Innholdsfortegnelse for NZ4WD Annual 2021 i NZ4WD

It’s fair to say that around the (in this case ‘virtual) office there were some fairly long-ish silences, interrupted only by breath being sucked furiously over teeth, when I first mentioned that I was ‘thinking about’ nominating RAM’s big, brusque petrol-fuelled 5.7 litre V8-powered 1500 as my 2020 Ute of the Year. “Thinking about” then morphed into “I’m definitely going to” once I returned the Express Crew Cab press vehicle (compete with requisite, big stoopid grin on my face) to importer Ateco. Meaning that my mind was well and truly made up by the time I was reminded that I was due to test the latest version, the Warlock, in the middle of November. The 1500, you see, is like that. Obviously (duh!) it is big, making some observers ‘think’…

Ironman 4x4 offers a full range of accessories for your 4WD including bull bars, suspension upgrades, side steps and rails, rear bars, underbody protection, lights, winches, snorkels and camping gear. The company’s nationwide network of dealers is also a great place to go for helpful advice and over 50 years of 4WD industry experience. Ironman 4x4 bull bars Ironman 4x4 offers a range of replacement winch-compatible bull bars which are designed, engineered and tested in Australia. Every Ironman 4x4 bull bar is carefully modelled using 3D vehicle scanning techniques to achieve optimal cosmetic design whilst providing maximum vehicle collision protection then crafted from premium grade materials and components to deliver an unmatched mix of stylish good looks and protection. All Ironman 4x4 bull bars are made from the highest quality…

Christmas holidays are approaching and with that comes outdoor adventures. Is your 4WD ready for summer?  Rugged Valley seat covers are a great gift idea and make the perfect addition to your vehicle this season. Rugged Valley seat covers are 100 percent waterproof, tailor-made to fit your specific vehicle right here in NZ. Available for all utes, trucks, vans, tractors, excavators, quads and ATVs. From Toyota vans to the latest model macho Isuzu D-Max ute, the workhorse Toyota Hilux. We’ve got you covered. Over 100,000 hardworking legends have given our seat covers a thrashing – farmers, contractors, surfers, plumbers, truck drivers, builders, hunters, workers and adventurers. We stand by our staunch two-year guarantee because we truly believe in gear that works. Rugged Valley knows the way Kiwis live and we have specifically…

It’s that time of the year again when we get into our big boys’ toys and head off to do some off-roading or go out on adventures in our pimped up four-wheel drives. This summer, when you are ready for your outdoor adventures, it is essential that your four-wheel drive vehicle is all ready to go and safe. Make sure you have all the preventative maintenance done, check all your equipment and tick everything off your safety check sheet. You know you won’t be going anywhere until your vehicle has a starting battery in a good state of health. To make the most of your trip and use all the extra bells, whistles, gadgets and accessories, you may need to have an equally good deep cycle second auxiliary battery to…

What’s in a name? Pretty much everything if the name of your company is mail-order/online retailer 4WD BITS… and for more than 20 years now you have been in the business of providing the 4WD market with quality affordable parts and accessories; hence the name, 4WD Bits. 4WD Bits (which you can check out online at 4WDbits.co.nz) stocks a wide range of parts for numerous vehicles ranging from axle seals to intercoolers, differential gears to suspension lift parts and kits, specialist off-road shocks to full hydraulic steering and steering assist kits. They also have a comprehensive range of recovery gear, bolt on heavy-duty tow points and recovery hooks. The guys behind the business have been and still are involved in off road competitions, starting in winch challenge and later moving…

NZ Adventures is a 4x4 back country tour operation currently offering six different tours covering a large portion and indeed many different aspects of the South Island. Established in the late 1990s, NZ Adventures is owned and operated by Southland based, Robbie and Connie Crickett. For Robbie the 2021 season marks 23 years of guiding motor vehicle tours along the back tracks of the South Island. NZ Adventures has access arrangements with 120 farm and station landowners throughout the South Island and has DOC concessions in Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury and Otago conservancies along with access to several plantation forestry estates. All tours include accommodation and meals to the highest standards in some of the scenic gems of the South Island including amongst other towns and villages, Hanmer Springs, Lake…

It’s true! Turn up at any gathering of those inclined to what marketers call a ‘4WD lifestyle’ (that would be you and I) and there will be every size, shape, age, stage and style of off-road vehicles present from Suzuki’s original SJ410 Jimny to huge towering 80-Series Toyota Land Cruisers and similar but much later model Nissan Patrol ‘station wagons.’ Car of The Year awards, of course, are about celebrating new rather than the older modded ‘trucks’ most Kiwi ‘four-Wheelers’ are into. Still, the size issue raises its head. Last year, for instance, we awarded our Compact 4WD class win, as well as our top overall ‘gong’ for the Year to Suzuki for their all-new, fourth-generation Jimny, a vehicle for which the term ‘small but perfectly formed’ could well have…

It has never been easier– or cheaper – to personalise your 4x4. Flick through the pages of this very magazine and you will be able to find inspiration plus an idea of the ‘look’ you are after. Depending on what you do with your ‘truck’ or the type of off-roading you either already do or you plan on doing, there will be a certain way a truck sits – high, low, with a lot of droop at the front, sag at the back, or absolutely flat – that you like or don’t like. Just as there will be an amount of lift some of you will think looks absolutely ‘right-on,’ while others will ask you when the next Monster Truck meeting is on in your neighbourhood? Not so long ago,…

Hella’s range of award-winning LED light bars provide additional light and are fully road legal with ECE approval. Now, for the first time, striking LED light pipe technology has been used to create an innovative position light integrated with a powerful high beam light bar. The sleek low-profile housings are expertly designed, and precision manufactured using ultra-durable materials to ensure long life and value for money. Multivolt circuitry means the dual function lamp can be used on 12V or 24V DC, whilst only consuming 36W on high beam. Any input between 9 to 33 volts offers optimum brightness. The adjustable mounting system ensures for easy installation and flexibility for any orientation. (Must be mounted according to local installation regulations for high beam and position lamps.) Exceptional Hella durability and longterm…

The Centurion Canopy is a complete game changer when it comes to using your work vehicle for weekend pursuits. Traditionally Canopies have been made at a low-spec entry point; this means that while they do work for some business applications, they are almost impossible to use off-the-beaten-track. Here are a few of the key features that make the new Centurion from Utemaster the ultimate overlanding canopy. The side doors on the Centurion Canopy give you up to 50 percent more access into your wellside than a traditional Canopy. After a hard day wrestling an off-road track you can easily take your gear out of the side doors without having to climb through the back to access gear at the front of the wellside. Rated at 200 kgs the Centurion Canopy…

If you know one thing about four-wheel-drive vehicles, you’ll know this: Shi…stuff – wears out. It doesn’t matter if you have a 1986 Nissapra-Lexus hodgepodge of a trail taming beast or a super shiny Range Rover with all the goodies and a fourth mortgage to pay for the fuel, bits is gonna get busted sooner or later. When they do, you want to be damn sure you’ve got the right widget doing the right work round your wheels. You’re not going to jump on to AliExpress, Wish or even eBay when you’re buying bits for your bus, not with the diverse range of vehicles we have here anyway. I mean, is it worth lashing out $20 waiting for three weeks and then finding out, ‘’Aw stink, its not what I…

Congratulations to our December 2020 featured photographer Merv Moodie from Blenheim for his NZ4WD magazine Your4s/Kumho Tyres overall 2020 competition-winning photograph of the year! Merv sent us in several nicely thought out, framed and taken shots of his nicely set up Land Rover Defender and simply put, we were hooked. For his efforts Merv wins a set (of four) Kumho 4x4 tyres. Thanks to everyone who entered, and remember, if you like taking photos (on a dedicated camera, or smartphone) and you think you have some great shots of 4x4s in action share them with us (email to editor@nz4wd.co.nz). That’s what Merv did and look where it got him!…

Truth be told I should have used these Paul Richards pics earlier in the year when the snow you see in them was still fresh. Its only now though that I find myself with a spare page and the email message Paul sent through with his shots. To whit: “We went the other direction today (west from his home in Geraldine) and drove down to Tekapo then up Lilybank Road as far as the Macaulay River crossing where Raewyn and I had lunch off the tailgate. Gusting NorWester though coming down the Godley River valley so didn’t stay too long but great scenery and well worth the trip. The top shot shows our Mazda BT-50 parked on the bank where the Macaulay River comes in from the right, the Godley…

Three personalities, three ways of doing broadly similar duties. Three takes on that essentially Kiwi desire to have a vehicle that works hard, plays hard, washes up clean. To borrow from the blurb in the brochure for one of these three: “Gear up and get out there. Forget the weather, this is New Zealand. Any mud you encounter will be worn with pride.” Three different vehicles, three different market segments. Two are about benchmarking their latest versions, with new trim packages and styling, gentle upgrades everywhere. The third is a modern take on the origin of utes or pickups; a reminder of how these vehicles evolved. One of our trio has been an established leader in the double cab diesel ute arena for decades; it has been the ‘goto’ for…

Trusted Australian specialist electronics company Redarc has over 40 years’ experience developing and manufacturing world-leading in-vehicle electronic solutions. Designed, tested, and manufactured in Australia, their products are proven in the toughest environments in the world. Whether it’s long-range touring or a weekend escape, Redarc has the solution to power your next adventure. Visit your nearest auto-electrician or 4WD specialty store to find out more. Tow-Pro Elite When you’re towing the boat, camper trailer or caravan, you’re going to want to be in complete control and for any trailer above 2.5 tonne it’s required by law to have its own brakes. Redarc’s Tow-Pro Elite is quickly becoming New Zealand’s favourite electric brake controller. It is the only one to offer two types of braking; Proportional mode (inertia sensing) for the highway…

ECU-SHOP is the pioneer in Diesel Tuning. From humble beginnings in Thailand in 2004 they have expanded to become a global business with 125 full time staff, and the largest manufacturer of aftermarket ECU’s in the Southern Hemisphere. ECU-SHOP has been in New Zealand for five years with a nationwide network of 31 dealers from Invercargill to Whangarei. ECU-SHOP tuning and performance solutions range in price from $175 to $2195 fitting everyone’s needs and budget. One of the most popular combos, according to Richard Fleming of ECU-SHOP NZ is “the Boost Speed Next 14-step Throttle Controller with Ramble Idle, Mobile App controller, Anti Theft, Anti-Skid and Economy Modes… which has stormed the market here at just $395.” Also available from our ECU-SHOP NZ dealer are EGR deletes, gauges, larger nozzles,…

Well, 2020 was definitely a challenging year. Covid-19 and the various lockdowns around the world meant that four-wheel drivers haven’t been able to get out on the tracks as much, and a lot of companies in the 4WD industry haven’t been able to operate as freely as they would like. Luckily, Terrain Tamer still managed to release some exciting new parts in the past 12 months, ready for everyone to get out and make the most of their vehicles in 2021 Heavy-duty bearing kits Terrain Tamer began the year with the release of their Heavy-Duty Wheel Bearing and combination Swivel Housing Kits, specifically designed and manufactured for vehicles operating in extreme conditions. Practical for unforgiving terrain and extreme applications such as mining, the kits are comprised of bearings that have…

Life as we know it has changed, quite dramatically in some cases, in 2020. A year most of us would like to put behind us now and we are all hoping the rest of the world can get to the luxurious position New Zealand is in, where life has a normal feel to it again albeit still with a twist. Boss Air Suspension is still supporting the trade vehicles, Utes, vans etc. with our suspension airbag assist kits. These Load Assist (in USA they are called Tow Kits) kits are designed to help return loaded vehicles back to their standard ride height for safer driving and handling. Boss Air Suspension Airbags are designed to assist your factory suspension. Adding Airbags to the suspension does not change your existing suspension and…

You may have noticed that it’s not that hard to get your mates into driving off-road. Mud, snags, bad banter… yup, they’ll be there. Before you know it you’ve built up an unofficial 4WD club and there’s a drive planned every weekend. But the wife* may not be so keen on this lifestyle. The wheel lifts and bog holes, the endless dirty laundry, the constant bearing replacements – it can be a hobby more difficult to get the lady involved in. (*Totally necessary disclaimer: Some wives are just born badass and this chat is not necessarily for them. Please replace wife with partner, husband, kid or best friend as required!) If your other half is dubious about the amount of time (or money!) spent on four-wheeling, put some real effort…