Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2019 i NZ4WD

You’ve got to give it to the ‘car’ companies. They have certainly not shied away from the challenge of electrification, autonomous driving , and the ever-increasing demand from legislators around the world for more and more sensor-based electronic ‘Safety Equipment.’ I know ours is a tiny, insignificant little market, tucked away on two relatively small (main) islands way down at the bottom of the world. However I do wonder sometimes, how different the ‘car’ scene would be globally, if there were (to put it colloquially) ‘a few more Kiwis running the show.’ Like her or loath her, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has proved a real breath of fresh air on the international stage for that so-typical Kiwi trait of (simply) telling it how it is. We’ve all got a mate,…

Land Rover’s Discovery has celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing the role of mobile laboratory on a pioneering drive across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the latest Land Rover Bursary. Driving a Discovery developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and led by Dr George Busby, the Mobile Malaria Project team worked with local scientists to extract and analyse DNA in remote locations, generating useful genetic data within hours; rather than having to wait weeks for the same information hitherto despatched to laboratories overseas. The 2018 Land Rover Bursary, awarded in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), supported the team of three Oxford University researchers on a 7,350km (4,567 mile) trip across Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya. The one-off Discovery was equipped as a mobile genetic sequencing laboratory,…

This, Ladies & Gentlemen, is the new Land Rover Defender. The unmistakable silhouette is familiar yet new, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles, a purposeful upright stance, and side-hinged rear tailgate complete with externally-mounted spare wheel just like the original. Two models – a SWB 90 and LWB 110 – are available with the stripped-back personality of the original Defender embraced inside and out. Innovative features, for example, include a dash-mounted gear shifter to accommodate an optional central front ‘jump’ seat, which provides for three-abreast seating across the front a la early Land Rovers. The long-awaited ‘new’ Defender is built around Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture, and is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction which is three times stiffer than…

You can now achieve a factory finish when you install new electrical items in your vehicles thanks to a new range of OE-style push button switches from Narva. The new switches are designed to fit into the spare switch space on a vehicle dashboard without needing to cut into the panel and look just like the original. Providing a professional OE appearance, the switches feature laser etched LED symbols with backlit blue illumination and are available for a number of ancillary lighting products including; LED Light Bar, Driving Lights, Aux Lights, Roof Lights, Beacon and Universal/generic, ensuring there’s no mistaking one for the other. The switches have an Amp rating of 10A at 12V, are available for 30 different vehicle models from popular manufacturers including Toyota, Holden/Isuzu, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi and…

In order to showcase the amount of route information available when you subscribe to www.4x4Explore.co.nz ( which you can do at https://www.4x4explorer.co.nz/?aff+2818 ), we have added this as a FREE route, where you can access all the route information and download the GPX file for FREE. The Nevis Road, or Valley, is a Grade Two route that runs down the Eastern side of the Remarkables, following the Nevis River for nearly 70 kilometres. Being close to Queenstown, it is easily accessible and if you’re based there, makes for a great day out! Our preferred route to access the Nevis is from the Carricktown Track. This is a 14 kilometre, grade three track starting at Bannockburn and heading up to Duffers Saddle, which, at 1300 metres, is the highest public road…

ARB’s Elements fridge/ freezer is packed with unique features that not only protect and secure, but also make accessing your food and drinks even easier. Features include: • A full stainless steel exterior complete with anodised aluminium latches & UV-resistant trim. • The use of a gas/spring strut to hold the lid open in any position (from closed to upright). • Touchpad controls which allow full functionality with the lid open, yet the security and peace of mind of a user-selected locking code. • There is also a padlock recess built into the exterior plus an optional bolt-down mounting kit should you want to make the fridge a permanent fixture in the back of your 4WD. For more information and advice on the extensive range of ARB Camping Equipment contact…

The Oztent RX-5 is a two-room, full height, fully waterproof tent built on the strong base of the original 30 second tent. The RX-5 comes as a full package and has plenty of new features including a zip-in entry floor which fully encloses the entry area when used in conjunction with the Complete Panel System, and a SkyMesh skylight built into the roof of the main tent that unzips to give you an insect-free full view of the stars. A fly is also included. The ModCan material used for the tent is CPAI-84 flame retardant, completely waterproof, UV resistant and incredibly strong. The Oztent RX-5 is perfect for a large family who want a quality tent which is easy and fast to setup. Red belly Hot-spot(s) Meanwhile, a new innovation…

TDS-Raptor, Bull, Orca... all are model names from the Kingone winch selection you can purchase from any Kingone dealer. The TDS-Raptor The TDS-Raptor is a high speed 9500lbs winch which has been a mainstay on the NZ 4WD scene for the past eight years. Boasting features like the 156.1 gear ratio and 5.2hp motor and dual cone load holding brake, the Raptor is supplied with synthetic rope and wireless remote. Able to be configured to fit onto any winch bar platform the TDS-Raptor has an IP-67 dust and water rating and is backed by importer and distributor Phillbrook Technologies’ great after sales service to its dealers with spare parts available for all models of Kingone winches carried here in New Zealand. Bull Winch Basically designed to challenge the American Jeep…

This year marks the 60TH birthday of the BMC Mini. Of course, you may ask ‘why am I mentioning Minis in a 4WD mag?’ Do so though and I have a ready answer in the fact that the Mini’s truly breakthrough design inspired the rapid change to front-drive cars and the now ubiquitous mostly transverse-engined 2 & 4WD SUVs you may well be driving today. And, even though the wee cars sat on tiny 10-inch (yes, a hand-span is eight-inch) wheels with cross-ply tyres the width of a closed hand and ground clearance of the same 10cm under the sump (that also held the gearbox) they were surprisingly competent off-road! In the mid ‘60s 1275cc Mini-Coopers absolutely cleaned up the Monte Carlo rally and took the rally scene apart.OK, that…

In the south, Taranaki’s Brendon Old hammered home his challenge at the start of September with a strong showing at the final round, held on Slim Slee’s Can-Am backed stadium short course near Kurow. There, he took his US-built single-seater to three wins out of four heats up against arch rival Brendon Midgley – also a northern competitor. Three second placings and a win in his Alumicraft single seater race car were enough to give Old the win after strong performances at the first two rounds, and his ultimate pace at Kurow compromised through Saturday’s heats with a recurrent misfire eventually traced to a fuel pump malfunction. The Otago Offroad Racing Club’s two-day event featured a full day of ‘short course’ heats on a terraformed stadium-style track on Slim and…

Our monthly feature showcases 4WDs doing just about anything except rolling over or burning! We will award a grand prize of a set of four Kumho 4x4 tyres in the NZ4WD Annual issue. This contest is open to all readers who are not professional photographers. IMPORTANT: Photographs must have been taken by the person entering them, or have the photographer’s written permission. Email your digital images and a detailed caption to: editor@NZ4WD.co.nz Send your prints and detailed captions to: Your4s with Kumho, PO Box 65-092, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0754. Be sure to include your postal address! Submitting photos The basics: as with any photo, there’s no substitute for an image that’s sharp – in focus and free of camera shake. It should be well-exposed. Size and type The ideal submission…

Owning older vehicles and using them constantly off-road often translates to shed time for maintenance jobs. My Discovery is no exception. There are always those little jobs and sometimes much larger ones that need attending to. In my case – of late – that has meant replacing engine mounts, a blown light bulb and holder, brake light pedal switch, plus a bent rear trailing arm. The engine mount should have been a straightforward task especially with the Disco up on axle stands and with the use of the engine lifter to pull the engine up enough to get the old mount out and the new one in. Well it was easy to get the old one out as it was in two pieces, but it was not so easy to…

As well as the upgrades to its existing models Ford NZ will add an extra model – the Ranger FX4 Bi-Turbo Special Edition – to its MY2020.25 line-up. Based on the Ranger XLT double-cab, the Ranger FX4 Bi-Turbo sits between the Ranger XLT and Ranger Wildtrak models, and will be available in both 2 and 4WD. Distinctive ‘black-out’ detailing and a set of FX4-specific 18-inch alloy wheels contrast with red ‘FX4’ lower front door and tailgate decals, all with a 3D effect. Completing the look, the FX4’s tray hosts a protective bed liner and an extended black-finish sports bar. Inside, the FX4 Bi-Turbo gets a special set of leather-accented sports bucket seats and contrasting red stitching on the gear selector, handbrake boot, steering wheel, door trim and floor mats. For…

Land Rover Classic is introducing a range of upgrades for older Defender models which deliver enhanced performance and on-road agility inspired by the exclusive limited-edition Defender Works V8 – 70th Edition. The new Upgrade Kits, the first of their kind from Land Rover Classic, allow Defender owners to enhance 90 and 110 derivatives built between 1994 and 2016. Calum McKechnie, Head of Land Rover Classic, said: “In 2018, Land Rover’s 70th Anniversary year, we saw unprecedented demand for the limited-edition Defender Works V8, which brought new levels of handling and performance to this iconic vehicle. “Extending the range of fully engineered, tested and approved upgrades offered by Land Rover Classic underlines our commitment to supporting existing Defender owners, as we look forward to the new Defender’s world premiere later this…

These days you no longer have to physically buy or even subscribe to your favourite magazine to enjoy reading it. Here at NZ4WD for instance we offer a digital e-newsletter with a minimum of eight curated stories from each month’s print edition, emailed out the same day as the ‘hard copy.’ To make people who might be keen to subscribe to the e-newsletter aware of it we run regular promotions. One you might have noticed recently had, as its incentive prize, one of Rhino Rack’s cool new Batwing shades valued at over $1000. Now I know what most of you are thinking right now: “I’ve never won anything before,” but as Warren Ayers from Mimihau near Wyndham in Eastern Southland has just proved, “if you’re in, you can win!” Since…

Aussie motor noters reckon its new 2.0 litre engine is ‘too small’. But that hasn’t stopped canny Kiwi buyers turning the ‘Raptor-engined’ Wildtrak into Ford NZ’s latest Ranger success story. Look, I’d like to say that I take absolutely no pleasure in exposing what a bunch of backward-looking ‘things-were-better-back-inmy-day’ boofheads the massed ranks of Australian ‘motoring journalists’ are. The truth though, is that I do (take some pleasure) from exposing what, if it is not a blatant bias against a particular brand, is at the very least misinformation being propagated for some reason other than to inform, and at the worst fake news. At the heart of the issue is Ford’s need to eventually retire for good what has been one of its best ever power plants – the in-line…

The wind was coming straight off Mt Ruapehu and the chill factor was high as we were continually buffeted by the wind and occasional rain showers and even the odd brief snow flurry. We stopped in a bush area for lunch in the hope that the bush would give us some relief from that cold wind and depending on where you parked you got a brief chance to get a hot drink and something to eat but either way I was very pleased that I had my thermals under my usual thick woollen bush shirt. Most didn’t mind the cold too much, however, knowing that as we progressed higher up the slopes of Mt Ruapehu the more chances we had of snow on the ground, especially since the Desert Road…

A Titan Tray from Rola adds significantly more carrying capacity to any vehicle, especially for off-road adventures, but at other times you don’t need the extra visual impact, weight or windage. Rola’s new low mount system adds roof bars and allows the base of the Titan Tray to remain fixed in place and ready for use, but its sleek profile is unobtrusive when the tray is not in use. It has much less impact on the overall style and proportions of your vehicle, and it reduces overall height and drag. It’s especially effective on the shorter roofs of utes where bulkier mounts and bars have a much more dramatic impact on the vehicle’s proportions. They are also ideal for SUVs when a full length rack is not needed. They offer…

Getting out of the office or away from your busy city life might be just what you need this summer! And Ironman 4x4 have a range of products to make camping and exploring the outdoors that much easier and fun. Rooftop Tent Why bother looking for a hotel or a camping ground when you can have a rooftop tent attached to your vehicle which only takes a few minutes to set up and needs little more room than your vehicle? Ironman’s luxury rooftop tent has a number of features including a raised “climate cover” flysheet to control temperature and reduce condensation, plus a pop up window awning and fly screen windows, all made from a premium quality waterproof, breathable rip stop material. The rooftop tent floor is made from lightweight…

Bushranger is ARB’s preferred winch with the Revo 10,000lb model – available with either wire or synthetic rope – packed with features. High-quality construction, a low current draw, four-stage oversized gearing with fast line speeds and an advanced proportional friction braking system that will reliably hold 100% of the rated load with no slippage are just some of the reasons informed buyers choose one of Bushrangers’ Revo winches. The zero drag braking system allows for fast no load line speeds, making unspooling the rope a breeze. No more pulling against the friction of traditional winch braking systems as the Revo system uses the power of the winch to do the unspooling for you with no concern of brake drag causing unnecessary wear and heat build-up. A fully sealed motor and…

My UK-bought, 2007 fourth-generation Mitsubishi Shogun (aka Pajero) has seen ample off-road action at home in New Zealand, as well as touring in a growing list of countries worldwide. In this article I will overview how I took this vehicle from stock standard through to its present extensively prepared form, serving as an inspiration – I hope – to anyone setting up their own 4WD as an overland tourer. I want to make clear from the outset, too, that I regard this as a ‘family-friendly’ overland vehicle build. It goes without saying that any 4WD project includes modifications and enhancements aimed at increasing the off-road capability of the base vehicle. Here, though, you’ll see that an equal development focus has been applied to ensuring that the vehicle is as liveable…

While I keep banging on about the need to look after what access we four wheelers have to unpaved places, we also perhaps should reflect on what we might be using to travel such trails in the future. With the rapid, well sort of, evolution of electric-powered vehicles, maybe that’s an answer to some critics who want to hear only their own voices and the sounds of nature, when walking the back country. Already we have electric motorcycles and I recall being startled last year, when walking on the 42 Traverse in the Tongariro Forest, by a hunter silently whizzing along on his electric motorcycle. He reckoned that it was a rather good means of getting along such tracks. From a four-wheeling perspective the idea of having each wheel having…

Two weeks later at Raglan, Brendon Old was racing again though with less chance of making the historic double. His northern campaign was not as robust, and he faced a whole grid of racers who were fresh to the duel and had not travelled to contest the southern rounds. In fact, the overall northern title went to Challenger VW class racer, Tim Ackers, though it was no easy run to the win. The Challenger grid was three strong, with Mark Goldstone also in the mix and Steven Hughes bringing his car out for a run – though with no prior points to his name. As it turned out, Hughes went out with a mechanical problem on the first straight in the first heat, leaving Tim Ackers and Mark Goldstone to…

Boasting an improved EV range – now 55km – Mitsubishi’s new MY20 Outlander PHEV comes with a more powerful and efficient 2.4L engine that sees it better equipped to deliver the performance levels forward-thinking SUV fans now demand. Add in a higher output rear electric motor, a larger battery pack and new Sport driving mode and you can see why Mitsubishi dealers up and down the country can’t wait to get examples of the latest XLS ($52,990+ORC) and VRX ($57,990+ORC) PHEVS into their showrooms. “One of the few SUV PHEVs in New Zealand to boast DC fast-charging capability, Outlander PHEV now offers a brand new combination of improved performance and exceptional value that we expect will entice more New Zealanders to get on board,” said Reece Congdon, MMNZ Head of…

Toyota New Zealand has broadened its customer appeal for the Hilux range with a new entry level Hilux grade, the WorkMate, aimed at buyers who need an affordable workhorse backed by the dependability of Toyota. The new WorkMate replaces the ‘S’ grade as the new entry level with Single Cab chassis and Double Cab variants. It’s available as a two-wheel-drive-only and has a low body height allowing easier on and off loading of equipment and tools. Toyota New Zealand Chief Operating Officer, Neeraj Lala, said the WorkMate would meet customer demand for an affordable, safe and reliable ute. “The WorkMate is a true workhorse. It has all the features you need and nothing you don’t,” Mr Lala said. The 2.7 litre petrol engine (and standard six-speed auto trans) in the…

Terrain Tamer have recently released a range of Heavy-Duty Wheel Bearing and combination Swivel Housing Kits, specifically designed and manufactured for vehicles operating in extreme conditions. Practical for heavy towing, unforgiving terrain and extreme applications such as mining, the kits are comprised of bearings that have been made in Japan, with a Rockwell hardness rating that is 2.5 points higher than the OE equivalent. These bearings combine a new forging technique with an upgraded heat treatment procedure to enable a longer service life. The kits also include an innovative new range of Heavy-Duty hub seals which rotate on their own internal surface, without relying on the condition of the shaft and thus eliminating wear on other components. These seals utilise a labyrinth construction to better prevent the loss of oil and…

Look, because I’ve now driven the thing. I know. I ‘get it’, if you like. I understand, now, why importer the Ateco Group has added the 5.7 litre PETROL-fueled 4x4 1500 double-cab model to its local utility line-up. Chances are, however, that if you haven’t climbed up (because that’s what you indeed have to do to get into the thing) into the cab and settled in behind the steering wheel, all you’ll see is its imposing, Greenie-threatening , ‘plussize’ silhouette, and think to yourself, why would I ever need a truck as big as THAT? Particularly one which slurps rather than sips Marsden Point’s finest. Which would be a hell of a shame, because I not only think that the RAM 1500 is a hell of a truck, I also…

You can’t go anywhere on or off the road these days without seeing a well set up 4x4 rocking a Rooftop Tent and/or some sort of quick fold-out awning For years the preferred ‘off-the-ground’ option for travellers across Africa and Australia Rooftop Tents have now achieved the ‘big tick’ in terms of both market acceptance, and use, from discerning 4x4 enthusiasts in this country. Obviously, we don’t have the sort of wildlife here, as they do in Africa and across the Tasman, which originally drove the move to sleep ‘off the ground.’ There is no denying however, the other key advantage – of simply being able to pack up or down your ‘tent’ in seconds, without having to worry about where or what in or on you are going to…

Rhino-Rack have been in the roof rack business in excess of 25 years and as a result know a bit about how to safely and economically utilise the roof top of a vehicle for added luggage capacity. There are different rack solutions for each and every vehicle and individual user’s requirements. Trades people, for example, have distinctly different requirements to those of a recreational user or a camper venturing either moderately or more seriously into the outdoors. While there are Rhino-Rack roof rack products for virtually every vehicle need out there the vehicle types the company excels at setting up are those that, coincidently, are the most popular on the road today. Double cab utes, multi-seat 4WD wagons or SUV vehicles are those being fitted out each and every day…

Ironman 4x4 has totally redesigned and upgraded its range of Monster winches, including stronger motors, heavy duty casings, synthetic ropes, competition style solenoids and are the only winch on the market with a motor breather. With two in the range, a 9500lb and a 12000lb and with the option of steel or synthetic cable there is a winch to suit your needs. Engine Breather The greatest new feature of the range of winches is the fully sealed motor with a breather that allows the motor to equalise changes in temperature and pressure by means of a remote breather hose which can be placed high in the vehicle away from water. The Ironman Monster winch is the only winch on the market with this feature, and the reason is simple. Issues…

Ground anchors are a great idea, allowing you to winch yourself out of trouble when there isn’t a tree or other suitable anchoring point in sight. But carrying around a large, bulky ground anchor isn’t always practical. Enter the locally conceived and made Lan-cor version. While traditional anchors are big and cumbersome, when packed in its carry bag the Lan-cor is less than half a metre long, weighs just nine kg and can easily be stored with the rest of your recovery equipment in your vehicle. This, in a nutshell, is why more and more people – including NZ4WD columnist Richard Soult as well as the likes of the Fire Service, Department of Conservation (DoC) and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) – are going the Lan-cor way. New twist…

November Winner: Sarah Ivicevich  Our November winner, Sarah Ivicevich, couldn’t decide which of the 11 pics she final short-listed from a recent trip to the Auckland Offroad Adventure Park at Woodhill Forest. So she attached all 11 as nice hi-res digital files and emailed them for us to decide. A good idea because the emails certainly caught our attention. The trip to ‘the Park was a way for Sarah and mates from the Auckland 4WD Club to remember a late club member and provided a chance, she says, to reminisce, with many winches and tows and opportunities to enjoy the park and each other’s company, whilst getting absolutely and totally covered in mud (and not just the vehicles!).…

The massive growth in the UTV and big banger offroader classes continues unabated, but what was the story at Raglan I wonder? There were good strong fields of UTVs in the JG Civil U and S classes and some epic duels in those classes. There was also a respectable field of class one cars turned out, though one – former champion Tony McCall – went for an early shower (in rugby lingo) when his diff exploded. It’s amazing how popular these classes are – the most expensive cars in the sport are these unlimited trucks and race cars, followed closely by the all-wheel-drive UTVs. The attraction is fairly obvious – they are proven designs (and thus reliable), they are becoming ‘productionised’ (and thus parts replacement is off the shelf) and…