why the D-Max gets the nod (editor’s casting vote, sorry…

As New Zealand comes to grips with global supply chain disruptions, Ali Arc has an advantage. By sourcing materials locally and producing its bars in this country, the company has been largely buffered from supply chain woes. Ali Arc Industries is a New Zealand owned and operated business and has been manufacturing aluminium vehicle accessories for the light commercial and heavy truck market. The company has been in business for more than 30 years, a testament to the quality of its products and customer service. It probably doesn’t matter which vehicle brand wins the 2021 NZ4WD Ute of the Year award – Ali Arc Industries has product to suit it. The company manufactures for 95 per cent of brands, and has recently entered the SUV market to increase their already…

Many 4WD owners know the sight – lifting the lid of the air filter box to change the filter and finding dirt, dust, leaves or even mud in the ‘box’. In extreme cases, dust and dirt will find its way into and through the engine, even ending up in the engine’s sump or the valley areas of the cylinder head. If it’s this bad then it has almost certainly had a good chew on any metal surfaces it met along the way. Terrain Tamer has recently expanded its range of air filter inserts to include a kit for Toyota Hilux models, adding to the existing catalogue for Land Cruiser and Prado vehicles. Many Hilux KUN/GUN models, as well as the Land Cruiser Prado 120/150 series, VDJ76/78/79, and VDJ200 models, are…

Every month we invite readers and adventurers to send us images of their exploits in the great outdoors. It’s a chance to showcase some great photography and shine a light on the amazing place we inhabit. At year end we bring the best pics from the year and judge them to find an overall winner. This year the prize of four Kumho tyres to fit their well-prepared Mitsubishi Pajero goes to Scott and Kristen Fellers, who sent us an evocative image from a trip they took up the Poulter River Track in the company of mates. For us it has all the elements of 4WDing in New Zealand: well-equipped vehicles on an exploration of the back blocks, set in some epic Kiwi scenery – in this case the South Island.…

New Zealand’s passion for – and fascination with – the 4WD and SUV market segment continues unchecked. Demand is once more white hot, and in one of the world’s most diverse markets we are seeing shortages across both the 4WD truck and SUV offerings. This year as never before, factors outside the categories have applied even greater pressure to the year’s sales statistics. The difficulties imposed by shortages of silicone, magnesium, titanium and more have been compounded by global supply-chain problems created by the Covid pandemic. That’s all a bit depressing, certainly. Piling the Government’s ‘ute tax’ on top of all that was a further blow for 4WD owners, enthusiasts and families. Waiting lists stretching into months beset the major manufacturers. Some ‘pre-loved’ 4WDs have actually gone up in price…

Want the best looking truck in town or just a truck that gets the job done? Ironman 4x4 has the right gear for the job and everything to make a farm (or off-farm) vehicle do the job. The full range of automotive accessories includes bull bars, suspension upgrades, side steps and rails, rear bars, underbody protection, lights, winches, snorkels and camping gear. Quality materials, exhaustive testing Ironman 4x4 offers a range of replacement winch bull bars which are designed, engineered and tested in Australia. Every Ironman 4x4 bull bar is carefully crafted from premium grade materials and components to deliver the most comprehensive frontal protection available. The designers have also paid close attention to styling for each application. Ironman 4x4 bull bars are carefully modelled using 3D vehicle scanning techniques…

Reassurance is crucial when heading off road. Having invested in a good solar array that suits the camping requirements, one of the best upgrades for a 4WD is a dual battery system. Vehicle ‘start’ batteries are designed for short bursts of very high current, not a prolonged deep discharge, and over time increased demand will damage the battery and shorten its lifespan. Increased demand may leave the vehicle stranded with a flat start battery. To enjoy the campsite comforts of 12-volt lighting and a powered-up fridge, and to have a constant charging source for phones, drones, and speakers, a second battery is needed. Whilst it is possible to can spend hundreds of dollars on high quality batteries, even the most expensive battery won’t perform at their best if not charged…

The caravan and boating season means there are some must-do checks to ensure that a towing vehicle is in tip-top shape before the next road trip. These tips also apply to any 4WDs towing heavy loads such as a tradie’s trailers. While many tow vehicles do a decent job straight from the showroom, if towing regularly for any distance with heavy loads, it’s worth considering modifications that will improve the tow vehicle’s handling, braking, load-carrying capacity and towing range. Of the various components to review on a towing vehicle when pulling heavy loads such items include the suspension, long range fuel tanks, tyres, the cooling system, engine and transmission, and brakes. Upgrading the brakes on a tow vehicle is one of the easiest ways to enhance its safety and stopping…

Where’s the best place to discover a flogged out suspension bush or broken gearbox mount? Hint: not when buried deep in a bog in the Coromandel ranges. Everyone knows the importance of vehicle spanner checks before heading out into the great wide open. But how often do we actually include the underbody essentials? More to the point, exactly how will we rig a get-home repair if a spring shackle bolt wears through, or the nuts come off an axle u-bolt? The prescription recommended by the Mount Shop involves getting the truck out and giving it a thorough clean on top and underneath, and then flopping down on the garage creeper and eyeballing the undersides. The company is the best source of parts to return that factory-fresh feel to steering or…

“The battle between Ranger and the Toyota Hilux has been long drawn out and spectacular, but now there’s a new contender for the crown.” “I am the Greatest” – Muhammed Ali coined one of the most famous quotes in sporting history when he went up against Sonny Liston in 1964. Ali – referred to by some as the Louisville Lip - had a way with words that few sports personalities have come close to rivalling. More to the point, his pre-match sledging was backed up by devastating form in the ring. The same might be said of Ford’s Ranger. Champion of the New Zealand ute world, multi-awarded, its trophy cabinet groaning with cups and plaques and accolades. A heavy-hitter in the driveway and on the land. The Ranger is New…

It’s time to get out there and enjoy New Zealand. Real New Zealand. Time to plan summer adventures. Time to prepare, time to refurbish, time to shout yourself some gear for the 4WD. Maybe it’s also time to get underneath and make sure everything’s good to go. How often do we do that? Probably not often enough. And remember, it’s always better to do these things when still at home with lighting and tools – and a fridge stocked with cold refreshments for afterward. NZ4WD presents the annual great big guide to all the gear required to make a 4WD into a machine – and keep it that way. Steering and suspension parts? Yes. Mounts for engine, suspension, transmission and more? Check. Need to add some lift to the truck?…

Whether they’re for getting work done or enjoying life’s adventures, utes are all about customisation. New Zealand company Utemaster has designed a purpose-built canopy that is complemented by a removable shelving system. Access: canopies are considered a staple accessory for ute owners. Traditionally, they have been constructed of fibreglass or ABS plastic. One of the biggest issues with this is that the fibreglass areas must be kept small in order to maintain structural integrity. Utemaster’s Centurion Canopy is constructed of aluminium which gives it greater strength and enables the openings to take up the full width. The company claims the Centurion is the “most accessible canopy in the world”. The Removable Canopy Shelving Unit complements the full-width door access of a Centurion canopy and provides an organised area to store…

With the ever-increasing number of gadgets that come along for the ride, adding solar to a camping or touring set up is essential, especially if extensive off-grid adventuring is the plan. Choosing the right solar solution can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be! REDARC’s range of solar products has an option to suit every need, from the weekend warrior to the seasoned adventurer. For those travelling only a few times a year where the priorities are about ease of use, value, and flexibility portable folding solar panels are a great option. Redarc’s ‘next generation’ folding solar panels offer a small, ultra-lightweight solution, making them quick and easy to set up and pack down. Using the panel’s adjustable and lightweight legs, it’s possible to make the most of patchy…

Those were different times: on 14 August 1862 Horatio Hartley and Christopher Reilly walked into the assay office in Dunedin with 40kg of gold they panned where the Kawarau River from Wakatipu meets the Mata-Au (AKA Molyneux or Clutha) River from Wanaka and Hawea at a place called Cromwell. This find triggered the ‘Dunstan Rush’ and central Otago changed for ever. The California gold rush started in 1848 and the Australian rush in 1851. Gold fever spread quickly around the world. Gabriel Read’s discovery near Lawrence on 25 May 1861 paled into insignificance when tales of shovelling nuggets off beaches in the Arrow River sparked a stampede to one of the most isolated, bleak and barren parts of New Zealand. “On the first part of the journey, I was looking…