Overlander 4x4 December 2024 by Assignment Media Ltd

4x4

LATEST: DACIA DUSTER GETS A BIG BROTHER | TESTED: KODIAQ 1.5 SE | OFF-ROAD SPORT: YORKSHIRE HILL RALLY

OVERLANDER

DRIVEN POLESTAR 4: Will this be the SUV that changes your mind about EVs?

PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

December 2024 £5.99

NAMIB DESERT

Overlanding through a true wilderness 4x4 Cover Dec.indd 1

PERFECTION IMPROVED?

Original V8 90 restored – and enhanced… 14/10/2024 10:29

EXTREME

3D block pattern inspired by amoeba structures delivers superb performance in all terrains Square tire profile provides a flat contact area with high load capacity

MUD TERRAIN

Special pattern designed with jagged edges for extra traction to maximise off-road performance Pattern’s void ratio optimises mileage and lifespan Unique orange outline sidewall lettering adds eye-catching colour to your vehicle Ribs along the shoulder provide sidewall protection

Optimised pattern design provides exceptional cut resistance, better durability and mileage, and impressive traction on all terrains Wide zig-zag grooves offer great water, mud, stone and snow dispersal Tiger-tooth shoulder design delivers extra traction and provides excellent cut resistance, preventing punctures under hazardous conditions

HIGHWAY TERRAIN

ALL TERRAIN

60% = ON ROAD 40% = OFF ROAD

The tire shoulder area is covered by a special rubber for professional competition in USA and Australia

50% = ON ROAD 50% = OFF ROAD

Wider tread and tire profile delivers extra mileage 3D zig-zag tread design maximises off-road traction and stability Extended grooves in the tire shoulder deliver excellent traction Special shoulder design gives extra grip and traction on hazardous road surfaces and difficult off-road conditions Special armoured shoulder provides extra protection to prevent damage, giving excellent traction on snow, mud, rock terrain Highly rigid steel belts deliver outstanding stability and load capacity

40% = ON ROAD 60% = OFF ROAD Rim 16

Size

Load/Speed Rating

Pattern

Rim

Size

Load/Speed Rating

Pattern ATM

LT 285/75 R16 6PR OOL

116/113Q

AT2

LT265/60 R18 8PR

114/110Q

LT 315/75 R16 8PR OOL

121/118Q

AT2

LT265/60 R18 10PR

119/116Q

ATM

LT 265/65 R17 10PR

120/117Q

AT318

LT 265/60 R18 10PR

119/116Q

AT318

LT 275/65 R17 10PR

121/118Q

AT318

LT 285/60 R18 8PR OOL

118/115Q

AT2

LT 265/70 R17 10PR OOL

121/118Q

AT2

LT 285/60 R18 8PR

118/115Q

AT318

LT 265/70 R17 10PR

121/118Q

AT318

LT 265/65 R18 8PR

117/114Q

AT318

LT 285/70 R17 8PR OOL

121/118Q

AT2

LT 285/65 R18 8PR

121/118Q

AT318

LT 285/70 R17 10PR

121/118Q

AT318

LT 265/70 R18 8PR

119/116Q

AT318

LT 305/70 R17 8PR OOL

119/116Q

AT2

LT 315/70 R17 8PR OOL

121/118Q

AT2

OOL = Orange Outline Lettering

For more information go to www.csttires.eu www.rhc.co.uk

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Maxxis_FP.indd 1

+44 (0) 1284 778509

11/10/2024 11:43

2020 DEFENDER GET EXPEDITION READY WITH OUR CUSTOMISABLE ROOF RACK. SECURE YOUR EQUIPMENT AND STAY ORGANISED 1. SELECT ROOF RACK

Terrafirma’s aluminium roof rack is the perfect platform for all your camping and expedition equipment. Its sturdy black powder coated extruded slats and rails all include 10mm T slots to enable a wide range of equipment and accessories to be securely attached. TF8005 TF8006

Defender 90 Defender 110

1.8m (L) x 1.25m (W) 2.0m (L) x 1.25m (W)

2. SELECT MOUNTING KITS

With an extensive selection of mounting kits to choose from, you can customise your roof rack to your individual requirements.

3. SELECT ACCESSORIES

With an extensive selection of mounting kits to choose from, you can customise your roof rack to your individual requirements.

TF8007 TF8008 TF8009 TF8012 TF8014 TF8015 TF8016 TF8017

TF900 TF1708 TF716 TF712 TF1726 GHL4 TF999 TF1750R TF1751R TF1752R TF1753R

Jerry Can Holder Jerry Can Holder Mounted Awning Brackets Mounted Spotlight Brackets Storage Box Mounts HiLift & Spade Mounts Sand Track Mounts Roof Rack Access Ladder

Single Double Pair Set of 4 Set of 4 Set of 4 Set of 4

Storage Box Hard Case Awning Spotlight Lightbar Expedition Shovel Hi-Lift Jack Recovery Boards 3.8L Terra Can with single triangle lock type mounts 7.6L Terra Can with single triangle lock type mounts 19L Terra Can with double mounts (one triangle lock, one triangle screw) 6.5L Terra Can with double mounts (one bar lock, one bar screw)

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VIEW MORE EXPEDITION ACCESSORIES

QUALITY ACCESSORIES FOR 2020 DEFENDER Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Allmakes_3PS_Gatefold.indd 1

04/10/2024 11:30

2020 DEFENDER BUILD A ROOF RACK THAT MEETS YOUR EXPEDITION REQUIREMENTS IN 3 EASY STEPS

1. SELECT ROOF RACK

2. SELECT MOUNTING KITS

TF8008

TF8014

TF900

3. SELECT ACCESSORIES TF8009

TF1708

TF716 TF712

TF8005

TF1752R

TF1753R

TF8012

TF1726

TF8016

TF999

GHL4

TF8015

THE PERFECT EXPEDITION ROOF RACK SYSTEM Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Allmakes_3PS_Gatefold.indd 2

04/10/2024 11:30

> Roof Racks & Accessories > Underbody Protection > Recovery Equipment > Raised Air Intake > Rock Sliders

www.terrafirma4x4.com

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Allmakes_3PS_Gatefold.indd 3

04/10/2024 11:31

Tel: 01283 742969 Email: enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk Web: www.totaloffroad.co.uk www.4x4i.com Online Shop: www.toronline.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/totaloffroad www.facebook.com/4x4Mag

Editor

Alan Kidd

Design

Ian Denby-Jones

emember when pick-up trucks were workhorses and nothing else? It seems a while ago now, but the ﬁrst double-cabs didn’t appear in Britain until the mid-90s – and they didn’t start getting ‘lifestyley’ for another good few years after that. The massive boom in pick-up sales would never have happened without that, of course. But while every truck maker wants to chase that market, those that are here to stay are the ones which also recognise the importance of basing their range on down to earth work trucks.

Say what you like about the Ford Ranger Raptor and Isuzu D-Max AT35. Fact is, these two vehicles have the broadest appeal to people who use them the way pick-ups were designed to be used – and now they’re the most entrenched brands in the market. As we consider our Pick-Up of the Year awards, which you’ll ﬁnd in this issue, we’re looking at a market containing more premium trucks than ever. Which is ﬁne – but it means, of course, that down-to-earth honesty matters more than ever too. Alan Kidd, Editor

Contributors

Gary Simpson, Mike Trott, Gary Martin, Olly Sack, Gary Noskill, Dan Fenn, Paul Looe, Tom Alderney, Jurij Modic

Photographers

Steve Taylor, Richard Hair, Vic Peel, Harry Hamm, Jurij and Mateja Modic

Advertising Sales

Tandem Media Tel: 01233 555735 Issy Roberts Tel: 01233 228752 isabelle@tandemmedia.co.uk

Advertising Production

Colin Swaffer: 01233 220246 Jonathan Graham: 01233 220247 Jemma Heslop: 01233 555736

Subscriptions Agency

WW Magazines, 151 Station Street, Burton on Trent, DE14 1BG Tel: 01283 742970

Publisher and Head of Marketing

Sarah Moss Email: sarah.moss@assignment-media.co.uk To subscribe to 4x4, or renew a subscription, call 01283 742970. Prices for 12 issues: UK £42 (24 issues £76); Europe Airmail/ROW Surface £54; ROW Airmail £78 Distributed by Marketforce; www.marketforce.co.uk Every effort is made to ensure the contents of 4x4 are accurate, but Assignment Media accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor the consequences of actions made as a result of these. When responding to any advert in 4x4, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers’ probity, but will not be liable for loss or damage incurred from responding to adverts

Where a photo credit includes the note ‘CC BY 2.0’ or similar, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence: details at www.creativecommons.org

4x4 is published by Assignment Media Ltd, PO Box 8632, Burton on Trent DE14 9PR

overlander4x4.co.uk

4x4 Contents Dec.indd 2

14/10/2024 14:49

4x4

LATEST: DACIA DUSTER GETS A BIG BROTHER | TESTED: KODIAQ 1.5 SE | OFF-ROAD SPORT: YORKSHIRE HILL RALLY

75% PICK-UP OF THE YEAR OFF OVERLANDER

DRIVEN POLESTAR 4: Will this be the SUV that changes your mind about EVs?

December 2024 £5.99

NAMIB DESERT

Overlanding through a true wilderness 4x4 Cover Dec.indd 1

PERFECTION IMPROVED?

Original V8 90 restored – and enhanced…

Six issues for the price of 12 sounds like half-price – but when you subscribe to Overlander 4x4 for a year, you actually end up getting 75% off the price on the cover

14/10/2024 10:29

CONTENTS DEC 2024 4x4 Scene 4

News

A big brother for the Dacia Duster and an all-new Subaru Forester coming soon –plus a Defender 110 becomes the world’s smallest museum as Land Rover celebrates 70 years of its partnership with the British Red Cross

12 Products

Loads of LED power for less money thanks to Terraﬁrma, propshafts for every purpose from Bailey Morris, heavy-duty Hilux bumpers and a whole lot more

16 Yorkshire Hill Rally

Three days of high-speed action as the cream of the country’s off-road racers do battle

Every Month 63 Subscribe

Get Overlander 4x4 delivered for a fraction of the cover price

64 Next Month

A famous name in the Range Rover restoration world turns its hand to the Defender

20 Pick-Up of the Year

The all-new Ineos Quartermaster lines up with the Isuzu D-Max, KGM Musso, Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok in a bid to unseat last year’s champion. Can anyone knock the Ford Ranger from its perch?

Driven

40 Polestar

An electric coupé-SUV that could be the vehicle to win over the EV doubters

42 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 SE

We love the new Kodiaq – but what’s it like aboard the cheapest model in the range?

Vehicles 46 Enhanced Original 90

A rare and valuable low-mileage factory V8 gets fettled – and gets treated to some subtle upgrades in the process

Travel 52 Namibia

Our correspondents point their Land Cruiser Bush Camper into the Namib Desert and head for the other-worldly Dunes of Sossuvlei

Our 4x4s 36 Isuzu D-Max GO2

The snagging list is de-snagged, and a new set of tyres appears in a bid to convert us to the gentle virtues of the all-terrain December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

4x4 Contents Dec.indd 3

14/10/2024 11:59

NEWS

ALL-NEW FORESTER PROMISES BETTER OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY THAN EVER

he Subaru Forester has long been one of the most admired 4x4s among people who use them in the real world. And with an all-new model coming in the spring, it’s all ready to be freshly admired all over again. This is the sixth-generation Forester, which is quite a thought. And during the 27 years since the ﬁrst one went on sale, they’ve sold more than ﬁve million of the things. It’s started as a crossover before moving more into SUV territory, but

whatever it is, or was, typically of Subaru it’s a deceptively capable performer in all kind of off-road situations. Powered by Subaru’s familiar 2.0-litre e-BOXER petrol engine, the new Forester once again combines a s auto box and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with the X-MODE off-road drive mode palette. It promises improved driving dynamics on the road and greater capability off it, the latter aided by 220mm of ground clearance and improved motor assist as

well as hill descent control and ‘ample’ clearance angles. Just as important is a braked towing capacity of 1870 kg. The new Forester also features the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist package. This monitors the driver as well as the vehicle’s surroundings – and can now safely bring the vehicle to a complete stop if needed, for example if the driver becomes incapacitated. With a wider, bolder front end and a strong side proﬁle designed to emphasises its rugged off-road presence, the Forester is a conﬁdent looking vehicle. Serial Subaru buyers (which is most of them) can expect it to be every bit as good as they’ve come to expect – and though prices are still some way from being announced, the smart money is on nothing more than a modest increase over those of the outgoing model.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

3pp Non-LR News.indd 4

14/10/2024 10:25

DACIA TAKES AIM AT KODIAQ WITH ALL-NEW X-TRAIL BASED BIGSTER

e’ll be bringing you a first UK drive of the all-new Dacia Duster in next month’s issue of Overlander 4x4. But even as initial supplies are starting to arrive in the company’s showrooms, Dacia will be turning its attention to another all-new SUV. And if you thought Duster was kind of a peculiar name for a car, get yourself ready for the Bigster. It may sound like a porn star from a Borat movie, but the Bigsters is Dacia making a bold move into the C-SUV segment with a vehicle based on the altogether brilliant Nissan X-Trail. A size up from its high-selling stablemate, it leads with bold styling, interior space and ‘real off-road capability.’ The power train options include three different petrol hybrids. Among these, the Hybrid 155 can operate in all-electric mode in up to 80% of city driving, while the TCe 140 combines a Miller cycle three-pot with a 48V mild hybrid system and manual box to improve efficiency by around 10% The one that matters, though, is the TCe 130. This too is a 48V hybrid featuring a three-cylinder petrol engine, but beyond its six-speed manual box is an all-wheel drive system designed to get it off the beaten

track. Aiding it is a Terrain Control system with five drive modes: Auto, Snow Mud/ Sand, Off-Road and Eco. Wheelarches, side protection and parts of the bumpers are made from Starkle, a recycled material formulated to resist knocks and scrapes, while the cabin is trimmed in hard-wearing fabrics and materials. In addition to this, vehicles in Extreme trim use washable Microcloud synthetic upholstery and rubber floor mats all round, including in the boot. This version of the Bigster also includes hill descent control system as standard, with an operating range of 0-19mph. Extreme is one of three trim levels available on the Bigster. As is now the fashion, rather than being part of a linear range walk it’s one of two top-spec options, each of them catering for a different kind of customer. The entrylevel Expression model includes dual-zone air-

con, rain sensors, 17” alloys, fixed roof bars, rear parking sensors and camera, a 40/20/40 Easy-Fold rear seat, 7” digital dash and 10.1” media screen. In addition to the interior materials and HDC mentioned above, Extreme adds 18” alloys, modular roof bars, opening pan roof, 10.1” digital dash and an uprated stereo and media system with connected sat-nav. The Journey model, meanwhile, also takes the Expression trim and adds 18” alloys, power tailgate, centre console armrest, power driver’s seat, 10” digital dash, wireless charging, adaptive cruise and the same uprated stereo, media and sat-nav system. In addition to the standard kit, the Bigster will be available with a range of accessories aimed at adventurous owners. These include a roof rack with an 80kg dynamic weight limit, a tailored tent, a towbar mounted cargo box, a detachable rear armrest which transforms into a backpack and, reprising the version offered with the Duster, Dacia’s Sleep Pack – a deployable double bed, tablet and storage space which fits tidily away in the vehicle’s boot when not in use. Prices for the Bigster are yet to be announced, however the range is expected to start at less than £30,000 when it goes on sale next year. All-wheel drive models will inevitably be priced towards the top of the range – however even these should still be in the low-to-middle thirties, giving the vehicle real promise as a way of getting the maximum off-tarmac bang for your buck.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

3pp Non-LR News.indd 5

14/10/2024 10:25

NEWS

CONVERTED DEFENDER 90 DEMONSTRATES GREEN BENEFITS OF METHANOL

t won’t be coming anywhere near Britain, but Nissan has just unveiled the seventh-generation version of the Patrol. The simple 4x4 workhorse we knew and loved has become a high-tech luxury wagon – but behind the 22” alloys and eyeball-searing red leather interior it’s still an off-roader at heart. Creel Maritime, which specialises in developing solutions for sustainable transport, has introduced ForestBiodrive

– a project designed to demonstrate the potential of methanol-powered vehicles. As part of this, the company has been testing a Land Rover Defender 90 Tdi converted to run on methanol – something which it says demonstrates the technology’s viability for use on a larger scale. The vehicle, which is undergoing rigorous testing in the forests of northern Scotland, promises a number of benefits. As well as producing much lower levels of

CO2 and particulates compared to diesel, methanol delivers performance that is comparable if not actually superior. Creel Maritime points out that this gives it the potential to be used in the marine, forestry, heavy plant and haulage sectors. In addition, methanol can be produced from recycled waste and forestry by-products, making it especially attractive as an automotive or industrial fuel in areas where local manufacture is possible. The project has received support from various forestry and industry stakeholders, including Associated British Ports, Coillte (Ireland), JST Services (Scotland) and TYGRIS. The technical work was undertaken by Native Automotive, an independent Land Rover specialist based in Inverness. ‘The advancements in electric and hydrogen technology are impressive, but the cost of replacing heavy machinery and vehicles is out of reach for many in our sector,’ explained Creel Maritime’s Neil Stoddart. ‘Drop-in fuels, like methanol, offer a more accessible alternative, enabling existing assets such as trucks, ships, and heavy equipment to transition to greener energy sources. ‘Even well-known green fuels, such as HVO, are now being scrutinised for their origins and the carbon footprint involved in transportation. Locally produced green fuels have clear environmental and economic advantages.’

Skoda introduces armoured Kodiaq SKODA UK HAS TEAMED UP WITH UTAC Special Vehicles to create the new Kodiaq Armoured – a version of the company’s massively popular medium SUV which is certified to PAS 300 and PAS 301 Civilian Armoured Vehicle standards. Designed to look as similar to the production model as possible, this incorporates bullet-resistant glass and armoured steel protection for the passenger compartment, offering protection against various handguns and assault rifles as well as blast resistance to grenades and high explosives. It is also fitted with a tyre retention system, allowing it to be driven even when all four tyres have been punctured, Uprated suspension and braking systems are specified to accommodate the extra weight of the armour, allowing the Kodiaq to remain both as comfortable and agile as the production model. It also comes with emergency lights and sirens, just in case the similarities to standard get a little too much. • Skoda has also confirmed the prices and specs for its new Elroq electric SUV, A size down from the Enyaq, this offers four trim levels and three battery options, the latter allowing a range of up to 360 miles. You’ll pay from £31,500 for the entry-level SE 50, with the range-topping SportLine 85 costing from £41,600.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

3pp Non-LR News.indd 6

14/10/2024 10:25

Strap In Tight... DA3554 Seat Belt Anchorage Frame Series 2 / Series 2A / Series 3 / Defender This seat belt anchorage frame from Safety Devices is designed to provide a robust belt mounting in Soft Top models. Manufactured from 38.1mm x 2.64mm seamless tube, the frame provides both upper inertia seat belt reel mounting points and also provides upper harness mounting points when wrapped around the tube. The frame fits directly over the existing canopy support brackets and has rearwards supports which also mount to the capping. Note - Will NOT fit a Lightweight or Series 1.

britpart.com Find your nearest stockist - britpart.com/stockist Part numbers used for identification purposes only and do not imply or indicate the identity of a manufacturer. Products available from a Britpart stockist. E&OE.

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Britpart_FP.indd 1

11/10/2024 09:58

NEWS LAND ROVER AND RED CROSS TURN 110 INTO MICRO-MUSEUM

his year, Land Rover has been celebrating the 70th anniversary of its association with the British Red Cross. There’s a lot of history there – and the company has come up with an ingenious way of putting it in the public eye. Working together with the Red Cross, Land Rover has commissioned the creation of what is believed to be Britain’s smallest museum. This is housed in a specially converted Defender 110 plug-in hybrid containing a variety of artefacts, photographs and audio guides, which ‘brings to life the humanitarian work delivered from 1954 to the present day.’ Land Rover estimates that during the history to date of its partnership with the Red Cross, 500-plus vehicles have played a role in assisting some two million people in more than fifty nations. The mobile museum, which is free to visit, ‘tells the story of 70 years of supporting communities in crisis around the world.’ Up to five visitors at a time can fit inside the vehicle, while many more view a timeline of pictures on its side panels – as well as examples of equipment used by the Red Cross mounted on its

roof rack. This all covers the history of the partnership over the course of its 70 years, which includes multiple locations, conflicts and disasters. The experience for visitors even includes a guided tour, bringing out key moments in Land Rover’s partnership with the Red Cross. This includes one of its first missions in 1954, which saw four nurses visit remote communities in Kenya aboard Defender (sic) ambulances that had been specially adapted to serve as mobile clinics. Further exhibits include the British Red Cross’ humanitarian work in Ethiopia between 1978 and 1980, during a famine caused by a devastating drought followed by a plague of locusts. A medical kit from that time features in the museum. Also on display are drawings from children caught up in the conflict in former Yugoslavia – where, throughout 1993, the Red Cross provided aid and care for those seeking sanctuary. The museum also features artefacts from a series of major floods in the UK between 2007 and 2013, when Red Cross volunteers came from across the UK to assist in the largest domestic emergency

relief effort since the Second World War. Also in the UK, albeit an overseas territory, the museum explores the relief provided in the Turks and Caicos Islands after first Hurricane Hanna and then Hurricane Ike destroyed 85% of homes there in 2008 and 2009. The Defender even houses a statue of a rescue dog from the REDOG programme in Switzerland – a search and rescue project which trains search dogs and rapid deployment teams, a team of whom was deployed to help with search and rescue efforts following lat year’s earthquake in Turkey. The statue was donated by its creator, sculptor Tanya Russell. The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted above that the Defender is ‘believed to be Britain’s smallest museum.’ Land Rover points out that ‘while a museum created in a phone box in Warley has previously claimed to be the smallest, we have verified that it is no longer open to the public.’ There’s also an art gallery in a phone box in Settle, North Yorkshire, but with ever-changing exhibitions that’s different to a museum – and, smallest or otherwise, any museum housed in a 4x4 gets our vote.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

8-9 LR museum AWITING AD.indd 8

14/10/2024 14:51

JLR RENEWS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES CHARITY SUPPORT LAND ROVER HAS MADE A SECOND ANNUAL AWARD of £30,000 to the Amos Bursary, a charity which supports educa‑ tional and career opportunities for young people from African and Caribbean backgrounds. Bringing the company’s total support to date to £60,000, the funding will help 70 students from the West Midlands as they take the first steps into the workplace. The Amos Bursary charity is dedicated to helping students develop their careers and overcome challenges that could hinder their potential by providing comprehensive assistance for high‑performing Year 12 students, selected based on academic achievement and socio‑economic criteria. It provides annual financial assistance for educational resources and tuition, as well as emergency support, and personal and professional develop‑ ment opportunities through mentorships, internships and other career-enhancing programmes. Tacitly recognising the ugly truth that good people continue to be held back in their careers be‑ cause of the colour of their skin, the scheme gains JLR’s support as part of its wider efforts to promote inclusivity in the workplace. In addition to financially supporting Amos Bursary, JLR staff have been supporting the charity by delivering more than 390 hours of mentorship, internships and workshop training to help prepare students for success in the corporate setting. The com‑ pany says it ‘invests in diverse talent to build careers in electrical and software engineering, digital and data roles and autonomous technologies, as part of its Reimagine strategy to reach carbon net zero by 2039,’ and since last year its school partnership pro‑ gramme has already supported some 40,000 UK students. To mark the first anniversary of the partnership, JLR recently welcomed 39 students who have benefited from the grant to visit its Gaydon facility. The event provided the students with insights into the automotive industry and the increasing diversity of roles becoming available at JLR as the company moves further towards electric propulsion. One of JLR’s Software Degree apprentices, Reuben Cumber‑ batch, joined the Amos Bursary programme after completing his GCSEs. ‘The workshops and mentorship have been incredibly valuable,’ he says. ‘They not only helped me build the soft skills needed for the corporate world but also gave me the confidence to navigate professional environments. ‘My advice to upcoming professionals is to take full advan‑ tage of these opportunities and always be open to learning and networking. These are instrumental in shaping your career and opening doors to new possibilities.’

HAS YOUR

FREELANDER GOT AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HALDEX POWER TRANSFER UNIT Here at FreelanderSpecialist.com, not only will we fix the problem but we will look to determine why the problem occurred and discuss with you how you can avoid it happening again in the future. Our differential units are uprated, making them stronger than the originals.

DON’T JUST FIX IT.... FIX IT FOR GOOD!

WE SHIP PARTS WORLDWIDE Tel: +44 (0)780 9575 421 theteam@freelanderspecialist.com www.freelanderspecialist.com December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

8-9 LR museum AWITING AD.indd 9

14/10/2024 14:51

PRODUCTS

Great deals on heavy duty Hilux bumpers £850 inc VAT | www.expedition-equipment.com

Terraﬁrma LED kit shows you the light for less £388.85 | maltings4x4store.co.uk

YOU CAN SPEND FEARSOME AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON LED LIGHTING, but more and more options are coming along to help you see the way ahead and still be able to afford the diesel to get you there. Terrafirma’s T Slot Roof Rack Light Bar and Spot Light Kit, for example, gives you four spotlights brackets and two light bar brakets – AND the lights to go with them. Designed to mount via T-slots in Terrafirma’s own roof rack for the new-shape Defender, the brackets require no drilling and come with a fitting kit and instructions. You also get the same company’s Single Row LED 18 Inch Cree LED Light, a highperformance bar whose flood beam pattern gives it a wide range of illumination. And that’s not all. Dig further into the box and you’ll find Terrafirma’s Compact 3000 Lumen 4 LED Shooter Spot Light Set.

These are small but powerful, producing 3000 Lumens from an array of eight 5-Watt LEDs – four facing forward plus two on either side for a wide spread of light. These only draw 2.8 amps, so that’s a lot of light for a little input. Toughness is built in to both these light units, with the spots being IP69K rated – meaning you can actually pressure wash them without any water ﬁnding its way in. Their aluminium housings are waterproof and weather-resistant, and coated with a UV-resistant paint to prevent chipping and fading, and their 3mm Lexan lens promise to be unbreakable and scratch-resistant. Similarly, the light bar has a die-cast alloy housing, stainless steel mounting brackets and a polycarbonate lens. So that’s a whole lot of illumination there – plus no small amount of longevity.

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON OBJECTIONS YOU HEAR from people against using anything other than a Land Rover as the base vehicle for an off-road or expedition build is that the parts are expensive. They certain can be – but Gobi-X Manufacturing’s Rear Stealth Bumper for the Toyota Hilux proves that that doesn’t always have to be the case. Engineered for a perfect ﬁt using Solidworks design, laser cutting and CNC bending, this is made from 3mm mild steel with an internal boxed design for added support. Lightweight yet durable, promises Gobi-X. It bolts directly in to the OEM mounting holes, making installation as simple and hassle-free as it can be. Designed for off-road use, the bumper includes two recovery points, two high-lift jacking points and a four-hole drop plate with a goose neck and trailer plug. Supplied with electro-coated high-tensile steel bolts and ﬁnished with a powder coating, it promises long-lasting durability and rugged off-road styling for your Hilux. So this is a good bit of kit and no mistake. And better still, remember what we were saying about it not being expensive? Well, it’s not exactly cheap – but APB 4x4 currently has it on offer at £850 including VAT, which is 19% less than normal, so it’s a lot less pricey than heavy-duty bumpers for Japanese 4x4s have a habit of being.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2.5 Products Dec AWAITING ADS.indd 10

14/10/2024 14:53

Multi-function tail light arrays for the ultimate finishing touch to your trayback

Cynghordy Llandovery Carmarthenshire, SA20 0NB Tel: 01550 750274 e-mail: info@cambrianway.com

www.cambrianway.com

Green Lane Holidays in Mid Wales Family run guest house and self catering cottages with spectacular views, en-suite bedrooms, comfortable lounge bar and excellent home cooked food. Pressure washer, drying room, map room with local lanes marked, on-site 4x4 course, guides and GPS hire available. A very popular venue for both individuals and groups of 4x4 enthusiasts

£238.80 | www.carbuilder.com When you’re building or extensively modifying a vehicle, what to do about its tail lights is a surprisingly common stumbling block – and the sort of thing you can guarantee you won’t think about until you trip over it. Using trailer lights is a frequent solution, but it can look very odd – unlike these extremely cool multi-function units from Car Builder Solutions. With a maximum diameter of 142mm and a depth of 32mm, these lights might look a bit familiar if you’ve spent any time sitting behind an Ineos Grenadier. They’re not actually the same, but the idea is certainly similar, with three concentric rings giving you neon-like tail lamp while bright lights in the middle and bottom of the array provide stop, fog and indicator functions. Weighing 475g apiece and mounted to any flat surface via two M6 studs at 45mm centres, the lights have their own power pack with a waterproof connector and two metres of cable. The internal sequencing electronics for the indicator function need no additional relay, instead piggybacking on to the vehicle’s existing unit. There are cheaper ways of doing it, but as finishing touches go this would be a sure way to help your trayback stand out from the crowd.

RLG Tyres

Tyres cheap. Not cheap tyres!!

OFFICIAL STOCKIST

Main supplier of and all major 4x4 tyres

Groundcare • Car • ATV • Tubes • Mobile Tyre Fitting Puncture Equipment & Repairs • Four Wheel Alignment Durrants Farm, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9QB

Workshop: 01435 830664 Mobile: 07710 372672 Email: chris@rlgtyres.co.uk

www.rlgtyres.co.uk

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

4x4 Magazine_2023_Feb_RLG Tyres_QP.indd 1

2.5 Products Dec AWAITING ADS.indd 11

11/01/2023 17:23

14/10/2024 14:53

PRODUCTS

Extreme propshafts for every kind of 4x4 www.baileymorris.co.uk

Shelter for marshals and more £58.95 inc VAT | terrafirmafactoryracing.com

We like marshals. They do it as volunteers, they do it in all weathers and they do it for the love of motorsport – and without them doing it, there would be no motorsport. So as far as we’re concerned, they deserve all the good things in the world. Like shelter, for example. Refer back to the bit about doing it in all weathers. If it’s pouring with rain and blowing a gale, you get to stay in the pub. Marshals get to stay at their post. So we think Terrafirma’s Marshal Shelter is great. It measures 2.4 x 2 metres, it’s tensioned and supported by 2m fibreglass tent poles and it has a weatherproof polyester PU2000mm flysheet, and it can either be fixed to a vehicle or left free standing. It comes with enough pegs and guy ropes to secure it in all weathers and when the course closing car has been through and the stage commander has finally called it, it packs up nice and small and sits quietly in the back of your 4x4 until next time. You can imagine one of these making fishing a whole lot easier, too. Or if you’re on expedition and want to stop for lunch without fetching out your full awning, popping this up sounds like a great way of keeping the sun at bay. So you don’t have to be a marshal to use a Marshal Shelter. Though it helps.

Bailey Morris is well known for its propshafts – not just standard and OEM spec units, which it stocks for a wide range of 4x4s, but its own Extreme range. This includes options for props with wider operating angles, longer splines and larger torque capacities – the latter also capable of translating into a longer service life. The company’s offerings for serious off-road use include Extreme Wide Angle and Extreme Double Cardan options, with operating angles of as much as 40° achievable. Its designs offer a variety of enhancements over standard equipment, including upgraded involute spline configurations, double slip joint assembly seals to prevent moisture and dirt ingress, Rilsan coated splines for smoother operation, extended spline assemblies and metal dust covers on universal joint bearing caps to prevent water ingress. These props can be custom built to suit most makes and models of 4x4, but if yours is a Land Rover Defender with the 2.4 or 2.2 TDCi engine the company’s Extreme II model is for you. Further uprated over even the Extreme units described above, this has a larger torque capacity, uprated UJs with triple seals and increased deflection of up to 35°, and longer, Rilsancoated and double-sealed spline assemblies.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2.5 Products Dec AWAITING ADS.indd 12

14/10/2024 14:53

SPECIALISTS IN LAND ROVER & 4X4

SERVICING > REPAIRS & MOT > EXPEDITION PREPERATION > SPARES & ACCESSORIES > OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

OVERLAND ACCESSORIES • We supply spares and accessories for the whole range of

Land Rover 4×4’s including Discovery, Range Rover, Freelander, and service and repair a wide range of 4×4’s to include Toyota, Mitsubishi Daihatsu, Nissan, Pajero and Isuzu

• Our adventure travel emporium supplies a vast range of gear for the overland traveller and camper

• We repair, fit-out, service and maintain vehicles and offer a

specialized preparation service for adventure travel vehicles at our Hartlebury premises.

CANOPY ACCESSORIES • The Bushtech Canopy range has been designed with

ultimate modularity and functionality in mind, allowing you to easily attach and detach our accessories in seconds, giving you endless configurations

• All our canopies are manufactured with custom aluminium extrusions giving them an industry leading strength to weight ratio.

CALL US NOW ON

01299 250174 enquiries@apbtrading.co.uk

www.expedition-equipment.com Overlander4x4_2024_02February_APB Trading_FP.indd 1

30/01/2024 12:51

NEWS HALEWOOD BECOMES ‘FACTORY OF THE FUTURE’ FOR ELECTRIC LAND ROVERS

LR’s Halewood plant, which was originally built in 1963 to produce the Ford Anglia, is well on the way to becoming the ‘factory of the future.’ The Merseyside complex, which is currently home to Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque production, is midway through a £500 million transformation which will put it at the heart of the company’s operations in the electric era. The ﬁrst part of the development, which is already complete, has seen more than £250 million invested in new production lines, machinery, people and digital technology. As the programme continues towards completion in the coming years, Halewood will be able to accommodate the parallel production of internal combustion, hybrid and pure electric vehicles – while an ongoing focus on renewables, fuel switching and energy reduction will lead to the removal of 40,000 tonnes of CO2 or the equivalent from its industrial footprint. Work so far has included a major construction project, extending the site by 32,364 square metres to produce medium-sized electric SUVs on JLR’s new EMA platform. The new building has been ﬁtted

with new EV build lines, 750 autonomous robots, ADAS calibration rigs, laser alignment technology for perfect part ﬁtment and the latest cloud based digital plant management systems to oversee production. They don’t mention anything about people with spanners, however as part of the plant’s modernisation more than 1600 employees have been given High Voltage training, enabling them to work on battery assembly. Further elements of the factory’s transformation include the creation of a new body shop, capable of producing 500 vehicle bodies per day, and an automated storage tower capable of holding 600 painted vehicle bodies at any time. Almost a mile of the paint shop itself has been modiﬁed, with the expansion of ovens and conveyors in response to increased demand for contrasting roofs on vehicles, and individual build stations have been extended to seven metres to facilitate the different proportions of the new EMA electric vehicles. Said stations are also now equipped with 40 new Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), which have been introduced to

assist employees (human ones) with the fitment of high-voltage batteries in electric vehicles. Concomitantly to this, the final production line in the Halewood plant has been increased in length from four to six kilometres. In addition, £16 million worth of equipment from JLR’s Castle Bromwich site, ranging from assembly robots to automated guided vehicles, has been integrated for reuse at the new facility. This modernisation is part of JLR’s strategy for becoming carbon neutral by 2039. It plans to instal 18,000 solar panels around Halewood, equating to 10% of the site’s energy consumption. Additionally, the company is investing £20 million a year on training, allowing employees across all its sites to gain the skills needed to work in the automotive industry of the future. ‘Halewood will be our first all-electric production facility,’ says JLR’s Executive Director of Industrial Operations Barbara Bergmeier. ’It is a testament to the brilliant efforts by our teams and suppliers who have worked together to equip the plant with the technology needed to deliver our world class luxury electric vehicles.’

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

14 News.indd 14

14/10/2024 17:31

Delivering mud terrain performance with all-terrain manners CF9000 RUGGED TERRAIN • An ideal fitment for working and leisure conditions • Sidewall design enhances the extra climbing ability • Pattern design reduces road noise • Optimised tread design increases wear and puncture resistance

CO N Q U E R A N Y C H A L L E N G E

4 X 4 T Y R E S . C O. U K

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Southam Tyres_FP.indd 1

The Wheel and Tyre Specialists 03/10/2024 16:06

Motorsport

In an event where the lead changed hands several times, Richard Kershaw was there when it mattered – albeit by the slenderest of margins

HAIR’S-BREADTH WIN FOR KERSHAW AT YORKSHIRE HILL RALLY

he father and son team of Richard and Mason Kershaw won the ﬁrst ever Yorkshire Hill Rally – by just one second. Their victory came in a dramatic conclusion to the three-day event, which as well as being round four of the Motorsport UK British Cross Country Championship also served as round ﬁve of the 2024 Defender Rally Series. Kershaw, in his Lofthouse Freelander, took an early lead on the short opening stage, nine seconds ahead of Scotland’s Johnnie Drysdale and Tony Rae. Kershaw and Drysdale were extremely closely matched on the remaining three stages of Friday afternoon, setting equal times on two stages with Drysdale being quicker by one second on the other – to leave Kershaw leading by eight seconds going into day two. Simon Adams and

Rita Tamolina set joint fastest time on stage four to lie in third in their ex-Jason Rowlands Lofthouse Freelander. Although the opening day was made up of four relatively short stages, there were some crews who had issues. Stephanie Lee and Rachael Dilworth (historically known by their maiden names as the Simmonite sisters) were the ﬁrst to have a drama when their car cut out on the start line and wouldn’t ﬁre back up. Other competitors bump started the car and they were able to complete the stage, albeit almost at the back of the leaderboard. They would battle back to sixth before retiring early on day three. Edd Cobley and John Tomley were another crew with problems early on, their Defender stopping as it was accelerating away from the start line. Faulty injector seals were found to be the cause and a

social media appeal to get parts resulted in one of the event sponsors, RCM 4x4, opening up in the evening to supply new seals. Cobley was able to restart on day two, but further problems forced him out with two stages to go. Day two consisted of two loops of three stages, starting with the very challenging terrain of an old airﬁeld near Driﬃeld. BXCC title race leader Paul Rowlands dominated here, coming in 44 seconds faster than anyone else over the 7.5 miles of the stage to take the overall lead by one second from Kershaw. Kershaw was back in the lead after stage six, however, and Rowlands’ hopes of victory were ended on stage seven when fan issues on his Can-Am Maverick X3 lost him around nine minutes. He continued, though, before his event ended in a ditch on SS14.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

16-18 Yorks Hillrally.indd 16

14/10/2024 10:26

Ian Gregg was leading by 54 seconds with just two stages to go. But engine management problems in his Can-Am Maverick X3 slowed him down just enough to let Kershaw sneak past at the finishing line

Jason Rowlands enjoyed a trouble-free event as he drove his Can-Am Maverick R to third place Rowlands was being navigated by Martin Cole, who stood in at the last minute when Rowlands’ usual navigator was taken ill. Cole had no experience of navigation – but he was enjoying the event nonetheless. ‘The first two stages were a bit rusty but we did improve in three and four to lie 11th overnight,’ said Cole. ‘We jumped from 11th to first on SS5 with a blistering time. Sadly the fan issue meant the car went into limp mode, costing a huge chunk of time and dropping us to 22nd. ‘It was all to play for on Sunday to try and get back into the top ten. We got up to tenth after SS13 but we slid into a hedge in SS14 and dropped into a ditch trying to get out, which put us out of the event. Both okay, other than bruised pride!’ Kershaw continued his pace to finish day two 1:01 ahead of Adams. Ian Gregg

Reece Mathieson, navigated by his father Sean, got their first finish aboard the ex-John Pickering Discovery – and, running in its former owner’s memory, were placed second in class and Jason Noakes were third, just one second further back. After two days of sunshine, conditions changed on day three with torrential rain making some of the tracks very treacherous. It was Gregg who made the most of the conditions, putting his Polaris into the lead after the ﬁrst two stages of day three. With two stages to go, Gregg had built a lead of 54 seconds over Kershaw with Jason Rowlands, who had been keeping out of trouble in his Can-Am Maverick X3, in third. However it was to be a cruel end to the event for Gregg though, as engine management issues slowed him down to the point that Kershaw pipped him for the win by just one second. ‘It’s a shame we lost the win but I’m still very happy with the result,’ commented Gregg. ‘I absolutely loved the

event – the car went well, especially when it got wet and slippery.’ As well as winning the event, Kershaw took maximum points in the BXCC and he was thrilled with the result. ‘I’m very proud to have won the ﬁrst ever Yorkshire Hill Rally, especially with it being relatively local for me,’ commented the victor. ‘We’d built up a good lead by the end of the second day and I didn’t listen to Mason and took it too easily at the start of day three. The conditions were tough after the rain but you just have to take it as it comes. Hopefully the event will continue and I’ll be back!’ Jason Rowlands continued with his trouble-free run on day three to take the ﬁnal podium position. ‘It’s been a good weekend,’ said Rowlands. ‘The rain made things interesting, my co-driver Matt had to lend

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

16-18 Yorks Hillrally.indd 17

14/10/2024 10:26

Motorsport

me his goggles for the final stage as it was hard to see with all the mud and no windscreen! Thanks to the PAR Homes Racing team and Dad for helping me get a great result.’ Phill Bayliss and Lance Murfin got their best BXCC result of the season with fourth overall and first in class. ‘All at Team OFG loved the whole event,’ said Bayliss. ‘Our car, Blaze, ran faultlessly and the result puts us in a good position in the BXCC going into the last two rounds. Thanks to my Dad for paying the entry fee!’ Richard Watson and Paul Hughes rounded off the top five in their Milner Evoque, surviving a moment when the car went up on two wheels – right in front of the TV cameras! Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy were on the pace in their Fouquet Nissan before a hub failure caused them to lose a wheel, forcing them into retirement. ‘It was great to be part of the inaugural Yorkshire Hill Rally,’ commented Faulkner. ‘We were disappointed with the retirement but pleased with the improvement in place. The event provided a mix of surfaces and a challenging environment which, as competitors, is what we are keen for. To set some top stage times on our first hill rally was pleasing. We will regroup and aim to improve again at the remaining BXCC rounds.’ Peter Widdop made it to the finish despite a very challenging event in his

A faultless run saw Phill Bayliss come in fourth overall and first in class – his best BXCC result of the season to date

Milner R5. Widdop and co-driver Marion Andrieu, who had travelled 800 miles from France to be at the rally, had a good start on day one, throwing the car around the stages like a Mk2 Escort. It all went wrong on the first stage of day two, however, when their gearbox broke. ‘The service crew came with the trailer and we loaded up and took the car back to my Discovery Centre business for the H-pattern box we built the car with originally, rather than the one that broke,’ explained Peter. ‘This meant altering the gearbox mountings and building up a different prop. We then had a trip to Pudsey to try and find a clutch that matched the gearbox from Andy West, but no joy. Fortunately another NORC member, Dean Hoskins, had a secondhand clutch which meant we could get the car back together and return to the service area around 10.30pm on Saturday. ‘I enjoyed the Sunday stages and we even managed to set a fastest time on one of them, which justified all the effort in getting the car repaired, Once in parc ferme, Marion and partner Sam, who had been helping in service, had to make a rapid dash to Portsmouth to get the ferry home and they made it! It was a huge effort by the entire team.’ The RS Offroad team of Reece Mathieson and father Sean got their first finish in the Discovery previously raced by the late John Pickering. ‘It was a successful event for us,’ said Reece.

‘Our aim was a finish, which we achieved. Not only that, we also finished second in class, our first trophy in the Discovery. ‘We’re still learning the car and the variety of terrain certainly gave us some great experience. We had no issues other than losing a headlight and indicator in among the maize fields! ‘It was a super enjoyable weekend and a special one, too. We were running number 25 in memory of John ‘Pick’ Pickering and we know he would’ve been proud of our effort. Pick’s partner Val came to the event to support us and spurred us on to the finish. ‘It seems somewhat spooky, but right, that we finished 25th overall! Thanks to our sponsors Millers Oils, Terrafirma and DDS Metal Services for their help in making our Disco into what it is today.’ In the Defender Rally Series, Mark Thomas and Phil Mackay won ahead of Nathan Burrell and Matthew Kirby. The Yorkshire Hill Rally was supported by Birchall Foodservice, PAR Homes, Voxcloud, The Discovery Centre, RCM 4×4, Gregg Motorsport, Fairview Farm Log Cabins and Holiday Accommodation, Fairview Farm Machinery, NickyGrist. com, OR Tyres and PD Extinguishers. The BXCC concludes with two rounds at Walters Arena in Wales on 12th and 13th October – and after the results in Yorkshire, it’s all to play for in the title battle. For more information, visit crosscountryuk.org.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

16-18 Yorks Hillrally.indd 18

14/10/2024 10:26

TRUCKING GREAT VALUE

3 YEARS FREE

SERVICING *

2.2l diesel 1,024kg payload 3.5t towing capacity**

kgm-motors.co.uk/offers/musso

Explore the multi-award-winning Musso at your local KGM dealership

Fuel consumption figures for the KGM range in mpg: Combined 30.2-45.2; CO2 emissions in g/km 158-245. All KGM vehicles come as standard with a 5-year/ 100,000-mile warranty except for Torres EVX, which attracts a 7-year/90,000-mile warranty. *The special offer covers a comprehensive 3-year KGM Service Plan for Musso and Rexton on retail sales only, with services to be carried out at a KGM dealership. The 3-year service plan includes 3-years servicing, 2-years free additional RAC breakdown (total of 3-years), and vehicle’s first free MOT. This offer is valid for vehicle registration until 31st December, 2024. Rexton and Musso come with a 1-year RAC breakdown cover as standard. The Rexton and Musso offer includes an additional 2-years RAC breakdown cover above the 1-year standard, totalling 3-years, free of charge valid until 31st December, 2024. This offer includes the vehicle’s first MOT, free of charge valid until 31st December, 2024. The 3-year service plan, 3-year RAC breakdown cover, and 1-year MOT is administered by EMaC, Electra Way, Crewe CW1 6GU. This offer is available and redeemable at KGM participating dealers until 31st December, 2024. For full details, terms and conditions, please contact your KGM dealer or visit: https://www.kgm-motors.co.uk/offers/. **3.5t towing capacity is based on a Musso Saracen.

20441 - KGM - Q4 Campaign - FullDealer - Musso - AW.indd

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_KGM Motors UK_FP.indd 1

01/10/2024 14:10

09/10/2024 11:09

2025

PICK-UP

OF THE YEAR T

here was a sense of inevitability about these awards last year. It was the first Pick-Up of the Year since the launch of the new Ford Ranger – so, truth to tell, it would have been a seismic shock had anything else prevented it from taking the title. This year, too, there’s a newcomer in the pick-up market. But it couldn’t be any more different to the Ranger. Like every pick-up truck, the Ineos Quartermaster is designed to be a workhorse – but it’s a very specific kind of one. Based on the Grenadier, which for a couple more months at least will remain our reigning 4x4 of the Year, the Quartermaster is a truck with a traditional off-road design. Whereas live axles, low range and a ladder

chassis mark the Grenadier out as being near-unique among a sea of SUVs, however, the Quartermaster is in that sense not so different to its peers. Where it does stand out is that it was created with wealthy adventurers in mind, not cash-strapped fleet managers. It’s more an off-roader that’s a pick-up than a pick-up that’s an off-roader. Nothing wrong with a fresh approach, of course. Though the Quartermaster doesn’t qualify for VAT or company car tax breaks, which will render it a non-starter for a lot of pick-up buyers – not least because it comes with a list price of between £66,230 and £73,730. This comes against a background of the same tough economic times we spoke

about last year. Value for money is crucial; people are willing to spend the right money on the right vehicle, but they’re shopping more carefully than ever. So good trucks matter – though so do trusted brands. As always, this puts a tick in the Toyota Hilux box. But these days, the Isuzu D-Max is arguably even better trusted, and the Ranger and VW Amarok are as bankable as ever too. KGM on the other hand is still getting established – though the Musso is as solid a performer as ever, and a 4x4 whose value pricing simply can’t be ignored. There is, then, no sense of inevitability this year. The Quartermaster may be a leftfield arrival – but the rest of the market has never been stronger, and the battle for the title has never been tighter.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY Intro.indd 20

14/10/2024 10:30

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY Intro.indd 21

14/10/2024 10:30

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

FORD RANGER

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY Ford Ranger.indd 22

14/10/2024 10:20

he all-new Ranger is our reigning Pick-Up of the Year, having won the overall title last year at the ﬁrst time of asking. This was

despite a hefty set of prices, which didn’t stop Ford from carrying on where it left off and grabbing a hefty chunk of the one-tonne market for itself. This year, those prices have climbed yet

PRICING

again. There’s been a £1000 bump on models powered by the 2.0 diesel engine and £2050 on those with the 3.0 diesel. The Raptor, which remains the halo model, is hiked by £1500 for the 2.0 diesel and £2000 for the 3.0 petrol. Below that elevated level, the everyday range remains as comprehensive as ever. The base-spec XL, which is available in Chassis, Single and Double-Cab form, comes with a 2.0-litre, 170bhp diesel and a manual box, and gives you cruise control, DAB, Ford’s Sync4 media system and plenty of safety kit, while the XLT (Double-Cab only) has the same power train and adds alloys, air-con, better media and a damped tailgate. From there on up, it’s Double-Cabs all the way – and the 170bhp diesel trades up to a 205bhp version of the same engine mated to a 10-speed auto box. This propels the lifestyle models in the range – including the Tremor, which features off-road suspension and drive modes, metal underbody protection,

XL 2.0 170 Chassis Cab XL 2.0 170 Single Cab XL 2.0 170 Double Cab XLT 2.0 170 Double Cab Tremor 2.0 205 Double Cab auto Wildtrak 2.0 205 Double Cab auto Wildtrak 3.0 240 Double Cab auto Wildtrak X 2.0 205 Double Cab auto Platinum 3.0 240 Double Cab auto MS-RT 3.0 240 Double Cab auto Raptor 2.0 210 Double Cab auto Raptor 3.0 292 Double Cab auto

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£28,550 £29,275 £30,800 £32,150 £35,550 £40,350 £45,900 £42,350 £47,950 £50,800 £47,800 £50,800

£35,857 £36,727 £38,557 £40,177 £44,257 £50,017 £56,677 £52,417 £59,137 £62,557 £58,879 £62,479

VERDICT Overwhelming road presence, loads of equipment and plenty of choice make the Ranger a truck for everyman. Just so long as everyman has a bit of spending power behind him, because you pay for what you get – but you do get what you pay for, too. With the ﬁrst PHEV on the pick-up market coming soon, the choice is set to grow wider than ever, too.

vinyl ﬂooring, heavy-duty side steps, a roll bar and, interestingly, underbody wax protection Above this, the Wildtrak is the traditional high-speccer in the Ranger line-up. It’s available with the 205bhp engine or, for an extra £5550, a 3.0 diesel putting out 240bhp. Above it, the Wildtrak X reprises the Tremor’s off-road orientated kit list, just with a higher baseline, and then the Platinum piles on the luxury with fancy leather seats and so on. A new addition to the model range in the last 12 months is the MS-RT. Like the Plati-

shattered urban roads and settling to a quiet

We noted some annoying trim noises on

num, this has the 240bhp engine as standard,

cruise on the motorway. Take it on a twisting

the Ranger we drove last year, but there was

but what it adds is motorsport inspired

A or B-road, meanwhile, and you would have

none of that this time around. Overall, the

styling with a lower front spoiler that looks

to push very hard indeed to unsettle it – while

ﬁxtures and ﬁttings all feel very robust.

like it belongs on a Focus RS or something.

in the sort of off-road conditions almost none

And then there’s the Raptor, whose off-road

will ever see, it’s sure-footed, manoeuvrable

last year, the Range is now fully through its

hardware takes it to the next level – and

and brimming with traction.

initial launch phase. However there’s a sig-

which, in 3.0-litre, 292bhp form, gives you a

In every case, you’re enjoying the ride from

With the MS-RT the only newcomer since

niﬁcant addition coming in the spring, in the

glorious turn of pace with the handling (and

a supreme driving position which gives you

shape of a PHEV model with a 2.3-litre petrol

the soundtrack) to match. The thirst, too, but

a mighty view over the terrain (or the traﬃc)

engine giving it 279bhp and 502lbf.ft of out-

if a thing’s worth doing…

around you. The cabin looks and feels tidy

put and a 27-mile EV range. It will retain its

and classy, dominated as it as by a vast

1000kg payload, and therefore its LCV status,

you need and the Ranger’s chassis is set

upright media screen (the full monty here

and will be rated to 3500kg for towing.

up to allow an excellent balance of ride and

comes in at Wildtrak level), and there’s plenty

A game-changer? Possibly – although it

handling. It’s enjoyable, conﬁdence inspiring

of room for you and all your passengers to

could be argued that that’s what the Ranger

and very composed, dealing unﬂappably with

stretch out and relax.

already was.

Ultimately, the 2.0 diesel has everything

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY Ford Ranger.indd 23

14/10/2024 10:20

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

INEOS QUARTERMASTER

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY Ineos Quartermaster DONE ADD PICS.indd 24

14/10/2024 10:15

he Ineos Grenadier is our reigning 4x4 of the Year, and the Quartermaster is simply that vehicle in double-cab form. So this ought to be a strong new addition to the pick-up market. From the word go, nonetheless, we need to recognise that it’s very different to the rest of the vehicles here. The pick-up market has traditionally tended to be very uniform, which suggests pretty strongly that the manufacturers know what buyers want, but Ineos has gone its own way.. Traditionally, in the UK pick-ups have been bought by people who want a tool of the trade that’ll double up as a family car while stopping the taxman from having their trousers down. Well, the taxman will have his wicked way with you if you buy a Quartermaster, because it doesn’t qualify for VAT or company car tax breaks – and with prices that start in the upper atmosphere and rapidly go into space, to own one you need to be able to put around a grand a month into a pick-up that carries less than the others – but whose lifestyle cred is off the scale. This is a rich man’s truck. But it’s also an adventurer’s truck. An off-road vehicle not for battering round a quarry in Lincolnshire but for kitting out with another fifty grand’s worth of cool expedition gear then setting off to explore the world. The cliché made real, in spectacular style. Ineos would point out that its vehicle is built to last in a way precious few others can. Expensive but a truck for life, and so on. The engineering is astoundingly robust, as is the spec, and the list of suppliers includes BMW, ZF, Tremec, Carraro, Magna and Recaro. The Quartermaster is a bestof-everything double-cab designed to do what the old-shape Defender once did but to do it better and in the modern world. And to a great extent, it does. You sit miles high in a superb driver’s seat with a masterful view ahead. The cabin is all big, chunky switches, with a flight deck image that makes you smile every time (though the vehicle’s functions do take a lot of learning and working out how to operate them is less than intuitive). It has a real handbrake lever that you pull and a real key that you put in a slot and twist. When you do, you fire up a 3.0-litre BMW engine. Petrol or diesel; both are glorious, though the former is 18.9-19.6mpg and 325-336g/km’s worth of thirsty.

PRICING

3.0 3.0 TD 3.0 Trialmaster 3.0 TD Trialmaster 3.0 Fieldmaster 3.0 TD Fieldmaster

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£66,230 £66,230 £73,730 £73,730 £73,730 £73,730

VERDICT The most expensive vehicle on the market, the Quartermaster starts at a higher price than even the top Ford Ranger Raptor. It’s in comparable territory to the Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux AT35 – but without any way of getting your VAT back on it, for most buyers it costs signiﬁcantly more. What you get, however, is a double-cab with a unique design proposition. Its live axles and, should you choose them, locking front and rear diffs make it an extremely serious off-roader – and while all pick-ups are rugged, it was built with extreme long-distance expeditions in mind. It’s a lot of money – but a hell of a lot of truck.

Driving the Quartermaster is relaxing in one way, as the seating position is verging on giving you a drone’s eye view, but less so in that the suspension and steering are noticeably less settled than in any other pick-up. You do get used to it, and a long motorway journey is no problem at all, but it’s quite bouncy on poor roads – more so than the Grenadier station wagon, which has more weight over its back axle. Of course, though, off-roading is what the Quartermaster all about. That’s why it’s on front and rear beam axles with longtravel coil springs, why you sit so high and why it’s the heaviest vehicle here by around half a tonne.

From the moment you leave the tarmac, the Quartermaster is in its element. It handles extreme terrain with huge agility and doesn’t get skittish on faster, looser going. Where fitted, locking front and rear diffs mean its can crawl over almost anything, given the grip, and though a five-link rear end means it lifts wheels more easily than we’d like, we’re yet to find a situation in which that actually stops it. The Quartermaster is built to do a different job to other pick-ups, and for a different clientele. It’s not the doughty off-road workhorse Ineos originally set out to built – but though its purpose has changed, it remains as focused on it as ever.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY Ineos Quartermaster DONE ADD PICS.indd 25

14/10/2024 10:15

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

ISUZU D-MAX

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY Isuzu D-Max.indd 26

14/10/2024 10:16

ided by the disappearance from the market of some key rivals, and the unrelenting premium trajectory of others, the D-Max has slowly but surely established itself as the number one choice for an awful lot of pick-up buyers. It has become known for its reliability and resistance to rust – and Isuzu’s dealers continue to be among the best regarded in the country. It’s hard to believe that the current D-Max was only launched here three and a half years ago. That was in the wake of Covid and waiting lists quickly grew, but things have settled down since then and hard as it is to believe, at the time of writing the vehicle is about to undergo its second minor facelift. It was only this time last year that we were telling you about the ﬁrst. Isuzu has long used the smallest engine in the pick-up market, a 1.9-litre twin-turbo diesel. Given that pick-up buyers tend to like things big, it says something for the rest of the vehicle that this hasn’t stopped them from coming after it in droves. The engine is, at any rate, very tunable – though it’s perfectly willing even in standard form, whether with a manual or auto gearbox. The latter is available as an option from Utility level up, as is a locking rear diff. All models are manual as standard; the locker is included on all but the Utility range. If you want a pick-up that gives you what you need and nothing that you don’t, the D-Max is almost a default choice now. In Utility spec, you get air-con, cruise and lumbar adjust as standard, as well as DAB and Bluetooth. You can have it in single, extended and double-cab form, too. Moving up the range, the DL20 adds alloys, heated seats and parking sensors, while the DL40 brings leather, climate, LEDs, chrome styling and a media system with phone pairing. The V-Cross gives you gunmetal styling and a bigger media screen; so too does the AT35, along of course with the lifted suspension, big tyres and extensive badging for which Arctic Trucks models are known. Whichever you go for, you can spend all day in a D-Max and still feel fresh. There’s plenty of space up front, and in the back of the double-cab, and the seats are excellent. You don’t need to be on leather for this to be the case, however the top models are undeniably nice to be in. That’s good, because Isuzu’s strategy for the D-Max is to go after lifestyle sales. It’s

PRICING

Utility Single-Cab 1 Utility Extended-Cab 1, 2 Utility Double-Cab 1, 2 DL20 Extended-Cab 2 DL20 Double-Cab 2 DL40 Double-Cab 2 V-Cross Double-Cab 2 AT35 Double-Cab 3

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£26,905 £27,705 £28,505 £30,405 £30,805 £33,905 £35,405 £51,305

£33,516 £34,476 £35,436 £37,716 £38,196 £41,916 £43,716 £62,916

1 Rear diff lock £500 extra 2 Auto £2000 extra 3 Auto £2500 extra

VERDICT The D-Max continues to be one of the most appealing vehicles out there. It’s still available in the full range of work-focused styles and there’s a refreshing sense of fun about Isuzu’s strategy of marketing it as a companion for a life of outdoor adventures. This is more than just a gimmick, too, thanks to the company’s tie-up with ARB. There’s been a rather hefty price rise since last year, but the D-Max remains very good value – and whether you want it to be a work truck, a family motor or an overlanding tool, there’s a model for you.

particularly keen to leverage the vehicle’s appeal to the outdoors set, having recently turned a number of its dealers into hubs for ARB’s range of adventure accessories, and its recent Mudmaster and Basecamp 2 concept vehicles illustrate its desire to be as visible as possible in this area. For sure, it has the right truck for it. The D-Max is extremely capable off-road, with drive-it-all-day green lane talents and no small amount of agility on extreme terrain. The 1.9-litre engine rarely feels short of grunt, and its suspension is strong, ﬂexible and well enough settled on the road to allow a smooth ride both around town and on the motorway.

This is slightly less the case with the AT35, which doesn’t settle quite as easily on its bigger tyres. You do get used to it, though – and the payoff is that it handles as well as the standard models, with surprisingly positive steering and body control. For such a big, heavy vehicle, the D-Max actually feels quite lithe. It’s impressively reﬁned, too, with little in the way of harshness in the driveline and just a low level of background noise. All round, the D-Max continues to be a truck that appeals on every level. There are rivals that aim higher in terms of wow factor, but to know it is to love it. As an ever increasing number of owners will agree.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY Isuzu D-Max.indd 27

Utilit Utilit Utilit DL2 DL2 DL4 V-Cr AT3 * Au

14/10/2024 10:16

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

KGM MUSSO

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY KGM Musso.indd 28

14/10/2024 10:17

ou might not have heard of KGM, but the Korean company is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It’s had various names since its formation in 1954, the one you’ll be familiar with being SsangYong. The name was changed late last year after a corporate buyout, but the approach remains the same – good, solid, well equipped 4x4s with loads of kit for the cash and the sort of warranty that makes you gasp. The Musso has been around for almost an entire model cycle now, during which time it has evolved gently with a few styling tweaks here and there and regular updates to its spec and model line-up. The last couple of years were quite busy, with the 2.2-litre diesel engine getting more power, torque and fuel economy, an auto box becoming standard on all but the base spec model and a new long-bed version arriving to top the range. So KGM (which has been busy elsewhere with the launch of the new Torres SUV) can be forgiven for taking it a bit easier during 2024, when the biggest news on the Musso front has been the recent announcement of a special edition Saracen Platinum model to cash in on that 70th anniversary. This gains a sports styling bar and electric roll-top cover for its pick-up bed, as well as various styling and badging stuff. It only costs £750 more than the Saracen on which it’s based, which is an illustration of how much KGM gives you for your money. It’s keeping the SsangYong ﬂag ﬂying in this respect. Last year, under its old name, the company imposed only modest price rises on the Musso, and this year it’s the same again. The very top of the range just overlaps the entry-level version of the VW Amarok by a few quid. None of this would matter if the Musso was no good, but that’s certainly not the case. It talks a good game, with an epic Gross Train Weight allowing it both to tow and carry up to its limits at the same time rather than just offering you the chance to do one or the other, and its value for money speaks for itself. All models have alloys, air-con, Bluetooth and so on, while the mid-range Rebel adds heated and cooled faux-leather seats, a reversing camera and an 8” media system running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Saracen then gives you bigger rims, nappa leather, power seats, cruise, sat-nav, all-round parking sensors, a digital dash

PRICING

2.2 EX 2.2 Rebel 2.2 Saracen 2.2 Saracen Plus

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£25,715 £29,815 £32,865 £34,115

£31,248 £36,168 £39,828 £41,328

VERDICT People were put off the Musso by its name when that name was SsangYong, so as KGM gets better known it should stand to reason that the truck will start to gain acceptance. Certainly, to turn it away out of fear of the unknown would be as great a mistake as ever. The Musso is a good all-rounder with plenty of kit and a winning warranty at prices which make most other pick-up manufacturers look expensive. It might still be trading on price, but it’s not just a value-for-money truck – it’s a value-for-money truck you have absolutely no reason to be afraid of.

and a 9.2” media screen. And all are covered by a 7-year, 150,000-mile warranty. A long kit list is a blunt instrument if the cabin itself isn’t up to scratch, but actually the Musso’s is still the most SUV-like out there thanks to being based on the Rexton – a former 4x4 of the Year. This means an excellent driving position and loads of space in the back seats. It’s not just good to sit in. The Musso’s engine is strong, with 202bhp and 295lbf. ft, and in addition to pulling well is settles to a quiet hum at speed. The auto gearbox is smooth and fuss-free, too – in contrast to the manual, which is a good reason to steer clear of the entry-level EX.

Both long and standard-wheelbase models handle tidily, with no ugly surprises from the steering and bags of grip. It stays well planted on ﬁdgety surfaces, too, even really badly potholed ones – over which the ride never gets crashy, even when you’re running unladen. And on fast roads, it has a four-square stance which doesn’t get upset by lairy action with the steering. The Musso is a doughty performer offroad, too, with good all-round green lane skills. It’s not without its vulnerable bits, however, and the lack of a rear diff lock even as an option stands against it. But standard and long-bed models alike are staunch allies in almost every situation.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY KGM Musso.indd 29

14/10/2024 10:17

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

TOYOTA HILUX

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY Toyota Hilux.indd 30

14/10/2024 10:19

he Hilux range has contracted somewhat since last year, with single-cab and mid-range Icon models no longer on the price list. You can still get the base-spec Active trim, but only with the 2.8 engine, a manual box and the extra-cab body, however the smaller 2.4 unit is still available, with an auto box only, in the Invincible Double-Cab. In effect, Invincible is now the mid-range model, with Invincible X and GR Sport II above it. The latter is inspired by Toyota’s Dakar-winning Hilux race trucks and gains uprated suspension and steering as well as various styling tweaks inside and out. This is the same as last year’s GR Sport model, however this time the vehicle’s ride height is raised – as is its front and rear track, giving it the stability to go with its extra ground clearance. If you really want height, the price list does also include the AT35, lifted by Arctic Trucks and shod with 35” tyres. It’s very nearly 50% more expensive than anything else in the range, however if it’s what you really want it’s 100% better suited to you because nothing else will do. On that subject, there are still plenty of people whose only choice of pick-up is the Hilux because of something they saw on Top Gear once. Ridiculous though that might be, it’s a priceless heritage for a vehicle to have – and it’s been well earned, because something like 20 million of them have been built since launch in 1968 and that doesn’t happen by accident. The aforementioned price list includes what are very modest price rises from last year – in fact, there are models whose prices have stayed the same. It also includes a new 48V Hybrid version, which we’re yet to drive; so far, this is only available in Invincible X form, but time will see to that. For now, all Hiluxes remain well kitted out and very robustly made. Not all models are particularly exciting to look at inside, but for no-nonsense ﬁtness for purpose they’re hard to fault – and with cruise, aircon, Bluetooth and a locking rear diff even the Active looks after you.

PRICING

2.8 Active Extra-Cab manual 2.4 Invincible Double-Cab auto 2.8 Invincible Double-Cab manual 2.8 Invincible X Double-Cab manual 2.8 Invincible X Double-Cab Hybrid auto 2.8 GR Sport II Double-Cab auto 2.8 Invincible X AT35 Double-Cab auto

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£28,658 £35,009 £34,036 £37,420 £38,688 £40,528 £60,687

£35,506 £43,127 £41,960 £46,020 £47,542 £49,750 £73,940

VERDICT Like all UK pick-ups, the Hilux has to be a convincing lifestyle vehicle. And it is, in its various high-spec forms – but you’re never far from feeling the purposeful, down to earth nature that’s built in to it. The cabin is less showy than some but still does its job with quiet excellence, and as an all rounder it never fails to impress. A lack of legroom in the rear seats has the potential to be a deal-breaker for some buyers, however – but if you can live with this, the Hilux continues to live up to its legendary name.

slide their seat so far forward that if they’re

have rather lifeless dynamics at speed, but

similarly tall, it’s going to be a squeeze –

the higher-spec suspension and steering

worse yet if they’re the driver. We’re conﬁdent

transforms it. .

that the next-generation Hilux (the current

All models take town driving in their stride

one is approaching ten years old) will sort

and, so long as you avoid the 2.4 auto, cruise

this out, but in this respect it can’t come

quietly and smoothly on the motorway. Cabin

quickly enough.

comfort matters here, too – you can drive all

With the 2.4-litre engine now available only

day in a Hilux and still feel fresh.

with an auto box, it might as well not exist; it

And of course you can off-road it all day,

including a multimedia system that’s the

was ﬁne with a manual but is unreﬁned and

too. The Hilux is masterful in every kind of

focal point of the dash and looks cool as well

under-powered when trying to keep the auto

terrain, with exceptional levels of built-in

as doing it job. On a more basic level, the

wound up. The 2.8, on the other hand, feels

tractability backed up but that locking rear

front seats are roomy and very comfortable.

effortless whichever box it’s mated to.

diff should things get extreme. It’s good at

Move up the range and you get more toys

Thus equipped, the Hilux is an admirable

keeping its body clear of the ground and,

down, however. If you want to ﬁt a tall adult

worker and, in GR Sport form, an entertaining

with the right tyres, it will plough its way

in the back, the person in front will have to

A and B-road companion. Standard models

through more or less anything.

Rear legroom in the double-cab is a big let-

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY Toyota Hilux.indd 31

14/10/2024 10:19

2025 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2025 PUOTY VW Amarok.indd 32

14/10/2024 10:19

aunched last year, the secondgeneration Amarok has not yet become as common a sight as its predecessor. However it retains that vehicle’s image as the premium choice among double-cabs. There are even pricier options around at the top of the market, but throughout the range the Amarok does a convincing job of feeling a cut above. There are four trim options, none of them sparse in their equipment, plus three engines. These are a 2.0 TDI, available with 170bhp and a manual gearbox or 205bhp and a 10-speed auto, and a 3.0 TDI with 240bhp and the auto as standard. Even the lower-spec models are well into the forties once you add VAT, while at the top of the range the Aventura and PanAmericana models nudge sixty. The bulk of demand is at the top of the range, but even the entry-level Life model has 17” alloys, full-time four-wheel drive, air-con, adaptive cruise, a 10.1” media screen with rear-view camera display and an excellent array of safety kit. Move up to the Style and you add surround cameras, LED headlights, a heated windscreen, 10-way driver’s seat adjustment and ArtVelours seat trim, while the alloys go up to 18” and the media screen becomes a 12” tablet, while the PanAmerica also has leather, enhanced frontal protection and a rear locker and the Aventura has 21” rims, extra chrome and fancier leather. The latter two also gain a Harman Kardon stereo. Whichever you choose, the cabin is very stoutly made and cleverly designed to look classier than hard plastic has a right to be. The seating position is excellent, as are the seats themselves. It’s spacious in the back, too, with ample leg, head and elbow room for a full crew of hefty lads. So far, we’ve only driven a PanAmericana, and we’re not wild about the combination of dark grey and chocolate brown leather, orange stitching on both and a mixture of polished aluminium and carbon ﬁbre effect trim, but less elevated models will be more restrained. In any case, the star of the show is for sure the vast vertical tablet occupying the entire centre portion of the facia. This is home to a media system that’s as logical and easy to use as you’d expect from VW. It’s response time to commands could do with being snappier, but it also hosts an excellent reversing camera and (from Style models up) surround view display which

PRICING

2.0 TDI 170 Life manual 2.0 TDI 205 Life auto 2.0 TDI 205 Style 3.0 TDI 240 Style 3.0 TDI 240 PanAmericana 3.0 TDI 240 Aventura

List (ex-VAT)

OTR (inc VAT)

£33,990 £35,330 £42,695 £45,270 £47,590 £48,410

£42,114 £43,722 £52,560 £55,650 £58,434 £59,418

VERDICT If you don’t mind putting your hand a bit further into your pocket than the average pick-up buyer, the Amarok rewards you with a cabin and driving experience than feels genuinely premium. In particular, it’s fabulous on the motorway. Whether you like all the decor on the top models is a matter of taste, but even the base-speccer is very well equipped – and if you like manual gearboxes, you may well conclude that it’s all the Amarok you need.

will be especially valuable if you plan to ﬁt with a rear canopy. With 240bhp and 443lbf.ft at 1750rpm, the 3.0 V6 pulls willingly and cruises with the reﬁnement of an executive car. There’s a touch of wind and road noise in the background but the peace in the cabin is remarkable, even at speed, and at least on 18” wheels there’s no vibration at all through the drivetrain or suspension. The 10-speed auto shifts so seamlessly we never noticed it once. We did notice our average fuel consumption, though, which at 22.2mpg over a typical blend of motorways, A/B-roads and urban driving was less than stellar.

Urban roads do bring a bump or two out of the back axle if running unladen, but the Amarok’s suspension is as agile as its steering is responsive. You can make the most of it’s prodigious grip on twisty roads, yet its superb motorway ride doesn’t fall apart when the surface gets haggard. Off-road, every model has low range and is therefore more than capable. The rear locker in the PanAmericana is a game changer, though, keeping it moving when the back gets light. With the right tyres, it will ﬁnd traction where you wouldn’t expect it to stand a chance – and with a degree of manoeuvrability makes a mockery of its hefty size, it’s incredibly agile in the rough.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2025 PUOTY VW Amarok.indd 33

14/10/2024 10:19

W Fo IN rd N Ra E ng R

2025 PICK-UP

THE RANGER SWEPT TO VICTORY last year, in what was the new model’s ﬁrst entry in Pick-Up of the Year. Now it’s no longer the new kid on the block – but it’s still the boss. You just need to climb aboard and experience the towering driving position, which puts you in mind of something like a Land Rover Discovery, to see why the Ranger is so popular among its owners. Then you drive it, and the masterful feeling continues whether you’re dominating the roads in town or enjoying a remarkably smooth and quiet ride on the motorway. It is of course a supple and tractable ally off-road, too. There’s no end of choice in the Ranger line-up, and at the top of the range the Raptor is cool, capably equipped and, in petrolengined form, hilariously boorish. The price rises have been kept sensible over the last year – and soon there’ll be a PHEV model in the line-up, too. After a triumphant launch phase, the Ranger is now very well established as the pick-up for the others to beat.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2pp 2025 PUOTY Results.indd 34

14/10/2024 10:31

OF THE YEAR BEST VALUE KGM Musso

BEST OFF-ROAD Ineos Quartermaster

THE MUSSO’S BRAND NAME HAS CHANGED to KGM from SsangYong, but its dominance in the value stakes remains the same. No apologies for giving it this award yet again. There’s so much more to it than just being cheap. Pick-up buyers demand a lot for their money, and that’s what the Musso gives you. Equipment, capability, sheer size – it’s all bangs per buck. With the most SUV-like cabin on the market, the Musso is a hidden gem for those brave enough to back the trend.

IT WOULD BE A MAJOR SHOCK if the Quartermaster weren’t to win this category. It has the design basics of an original Land Rover Defender, coupled with the modernity of a truck designed from scratch over the last decade. Two live axles, both with lockers available, are Ineos’ secret weapon. In a market full of capable rivals, it’s on another level altogether. You pay for what you get, of course – but you don’t half get what you pay for, too.

BEST RANGE Isuzu D-Max

BEST BACK-UP Isuzu D-Max

IT’S NO SECRET that the biggest money in the pick-up market comes from selling lifestyle trucks. But credibility comes from a range that covers every base – which Isuzu does admirably. Even without a massive list of models, the D-Max ticks every box – and, importantly, gives you all the options you need even at base-spec level. Isuzu is never shy of keeping things fresh with cool special editions, either, and regular minor facelifts are helping ensure the current model doesn’t get tired.

THE SUPPORT YOU GET both from your dealer and from head oﬃce is citical for pick-up owners. We hear occasional moans from many other 4x4 brands’ customers – but with Isuzu they’re conspicuous by their absence. It goes beyond mere servicing and maintenance, which Isuzu is very good at. The purchase process is pain-free as well – and with a range of dealers recently appointed as ARB hubs, D-Max owners are being supported in their quest for adventure, too.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2pp 2025 PUOTY Results.indd 35

14/10/2024 10:32

Our 4x4s INFO

VEHICLE: Isuzu D-Max GO2 YEAR: 2018 RUN BY: Alan Kidd LAST UPDATE: Sept 2024 FLEET DEBUT: January 2020

ALL FOR ONE?

couple of months or so ago, we updated the ongoing tale of our D-Max by taking a look at a few minor issues that were niggling at us. Well, they’ve all been sorted out now and all is well with the world. The big one was with the drawer system in the back, which had stopped wanting to open and close. The only answer was to dismantle them and take a look – which revealed that it certainly wasn’t the drawers’ fault. The roller cover on the pick-up bed isn’t meant to be entirely waterproof, and over the course of several huge downpours the rain was getting in – and then sitting there, thanks to the truck being parked very slightly nose-down most of the time. Ideal conditions for rust, of course, which is exactly what the drawers’ roller bearings had been doing. So too had the things in the drawers – like shackles, snatch blocks and a ground anchor, which were now ﬁt only for scrap. Not a pretty sight at all, but they did all make a nice noise when they hit the bottom of the skip in our local recycling place. Talking of nice noises, the D-Max deﬁnitely didn’t make one when we

reversed it into a concrete post in a multistorey car park. It remains a matter of some mystery how this managed to sneak in around the edge of our ARB rear bumper and still get the lamp lens above it, but that’s what happened with a hefty crunch. We had a brief and ill-fated go at putting the bits back together again with glue, but a new lens was definitely in order (again bonded on using glue, oddly enough), the main issue being to make sure we ordered the right one. You wouldn’t believe how many different ones there are. There are many different tyres, too, and we’re about to give the D-Max its first new set since it was first built back in 2020. The General Grabber X3 mud-terrains it’s currently wearing have served us very well and, with plenty of tread left on them, will continue to do so in the future, but we’re anticipating a lot of road use for the truck this coming winter. Fact is, for decades we’ve been running mud-terrains on a huge variety of our trucks. Cherokee, Patrol, Discovery, Land Cruiser, both 90s and now the D-Max too – off the top of the editorial head, we’ve been through something like nine different

Appearing in these pictures, our Isuzu D-Max GO2 is insured by Adrian Flux Insurance Services, which specialises in modiﬁed 4x4s. We’ve used the company many times over the years for our project trucks and they have always provided an ideal balance between quality cover (which includes offroad and green lane options) and affordable prices. Get a quote by visiting www.adrianﬂux.co.uk.

brands of tyre on that little lot and they’ve all been muds. Not super-aggressive, because they’ve all been lane wagons rather than playday heroes, but always more than an all-terrain. And yet what they’ve all had in common is that they’ve seen way more tarmac than anything else. So when the guys at CST’s UK importer offered us a set of their Sahara A/T IIs, it seemed like a good opportunity to grow a little. We’d ﬁt all-terrains for a long-distance expedition, after all – and ironically, that would probably involve a greater ratio of terrain to tarmac than life as a laner. The Saharas are designed to provide a good combination of cut resistance, high mileage, self cleaning and grip, both on and off the road. Their ribbed sidewall design makes them look pretty groovy for an allterrain, too, but more to the point it aids grip and protects from damage in ruts. At the time of writing, the tyres have only just been delivered. By next month, they’ll be on and we’ll be able to bring your out ﬁrst impressions. Who knows, maybe they’ll make us realise we should have been running all-terrains for the last three decades after all…

Insurance for your 4X4 36 www.overland4x4.com Call 0800 085 5000 or visit adrianflux.co.uk 1pp Our 4x4s D-Max Dec PIC + UPDATE RED TEXT.indd 36

Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

14/10/2024 10:38

THE AWARD -WINNING ISUZU D -MAX

IT’S A

WIN-WIN OVERLANDER

PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

2025

PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

2025

OVERLANDER

BEST RANGE BEST BACK-UP

Pick up the double award-winning Isuzu D-Max today.

VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1–27.6 (10.2–11.2). Mid 31.4–36.4 (7.8–9.0). High 36.0–39.4 (7.2–7.8). Extra-High 29.0–30.8 (9.2–9.7). Combined 30.7–33.6 (8.4–9.2). CO2 emissions 215–241 g/km. Visit Isuzu.co.uk or contact your local Isuzu dealership for more information. Isuzu (UK) Ltd a subsidiary of International Motors Limited.

ISU06308 Isuzu Overlander 4x4 Magazine December37issue_3.indd 1 Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Isuzu_p37_FP.indd

14/10/2024 14/10/2024 13:51 14:31

4X4 PLAYDAYS EVERY MONTH 10am to 4pm Slindon open second and fourth Sunday of every month (BN18 ONB) 4x4 entry £40 per vehicle (full driving license required) More info and pics Google youtube/slindon 4x4

Quad Bikes £25 (all riders 14 or over) Parking only £5

We specialise in organising 4x4 owners’ days and expedition training at our 4x4 off-road site at Slindon in West Sussex for owner-drivers.

Free UK Delivery on orders over £15.00 + VAT

www.4x4driving.co.uk

Get in touch with us:

01903 812195 07802 582826

4x4 Magazine_2023_September_PS Autoparts_QP.indd 1 06/06/2024 16:03

Overlander4x4_2024_08_Aug_Morgan 4x4_QP.indd 1

18/08/2023 15:28

MAZDA FORD NISSAN ISUZU MITSUBISHI TOYOTA

HEADLAMPS AND MIRRORS

Better visibility means greater safety Join our mailing list! Be up to date! Offers, products, announcements .... and more.

www.ks-international.com

sales@ks-international.com

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_KS International_HP.indd 1

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

Overlander4x4_Dec 2024_Composite pages.indd 38

+ 44(0)20 8842 7567

ksinternationalltd

ksinternational

08/10/2024 10:58

14/10/2024 14:28

NO DRILLING HIGH QUALITY TRANSFERABLE

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Gearmate_FP.indd 1

01789 595200

QUALITY VAN, SUV & PICK UP TRUCK ACCESORIES

www.gearmate.co.uk

Sales@gearmate.co.uk

11/10/2024 09:46

POLESTAR 4 DUAL-MOTOR

t’s a slow process, but electric 4x4s are slowly going from being an unwelcome necessity to something people grudgingly admit are not that bad after all. Nobody likes being coerced into doing something against their will, and that’s why there’s still so much resistance against them among so many drivers – but as people actually experience what it’s like to drive one, they discover that they’re actually kind of cool. Most EVs are of course the work of familiar manufacturers which also still sell petrol and diesel cars. But among the growing band of all-electric brands, Swedish outﬁt Polestar is possibly the most accessible. That’s got a lot to do with the fact that it was spawned by Volvo, giving it an instant trust mark in people’s minds – even though the two brands’ vehicles are now completely separate. Polestar’s range is still growing, but with the addition of two new SUVs it’s growing

fast. They’re called the 3 and 4; we’ll review the former in a future issue, but having spent a few hours behind the wheel of a range-topping 4 on a recent launch event we came away with some deﬁnite impressions of a vehicle that’s radical in more than just its powertrain. It doesn’t have a back window, for starters. The rear-view mirror displays a picture from a camera, which isn’t new, but if you look over your shoulder there’s literally no glass. Its glovebox is opened by tapping menus on the media screen. The stereo is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. At times, it feels less like a car and more like driveable tech. But it is a car. The deﬁnition of driveable tech would be something where the driving is incidental. Get going in this sleek and unashamedly futuristic coupe-SUV and you will very quickly realise that it is every inch a driving machine. It’s very engaging – and very, very fast.

We drove the Dual Motor model, which starts at £66,990 – a very worthwhile £7000 upgrade over the Single Motor, because as well as giving you all-wheel drive it means 544bhp, 506lbf.ft output and a 3.8-second 0-62 time. The Single Motor is still no slouch, and it gives you a bit more range (385 miles against the Dual Motor’s 367) but believe me, it’s the big one that you want. Why? Well, it can tow more (2000kg, over 1500 for the Single Motor). But it’s what happens when you put your foot down. That 0-62 time tells part of the story, but the 40-80 bracket is what counts and here, it feels instant. You pull out to overtake, you plant the throttle and you’re gone. In the real world, it means you can ease past slower traﬃc without a care. In the fun world, it means you can leave them like the start line marshal at a drag strip watching a methanol ﬂopper launch. But just a tad quieter. Happily, it brakes and handles as well as it performs. The body is very well controlled

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2pp Polestar 4.indd 40

14/10/2024 10:27

on its semi-active shocks, retaining its poise in hard corners and on uneven roads, and however hard we pushed it the rear never felt loose. If you find yourself going into a corner too hot, which is not difficult with this much power, the brakes bring it back more smoothly and effectively than you’ve any right to expect in a vehicle that’s about a quarter of a tonne heavier than an old shape Land Rover 130. Like the 130, the Polestar 4 has three drive modes. In this case, they’re not Slow, Stolen and Broken Down. There’s not as much difference between them as there is in some vehicles, but they allow you to finetune various elements of its performance, firming it up for sharper responses to your inputs. It’s very fluid and easy to drive in all of them: even at its most comfortorientated, it’s still shatteringly fast and hugely entertaining, while at its sportiest it still rides smoothly. There’s a little road noise, of course, but negligible wind noise

and nothing from the drivetrain, and overall refinement is excellent. On the subject of noise, we touched on the stereo a moment ago. The options list is a bit confusing as there’s a Plus Pack, which includes a 1320W, 12-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo and is standard on the model we drove, but then our test vehicle also had a Nappa upgrade pack which, as well as animal welfare leather, includes a 1400W, 16-speaker job. Linking the editorial iPhone was no problem and with Spotify pumping out some choice tracks we turned up the volume to the point were it was actually getting scary. The clarity of sound is just unbelievable, even when you can feel it in your chest cavity. And that was only at about half volume. Dare we go further? Well, it’s all in the name of research… crank it up to max, it’s like being in the front row at a gig and the sound is still as crisp as anything. Apologies to the inhabitants of the sleepy little Cotswold village who must have wondered what was happening as we glided by with IDLES blasting out a coruscating take-down of their idyllic lives… Would now be a good time to point out how comfortable and relaxing it is inside the Polestar 4? Because it is. It feels very crafted and incredibly modern, but there’s also a minimalist feel to it that puts you at ease. The seats help here, too – they’re beautifully comfortable and there’s plenty of room both up front and in the back. Build quality is as rock-solid as you’d expect from a Volvo offshoot, with fixtures and fittings that feel strong like girders, and a general lack of clutter helps it to feel like one coherent whole.

Of course, you still need to put the controls somewhere and almost all of them are operated via the media screen. This is enormous, and very high-res, which is good because you spend a lot of time using it. We didn’t always ﬁnd it particularly quick, needing to jab it a few times to get a response when changing things like the steering and suspension settings – all of which takes your attention from the road. But it’s thankfully clear in its layout. All the same, having to tap your way through four screens of menus then press a virtual button twice just to open the glovebox has vibes of a camel being a horse designed by a committee. Things like this are a bit confounding to start with but we have no doubt that people who buy a Polestar 4 will get used to this. This is, after all, an SUV for the kind of people who don’t think the world is going to hell in a handcart because bottle tops stay attached when you unscrew them now. Between the aforementioned list price and the various tech, styling, luxury and driver assistance options appended to it, the Polestar 4 we drove would set you back by £76,340. Make that something like £7500 up front then £700 a month for a four-year private lease. So this is a pricey way to travel, albeit no more so than an awful lot of other premium and even mass-market 4x4s now. Few will dish up as beguiling a mix of elegance, performance and excitement – if electric SUVs are still something you feel like you’re being coerced into against your will, this might be the vehicle to make you admit that yeah, actually, they are kind of cool after all…

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2pp Polestar 4.indd 41

14/10/2024 10:27

SKODA KODIAQ SE 1.5 TSI

hen 4x4 manufacturers send us vehicles to test drive, nine times out of times they’re either top-spec models, stacked up with options, or both. This is nice for us, in a larging-it-in-someone-else’smotor sense, but it makes it very hard to review what their vehicles are like for people buying at the other end of the range. So, respect to Skoda. When we asked if we could get our hands on a new Kodiaq, they offered us the very cheapest model in the range. The SE 1.5 TSI e-TEC 150PS DSG, to give it the name on its birth certiﬁcate, is powered by a petrol engine mated to a

7-speed auto box (there’s no such thing as a manual Kodiaq any more). It costs £36,645 OTR, and it comes with equipment including cruise, tri-zone climate, a 10.25” digital dash and 13” media screen, DAB, smartphone mirroring, sat-nav, reversing camera, LEDs, heated front seats, 18” alloys, wireless charging and all the safety kit that matters. It doesn’t have seven seats as standard, but £870 adds that (and may be a good investment in resale value, as 90% of Kodiaq buyers choose it). There are currently three trim levels in the range, with SE L next up and SportLine on top, and you can trade up to a plug-in hybrid powertrain or a choice of 2.0 TDIs with 150 and 193bhp, the latter

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

2pp Skoda Kodiaq.indd 42

14/10/2024 10:27

giving you all-wheel drive. If all you want is a good SUV, though, this here base-speccer asks some searching questions of the need to spend any more. If you bought the exact vehicle we tested, you would spend more. It was fitted with a few options which would take the price up to £39,395. Modest, but the good news is we wouldn’t bother. In the case of the Driving Assistance Package, which costs £810, we’d say avoid it like the plague, because the adaptive cruise control function it includes is among the most hateful things we’ve experienced in a car. We had a rant about the same thing last month while reviewing the Skoda Karoq, so apologies for the repetition. But while a system that reads speed limit signs and adapts accordingly is great in principle, when everyone drives a few miles an hour faster than that in practice it’s the least relaxing thing in the world – especially when it’s slowing you down some way in advance. Worse still, on a number of occasions it dropped cruise control altogether on the way through roadworks and the first thing we knew about it was when we were being undertaken by angry HGVs and realised we were only doing about 40mph. At least it didn’t reset itself to 100mph in those same roadworks the way the Karoq did. If this was standard equipment, it would be a deal-breaker. Thankfully, it’s not, at least on the SE and SE L, but do watch out for it if you’re buying a vehicle from stock. Also on our test vehicle was the £1110 Convenience Package. This does not include a public toilet, we’re pleased to say, however you do get keyless entry and start/ stop plus electric operation for the tailgate, driver’s seat and lumbar support. All very nice if you want it; manual lumbar support is already standard, so we’d not bother. Metallic paint is another matter, though the Moon White of our test vehicle was a bit boring compared to the glorious orange colour of last month’s Karoq. Bronx Gold is the one we’d go for in the list, and we’d call it £660 well spent. The same would go for the final option on our tester, a space-saver spare wheel, which at £170 sure beats messing about with a tin of foam. Ultimately, it’s not the options that make the Kodiaq. It’s that this is a seriously good SUV from the ground up. We’ll start with the engine. As well as 150bhp it puts out 184lbf.ft, which hauls you

along smoothly through the DSG auto box while returning impressive economy figures. The official version says 47.4-44.2mpg; we got 34.8 in purely urban driving and 44.9 on a combination of motorways and fast A-roads, but we’re 100% confident that you could get it into the 60s without even having to nurse it that much. It’s not slow, either; the 0-62 time is 9.7 seconds, but that sounds pessimistic to us. Those urban roads were dealt with very comfortably, the Kodiaq’s suspension soaking up the crashes and bangs that come with casting yourself upon the mercy of city streets in modern Britain. It’s beautiful on the motorway, too, cruising with the quiet smoothness you’d expect of an executive car. Out on the open road, meanwhile, the Kodiaq handles with excellent body control and all the steering feel you could ask for in an SUV of this size. No doubt the high-performance vRS model will be sharper when it comes along, with the dynamic prowess to go with its more powerful engine, but the standard one feels agile and light on its feet – it’s every bit as entertaining as a family SUV should be, and even without all-wheel drive the vehicle tested here never came close to running short of grip. It’s unlikely to run short of space inside, either. There’s a bundle of room for a full crew of adults in both rows of seats, and when the rears go down they reveal a colossal boot space. The floor has a big step in it, and the seat-backs don’t lie completely flat, but for sheer volume and loading convenience it takes some beating.

What’s most impressive, however, is the boot space with the rear seats up. You can fit a staggering amount behind them, aided by a wide tailgate opening and a good low floor. It’s a bit of a cliché to describe an SUV’s cargo space as being ‘van-like’ with the seats down – well, with the seats up the Kodiaq’s is almost double-cab-like… Up front, the cabin is as tidily laid out, solidly made and generally convenient to use as we’ve come to expect from Skoda. The media system is unfussy and works well, with big, simple graphics to lead you through the menus, and oddment stowage is generally good without trying to reinvent the wheel. As we mentioned above, the SE model tested here is the base-speccer in the Kodiaq range, so for once here we were in a test vehicle without fancy leather seats. We’re often saying that we’d prefer good quality fabric to pile-it-high hide, and here’s the proof – the SE’s seats look good, feel good and are as comfortable as it gets. Lots of hours behind the wheel, too many of them in a torrid stream of late-night roadworks, proved that. Similarly, we didn’t want for any of the extra equipment we’d have had at our disposal in a higher-spec version of the Kodiaq. Nor indeed in a more premium vehicle. In SE form, it ticks every box, then it invents some new boxes and ticks those too. Just don’t tick the infuriating cruise control box, and you’ll have an SUV that proves that while Skoda’s el cheapo days are in the past, it still makes brilliant vehicles that give you more for your money than almost anything else.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

2pp Skoda Kodiaq.indd 43

14/10/2024 10:28

WHITECLIFF 4X4 A5 2019b:ad

British 4x4 Centre

7/5/19

11:00

Page 1

Whitecliff Off-Road Centre

Your Independent Landrover Specialists

www.whitecliff4x4.co.uk

4x4 4x4 Off-Road Off-Road Driving Driving & & Training Training Introductory Introductory & & Advanced Advanced Courses Courses Country Workshops Tel/Fax 01775 750223

www.british4x4centre.co.uk

Risegate, Nr Spalding, Lincs, PE11 4EZ

BORDA BORDA Qualified Qualified Instructors Instructors 1:1 1:1 Owner Owner Driver Driver Training Training Junior Junior Off-Road Off-Road Experiences Experiences Gift Gift Vouchers Vouchers Bespoke Bespoke 1:1 1:1 or or 2:1 2:1 Courses Courses Groups/Corporate/Stag & Groups/Corporate/Stag & Hen Hen Events Events

TO ADVERTISE IN

Professional Professional 4x4 4x4 Off Off Road Road Training Training (PUWER) (PUWER)

Please call Isabelle on

01233 228752

4x4_Please call Izzie_EP.indd 1

THE BEST 4X4 OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE BY FAR

4X4

WHITECLIFF

E: info@whitecliff4x4.co.uk

Office: 01594 834666 Mobile: 07720 734192

4x4 Magazine_2023_Feb_Whitecliff Off Road_QP.indd 1 16/09/2024 14:40

11/01/2023 11:00

COMPLETE READY TO DRIVE CARS OR SELF BUILD KITS • Build manuals & full kits, & ready-made bodies available controlled speed, lights, horn, • Manual includes full component • Pre-cut panel sets and body cutting dimensions & ready-made bodies available • Battery powered DIY kits or parts • Manual includes full component For more information please contact 01291 626141 sales@toylander.com www.toylander.com and body cutting dimensions For more information please contact 01291 626141

COMPLETE READY TO DRIVE •CARS BatteryOR powered kits or parts SELFDIY BUILD KITS

sales@toylander.com • Build manuals www.toylander.com & full kits,

COMPLETE READY TO DRIVE controlled speed, lights, horn, CARS OR SELF BUILD KITS

• Pre-cut panel sets • Build manuals & full kits, & ready-made bodies available controlled speed, lights, horn, • Manual includes full component • Pre-cut panel sets and body cutting dimensions & ready-made bodies available • Battery powered DIY kits or parts • Manual includes full component COMPLETE READYsales@toylander.com TO DRIVE For more information please contact 01291 626141 COMPLETE www.toylander.com and body cutting dimensions READY TO DRIVE

CARS OR SELF BUILD KITS CARS OR SELF BUILD KITS

• Build manuals & full kits, • Build controlled speed, lights, horn,manuals & full kits, controlled speed, lights, horn, • Pre-cut panel sets • Pre-cut panel sets & ready-made bodies available & ready-made bodies available • Manual includes full component • Manual includes full component and body cutting dimensions and body cutting dimensions • Battery powered DIY kits or parts • Battery powered DIY kits or parts

Toylander kits and ready built vehicles available in stock, hand built cars that children love to drive. For more information please contact 01291 626141 sales@toylander.com www.toylander.com Please contact us for more infowww.toylander.com at For more information please contact 01291 626141 sales@toylander.com sales@toylander.com For more information please contact 01291 626141 sales@toylander.com www.toylander.com For more information please contact 01291 626141 sales@toylander.com www.toylander.com

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

Overlander4x4_Dec 2024_Composite pages.indd 44

14/10/2024 14:28

KIT & CLASSIC CAR PARTS SPECIALIST

ISSUE 37 OUT NOW! ORDER YOUR COPY FROM OUR WEBSITE

www.carbuilder.com Contains Wiring Diagrams Hints & Tips Installation Guides Specification Charts IVA Approved Products

7500+ PRODUCTS

AVAILABLE FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY Contact Information: 01580 891309 info@carbuilder.com Redlands, TN12 0JJ, UK

Overlander4x4_2024_09_Sep_Car Builder Solurtions_FP.indd 1

98% Positive Feedback from our great customers

16/07/2024 11:46

EIGHT OF THE BEST Some wine-fuelled bidding set Ed Owen on the route to owning an original Land Rover 90 V8. By the time he was ﬁnished, it was one of the best of the breed you’ll see anywhere Words Tom Alderney Pics Ed Owen

couple of years ago, Ed Owen did the unthinkable and went looking at cars on the internet after a couple of glasses of wine. This is well known to be one of the most eﬃcient ways there is of separating yourself from your money, sometimes with catastrophic results, but Ed managed to retain his composure and rather than liberating a ton of money on some awful sports car with no brakes and a sump full of woe, he homed in on a particularly sweet ex-Army 88” soft-top Land Rover Series IIA and Sankey trailer. This is not the story of that Series IIA. Well, okay, this is the story of that Series IIA: ‘While it was lovely, it could barely get out of

its own way and wasn’t really much fun on the road.’ Now, this isn’t just a case of someone having a whoops moment. Ed knows what he’s looking at. ‘I’m a pretty solid car nut,’ he says. ‘I’ve owned north of 100 of all shapes and sizes. On top of the Series IIA, I’ve also had a 2001 P38 and a 2013 2.2 90.’ You don’t have that many cars without knowing to punt them if they’re not working out. So, not being one to sit around moping about these things, Ed thought again. ‘I spotted a V8 90 at Motodrome in Henley. I spoke to Simon, the owner, and a part-ex deal was done. The drive there towing the Sankey trailer was somewhat leisurely…’

So, then, this is the story of the Land Rover Ed bought to replace the Land Rover he bought. First things ﬁrst, as we mentioned it’s a V8 90 – a proper factory one, and from the days when a V8 was just a more powerful engine option and not an excuse to rinse half a decade’s mortgage payments out of your most starry-eyed punters.

Increasingly rare

As has been the case for a long time, a pre-Defender 90 or 110 with its original engine is an increasingly rare thing. When it’s a factory V8, it was already something of a classic way back before such a word

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

3pp Ed Owen 90.indd 46

14/10/2024 10:21

North Devon Classic Trimming did a lot of work inside the vehicle. Some of the rear seat frames needed repairing, which they did before reupholstering the whole lot in chocolate leather. They also constructed a brand new cubby box to match, the original one having seen much better days, as well as installing heaters in the front seats and renewing the carpets throughout

was ever applied to a Land Rover with coil springs. There are, or were, plenty of V8s going about that started out as four-pots: these are only ever as good as the guy who did the conversion, which leaves a fearsome amount of room for awfulness, and as petrol prices went trough the roof and a growing supply of ex-Disco Tdi engines came on to the market, most were subsequently converted again from V8 to diesel. While all this was happening, anyway, original V8s continued to be seen as a cut above. A good number of them were spared the ravages of high miles and harsh off-road use (Ed’s has only done 79,000 in its life), and the market recognised early that they were worth more than the typical rank and file Defender. Crucially, though, they needed not to have been cut about. The V8 Ed found was pretty original and slightly tired. Its chassis was in top condition, which is always a good place to start, and it had been partially restored. ‘The County had had quite a lot of mechanical work already done,’ says Ed. ’The fuel tank and some other bits.’ It had also had a load of work done to its body; Ed describes the results as ‘great at 10 feet, but closer inspection showed a low quality job in places.’ As well as not

being one to mope, he’s not one to miss an opportunity – which of course this was. ‘During a very cold winter,’ Ed continues, ‘the 90 developed the pox… that is, microblistering, which meant the paint had some moisture in it. ‘I took it to Dean Crook Bodyshop in Tiverton. We agreed that the only right thing to do was start again – so it had a glass-out respray. While they were at it, they caught a couple of tiny bits of rust and put new footwells in. ‘I’m absolutely delighted with their work – it’s easily better than when it came out of the factory.’

Curtains

Obviously, a full respray is going to mean curtains for any decals on the vehicle. This wasn’t a problem, though, as the ones it

came with weren’t period correct. We’d like to know what was going through the mind of whoever put them there. Anyway, Ed went to Zen Graphics and boom, one proper job coming right up. Talking of proper jobs, when he first bought the 90 Ed took it to the renowned experts at Devon 4x4 for a full service and general condition check. ‘They duly reported it was in good shape,’ he says, ‘but still found a decent chunk of work to do including the heater box, suspension items and some brake work. I also got them to replace the entire exhaust with a new stainless steel system including headers.’ Over time, he also replaced the front bumper, bonnet and door hinges (using billet items from Exmoor Trim) and front grille. ‘I know the grille isn’t quite period correct!’ he says in his defence…

The 90 replaced an ex-Army Series IIA 88” soft-top and Sankey trailer Ed had bought in an online auction with the assistance of some wine. Turns out he wasn’t wild about driving the old warhorse – it wasn’t the first Land Rover he had owned, but it was the first leafer and not even a late P38 could prepare him for the experience December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

3pp Ed Owen 90.indd 47

14/10/2024 10:21

Like the seats, the steering wheel was retrimmed in leather to add to the gently classy atmosphere inside the vehicle. It’s structurally very sound indeed, with a rock solid chassis and a bulkhead to match. Probably the only controversial choice Ed made was to have the Rostyle wheels widened to take 265/75R16 BFGs – given the number of 90s going around on this size of tyre these days, it’s not exactly a shocker, but if you’re a proper anorak about it you might think the extra width looks vulgar compared to the 205s and 7.50s that were once a 90’s lot If a lover of originality is going to bump their gums about anything, though, it’s the wheels. ‘I got Tom at Devon Defenders to slightly widen the factory Rostyle rims and add fresh new rubber,’ says Ed. ‘Dean Crook painted them to match the factory Ivory bodywork.’ Those tyres are 265/75R16 BFG All-Terrains, so they’re not drastically wider than the 7.50s that would have been an optional fit when the 90 was new, but if you get your aesthetics from the off-road look (or you just want everything to be as factory as possible) they might have you squirming a little. As you can see in the pictures, though, it’s not the full wide-boy stance you get on Defenders that have been done in a certain way, which has got to be a good thing. Originality fetishists might blanch at the interior, too. More likely they’d be confounded at how good it looks even though it’s not like it was from the factory. Chocolate leather? Never! Oh, actually that’s rather nice… ‘The interior was original but a little tired,’ explains Ed. ‘So I got Steve at North Devon Classic Trimming to reupholster everything as well as repairing some of the frames on the rear seats. While he was at it, he added heating to the front seats and also re-carpeted the front and rear. He retrimmed a new cubby box, too, as the old one was past saving.’

Auto and is operated via a touch screen protruding from the dash. It’s all starting to feel rather civilised now. There are small areas in which the 90 isn’t original, but they really are small – and in all the main respects, it’s an original V8. And a particularly nice one at that. People toss around the phrase ‘no expense spared’ when they’re talking about something they’ve washed and hoovered out, but when Ed tots up his outlay on the Land Rover it’s a good idea to be sitting down. Here’s a little illustration of how thoroughly he looks after it. ‘A few months ago, it wasn’t running quite as well as I would have liked. So I took it to Exeter Engineering who ultrasonic cleaned, vapour basted and rebuilt the carbs and fitted new plugs and HT leads, as well as adding a modern ‘123’ Bluetooth programmable electronic ignition system.’ Not a lot of change out of two grand there. As we all know, for many years now there’s been a big-money market in turning Defenders into something they’re not. The

results can impressive, but all too often they’re impressively gaudy and overdone instead. Ed’s 90 is personalised in a few worthwhile details but remains original in the ways that matter – and while he has improved it here and there, mainly it demonstrates that restraint is a fine thing. In other words, knowing what to do is only as important as knowing what not to do. If you happen to get your hands on a factory V8, it’s unlikely that you’d do it exactly the same way as Ed has done his. But if you can show the same level of good taste and judgement, you’ll be well on the way to building a 90 or 110 that belongs on the same page as this. ‘I’ve really enjoyed the project, he reflects, ‘and I think it’s one of the nicest factory V8 Countys out there.’ Disagree if you dare… Thanks to Ed for his help in compiling this article. The 90 is currently for sale at £34,990; if you’re interested, email the editor on alan.kidd@assignment-media.co.uk and he’ll pass it on

Looking good

This was all looking very good, so Ed took off the steering wheel and sent it off to Royal Steering wheels to be trimmed in leather with stitching to match the seats. The devil is in the detail… He fitted new door cards as well, and had the original stereo replaced by a proper Bluetooth job which runs Apple CarPlay and Android

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

3pp Ed Owen 90.indd 48

14/10/2024 10:21

Overlander4x4_2024_08_Aug_Rimmer Brothers Ltd_FP.indd 1

19/06/2024 13:55

the

LAND ROVER CLUBS: Book a free stand and receive 1 free admission for every club vehicle attending

T A E R G H S I T I W BR O H S R E V O R D N A L – 24 H G I E L STONE HEADLINE

024 2 R E B NOVEM

SPONSOR

JOIN US THIS NOVEMBER

BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR THE BEST PRICES! SHOW SPONSORS

Stoneleigh Showground, Kenilworth CV8 2LZ Sunday 24th November 2024

Find our exhibitor list online at

www.gblandrovershow.co.uk

Join our Facebook page for all the latest news about the show www.facebook.com/gblandrovershow

2024_GBLRS_DPS_Jul24.indd 2

08/08/2024 20:51

Land Rovers are returning to Newark Showground this November for a Sunday filled with Land Rovers. Exhibitors old and new will join us, selling everything from parts & accessories to tyres, clothing and toys. Talk to overland adventure specialists about your next trip, discuss modification options with companies with the know-how and other experienced Land Rover owners.

Exhibitors Indoor & Out

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT

shop.assignmentmedia.co.uk Ticket Type Adult Show Entry VIP Parking

(Advance Booking Only)

Kids Rides & Inflatables

Advance Price

On The Day Price

Saving

£10.50

£15.00

30%

Under 14s go FREE Dogs Welcome

£10.00

FREE Parking

HEADLINE SPONSORS

See website for more details #GBLRS2024 and to buy tickets! 2024_GBLRS_DPS_Jul24.indd 3

SPONSORED BY

08/08/2024 20:51

TRAVEL

GOING BUSH

PART 2

Namibia is probably the easiest nation in Africa in which to organise a self-drive expedition. This alone makes it ideal for overlanding novices – but even the most experienced traveller can’t help but be bowled over by its magniﬁcent landscapes Words: Jurij Modic Pictures: Jurij and Mateja Modic

ast month, in the ﬁrst part of our Namibian adventure, we explored the national parks of Etosha and the wetlands of the Caprivi Strip in the north of this remarkable country. We had rented a fully equipped Bushcamper overlander, based on a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ79 double-cab, for an 18-night

expedition divided between the northern parks and the desert lands in the centre of the country – and after experiencing the splendour of having one of them, the Nkasa Rupara National Park, completely to ourselves, it’s safe to say that our ﬁrst visit to Namibia was already destined not to be our last.

A lot of factors have to be right for an expedition to work, and in Namibia it lined up perfectly for us. We visited in August, when the highest daytime temperatures rarely exceed 30°C and mainly sit around 25-28°C – as well as staying comfortably above freezing at night. And we absolutely hit the jackpot with our vehicle.

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 52

14/10/2024 10:23

The 70-Series Land Cruiser is an offroading and overlanding legend, of course, and the Bushcamper conversion on our double-cab was superb. Opening the roof top tent took a maximum of 30 seconds, and to close it takes not more than one minute – and it was a one-man operation, with absolutely no need for assistance.

The equipment and storage layout in the habitation area was outstanding, too – and to top it all, the vehicle itself (as well as all the camping kit) was basically brand new, with a mere 5100 kilometres on the clock. We added close to the same again during our 18 days with the Toyota, so if we weren’t the ﬁrst people to have rented

it we must only have been the second or third at most. To recap on last month’s story, having picked up the Land Cruiser from Savanna Car Hire in Windhoek, Nambia’s capital city, we started off by heading north for three nights at Etosha National Park. After that, we headed inland towards the Caprivi Strip – a lush and much wetter region that’s quite unlike the rest of a nation whose environment is mainly very dry. It doesn’t get much drier than the Namib Desert, and that’s where we were headed for the second part of our expedition. It’s a two-day drive from Caprivi, a journey we started by retracing our steps to the staging post town of Grootfontein. We replenished our supplies in Divundu, loading up with, among other things, two marvellous juicy rump steaks. Why am I telling you about meat? Because I had completely forgotten that to get to the Namib from where we were, we still needed to pass through the Red Line at Mururani. Also known as the veterinary cordon fence, this separates the north of Namibia, where farmland is communal and animals roam freely, from the southern and central regions where farms are more structured and livestock is kept behind fences. The purpose of this is to keep pests and diseases at bay – a policy which means farms located south of the fence are free to export their meat worldwide, whereas animals from those to its north can only be sold locally – and even then they have to be quarantined for three weeks before slaughter.

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 53

14/10/2024 10:23

Left: The camp site at Bushbaby Safaris, near Grootfontein, is on a large game farm which, among others, is home to a herd of blesboks Centre: Found between Khorixas and Twyfelfontein, the Petrified Forest contains the remains of ancient trees which were buried in sand after being uprooted and swept away by flash floods then, over millions of years, turned to stone as mineral deposits slowly took over their dead cells. It’s been a national monument since 1950 Right: Near Twyfelfontein, the Organ Pipes is a landscape of columnar basalt left exposed by erosion after first being formed by an igneous intrusion during the late Jurassic period Bottom: Spitzkoppe and Henties Bay are a couple of hours apart by road. About the same as Enfield and Croydon, then – the difference being that here, you’re likely to go the whole way without seeing a single other vehicle. This is proper desert driving, just you and a huge, barren landscape where the gravel road you’re following is the only sign of human existence

Pleased to meat you

So here we were with two lovely steaks from the wrong side of the fence. And sure enough, when we got to Mururani we had no choice but to part with them. The officers at the gate almost begged us to cook or roast the meat there in their parking lot, as that way they would be able to let us take it through. But this would simply take too much of our precious time, so instead we donated our two steaks to the guards (who, I’m sure, were going to keep them on the northern side of the fence) and bought a fresh pair in Grootfontein. We spent the night at Bushbaby Safaris campsite, a few kilometres out of Grootfontein. The campsite here is on a large game farm (they have a herd of blesboks, among other species – it was the first time we had ever seen them), but we found the lodge and camp to be kind

of soulless. It was okay for a one-night stay, but we far preferred Roy’s Camp, also near Grootfontein, where we had spent a wonderful night on the way to Caprivi. That’s where we’ll head for next time. The following day, we continued through Otavi, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, and Khorixas to the Twyfelfontein area. Between Khorixas and Twyfelfontein, we visited the Petrified Forest national monument – which, apart from petrified tree trunks, is also some to plenty of ancient welwitschia plants. We were headed for Aba-Huab Rest Camp, and on the way we spotted a herd of elephants which had adapted to living in the desert environment. That’s an indication of what the camp site was like – dusty, and very large – however it had a very positive atmosphere among the campers and we liked it a lot. Late that afternoon, we visited the nearby Living Museum of the Damara, a cultural village

which was far better and more pristine than we expected. Early next morning, we headed toward Twyfelfontein, a Unesco World Heritage Site which is famous for its rock engravings. It didn’t open until 8am, so first we visited the nearby Little Twyfelfontein. This also has splendid rock engravings – and since there are no tourist facilities there (nor any guiding), it appears much more pristine than the main site. It’s a lot less busy, too – having moved on there after our early start, we took the longer of the two guided hikes on offer, which was very interesting and educational but too crowded with the tourists for our liking. We moved on to visit another two other nearby attractions: Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain. These are landscapes of basalt columns and solidified lava flows respectively, both of them very well known and popular tourist attractions. In

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 54

14/10/2024 10:23

Left: Twyfelfontein is a Unesco World Heritage Site, thanks to the engravings carved on to the rock here around the dawn of humankind. The main site is a bit of a tourist trap but there’s a smaller one nearby with no facilities and, therefore, no crowds Centre: Namibia is very African in some ways and distinctly western in others. The seafront architecture here in Walvis Bay could easily be mistaken for a chic resort in southern Europe Right: The roads south of Twyfelfontein are quite varied – some busy and corrugated, others smooth and free of traffic. What they all have in common is that they’re definitely 4x4 territory. Or 2x12, in some cases… Below right: The rock formations in Spitzkoppe are glorious – particularly at sunrise and sunset and sunrise, when colours of the exposed granite transmute between all sorts of shades from pale orange to deep purple

hindsight, it would make much more sense to see those very early in the morning (before the rock engravings), or in the early evening the day before, as the harsh light in the middle of the day did them no justice. Another lesson learned for next time!

Tremendously scenic

Leaving the Twyfelfontain area, we continued in a southeast direction along the D2612. This road is tremendously scenic, treating you to one breathtaking panorama after another, but it’s also very corrugated – and with lots of tourist traffic in both directions. Shortly after Uis, we turned right on the D1930, which was in a much better state and mercifully quiet. It took us to Spitzkoppe Community Restcamp, which we reached early in the afternoon. We chose a pitch right under the stone arch for which the site is famous. Spitzkoppe camp is really charming, obviously well managed and maintained

and with a very relaxing atmosphere. And the vistas are outstanding. Wherever you look, there are breathtaking rock formations, granite boulders and mountains. Both sunset and sunrise were fantastic, with the colours of the granite changing from pale orange to deep purple. Definitely one of the highlights of this trip. The road from Spitzkoppe toward Henties Bay on the coast was one of the most enjoyable drives of the whole trip. Here, you’re passing through a true desert, with total emptiness wherever you look. You truly feel you are in the middle of nowhere. And

during this whole two-hour drive, we didn’t meet a single other vehicle! Perhaps the lack of traffic is why the gravel roads here were so smooth and in excellent condition. As we approached the coast, we watched as the temperature dropped and dropped. It was around 25°C when we were leaving Spitzkoppe, with clear blue skies and bright sun – but then two hours later,

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 55

14/10/2024 10:23

Left: Breakfast on a deserted African beach, as the Atlantic waves gently lap the sand a few yards away. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? And it is, in a misty, cold and windswept kind of way. Believe it or not, this is actually in the tropics Top right: The Cape Cross seal colony is very entertaining – you’d swear they have a sense of humour and are playing to the galleries Above right: Walvis Bay is a bird watching paradise, with endless flocks of pelicans, gulls, avocets and plovers as well as many other marine species – including vast numbers of flamingos when we reached the Atlantic, it was dull and foggy and down to just 12°C. After a late breakfast at the cold and windy Atlantic coast, we continued north to the Cape Cross seal colony. These animals are really entertaining. We spent a good hour among them, but could easily have stayed for much longer. The noise, the smell, their interactions and playful foolery, both on land and in the sea, their laziness and agility – they are simply adorable.

From Cape Cross, we backtracked to Henties Bay and continued to Swakopmund to spend a night at the Tiger Reef Campsite. The place is well maintained and offers everything you need for camping – including pitches that offer good protection from the cold sea wind. Not something you normally have go looking for in Africa, but we certainly did here. We spent the afternoon exploring the city on foot, then in the evening we treated

ourselves to a gorgeous dinner at Kuckis Seafood Restaurant. The next morning, on our way toward Sesriem, we made a longer stop at Walvis Bay to take in the birdlife there. When we were leaving Swakopmund early that morning, there had been a deep fog all around us – but just before we arrived at Walvis Bay, the fog cleared and gave way to a beautiful sunny morning. And, as a cherry on the cake, the birds in the lagoons

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 56

14/10/2024 10:23

35844

FRIENDLY NEW STORES

18V ½" IMPACT WRENCH

NATIONWIDE

3 forward and reverse gears

£FROM ONLY .98 DOUBLE exc.VAT DOUBLE FOOTER £119.98 inc.VAT

450NM BRUSHLESS

2 2AH X

Model Desc Batteries exc.VAT CCIW160 Cordless 2X 2AH £99.98 LI-ION CIR184LIP Cordless 2X 4AH £144.99 LI-ION

inc.VAT £119.98

Britain’s Tools & Machinery Specialist

£173.99

FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE.98

MIG WELDERS

149exc.VAT

DOUBLE £179.98 FOOTER inc.VAT

IMIG100NG Model MIG103NG IMIG100NG PRO90

Min/Max exc. inc. Amps VAT VAT 35-90 £134.99 £161.99 40-100 £149.98 £179.98 25-90 £249.00 £298.80

DUAL VOLTAGE

Offering low cost, efﬁcient heating

VOLT IN STOCK FROM £203.98 inc.VAT

MMA & ARC/TIG INVERTER WELDERS

LITTLE DEVIL II Propane gas ﬁred

Super light & EXC.VAT compact 104inc.VAT DOUBLE £125.99 FOOTER

Min/Max Electrode Output Dia. exc. inc. Model Current (mm) VAT VAT MMA140A 20A-140A 1.6-3.2 £104.99 £125.99 MMA200A 20A-200A 1.6-4.0 £139.98 £167.98 AT165 10A-160A 2.5/3.2/4.0 £219.98 £263.98

Max. Output kW 10.3 15 24.9 36.6 49.8 131

Model Little Devil II Devil 700 Devil 900 Devil 1600 Devil 2100 Devil 4000

DOUBLE £322.80 FOOTER inc.VAT FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE .98 exc.VAT DOUBLE FOOTER £107.98 inc.VAT .VAT

Model Capacity exc.VAT 20SPS12 907kg £89.98 25SPS12 1134kg £129.98 PG3800A

Model KVA HP exc.VAT PG2500A 2.2 5.6 £219.00 PG3800A 3 5.6 £239.00 PG3800ADV 3 5.6 £279.00 PG6500ADVES 5.5 9.7 £529.00

inc.VAT £262.80 £286.80 £334.80 £634.80

UP TO inc.VAT 7938KG £107.98 CAPACITY £155.98 IN STOCK

JUMP STARTS

Provides essential home, garage and roadside assistance Integral work light 910 /JS1100C include air compressor Long life battery FROM ONLY

exc.VAT 96 DOUBLE FOOTER £116.39 inc.VAT

£ DOUBLE .99

IG1200D

INVERTER GENERATORS

inc.VAT £107.98 £137.99 £191.98 £227.98 £298.80 £574.80

PLS265B

PETROL & DIESEL PRESSURE WASHERS

Honda & Diesel engine models in stock *Diesel # WAS £814.80 inc.VAT ‡ SPECIAL OFFER WAS £2,878.80 inc.VAT - ends 31/12/24 Pressure Engine Model BAR/Psi HP exc.VAT inc.VAT Tiger1800B 110/1595 3 £269.00 £322.80 Tiger2600B 180/2610 4 £379.00 £454.80 Tiger3000B 200/2900 6.5 £399.00 £478.80 PLS195B 180/2640 5.5 £479.00 £574.80 PLS220# 230/3335 9 £669.00 £802.80 PLS265B 225/3263 13 £749.00 £898.80 PLS360 248/3600 13 £998.00 £1197.60 DLS200AL*‡ 200/2900 8.5 £1,998.00 £2,397.60

PRICE CUT £ DOUBLE .00

209exc.VAT

exc.VAT £89.98 £114.99 £159.98 £189.98 £249.00 £479.00

FROM ONLY

DOUBLE.00 exc.VAT 269

20SPS12

INVERTER GENERATORS FROM £238.80

110

FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE .98 DOUBLE exc.VAT FOOTER £107.98 inc.VAT

FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE.99

ALSO

230&

HOT WASHER

£250.80 inc.VAT DOUBLE

Ideal for effective cleaning with a hot jet of up to 80°C

WAS £262.80 inc.VAT

* WAS £514.80 inc.VAT Max Weight model Output KG IG950D 800W 9.3 IG1700F 1700W 22 IG1200D 1100W 12.4 XXXX XXX XXX IG2200A* 2200W 26.6

EXTRA LONG 1m LEADS exc.VAT £209.00 £249.00 £279.00 £309.00 £419.00

inc.VAT £250.80 £298.80 £334.80 £370.80 £502.80

Model 910 JS1100C 4000 JS12/24

Starting Peak Boost Amps exc.VAT 400 900 £96.99 500 1100 £96.99 1100 2200 £164.99 1000 2000 £179.98

Range of precision bench & ﬂoor presses for enthusiast, engineering & industrial applications

inc.VAT £116.39 £116.39 £197.99 £215.98

WAS £119.94 inc.VAT

Motor (W) WAS model Speeds exc.VAT inc.VAT inc.VAT CDP5EB 350 / 5 £94.99 £119.94 £113.99 CDP5RB 350 / 5 £94.99 £119.94 £113.99 CDP102B 350 / 5 £109.98 £139.14 £131.98 CDP152B 450 / 12 £179.00 £250.80 £214.80 CDP452B 550 / 16 £299.00 £358.80 CDP352F 550 / 16 £319.00 £394.80 £382.80 CDP502F 1100 / 12 £689.00 £838.80 £826.80

£129.59 inc.VAT DOUBLE

WAS £131.98 inc.VAT

Superb range ideal for DIY, hobby & semi-pro use DEVIL 6003

TIGER DEVIL 7003 16/550 Heat WAS inc. Motor exc. Model Voltage Output exc.VAT inc.VAT Devil 6003 230V 1.5-3kW £64.99 £77.99 Model VAT HP CFM Tank VAT inc.VAT Devil 7003 230V 3kW £64.99 £77.99 Tiger 8/260 2 7 24ltr £107.99 £131.98 £129.59 Devil 7005 400V 5kW £89.98 £107.98 Tiger 7/260 2 7.8 24ltr £109.98 – £131.98 Devil 6009 400V 4.5-9kW £119.98 £143.98 Tiger 8/550 2 7 50ltr £149.98 – £179.98 Devil 7009 400V 9kW £147.99 £177.59 Tiger 11/550 2.5 9.3 50ltr £169.98 – £203.98 Devil 6015 400V 5-10-15kW £179.98 £215.98 Tiger 16/550 3 14.5 50ltr £239.00 – £286.80 Devil 7015 400V 15kW £219.98 £263.98 Tiger 16/1050 3 14.5 100ltr £299.00 – £358.80

PRO TOOL CHESTS & CABINETS The ultimate in tool storage FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE .98 EXC.VAT DOUBLE FOOTER £107.98 INC.VAT

CW1D Model CTC900C CTC500C CBB209C CTC700C* CTC1300C CBB217C

* WAS £215.98 inc.VAT Description exc.VAT inc.VAT 9 Dr Chest £89.98 £107.98 5 Dr Cabinet £149.98 £179.98 9 Dr Chest £154.99 £185.99 7 Dr Cabinet £175.00 £210.00 13 Dr Set £189.98 £227.98 7 Dr Cabinet £279.00 £334.80

1 TONNE CRANES CFC100

PRICE CUT £ DOUBLE.00

499exc.VAT

£598.80 inc.VAT DOUBLE

PRICE CUT £ DOUBLE.00

WAS £622.80 inc.VAT

579exc.VAT

Model Harry 2

AMAZING LOW PRICE!

BAR Press. VOLT exc.VAT 145 2103psi 230 £579.00

inc.VAT £694.80

BODY REPAIR KITS

★ NEW! * WAS £191.98 inc.VAT Model Type Tonne exc.VAT inc.VAT CTJ2L Long 2 £42.99 £51.59 CTJ2250LP Low Profile 2.25 £49.98 £59.98 CTJ3000GB Pro Garage 3 £109.98 £131.98 3 £114.99 £137.99 CTJ3000QLC★ Quick Lift Low Quick 2 £152.99 £183.59 CTJ2QLP* Lift * CTJ2250LP has a 2.25 tonne capacity, has a low entry of only 80mm and includes 2 sockets

CW2D Tank WAS NOW Model Cap. Type exc.VAT inc.VAT inc.VAT CW2D 10Ltrs Bench £59.98 £71.98 CW1D 45Ltrs Floor £144.99 £173.99 CWM20 22.5Ltrs Floor £169.00 £214.80 £202.80 CW40 75Ltrs Floor £219.00 £262.80

GARAGES/WORKSHOPS FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE.00

249exc.VAT

DOUBLE £298.80 FOOTER inc.VAT

CWGC100

WAS £706.80 inc.VAT

JACKS ALSO IN STOCK UP TO 5 TONNE

PARTS WASHERS FROM ONLY £ DOUBLE .98 exc.VAT DOUBLE FOOTER £71.98 inc.VAT

2103 psi

INC. CONTAINER FOR DETERGENT

169 DOUBLEexc.VAT DOUBLE £203.98 FOOTER inc.VAT

£ FROM ONLY .98

FROM ONLY HEADER

.98 exc.VAT 219 £263.98 inc.VAT

FAST ACTION PUMP

TONNES

CS10BRK

Fast snap connector attachments for quick & easy assembly Hydraulic pump, ram & hose with various tubes, pieces & connectors Includes metal case

VISIT YOUR LOCAL STORE Open Mon-Fri 8.30-6.00, Sat 8.30-5.30, Sun 10.00-4.00 BARNSLEY Pontefract Rd, Barnsley, S71 1HA 01226 732297 B’HAM GREAT BARR 4 Birmingham Rd. 0121 358 7977 B’HAM HAY MILLS 1152 Coventry Rd, Hay Mills 0121 771 3433 BOLTON 1 Thynne St. BL3 6BD 01204 365799 BRADFORD 105-107 Manningham Lane. BD1 3BN 01274 390962 BRISTOL 1-3 Church Rd, Lawrence Hill. BS5 9JJ 0117 935 1060 BURTON UPON TRENT 12a Lichﬁeld St. DE14 3QZ 01283 564708 CAMBRIDGE 181-183 Histon Road, Cambridge. CB4 3HL 01223 322675 CARDIFF 44-46 City Rd. CF24 3DN 02920 465424 CARLISLE 85 London Rd. CA1 2LG 01228 591666 CHELTENHAM 84 Fairview Road. GL52 2EH 01242 514402 CHESTER 43-45 St. James Street. CH1 3EY 01244 311258 COLCHESTER 4 North Station Rd. CO1 1RE 01206 762831 COVENTRY Bishop St. CV1 1HT 02476 224227 CROYDON 423-427 Brighton Rd, Sth Croydon 0208 763 0640 DARLINGTON 214 Northgate. DL1 1RB 01325 380841 DEAL (KENT) 182-186 High St. CT14 6BQ 01304 373434 DERBY Derwent St. DE1 2ED 01332 290931 DONCASTER Wheatley Hall Road 01302 245999 DUNDEE 24-26 Trades Lane. DD1 3ET 01382 225140 EDINBURGH 163-171 Piersﬁeld Terrace 0131 659 5919 EXETER 16 Trusham Rd. EX2 8QG 01392 256744

TURBO AIR FROM ONLY COMPRESSORS £ DOUBLE.99 107exc.VAT

SELLER

£694.80 inc.VAT DOUBLE

94exc.VAT

B = Bench mounted F = Floor standing CDP102B

EXC.VAT DOUBLE FOOTER £77.99 inc.VAT

BEST

145 Bar

CTJ2250LP

PRICE CUT £DOUBLE.99

£113.99 inc.VAT DOUBLE

ELECTRIC HEATERS

HARRY 2

ONLY 2 & 3 TONNE £FROM .99 DOUBLE EXC.VAT 42 DOUBLE TROLLEY JACKS FOOTER £51.59 inc.VAT

DRILL PRESSES

FROM ONLY

£ DOUBLE .99

MIG103NG

NEW

GENERATORS

TURBO FAN GAS HEATERS

500 PAGE

CATALOGUE GET YOUR FREE COPY! • IN-STORE • ONLINE • PHONE 0844 880 1265

GATESHEAD 50 Lobley Hill Rd. NE8 4YJ 0191 493 2520 GLASGOW 280 Gt Western Rd. G4 9EJ 0141 332 9231 GLOUCESTER 221A Barton St. GL1 4HY 01452 417948 GRIMSBY ELLIS WAY, DN32 9BD 01472 354435 HULL 8-10 Holderness Rd. HU9 1EG 01482 223161 ILFORD 746-748 Eastern Ave. IG2 7HU 0208 518 4286 IPSWICH Unit 1 Ipswich Trade Centre, Commercial Road 01473 221253 LEEDS 227-229 Kirkstall Rd. LS4 2AS 0113 231 0400 LEICESTER 69 Melton Rd. LE4 6PN 0116 261 0688 LINCOLN Unit 5. The Pelham Centre. LN5 8HG 01522 543036 LIVERPOOL 80-88 London Rd. L3 5NF 0151 709 4484 LONDON CATFORD 289/291 Southend Lane SE6 3RS 0208 695 5684 LONDON 6 Kendal Parade, Edmonton N18 0208 803 0861 LONDON 503-507 Lea Bridge Rd. Leyton, E10 0208 558 8284 LUTON Unit 1, 326 Dunstable Rd, Luton LU4 8JS 01582 728063 MAIDSTONE 57 Upper Stone St. ME15 6HE 01622 769572 MANCHESTER CENTRAL 209 Bury New Road M8 8DU 0161 241 1851 MANCHESTER OPENSHAW Unit 5, Tower Mill, Ashton Old Rd 0161 223 8376 MANSFIELD 169 Chesterﬁeld Rd. South 01623 622160 MIDDLESBROUGH Mandale Triangle, Thornaby 01642 677881 NORWICH 282a Heigham St. NR2 4LZ 01603 766402 NORTHAMPTON Beckett Retail Park, St James’ Mill Rd 01604 267840

NOTTINGHAM 211 Lower Parliament St. PETERBOROUGH 417 Lincoln Rd. Millﬁeld PLYMOUTH 58-64 Embankment Rd. PL4 9HY POOLE 137-139 Bournemouth Rd. Parkstone PORTSMOUTH 277-283 Copnor Rd. Copnor PRESTON 53 Blackpool Rd. PR2 6BU SHEFFIELD 453 London Rd. Heeley. S2 4HJ SIDCUP 13 Blackfen Parade, Blackfen Rd SOUTHAMPTON 516-518 Portswood Rd. SOUTHEND 1139-1141 London Rd. Leigh on Sea STOKE-ON-TRENT 382-396 Waterloo Rd. Hanley SUNDERLAND 13-15 Ryhope Rd. Grangetown SWANSEA 7 Samlet Rd. Llansamlet. SA7 9AG SWINDON 21 Victoria Rd. SN1 3AW TWICKENHAM 83-85 Heath Rd.TW1 4AW WARRINGTON Unit 3, Hawley’s Trade Pk. WIGAN 2 Harrison Street, WN5 9AU WOLVERHAMPTON Parkﬁeld Rd. Bilston WORCESTER 48a Upper Tything. WR1 1JZ

0115 956 1811 01733 311770 01752 254050 01202 717913 02392 654777 01772 703263 0114 258 0831 0208 304 2069 02380 557788 01702 483742 01782 287321 0191 510 8773 01792 792969 01793 491717 0208 892 9117 01925 630937 01942 323785 01902 494186 01905 723451

Ideal for use as a garage/workshop Extra tough triple layer cover Heavy duty powder coated steel tubing Ratchet tight tensioning WAS NOW size Model (LxWxH) m exc.VAT inc.VAT inc.VAT CIG81212 3.6x3.6x2.5 £249.00 £298.80 CIG81015 4.5x3x2.4 £279.00 £334.80 CIG81216 4.9x3.7x2.5 £319.00 £394.80 £382.80 CIG81020 6.1x3x2.4 £349.00 £418.80 CIG81220 6.1x3.7x2.5 £389.00 £478.80 £466.80 CIG81224 7.3x3.7x2.5 £489.00 £598.80 £586.80 CIG1432 9.7x4.3x3.65 £1099.00 £1318.80 CIG1640 12x4.9x4.3 £2599.00 £3118.80

PAY Monthly

Spread the cost over 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months Any mix of products over £300 5 MIN APPLICATION! 19.9% APR

EASY WAYS TO BUY... VISIT STORES NATIONWIDE BROWSE www.machinemart.co.uk CALL

0115 956 5555 CLICK & COLLECT OVER 10,500 LOCATIONS

CALL & COLLECT AT STORES TODAY

Calls to the catalogue request number above (0844 880 1265) cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. For security reasons, calls may be monitored. All prices correct at time of going to press. We reserve the right to change products and prices at any time. Check online for latest prices. All offers subject to availability, E&OE. Terms & conditions apply see machinemart.co.uk/ﬁnance for more details

31/12/2024 4x4 aw DLS200AL full AF 73 - 35844.indd 1

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Machine Mart_FP.indd 1

11/09/2024 14:31

09/10/2024 10:19

on 00 ,0 30 er ov s ew vi re

There aren’t many vehicles as versatile as the 4x4. From general day use to off-roading adventures, your 4WD needs an insurance policy that protects it in every situation. That’s why we offer 4x4 insurance that’s tailored to your needs. Plus, save money with us - our customers have saved an average of 28% when taking out a 4x4 policy with us.*

d se Ba

INSURANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL Our bespoke 4x4 insurance can include:

Off-road and green laning cover Cover for modiﬁed, imported and classic 4x4s Agreed value cover Discounts for car club members

Call us today on 0344 728 0489 adrianflux.co.uk

Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Trustpilot rating checked on 1st October 2024. *Based on customer premium data from 2023

Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Adrian Flux_HP.indd 1

08/10/2024 10:45

Specialist 4x4 Insurance Providing specialist car insurance for 40 years

Call today for a quote on

01395 255 100

www.graham-sykes.co.uk Graham Sykes Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Overlander4x4_2024_09 Sept_Graham Sykes_HP.indd 1

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

Overlander4x4_Dec 2024_Composite pages.indd 58

16/07/2024 11:49

14/10/2024 14:35

The road from Walvis Bay to Sesriem is very varied – you’re cruising along on smooth gravel one moment and being battered by corrugations the next. It’s worth it, though, not just to get where you’re going but to marvel at the ever-changing desert landscape of canyons and mountains

around the city were in great numbers, with endless flocks of greater and lesser flamingos, pelicans, gulls, avocets, plovers and many other avian species. Gorgeous.

Built for anything

Now, the Land Cruiser is of course a truck that’s built to take on anything, and thus far during our travels in Namibia it had done exactly that – from smooth asphalt and excellent gravel roads to deep sand. The terrain was never as varied as we found on the way from Walvis Bay to Sesriem, however, where some sections were perfectly smooth and others were horribly corrugated. The road surface was

constantly changing, but so were the views – stunning vistas over the desert and across canyons and mountains. Crossing Kuiseb canyon and pass was particularly exciting. Not only because of the scenery, but especially because of the extraordinary adventures of two German geologists and their dog, who found shelter here from the madness of the Second World War for almost three years. Heno Martin’s book The Sheltering Desert is still one of my favourite about Africa, and I read it again during this trip. We made an obligatory stop for apple pie and a drink at Solitaire, a desert settlement where the C19 between

Sesriem and Sossuvlei meets the C14 from Walvis Bay to Bethanie. It was established as a farm in 1948 and grew into a settlement with a church, shop and fuel station – as well as Moose McGregor’s Bakery, home of the best apple pie in Nambia, Africa or the world depending on who’s telling the story. Either way, Moose died in 2014 but his family continue to make it, using the secret recipe he passed down to them. This all makes Solitaire quite the tourist attraction, as do the hulking remains of the old American cars and trucks scattered around the place – a ’37 Ford coupe, a Model A, post-war F1 and ’47 Chevy pick-

Solitaire is a bit of a tourist trap, but how could you not love a farm in the middle of the desert that grew into first a kind of roadhouse and then a small settlement with classic American cars scattered around the place and a bakery famed for apple pie made to a secret recipe perfected by a man called Moose?

November 2024 I Overlander 4x4

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 59

14/10/2024 10:23

ups and many others. It’s reminiscent of Silverton in Australia – yes, they’re there for effect, but it sure works. Happily, our Land Cruiser remained in much better condition than any of the relics in Solitaire. However it was there that I noticed the corrugated road has taken its toll on our vehicle. One of the clamps holding the canopy to the chassis had worked loose and fallen off somewhere around Gaub canyon. This was nothing

critical for the vehicle but it still made me nervous, and for the next two days I tried my very best to drive as gently and smoothly as possible on the rough roads. We camped for two nights at Sossus Oasis Campsite in Sesriem, which is

very nice when you consider the desert conditions in the area. There was another campsite we would have preferred to use, even though it didn’t look as nice, simply because it was an hour closer to Sossusvlei – but that one was already fully booked when I wanted to make a reservation six months in advance.

Right on queue

In the morning, there was a very long queue of vehicles in front of the park gates before they opened. But since the

www.overlander4x4.co.uk

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 60

14/10/2024 10:23

60km road to Sossusvlei is tarred all the way, and there is something interesting to photograph every few kilometres, there was no congestion there. Sossusvlei is a salt and clay pan in the southern Namib, surrounded by huge red sand dunes. Its name comes from vlei, the Afrikaans word for a marsh, and sossus, which in the Damara language means ‘dead end.’ Strictly speaking, it’s just the one pan – however the name has come to be used as a reference for the whole area of pans and dunes which include Deadvlei, Hiddenvlei, dead trees, Big Daddy and Big Mama.

Even by desert standards, the landscape is really quite unearthly, with glowing colours and dark shades offering fantastic photographic opportunities. Being a prime tourist spot, it feels quite crowded at moments – but nevertheless it can’t help but have a profound affect on everyone who sees it. When we reached the parking area, we decided that due to that missing clamp, we wouldn’t take the risk of driving the last few bumpy and sandy kilometres right to Sossusvlei itself. Instead, we joined the throng of tourists and used the shuttle bus. Long lines of people trekking their way up a sand dune is not what we come to Africa to see, but you can’t blame them for wanting to make the most of the experience. It was a touristy way to conclude our travels in Namibia, but a mesmerising one nonetheless. Certainly, no-one who visits this remarkable country should apologise for joining the throng, however much of a grizzled overlander they consider themselves to be. One more magical night in the Sossus Oasis camp in the middle

of the desert followed, then after that it was time for our return to Windhoek. Because of the missing clamp, we wanted to avoid bad corrugations on the road to Solitare. So we opted for a route back to the capital via Bullsport, Rietoog and Rehoboth; there was hardly any traffic on those seldomly used gravel roads, and they were all in excellent condition. After returning the Land Cruise, we spent our final afternoon strolling around the almost deserted centre of Windhoek before a farewell dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse. Namibia left a very deep impression on us. This time, unlike on some of our African travels, it wasn’t primarily the wildlife sightings we’ll remember (as we all know, those are always the luck of the draw) but those fantastic landscapes. The country is very easy going, and organising a self-drive trip there is probably the easiest in the whole of Africa. This was our first experience of Namibia: for sure, it will not be our last.

The authors, who are regular travellers in Africa, document their visits there in a Wordpress blog titled Our African Ramblings. You can ﬁnd it by visiting safaribug.wordpress.com

December 2024 I Overlander 4x4

8pp Namibia part 2.indd 61

14/10/2024 10:24

HERITAGE

CELEBRATING THE FIR ST HALF CENTURY OF THE GREAT BRITISH 4X 4

HERITAGE

LAND ROVER

CHARLIE’S TALE

MISSIONARY POSITION

SERIES IIA THAT CARRIED THE VATICAN’S WORD TO THE FAR EAST

HOW THIS SERIES II’S RES FORGED A LIFELONG FRI TORATION ENDSHIP IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

HERITAGE LAND ROVER magazine is produced by Land Rover experts and enthusiasts and covers the era of the Series I, II and III as well as the original Range Rover, and more modern classics such as the early Discovery and Defender. Published 4 times a year, Heritage Land Rover is a high-quality magazine combining great writing with beautiful photography, making it a publication you’ll want to keep hold of and treasure.

SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE! ) £25 per year by Direct Debit or by card or cheque £27.96 ) Get each issue delivered swiftly to your door

WINTER 2023 £6.99 0 4 9

CLASSIC OR MODERN?

107 STATION WAGON BECOMES A WORKHORSE FOR TODAY

PLUS FRED DIBNAH’S HLRCoverWinter-v1.indd

DESERT RANGEYS

772976 607002

TICKFORD

EARLY RANGE ROVERS ON THE DAKAR CLASSIC

FROM UGLY DUCKING TO DARLING OF SERIES I WORLD

ASO / FOTOP

LIGHTWEIGHT / DUNS

FOLD’S PROTOTYPE 110 03/11/2023 09:08

PHONE

01283 742970

LINES OPEN MON-THU 9AM-5PM

Complete and return this form to Heritage Land Rover Magazine, c/o WW Magazines Ltd, 151 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1BG. ■ Yes I would like to subscribe to Heritage Land Rover Magazine

PERSONAL DETAILS Title

Initials

Surname

Direct Debit Instruction Direct Debit (uk only) Instruction to your bank or building society to

Please complete and return to Heritage Land Rover at the address above.* Name and full postal address of Bank/Building Society pay by direct debit

To the Manager

Address

Postcode Account in the name of

Postcode

Branch Sort Code Account Number

Tel

Signature

DIRECT DEBIT PAYMENT Please retain the Direct Debit guarantee at the bottom of this form for your own records

■ £25 every 12 months (4 issues) (I understand that I can cancel my subscription at any time.)

*We cannot accept faxed/photocopied Direct Debit Forms.

Reference (Office Use)

1p HLR House Ad.indd 42

Date

27 - 55 - 22

■ £55.92 for 2 years (8 issues)

(Charged in the name of Assignment Media Ltd)

■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ Security code ■■■ Expiry Date Signature

■ Tick if you prefer not to receive occasional mailings of interest to Heritage Land Rover readers.

• This Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Assignment Media Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Assignment Media Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

HLR fp Landy ad.indd 1

HERITAGE

Banks & Building societies may not accept Direct debit Instructions for some types of accounts INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY. Please pay Direct Debits from the account detailed in the instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Assignment Media Ltd and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank or Building Society.

ORIGINATOR IDENTIFICATION

■ £27.96 for 12 months (4 issues) ■ I enclose a UK£ cheque/postal order for .................................................... made payable to Assignment Media Ltd OR ■ Please debit my Visa/MasterCard/Maestro/Delta card

Address

CHEQUE OR CREDIT CARD

Valid From

Issue (Switch) Date

UK ONLY – For overseas rates please call +44 (0) 1283 742970

• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Assignment Media Ltd or your Bank or Building Society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your Bank or Building Society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Assignment Media Ltd asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your Bank or Building Society. Written confirmation may also be required. Please also notify us.

14/07/2023 14:53

24/05/2024 17:33

Join us for the journey...

Subscribe for just £6 for your first 6 issues delivered to your door

UK Direct Debit only. Continues at £39 every 12 months thereafter unless you cancel.

CALL 01283 742970 OR ORDER ONLINE AT SHOP.ASSIGNMENTMEDIA.CO.UK Untitled-2 1

08/12/2023 17:26:28

NEXT MONTH

REBUILT FOR FOREVER An old name in Range Rover restorations turns its hand to the Defender

PLUS First UK test of the all-new Dacia Duster

Exploring the ancient lanes of Thetford Forest

More than a gimmick: the all-electric G-Wagen

WINTER 2025 ISSUE: ON SALE 21 NOV 64

overlander4x4.co.uk

Next Month Dec.indd 64

14/10/2024 10:29

Overlander4x4_2024_06_June_SV Tech_FP.indd 1

22/04/2024 10:26

YOU’LL HAVE ZERO * INTEREST. *

THE ISUZU D-MAX

0%APR, THAT IS

50% DEPOSIT | 50% DUE IN 1 YEAR^

VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK TO FIND OUT MORE All fuel consumption and emission values are based on the new WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle which uses real-world driving data. Official fuel economy for the standard Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Low 25.1 – 27.6 (10.2 – 11.2). Mid 31.4 – 36.4 (7.8 – 9.0). High 36.0 – 39.4 (7.2 – 7.8). Extra-High 29.0 – 30.8 (9.2 – 9.7). Combined 30.7 – 33.6 (8.4 – 9.2). CO2 emissions 215 – 241g/km. Visit isuzu.co.uk for more information. ^Terms of Offer: 50% deposit followed by the remaining 50% paid in one payment after 12 months. Credit available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 and over. This credit offer is only available through Isuzu Finance provided by International Motors Finance Limited, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. We typically receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to International Motors Finance Ltd. This may be a flat fee or percentage of the amount you borrow. Vehicle shown is an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, OTR price of £43,716. Model shown features optional special paint finish at £720. OTR price includes VAT, delivery, number plates, 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee. Prices correct at time of going to print. Offer available on the DL40, V-Cross and V-Cross Steel Special Edition only registered between 01.10.2024 - 31.12.2024. Stock subject to availability. Isuzu reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Retail customers only, not available in conjunction with any other offers. Excludes Personal Contract Hire and Business Contract Hire. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Isuzu (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of International Motors Limited.

ISU06300 Isuzu 4x4 Overlander December_1.indd 1 Overlander4x4_2024_12_Dec_Isuzu_FP.indd 1

08/10/2024 11/10/2024 16:15 09:47