Magzter Gold (Sitewide Promotion)

Magzter Gold (Sitewide Promotion)

Digital Delivery

4x4 Magazine Australia October 1st, 2017 Digital Back Issue Cover

4x4 Magazine Australia October 2017 (Digital)

(Write a Review)

Single Digital Issue

October 2017

$4.73

Powered By Zinio

Zinio

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Instant Start

Subscribe Instead

1 Year Subscription

12 digital issues

$24.95

($2.08/issue)

Go to Subscription

View Subscription Options

Also available on ZINIO Unlimited logo

Get unlimited access to 4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) + Back Issues & 5000+ other magazines

1-month free trial

Renews at $8.99/month after trial.
Cancel anytime.

Get unlimited access to 4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) + Back Issues & 5000+ other magazines. Renews at just $8.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Start Trial Learn more

40 Articles

GOOD MATES FOUND AND LOST

PEOPLE say I’ve got the best job in the world, a and in many ways it is. II’ve said plenty of times the best thing about this job isn’t the cool new cars we get to drive or the amazing places we get to drive them. N No , iit’s the people we meet along the way: the characters I’ve come across in my travels and the hard-working geniuses who make our aftermarket industry so bloody great and exciting. Sadly, we lost one of those great folks recently. IIan Glover was a mate and mentor and someone who I have learnt a lot from over the years. IIan lost his battle with cancer in July, and judging from the amount of tributes that have flowed in I won’ t be the…

GOOD MATES FOUND AND LOST

BOLLINGER B1 IS BORN

BOLLINGER Motors has dropped the curtains on its B1, the world’s first all-electric sport utility truck. Revealed at the Classic Car Club of Manhattan in New York, the all-wheel drive B1 employs a dual-motor powertrain configuration, with front- and rear-mounted synchronous electric motors. This full-time all-wheel drive system is capable of delivering 270kW and 640Nm. “We are so thrilled to be able to finally take the wraps off of our Bollinger B1 SUT,” founder and CEO, Robert Bollinger, said. “This is the culmination of what has been a 40-year-long boyhood dream of mine and I couldn’t be more pleased with the vehicle and the incredible team who worked so hard to create it.” Two lithium-ion battery-pack options (60kWh and 100kWh) will be offered for production models, providing maximum ranges of either 120…

BOLLINGER B1 IS BORN

RAM 1500 REBEL COMING TO OZ

THE RAM 1500 Rebel ute is coming to Oz in 2018. RAM Trucks Australia is pinning the Rebel’s potential market appeal on the fact it’s a more ‘compact’ dual-cab ute in comparison to its larger 2500 and 3500 stablemates (with a 1.7m tray length, the RAM 1500 Rebel is 5817mm long and 2018mm wide), with IFS front/live axle rear, and that it will be powered by a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol. This engine produces a lofty 291kW and 555Nm and, in US markets, is backed by the choice of a six- or eight-speed auto transmission. There’s no word from RAM Trucks Australia on which gearbox option it will go for, but the HEMI-powered Rebel has a towing capacity of between 3624kg and 4599kg, depending on the auto/final drive ratio option…

RAM 1500 REBEL COMING TO OZ

ARB STRENGTHENS ITS RETAIL NETWORK

ARB HAS expanded and improved its retail outlets across Australia, with the company preferring to focus on the presentation and quality of the in-store experience for buyers, rather than expanding for expansion’s sake. Matt Frost, ARB National Sales and Marketing Manager, who has been at the company for 24 years, explained: “While ARB’s network continues to grow, we’re more focused on the quality of our stores than the quantity. All of our latest sites have extensive showrooms that showcase ARB’s ever-increasing range, most of which is manufactured and/or designed in-house.” In 2015, ARB kick-started a project aimed at strengthening the presence of its retail network, with a new store design for its stores. These concept stores have proved popular since the first one opened in Geelong,Victoria, in 2016. Other stores have since…

ARB STRENGTHENS ITS RETAIL NETWORK

EFS EXPANDS INTO 4X4 ACCESSORIES

AUSTRALIAN off-road suspension company, EFS, has announced the release of a range of Adventure barwork (bullbars, rear bar, side rails, sidesteps), snorkels, and an electric winch for off-road vehicles. This expansion follows on from nearly three years of development, research and no-holds-barred testing, thanks to the All 4 Adventure team of Jason and Simon. The Recon winch, in particular, is a standout, both in terms of industry-leading 13,000lb capacity (single-line pull), and how it survived the rigorous demands of the All 4 Adventure team. “Jason and Simon... they did the final test on the winch a few weeks back,” James Don, EFS Accessory Marketing Manager, said. “We knew if it comes back with flying colours with them – and they are just brutal on gear – we’re on a winner.” In fact, the gear’s…

EFS EXPANDS INTO 4X4 ACCESSORIES

TRAVEL BULLETIN

SAT PHONE SIM CARD HIRE (AUSTRALIA-WIDE) If you have an Iridium Satellite handset without a connection, quite often it is more economical to hire a SIM card and use your own phone. Short- and long-term hire is available. Satellite phone models suitable for SIM hire are the Iridium 9500, 9505, 9505A, 9555 and 9575. For more information: www.satellitehire.com.au/satellite-phone-sim-card LAKE MOONDARRA FISHING CLASSIC (QLD) Visitors, competitors and fans of this great fishing classic, held this year near Mt Isa from October 27-29, can expect to see the dragon boat regatta, entertainment and fireworks. There is also trade and community exhibits, food and beverage stalls, and bar facilities. The Classic will also deliver thousands of dollars’ worth of trophies, cash and prizes. Full details: www.lakemoondarrafishingclassic.com.au ONLINE CAMP BOOKINGS (SA) From June 1 this year, entry and camping…

TRAVEL BULLETIN

THE DEFENDER is the very essence of Land Rover. It’s where the company started, though not by name. The Defender name came into being in 1990 to distinguish the existing commercial/utilitarian Land Rovers – the only Land Rovers you could buy since day one in 1948 – from the just-introduced Discovery. The latter was very much aimed at family and recreational buyers. Before that, Land Rovers were merely distinguished by their Series name (Series I, II, etc.) and later by wheelbase measured in inches (90, 110, etc.). The production of these essentially commercial Land Rovers that dated back to 1948 wound up on January 29, 2016, when the last Defender rolled off the production line. It was effectively killed off by high production costs and upcoming pedestrian safety standards, which is…

I RECOMMEND A REBUILD TO ANYONE WHO CAN FIND THE SPACE TO PLAY THE BUILD on Milo 2 continues, and as parts get bolted on I can almost feel the roar of the old girl coming back to life. What began as a replacement for my poor, old ’83 Toyota, Milo, has turned into endless lessons in new techniques and products, and I love every minute of it. This is the thing about a truck rebuild as opposed to just buying one. There’s a sort of intimacy involved here, an understanding that comes from researching, planning, sourcing and bolting on bits that eventually all come together to be the vehicle. It’s exciting, fun and I recommend it to anyone who can find the space to play. Why? Because when you’ve finished it…

X-CLASS RIDING SHOTGUN

WHEN Mercedes-Benz unveiled its X-Class ute in Cape Town back in July, there was no drive component on the program. That will have to wait until the official launch in October this year and the Australian release in April 2018. However, there was the opportunity to ride shotgun in an X-Class on a private test track comprising both on- and off-road sections. While we didn’t expect to learn a lot from this brief ride-along, it did reveal some interesting elements of the car that indicate Mercedes-Benz may well deliver on its promise of a premium performance pick-up. The driver was one of Benz’s own test drivers, and he sure knew how to pedal... he didn’t hold back. The vehicle was an X250d Power, so a top-spec ute with the 450Nm bi-turbo…

X-CLASS RIDING SHOTGUN

CHINESE SUV brand Haval has joined forces with Australian off-road aftermarket specialist Ironman 4x4 to tweak the H9 4x4 wagon’s suspension for local road conditions. The Haval H9 Premium is, at this stage, a prototype, but it has been fitted with heavier coil springs and re-valved dampers to enhance the on- and off-road handling of the H9. According to Andrew Ellis, Haval Motors Australia’s Public Relations and Product Specialist, it is just the first step in a lengthy development program. “Haval has ... been working closely with dynamics specialists from Ironman 4x4 on a local tuning program designed to make the car more suitable for Australian conditions,” Ellis said. “Ironman has developed a prototype suspension kit comprising heavier springs, upgraded shock absorber valving and minor changes to toe-in. This has resulted in a…

THE TUNDRA WILL TOW 4000KG WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT BIGGER, faster, tougher and more capable – it’s not just a questionable sounding advertisement for adult products, but it’s the goal almost all of us apply to building the perfect 4x4. We want them more capable to get us farther down the track; we want them faster to make the long stretches of tracks go by easier; we want them bigger for more storage space and easier towing; we want them tougher to handle the harsh conditions of the outback without crumbling to bits; and we want them more capable to get us off the beaten track and away from the hustle and bustle. But while we’re here slaving away trying to make something it’s not, on the other side of the world…

TOUGH ALL-ROUNDER

The tyres have pleasantly surprised as a daily driver. They’re quieter than expected and also grip and handle well. I’ve had the Duelers beneath my GU Patrol for a solid 14 months or so, and they’ve provided solid service on the sandy tracks of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in the Victorian Mallee country; they’ve tackled some fabulous sandy runs on Stockton Beach at Port Stephens; traversed the rocky and rutted tracks of the Avon river; and hit up the Murray River’s mud at Echuca and the challenges of the Dargo High Country. And, of course, the daily drive in suburbia. With the rubber installed, the odometer has ticked over 12,000km. They’ve travelled across all types of terrain and shown no signs of excessive wear. When I took the GU in for a tyre…

TOUGH ALL-ROUNDER

SO WHAT do these four utes have in common? The luxury of leather for one, plus a heap of other kit and price tags around $60K. Three of them sit at the top of their respective model ranges, and the fourth, the V6 Highline, is near the top of the Amarok range. Hence, they are all ‘flash’ utes, but also very different in other ways. The Ranger Wildtrak and Hilux TRD head enormously popular model ranges, the others not so, especially the modestly selling Amarok. Then there are the mechanical differences: four-, five- and six-cylinder engines with capacities from 2.8 to 3.2 litres and outputs from 130kW to 180kW; six and eight-speed automatics; part-time and full-time 4x4; bigger and smaller cabins; and varying tow- and load-carrying capacities. And while all…

1 Dressed for Success

TRD STANDS for Toyota Racing Development, but there are no racing or performance-enhancing parts on this TRD as found on the TRD version of the previous-generation Hilux sold in 2008/09. This TRD does have new hardware, but that amounts to just the bash plate – in racing red – and bespoke black wheels. The rest is all style parts, also generally in black, but the overall result is a very distinctive look for what is effectively an SR5+. POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE THE TRD is powered by the now familiar 1GD 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel in standard tune. This engine replaced the previous 3.0-litre four in the Prado before becoming the mainstream engine in this generation Hilux and the only engine in the Hilux-based Fortuner wagon. GD does, after all, stand for Global Diesel. Despite…

1 Dressed for Success

THE RANGER is Ford’s runaway success story. It’s currently Australia’s most popular 4x4, ending Hilux’s 12-year reign as the 4x4 sales champion. For Ford, the Ranger’s success is even better illustrated by how it sells against other Ford models. To the end of June 2017 Ford sold 21,638 Rangers, including 3075 4x2 models. Ford’s next-best seller was the Mustang with 5048 sales, followed by the Focus with 3243 sales, and it’s all downhill after that. What makes the Ranger so popular? Well, a few things, starting with its engine. POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE LIKE most Rangers, the Wildtrak is powered by a 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel; although, there is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel available in base-grade models. This five-cylinder engine does much to define the character of the Ranger and is certainly the key behind…

3 Global Affair

ITS VM Motori engine is designed in Italy, the six-speed auto in the USA, the chassis and body in Brazil, with Australian engineers involved in bringing the whole thing together. Not once but twice, as what we have here, is the Colorado reborn. In what was a global General Motors effort, the all-new Colorado arrived in 2012. (Confusingly, the Colorado name was also attached to the last of the Isuzu utes sold as Holdens, replacing the long-running Rodeo nameplate.) The Colorado was then tweaked in 2013 and again in 2014 before being pulled right apart and put back together again with literally a truck load of new and revised parts for the 2017 model, launched late 2016. While most of the changes applied to the Colorado globally, Australian models received additional…

3 Global Affair

4 Dare to be Different

THE AMAROK is the oldest ute here, save for the fact it has recently been upgraded via its 3.0-litre V6 diesel. The basic platform dates back to 2010, so it’s a year older than the Ranger (the second oldest platform here). That V6 may be new to the Amarok, but it dates back to 2004. Originally a VW family (Audi) design used in various Porsche, Audi and VW models, it has been strengthened and detuned for use in the Amarok. POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE DETUNED as it may be compared to some applications where it produces up to 200kW, the Amarok’s V6 still has at least 165kW on tap and an extra 15kW (180kW in total) when in ‘overboost’ mode. Compare that to the 147kW of the Ranger and Colorado and the 130kW…

4 Dare to be Different

OFFICIAL list pricing, which doesn’t include on-road costs, has the Ranger Wildtrak ($62,190) and the Amarok Highline V6 ($61,880 inc. leather) as the two more expensive utes here. The Colorado Z71 ($57,190 list) brings up the rear behind the Hilux TRD ($61,540, but that’s a drive-away figure). What’s probably more significant than the price difference is the way these four feel and perform both on and off the road and what they represent as an ownership proposition. Of the four, the Colorado and the Ranger are the most alike, while the Hilux is off on its own (smaller; less performance; more refinement), as is the Amarok with its V6 performance and full-time 4WD. Price aside, it’s hard to make an argument for the Colorado given it can’t match the other three in more…

IT’S FUNNY how quickly things can change. When Ben Khan first bought this sweet, satin, steel-grey Colorado Z71, the main aim was to ‘just’ use it as a tow vehicle for his heavily modified Commodore, with the rest of its time for daily runabout duties. It didn’t take long (only a couple of months after purchase) for Ben to view the Colorado as more than just a tow rig, and he started to explore the modification potential of Holden’s popular off-road workhorse. You don’t get much more loyal to Holden than working for it and modifying a number of its sedans, so Ben’s choice of Colorado Z71 ain’t that surprising. However, it wasn’t done blindly. His research on vehicles took a while, with the release of the revised Colorado in…

CAPE YORK PATROL

RATHER than cry into our beers over the loss of a diesel-fueled Nissan Patrol, we’ve taken the bull by the horns and saddled up the Y62 Patrol for a Cape York adventure. The petrol-only Y62 V8 is the sole Patrol left on the Australian market, and it initially received a lukewarm reception when launched back in 2013. It looks like a bloated X-Trail, there’s no diesel engine option and, when launched, it was a little pricey. However, there has been a significant price drop since its launch, as well as a realignment of the model range. We wanted to see how a completely stock Y62 Patrol would handle one of this country’s most iconic trips, so we headed to Cape York to tackle the Old Telegraph Track and onwards to the tip…

CAPE YORK PATROL

THE RIGHT CHOICE

The Everest wasn’t going to stay the way Ford made it for long once Chris it got home THE POPULARITY of the Ford Ranger ute has lifted the Blue Oval back into the hearts and minds of 4x4 enthusiasts. The Ranger is not only one of the bestselling 4x4s on the market right now but, with a swag load of aftermarket gear available for it, it makes for a capable off-road warrior. While 4x4 utes are the flavour of the year, the wagon derivatives of the same vehicles aren’t feeling the love so much.Vehicles like the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Holden Trailblazer don’t sell anywhere near as well as their ute counterparts, while wagons like the Isuzu MU-X and Pajero Sport do a bit better. Aside from lacking the load-hauling cargo capacity…

THE RIGHT CHOICE

Diamond in the rough

CONJURE an image in your mind of a hard-working outback station hand and chances are Jess Edwards, known to her 52,000-plus Facebook followers as Jillaroo Jess, would be as far from that image as your mind could get. Spend a few minutes with this highly energetic 27-year-old, and you realise the international spotlight has shone on Jess due to her strength of character, hard-working attitude, and passion for the lifestyle. It is this life – and her passion for it – that Jess shares with her global audience, which has led to her becoming a social media icon. Jess Edwards wasn’t always a country girl. Indeed, until age 16, when she and her family moved to Gympie, Jess called Brisbane home. A daunting prospect for a ‘city kid’ you would think,…

Diamond in the rough

WHY install an aftermarket bullbar? Two main reasons: protection and convenience. A quality bullbar will afford the front of your vehicle (and all of the important mechanical bits) superior protection from kamikaze animals and wayward drivers, but it will also protect in dense scrub when truly off-road on the hunt for an elusive, out-of-the-way campsite. Depending on the type fitted and what it’s made of, a good-quality bullbar will absorb the majority of impacts and protect the bits of the car that matter – namely the radiator and cooling system. A good bullbar will also provide a great base from which to attach other essential off-road kit – winches, light bars, LEDs and antennas. A by-product of a bullbar, but an aspect important to many off-roaders, is the aesthetic enhancements a…

SECRETS OF THE FLINDERS

OUR CAMP just above the creek was a cracker. Tall, spindly red gums, most sprouting new growth in defiance of the recent drought, lined the banks of the creek, while native pine trees dotted the nearby hillside. Reeds and bulrushes formed a dense green veil along the trickling creek, while flowering cassia bushes added a dash of yellow and green to the tangerine colour of raw rock and earth. Overlooking all was a craggy, red and fulvous-coloured bluff, which marked the northern edge of the gorge we had passed through to find our camp. But concentrating all of our attention was the small group of yellow-footed rock wallabies that had come down from their precipitous home to feed on the grasses and bushes along the creek, just metres from our…

SECRETS OF THE FLINDERS

SWAN GULLY TICKS ALL THE BOXES WHEN IT COMES TO OFF-ROAD PLAYGROUNDS SWAN GULLY PARK FOR those who remember City View 4WD Park, which has since closed, half of the tracks that were City View have been taken over by Swan Gully. There are more than 900 acres of camping and 4WD tracks on offer, while another good thing about this place is that pets are allowed as long as they are kept under control. The park entrance is almost the same; you now continue straight to the office and, once signed in, go and find a campsite, set up, air down, lock in the hubs and go check the place out. Swan Gully ticks all the boxes when it comes to off-road playgrounds, covering novice to competition-style rock crawling and offering driver training.…

WOLLONDILLY WONDERLAND

THE 4WD TRACKS LEAD TO SOME OF THE BEST CAMPING SPOTS ALONG THE RIVER THE Southern Highlands of NSW are part of the Great Dividing Range that runs along the east coast of Australia. When the first settlers arrived in this part of NSW the area was covered in thick scrub, and when visiting it for the first time you have to wonder how they penetrated the dense forest and bush to find areas along the river flat enough to settle. However, similar to many other barriers experienced by Australia’s first pioneers, these settlers used whatever tools they had available to cut through the scrub and convert an impenetrable environment into a place that was habitable and suitable for farming. Due to this, we can now enjoy the Southern Highlands’ extensive…

WOLLONDILLY WONDERLAND

GARLIC BREAD IN A CAMP OVEN

Cast iron pots, or the camp oven, have served us well since arriving from Ireland, and in the olden days the Irish equivalent of the camp (Dutch) oven was a ‘Bastible’. A simple camp oven fare is garlic and rosemary bread. It’s fast, tasty and you don’t need to be a five-star chef to come up with good results. INGREDIENTS Garlic Fresh basil Self-raising flour Salt Water Olive oil METHOD • Mix the self-raising flour and salt in a bowl. • Add water, then mix. • Add garlic and olive oil, then mix. • Add basil. • Take the dough out of the bowl then knead for a few minutes. Gently mould the dough into a ball and place it in the Dutch oven for 40 minutes. • Add the Dutch oven to the fire, add hot coals to…

GARLIC BREAD IN A CAMP OVEN

RHINO-RACK LADDER Accessing gear from your roof rack is never easy, due to the higher roofline of many off-road rigs. It can mean using sidesteps that may or may not give you that extra reach, or climbing up on the wheels. Or, you can grab Rhino-Rack’s new aluminium folding ladder. At an extended height of 2325mm, it offers excellent reach and it also – handily – folds down to an easily packed 1060mm. The ladder features adjustable feet that are extra wide (70mm) for enhanced stability and it weighs next-to-nothing at a paltry 5.4kg. Don’t let its light weight fool you, as the ladder is rated for a maximum load rating of 125kg. The aluminium frame is powdercoated black and built tough, with a mix of alloy construction and case-steel hinges.…

SMARTER TRANNIES

WE LIVE in a digital age. Like it or not, there’s always at least one computer helping us get to wherever we’re going. It’s the reason 4x4s use less fuel than ever before; it’s the reason they’re more powerful; and it’s the reason every time I look at my phone it’s full of photos of people’s lunch. Sarah Connor tried to warn us about this, but until the day computers finally rise up and enslave us all, we might as well make them work for us. We spoke to Paul Farrell from Geelong Performance Centre earlier this year for our ECU re-mapping article (April, 2017) and it turns out he’s big on another kind of remapping, and one you might not have heard of. Just like your engine, your automatic transmission is…

SMARTER TRANNIES

A FLAT battery ain’t a pleasant thing, especially when you’re out in the bush on your own. Fortunately, the last time I tried to crank over my engine without success I was in the company of several other four-wheel drivers, one of whom grabbed a Super Power Booster out of his glovebox, hooked it up to my starting battery, and had the engine fired up in no time – it was that easy. I had about 1500km of solo driving ahead of me, and the thought of another flat-battery situation on my Pat Malone was not my idea of a fun 4WD getaway, so I dropped in on Jonathan Oliver at ARB Broken Hill who hooked me up with the latest Super Power Booster. When Jonathan handed me the box I thought…

I AM A great fan of Coleman stoves, having used them exclusively for many years. Coleman’s HyperFlame FyreKnight two-burner stove has been around for a year or two, and we’ve been using it for the past few months. The stove’s high quality is reflected in its build, construction and its price. Made from thick steel, the 7kg unit will easily stand up to the abuse it’ll cop on camping and four-wheel drive trips. The stove comes with two burners rated at 12,000BTUs each (which means a lot of heat), a gas regulator, InstaStart lighting for ease of use, and a locking carry handle. Like all Coleman gas products, the unit’s designed to run on Coleman’s disposable propane gas cartridges, but these are expensive here in Australia (I carry one or two of these…

JAPANESE tyre company Falken has a full range of rubber to suit 4x4s and SUVs, from high-performance road tyres to heavy duty muddies. However, it’s the Falken Wildpeak range that will appeal to most 4x4 owners. The Wildpeak range comprises highway, all-terrain and mud-terrain models, and we’ve been playing with the recently updated Wildpeak A/T3W all-terrains and MT01 muddies. The Wildpeak range was developed following countless victories for Falken customers at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA, when it was a gravel road to the top. The Falken brand is still widely used by top American competitors in off-road racing and rock crawling. WILDPEAK A/T3W THE Wildpeak A/T3W is the latest generation of all-terrain tyre from Falken and follows the trend of being a more aggressive AT tyre. Bigger and…

PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES

WASHINGTON, USA-based Amabilis is a brand we’d been following since its early Kickstarter phase. With a military heritage from a time when founder Brian Abrams designed and supplied specialised gear to US Special Forces, and a mission to bring that design skill to the recreational gear sector, the brand promised great things. Amabilis’s first product was the Dave Duffle, named after Brian’s friend and US Marine Dave Ruiz. It’s a 46-litre, 63cm-tall duffle bag made of military-spec, 18-ounce waterproof tarpaulin, reinforced in key areas with SuperFabric – a hybrid slash-, stain- and abrasion-resistant material. The mil-spec hardware continues with metal fasteners and heavy duty YKK zippers used throughout to make this one tough bag. If you find the idea of carrying clothes and kit in a tall duffle bag annoying – as you…

PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES

SHAYNE YOUNG 2006 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 130 TD5 I’M AN Aussie who has been travelling the world for the last 24 years, and this is the truck I plan on driving back home to Australia. It was purchased in the UK about three years ago and I’ve been doing everything myself. I upgraded pretty much everything and then some: VNT turbo, chipped computer, custom high-air intake, GKN electric overdrive, ARB locker differentials, electrically operated roof-top tent with entry from inside the truck bed, 1500km fuel range, 120L of fresh water thanks to custom-made auxiliary tanks, front and rear electric winches, underbody protection, custom external protection cage, full LED lighting, in-cab bilge pumps, three batteries, 160W solar panels, hot and cold water, and an in-cab diesel fire heater... just the necessities. OSCAR LISTER 2014 JEEP…

GET OUT THERE AND TACKLE AUSTRALIA’S TOUGHEST TRACKS.

I WAS checking out the Hema Maps website the other day and found an article listing the toughest tracks in Australia. I have to say, it was pretty close to being on the money from my experience. The first one listed – the route to Geosurveys Hill in the heart of the Simpson Desert, normally reached via first heading along the Madigan Line – is sadly now closed to the general touring public. Still, if you can wrangle a permit, you’ll need desert experience, good navigational skills and a well-sorted vehicle to get there. Old Coach Road, which runs from the deserted township of Maytown to Laura, would have to be one of the toughest tracks on Cape York. I’m not totally convinced it’s as challenging as the Old Telegraph Track, but…

GET OUT THERE AND TACKLE AUSTRALIA’S TOUGHEST TRACKS.

LAMB BUNNY CHOW

DIRECTIONS Prep time: 15 mins Cooking time: 45-60 mins • Heat oil in your camp oven or large pan over a high heat. • Add the meat and stir until browned. You should do this in batches so you don’t ‘stew’ the meat. • Remove the browned meat from the pan and set aside. • Add a little more oil if needed and then add the onion, garlic, ginger and chilli. Sauté until softened. • Add all the dry spices and sauté for a few minutes, stirring continuously. The aroma from the spices will be released. • Return the browned meat to the pan, along with the tomatoes, potatoes, vinegar and sugar. Stir to mix through. • Season to taste. • Bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for approximately 45-60 mins, or until…

LAMB BUNNY CHOW

MAY YOU STAY FOREVER YOUNG.

THE other day I caught myself doing something I used to do when I was a little kid, either in the back of the car on a family holiday or in the back of a bus on a school excursion. I used to gaze out the window and whittle away the hours watching the verge on the side of the road rise and fall as it sped by, imagining myself riding along it on my Honda XR75, jumping culverts and skillfully negotiating any other obstacles that might get in my way. My internal monologue would mimic an incredulous commentator, while at the same time generating the accompanying soundtrack of Soichiro Honda’s screaming little 75cc overhead cam single, revs quickly climbing and falling as I shifted through the imaginary gearbox as…

MAY YOU STAY FOREVER YOUNG.

I AM A DIY kind of guy. It’s something my father always tried to ingrain in me from a young age, but it really took hold when I was knee-deep into my apprenticeship. While my mates were throwing pay cheque after pay cheque at their new rides, I was counting coins working out how many days that week I had to dodge the train guards so I could buy a tin of body filler and a few cans of primer. It’s something that’s still with me today – if a drain gets blocked or steering wheel shake develops, I lay out the trusty spanner roll and figure it out as I go. That said, I’ve been burnt enough times to know sometimes I need to put on my big boy…

NEW DISCO SHOES

IT’S BEEN a very quiet couple of months since I first parked the gold Disco in the Walker driveway (much to my fellow Landy owners’ disappointment, I can report no oil stains yet). A combo of things, ranging from the whole family copping a huge dose of Sydney’s rampaging flu for a month, to being out and about with Editor Matt to meet some industry folks up in Sydney, has meant my shiny example of Solihull’s finest has seen very limited use. Much to my shame, the Disco has even been the subject of the ‘school run’ and has only seen a dirt road very briefly on one single day this past month. This has suited me, however, as I have been tooling away in the background sorting out what I…

NEW DISCO SHOES

THE Hilux has bucked the monthly 4x4 sales trend by knocking the Ranger from HILUX BITES BACK the throne it has occupied since January 2017. The last time Hilux was atop the monthly 4x4 sales charts was in December 2016, highlighting the dominance the all-new Ranger has had on the 4x4 market. The Triton has solidified its position on the 4x4 sales chart podium and remains the third best-selling 4x4 on the market, a position it has held for two consecutive months. According to the VFACTS report, the 4x4 LCV market was up 2.2 per cent compared to July 2016, while overall LCV sales have shown a 4.8 per cent year-to-date increase. Overall, it seems Australians can’t get enough fresh metal, with July 2017 the third successive month of record gains. The July…

In This Issue

Description

Details

Reviews

Recent Digital Issues Browse all

Recent 4x4 Magazine Australia Digital Issues Browse all back issues

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) November 2024: $4.60

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription October 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) October 2024: $4.83

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription September 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) September 2024: $4.73

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) August 2024: $4.73

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) April 2025: $4.34

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) March 2025: $4.34

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription February 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) February 2025: $4.35

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) January 2025: $4.32

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription November 27th, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Summer 2024: $4.55

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription December 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) December 2024: $4.32

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) November 2024: $4.60

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription October 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) October 2024: $4.83

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription September 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) September 2024: $4.73

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2024 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) August 2024: $4.73

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) April 2025: $4.34

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) March 2025: $4.34

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription February 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) February 2025: $4.35

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2025 Issue

4x4 Magazine Australia (Digital) January 2025: $4.32

Customers Also Viewed

Fortean Times MythConceptions Magazine (Digital) Subscription July 3rd, 2013 Issue

Fortean Times MythConceptions Magazine (Digital)

Fortean Times Myth Conceptions: $3.27

Improve Your Interview Technique Magazine (Digital) Subscription July 3rd, 2013 Issue

Improve Your Interview Technique Magazine (Digital)

Improve Your Interview Technique: $5.20

La Fe Viva (Digital) Subscription October 1st, 2022 Issue

La Fe Viva (Digital)

Octubre/Noviembre/Diciembre 2022 Volumen 20 - Numero 5: $4.50

Living with Christ Magazine (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

Living with Christ Magazine (Digital)

12 Issues: $25.95 ~~$59.40~~

Your Home and Garden Magazine (Digital) Subscription March 13th, 2025 Issue

Your Home and Garden Magazine (Digital)

12 Issues: $14.17 ~~$27.12~~

Horn Book Digital Magazine Subscription

Horn Book Digital Magazine

6 Issues: $128.97

Locke & Key Magazine (Digital) Subscription October 18th, 2018 Issue

Locke & Key Magazine (Digital)

Locke & Key: The Golden Age: $11.99

Rocketeer Adventures Magazine (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2012 Issue

Rocketeer Adventures Magazine (Digital)

Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 1: $7.99

Fortean Times MythConceptions Magazine (Digital) Subscription July 3rd, 2013 Issue

Fortean Times MythConceptions Magazine (Digital)

Fortean Times Myth Conceptions: $3.27

Improve Your Interview Technique Magazine (Digital) Subscription July 3rd, 2013 Issue

Improve Your Interview Technique Magazine (Digital)

Improve Your Interview Technique: $5.20

La Fe Viva (Digital) Subscription October 1st, 2022 Issue

La Fe Viva (Digital)

Octubre/Noviembre/Diciembre 2022 Volumen 20 - Numero 5: $4.50

Living with Christ Magazine (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

Living with Christ Magazine (Digital)

12 Issues: $25.95 ~~$59.40~~

Your Home and Garden Magazine (Digital) Subscription March 13th, 2025 Issue

Your Home and Garden Magazine (Digital)

12 Issues: $14.17 ~~$27.12~~

Horn Book Digital Magazine Subscription

Horn Book Digital Magazine

6 Issues: $128.97

Locke & Key Magazine (Digital) Subscription October 18th, 2018 Issue

Locke & Key Magazine (Digital)

Locke & Key: The Golden Age: $11.99

Rocketeer Adventures Magazine (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2012 Issue

Rocketeer Adventures Magazine (Digital)

Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 1: $7.99

Reviews