Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i NZ4WD

I learned to drive in a Series 2 Land Rover pickup. When the ‘Grey Ghost’ was sold, I finished off the process in a 1973 Range Rover. Imagine how a 15-year old lad feels perched up high in a ‘Rangie’, finishing off his skill sessions driving around the Bay of Plenty with Dad beside him. There was nothing finer on the road than a Rangie as far as I was concerned. Certainly no other four-wheel drive came close. Thanks, Mum and Dad. I have that feeling again this month thanks to the opportunity offered to me by publisher Cathy Parker. My whole adult life has been about writing. My passion has always been automotive-coloured. When the two come together it hardly seems like work. I know that probably sounds twee,…

There’s a growing trend among the off-road fraternity to protect their vehicles’ seats with heavy duty seat covers suited to the rugged work and play Kiwis love so much. For the ultimate vehicle protection accessories, any owner wanting to protect their vehicle’s interior will choose a vehicle-specific heavy duty canvas seat cover that is airbag compatible. Hulk 4x4’s seat covers are made of a 50/50 cotton polyester blend for comfort, protection and durability. They have been specifically engineered from quality 12oz canvas, which extends across the front, back and skirt for complete all-over coverage. With a waterproof layer, a velcro fitting system and a rear map pocket, these foam-backed seat covers are extremely comfortable and machine washable. Vehicle fitments include popular models from Ford, Holden, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota…

Even as a massive rain storm lashed across the upper North Island and the clouds of yet another Covid lockdown rolled toward the nation, there was something exciting in the driveway: LDV’s new T60 bi-turbo. In late August, NZ4WD was handed the very first media drive of this new offering and it arrived with less than 150 km on its odometer. This truck is so fresh even LDV’s website refers to it as ‘coming soon’. That meant the arrival of lockdAown was hardly on the radar, in fact level four enabled us to spend a little more time with the truck. Endowed with a commanding exterior that takes a step forward from rival offerings, the T60 bi-turbo also has a unique claim: more power, class leading power, smile-inducing onrampdemolishing power.…

Their massive towing capacity means they are the best option for these duties. The demise of the Holden brand and the loss of Ford’s Falcon mean those who might once have gone for a big car or station wagon now go directly to SUVs and utes to do what is required for work or leisure. With the warmer months returning, many will be thinking of that long weekend or holiday break. It’s not something drivers should take lightly, according to off-road racing champion and NZ4WD columnist Bryan Chang. Bryan Chang tows his race truck thousands of kilometres each year. He has done so mostly without incident. But things went horribly wrong some years ago in an incident that landed Chang in hospital with a broken neck. “I was towing the…

Most 4WDs do double duty – or more. They fit the Kiwi lifestyle like no other vehicle and as a result most of us use them for work and play. As the country climbs once more out Covid lockdowns, we’re all just mad keen to get out and celebrate the special place we inhabit. Doing a little maintenance before we go ensures we aren’t ‘that guy’ on the side of the road with the bonnet up – or worse. Like any machine, 4WDs do best when they are looked after. All mechanical parts wear out sooner or later. We can keep things operating properly by committing to a robust maintenance schedule. The first thing to decide is whether you are Do It Yourself (DIY) or Do It For Me (DIFM).…

When it comes to monitoring critical components like oil level and battery voltage, warning devices to let highlight possible issues before they become critical. These days, aside from the engine temperature gauge, most vehicles tell the driver very little information about the vitals in time to take action. When the oil level or pressure is too low, the transmission is overheating, or the exhaust gas temperature is too high, often the driver finds out the hard way, which ultimately ends in an expensive trip to the mechanic. Monitoring vitals in a vehicle is more than just useful, it’s critical, especially when a vehicle has been modified from standard. Gauges not only provide peace of mind that all is fine, but when things are going wrong, the driver has all the…

As the calendar swung into winter, some late fine weather gave us the opportunity for a quick explore of some new tracks in the Wairarapa. I wanted to take Ashley and Gillian to Flat Point, where they had never been, and Ashley wanted to show me a track near Castlepoint that he had found but wasn’t on my maps. As usual we met at Featherston then headed north, turning off at Carterton for Gladstone. Our first brief stop was at the commemorative model of Richard Pearse’s plane, on the side of the road just before Gladstone. This commemorates the first powered flight in New Zealand, which happened in the early 1900’s, at about the same time as the Wright brothers’ first flight. However, in typical colonial Kiwi fashion, this event…

Confession - I shot myself in the foot! I’d rediscovered an emergency stash of petrol. Level and smell seemed good. What to do with it? It’s fuel so burn it the usual way, some in the car and some in the truck. Top up with 95 or 100 and carry on. Did that. Car ran fine with no discernable effect. Truck tank was low when the fuel added, plan was to go and fill up with high octane to dilute it. Got called away to pick up free firewood now. Forgot about the fuel, truck running fine. Loaded up. Soon as I headed home truck began juddering, popping and banging, got progressively worse, wouldn’t idle. Embarassing too, I ended up stopped at traffic lights with random noises, engine spluttering at…

From outliers to mainstays – the Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) category has come a long way in New Zealand offroad racing. No longer can the sport’s traditionalists refer to them smirkingly as ‘weed sprayers’, these little race cars have become seriously fast since the wet rainy Hawke’s Bay day when Ben Thomasen took the first national round victory for a UTV in his Polaris RZR 1000. Though the category kicked off in off-road racing with 800cc and then 900cc engines in Polaris two-seaters – narrow in the track measurement and disturbingly prone to ‘bicycle’ moments mid-corner – the arrival of the RZR1000 with its motorsport-friendly track and wheelbase marked a turning point in the UTV story. Polaris started out with belt-driven CVT-style transmissions and has continued with them, as have…

The past year has given us a greater appreciation of what an amazing place we live in. After ‘Lockdown 1.0’ there was a massive upswing in people taking off to explore the great outdoors and the Your 4s page was bombarded with images of people out enjoying the chance to see Godzone. We’re bracing for a similar onslaught after the most recent lockdown, and to kick off we have some rippers from the north and south. Importantly, we do like to see 4WDs in the shot but it’s not a hard and fast rule. Images might be of a remote place or somewhere just down the road. We’ll run up to two images from each contributor, but no more. If you’re keen to become a published photographer and be in…

Upgrades, tributes, restorations. Land Rover’s Defender still casts a mighty shadow across the 4WD landscape. Himalaya’s handmade 4x4 Hue 166 4WD is a Defender, and yet not. It is the South Carolina company’s newest venture in 4WDs, moving away from old-school and into a fully modern vehicle that retains the Defender’s look. The reference to ‘Hue’ dates back to 1948 and the first Land Rover to roll off the Solihull assembly line. The new vehicle’s ‘Grasmere Green’ colour scheme is likewise a tribute to that first Landie. That first Landie marked the dawn of the Defender as a world class truck known for its dignified durability, handsome styling, and dependable performance even in the harshest conditions. Of course, the original truck’s simplicity and driving dynamics wouldn’t meet the expectations of…

The fourth generation of Hyundai’s Medium SUV, the NX4eTucson, has been launched exactly 17 years after the launch of the original LM series Tucson in 2004. It comes with three engine options, two transmissions and nine models. Additional Hybrid and PHEV models will follow in early 2022 for the Hybrid and a few months later for the PHEV version. The design is very pleasant and modern looking, it features a number of highlights that Hyundai term parametric – essentially a repeat of a regular shape on the grille, rear taillights and rear bumper. From the front when being driven the integrated DRL (Daytime Running Lights) which cascade down the side of the grille are a standout feature. Most dimensions are up from the previous model and the Tucson certainly feels…

These things are all the rage these days – an EliteDrive Smart Throttle Controller is one of the best ways to get optimised performance and economy from the engine of any vehicle. Richard Clapham says the Smart Throttle provides quicker throttle response and minimises turbo-induced ‘lag’ that can be frustrating and even dangerous. The Smart Throttle enables the driver to adjust for towing a heavy load or they can simply to turn up the power for some weekend 4X4 fun. “While we also offer ‘plug-n-play’ tuning solutions and exhaust systems for all 4x4s, we always recommend a throttle controller as the first step toward refining and improving engine performance because of the dramatic difference a throttle controller offers.” Elitedrive NZ has worked with the team at Cammus Industries (makers of…

Terrain Tamer has joined with Multidrive Technology to create a range of vehicle specific GVM upgrades for popular 4WD models. The Gross Vehicle Mass, or GVM, is a rating set by the original manufacturer, and refers to the legal maximum weight of the vehicle. This rating incorporates the wheels, as well as everything sitting atop – that is everything from the vehicle itself, bull bars, winches, fuel, people, water, food and the dog. Built into the GVM is also the imparted Tow Ball Mass when towing, and a Rated Axle Capacity, a limit set for how much weight should be distributed to each axle. Terrain Tamer has partnered with Multidrive Technology to develop an upgrade solution for popular 4WD models which, when towing or loaded with essential off-road gear are…

Many 4WD owners understand the benefits of a thorough clean and refurbish before summer arrives and the warm weather drags us all away to remote places. Oil, filters, a good clean of the chassis and suspension – 4WDs are the last bastion of DIY vehicle maintenance. Plenty of owners just love doing the basics themselves. It’s a chance to retire to the man-cave (garage to mere humans) and potter about getting good honest filth under our fingernails. But while we’re zooming around the garage floor on that cool trolley we got for Christmas, poking here and looking there, how many of us pay attention to the many small items that protect components and occupants from impacts and vibration though? Auto makers spend billions trying to iron out noise, vibration and…

Norbar ½ inch drive torque wrench Cathy Parker $393 from NZ Safety Blackwoods (modern version). I have owned this for more than 40 years and while recent occasions for use have been few it has proven to be a great purchase and a very reliable and handy tool. It has taken part in a number of engine rebuilds plus regular use torquing transmission and suspension components. At the time of purchase I splashed out, as it was somewhat dearer than the basic pointer scale type bars. This has the click-break action where the wrench clicks and gives slightly at the pre-set torque value, giving both audible and physical feedback. The torque is set by pulling up the end cap to move the scales in the plastic windows which have metric…

Question: when does an SUV become a truck? Or vice versa? The question is especially relevant when it comes to vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, updated and uprated for 2021. Fortuner is an unsung hero from Toyota, which is no real surprise when you put it in the context of the higher profiled Yaris Cross, CH-R, Rav4, Highlander, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 300. This being the case, perhaps the Fortuner should slide somewhere in among the Hilux and Land Cruiser 70? But others would say “no” given the seven seats and booted rear of the Fortuner. Hmm, something of a conundrum to come back to, but let’s see what’s been done to Fortuner’s 2021 model and has it made a difference? The answer to that is “lots” and…

It may look like an American Trophy Truck, but Hawke’s Bay racer Shayne Huxtable’s all-new unlimited class racer is all his own work. Smartly finished in blue and black over white, and wearing fibreglass race bodywork in a Chevy style, #826 made its championship debut in early 2020 and won its class on debut. Just a month later, the world turned inside out as Covid 19 also made its debut. So with the 2020 national championship cancelled after the opening round, Huxtable became the northern class 8 champion. As lockdown rolled out, Huxtable turned his attention to what he had learned in that first event. From the outset, the truck has been a showcase for Huxtable’s engineering talents and those of his mate Tony Rickard. But the quiet of lockdown…

The race was on… well sort of…ish. We hit the servo at Wanaka to fill up and grab a medicinal pie then set off towards Lake Hawea and over the Haast Pass arriving just before 9.00pm. I rang the Hard Antler Pub and they said they were closing the kitchen, so a quick phone order and Neil and I dashed down to the pub for a beer and a feed – which was just awesome. I hadn’t been to the Hard Antler for more than six months, since the Barn Bay trip, and it was great to be back and we were made very welcome. Tuesday 6 April Plan ‘A’ was to do the south coast on Monday, but we toured Macetown instead, so we had lost a day off…

Richard Soult explores the world of campsite luxuries while out there roughing it. Because roughing it doesn’t mean doing without, does it? If, like us, you go away overlanding for more than a weekend, you should probably consider installing a dual battery system. We survived for a while using chilly bins and charging equipment, like phones, using the cigarette lighter sockets in the truck. After a while, however, we became tired of emptying water out of the chilly bin, clearing up broken eggs and having to pay for a campsite where we could charge up anything that needed 230 volts. If you are out “bush”, the last thing that you want is a flat battery – and even camp lights, or interior lights will drain your battery much quicker than…

While New Zealand sits and waits for news, the rest of the world is pushing ahead with plans to make electrically-powered utes. Not a lot of news on four-wheel-drive ones, but that’s only a matter of time. The big question for the local market is: which continent will get an EV ute on the market first, with what range and at what price. And which brand will commit to a right-hand drive version? The big other question: will it be an EV start-up or a traditional ‘nameplate’ like Ford? The latter has shown its F150 Lightning, but has no firm date for right hand drive production. Chevy? Nissan? Mitsubishi? The latter has pushed hard into hybrid and PHEV offerings, but nothing has shown up on the docks yet. Non-traditional brands…

Shattering those stereotypes Keeping our communities accepting of four wheeling will continue to be an ongoing challenge and for us the answer may simply be greater engagement of the right sort. Four-wheeling as a recreation has managed to get itself a bit of a reputation as mud slinging, bush bashing environment wreckers, although that’s largely untrue. When compared to many other outdoor recreations, I reckon we are rather low in overall environmental impacts across the country. Mountain biking has had huge growth in popularity and the ongoing construction of extensive bike trails across rugged countryside and over expensive bridges seems to be disguised by the ‘health benefits’ of cycling. There’s not a lot of reporting on how much soil and rock needed shifting, or machine hours needed to facilitate construction…

The best months of 2021 stretch ahead. The weather’s improving, we’ve all been good four-wheelers and stayed in our bubbles. The advantage of a lockdown for many was the removal of excuses: with weeks of downtime, people were out in the garage and doing the maintenance and upgrades on their vehicles. The same is true in the 4WD scene, and of course for the organisers of the safari and tag-along events. A year ago, many of us were cautiously opening our front doors and wondering what happens next. That tentative mood didn’t last long, the closing months of 2020 were all about turning our shoulder to the pandemic and getting on with life. A year on, nothing has changed, and there’s a huge range of family-friendly events to watch or…

Pretty impressive: Lucy nails J class, Kenna cracks M class and Holly busts the Kiwitruck trophy cabinet wide open by winning the ST class. The Giti Tyres Offroad Racing team has been supporting the youth ‘Kiwitruck’ class for a while now, sourcing or providing product prizes for the young racers and helping raise awareness of the class to bring this important next generation of drivers through into the sport. Jack Hawkeswood, Fergus Crabb, the Storer girls, Dyson Delahunty, Harry Hodgson, Brooklyn Horan and Matthew Bishop are all graduates of the Kiwitruck J and M classes. Even as that annoying pandemic continues to mess with the heads of the grown-ups, the kids are showing the way forward. Lucy McKay and Arron Crabb in J class, Kenna Baker in M class and…