Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i NZ4WD

Looking back through some of NZ4WD’s reader images in the Your4s, Our Places pages over the 2021 year I have noted just how many of them feature what I’d describe as ‘old school’ vehicles. Full ladder chassis, relatively low tech, able to be fixed in the field. Nissan Patrols, older Mitsubishi Pajeros, Toyota Hiluxes and the like. Mainstays of the second-hand market. We all know, because it is obvious, that any second hand or ‘pre-loved’ 4WD gets there by first being a new 4WDs. But with a PHEV sitting in the driveway and having completed the massive buyer’s guide in the NZ4WD Annual, I am aware of how tech-loaded most new vehicles are. In fact, that tech is both expected by new car buyers and in many cases required by…

As Land Rover in New Zealand gears up for new model launches and a busy year – and celebrates winning the NZ4WD of the Year for the Defender – the Bowler race operation has unveiled a one-make competition series for the Defender 90. Bowler made its name creating special race versions of the Land Rovers to be used by well-heeled clients in extreme desert races including the Dakar rally-raid. The 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge is based on the Land Rover Defender 90 with a 300PS Ingenium 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Bowler uses its long experience of competition to transform it into a (tall) rally car with a full roll cage, modified underbody, raised suspension, rally-spec 18-inch wheels and column-mounted paddle shifters. Since it was launched in 2020 the Land Rover…

Here’s proof that old Land Cruisers never die, or even fade away. The most popular vehicle searched for on the auction site Trade Me last year was this 2004 Land Cruiser with the spacious but hardly plush station-wagon back. So far, so unremarkable. But this one is special – it has spent nearly two decades at New Zealand’s Antarctic research facility, Scott Base, where it was used as an exploration vehicle and for transporting people and cargo across ice shelves. Now it has come back to New Zealand almost two decades later and after attracting more than 112,000 views it sold (as-is) for an impressive $40,200. Also in the top ten were a politician’s Mitsubishi (108,000 views, sale price $3,400), the ‘interesting’ Honda City offroader that featured in NZ4WD a…

Barely able to ‘mask’ their excitement, Scott and Kristen Fellers got the news in early December that they had won our annual ‘Your 4s, Our Places’ competition. They dropped by Kumho Tyres to pick up a set of four 33/12.5x15 Kumho MT71 tyres to fit their Mitsubishi Pajero. In the image: Kristen Fellers, Scott Fellers, Matt Butler, Jarrod Scott and Andrew Blair. Scott Fellers told us afterward the win came just at the right time; the mud terrain tyres on their truck were in dire need of replacement.…

Imagine finding one of these in your Christmas stocking. The Fat Truck, made by Zeal Motor in Canada, is about as ‘all terrain’ as it gets. Snow, mud, sand, ice, and water are its natural home. Enormous blade-treaded tyres can be inflated and deflated on the move. It can do 40km/h on land or 5km/h on water, where it is propelled solely by those paddle-bladed tyres. It can turn in its own length because the wheels on each side can turn in opposite directions to give it amazing manoeuvrability. Its power comes from a modest-sounding 50kW 2.2-litre Caterpillar diesel engine, which drives a hydrostatic transmission. Directional control is by joystick. There’s video of these mad-looking but amazingly capable 4WDs at shorturl.at/nqzJN The height of cult off-roading is here. Not only…

At the risk of inciting the ire of enthusiasts, I believe it was as recently as 1990 that the Land Rover Series I, II and III naming protocol was absorbed into the evocative Defender name. The Defender 90, 110 and 130 models carried the Land Rover legend through into and beyond the turn of the century with two significant engine upgrades and a raft of minor changes addressing comfort, safety and ergonomics. Along the way the Defender adopted its own version of the Discovery/Range Rover suspension, farewelling the all-leaf suspension that had served so well through the second half of last century. Two decades into the 21st century we welcomed the next monumental chapter in the vehicle’s history. Pause for a moment and reflect on that time Angelina Jolie stepped…

The Chevrolet Silverado is the first pickup off the rank for the newly minted GMSV operation here in New Zealand and can probably be described as the most advanced US truck currently on sale here. It earns the title by virtue of some sophisticated tech, high quality spec and the platform it sits on. The silver Silverado LTZ Premium on test here launches this wave of fresh new Chevy product. It is worth noting that GMSV has chosen to launch with the top spec Silverado and it’s equally worth noting the very attractive pricing. This was the first right hand drive Chevy we’ve driven, and is created in Melbourne by GMSV from American left hand drive stock. The conversion must be among the best we have seen – as it…

New products, big plans: as the company’s ‘plug and play’ throttle controllers hit new heights of popularity, Elite Drive has launched an all-new ECU-specific tuning kit that works from a dyno-tuned data profile for popular 4WDs. The company’s original throttle controllers have met an enthusiastic response in New Zealand and overseas, and are now rolling out to the company’s rapidly expanding retail dealer/agent network with updated modules and controllers. Now the company is launching a dyno-derived ECU tuning module that offers gains in fuel efficiency, power and torque. Co-owner Richard Clapham says the new module manages fuel rail pressure and boost levels to ensure the engine still receives the correct air-fuel ratio. “Many of the kits on the market just turn up the fuel pressure to get more power, resulting…

Upgrading 4WD engine performance makes more sense – and a more pleasing sound – when accompanied by an upgraded exhaust. If the electronics encourage more power from the mechanicals, and the air intake is set up to get air into the engine, then the next area to look at is the exhaust. The Hulk 4X4 range of top-quality accessories and aftermarket parts continues to grow with the arrival of new 4WD exhaust kits. Designed for a wide range of the most popular local 4WD models, the kits pave the way for easy gains in horsepower and torque and can also improve fuel consumption figures. The kits are mainly engineered and manufactured in Australia using 409 Stainless Steel mandrel bends, with pipe width between 2.5- and 3.0-inches dependent on application. They…

As spring warmed up towards summer and the weather settled down, it was time for the first weekend camping trip of the year. The plan was to do a backroad loop up to Whanganui on the Saturday afternoon, camp at Whanganui to get the cobwebs out of the camping gear, then have the full Sunday to do the loop and get home again. This time, as well as regular travelling companions Gillian and Ashley, another 4WD friend, Brett, came along for the drive. The small group met at Queen Elizabeth Park off SH1 about an hour out of Wellington for a social lunch before starting the ‘long way round’ trip to Whanganui. The initial plan had been to do a couple of beach runs past Foxton to avoid some of…

We all know sponsorship makes the world of motorsport happen. You’d have to be living under a rock drawing racing cars on the walls of your cave not to see how it works. And yet so many of us approach a potential sponsor with an entitled attitude as if we are doing the victim… er… target a favour. Strangely, the implied ‘pitch’ seldom works: “Give me some money to go racing and I’ll leave you alone.” So how many of us have proper sponsors or an inkling of how to approach and secure one? A single-seater racer up north had a great idea. Having an auto yard, and having a relationship with a finance company, he joined the dots to create a third channel giving him a racing budget and…

Vehicle servicing is something that becomes rather regular around here, especially when there are so many vehicles. While most of my vehicles are done at home these days, I go to Geoff’s workshop to do the Range Rover and the Discovery 3. This is because he has a hoist and there are underbelly plates and covers to remove to gain access. However when it comes to the vehicle of ‘Her that Must Be Obeyed’ it has always been serviced by the dealer. She has owned it from almost new, it was an unwanted competition prize which she picked up six weeks old with 900km on the odometer. Last month with 243,000km on the clock it went in for its annual service at the local franchised dealership where it has been…

As NZ4WD completed test drives of the Trail Boss and Silverado LTZ Premium, GMSV confirmed the imminent arrival of the HD version. Powered by an enormous 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8, the range-topping Silverado shares much of its spec with the Trail Boss and LTZ Premium. Like those other trucks, the HD is converted to right hand drive in Melbourne. This model is as spec-loaded as a buyer would expect, with equipment such as a head-up display system, inductive charge pad for phones, an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, and driver aids such as forward collision and rear cross-traffic alerts. Designed for hard work, the HD shares the LTZ Premium’s 4500kg braked towing capacity. The HD’s Duramax turbodiesel diesel V8 engine produces the most power and torque of the three-model range: 332…

December brought motorists around the world a technologically advanced present when Toyota president Akio Toyoda unwrapped no less than 15 wildly diverse concepts for new Toyota and Lexus, detailing plans for the two firms to launch a total of 30 battery EVs by 2030. Tucked among the urban EVs were a proposed EV version of a new Hilux and a short wheelbase Cruiser showing traces of FJ and the original 40-series Land Cruiser. The range includes Toyota’s first bespoke EV, the bZ4X, new SUVs, commercial vehicles and a Lexus LFAinspired supercar.  Revealing a bold strategy for the two firms to sell some 3.5 million battery-electric cars by 2030, Toyoda explained that “we need to reduce emissions as much as possible, as soon as possible”, and the brands will “expand options…

Ford looks set to remain our most popular ute when the very new Ranger arrives here this year. Revealed online in December 2021, the coming truck is smart, good looking and likely introduces a new power unit to help keep the Ranger in front of its competition. The design and engineering of the new Ranger has been a consultative process. Few manufacturers have gone to such lengths to spec and tech a double-cab ute, and much of the feedback came from the markets where the Ranger is outperforming anything else with a Blue Oval badge – and in fact anything else on the market. Proof of product: in November, helped along by the Wildcat X version, Ford sold more than 1600 Rangers in New Zealand. The battle with Toyota’s Hilux…

Clean, sculpted surfaces, original-design rims with ground-gripping tyres, an array of amazing features and functions. Could have been written by Land Rover, but it wasn’t. Lego agrees with us – the Land Rover Defender is something quite special. So much so that there’s a Lego version for those who aspire to a full-size but can’t quite access the funds… just yet. The Lego Technic Defender has an inline six-cylinder engine with moving pistons (that’s good), working steering (also good) and a sophisticated transmission. Post-Christmas it may be possible to pick one up in-store for the quoted retail of $299 or so.…

There’s a whole lot of 4WD-ing going on. Our monthly ‘Your 4s, Our Places’ feature has showcased some amazing parts of New Zealand – and given us a hint of what people are driving when they go adventuring. That got us thinking. There are some amazing rigs out there and so many great ideas among the 4WD community, maybe it’s time to have a look at the ways we go out there into the real New Zealand. If owners are keen to have their vehicles featured, we’re looking at a page – or maybe two – in the magazine. Lift kits, winches, engine swaps, wheel and tyre upgrades, camping setups. You name it. The truck might be a family 4WD, a big tough ute, a super-setup tradie wagon or even…

There’s an interesting thing happens about an hour after I climb up into the cab of Chevy’s Trail Boss. It shrinks. When NZ4WD was offered the first New Zealand media drive of the Boss, it looked enormous, even alongside the high spec LTZ Premium version. Driving away from GM Specialty Vehicles’ base in Mangere I was critically aware of the mass of this big red pickup, which simply exudes full-flavour American Pie. But as we got to know each other with a short run down the motorway to the southern edge of Auckland, its road manners and excellent visibility quickly won me over. It did that shrinking thing, folding itself around my road-awareness with excellent steering feedback and road feel. The size numbers are, frankly, a plus. Longer, wider, able…

Dave Snook runs New Zealand Performance Tuning. He knows his stuff, as does his team. When it comes to getting more out of a 4WD, NZPT will focus on reliability and driving pleasure ahead of those who may promise ‘a million bhp’. “We talk to the customer to get a clear understanding of how the vehicle is used and what they are looking to gain. We will then focus on driveability, looking for good gains without sacrificing longevity.” In the case of a turbo 4WD, that means reducing or eliminating lag, and then optimising the engine’s performance through tuning. A naturally-aspirated engine can also benefit from tuning for the owner’s expected use. The company was formed in 2007, and has seen ‘massive changes’ in the industry in that time. “We…

After a winter of trip cancellations due to torrential rain, flooding, track closures, and two “one-in-one-hundred year” storms, our little family was ready to get out of town. We didn’t manage one overnight 4WD trip between June and October due to mother nature’s tantrums and the apparently mandatory presence at work, so our planned 10-day exploration around Otago and Southland had us fizzing the whole month of November. Scott, the proud owner of our occasionally trusty Pajero, was also turning the big four-oh during the trip, a milestone perhaps not eagerly anticipated but certainly worth celebrating, so cold food was kept at a minimum to ensure plenty of room for beer in the fridge. (By the way, if anyone in your life is turning a significant number and you need…

A mainstay of the NZ4WD recovery stash is a set of sand/mud channels. These things might be slightly bulky but they are robust and will save the day over and over if deployed wisely when grip is absent without leave. They work equally well in mud-sand or (apparently) snow. A worthwhile addition to that grab-kit of recovery gear we all keep meaning to put together. Sand channels are available from all good 4WD accessory shops and are priced between $116-200. Back in the day, a ‘come-along’ hand winch was essential in off-road adventuring, especially when on-vehicle electric winches were crushingly heavy and actually quite rare. In the 1980s during mis-spent years competing in rallying and 4WD rallies, a come-along was the right gear for light recovery when someone’s ambition outweighed…

A 4WD subjects its lubricants to the worst possible operating conditions. Whether we are out exploring the backblocks or dropping the kids off at school, we drive vehicles that are more demanding on their components than simple $3000 shopping baskets. Many of us give little thought to the stresses we place on humble ‘consumables’ like oils when we drive. And since oil companies don’t advertise any more, there’s no ‘Jiminy Cricket’ in our ears or on our TV screens to nag us about remembering to change our oil at the right time. Or ideally before the right time. So what is oil’s most deadly enemy? As long as the air filter system is doing its job and the engine internals are in good condition, the biggest issue oil has to…

It will be interesting to look back on the travel restrictions applied to the Auckland area during 2021 and evaluate the effect on 4WD recreation which, like almost everything, had been strangled and confined. There were significant impacts on Muriwai Beach, as almost the only venue available for going off the pavement. Aucklanders have traditionally been blamed for the wear and tear seen on many northern 4WD tracks, but with almost no ability during the 2021 winter to access places like Thompsons Track in the Kaimai Ranges, it is apparent that there must be other reasons for the concerns about the way that route is used. During December I received a note from a senior Council officer that suggested that patience with user behavior and the environmental impacts of continual…

Dressed-up versions of Toyota’s Hilux have been around for a while now, and for much of that time the TRD badge was used to denote high performance. Heading into 2022, that changes on a global basis with the announcement of the new GR Sport version. Heavily modified versions of the current Hilux have been doing well at the annual Dakar mega-endurance off-road race. The race successes of the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing team have inspired this street version as the new pinnacle of the Hilux range. Toyota says the new truck is “designed to capture the attention of customers whose active lifestyles go well beyond the everyday, giving them an ideal vehicle for adventurous journeys and sporting pursuits.” That sounds like a lot of New Zealanders. There are suspension enhancements…

Tired of tools sliding around in the back of the work ute? That ‘slidebang’ under braking for a traffic light, stuff tipping over, the scratch marks on that nice new bed liner. New Zealand-based ute accessory manufacturer Utemaster has launched another accessory for setting up a work ute that organises tools and presents them the way they should be – and gets rid of the ‘scratchy-slidy’ damage that harms the resale value of the vehicle. This time, Utemaster has challenged the way traditional wellside drawers are installed. Typically, they are fitted by drilling and bolting through the floor of the wellside, which makes them difficult to install and leaves permanent holes in the floor. That means dust and water can get into the tray, and the drilling is always a…

Everything’s electric: even our 2021 NZ4WD Car of the Year is edging toward the EV bandwagon. It’s hardly news that Jaguar Land Rover intends electrifying every Land Rover model it offers. Most will be available later this decade, which may give energy infrastructure time to catch up. The CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, Thierry Bollore revealed at the end of 2021 that work on the Land Rover Defender electric project is under way. He rates the company’s development of zero-emission 4WDs as its most challenging project. Large SUVs such as the Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover will also have to be able to go into the wilds and safely return from punishing tracks and trails. Bollore says turning the Defender, which is the most off-road focused model, into…

Postponements and cancellations continue to affect 4WD events going into 2022. Please contact event organisers to get updates on status JANUARY 22 NZFWDA National 4x4 Trial – Round 3 Hosted by Mt Egmont 4WD Club. Taranaki region. Round 3 of the 4x4 National Trial 2021/2022 season at 100 Hu Road, Rawhitiroa. Start time of 8.30am. Fun day out for the whole family watching extreme 4x4 competition vehicles go head to head. Please note – all people attending this event will be required to be double vaccinated and will be checked upon arrival. ADMISSION PRICES: Family (two adults and up to three children) $20.00 adults $10.00 children aged 5-15 years $5.00 For more details visit: nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar-and-results/ JANUARY 22 2022 Concrete Treatments Counties Classic Manukau International Off-road Stadium, Colin Dale Park, Prices…

We’ve said it before but it bears repeating. Ford’s Everest is a stand-out in the seven-seater market for its looks, handling and practicality. We’ve examined this big SUV before, in fact it was our NZ4WD of the Year in 2020, and rightly so. This time it’s like visiting an old friend who, like a latter-day David Bowie, has re-invented himself with a fascinating new persona. In late 2020 we got our hands on a Sport in white with black accent trim – 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, ten speed transmission and all. So now we’re more Dave Grohl than David Bowie. The music just got harder, more about electric guitars pushing out a beat run by smashy Foo Fighter drumlines. So how about some context: the Everest is an SUV, based…

New or ‘pre-loved’, a full-build project, or just a truck that could benefit from being slightly enhanced: the aftermarket abounds with options for every application. These days there are so many ways to make the most of even a stock 4WD. Some are ‘plug and play’ electronic devices to get a truck doing exactly what it was designed to. Simply adding a throttle controller gives a 4WD a whole new personality, and many of them have driver-selectable modes for everyday use, slow off-road work and of course performance. At this level it’s something any DIYcompetent owner can choose to do at home, a great weekend project. But if the owner is time-poor, then most reputable companies also offer a drive-in, drive-out installation service. Others delve deeper into the electronics, and…

Think of it as the perfect antidote to the coming wave of cars that hum and buzz. The LS engine built by Chevrolet has been the engine swap go-to for off-roaders looking for loud petrol power for more than 20 years. It can be dropped into the engine bay of almost any ‘real’ 4WD and deliver better power, more torque, more fuel efficiency and of course that V8 sound. In some cases, it provides all of the above, all the time. Even better, the LS and its external fitments is often lighter than the engine it replaces. For example, the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel Duramax engine in the Holden Colorado weighs in at 236 kg ‘undressed’. A 5.7-litre LS1 with all its gear on – alternator, aircon pump, flex plate –…

The Opening Shot in the November 2021 NZ4WD of Scott Fellers at the trig on Mount Studholme set me reminiscing about the many trips up that track. I pulled up my photo library to see what I had. I first went up the hill driving a company Mitsubishi double cab ute on nearly bald road tyres back in 2011 when I had to check the power meters at the translator tower. I went up again in my own Mazda BT-50 recently. It’s quite a trip and the views from the top are very special. Access is from Waimate, out along the Waimate Hunter Road to Upper Hook Road. Turn onto Mount Studholme Road which looks more like a farm track. This follows through farm land into bush on the lower…

Back for 2022: Kumho Tyres Your 4s, Our places once more showcases the best of Kiwi lifestyle in the outdoors and back blocks of New Zealand. As always, each month’s winner goes into the end of year draw for a set of four Kumho tyres for their 4WD. We invite images from readers and recommend submitting jpg files at 300 dpi, file sizes up to 5Mb. We do prefer images with 4WDs in them, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Feeling the serenity Paul Sutton once more takes us out to the sun-washed expanses of 90 Mile Beach where he likes to camp with mates. He tows a self-built fishing and camping trailer with camp kitchen on board and drives a double-cab Land Cruiser 70. NZ4WD is planning a trip north…

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 mimimum requriement…