4x4
NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK! PLUS FREE 2020 CALENDAR WITH THIS ISSUE
ACTION Lap of the Gods: a new kind of winch event
THE UK’S ONLY 4X4 AND PICK-UP MAGAZINE
After a busy year of updates, revisions and new models, which truck will be our…
PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
High-mileage Trooper built to be a boss on and off-road
£4.99
Our Roadbooks are back… with a mighty Mid-Welsh epic
JAN 2020
Botswana: home of the world’s best wildlife expeditions? 4x4 Cover Jan.indd 1
03/12/2019 09:37
ALL SEASONS. ALL CONDITIONS. ALL TERRAINS.
“The Terratoura has been benchmarked against some class leading tyres to give us that all-terrain capability to make sure across all surfaces; the snow, the sand, the rock,
it doesn’t just compete, it excels...” Edd Cobley Terratoura Brand Ambassador
For further information or to find your local retailer, please visit
www.davanti-tyres.co.uk/dealers
Untitled-2 1
02/12/2019 13:09
All this and more at allmakes4x4.com Know what you’re looking for? Search for specific products by part number, description, vehicle or brand or with a combination of them all.
Thinking about upgrades or accessories? Look out for our flagship brand, Terrafirma Serious 4x4 Accessories – lots of ideas for upgrading your 4x4!
Want more detail? Filter products by Vehicle Registration (UK only) or by engine, fuel type, drive side, transmission and international spec.
99.9% Quality control that counts We offer great value, great quality and great performance. To maintain our standards we continually measure the sale of products against the rate of warranty returns. This data produces a score, which is published alongside each product on our website to give you a clear indication of the expected quality.
Aerial view of Allmakes 4x4 in South Oxfordshire.
Online access to ÂŁ7m stock holding of Land Rover, Jeep and Pick-up products. Including hundreds of quality OE and aftermarket brands, accessories and upgrade products, all available for next day despatch.
Online shopping?
Deals, deals, de als Register for an account and sign up to receive exclusive deals and discounts. New deals posted weekly!
Browse all of our products by vehicle, category or brand.
? Need it ASAP
r NEXT DAY All available fo g s free shippin despatch. Plu er ÂŁ60*. on orders ov
PayPal protection
T, UK only. * Excluding VA
Incorporates secure checkout via Paypal. Cards accepted.
Visit allmakes4x4.com to find out more! If you require Sales or Technical assistance, please call us on 01235 832900
Let the search begin. allmakes4x4.com has relaunched! Now including powerful tools for faster, simpler access to over 11,000 parts and accessories for 4x4 vehicles. allmakes4x4.com has been completely overhauled to enable you to quickly find the products you need, whether by part number, description, vehicle or brand. You can even search using your vehicle registration number!
10% discount
off your first order. Use the code 10FOR4X4 at checkout. Valid until 31 Januar y 2020.
Test drive the site now!
allmakes4x4.com
January 2020
SCENE OFF-ROAD
om for fast jeepspares.c
moving service
CALEN DAR
A Overseas
and repair
CONTENTS
parts
S 4x4 Show
Adventure Travel
for ahead, and
Convoy Tour three months Green Lane approximately shown up to lane tours are Dates for green Off-Road Playday does not represent on-sale date. in this listing the magazine’s any errors also that inclusion the consequences of the month following for ahead. Note to the end of responsibility it is still going space permitting are shown up but accept no a year ahead, to ensure that Dates for playdays adventure tours up to with the organiser accuracy of this information, overseas first checking care over the shows and event without We take great – 1 March travel to an should never 29 February by 4x4 magazine. or organiser Important: You Centre of the event Kirton Off Road any endorsement Compass Adventures North Lincs Kirton Lindsey, Wales 5 January Travel Protrax shire Off Road Adventure 14 December Tixover, Northampton Frickley 4x4 Wales Yorkshire Tours Frickley, South Slindon Safari Green Adventure Borders Sussex / Welsh Slindon, West 5-20 March Muddy Bottom Shropshire 4x4 Minstead, Hampshire Thames Valley Onelife Adventure Hampshire July 2020 Brick Kiln Farm, 22 June – 7 15 December Parkwood 4x4 Morocco Events Tong, Bradford Road UK Landrover 25-26 April Atlas Overland Explore Off t Peak District Show 7-26 March Picadilly Wood Corsica Silverdale, Stoke-on-Tren Overland Sussex Adventure Bolney, West Avon, Warwickshire Muddy Bottom Protrax Stratford Upon 1 February Mountains June and26-28 Minstead, Hampshire Morocco Desert 10-24 January Events Rover Show UK Landrover 4-13 May 2020 Billing Land Mud Monsters shore Moors West Sussex North York 15-22 February Ardventures Billing, Northampton East Grinstead, Adventures 4x4 Active Morocco Protrax Ardventures Portugal shire 1-2 February 27-28 June Tixover, Northampton Galicia, Spain 12 January May Ardventures Off-Road Show 4x4 9-10 Billing District and shire March Lake District 22 December 2-11 Show Essex, Rochford Billing, Northampton Rover Gaydon Land LR Show Rayleigh, Essex Tours Compass Adventures Kelmarsh Original Frickley 4x4 Gaydon, Warwickshire4x4 Adventure shire Spares Day Yorkshire Wales Malvern 4x4 Kelmarsh, Northampton Frickley, South e Portugal Travel Malvern, Worcestershir Off Road Adventure16-24 May 2020 Slindon Safari 16 July 2020 Sussex Wales March – 3 April 28 June – 24 Slindon Safari Events Slindon, West Sussex UK Land Rover Travel Slindon, West Tours Adventure Road Adventure Off 4x4 Pyrenees Events 7-9 February 26 December UK Landrover Albania Morocco 2020 Tyne and Wear a Club 7P Overland 16-30 May 4x4 Without 6 April 1-5 July 2020 West Berkshire Utah 24 March – Harbour Hill, Atlas Overland 18-19 January Landtreks Protrax Trailmasters Portugal shire 8-9 February Classic Marrakesh Protrax French Pyrenees Tixover, Northampton 2020Morocco Wales Onelife Adventure 20 May – 2 June 13 April 11-24 July 2020 Yorkshire 28 December 30 March – Trailmasters 19 January Tours expedition) Adventures Trailmasters Ardventures Green Adventure Borders Morocco (extreme Active 4x4 Road / Welsh Yorkshire Explore Off Balkans t Shropshire Morocco June 2020 Silverdale, Stoke-on-Tren Centre 27 May – 10 Kirton Off Road 2020 9 February North Lincs 13-19 July 3-16 April Frickley 4x4 Kirton Lindsey, Yorkshire Events Protrax Frickley, South UK Landrover Landtreks Ardventures Pyrenees Belvoir Lincoln and 28-29 December Muddy Bottom East Pyrenees Morocco Travel Minstead, Hampshire 5-19 June 2020 Off Road Adventure
G
KEY
P
P P P P G
P P P P
G
P P P P
P P
G
G P
P Cowm Leisure P Whitworth, Lancashire Hilll N Ditch P Mouldsworth, Cheshire Centre Kirton Off Road P Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs Protrax shire P Tixover, Northampton 4x4 Thames Valley P Broxhead, Hampshire 18 | JANUARY
2020
25-26 January Onelife Adventure
G Wales
26 January Cowm Leisure
P Whitworth, Lancashire
2015 JEEP JK WRANGLER 2.8CRD
A
A
A
April 4-16 Travel
13-22 July
Off Road Adventure
2020
Adventures UK Landrover Spain Overland Active 4x4 G Yorkshire Dales A Pyrenees, A Atlas Morocco Classic A Alps 2020 Events
Tours
Borders G Shropshire / WelshCentre Kirton Off Road P Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs
A
A
12 February
Green Adventure
Bures Pit Bures, Suffolk
22 February
6-21 June
5 April
Tours Ardventures Spain
19 July
Malvern Borders Newbury e A Pyrenees, G Shropshire / Welsh S Newbury, Berkshire S Malvern, Worcestershir Events June 2020 UK Landrover May 28 July – 9 August 2020 G Durham Dales 8-17 Active 4x4 Adventures 24 April – 10 Landtreks Ardent Adventure A Pyrenees 23 February A Pyrenees Coast to Coast A Morocco 4x4 Expo 8-17 June 2020 August 2020 31 July – 3 S Stafford, Staffordshire Tours 4x4 Adventure / Storm Jeeps Ardventures A Pyrenees , France A4x4 Marquenterre 2020 Green Adventure
4x4 Spares
10-24 June
Protrax
Day
4x4 Spares
2020
Ardent Adventure
July
Onelife Adventure
A Greece
20-27 June
2020
2007 DODGE NITRO 2.8CRD
2016 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.0 TD4
2014 JEEP MK5 2016 ISUZU CHEROKEE 2.5 DIESEL 2014 RANGE KL 2.0 MULTIJET 4.4 D-MAX ROVER SPORT V8 DIESEL
ROVER 2007 LAND 3 2.7 RY 2010 JEEP MK4 DISCOVE TDV6 CHEROKEE KK 2.8 CRD
2008 HONDA CRV 2.2 CDTI
2020
Atlas Overland
A Pyrenees 19 June – 3
Day
1-15 August
A Pyrenees 13-20 June
More shows and off-road events listed than ever before!
A
A
A
G
25 January
29 December
18 New 4x4 Calendar
ES WE HAVE THE VEHICL NTLED: SOME OF DISMA RECENTLY
A
A
A
G G
P P P
G Wales
parts
NTERS LE DISMA 4X4 VEHIC ROVER SPECIALIST JEEP - LAND AND MODELS MAKES USED PARTS AND MOST GUARANTEED QUALITY
S S
A
A
A
and repair
S
A
S
moving service
A
A
A
G G G
P S P G
om for fast jeepspares.c
A
S
G
A
P P
G
SCENE OFF-ROAD G
A Italian Alps 8-23 August
2020
A Galicia, Spain Ardventures
10-29 August
2020
Active 4x4
A Botswana
Adventures
Ardent Adventure
A Pyrenees
2006 NISSAN GRAND DER 2.5 2006 JEEP WK PATHFIN DCI CHEROKEE 5.7 V8 HEMI Auto Parts , Recycled Pit Hill, Thriplow Charlton Centre, Gravel7HZ SG8 Vehicle Recycling Cambridge, 832656 o.uk Tel 01223 arltonautoparts.c RTS.CO.UK Email parts@ch ARLTONAUTOPA WWW.CH PLEASE VISIT JANUARY
2020 | 19
4x4
50
“The Navara was already a stellar pick-up, and with gearbox it’s now the most SUV-like one-tonner you
14
64 | JANUARY 2020
2-3 Contents Jan.indd 2
70
64
4x4 02/12/2019 21:00
92 12 ISSUES OF 4X4 – FOR JUST £12!
£1 per issue. Yes, really – that’s all it costs to have Britain’s only 4x4 magazine delivered to your door every month! Time to take action… 4x4 Scene: News, Products and More… 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 22 24 25 26 28 29
Tesla Cybertruck Wacky looking electric pick-up enters production late 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Sportscar identity for all-electric SUV, on sale soon Aston Martin DBX Opulent super-SUV will cost from £158,000 Low Sadgill Users’ contributions help fund repairs on iconic Lakeland lane Essex Lanes Sabotage fails to prevent volunteer byways repairs Lap of the Gods New challenge forma a raging success for Viking 4x4 Club BXCC Triumphant Birchall clinches first British title at Walters Arena Discovery 3 New heavy-duty winch bumper from Britpart ARB New dual-zone in-vehicle fridge-freezer is cool in every sense Black Rhino Subaru fitments added to hard alloys range Lazer Lamps Multi-mode control for powerful new Smartview LED bar Detroit Locker Landy applications back in stock at Britpart BFGoodrich New Mud-Terrain fitment for Nissan Navara and Pathfinder
Driven 32 34
Land Rover Discovery Still a sensational all-rounder, if you’ve got the money Porsche Cayenne Coupe Fast and fun… but surprisingly practical, too
38 Pick-Up of the Year 40 42 46 48 50 52 56 58 52
Ford Ranger New engines show there’s more to it than just the Raptor Isuzu D-Max New one due a year from new, but the range is still evolving Mercedes X-Class Still the only pick-up with a premium badge Mitsubishi L200 Facelifted with a bold new look; but what lies beneath? Nissan Navara Major technical updates make a good truck even better SsangYong Musso Last year’s value champion remains a great buy Toyota Hilux Mid-life improvements for the world’s favourite one-tonner Volkswagen Amarok Has 2019’s title winner built on last year’s success? PICK-UP OF THE YEAR The winner is unveiled!
Every Month 4 18 80 92 96
Alan Kidd Our Roadbooks are back – and you are the reason why… Calendar Forthcoming playdays, lane runs, shows and expeditions Our 4x4s Our Cherokee is home… but it’s already looking ridiculous Subscribe Your monthly fix of 4x4 delivered – for just £1 per copy! Next Month Our annual 4x4 of the Year issue is on the way
Features
a brilliant new manual can buy”
74
64 70
Mystery Disco A Japanese Disco 1 emerges with an intriguing past… Do-it-all Trooper Proof that a playday toy can also be a sterling work truck
Travel 74
Botswana No time to drive across Africa? A fly-drive safari is the answer
2-3 Contents Jan.indd 3
is the biggest ford
of the day. If there’s
been a lot of rain,
7
9.95
82 Roadbook Mid-Wales
it could be quite
18
5.05
19
14
8
10.2
1.85
7.9
round to the left, Follow the track the gate not ahead through
15 11.5
9
8.0
16
20 3.35
21 5.75
11.6
10
8.75
lane – after Take it easy up thisyou pass the the farm buildings, car park entrance to a pub
17 11.8
11
50 | NOVEMBER
deep, so approach
with caution
– visibility is Caution as you emerge to the right terrible, especially
2016
9.2
12
9.55
TOTAL OFF-ROAD
22 6.45
ROADBOOK
Total Off-Road’s roadbooks guide you through the English and Welsh countryside on a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads.The tracks we use are public rights of way, either Byways Open to All Traffic or Unclassified County Roads, all commonly referred to as green lanes.
NAVIGATION
S
watchword.The do-and-don’t list below should always be in your mind, but keep your speed down, be ready to pull over for others and make your aim to show it the world that 4x4 drivers aren’t the hooligans think we are. they
ANTIS
We’ve deliberately Anti-4x4 bigotry does possible to follow made it as easy as but it’s less common exist, the mixture of instructions,route, using a than you’d think. By and tulip diagrams large, it’s limited and grid references. to organisations We normally who only include the countryside just want to get junctions at which all to have to make you These organisationsthemselves. a turning or don’t have right of way, are beyond being reasoned so just stay on with, but it’s the main road or take rare to encounter real the most straight-ahead hostility even option unless from their rank-and-file we tell If you’re unfamiliar you otherwise. friendly towards members. If you’re with six-figure the people with grid references, whom you share you’ll find a guide the countryside, using them on to the vast majority the legend of will respond any OS map. Our aim Mel;ton 12 in kind. There are always is for you to Cranoe 181 14 Church Langton be bad able do apples, but no 14 2 the to route without more so than Glooston maps, but we anywhere else. do recommend Likewise, most having them. SP 717 972 local residents will accept your presence if you’re SAFETY driving sensibly. What suspicion The symbols do encounter you on the first page is likely to be of the roadbook from people worried advise you of that you’re there how suitable it is for steal from them, to your so be ready to are just guidelines, vehicle.These a word of reassurance. offer however.We’ll warn you of Once satisfied that you’re not 112 any hazards or Field Road Slawston after their quad difficult sections, but 214 Glooston their mood will bikes, Hallaton the nature of 2 14 any green lighten. lane can change It only takes quickly.Wet weather one vandal to can make a huge tarnish a person’s view Your track is Inn difference to of opposite the Fox the the left obvious conditions underfoot, Turnless two as you approach once the damage all 4x4 drivers, and of the and what’s is done it tends wide open in be permanent. winter can be to But if enough tightly enclosed and of us resolve to be scratchy in summer. ambassadors, responsibility The it might make a difference is yours! to the way we’re Our roadbooks perceived by are designed society in general. be safe to drive to in are largely suitable a solo vehicle, and NORTH END DO AND DON’T for standard on road tyres. 4x4s Keep We • your speed right travelling in tandemdo recommend down • Pull over to let walkers, for this ford to wherever If it’s wet enough possible, the It’s not a big bikers and however.The horse riders have any water over have ford, but actually risk of getting pass there’s a you’ll probably stuck sharpish drop can be greater surface, into itroad • Don’t travel in large convoys: as washed roundaway in the previous the corner – and if you break than it appears beenyou into smaller down, having two by now groups to avoid split at hand can make help hassling others the difference between it being • Leave gates as you inconvenient and downright dangerous. • Don’t drop litter found them • Don’t go back to drive RESPONSIBILITY the fun bits, such as mud or fords, Irresponsible driving • Scrupulously obey again problem on green is a massive voluntary restraint all closure and TOTAL OFF-ROAD When did you notices you must always lanes. In particular, • Don’t cause a noise stay on the right sign like this last see a road at of way. Never nuisance, unsurfaced righta junction on an particularly after drive off it to of way? play on the verges or surrounding • Ensure you havedark land, even if you can see there.We research a right to be that someone else the routes on has; doing so our roadbooks is illegal and can be very carefully, tremendously but the status of damaging, both any route can to the land and to 4x4 change without notice drivers’ reputation. The fact that Stonton Wyville Be prepared • you can see where to turn back it’s happened if the route is blocked, shows how much even illegally it does. It’s no harm excuse to say • If you find an illegal you’re just following obstruction, notify the local where another authority driver has already been. • If someone challenges Most green laners have taken to you, be firm but polite. Stay videoing anyone calm and don’t they see behaving get into a slagging like this and match passing the evidence to the • Stick absolutely scrupulously police, which shows how much anger right of way to the there is towards criminal element. the • You have as much Elsewhere, simple there as everyone of a right to be else.Which of sense and courtesy common course means should be your they have as much right as you
Step 11: They ZERO TRIP When did you take their field roads seriously in last see a road Leicestershi sign like this 11.85 re. on a green lane?
13
A big beast of a green lane route amid the sensational scenery of the Welsh forests and mountains
4x4
USING OUR
Step 15: This
NOVEMBER
2016 | 51
JANUARY 2020 | 3\
02/12/2019 21:00
4x4
Tel: 01283 553243
Alan Kidd Editor
R
The Raptor may be the most eagerly anticipated pick-up ever
efreshing the way a magazine looks is a risky business. I used to have endless arguments with my old publisher about it, my theory being that you should make all your changes at once rather than tinkering non-stop around the edges. I’m basing that on the outrage I felt when, as a disastrously virginal 16-year-old, the football magazine upon whose every word I used to hang suddenly started using glossy colour pictures of major superstars, rather than the grainy black-and-whites of obscure Albanian midfielders I had never heard of. I’ve always felt that people who buy a mag regularly want to recognise it every month. Anyway, this is all a very self-indulgent way of saying you might notice that 4x4 has had a bit of a tickle-up for the new year. Hopefully you’ll like (or at least tolerate) it. Something I’m pretty sure you will like is the fact that as from this issue, our green lane Roadbooks are back. We’ve left them out for the last couple of months while working on some other plans, and it’s fair to say that we were startled by the amount of comments we’ve received as a result. Facebook posts, emails, even phone calls… the reaction was remarkable, overwhelming and very clear. So our roadbooks are back. Though you might not be able to use this month’s straight away, because the whole route pivots around one particular right of way and would you believe, just after we’d set it out the local authority announced they were going to close it for a spell in order to carry out some repairs to culverts. The good news is that the local authority in question is Powys, whose approach to green lane management is second to none. And sure enough, when announcing the closure they promised that it would be for the shortest possible period of time. Contrast this with the other kind of authority, which uses the need for a brief closure as an excuse to leave the barriers up for six months or more. Anyway, Strata Florida is the lane and it has its own Facebook group, so you won’t struggle to find out when it’s open again. When it is, our roadbook would be a great way of exploring the area if you’ve not been
4 | JANUARY 2020
4 Edline Jan AWAITING NEW PIC?.indd 4
there before – and seriously, if that’s you, it’s bucket-list stuff. Something else a lot of our readers will like about this issue is the appearance of our annual Pick-up of the Year feature in it. Whenever we do a pick-up themed issue, we always see a spike in sales, which definitely tells us something. There haven’t been any all-new vehicles this year, but the number of mid-life updates has been remarkable. The Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200 have all had major mechanical revisions, the Toyota Hilux a styling change and the Isuzu D-Max a series of new models. There’s also been the Ford Ranger Raptor –possibly the most eagerly anticipated pick-up Britain has ever seen. But the rest of the range has been updated, too, with a new choice of engines. The Ranger was our overall champ two years ago, before being usurped by the VW Amarok; a return to the top of the class is certainly possible, not least with the Amarok losing the manual gearbox, and therefore the option of low range, that helped propel it to the top. The Amarok remains a very fine premium truck, however – and certainly, the overall choice available in the pick-up market is better than ever before. Which is good news whether you’re after one for work, as a tax-efficient family car or, as more and more people are doing, as an off-road toy. Which brings me to one vehicle which won’t be joining the market. The Land Rover Defender will be the it-car of 2020, for sure – but it now seems that the company has binned the idea of doing a pick-up version. You’re expecting me to lay into them for that, but nah. Refreshing a magazine is a risky business, after all – but compared to that, relaunching an iconic off-roader really is playing with fire. I’ve had the message loud and clear about our roadbooks –so for once, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt…
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 Assistant Editor George Dove Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Mike Trott, Dan Fenn, Paul Looe, Pip Evans, Gary Simpson, Robbie Ronson, Barrie Dunbar Photographers Harry Hamm, Steve Taylor, Tomasz Jarecki, Vic Peel, Louis Dunbar Group Advertising Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Manager Colin Ashworth Tel: 01283 553244 Advertising and Exhibition Sales Executive Abigail Cooper Tel: 01283 553246 Advertising Production Sarah Moss Tel: 01283 553242 Subscriptions Manager Catherine Martin Subscriptions Assistants Emma Emery, Kay Tunnicliffe, Abi Dutton 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, Repton House 1.08, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby, Derbyshire DE15 0YZ
© Assignment Media Ltd, 2019
4x4 02/12/2019 21:41
Performance Springs
The right choice when replacing the old sagging original springs! Britpart Performance - Lifted Springs
Bar Rate Defender 90 Lift Load Diameter lbs/in DA4201 Front 25mm 25kg 16mm 200 DA4202 Front 40mm 50kg 16mm 230 DA4203 Rear 40mm Light 17mm 220 DA4204 Rear 50mm 100kg 18mm 300 - 340 DA4205 Rear 50mm 200kg 19mm 360 Defender 110 DA4201 Front 25mm 25kg 16mm 200 DA4202 Front 40mm 50kg 16mm 230 DA4206 Rear 40mm 100kg 17mm 270 - 295 DA4208 Rear 50mm 500kg 21mm 420 Defender 130 DA4202 Front 40mm 50kg 16mm 230 DA4208 Rear 50mm 500kg 21mm 420 Discovery 1 DA4201 Front 25mm 25kg 16mm 200 DA4202 Front 40mm 50kg 16mm 230 DA4203 Rear 40mm Light 17mm 220 DA4204 Rear 50mm 100kg 18mm 300 - 340 DA4205 Rear 50mm 200kg 19mm 360 Discovery 2 DA4199 Front 40mm 20 - 50kg 15mm 180 DA4198 Front 40mm 50 - 100kg 16mm 220 DA4203 Rear 40mm Light 17mm 220 DA4197 Rear 40mm Medium 18mm 290 DA4205 Rear 50mm 200kg 19mm 360 Range Rover Classic DA4201 Front 25mm 25kg 16mm 200 DA4202 Front 40mm 50kg 16mm 230 DA4203 Rear 40mm Light 17mm 220 DA4204 Rear 50mm 100kg 18mm 300 - 340 DA4205 Rear 50mm 200kg 19mm 360 Note - Spring quantity 1 = 1 pair
Free Height 420mm 390mm 435mm 425mm 430mm 420mm 390mm 445mm 445mm 390mm 445mm 420mm 390mm 435mm 425mm 430mm 390mm 390mm 435mm 430mm 430mm 420mm 390mm 435mm 425mm 430mm
Britpart performance springs are high quality, versatile and competitively priced - the right choice when replacing the old sagging original springs. Developed by one of the world’s top spring manufacturers these high quality, powder coated yellow springs have been designed with the needs of today’s Land Rover owners in mind. Britpart performance lifted springs have the added benefit of improving your vehicles approach and departure angles which in turn allows you to overcome more obstacles when off-roading. As Land Rovers are often working vehicles as well as the family car, uprated springs must offer the ability to carry loads, handle off-road terrain and provide a good ride on road. The progressive springs offer a compliant ride when lightly loaded, but firm up as the load increases.
www.britpart.com/springs
After Lowering
“Britpart performance springs are high quality, versatile and competitively priced...” Britpart Performance - Standard Height Springs
Defender 90 DA4277 Front DA4278 Rear Defender 110 DA4277 Front DA4279 Rear Discovery 1 DA4277 Front DA4278 Rear Range Rover Classic DA4277 Front DA4278 Rear Note - Spring quantity 1 = 1 pair
Bar Diameter 16mm 18mm
Rate Free lbs/in Height 225 390mm 285 385mm
16mm 225 390mm 19mm 330 415mm 16mm 225 390mm 18mm 285 385mm 16mm 225 390mm 18mm 285 385mm
Britpart yellow springs are designed for the enthusiast who wants a performance spring without having to raise the vehicle. They offer a firmer ride with less body roll, ideal for a vehicle with uprated performance or one used for carrying heavy loads. The springs are designed to offer full articulation off-road with a compliant ride. Developed by one of the world’s top spring manufacturers these high quality, powder coated yellow springs have been designed with the needs of today’s Land Rover owners in mind.
Britpart Performance 1” Lower Springs
Reduce the ride height of your Land Rover by 1” (25mm) by fitting these lowered springs. By lowering your vehicle it will help reduce body roll as well as giving your vehicle a more sporty squat stance. The springs are designed in line with the standard spring rate specification. Finished in powered coated orange paint.
DA4563 Defender 90 & 110/Discovery 1/Range Rover Classic Front pair DA4564 Defender 90/Discovery 1/Range Rover Classic Rear pair DA6449 Defender 110 Rear pair DA1234 XD Handling Kit for Defender 90/Discovery 1/Range Rover Classic Kit contains lower springs, shock absorbers, anti-roll bars, turret rings and more...
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
NEW 4X4S
‘200,000 DEPOSITS ALREADY TAKEN’ FOR TESLA PICK-UP
Cybertruck due to enter production late 2021 • Up to 500 miles’ range • 6350kg towing limit, 2.9-second 0-62 time • Likely to cost £45,000-£80,000 in Britain
E
lectric vehicle specialist Tesla has unveiled the Cybertruck – a radical six-seat pick-up which will enter production towards the end of 2021. It might look like a drawing of a truck done by a ten-year-old taking
6 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 6
his first steps in computer-assisted design aboard an ancient copy of Microsoft Paint, and its name might sound like what he’d call it. But the Cybertruck was launched as a real, production-ready vehicle – and if you believe Tesla icon Elon Musk,
200,000 deposits had been taken within three days of its unveiling. The Cybertruck has an outer body made from ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel – the toughest material the company says it could find, whose strength basically gives the vehicle an exoskeleton. Its bizarrely angular design claims to be the result of function over form, too, as it’s that way to avoid suffering panel damage when off-roading. One of the many similarities we’re sure you’ll find between it and the original Land Rover Defender.
Also claiming to be incredibly strong are the truck’s windows, which Tesla says are made from armoured glass. At the launch event, Tesla’s design chief first hit a body panel with a sledgehammer then threw a steel ball at the windows at point-blank range; the first demonstration appeared not to do any damage, while the second did break the glass but didn’t go through it to the vehicle’s cabin. The Cybertruck will be available with a choice of three powertrains. These are Single Motor, driving the rear wheels only, and Dual and Tri-Motor options, both of which turn all four wheels. Even the base model promises a 6.5-second 0-60 time, a towing capacity of 3400kg and a range of 250 miles. These figures climb to 4.5 seconds, 4500kg and 300 miles for the Dual-Motor, while the TriMotor headlines with 2.9 seconds
4x4 30/11/2019 18:13
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
Ford’s next Mustang will be an all-electric SUV. No, really, it will…
(not a misprint), 6350kg and 500 miles. Not all at once, presumably. In terms of pick-up capacity, Tesla quotes a payload of up to 1587kg and a total storage volume of 2831 litres. That’s in addition to six seats, arranged in two rows of three; the lack of a traditional transmission means the central front seat is a proper one. The dashboard is arranged around a 17” tablet-style command screen, and the functions this controls include an air suspension set-up with four inches of adjustability in both directions. There’s no word yet on when the Cybertruck might come to the UK, but when it does it’s likely to cost between around £45,000 and £80,000. If all those 200,000 deposits are turned into sales back home, there might be a long wait – though they’re fully refundable, so how many customers will go the whole distance is another matter.
4x4 Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 7
HOW DO YOU MAKE an electric SUV sound credible? Tell the world it’s actually a Ford Mustang, that’s how. No, it is. The Mustang Mach-E is a real thing, recently unveiled by Ford, and you’ll be able to buy one in the coming year. The vehicle will be available with a single motor turning just the rear wheels or one at each end giving it all-wheel drive. There’ll be a choice of batteries, too, allowing you to achieve a range of 370 miles at one end of the scale and a sub-5.0 second 0-62 time at the other. Ford says the 4x4 model has been fully tested in snowy conditions to ensure the two motors work as a team, though there’s little sign of the Mach-E having any sort of off-road intent. Instead, there’ll be a high-performance GT version with the MagneRide adaptive dampers that first came to prominence in the SUV market when Land Rover used them on the original Evoque. Inside, there’s a huge tablet in the middle of the dashboard and a combination of modernist design and traditional Mustang styling cues such as a double-cowl instrument panel. Rather than a key, you’ll use an app on your phone to unlock the vehicle’s
doors (or a pair of PIN pads if your battery is flat or you don’t have a smartphone). Come on. There’s, like, eight billion people in the world. ONE of them’s bound not to have a smartphone. Ford says the Mach-E will be quick to charge when using, er, fast-charging facilities, and that the vehicle’s sat-nav will tell you the most logical places on your journey to stop and plug in. You’ll be able to buy it with a wall box for your garage, which will charge it something like four times faster than a normal plug, and Ford intends to install 400 charging stations across Europe during the next 12 months – during which time the company will introduce no less than 14 different EVs to the market.
JANUARY 2020 | 7
30/11/2019 18:13
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
NEW 4X4S
Aston Martin learns the phrase ‘wading depth’ while unveiling £158,000 super-SUV
L
uxury car makers have been launching ultra-SUVs left, right and centre over the last few years. Two things many of them have in common is that they’re very opulent… and very ugly. The Aston Martin DBX is the latest addition to the market, and at £158,000 it’s definitely up there in the moolah stakes. It’s also going to be the most powerful V8-engined vehicle the company currently builds, with 542bhp and 516lbf.ft at your beck and call, and one look at its interior should convince you that yes, it’s very opulent.
But is it ugly? Actually, we think it’s rather elegant, certainly when compared to the competition from Bentley and Rolls-Royce. It also claims to be a capable off-roader, which we’re sure will come as a relief to everyone who’s seriously thinking about buying one. Triple-volume adaptive air suspension is standard, as are a 48-volt active anti-roll set-up, ninespeed auto box and active centre and limited-slip rear diffs. Aston Martin quotes a 235mm ride height and approach, departure and breakover angles of 25.7, 27.1 and 18.8° with the suspension at max
height, along with a wading depth of 500mm. Wading depth. Just look at that interior. You totally would, wouldn’t you? Similarly, a 2700kg towing weight is unlikely to break the deal for anyone with a triple-axle
stock trailer in their life. Should be enough to pass muster at the pony club, though.
AUDI’S NEW RS Q8 has 592bhp, 590lbf.ft and a 0-62 time of 3.8 seconds. Thank a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8, an eight-speed auto box and full-time all-wheel drive for that. The big coupe-SUV, which goes on sale early next year, has drive mode settings for circumstances ranging from racetrack to off-road, with a 90mm range of ride heights between them. Also standard is all-wheel steering, which turns against the front wheels for greater manoeuvrability at low speeds and with them for improved stability on the motorway. The vehicle rides on a choice of 22” or 23” rims, behind which are composite brakes so big they could stop the planet from turning. With a wider track and body, various RS styling touches and an interior that’s even more premium than the rest of the Q8 range, the vehicle is likely to cost around £100,000 and go up against the Range Rover SVR and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.
8 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 8
4x4 30/11/2019 18:14
PERFORMS EXCEPTIONALLY ON ALL-TERRAINS The Grabber AT3 combines superior on-road performance, with exceptional off-road capabilities. It’s a tyre developed to enhance the potential of your 4x4 driving experience. • Features an aggressive pattern to work on multiple surfaces with enhanced grip. • Provides a robust compound for improved tread life on rugged terrain. • Designed for a smoother, confident and quieter drive • Safe handling in all-seasons, indicated by the M+S mark and the snowflake symbol. General Tire. A brand of Continental.
GRABBER 3 AT
YOUR ACCESS TO ANY ADVENTURE
Visit our website for further technical information and details of your nearest 4X4 stockist
WWW.4SITE4X4TYRES.CO.UK | 0870 112 9401 221117-LRO.indd 1
23/11/2017 11:15
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
RIGHTS OF WAY STRATA FLORIDA, the legendary mountain pass in Mid-Wales, remains closed at the time of writing for remedial works to adjoining culverts and the surface of the lane itself. Acknowledging the popularity of the right of way, Powys County Council has promised that the closure will be lifted as early as possible to let motor vehicles start using it once again. If you’re one of those people who read magazines from back to front, you may have noticed that the Roadbook in this very issue of 4x4 uses a number of Welsh lanes including… Strata Florida. Safe to say the announcement of the closure wasn’t very well timed for us. We decided to go ahead and publish, however, based on advice from Powys CC that the lane should be open again in the near future.
Lane users’ donations help fund improvements at Low Sadgill
F
unding from the Green Lane Association and Trail Riders Fellowship has helped remedy a long-standing problem on a popular byway in the Lake District. Low Sadgill is best known as the lane immediately to the south of the mighty Gatescarth Pass, but it’s a superb drive in its own right – indeed, it’s one of the few genuinely technical lanes left in Britain. The problem which has now been addressed concerned a rock step which forced vehicles to deviate close to a stone wall to avoid damage. However clearance was so tight that all too frequently,
they would hit the wall instead. The work which has now been completed saw a ditch dug across the full width of the lane so that stone pitching could be laid down. This has created a more level surface, allowing vehicles to follow the natural line of the right of way rather than flirting with the stone wall. Low Sadgill does remain an extremely challenging lane, with several very narrow sections and care required not to cause a nui-
sance when passing through Stile End Farm at its east end. Thanks to GLASS and the TRF, it’s now that bit easier to enjoy the challenge – further evidence of the perennial truth that your membership subs to such organisations really do help to keep Britain’s rights of way open.
MINNINGLOW LANE, a field road near Parwich in the Derby Dales, has been repaired by the local authority. The lane has long been subject to voluntary restraint during the winter months, as a lengthy part of it has been very prone to cutting up, however it has been reported that the repair has brought it up to Cat A standard – meaning it should in future be sustainable for use all year round. AT A RECENT public inquiry into Derbyshire County Council’s plan to remove vehicular rights from Callow Bank, a lane east of Hathersage, local residents said in evidence that they have in the past deliberately blocked the right of way and reduced its width. GLASS rep Chris MItchell notes that ‘such evidence of illegal obstruction and deliberate damage to the highway never seems to result in sanctions by the authorities.’
Things we don’t get in Britain any more… #47: The Toyota 4-Runner #47a: Winter There was a time when Toyota brought the Hilux Surf to Britain as an official import. They called it the 4-Runner and it was a proper tool. In anorak pub ammo news, it was also the first 4x4 Toyota brought here with the 1KZ-TE 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that is still made today. Anyway, they still have a vehicle called the 4-Runner in America – but this model, which has been around since 2009, has never been sold in Britain. 2009 is also approximately the number of times every day between September and March that you see a viral post on Facebook about how Britain is about to suffer a freak snow apocalypse. Only for it to remain as scarce as… oh, shall we say, the Toyota 4-Runner? They were good times. Pic: Dane@flickr.com, CC BY 2.0
10 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 10
4x4 30/11/2019 18:14
RIL3900HP / REIL3900HP
MAGflex Pivot FLEX APPEAL RIL3700HP / REIL3700HP
MAGflex Utility READY FOR ANYTHING
RIL3600HP / REIL3600HP
MAGflex Twist THE GO TO
RIL4000 / REIL4000
MAGflex
MULTI ANGLE
RIL3400HP / REIL3400HP
MAGflex Arc
COMPACT & TOUGH
A Light For Every Job The Ring MAGflex range of Inspection Lamps As one of the first companies to pioneer LED inspection lamps for garages and workshops, Ring has a rich heritage and a strong reputation in workshop lighting. Bright, portable, rechargeable and resistant to oil, dirt and tough enough to withstand the knocks in a workshop, whatever the job.
Visit www.ringautomotive.com and find the right light for your job.
RUBL1000 / REUBL1000
MAGflex Under Bonnet EXTEND AND ADJUST
/ringautomotive
12295 Advert A4.indd 1
01/10/2019 13:55
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
RIGHTS OF WAY
Sabotage bid fails to prevent GLASS volunteers from repairing Essex byway
T
he Green Lane Association became involved in repairs to a right of way in Essex recently, in a story which illustrates the lengths to which 4x4 enthusiasts will go to look after Britain’s rights of way – and the depths to which our opponents will sink to sabotage them. The lane, Braintree/Bocking 93, was under threat of closure as Essex County Council was unable to find the funds needed to repair it before winter set it. Following discussions at a working group meeting, GLASS Rep Rob Tongue offered to help with repairs – with the result that the proposed closure was shelved. Along with Assistant Rep Ed, Rob arranged a site visit with two highway engineers from the Council. ‘After walking the byway and discussing what was required,’ he says, ‘it was mutually agreed that they would allow GLASS to carry out the work. ECC would supply the materials needed to repair the surface and GLASS had already agreed to pay for the plant required.’
12 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 12
With contractors booked and a set of volunteers drummed up, the work was ready to commence. Or was it? ’Two days before the date of the work,’ says Rob, ‘the contractor’s self-loading dumper broke down and they were unable to supply a replacement. So Ed, being Ed, managed to find a contractor who could help us out at very short notice and we were ready again!’ Or were they? ‘We were advised that the surface material to be supplied would be rolled stone, and it would be delivered and signed for by a highways guy on the Friday. We turned up on Saturday to find it was nothing of the sort! First off, it wasn’t rolled stone – what we got was full of all sorts of rubbish. But hey-ho, we carried on anyway!’ The team consisted of ten volunteers, one digger and one self-loading dumper. You might be forgiven for thinking that the project’s bad luck had come to an end once work finally got underway, but no: the digger threw a track part of the way through the day. Thanks to this, and the plight of the material they were having to work with, the team didn’t quite manage to get the whole byway resurfaced. However three-quarters of the mile-long right of way wasn’t bad going under the circumstances, and they left satisfied with their day’s
efforts – and planning to return very soon to finish the job. It was at this point that anti-4x4 elements emerged to show how utterly dishonest and unscrupulous they’re capable of being. ‘It was clear when we were there that the locals wanted to have the lane closed to motorised traffic,’ says Rob. ‘But what we didn’t bargain on was them pulling a fast one with the materials we had there to finish the job. They reported it as fly tipping to Braintree Council, who promptly removed it. ‘I found out when I received an email from one of the locals telling me it was being removed as he was sending the mail.’ Given that the lane was originally threatened with closure because the Highways department couldn’t find the money to pay for the job, the waste of taxpayers’ money is as ironic as it is grotesque. As Rob says: ’Essex County Council paid for the materials. Braintree Council have removed the materials and will charge Essex County Council for such – and Essex County Council will now have to pay for more materials to finish the byway.’ An invoice for the person who reported the materials as having been fly-tipped would seem appropriate, though of course proving that this was done maliciously would be conveniently impossible. And of course, as Rob himself said, the
material was full of rubbish – something that was backed up by the Highways Engineer who inspected the work afterwards. The good news is that the inspector was happy with the work the team had done. ’It was a learning curve for both Ed and myself,’ says Rob, ‘as this was the first time we had taken on a project as involved as this, but it stands us in good stead for the next one. ‘Putting the effort in has proved to Highways that we can do it and hopefully will lead to them asking us to assist in keeping byways open in the future. We would like to say a massive thank you to the volunteers, to RMR contractors and to David of Treecology, who saved the day at the last minute with his self-loading dumper!’ In the end, Essex County Council informed Rob that it would finish the job on the last quarter-mile of the lane itself. And if some good is to be plucked out of what happened, it might be that the local authority was given a first-hand view, at very close quarters, of the shameful and manipulative games the anti-4x4 faction is apt to play. ‘It beggars belief what these people will do, it really, really does,’ says Rob. But he was not to be discouraged: ‘It has well been worthwhile and I would say to any other GLASS reps go for it. You won’t know what you can do till you try!’
4x4 30/11/2019 18:14
land rover defender upgrades & accessories
Head Linings for Defender 90 Comes as a 5-piece kit with sun visor covers & all fittings and fixings. Available in black, light grey & dark grey.
Head Linings for Defender 110 Comes as a 4-piece kit with sun visor covers & all fittings & fixings. Available in black, light grey & dark grey.
/masai4x4
Internal Window Trims TD5
Replacement Seat Covers TD5
4-piece kit, sides and rear quarter panels. Available in black and grey. For Defenders 1987 to 2005 (TD5).
Available for the front seats, middle seat & both types of middle row (60/40 or 3 seats) Many designs on our website!
Internal Window Trims for Puma 4-piece kit, sides & rear quarter panels. Available in black & grey. For TDCi/Puma with or without side windows (Van Type).
TD5 Inward Seat Covers Can go over the top of your old inward seats. Fits tightly, and comes in a variety of designs. Buy in PAIRS.
Replacement Seat Covers for Puma Available for the front seats, middle row (60/40) & rear foldable seats. Many designs on our website!
Lockable Sporting Boxes / Storage Neatly store, protect and lock away items that you regularly or permanently keep in your vehicle.
MILNER OFF ROAD Est. 1981
check out our new website!
4x4 4x4 4x4
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51
www.milneroffroad.com TEL: 01629 734411
Mon-Fri: 8am - 5:30pm Sat: 8am - 12:30pm
Old Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2ER JANUARY 2020 | 13
03/12/2019 12:46
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
COMPETITION
14 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 14
4x4 30/11/2019 18:14
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
Viking 4x4’s Lap of the Gods event points the way to a new direction in winch challenges Words: Pip Evans Pictures: Tomas Jarecki
W
inch challenge events have been going in the UK for around twenty years. The Viking 4x4 Club has been at the forefront of these for most of that time, and has run a very successful six-round championship of oneday challenge events since 2006. Indeed, it has been the only club offering a championship series for the last few years. Things evolve, however, and there has been a noticeable shift in preference among competitors towards more driving and less winching. Not wanting to be left behind, therefore, the Viking 4x4 Club this year decided that it was time to try and organise such an event. This was only intended to be a pilot event. But it still needed a name, and traditional says this needed some kind of Viking connotation. Step forward Malcolm Burman, who came up with ‘Lap of the Gods’ at a committee meeting. The inaugural event, which was sponsored by JGS4x4, saw the club’s organising team spend many days in Weekley Woods, near Kettering, marking out a five-kilometre route through the trees. Keeping on top of average speeds is always a major issue, so most of the route involved weaving between trees – but with the occasional open area to allow drivers to let loose. The format can perhaps best be described as ‘extreme green laning’. Not that green laning is in any way competitive, of course, but you get the idea. Scoring was based on a sort of enduro format – the event involved lapping a marked course, via 18 mandatory waymarkers and two ‘tough punches’ away from the main route, as often as possible in the given time. The tough punches were set out so that trucks only needed a front winch to be able to access them. This was done to eliminate the need for a class system dependant on how many winches a truck had.
4x4 Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 15
In addition, because of the possibility of several competitors completing the same number of laps and gaining the same number of points, a trials section had to be completed at some time during the event. This was timed to the second to provide a means of splitting the scores in the event a draw. The event was preceded by a lengthy period of dry weather, but this came to a very spectacular end a day or two before teams started setting out for Weekley Woods. At very short notice, the paddock area had to be shifted to a location where tow trucks, caravans and trailers wouldn’t sink into the ground – that’s how wet it was. Thankfully, event day itself was mostly dry, so the going was good as the competitors were flagged off at one-minute intervals. The first car off the line was also the first back, driven by Dan Hickling – who had a big smile on his face, which the organisers took to be a promising sign. Dan’s first lap had taken him just 35 minutes, which was incredibly quick – the average lap time worked out at just under an hour for most competitors. Next to arrive back, having taken three minutes longer, was Simon Ward. So far, so easy for the start/ finish marshals, but soon there were trucks arriving thick and fast. It became manic at times, but everyone seemed to be grinning – even those who limped in with mechanical issues. Sadly, there were some who never made it to the end of lap one. This was mainly due to steering, suspension or overheating issues. A couple of teams returned having missed some of the waymarkers, which meant their lap was voided, but even they seemed to be enjoying the experience so much that they were unconcerned about having to start again.
As was to be expected, as the day went on the lap times reduced and the breakages began to pile up. The most notable casualty was Dan Hickling, with a terminal steering arm break. Or was it? Dan managed to find someone to take the steering arm home, weld it up and bring it back, whereupon he refitted it and was back in the game. This delay seemed to fire him up as he returned to the fray. Simon Ward was matching lap times with Dan, however – but he too had to take time out on one lap to fix an issue with his hydraulic steering. Charlie Harper and Paddy Burman weren’t posting times to match Dan and Simon’s, but they were consistent and reliable. Both were doing consistent circuits of 35-44 minutes, and Scott Haines and Johnny Johnson were also attracting attention with consistent laps around the 40-minute mark. At the end of the six-hour event, however, it was Simon Ward and Austin James who took the win, dealing with the issues they faced along the way to complete eight laps. Charlie Harper and Colin Worsley came in second on seven, with Dan Hickling and Billy Talbot taking third on the tie-break after a six-lap tie with Paddy Burman. After the event, competitors’ feedback suggested that they had thoroughly enjoyed the eclectic mix of tight and fast sections, extremely rough terrain, deep mud and winching. As pilot events go, it was a big success – giving organisers and competitors alike plenty to think about going forward.
JANUARY 2020 | 15
30/11/2019 18:14
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
COMPETITION
Birchall clinches first BXCC title with victory at Walters Arena Words and pictures: Gary Simpson
J
ustin Birchall and Jonny Koonja clinched the Britpart British Cross Country Championship title with victory in the final round of the season at Walters Arena in South Wales. The event started with Birchall knowing that after one non-finish already this year, he could not afford another retirement if he was to take his first championship – but in the event he led from the start and was able to cruise home to take the chequered flag. Birchall made the perfect start by setting the fastest time on the opening run in his Lofthouse M3. Mark Jacques and Adam Nicholson, second in the title race going into the final round, were second in their LS3-engined Lofthouse. Jacques was fastest on the second run but Birchall was quickest on the remaining five runs of day one, allowing him to take a commanding lead into day two. Jacques was second – but with a broken gearbox, it was doubtful that he’d start day two. Phill Bayliss and Lance Murfin were third in their Land Rover Special. Torrential rain for 24 hours before the event had made the course very wet and the venue took its toll on some cars. Round 5 winner Andy Deguilio broke the clutch pedal on his Milner R5; he managed to make a fix for this, but an ominous
16 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 16
transmission whine caused him to call it a day before repairs became likely to be even more expensive. Andi Skelley returned to the championship but was forced out with gearbox problems in his Milner, while Steve Smith, fresh from starring in Autocar magazine, put his Clio V8 in a ditch but was able to continue after being extracted by the recovery crew. While the rest of the service area was asleep, Mark Jacques’ crew were busy trying to repair their vehicle’s gearbox. Two of the Lofthouse Motorsport team went to fetch parts from Preston, around 200 miles away, and then work continued through the night – with the fix finally completed at 4am. Their efforts were rewarded with Jacques successfully making it to the finish in second place – a result which also gave him second in the championship also. ‘What a season and what a weekend,’ said Jacques. ‘We had a good start to the event but then we lost fourth gear. On the final run of day one we were jammed in third. All the team did a fantastic job to get the gearbox repaired – we didn’t have all the right parts so a couple of the lads had to go to Lofthouse Motorsport to get spares. ‘We nursed it through the second day and made it to the finish. It’s
been a brilliant season – thank you to everyone who has helped us and to the BXCC team for putting on the championship.’ Despite a broken alternator belt and a puncture, Phill Bayliss finished third – taking third overall in the championship too. ‘Like our other third places this season this result was very unexpected,’ commented Bayliss. ‘The weather on day one made things very interesting but it was all good. We had a few issues – as well as the belt and puncture we had the wipers stop on one run and the brakes fail on another. But the service crew did a brilliant job as did my navigator Lance. ‘I need to say a massive thanks to all the organisers, marshals, recovery crews and all the other volunteers who take their own time to put on the events for us to enjoy. You’re all awesome!’ The issues faced by Bayliss and Jacques meant Birchall had a clear run to the win – although he didn’t back off at all, as his height over the jump on day two’s runs testified! The
result gave Birchall his first British title, with Koonja adding to the title he won with Dan Lofthouse in 2013. ‘It’s been around 10 years in the making,’ said Birchall. ‘The season hasn’t gone exactly to plan but I suppose that has kept everyone entertained! The pressure was on to get the result, with already having one retirement, but I felt really calm and kept focused. We pulled out a good lead out on day one and then it was a case of concentrating and bringing it home. I’m absolutely over the moon.’ Jason Rowlands was in fourth place in his Can-Am X3, with Dave Hooper fifth in his new Bowler Tomcat. In sixth was the Lofthouse Freelander of Martin James, who commented: ‘It was a great weekend of racing. The weather was challenging but we made it through with just one puncture. It’s only the third proper outing with the car so I’m still learning with every lap.’ Oisin Riley completed his season in style with seventh place and another BXC Trophy win in his Polaris. Martin and Aston Cox were eighth after a few issues with their GSR 206, including a broken wishbone. Harry Nicoll and Emily Sibley finished ninth in their Bowler Tomcat despite blowing a front diff on day one. Rounding off the top ten were Steve Smith and John Griffiths in the Clio who, after their day-one ditch excursion, required the recovery team again on day two when their steering broke. That wraps up the year’s BXCC, which was sponsored by Britpart, Voxcloud, Staffordshire Signs, Par Homes, OFG Land Rover Specialists, Birchall Foodservice, Nicky Grist Motorsports and Bowler. With the 2019 championship complete, preparations are now underway for the 2020 season – for which an opening date of 4-5 April has already been set. You can find more information by visiting crosscountryuk.org.
4x4 30/11/2019 18:15
PB CUSTOMS 4x4
01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk
01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co
01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk 01832 358948 www.pb-custom 01832 358948 www.pb-c
01832 358948 www 01832 358948 01832 35
• Custom Builds • Modifications
• Overland Prep & Conversion • Parts & Acessories m Builds • Modifications
• Dinitrol Authorised Wax Protection Centre Modifications
Conversion • Parts & Acessories • Repairs & Servicing
on • Parts & Acessories BuildsWax • Modifications orised Protection Centre x Protection Centre Conversion • Parts & Acessories epairs & Servicing 01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk ervicing ds • Modifications rised Wax Protection Centre 01832 358948 www.pb-customs.co.uk ersion&•Servicing Parts & Acessories pairs
PB CUSTOMS 4x4
PB Customs Apr 18.indd 1
30/07/2018 07:55
•
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
CALENDAR KEY
P Off-Road Playday
G Green Lane Convoy Tour
A Overseas Adventure Travel
S 4x4 Show
Dates for playdays are shown up to the end of the month following the magazine’s on-sale date. Dates for green lane tours are shown up to approximately three months ahead, and for shows and overseas adventure tours up to a year ahead, space permitting Important: You should never travel to an event without first checking with the organiser to ensure that it is still going ahead. Note also that inclusion in this listing does not represent any endorsement of the event or organiser by 4x4 magazine. We take great care over the accuracy of this information, but accept no responsibility for the consequences of any errors
14 December
5 January
Adventure Tours G Green Shropshire / Welsh Borders
4x4 P Frickley Frickley, South Yorkshire Bottom P Muddy Minstead, Hampshire 4x4 P Parkwood Tong, Bradford Wood P Picadilly Bolney, West Sussex
15 December Off Road P Explore Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent Bottom P Muddy Minstead, Hampshire Monsters P Mud East Grinstead, West Sussex P Protrax Tixover, Northamptonshire
10-24 January
A Ardventures Morocco
22 December
12 January
4x4 P Frickley Frickley, South Yorkshire Safari P Slindon Slindon, West Sussex
Rochford and District 4x4 P Essex, Rayleigh, Essex 4x4 Spares Day S Malvern Malvern, Worcestershire Safari P Slindon Slindon, West Sussex Events G UKTyneLandrover and Wear
26 December Without a Club P 4x4 Harbour Hill, West Berkshire P Protrax Tixover, Northamptonshire
28 December Adventure Tours G Green Shropshire / Welsh Borders Off Road Centre P Kirton Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs
18-19 January
G Protrax Wales 19 January
Road Adventure Travel G Off Wales
Off Road P Explore Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent 4x4 P Frickley Frickley, South Yorkshire Bottom P Muddy Minstead, Hampshire
29 December
25 January
Pit P Bures Bures, Suffolk Leisure P Cowm Whitworth, Lancashire N Ditch P Hilll Mouldsworth, Cheshire Off Road Centre P Kirton Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs P Protrax Tixover, Northamptonshire Valley 4x4 P Thames Broxhead, Hampshire
Adventure Tours G Green Shropshire / Welsh Borders Off Road Centre P Kirton Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs
28-29 December
18 | JANUARY 2020
Scene AK.indd 18
25-26 January Adventure G Onelife Wales
26 January Leisure P Cowm Whitworth, Lancashire
Off Road Centre P Kirton Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs P Protrax Tixover, Northamptonshire Safari P Slindon Slindon, West Sussex Valley 4x4 P Thames Brick Kiln Farm, Hampshire Events G UKPeakLandrover District
1 February Events G UKNorthLandrover York Moors
29 February – 1 March Adventures G Compass Wales Road Adventure Travel G Off Wales
5-20 March Adventure A Onelife Morocco
7-26 March
A Protrax Morocco Desert and Mountains
1-2 February
15-22 February
G Ardventures Lake District Adventures G Compass Wales Road Adventure Travel G Off Wales
A Ardventures Galicia, Spain 2-11 March
7-9 February
24 March – 3 April
A 7PUtahOverland 8-9 February Adventure G Onelife Yorkshire G Trailmasters Yorkshire
9 February Landrover Events G UKLincoln and Belvoir
12 February Landrover Events G UKYorkshire Dales
22 February Adventure Tours G Green Shropshire / Welsh Borders Landrover Events G UKDurham Dales
23 February Expo S 4x4 Stafford, Staffordshire
Adventure Tours A 4x4 Portugal
Adventure Tours A 4x4 Morocco
24 March – 6 April
A Trailmasters Morocco Marrakesh Classic 30 March – 13 April 4x4 Adventures A Active Morocco
3-16 April
A Ardventures Morocco 4-16 April Overland A Atlas Morocco Classic
5 April 4x4 Spares Day S Newbury Newbury, Berkshire
24 April – 10 May Adventure A Ardent Morocco
4x4 02/12/2019 21:30
OFF-ROAD SCENE
25-26 April
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
22 June – 7 July 2020
Overland Show Overland S Adventure A Atlas Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire Corsica
4-13 May 2020
26-28 June
4x4 Adventures A Active Portugal
Land Rover Show S Billing Billing, Northamptonshore
9-10 May
27-28 June
Land Rover Show S Gaydon Gaydon, Warwickshire
Off-Road Show S Billing Billing, Northamptonshire Original LR Show S Kelmarsh Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire
16-24 May 2020 Land Rover Events A UKPyrenees
28 June – 16 July 2020
16-30 May 2020
Road Adventure Travel A Off Albania
Overland A Atlas Portugal
1-5 July 2020
20 May – 2 June 2020
A Landtreks French Pyrenees
A Trailmasters Morocco (extreme expedition)
11-24 July 2020
27 May – 10 June 2020
A Ardventures Balkans
A
13-19 July 2020
Protrax Pyrenees
5-19 June 2020
A Landtreks East Pyrenees
Road Adventure Travel A Off Pyrenees, Spain
13-22 July 2020
6-21 June 2020
4x4 Adventures A Active Alps
A Ardventures Pyrenees, Spain
19 July
8-17 June 2020
4x4 Spares Day S Malvern Malvern, Worcestershire
4x4 Adventures A Active Pyrenees
28 July – 9 August 2020
8-17 June 2020
A Landtreks Pyrenees Coast to Coast
Adventure Tours A 4x4 Pyrenees
31 July – 3 August 2020
10-24 June 2020
/ Storm Jeeps A Ardventures Marquenterre, France
A Protrax Pyrenees
1-15 August 2020
13-20 June 2020
Overland A Atlas Italian Alps
Adventure A Ardent Pyrenees
8-23 August 2020
19 June – 3 July
A Ardventures Galicia, Spain
Adventure A Onelife Greece
10-29 August 2020
20-27 June 2020 Adventure A Ardent Pyrenees
4x4 Scene AWAITING ADS.indd 19
4x4 Adventures A Active Botswana
SPECIALIST 4X4 VEHICLE DISMANTERS JEEP - LAND ROVER AND MOST MAKES AND MODELS QUALITY GUARANTEED USED PARTS SOME OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE RECENTLY DISMANTLED:
2015 JEEP WRANGLER JK 2.8CRD
2007 DODGE NITRO 2.8CRD
2016 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.0 TD4
2014 RANGE 2016 ISUZU 2014 JEEP ROVER SPORT 4.4 D-MAX 2.5 DIESEL CHEROKEE MK5 V8 DIESEL KL 2.0 MULTIJET
2010 JEEP 2007 LAND ROVER CHEROKEE MK4 DISCOVERY 3 2.7 KK 2.8 CRD TDV6
2008 HONDA CRV 2.2 CDTI
2006 JEEP GRAND 2006 NISSAN CHEROKEE WK PATHFINDER 2.5 5.7 V8 HEMI DCI Charlton Recycled Auto Parts Vehicle Recycling Centre, Gravel Pit Hill, Thriplow, Cambridge, SG8 7HZ Tel 01223 832656 Email parts@charltonautoparts.co.uk PLEASE VISIT WWW.CHARLTONAUTOPARTS.CO.UK
JANUARY 2020 | 19
02/12/2019 20:35
Untitled-3 2
02/12/2019 13:25
Untitled-3 3
02/12/2019 13:25
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
PRODUCTS
Britpart introduces heavy-duty winch bumper for Discovery 3
M
ore and more people are turning to the Land Rover Discovery 3 as a recreational off-roader, particularly for long-range adventures. Which means more and more people are needing to be able to winch one out – which in turn means more and more people are going to be
hunting down Britpart’s new Discovery 3 Winch Bumper. This is made from 5mm steel, except in the mounting areas where the thickness doubles up to 10mm. Hefty, then, and with its matt black powder coated finish it looks the part, too. The bumper will protect your Disco’s front end as well as giving you a home for your winch, and it comes
complete with Wipac fog lights and an aluminium washer bottle to replace the original, which needs to make way to let the whole thing fit. Prices from Britpart’s many UK dealers tend to be in the £500-£550 bracket, so shop around. You can find out more info about the Discovery 3 Winch Bumper, whose product code is DA5691, by visiting www. britpart.com.
AND WHILE WE’RE ON the subject of the Discovery 3, here’s something a lot less sexy but just as necessary. The words ‘parking brake actuator’ are enough to make your blood run cold if you run one of these, but Britpart’s new Parking Actuator Repair Kit may help warm it back up. Comprising four gears and all the hardware you need to fit them, this is suitable for all Discovery 3 models as well as the original Range Rover Sport from 2005-2009. It’s likely to cost you about £75 and save you many times that – you can find your local dealer by visiting www.britpart.com.
New bushes from Powerflex prevent BMW X3 and X4 from going off the boil Powerflex has introduced a new Front Radius Arm To Chassis Bush for a pair of popular BMW SUVs. The PFF5-2201 bush kit is designed to fit the second-generation X3 (F25) and X4 (F26), on which wear to the originals can result in uneven tyre wear, vague steering and braking instability. The Powerflex bush has a Shore durometer hardness of 95A, which in layman’s terms means it’s harder than a smack in the face from Mike Tyson. Powerflex says it’s made to ‘restore and improve handling characteristics and steering precision’ – and to keep on doing this rather than getting tired the way a rubber bush can. The kit is supplied complete with metal outer shells for better distribution of load across the bush, too. Buying the kit will leave you change out of fifty quid. You can find out more about it, as well as other products the company makes for the X3 and X4, by paying a visit to www.powerflex.co.uk.
22 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 22
4x4 30/11/2019 18:15
JeepChryslerParts.co.uk is an independent distributor and is not affiliated with FCA USLLC. Jeep® and Chrysler® are registered trademarks of FCA USLLC.
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
PRODUCTS
ARB launches new dual-zone fridge-freezer
A
RB has introduced a new dual-zone fridge-freezer that’s ideal for vehicles being equipped for expedition travel. Called the Zero Fridge Freezer, this has dual cooling zones on both sides which are independently controlled using either a panel on
the front or the unit or wirelessly via an app. With a boost function for rapid cool-down and anti-condensation technology to keep contents dry, the fridge-freezer can be installed in a vehicle, caravan or camping
RLG Tyres
Tyres cheap. Not cheap tyres!!
OFFICIAL STOCKIST
trailer with ease thanks to its side opening, quick-release lid to swap openings and front and rear DC inlets. For extra convenience, it also features a front AC inlet for home or powered site connection, as well as a handy USB outlet to charge your devices. The Zero Fridge-Freezer is available with 69 and 96-litre capacities.
The former has one lid and an internal freezer compartment that can be removed to increase fridge space, while the latter has two lids to keep the fridge and freezer compartments separate and appropriately chilled. Sounds, cool, right? (Groan, etc.) You’ll find out just how cool by visiting www.arb.com.au.
ENHANCE ENHANCE
THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR 4X4 YOUR ISUZU D-MAX
Pedders TrakRyder Suspension Lift Kit makes the workhorse D-Max
into a more refined passenger vehicle. • Does your 4x4 pickup struggle with the demands you place on it? • Enhanced ride quality in laden & unladen • Not coping well with that largesituations. trailer? • Improved off road ability via raised ride height. • Sagging with the load in the back?
Main supplier of
• Maintains load capacity.
and all major 4x4 tyres
Then Pedders haveto the solution for you. • Heavy duty kits also available ability tosuspension cope with loads.
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
24 | JANUARY 2020
Scene AWAITING ADS.indd 24
www.pedders.co.uk
Specialising in Suspension solutions since 1950 For further information go to www.pedders.co.uk 01296 711044 or please contact your local Pedders experts.
For further information go to www.pedders.co.uk or please contact your local Pedders experts.
info@pedders.co.uk
01296 711 044 info@pedders.co.uk
4x4 02/12/2019 20:36
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts CALENDAR
Latest hard alloys from Black Rhino are ideal for Subaru owners who want to give their vehicles a taste of the real world BLACK RHINO IS a South African company that makes very strong and extremely cool hard alloy wheels. It also gives a portion of its profits to a charity protecting rhinos from poachers, which is even more cool. And the coolest thing of the lot, at least if you have a Subaru as your terrain-tamer of choice, is that the company’s latest new product is just for you. It’s called the Unit, and it’s a no-nonsense design engineered specifically for 5x100, 5x114.3, and 5x120 fitments. What these numbers mean in real life is that the Unit is ideal for the Subaru Outback and Forester. Not vehicles that often get tough off-road kit made for them, but if you’ve asked questions of one off-road you’ll know why Black Rhino thought it was worth the effort to make these things happen. Sizing is limited to 15x7 ET15, 17x8 ET15, and 17x8 ET30, and you can get a choice of Dark Bronze and Matte Black finishes across the range. To find out more, head for UK importer XS4x4 by visiting xs4x4.parts. GIVEN THAT HANDBRAKES are designed to stop vehicles rolling rather than bringing them to a halt, you’d expect their friction material to last more or less forever. Especially if you’re talking about the X-Brake disc handbrake from X-Eng. But something else about X-Brakes is that they tend to be used on Land Rovers that spend much of their lives waist-deep in mud and water – or, worse, in quarries where the stuff that gets in about them resembles grinding paste. Which is why you may well be pleased to hear that Britpart dealers are now offering replacement pad sets for the X-Brake. Bish bosh, job done. You’ll find out Ad.for.4x4.See.Light.qxp_Layout 1 18/11/2019 11:40 Page 1 more by visiting www.britpart.com.
See the light ...
… new edition – soon +44 (0) 7534 738 546 | info@hiprotuning.co.uk | www.hiprotuning.co.uk
The Hi-Pro Performance Tuning range of products provide a quick and reliable tuning solution, unleashing your vehicle’s full potential.
www.desertwinds.co.uk Suite 42, The i Centre, Ingleton, Carnforth, LA6 3BT
4x4 Scene AK AWAITING NEW AD.indd 25
JANUARY 2020 | 25
03/12/2019 13:34
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
PRODUCTS
New Smartview LED bar from Lazer Lamps has five lighting modes with in-cab control
T
he Triple-R 1250 Smartview is the latest innovative LED bar from Lazer Lamps. Promising ‘competition-level’ lighting performance in a road-legal design, this offers a choice of five different operating modes. These are… • E-Mark Compliant: For use on the public highway • E-Boost: Increases the intensity of light for maximum visibility – only
26 | JANUARY 2020
Scene NEW LAYOUT IN PROGRESS.indd 26
permissable for use when driving off-road • Speed Adapt: Beam pattern adjusts depending on the speed of the vehicle in the range from 30 to 50mph • Near-View: Provides superior short-range illumination, for use in fog or when off-roading at night • Dynamic Dip: Delivers a smoother transition between high and low beam, allowing time for the driver’s eyes to adjust
The five modes are operated via a touch-screen controller on your dashboard. This needs to be bought separately, which seems a little odd, but it only costs £80 – which, since you’ll be doing a recommended £915 on the light itself, you might not even notice. The same might be said if you want to add the £48 CanM8 Duo Interface which is necessary if you want the Speed Adapt function to work. We’re up to £1043 now, but the scope surely exists for dealers to, well, deal. And you certainly get a lot of light for your money. In E-Boost mode,
the lamp delivers 12,170 raw lumens and 1 lux (sufficient to read by) to a distance of 732m. It uses specific LEDs and its own electronic design to achieve its varying beam patterns, and each unit has its own unique anti-theft firmware – meaning it won’t work if stolen, rendering it completely valueless to the thief or anyone he sells it to. As with all Lazer products, the Smartview is manufactured in the UK and comes with a comprehensive 5-year warranty and lifetime lens guarantee. It’s watertight to IP67 and its design features electronic thermal management and a CAE optimised heatsink as well as the latest and most efficient LED technology. ‘We’ve applied functionality to a road-legal high-performance auxiliary driving light that will really benefit people everyday, in varying real-world situations,’ says Lazer boss Ben Russell-Smith. ’Coupled with this, we’ve worked hard on the design of all aspects of the system, so that it integrates seamlessly into any modern vehicle, both from a styling perspective and how the light functions in line with the standard driving lights on your vehicle.’ You want one of these bad boys on your truck,, don’t you? Safe to say you’re not alone in that. The Triple-R 1250 Smartview, and so much more besides, is at www.lazerlamps.com.
4x4 30/11/2019 18:15
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts
O
PRODUCTS
Detroit Lockers back in stock at Britpart
D
etroit Lockers are nothing new, but it never ceases to amaze us that more people don’t use them. That’s not meant to be a pop at any of the opposition – but if you’ve ever managed to find anyone with a bad thing to say about these guys, you’re doing better than us. We’re telling you this now
it delivers drive to both sides of the diff. Its default position is to provide 100% of the input torque to both wheels: only when a differentiation in speeds is required by the road conditions does it free its grip – something which, in our experience, it does very smoothly. Our experience is also that these
Astwood 4x4 Ltd LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS
We are a business that cares about your Landy and about the customers’ needs, a company who understands what the Landy is all about. We specialise in restoring, rebuilding Land Rover Defenders, galvanized chassis changes, engine upgrade and all types of mechanical & body work.
We export Land Rovers worldwide supplying not only refurbished but also used Land Rovers. Refurbishment/Restoration Specialist, Land Rover Servicing, MOTs, Mechanical, Diagnostics, SKYTAG Agent, Galvanized Chassis, Body Repair/Paint Shop Works Astwood Bank, Astwood Business Park, Astwood Lane, Redditch. B96 6HH Tel : +44(0)1527 892 377 Mobile : +44(0)7974075932 Email: info@astwood4x4.co.uk www.facebook.com/Astwood4x4 www.twitter.com/Astwood4x4
www.astwood4x4.co.uk 28 | JANUARY 2020
Scene AWAITING ADS.indd 28
because Britpart, which you might not immediately think of as the place to go for such hardware, has brought Detroit Lockers back into stock. The company’s dealer network offers rear lockers for the Land Rover Series III, Defender, Discovery 1 and Range Rover Classic in both 10 and 24-spline fitments, as well as for 24-spline Salisbury axles as found in the 110. The great thing about Detroit Lockers is that they work automatically. It could of course be argued that the great thing about Air-Lockers is that they DON’T work automatically, but this is something you’re far more likely to say about the one between your front wheels. Where Detroit also has an answer, though that’s another story. The Detroit Locker’s engineering design means that in normal conditions,
lockers are very, very effective offroad, allowing vehicles to maintain traction in hardcore mud and monster-level axle-twisters alike. They’re good, in other words. To find out how good will cost you something in the region of £550 plus fitting, depending on the unit you need. A visit to www. britpart.com will allow you to find your nearest dealer.
4x4 02/12/2019 20:37
OFF-ROAD SCENE
jeepspares.com for fast moving service and repair parts PRODUCTS
4SITE tyre centres now offering BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain in specialised 255/65R17 size for Nissan Pathfinder and D40 Navara
Vehicle Wiring Products
We supply a comprehensive range of wiring products for repair, modification or complete rewire to your vehicle
ca F ta re lo e gu
e Visit our website, phone or email for a free catalogue
www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk www.vehicleproducts.co.uk
Tel No: 0115 9305454 and email: sales@vehicleproducts.co.uk
Vehicle Wiring Products 9 Buxton Court, Manners Ind Est, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8EF
IF YOU DRIVE a Nissan Navara D40 or Pathfinder, your choice of tyres for off-road use has just taken a major step forward. That’s because the legend that is the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is now available in a 255/65R17 fitment – designed specifically to suit these popular trucks. The 255/65R17 offers the same features as the rest of the KM3 range – including ‘Mud-Phobic’ self-cleaning tread bars, a Linear Flex Zone to mould itself to the terrain when aired down and BFG’s Krawl-TEK compound which, the company says, will enhance grip on rock and slick surfaces. The tyres are strong, too, with CoreGard Max sidewall shielding and a penetration-resistant compound which between them shrug off the sort of cuts and bruises that come from driving on harsh terrain. They’re available in the UK from 4SITE 4x4 Tyres, with an RRP of £175 each; you can find out more by visiting www.4site4x4tyres.co.uk.
4x4 Scene AWAITING ADS.indd 29
S AV E
5%
W IT H
CO D E
“ L A N DY M
AG5”
£195 per unit plus subscriptions from £8.50 per month
JANUARY 2020 | 29
02/12/2019 20:38
LAND ROVER CLUBS: Book a free stand and receive 4 staff passes and half price advance and on the day ticket prices for all your members.
the
T A E R G H S I T I W BR O H S R E V O R D N A L D N A R O O IND ril 9th Ap 1 | d groun w o h S k SPONSOR Newar HEADLINE drich.co.uk
www.bfgoo
OUTDOOR S R EXHIBITO
HALF-PRICE TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
THE SHOW SEASON STARTER THAT’S GUARANTEED NOT TO BE RAINED OFF Newark Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2NY
All the best Land Rover kit, parts and merchandise. Special show offers and exclusive deals.
Find our exhibitor list online at
www.greatbritishlrshow.com Join our Facebook page for all the latest news about the show www.facebook.com/gblandrovershow
GBLRS Apr20_A4_NewPics.indd 2
02/12/2019 20:52
O
OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE & OUTDOOR LEISURE ZONE ➤ Drive your vehicle round our off road course with AWDC ➤ Land Rover only parking areas
+ further features to be announced...
Great British Land Rover Show
#GBLRS2020
sponsored by
19th April 2020, 10am to 4pm
HALF-PRICE TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
£7.50 in advance, £15 on the door. Under 14s go free
OFF-ROAD COURSE TICKETS £10 in advance, £15 on the day (limited availability)
See website for more details and to buy tickets!
In association with
Order online or call
01283 553243 GBLRS Apr20_A4_NewPics.indd 3
02/12/2019 20:53
DRIVEN
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
No longer the newcomer in Land Rover’s model line-up, but still the one whose all-round abilities every other vehicle aspires to matching ON TEST Discovery 3.0 SD6 HSE
T
he Discovery has been around for long enough now to feel like a well established part of the premium SUV landscape. Of course, Land Rover has just recently celebrated thirty years since the original was launched – and what a difference between that vehicle, basically a 100” Defender with a different shaped body and a nicer cabin, and the high-tech luxury wagon we have today. Tested here is the high-spec HSE model, equipped with Land Rover’s
32 | JANUARY 2020
3 Road Tests Jan.indd 32
306bhp SD6 diesel engine. It’s a high-speccer with a mighty list of equipment, which is as you’d expect for £65,205, and this one adds still more in the shape of £7565’s worth of options.
CABIN AND PRACTICALITY Inside, it’s what you expect from Land Rover, with a lovely, elegant design that’s deigned to make sure you don’t forget how much technology the vehicle is packing.
That said, the infotainment isn’t up there with the best – more recently launched systems from Volkswagen and Mercedes score higher for their wow factor. The graphics are good, nonetheless, and so is the system’s functionality. The screen itself is wide rather than tall, and it’s beautifully integrated into an overall dashboard whose build quality is everything it should be. So too are the materials around the cabin, with good quality leather upholstery on more or less everything that doesn’t move – including the seats, which of course do move but you get what we’re on about. They’re very comfortable, with an excellent driving position and loads of adjustability, and in addition in this model they’re both heated and cooled. They’re very roomy, too, with plenty of space in all directions and an absolutely imperious view all around. In this way, Land Rover has always been masterful, and the Discovery doesn’t change that.
It also lives up to its forebears’’ achievements by being a genuine seven-seater. The second row has bags of knee room and even the third can accommodate a pair of six-footers without those ahead being pushed so far forward as to be unusable. Land Rover’s use of space here is exemplary. It’s very good in terms of oddment stowage, too, with a big double glovebox, huge cubby and very decent usable door pockets as well as a nice, deep tray at the front of the floor console. You won’t struggle, however much you can produce from your pockets. For carrying big stuff, the second row folds very close indeed to flat, leaving no step at all. The result is a vast, van-like storage space, with a good low floor which you can drop even further down on the air suspension for easier loading. The third row folds completely flat, as you’d expect. It does so using a totally unnecessary jumble of buttons, which you might also expect. When Land Rover
4x4 30/11/2019 17:39
The Discovery’s interior is phenomenal in that it manages to combine elegant design, luxury, load-lugging capacity and genuine seven-seat accommodation in one stunningly flexible package. Land Rover’s info tech package is extremely powerful but not the most intuitive to operate. 3.0-litre SD6 diesel engine has 306bhp and 516lbf.ft and feels utterly effortless in all it does, on and off-road launched the Discovery, it ran an advert showing some sort of celeb adjusting the seats by app while doing a parachute jump – great if you’re trying to win an award for the cringiest gimmick of the year, but if you’re trying to get three kids and a load of shopping on board in a busy car park in the rain, it could be so much simpler.
DRIVING The SD6 engine is wonderfully smooth, quiet and refined – and as you’d expect with 306bhp and 516lbf.ft under your right foot, it pulls absolutely effortlessly. Some of us are old enough to remember a time when the trifling 180bhp and 231lbf.ft of the then-new 3.9-litre V8i felt absolutely unbelievable – the Disco tested here is about 15% heavier than that model, but this one gets you more than twice as far on a gallon of fuel and in terms of pace, it makes the old gas-guzzler look pedestrian. The gearbox on the back of it is excellent, too. It does what you tell it if you take control, but we found little need to do this as you can leave if in fully automatic mode and it reacts by doing exactly what you want, when you want it. There are various drive modes, too, which make subtle adjustments to the vehicle’s set up but which, again, aren’t really necessary as it’s very good at everything. That said, it’s not the most agile of vehicles in fast corners. You can tweak it with the mode menu, but ultimately if you want something that handles like a sports car there are better SUVs around. And sports cars. Considering the Discovery’s
4x4 3 Road Tests Jan.indd 33
size and weight, though, both of which are necessary by-products of its excellence in other areas, it’s still pretty remarkable how composed it is. Its steering feels completely natural at all speeds, too, and it’s great under braking. It also rides beautifully, drawing the sting of large bumps and gliding along in near-silence on the motorway. You hear its tyres on pattery road surfaces, but in terms of vibration here there’s nothing at all to feel. And where there are other SUVs that beat it in fast corners, there’s pretty much nothing in its class that can touch the Discovery offroad. Which is why most people reading this will gravitate towards it if they’re lucky enough to be in the market for such a vehicle. With the air springs raised and
low box engaged, its ability to find traction is remarkable, whether over slippery or very uneven surfaces. Land Rover’s Terrain Response feature is better than it used to be, too, though if you were to leave it switched off altogether the vehicle’s base-level abilities would get it through almost everything.
★★★★★
Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SD6 HSE Feels like the definitive version of an expensive but sensational all-rounder The Discovery is a superb all-rounder. It’s luxuriously equipped and appointed, stunningly practical and excellent on and offroad. It feels over-complicated in places, though, and it costs a fortune – however if you can afford it, this version rings true as the one to buy
JANUARY 2020 | 33
30/11/2019 17:40
DRIVEN
PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPE Porsche arrives late to the Coupe-SUV party – but the Cayenne makes the translation into a sportier body shape in predictably brilliant style
COUPE-SUVS ARE all the rage at the expensive end of the market, and it kind of stands to reason that Porsche is one of the most obvious names around to take advantage. Some of the company’s German rivals have been doing it for longer – amazingly, the BMW X6 is more than ten years old – but you could argue that the Cayenne was always a coupe at heart. Either way, now it’s a coupe for real. Based on the latest full-sized Cayenne, it’s sleek to look at and strikingly modern inside, with an overwhelmingly digital dashboard featuring lots of slick glass with high-res graphics. The seats are extremely comfortable and, perhaps surprisingly, allow enough head and leg room in the back for four six-footers to travel together without a problem. In this way, it does better than many more traditional SUVs, though up front the driving position is quite sporty, with low seats placing you closer to the action. Despite this, though, the waistline doesn’t feel too high, and the view out is more than adequate – though over your shoulder it’s basically absent due to the size and shape of the vehicle’s bodywork around its C-posts. Build quality is impeccable, with no creaks from the trim and an excellent standard of materials and controls throughout. It feels every inch the
34 | JANUARY 2020
3 Road Tests Jan.indd 34
premium sports car – so another surprise is that when those rear seats fold down, they do so to click into place just a few degrees off flat, leaving a long and very usable boot in which all 1540 litres are put to good use. It feels a little ridiculous to be praising a Porsche for such mundane things, but don’t let its cool curves fool you – this is every inch the SUV, with a level of practicality to put a good many more ‘serious’ wagons to shame. On the road, naturally, its job is to be better than more or less everything, and Porsche being Porsche it steps up to the challenge with serious purpose. The vehicle we tested was the entry-level model, with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine giving it 335bhp and 332lbf.ft; the latter is yours from an extremely willing 1340rpm, and the standard eight-speed auto box is very good at turning all that shove into seamless, linear urge. The quoted 0-62 time for our vehicle was 6.0-seconds, though it felt faster. If you want more, the Cayenne Coupe Turbo and Turbo S will both polish off the big sprint in less than four seconds, though you’ll spend six-figure money to make them yours. As it is, this base-speccer is an exceptional driving tool. Ours was equipped with various options, including air springs, active suspension and rear-axle steering, all of which help make the vehicle even better, but even in completely standard form its dynamics will blow you away. As tested (on some spectacularly wet and flooded roads), its poise was remarkable, with no apparent end to the available grip, and at all times it’s an absolute pleasure to steer, giving you loads of information about what’s going on at the wheels. Body control is impeccable, too, and however hard you press its agility in corners is remarkable. It stays composed over rough surfaces, too – and we say that having tested it over some of the most brutal roads in Britain. We’re forever saying that there’s only so much you can do to defeat the laws of nature; while that’s clearly true, there’s no impression at all here of a high-up weight fighting to break free. You can call it a style wagon, and coupe-SUVs may never be your thing, but there’s real substance here too. The Cayenne Coupe starts at £62,129, and the options on our tester kicked that up to £80,366, so we’re in very premium territory here, but you get a cracking drive for your cash – as well as the kind of practicality that made SUVs so popular in the first place.
4x4 30/11/2019 17:39
EXPERIENCED DRIVER DEPICTED
WHAT AR E YO U BU I LD I NG FOR ?
B U I LT T H R O U G H E X P E R I E N C E … E AR N E D O N T H E T R A I L BFGO ODRICH.CO.UK
800298_TireOnRock_RedBulletin_297x210.indd 1
21/09/2018 15:49
Foam C
Foam Cell Shock Absorbers
Large size and capacity - suitable in all conditions • 40mm Piston • Foam Cell Technology • 60mm Body • Twin Tube Construction • 18mm Piston Rod
Foam Cell Pro Shock Absorbers WCORDPS(1)091017
Maximum size and most robust design - suitable in all conditions
Untitled-2 1
• 45mm Piston • Foam Cell Technology • 66-72mm Body • Twin Tube Construction • 20mm Piston Rod
31/10/2017 11:02
Cell and Foam Cell Pro Suspension Kits 50mm Lift • Comfort and performance options • Load carrying, or un-laden solutions
SUSPENSION KITS FROM
Ford Ranger Mitsubishi Triton Toyota Hilux
£
1026
Foam Cell
Isuzu D-Max Volkswagen Amarok Nissan Navara (coil/coil) - £728
SUSPENSION KITS FROM
Ford Ranger Mitsubishi Triton Toyota Hilux
£
1199
Foam Cell Pro
Isuzu D-Max Volkswagen Amarok Nissan Navara (coil/coil) - £876 All prices include VAT, but exclude delivery and fitting
01704 229014 71 Gorsey Lane, Banks, Southport, PR98ED Untitled-2 1
31/10/2017 11:02
2020
PICK-UP OF THE LAST YEAR has been a tumultuous one in the pick-up market. With major model updates, aggressive facelifts, technical improvements and a variety of new models, a manufacturer whose range has stood still over the past twelve months is a rare thing indeed. The most talked about development by far has got to be the arrival of the Ford Ranger Raptor, but there’s also been plenty of visual drama from the restyled Mitsubishi L200 and Toyota Hilux – not to mention the Isuzu D-Max XTR, whose looks only start to hint at the spec upgrades it hides beneath the surface. There have been departures from the market, too. Fiat’s tenure as a pick-up maker proved short when the Fullback was withdrawn from sale, and two of our favourite individual models have also been axed. The Nissan Navara AT32, which won our Off-Road Award last year, no longer appears in the company’s price list, and the Volkswagen Amarok has gone back to being automatic-only – meaning you can no longer get one with a dual-range transfer box. The
2020 DCOTY Intro.indd 38
01/12/2019 22:00
THE YEAR
Navara has received a major set of technical improvements this year, however, while the Amarok has moved further upmarket and become available in more premium forms than ever. Also revised in a big way is the Ford Ranger, whose entire engine range has been replaced. The Raptor may be Dagenham’s new poster boy, but workaday models promise to be transformed too. That leaves the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and last year’s Best Value winner, the SsangYong Musso. As the most recently introduced pick-ups on the market, it’s perhaps not surprising that they have remained unchanged since last year, each continuing to offer its own strengths. Our annual Pick-Up of the Year awards are the longest-running and best respected benchmark by which the UK market is judged. Over the next 18 pages, we evaluate each vehicle separately – before announcing the best of the best as 2020’s Pick-Up of the Year. Will the Amarok retain its crown? Read on…
2020 DCOTY Intro.indd 39
01/12/2019 22:00
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
FORD RANGER
All-new 2.0 EcoBlue engines • Mild styling update • Raptor model joins UK range
T
he Ranger won the PickUp of the Year title in 2018 before losing out last year to the much-improved Volkswagen Amarok. Now it’s back in the running with improvements of its own – centred upon the switch from old-tech 2.2 and 3.0-litre engines to a 2.0-litre unit with a range of outputs. There’s also the small matter of the Raptor model. This has racebred suspension, a Baja setting in its drive mode palette and a bodykit that leaves you in no doubt that you’re looking at something special. As halo models go, it certainly is one – though what it’s not is a commer-
40 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY Ranger.indd 40
cial vehicle, at least in the eyes of the taxman, as it fails to meet the 1000kg payload capacity required to get your VAT back.
RANGE
The Raptor sits on top of a line-up including a wide range of work and lifestyle models. At the utility level, you get three cab styles – two and four-door, plus a Super-Cab in the middle with rear suicide doors. As before, there are two utility models, named XL and XLT, with Limited and Wildtrak being the high-speccers. Then comes the Raptor, but it’s best seen as being something a bit different to the rest.
As it is, all models are generous with the kit – even the most basic version of the Ranger has cruise, air-con, DAB and Bluetooth. There’s a choice of three outputs from the 2.0 EcoBlue engine: 130, 170 and 210bhp. In addition, a final run of the old 3.2 TDCi remains temporarily available in the Wildtrak. On top of this, the range now includes a new automatic transmission with no less than 10 ratios.
CABIN
The Ranger’s cabin has changed little as a consequence of its recent facelift, which is no problem as it was already one of the best in the
business. The seats are excellent and give you a great driving position, and in the double-cab those in the back are the roomiest on the market. Build quality isn’t quite up to Toyota Hilux standards, with one or two creaks from around the dash trim. However the controls are good and positive, and their layout is reasonably clear. We think the graphics on the various buttons could be easier to read, though. Among the upgrades added this year is an enhanced connectivity set-up whose features include a mobile wi-fi hot spot and access to app-based remote control functions. There’s new safety equipment, too,
4x4 30/11/2019 17:51
PRICING List (ex-VAT) OTR (inc VAT) XL 2.0 130 Regular Cab XL 2.0 170 Regular Cab XL 2.0 170 Super Cab XL 2.0 170 Double Cab XLT 2.0 170 Super Cab XLT 2.0 170 Double Cab Limited 2.0 170 Super Cab Limited 2.0 170 Double Cab 1 Limited 2.0 210 Double Cab 1 Wildtrak 3.2 Double Cab 2 Wildtrak 2.0 210 Double Cab 1 Raptor 2.0 210 Double Cab auto 1
Auto extra £1450 + VAT
2
£20,845 £21,495 £22,295 £23,095 £23,245 £24,045 £26,795 £27,595 £28,295 £29,895 £29,745 £39,895
£25,925 £26,705 £27,665 £28,625 £28,805 £29,765 £33,065 £34,025 £34,865 £36,785 £36,605 £48,785
Auto extra £1300 + VAT
CONCLUSION Unpromising as it may sound, the move to smaller engines has been a big success. The 2.0-litre unit is smooth, refined and full of power, and while we prefer the manual gearbox, the new auto is a good one. The Ranger is great value, too. The Raptor stretches things, in every sense, but the regular range gives you a great deal. Again, in every sense. including an intelligent speed limiter and pedestrian detection with autonomous emeregency braking. High-specification models also get a new Easy-Lift tailgate, which uses a gas strut to take the effort out of the job – and, perhaps more importantly, removes the danger associated with letting one crash down out of control.
DRIVING
Something else the new Ranger gains is active noise cancelling. This is reserved for higher-spec double-cab models, but even without it the cabin is a pleasingly refined place to be. The 2.0-litre engine
4x4 2020 DCOTY Ranger.indd 41
doesn’t become raucous, whether under acceleration or when cruising at speed, and wind and road noise are well suppressed too. This is the case with both the six-speed manual and ten-speed auto gearboxes. The latter can be controlled manually, but in our experience so far we’ve found that doing so can take some of the smoothness out of the shifts, so we’d be inclined to let it make its own mind up. Actually, where possible we’d be inclined to choose the manual instead, as it’s one of the nicest to use in any pick-up we’ve driven. Whichever combination of drivetrain and model you go for, the
Ranger rides and handles with impressive composure. Needless to say, the Raptor is especially strong here, as it should be with 2.5” internal bypass Fox shocks on all four corners. It’s on the firm side, but you can batter it down a corrugated track and the control they’ll give you beggars belief. It really is like driving a race truck, albeit one with a luxurious cabin. As this suggests, the Raptor is a capable off-roader – albeit one whose intent is rather different to the rest of the range. Either way, the Ranger is very sure-footed and tractable over rough terrain – far more so, certainly, than its size
would suggest. A locking rear diff helps here – it’s standard at the top of the range and optional elsewhere, as part of a sensationally good value package also including an alarm and underbody protection for just £300 plus VAT. On the subject of money, there’s a huge gap between the entry-level and top-spec Rangers – especially as you can’t get your VAT back on the latter. Whichever you drive, though, it’s a wonderfully confidence-inspiring experience – that can be said of most pick-ups, of course, but the Ranger feels articularly hefty, assured and imposing on the road.
JANUARY 2020 | 41
30/11/2019 17:51
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
ISUZU D-MAX
Wide range, frequent special editions • Replaced by all-new model late next year
I
t could be argued that Isuzu knows more about selling pick-up trucks than anyone else in the UK. That’s because the D-Max is the only vehicle it offers in this country – and the approach the company takes certainly stands out from the crowd. It has a non-traditional sales network, including several agricultural machinery dealers in addition to the more familiar city showrooms, which has helped it make great strides among agricultural customers. Most other double-cabs have a strong sales bias towards highspec models, but the D-Max is the
42 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY D-Max.indd 42
other way round, with utility trucks accounting for an unusually large proportion of its business.
RANGE
Despite this, the top of the D-Max range includes some of the most expensive and eye-catching pick-ups around. This is down to Isuzu’s partnership with Arctic Trucks, whose AT35 conversion is pricey but certainly eye-catching. Isuzu has a policy of offering a different special-edition D-Max every three months; in the last year, these have included the AT35-based Safir, complete with a £45,000+VAT price
tag, and at the other end of the scale the utility-focused Workman Plus. However the most recent addition to the range is the XTR, whose 3” suspension lift, 32” all-terrain tyres and enhanced braking make it one of the most capable off-road performers anywhere in the new car market. With a wild front-end bodykit, Isuzu says it was conceived to attract the sort of people who buy accessorised Ford Rangers from aftermarket styling companies, as well as to attract customers’ attention to other high-spec D-Max models. This primarily means the range-topping Blade, which comes
on strong with big alloys, a 9” media screen and some of the best-looking leather seats you’ll see anywhere. Another excellent offering is the Huntsman option pack, which turns the mid-range Utah model into a ready-to-go support truck for sport shooters and countrymen in general. If you don’t like chrome, it’s likely to be your favourite pick-up of all time – there’s none of the stuff, and instead, you get things like heavy-duty floor mats and seat covers, underbody protection, a rear canopy and a top-quality rear drawer system. You can get it with an optional suspension lift, too. Not quite as
4x4 30/11/2019 17:45
PRICING Utility Single-Cab Utility Extended Cab Utility Double-Cab Eiger Double-Cab* Yukon Extended Cab Yukon Double-Cab* Yukon Nav+ Extended Cab Yukon Nav+ Double-Cab* Utah Double-Cab* Blade Double-Cab* XTR Double-Cab* XTR Nav+ Double-Cab* AT35 Double-Cab* * Auto extra £1000 plus VAT
List (ex-VAT)
OTR (inc VAT)
£18,394 £19,194 £19,994 £21,194 £21,194 £22,194 £22,344 £23,344 £24,894 £27,994 £33,184 £34,334 £37,740
£22,987 £23,947 £24,907 £26,347 £26,347 £27,547 £27,727 £28,927 £30,787 £34,507 £40,735 £42,115 £46,203
CONCLUSION The D-Max is coming into its last year on sale in the UK. An all-new model has already been unveiled in Thailand, where it’s built; this has the styling and, in particular, the interior to take a quantum leap forward when it arrives here towards the end of 2020. In the meantime, the current D-Max is arguably a better prospect now than at any time since its launch in 2012. The range of options available to buyers has greater breadth and depth than those offered by any other vehicle, and with it Isuzu shows an understanding of the off-road business that few others can match. much as the XTR’s, but enough to make a difference in the real world.
CABIN
The D-Max has a stout, roomy cabin with an excellent driving position and some of the best rear legroom in the business. It’s not the classiest to sit in, but few are better suited to long stints behind the wheel. Utility models are, well, utilitarian inside, but they’re no less convincing for it. You’re still surrounded by large amounts of hard plastic even at the top of the range, though there’s a toughness to it that means this is no problem, and of course here the
4x4 2020 DCOTY D-Max.indd 43
effect is softened by all the leather and electronic toys. The Huntsman pack is about as convincing as it gets, too – it’s not as luxurious as the Blade, but seldom have we driven anything as fit for purpose. Every model is well made and well laid out inside, and you can easily seat one six-footer behind another. Headroom is a touch limited in the back, but the only current double-cab with a more spacious cabin overall is the Ford Ranger.
DRIVING
Across the range, you get a 1.9-litre diesel engine with 164bhp and
265lbf.ft, the latter from 2000rpm. And if the only thing standing between you and a new D-Max is the engine’s comparative lack of horsepower, the good news is that any Isuzu dealer can perform a post-registration conversion that’ll get the figure far closer to 200bhp. As it is, the engine has plenty of guts to it – enough to shift a laden D-Max confidently, and to deal with a 3500kg trailer weight. It’s on the noisy side, however, especially when it’s cold and/or mated to an automatic gearbox, but it’s plenty more civilised at cruising speeds than around town.
Overall, the D-Max is an easy truck to get used to, calm on the motorway and predictable enough to be hustled along just fine on A and B-roads. The engine has plenty of pull throughout its rev range and, while the auto box provokes a lot of noise at lower speeds, it’s one of the more responsive in the pick-up market once you’re up and running. The D-Max is also particularly agile off-road, even in standard form – and versions with lifted suspension, in particular the more flexible set-up on the XTR, are better still. There’s no form of locking or limited-slip diff in the rear axle, however.
JANUARY 2020 | 43
30/11/2019 17:45
Untitled-3 1
03/09/2019 14:16
THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING ISUZU D-MAX
GAME CHANGER
PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
2019
BEST MODEL
Trade Van Driver 2019 DS AWAR
WINNER Pick-up of the Year
CALL 03303 335126 OR VISIT ISUZU.CO.UK TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE #Over 40 MPG figure applies to manual transmission models. MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Official fuel figures for the Isuzu D-Max range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 30.4 - 38.7 (9.3 - 7.3). Extra Urban 40.9 - 50.4 (6.9 - 5.6). Combined 36.2 - 45.6 (7.8 - 6.2). CO2 emissions 163 - 205g/km. For full details please contact your local Isuzu dealer or visit isuzu.co.uk *3.5 tonne towing applies to all 4x4 models. **125,000 miles/5 year (whichever comes first) warranty applies to all new Isuzu D-Max models. Terms and conditions apply. Visit isuzu.co.uk
22693 Isuzu 4x4 Magazine Ad_1.indd 1
02/12/2019 12:16
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS
Choice of 2.3 and 3.0-litre diesels • Premium branding • Based on Nissan Navara
T
he X-Class has been around for two years now and has gained a place for itself in the pick-up market – without being the revolutionary new double-cab people were waiting for during its lengthy development process. Most people are aware that Mercedes based the X-Class on the Nissan Navara. When it was launched, the company described it as the first pick-up from a premium manufacturer; Land Rover might have something to say about that, but the idea of a Merc double-cab certainly did excite would-be buyers.
46 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY X-Class.indd 46
Whether it has lived up to the early hype is open to question. It certainly offers something out of the ordinary – but is it special enough to live up to the Mercedes name, and of course its own hefty price tag?
RANGE
There are two full-time spec levels in the X-Class range, called Progressive and Power, however Mercedes augments these with what looks as if it’s going to become a steady procession of special editions. The latest of these is the Element model, which adds a load of luxury and styling features to the Progressive
trim and finishes them off with a lairy set of decals along the sides of the rear bed. As it is, all X-Class models get a strong level of kit, with a 7” high-definition media screen and rotary controller standard across the range. Setting the vehicle apart from most of its rivals is that it offers a choice of three engines. All are diesel, of course; there’s a 2.3-litre unit in two states of tune, called 220 d and 250 d and developing 163 and 190bhp respectively, and a 3.0-litre V6 called 350 d and producing 258bhp and 405lbf.ft. The 220 d is manual only and the 350 d is exclu-
sively auto, while the 250 d can be had with either.
CABIN
The dashboard has a minimalist feel to its design which is very Mercedes, and very much at odds to the norm in the pick-up sector. Depending on the materials its trimmed in, it can look rather elegant or somewhat bald; said materials are of a good standard, as is the vehicle’s switchgear, though overall build quality doesn’t come across as powerfully as it does in Merc’s SUVs. To be fair, it comes across very powerfully indeed in those, so that’s
4x4 30/11/2019 17:52
PRICING X 220 d Progressive X 250 d Progressive X 250 d Progressive auto X 250 d Element auto X 350 d V6 Power auto
List (ex-VAT)
OTR (inc VAT)
£29,365 £30,095 £31,435 £36,665 £39,510
£36,633 £37,509 £39,117 £45,393 £48,807
CONCLUSION The X-Class is based on a good truck in the Navara, and a good truck is what it remains – with a bit extra besides to help it live up to the expectations placed on it by the badge on its bonnet. Whether that extra is enough to create a convincing Mercedes is another matter – though with the 350 d Power currently listing at £47,412, the company certainly seems confident about it. To us, the X-Class has a little too much of a me-too vibe. It does hide its Navara underpinnings quite well, but they come back to haunt it in its miserable rear legroom and headroom. Surely a proper new Mercedes pick-up should have set a new benchmark for cabin space? That’s the most obvious failing of a truck which, while good in many ways, just isn’t special enough to carry off its premium status and price tag. not a big black mark. However by basing its vehicle on the Navara, Mercedes has inherited on of that model’s biggest failings. Whereas you’d expect a newcomer to the market to set new standards in areas like cabin space, the X-Class has cramped rear head and leg room which let it down badly. The front seats are good, however, with plenty of support meaning you can sit in them for hours on end and remain comfortable. And the media system is excellent – even if the screen is mounted on the dashboard rather than in it, jutting out rather awkwardly in an aftermarket
4x4 2020 DCOTY X-Class.indd 47
kind of a way. A useful feature of the back seats is that they fold up to reveal a usefully large hidden luggage bin, though oddment stowage up front is a lot less exciting.
DRIVING
The 350 d is the attention grabber in the X-Class range, but to us the 250 d is the one to have. Rather oddly, it comes with an auto gearbox as standard and a manual as an option, and the latter suits it perfectly. The same engine labours a little under acceleration in auto form, but with the manual unit it pulls like a train in every gear. You can hustle
it and get good results, but there’s so much in-gear shove that really there’s no need to do that. You do get a bit of engine noise on the way up, but at motorway speeds it settles to a smooth, quiet cruise which is definitely in keeping with the premium status the X-Class claims. Its ride smoothes itself out, too, not quite getting to SUV territory but soothing the inevitable jolts and shudders you get on all but the flattest surfaces. Something else the X-Class gains from its Navara heritage is a coil-sprung back axle, and this helps refine the way it rides, but no way is it a cure-all for the
consequences of being designed to carry a tonne in the back. It’s fussy and jiggly over urban bumps and corrugations, but once the speed picks up body control proves to be excellent and steering predictable. Off-road, those rear coils allow a good level of suppleness and help combat the non-stop jouncing you can get in pick-ups. The X-Class can pick its way over very uneven ground, and depending on tyre choice find traction in pretty sloppy places – there’s an optional rear locker to help here, and we’d also be looking at the +20mm raised suspension Mercedes offers.
JANUARY 2020 | 47
30/11/2019 17:52
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
MITSUBISHI L200
Newly facelifted • Revised engine, new auto box • Enhanced brakes and suspension
M
itsubishi doesn’t always do itself any favours with its styling. There have been some pretty tarty iterations of the L200 over the years – but none have come close to matching this year’s new model for sheer in-yourface presence. This takes the company’s ‘dynamic shield’ design language and dishes it up on a grand scale. And here’s where Mitsubishi might not be doing itself justice – because unlike the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara, both of which have also been revised this year, you have to see beyond the L200’s epic lairiness if
48 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY L200 IN PROGRESS.indd 48
you want to spot the fact that down below, it also has a new story to tell in terms of its engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension.
RANGE
There are four trim levels in the L200 range, with the base-spec 4Life offering a choice of Club Cab and Double Cab bodies. Elsewhere, it’s wall to wall double-cabs. There’s something else that the 4Life offers, however, which is a locking rear diff. Higher-spec models get a fancier transmission with a choice of part-time and fulltime four-wheel drive options for the road, and they also come with
traction control instead of the rear locker. Given that the 4Life also has air-con, Bluetooth and, in Double-Cab form, 16” alloys and cruise control, you might reasonably think it’s got all you need. Continue upwards, though, and the L200 becomes a firmly premium vehicle. In particular, in addition to the usual bigger alloys, leather seats and infotainment systems, it has a much improved set of safety features – though you need to go all the way to the top of the range to get them. The L200 also gains a set of OffRoad Mode options, with settings for Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and
Rock. Again, this is only available in the top two models, both of which have 18” wheels; you can decide for yourself whether that sounds like a better idea than the base-speccer with its 16-inchers and rear locker.
CABIN
The Off-Road mode is engaged by a button on the floor console, next to the rotary dial that operates the transfer case. Switchgear is good in general, with a logical layout and graphics that are easy to read, and the facia is styled with the same vibrancy as the vehicle itself. It looks funky despite being executed in fairly plain, hard plastics
4x4 03/12/2019 18:23
PRICING Club Cab 4Life Double Cab 4Life Double Cab Warrior* Double Cab Barbarian* Double Cab Barbarian X Auto *Auto extra
List (ex-VAT)
OTR (inc VAT)
£21,200 £22,400 £26,085 £28,985 £31,885 £1400 + VAT
£25,755 £27,195 £31,617 £35,097 £38,577
CONCLUSION The L200 looks very different from before, and indeed it IS very different from before. But considering the amount of changes Mitsubishi has made, it’s surprisingly similar to drive to the old model. Not that this is a bad thing. The L200 has always handled with verve, and its suspension allows you to make the most of it the vehicle’s natural body roll. There’s less power on tap now, though. Styling-wise, we know people who would actually be embarrassed to drive something so self-conscious. If it’s for you, however, the new model is every bit as good as it looks. that feel quite scratchy to the touch. This contrasts with the seats which, in the Barbarian X model, look really good with their suede and leather finish and ‘six-pack’ styling. They’re comfortable, too, and as spacious as you could ask for. It’s not as roomy in the back, however, where a six-footer will sit with his head touching the roof and, if he’s riding behind a similarly tall driver, his knees pressed into the back of the seat ahead. The infotainment system is effective and responds very quickly to commands, though its screen isn’t huge. Even at the top of the range, you don’t get sat-nav – the
4x4 2020 DCOTY L200 IN PROGRESS.indd 49
system supports phone pairing, and Mitsubishi leaves it to you to use this for navigation instead. Stowage provision is everything you could want, without breaking any new ground. And that could be a verdict on the interior as a whole – it’s classy, good looking, well equipped and well made, but it doesn’t move the game forward.
DRIVING
The L200 now has a 2.3-litre engine, which replaces the old 2.4 unit and promises to be much cleaner and more efficient. Don’t expect it to be much quicker, however, with 150bhp and 296lbf.ft, though the latter
comes in at lower revs than on the old model and you do feel it pulling very willingly from tickover. It’s not the quietest of units in operation, with a bit of a bark as the revs rise – which they do, a little more than we’d like, with the new auto box. Paddle-shifting it works well enough, but it’s still no substitute for the control a manual gives – and which you therefore can’t have if you want the full-house model. You don’t normally get a new chassis to talk about on facelifted vehicles, but Mitsubishi says the L200’s frame has been strengthened and fitted with new springs and shocks. We’ll be honest and say we
saw little difference compared to the previous version, which was already a lot of fun in corners – again, so long as you were stirring a manual box. We found ourselves longing to be doing this at times aboard the Barbarian X, but there’s no denying its dynamic skills. It does fidget somewhat on rough roads, however. We thought it felt heavier than the old one, and a glance at the figures confirms this. That won’t help it off-road, either, though the L200 does have all the right stuff to excel on rough ground. Again, however, we’d be looking lower down the model range for the best specification here.
JANUARY 2020 | 49
03/12/2019 18:23
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
NISSAN NAVARA
Minor styling and major technical updates • Coil-sprung rear now on all models
T
he Navara is one of several pick-ups to have had a facelift this year. While some have gone for a radical restyle, however, Nissan has kept it subtle and concentrated on deep-down technical enhancements – and the result is the most improved truck on the market. The revised Navara is the first vehicle in the world to be equipped with Nissan’s new six-speed manual gearbox. The seven-speed auto option has been revised, too, while the 2.3 dCi engine has been tuned for greater efficiency and, at the bottom of the range, greater torque. The Navara also gains improvements to its steering, suspension
50 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY Navara.indd 50
and brakes, with the latter featuring rear discs instead of the previous drums. On the high-tech side, Trailer Sway Assist comes in across the range to back up the many other safety features already in place.
RANGE
The Navara range has contracted since last year, with the withdrawal of the AT32 Off-Roader model. That’s a shame, because it was our favourite UK pick-up of all time, but there’s still a wide range of spec levels on offer that covers more or less everything the market wants. These include the Tekna, which is not quite the range-topper but which, with a wide range of equip-
ment and luxuries like leather seats, is as convincing a pick-up as you’ll find when it comes to the holy grail of feeling like an SUV. The big news for the facelifted Navara, however, comes at the other end of the range – specifically the King-Cab, a work-focused body shape which some manufacturers don’t even bother with at all. Here, Nissan has adopted the five-link coil-sprung rear axle which has featured on double-cab models since the current Navara was introduced in 2015. The King-Cab has remained leaf-sprung until now, however the revised model gains the latest two-stage version of the coiled set-up – which comes in
across the range to lift the vehicle’s rear end by 25mm, giving it a more striking stance than ever. There’s a big negative, however, which is that the AT32 Off-Roader has dropped out of Nissan’s range. In our view, this was the best of the Arctic Trucks models offered by various UK pick-up importers, so its absence from the new price list leaves a gap in the range.
CABIN
We’ve always been fans of the Navara’s interior styling, but vehicles we’ve tested from previous model years have not always convinced us in the way they’ve been put together. The revised model seems to have
4x4 30/11/2019 17:49
PRICING List (ex-VAT) OTR (inc VAT) 163 Visia Chassis King-Cab 163 Visia Chassis Double-Cab 163 Visia King-Cab 163 Visia Double-Cab 163 Acenta King-Cab 163 Acenta Double-Cab 190 N-Connecta Double-Cab* 190 Tekna Double-Cab* 190 N-Guard Double-Cab* * Auto extra £1600 plus VAT
£21,850 £22,700 £22,150 £23,000 £23,100 £23,950 £26,875 £28,525 £29,525
£26,220 £27,240 £26,580 £27,600 £27,720 £28,740 £32,250 £34,230 £37,350
CONCLUSION Nissan has only made very modest styling changes to the Navara. These do give it a usefully more imposing appearance, particularly from the front, but what really makes the difference to the facelifted model is the way it drives. The Navara was already a stellar pick-up in its all-round road manners. And with a brilliant new manual gearbox at its heart, it’s now smoother and more pleasing than ever to drive. Its rear seats remain cramped for adults, and we mourn the passing of the AT32 model, but it’s a superb all-round work truck – and as an overall proposition, it’s now the most SUV-like pick-up there is. moved significantly ahead here, with rock-solid build quality apparent throughout the cabin. The back seats remain cramped for adults, with limited legroom when you’re sitting behind a tall driver and serious headroom issues on vehicles with a sunroof. This is standard on the range-topping N-Guard, which as far as we’re concerned is a deal-breaker for that model, but so long as you don’t tick the box by accident when ordering a Tekna you’ll be okay. The biggest change on the new model, however, is the adoption of a much improved infotainment system. This has a bigger screen and a more powerful interface, with
4x4 2020 DCOTY Navara.indd 51
crisper graphics and hassle-free phone pairing as well as prompt response times – and, no small thing, it’s well integrated into the design of the dashboard, making it look like it’s meant to be there. The new system is standard on N-Connecta models and above. It also includes a rear-view camera – extremely useful in a pick-up, though it’s prone to being blinded by other people’s headlights and we found that in wet and wintry conditions, the lens tends to get grotted up.
DRIVING
We’ve spent a lot of time aboard Navaras since the current model was launched. We’ve come to
admire it greatly as a consequence –yet the improvements Nissan has made to the revised version were very noticeable. In particular, the new gearbox is exceptional, with a beautifully smooth, precise operation that makes it a pleasure to use. Its spread of ratios allows the engine’s torque to be accessed more easily, too – in-gear pull is stronger, particularly at around-town speeds, meaning you can drag it up on to the cam with a twitch of the loud pedal where previously you would have been dropping a cog and using revs, and therefore diesel. The engine is quieter than ever, too, with a smoothness that makes
it really easy to live with whether you’re carving your way around town or cruising on the motorway. In both these scenarios, too, revisions to its steering and front suspension make it more positive to drive as well as adding a new level of refinement. It’s extremely confidence-inspiring under braking, too – which it already was, but the upgraded hardware means less pedal effort is required when things get scary. Off-road, too, it remains totally commanding. In low range, the Navara is surer-footed than ever over rough terrain – and even at higher speed on smoother, looser tracks, its revised suspension helps it maintain steady traction.
JANUARY 2020 | 51
30/11/2019 17:49
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
SSANGYONG MUSSO
High-spec, high-value offering • Coil-sprung rear axle • Cabin based on Rexton SUV
T
he Musso is based on SsangYong’s brilliant Rexton, giving it a cabin that’s more SUV-like than anything else in the pick-up market. It also comes with a monumental 7-year, 150,000-mile warranty – and yet it’s cheaper to buy than any of its like-for-like competitors. You get loads of kit for your money, even in entry-level EX form, and the list at the top of the range sounds like something from a premium SUV. Yes, that’s what budget brands do, and that’s how SsangYong is still perceived by many people – but the company’s latest products absolutely deserve
52 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY Musso.indd 52
to be seen as credible alternatives to rivals from the likes of, in this case, Toyota, Isuzu and Nissan.
RANGE
There are four models in the Musso range. Even the base-spec EX is well equipped, and beyond that it gets quite astonishing by pick-up standards. The second-up Rebel model gets heated and cooled front seats, while the Saracen and Rhino above it gain nappa leather, cruise control and a 9.2” media screen with navigation and rear-view camera. You get the idea. Buy a Musso, any Musso, and you’ll be looked after. In particular, the Rexton’s
qualities haven’t been lost in the transformation into a commercial vehicle – whether you’re sat in cloth or leather seats, the styling and materials on the dash in front of you are as SUV-like as anything you’ll find in a double-cab. The Rhino is also SUV-like in that it comes exclusively in auto form, while the EX is only available as a manual. The mid-range models have the latter box as standard, with the auto a £1250 option.
CABIN
While SsangYong’s interior styling manages to create a genuinely premium image in the Rexton
SUV form, it doesn’t quite feel as effortlessly classy as the best of its rivals in pick-up form. Perhaps it feels a little out of place, particularly in a vehicle which makes much of its ability as a workhorse. The VW Amarok, for instance, is more truck-like but remains unbeaten for sheer quality – though of course at a higher price than the Musso. Having said that, the Musso’s cabin is extremely well put together, it’s trimmed in quality materials and the controls are well laid out and pleasing to operate. Something else that’s worthy of note, too, is that never in our entire experience of doing this job have so many people
4x4 30/11/2019 17:48
PRICING EX Rebel Rebel auto Saracen Saracen auto Rhino auto
List (ex-VAT)
OTR (inc VAT)
£20,680 £23,180 £24,430 £25,680 £26,930 £28,930
£25,131 £28,131 £29,631 £31,131 £32,631 £35,031
CONCLUSION The Musso continues to offer something different to the rest of the pickup market, with its combination of SUV-like interior styling, coil-sprung articulation and heavy-duty load-carrying capability. It’s not the best in the market at anything, but it’s very competent all-round and offers a very strong combination of lifestyle and work-truck skills. It does this at a price, and with a warranty, which between them make a real impression. With so much strong competition, this will continue to be what attracts people to the Musso – it’s a good truck at a high-value price, but in reality there’s more to it than just being a bargain. climbed into a vehicle we’ve been testing and immediately remarked on how comfortable its seats were. That was in an EX model, whose fabric trim provides an excellent combination of tactile feel and hard-wearing toughness. As you go higher up the range, the leather option is far nicer than what you’ll find in a lot of other pick-ups. Legroom for those in the rear is limited if you find yourself riding behind a tall driver, which isn’t great as the seat-back ahead of you is hard and bluff without any sculpting for your knees. Loading up with a full crew of hefty six-footers requires a bit of compromise as a result, but
4x4 2020 DCOTY Musso.indd 53
headroom in the back is way better than average.
DRIVING
The Musso is powered by a 2.2-litre turbo diesel-engine producing 181bhp and 295lbf.ft. It pulls strongly throughout the whole of its rev range and is seldom noisy, only making its presence felt a little if you hang on to a gear for too long under heavy acceleration – at which point it becomes somewhat gruff. It calms right down once you’re up to speed, too – though it’s replaced by a constant background road rumble coupled with wind noise from around the door mirrors
and A-pillars. This, coupled with steering which needs constant adjustments to keep it on line on the motorway, means it’s not the most relaxing of cruisers. Ride quality doesn’t completely settle down here either, though it’s by no means bad. You feel the bumps from behind you, but they’re well controlled and distant enough not to be upsetting, even when running unladen. SsangYong introduced a suspension upgrade post-introduction in a bid to improve the Musso’s road manners, however even before this we felt it steered and handled with as much agility as you’ve a right to expect from any one-tonner.
We’re lukewarm about the manual gearbox, though, whose clutch was too fierce for us ever to get used to. And another reason to choose an auto is that it allows you to tow 3500kg. The manual will still haul 3200kg, but every kilo counts for an awful lot of pick-up buyers. Off-road, the Musso’s coil-sprung rear axle articulates very well over really uneven ground, allowing it to maintain contact and therefore traction – which is necessary as there’s no locking diff to fall back on. You’ll probably want the EX for any kind of off-road work, as it has 17” wheels – the rest of the range goes up to 18” and then 20”.
JANUARY 2020 | 53
30/11/2019 17:48
THE MUSSO KEEPS PICKING UP AWARDS 4X4 OF THE YEAR
BEST PICK-UP SsangYong Musso
Over 1 tonne payload
Selectable 4x4 with low range
3.5 tonne towing capacity
9.2” touchscreen
Only pick-up with a 7-year warranty
FROM
£20,995
EX VAT*
Fuel consumption figures in mpg. Musso: Urban 25.9-29.1, Extra Urban 39.2-40.9, Combined 32.8-35.8. CO2 emissions in g/km 226-211. *Musso EX including delivery charge, road licence
& first registration charge. Model shown is Musso Saracen priced at £26,545 ex VAT inc. optional metallic paint at £550. 3.5 tonne towing capacity only with automatic transmission. Wheels shown are not available in the UK, please see website for further information. Warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 miles. Prices are correct at the time of going to print but may be modified or changed at any time.
SSA010016 Musso A4 Awards V3.indd 1
29/11/2019 14:44
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
TOYOTA HILUX
Most SUV-like Hilux ever • Wide range of work models • Modest updates for 2020 •
T
he Hilux is a bit like your annoying mate who turns up to a nightclub in yesterday’s jeans and T-shirt, somehow gets allowed in and then stands there making no effort while a steady stream of girls come up to flirt with him. While other manufacturers are constantly working to keep their pick-up ranges fresh, Toyota lets its star performer do its thing, year after year – and it keeps on getting vast results just by being the Hilux. The current version of the Hilux is the physically strongest there’s ever been, which is saying something when you consider the worldclass robustness for which the
56 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY Hilux.indd 56
vehicle has long been known. Toyota says it’s also the most SUV-like, with a higher than ever level of kit and refinement to go with its build quality and all-round capabilities.
RANGE
There’s only one engine in the range, the 2.4 D-4D, and with 150bhp it’s a lot less powerful than those offered by the Hilux’s rivals. This isn’t a problem in itself, but at the top of the range you have high-spec models competing against vehicles whose performance beats it by a long way. There are four models in the range, including the entry-level Active – a work truck with steel wheels and a just-enough approach
to spec, which is a popular choice among no-nonsense users. Most private sales go higher up, though, and it’s here that the Hilux has seen its biggest development in the past year, with a new styling pack on the range-topping Invincible X model. This has also been reintroduced in manual form, while other versions of the vehicle have gained enhanced safety equipment and improvements to the engine’s efficiency. At the very top, Toyota’s price list includes AT35 models based on automatic versions of the Invincible and Invincible X. There’s no other sign of these on the company’s website, though – but with prices climbing to £56,746 for the latter,
we’re sure you’ll get the dealer’s undivided attention if you show up asking for one.
CABIN
Build quality throughout the Hilux’s cabin is nothing short of outstanding. Fixtures and fittings are rock-solid, as is the basic structure beneath them – you’ll go a long way to find a truck that feels more like it’ll still be creak-free and fully functioning after half a decade’s abuse at the hands of a construction crew. This makes the base-spec Active model feel particularly convincing. Its seats are excellent, providing a superb driving position and giving you all the support you need to still
4x4 30/11/2019 17:47
PRICING List (ex-VAT) OTR (inc VAT) Active Single-Cab Active Wide Body Single-Cab Active Extra Cab Active Double-Cab Icon Double-Cab* Invincible Double-Cab* Invincible X Double-Cab* Invincible AT35 Double-Cab auto Invincible X AT35 Double-Cab auto * Auto extra £1250 plus VAT
£19,503 £19,815 £21,061 £21,836 £25,024 £26,120 £29,261 £43,150 £46,420
£24,445 £24,820 £26,315 £27,245 £31,070 £32,285 £36,155 £52,821 £56,746
CONCLUSION The Hilux has been around for more than fifty years, and for much of that time it had the market more or less to itself. Things have changed now, and it’s had to reinvent itself – which it has done quite well, without throwing itself into the truck-as-SUV craze as wholeheartedly as some of its rivals. You certainly get a lot of kit at the top of the range, and for less money than some of the more extravagant pick-ups in the market. But we feel that the Hilux is at its most convincing in built-to-work form – and can’t shake the impression that it’s waiting for pick-ups to go back out of fashion and turn back into tools of the trade. be feeling fresh a couple of hundred miles up the road. If you’re carrying a crew of strapping lads, however, they might find the rear seats a bit short on knee room. There are worse options here, but you won’t go far in the back of a Hilux without wishing you were in a Ford Ranger instead. Range-topping models are similarly excellent in terms of front-seat comfort, and this time you get swathes of leather to help you along. We think there are places where the cabin’s design falls short of being properly SUV-like, however. The graphics on the multimedia system aren’t as classy as some other’s, for example (most notably
4x4 2020 DCOTY Hilux.indd 57
the VW Amarok’s), and the module itself is mounted proud of the dashboard rather than being integrated into it. Many other manufacturers do the same thing, but it’s particularly awkward looking here.
DRIVING
Something we didn’t like about the Hilux last year was that if you wanted to get the range-topping Invincible X, you had no choice but to get it with an automatic gearbox. Toyota has put that right since then, reintroducing the manual model in its latest range of updates. This is particularly important as you want your flagship to be your best vehicle – and the 2.4-litre
engine is definitely better mated to a manual box. It’s not the slickest in operation, but there’s a mechanical feel to the stick-shifter which makes it very satisfying to use. The auto, by contrast, too often feels as if it’s asking too much of the engine’s 150bhp. It’s smooth enough most of the time, but towards the top and when swift acceleration is called for, the vehicle feels sluggish. What it lacks here in get-up-and-go, it gives you back in noise, so while refinement is generally fine it drops off under a heavy throttle. The good news, then, is that you don’t need much gas to get it bowling along. Ride quality is good, however, and the Hilux is agile enough not to trou-
ble you on the open road. It’s docile around town, too – one area where the auto is in its element. Toyota hasn’t been seduced by colossal alloys, so even at the top end it’s only on 18-inchers, meaning all versions cope well with poor road surfaces. They’re good off-road, too. We’d definitely choose a lower-spec model here, as they come on nice, tall 17” tyres, but any Hilux will tackle rough terrain with real competence. Toyota knows the value of a locking rear diff, and all models have one as standard, which allows you to pick your way over the surface – and, when running unladen, can be used to compensate for the lack of weight over the back of the vehicle.
JANUARY 2020 | 57
30/11/2019 17:47
2020 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR
VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK
Reigning Pick-Up of the Year champion • Full-time 4x4 • No dual-range gearing
T
he Amarok is our reigning Pick-Up of the Year champion. Its premium quality has never been in doubt, but it won last year on the strength of its range having finally been completed by the addition of lower powered engines, manual gearboxes and work-focused trims at the bottom of the range. Unfortunately, this year the range has slimmed back down – and while you can still get a relatively work-focused Amarok, the manual gearbox has been deleted. This is bad news because the auto doesn’t have a dual-range transfer case, meaning it’s compromised at best for off-
58 | JANUARY 2020
2020 DCOTY Amarok.indd 58
road use. Instead, Volkswagen has concentrated on moving the vehicle further upmarket, with new models this year that make it more premium than ever.
RANGE
All Amaroks come with a 3.0 V6 TDI engine. This is available in two states of tune, with either 204 or 258bhp. You get permanent fourwheel drive in every case, which sets the vehicle apart from most other pick-ups, but as mentioned above you don’t get low range – which also sets it apart, but not in a good way. There are four trim levels, all of them generous, and towards the top
of the range the Amarok is kitted to a level that would put most SUVs in the shade. The Black Edition adds a range of styling kit and above it, the Aventura piles on even more luxury – as well as taking the price tag north of fifty grand. It’s become a style wagon by this point, too – though even the most basic version looks good, whether polished up or covered in mud.
CABIN
The Amarok has a premium feel to it which no other pick-up can match. It’s very well put together using high-quality materials and feels made to last throughout, and has
typically Volkswagen styling – sober but not sombre, with a definite air of class. Some pick-ups try to disguise their working background by putting on a garish set of clothes, but VW’s approach is to have a better set of overalls than anyone else. The driving position is excellent and the front seats are very comfortable indeed, whether they’re clad in fabric or leather. It’s spacious up front, too – however the rear seats are not so good, especially in higher-spec versions whose front seats seem to eat up more knee room. It’s better for both leg and head room than the Mercedes X-Class, but the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and
4x4 30/11/2019 17:43
PRICING List (ex-VAT) OTR (inc VAT) Trendline 3.0 V6 204 Highline 3.0 V6 204 Highline 3.0 V6 258 Black Edition 3.0 V6 204 Black Edition 3.0 V6 258 Aventura Black Edition 3.0 V6 258
£28,600 £32,680 £36,310 £34,835 £38,465 £40,995
£35,403 £40,299 £44,655 £42,885 £47,241 £50,277
CONCLUSION The Amarok continues to be a brilliant truck, and despite the presence of several rivals it continues to have the truly premium end of the pick-up market all to itself. It’s expensive up top, though, at £50,277 before you add any options. It’s at the other end of the market, though, that this year has seen the Amarok lose its shine. Gaining a manual gearbox, and with it low-ratio gears, was the final piece in the jigsaw: losing it again can hardly help but mean that once again, something is missing. SsangYong Musso all do far better in this area. What Volkswagen does get absolutely spot-on is the Amarok’s infotainment system. This doesn’t have the biggest screen around, but it’s clear, responsive and easy to navigate, and all models get an excellent phone pairing system. The rest of the controls are just as clear and easy to use, too. It’s a very well laid out cabin with good quality switchgear whose logic makes it as intuitive as it comes.
DRIVING
The 3.0 V6 TDI engine was available with four power outputs a year ago,
4x4 2020 DCOTY Amarok.indd 59
but that’s down to just the two now. Both of them are upstairs of 200bhp, so there’s no such thing as a slow Amarok – and with the range-topping 258bhp unit, it’s stonkingly quick, sweeping you forward on a rising tide of torque. Think 428lbf.ft from 1400rpm – this is a truck with some serious pull. We mourn the passing of the manual box, but the auto is a very good unit, changing smoothly and promptly on the way both up and down. You can control it manually, too – though we tend to think that this is just making work for yourself. It’s superb around town and on the open road, with loads of grip and
sky-high refinement levels which make it an excellent motorway cruiser. Go to the top of the range, though, and you’ll be riding on 20” alloys, which give it a fussiness that’s not present on more modestly equipped models. The bigger rims do perhaps add a bit of bite to the Amarok’s handling, however – though it steers pretty niftily as it is, and body control is excellent by pick-up standards. With such a comprehensive set of strengths, the Amarok seems as if it ought to be perfectly set to score a maximum on towing weight. However for some reason, it’s only rated to 3100kg – still a hefty load, but
there are plenty of pick-up buyers, particularly in the agricultural sector, to whom anything less than 3500kg just won’t do. Less surprising is the fact that with the option of low range no longer available, the Amarok has ceased to be an appealing prospect off-road. You do get an off-road programme in the drive mode palette, and first gear is deep enough to let you crawl around, but on tight terrain you’re constantly holding it back on the brakes – which is certainly not how it ought to be done. A shame, because the Amarok is otherwise one of the most agile trucks on the market.
JANUARY 2020 | 59
30/11/2019 17:43
2020 PICK-UP
50 | JANUARY 2020
60-61 2020 DCOTY Results.indd 60
4x4 02/12/2019 00:08
OF THE YEAR BEST VALUE SsangYong Musso The Musso took this award last year – and it’s no surprise to see it here again. It’s an unbeatable amount of truck for your money, with towing and carrying abilities that make it very fit indeed for purpose. You get a stack of equipment, too, as well as a 7-year, 150,000-mile warranty that remains the best in the pick-up business. But there’s more to the Musso than just being cheap. It has perhaps the most SUV-like interior of any pick-up, thanks to its Rexton underpinnings, and it proves that SsangYong has learned how to make stylish vehicles. It deserves to be taken seriously at any price – especially such a good one.
BEST INDIVIDUAL MODEL Isuzu D-Max Huntsman Like the Musso, the Huntsman retains the title it won last year. Based on a mid-range D-Max Utah, it adds a wide range of kit for off-road work or play. A utility top and drawer system are very usable indeed and it’s well protected both underneath and in the cabin from tree stumps and muddy boots. You can also add an excellent suspension lift, which makes the D-Max more capable than ever off-road. For a project build, the Huntsman could be the start of something very special, while for everday real-world off-road use it’s specced to perfection. It’s not cheap, but it’s right on the money.
BEST OFF-ROAD Isuzu XTR The XTR is meant to appeal to the sort of people who buy eye-catching pre-modified Ford Rangers, but it deserves to be seen as much more than a style wagon. Isuzu has given it a unique suspension system which lifts it far enough to fit big, chunky tyres, and the results are remarkable – it really does put on a show off-road, with extremely sure-footed traction and a level of manoeuvrability that beggers belief. You might shake your head at the XTR’s showy front-end styling. But don’t be fooled – this is a totally commanding performer off-road.
2019 PICK-UP OF THE YEAR Nissan Navara The Navara has always been one of the best pick-ups on the market. And now, thanks to a comprehensive set of technical updates for the current model year, it has gone a step further. The facelifted Navara looks much like it did before. But with revised engines, a sublime new manual gearbox and improvements to its brakes, suspension and steering, it’s stronger in almost every area. Rear legroom and headroom are still poor, but overall cabin quality appears to have taken a step forward from previous model years and it’s even comfier to travel in – as well as being still more enjoyable to drive. Its coil-sprung back axle is well suited to off-roading, too. In any other year, the revised Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200 could both have been worthy winners. It says much about the Navara that in the face of such exceptional opposition, it emerges a worthy winner.
4x4 60-61 2020 DCOTY Results.indd 61
JANUARY 2020 | 61
03/12/2019 18:32
values� according to New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). For more information on these values and how they have been calculated please see www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/en/WLTP Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions, chosen optional extras and other non-technical factors. Midlands Truck & Van Ltd, Wheler Road, Off Humber Road, Whitley, Coventry, CV3 4LA, Tel: 02476 217266, Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, www.midlandstruckvan.com, info@midlandstruckvan.com. Š Daimler 2019.
4x4 4x4 4x4
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51
NOVEMBER 2019 | 23
02/10/2019 09:44
As easy as 1, 2, 3 1 hour to install or remove Available for all 4x4 European pick-ups inc. Amarok, Defender, D-Max, Hilux, Ranger etc Supatracks Ltd Unit 3, Alva Industrial Estate Alva FK12 5DQ 01259 760418 | sales@supatracks.com
4x4
62 | JANUARY 2020
4x4 4x4
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 50
DECEMBER 2019 | 23
4x4
24/10/2019 11:34 03/12/2019 12:50
4x4 4x4
Halo9 now with Navi
Untitled-3 1
02/12/2019 15:56
Untitled-3 2
02/12/2019 15:56
Untitled-3 3
02/12/2019 15:56
RETURNING Plenty of Land Rover Discoverys have made the journey back to Britain after starting life as Japanese exports. Not many of them, however, have a story to tell like this one – a 300Tdi which returned home after a decade or so and has since turned into a mystery machine with galvanised chassis and axles, remanufactured engine and gearbox and the interior from something altogether more British… Words: Paul Looe Pictures: Harry Hamm
A
s you’re bound to have heard by now, the Land Rover Discovery celebrated its thirtieth birthday in 2019. It’s three decades since the Defender-with-a-different body arrived on the market, instantly becoming the highest selling 4x4 Britain had ever seen and kicking off a process which came full circle this year when the new Defender was revealed as a Discovery with a different body.
64 | JANUARY 2020
4pp Szulec Disco.indd 64
Back when Defenders were just Defenders and the Discovery was a shadowy test mule cropping up in spy shots which the all-knowing motoring press confidently predicted that this was the new Range Rover, a chap up Bolton way was finding his way into what has become a long career in buying and selling the things. Jan Szulec lives on the moors north of the town, and he had just bought himself a 5 Series BMW when, you guessed it, it snowed.
‘There was nothing I could do,’ he recalls. ‘I couldn’t get home. So my wife said to me, “why don’t you get a Land Rover for the bad weather?” ‘I bought an old Series III short-wheelbase and parked it outside. A few weeks later, there was a knock on the door: “Is the Land Rover for sale?” I said it wasn’t. “How about this much?” I thought, really…? And yes, in that case it was for sale!’ Time went on, and Jan learned two things. One was that he loves owning Land Rovers. The other
4x4 30/11/2019 17:28
JAPANESE
is that other people love giving him money for them. There’s a nice symmetry to that, we’re sure you’ll agree, and some 35 years later here he is, trading as Yan the Landy Man (Y instead of J, to make it easier for people) – a title that came to him more or less by fate when it turned out that that’s what everyone in the area knew him as. These days, he drives a Mk3 Range Rover with the glorious 3.6 TDV8 engine – arguably the best diesel ever dropped in a Rangey. He still deals
4x4 4pp Szulec Disco.indd 65
mainly in Defenders, however – though what prompted us to pay him a visit was the rather unusual and really rather special Mk1 Discovery you see pictured here. This started life as an export model destined for Japan. Bringing Discoverys back from out there has become a recognised thing, thanks to the fact that they don’t have road salt to contend with (the Japanese use soy sauce instead, etc) and therefore the Discos’ undersides don’t look
like a colander when they make the return journey to Britain. So, that’s a good start. To make it better still, this one fell into good hands, too. The chronology is a little unclear, but it appears to have made the big trip back west in 2006, first appearing in DVLA records courtesy of a squeaky clean MOT ticket in September of that year. After that, it did its thing for some years before becoming the property of someone who, Jan
JANUARY 2020 | 65
30/11/2019 17:28
The interior is very much that of an XS. It’s just that the XS in question is a different vehicle to the one you’re looking at here. The air-con controls don’t operate anything, which seems like a bit of a missed opportunity, and the little red button under the clock turns out to operate the horn
believes, earned his living as a motor engineer. And this is where things start getting interesting. Obviously, your average early 300Tdi is going to be crustier than a crab’s undercarriage these days, and they don’t fetch enough money in good nick to be worth rescuing the way a Defender would be, so once they start to go (and boy, do they start to go) it’s normally a one-way ticket.
66 | JANUARY 2020
4pp Szulec Disco.indd 66
So motor engineer dude, whoever he was, appears to have known this. Bringing in a Japanese Disco is a prime way of getting a clean one without corrosion – but start using it in British conditions and bish bosh, it’ll be turning grotty before your eyes. Not this one. Because some time in 2014, with the odometer freshly ticked round into six figures, it was taken off the road and given a chassis-up rebuild. And not just any chassis-up rebuild, either, because the chassis itself got what very few Disco 1 chassis get and went off to be galvanised. As did the axle cases, would you believe. Belt and braces, and other stuff too. Of course, it’s the Disco’s body that tends to let go, not its chassis. But this has been treated too, and the result is a degree of solidity you tend to associate with, well, trucks from Japan. You know what we’re saying. Elsewhere, stuff has happened but we don’t really know what. The engine and gearbox were both stripped and rebuilt – and while it’s a bit of a mystery, you can tell from the driver’s seat (make that the passenger’s seat, it’s so obvious) that this is not a standard Tdi. It hasn’t been pushed to within an inch of its life the way they are sometimes, so it still drives like a Tdi rather than a smoke-making machine on acid, but it’s stronger and more alert – and so is the ZF auto box behind it. Basically, it’s the way they should have been from the word go.
4x4 30/11/2019 17:29
Bowler Motorsport Accessories Add that extra special touch to your Defender
Lightweight Steering Guards Used in the Defender Challenge, the lightweight steering guard will offer protection to steering arms and linkages, but also offers access for maintenance. It uses existing mounting points and comes with 2 x red towing eyes for recovery work.
Lightweight Sill Protectors Made from lightweight aluminium and available in black and graphite, these sill protectors are used in the Defender Challenge. Supplied with a fitting kit, they bolt onto existing mounting points and do not require welding. Compatible with XS side steps.
Lightweight Front Bumpers – Road & Race Both lightweight and high strength, the aluminium bumpers are handmade at Bowler. They use the existing bumper mounting points and are available in black and graphite. Note - Excludes spotlights shown.
A selection of great looking, high quality accessories from Bowler Motorsport. Bowler is a market leader in the production of racing and high performance all terrain vehicles, and has been since 1985. Based in Derbyshire in the UK, they use both technology and craftsmanship to deliver vehicles and accessories with style, strength, performance and an unrivalled spirit of adventure.
Spectre’ Wheel Arches Produced in the UK and inspired by the JLR Special Vehicles produced Defenders for the film Spectre, these arches are identical in terms of size and shape, are finished in gloss black and come complete with fitting templates.
16” & 18” Lightweight Wheels Made in the UK exclusively for Bowler, these lightweight, high strength wheels are TÜV tested and are used in the Defender Challenge. They have a manufacturers guarantee and are used extensively in motorsport. Maximum load rating 1,250kg. Black & anthracite available.
Rear Step Bumpers Designed to be practical, robust and stylish, this is the Bowler version of the popular NAS rear bumper. Available in black and graphite. The original tow bar and electrics are kept in the same place, and the step, with durable rear treads, conveniently attaches to the rear cross member.
Find more images and part numbers online at www.britpart.com/bowler
Been in Trading for 32 years
SPECIALISING IN SINGLE & DOUBLE CAB PICKUPS AND LANDROVER DEFENDERS
Quote this advert to receive a 10% discount off all used parts We have a large selection of 4x4 manual & automatic gearboxes and transfer boxes. We also have a large selection of tyres starting from £10 each !!!
STOCK !! REAR CANOPY’S FROM £100
REAR BODYS FROM £150
LARGE SELECTION OF DOORS FROM £45
A-B.C POST FROM £100
**WANTED** ANY UNWANTED 4X4 OR PICKUPS RUNNERS AND NON RUNNER GIVE US A CALL OR SEND SOME PHOTOS VIA EMAIL FOR US TO BUY
Collection & Fitting service available on Engine, Gearbox, Axles and Chassis Replacements when supplying.
The Sidings, Holdsworth Road, Halifax HX3 6SN
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 53
01/10/2019 18:28
If ever there was a set of pictures to demonstrate the value of galvanised metal, this would be it. The Disco’s chassis and axle cases were sent off to be treated, as was the steering guard that’s been added at some point. As you can see from the steel that’s not been either galved or painted, the vehicle hasn’t just been shut away in a warm garage – yet the vast majority of what you’re looking at here is still good as new. If you’re thinking of skimping on preventative rust treatment, think again… Something you really notice is that the gearshifts in the auto box are crisp and immediate. Not gunshot-urgent, but smart and prompt – again, the way it ought to be. The ZF was a very fine box in its time, with none of the calamitous quality issues that beset the R380 manual when it was new, but with the 300Tdi chuntering away in front of it the shifts you got were rarely brisk. Ponderous, prolonged and usually accompanied by hearty great gusts of diesel bellow – none of which are apparent on this one. Whatever matey did to it, he did it well. Inside, the cabin is that of an XS model – that is, with seat trim that’s covered in millions of Land Rover badges. Yep, that one. We don’t know what happened to the original – perhaps it was just worn out, which can happen with 100,000 miles on the clock as this one had when it was taken off the road – but Japanese Discos often tended to be trimmed in a tan leather that would definitely
4pp Szulec Disco.indd 69
not have appealed to typical British tastes. Not that the XS trim appealed to British tastes, at least not all of them, but it looks tidy enough in this particular vehicle, despite a few sags in the head lining, and it goes well with the bright white paintwork that’s replaced the original dark blue. Whether the correct alloys for an early XS can be called a nice touch is open to question, because it might just have been luck. Or an unusually complete donor vehicle, who knows? It’s got them, anyway. Though it doesn’t have air-conditioning, despite there being a button for it – which even lights up when you press it. Seems that when the rebuild went back together, the hardware was left off – there’s no compressor or receiver-dryer to be seen, at any rate, though the pulley is still there should a future owner want to keep it as cool as it looks. And it does look cool, in the way a solid Mk1 Disco can hardly help but be. It’s definitely not
going to appeal to any G-WAC fetishists, but Jan describes it as ‘a keeper for sure’ – and if you want a really strong Tdi that’s just been round the clock the once and is well set to run and run all the way to the moon and back, you could be looking at it. It’s not an entirely known quantity, but when you’re talking about an early Disco that could be called a good thing – and what we do know is that there’s a level of longevity built into this truck’s structure that makes it more like a Defender than a Discovery. Who knew that when it embarked on the voyage home from Japan, it was one day going to turn into something so unusual? If you’re in the market for a good Land Rover at a sensible price, check out Yan the Landy Man. You won’t get a cup of expensive coffee, but you will get the pleasure of talking to a bloke who knows his Land Rovers and isn’t out to stitch you up. You’ll find Jan at www.yanthelandyman.co.uk.
30/11/2019 17:29
KEEPING IT SENSIBLE
When you come across a modified 4x4 owner who’s as interested in talking about what he hasn’t done to his vehicle as what he has, it’s time to listen… Words: Robbie Ronson Pictures: Vic Peel
I
think the modifications I have not made are as important as the ones I have,’ says Mick Hobbs of his Isuzu Trooper. Which, if you know a smart owner when you see one, should be enough make you nod approvingly. The Trooper is a SWB Mk3 van with 178,000 miles on the clock. It started life hauling plant trailers, and now it’s an off-road toy. But it still has to work for its living. ‘I also use the Trooper for towing our two horses and a caravan,’ continues Mick. ‘Anybody can just rip the anti-roll bars off or stick in a 3” body lift. But I’ve never been limited by the anti-roll bars, so I see no need to remove them, and I don’t need to lift the body as the tyres clear the arches. Only just, but they clear in all positions of articulation, so why make the vehicle more unstable? if I wanted to fit 35” tyres and it was a dedicated off-road vehicle, it would be a different story.’
70 | JANUARY 2020
2pp Hobbs Trooper.indd 70
That’s why, compared to some of the trucks you see, Mick’s Trooper might look kind of understated. But the longer you look at it, the more you see – and the more he tells you about what he’s done to it, the more you’ll be impressed. So often on a really tidy vehicle, it’s the little things that make the difference. You know, the clever mods that answer questions you didn’t even know you were asking. For a very good example of this, take a look through the Trooper’s back door and feast your eyes on a beautifully installed ally plate chest containing storage for all Mick’s reccing kit, along with a compressor which feeds a remote receiver made from an old CO2 fire extinguisher. In between, a leisure battery is connected to a 12/24-volt control box and 1000W inverter, and the whole arrangement is mounted on unistrut channel which doubles up as a lashing point for
when he’s carrying vegetable oil for the engine in a bank of jerry cans. Mick reports that the 3.1 TD engine runs happily on 50-100% veg oil with no mods at all. Even if you prefer your diesel traditional, this engine is still a primary reason for buying an older Trooper instead of the Mk4, whose 3.0-litre unit is a lot less popular among Mick’s colleagues in the Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK. Installing a pro-quality electrical set-up wasn’t hard for Mick, who’s a maintenance sparky by trade. ‘I’ve grown up around tools,’ he says, by way of explaining why he’s been able to do all his own spannering and fabrication too. And he’s certainly done some. The original front axle on the Mk3 Trooper is a shift-on-the-fly job with auto-locking hubs, which Mick reckoned were bad news waiting to happen on a truck used regularly off-road. So when a CV joint let go one
4x4 30/11/2019 17:57
Mounted on unistrut rails behind the seats is an ally box containing, on the one side, recovery gear and, on the other, and air compressor and controller. Also on the same rails is a leisure battery, connected to a 12/24-volt control box and 1000W inverter behind the driver’s seat, then to the right of that is a compressed air receiver tank made from an old CO2 fire extinguisher. Left: The front of the vehicle rides 2” higher on wound-up torsion bars, with the camber reset by shimming the control arms. In addition to winding up the torsion bars, Mick flipped the upper ball joints to retain downward travel, however he’s left the anti-roll bars in place to preserve the vehicle’s towing manners Bottom left: Mick reinforced the front chassis to take a mount for his 12,000lb Warrior winch. The bumper it lives in is a fully fabricated job with built-in recovery swivels, while its isolator and contactors are mounted under the bonnet
day during an event at Tong, he took the opportunity to replace the whole lot with an older, simpler unit from a Mk2. It’s not all about replacing later bits with older ones, though. The PAS box is actually from a Mk4 Trooper: having damaged the original at North Yorkshire Off Road Centre on a Hull 4x4 Club event, he fitted the more recent version for its heavier-duty internals. It also has a slightly different ratio, which lightens the steering back up – no bad thing when you’re running 285/75R16 tyres. Those big boots are mounted on standard Trooper alloys, but these mount to the hubs on 55mm billet spacers to add stability and protect the bodywork. Despite only being lifted by 2” on the suspension and none on the body, Mick’s
truck hasn’t had any arch trimming to make space for the tyres – and it’s proof that you don’t need it. It’s not weighed down with endless amounts of protection, either. There’s a fabricated front winch bumper, of course, plus a set of rock sliders and a 6mm ally plate bash guard running back to the gearbox crossmember, but that’s about it. Enough and no more: at the back, he was more interested in making a drop mount for the towbar so the suspension lift didn’t mess with the pintle action on his horse box. With a rigorous maintenance regime ever since he bought it, and a chassis he regards as being ‘in fantastic condition for its age,’ Mick can be pretty happy with the way he’s kept his Trooper going. The engine starts first time every time, and he’s pretty happy with the mods he’s made – particularly the receiver hitch towbar, the winch mount (now he’s braced it against being rotated by brutal pulls) and the 24V compressor. ‘I’ve lost count
of the amount of times I’ve got myself unstuck by deflating the tyres,’ he says, ‘and being able to reinflate them in minutes has been invaluable.’ About his only regret, in fact, is that having started with a bog-spec model he has no toys at all – ‘not even electric windows!’ All less to go wrong, though, and that’s something he’s happy enough to remember anytime he finds himself wanting for a bit of luxury. Mick does admit that he’s happy to save a few quid by using his motorbike whenever he can. But six years after he bought it, his high-mileage Trooper is a totally reliable daily drive, a trustworthy towing vehicle and an above-average boy’s toy with real off-road skills. It might look less aggressive than some of the modded trucks you see – but but it’s been planned to perfection and executed with aplomb. And if you know a smart owner when you see one, you know what you’re looking at here.
4x4 2pp Hobbs Trooper.indd 71
30/11/2019 17:41
AFRICA FROM THE INSIDE Don’t have the time to drive to Africa? Try a hire-drive expedition instead and you’ll get a Words: Barrie Dunbar Pictures: Barrie and Louis Dunbar
T
he wilderness of southern Africa is spread out like a distant picture, far below me. Through the shimmering heat, I can see the colours and contours of my homeland… so evocative that when I shut my eyes, I can almost hear the noise of the cicadas and smell the distinctive perfume of the mopane trees. I’m aboard an aircraft bound for Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. With me are 12 excited clients, all eager to get cracking on our overland adventure through the Kalahari Desert en route to the Okavango Delta.
72 | JANUARY 2020
4pp Botswana Travel.indd 72
My company runs this trip once every two years. It’s unusual for a 4x4 adventure in that it’s fully catered, and each customer gets to travel in a comprehensively equipped vehicle with its own rooftop tent, fridge freezer, cutlery, crockery, camp furniture, recovery gear and freshly laundered linen. They’re waiting for us at the airport, providing us with everything we need for self-sufficient independent travel through the remote wilderness of Southern Africa. Having landed at Gaborone, we head into town to stock up with provisions and acclimatise ourselves to being in Africa. But
everyone is keen to get out of the city and into the bush, so before long we’re off and on our way to the Kalahari via the town of Molepolole. After a couple of hours, we stop at the little town of Letlhakeng. This is the last opportunity to fill up with fuel for the next 1200km – and fuel-guzzling kilometres they are, too, taking us through thick, soft, deep desert sand. Needless to say, we fill up all of our main tanks, reserve tanks and jerry cans. Fuel is cheap compared with what we
are accustomed to paying in Britain – and where we are going, you can never have enough! We enter the Central Kalahari Game Reserve via the Khutse Game Reserve in the South East. Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we visit the waterholes at the pans of Molose and Moreswe – where we get lucky and spot lions, wild dogs and brown hyenas. All on our very first day in the bush! That night, we camp at Mahurushele Pan, enjoying the
4x4 30/11/2019 18:29
fully equipped 4x4 – plus a tour leader who knows the region the way only a local can
Fuel is cheap compared to Britain – and where we are going, you can never have enough! first of many delicious BBQ braais on white hot coals of the local mopane wood – which we bought by the roadside before entering the reserve. It’s forbidden to help yourself to any flora or fauna, dead or alive, within the reserves themselves, and quite right too. We continue our journey northwest through the Kalahari Desert, towards Bape Camp – which is not so much a camp as a clearing in the bush. In Europe, it’s what we would refer to as a wild camp – a secluded place of natural beauty, devoid of any infrastructure or development of any sort. If you appreciate immersing yourself in the unspoiled wilderness environment of Southern Africa, this is the sort of place that’s perfect for you. From here we enjoy a relatively short and easy day’s driving, along well-defined tracks without too much momentum-sapping deep sand covering them. These take us through the heart of Bushmanland, the ancestral homeland of the San Bushmen people. We pass a
4x4 4pp Botswana Travel.indd 73
number of San villages, including Kukama and Mothomelo, locations of the last few remaining clans of San Bushmen who still living their traditional hunter-gatherer existence within the reserve. The next day is tough on the vehicles, and some of the people, as we negotiate the unforgiving soft, thick, deep sand of the desert. With around 200 kilometres to cover, this is a true test of endurance desert driving – and a stark illustration of the importance of being adequately equipped and prepared. While there is nothing unsafe about doing this stretch carefully and responsibly, it is definitely not the time or the place for playing games or taking chances. The track between Bape and Xade, to where we are headed, is a demanding one, cutting right through the middle of the Kalahari, and it’s the last place in which you would want to suffer any sort of mechanical mishap. For those who enjoy driving in sand through the desert, though, this is a day of tremendous fun,
rewarded by a real sense of achievement at its conclusion. You can always rely on this being a night when plenty of beers are sunk around the fire! The next day takes us due north en route to Piper’s Pan, where we stay at a beautiful semi-wild camp adjacent to the pan itself. After yesterday’s challenging conditions, we enjoy a relaxing day, driving slowly along easy tracks, passing huge herds of springbok
and occasional isolated groups of gemsbok. Giraffes, ostriches and the like are common, but this is also the land of the black-maned Lion – a specific sub-species whose behaviour and appearance mark it out as being different to other lions. In adaptation to the environment of the Kalahari, these lions generally exist in smaller prides, hunting over greater distances and thriving on smaller prey. Kalahari lions are smaller than other lions and are
JANUARY 2020 | 73
30/11/2019 18:29
Think of any of the wild animals that evoke the classic image of Africa and chances are you’ll see them on Active 4x4 Adventures’ biannual trip to Botswana. Lions and giraffes are among what’s referred to as ‘charismatic megafauna’; it might be animals like these that get the headlines, though, but the beauty of this region is that it’s still a fully functioning natural ecosystem with all manner of species existing together. Another great feature of Active 4x4 Adventures’ safaris is that they’re fully catered, but don’t worry – eating the wildlife is strictly off limits and all the meat (and indeed the firewood) comes from legal vendors by the roadside outside the national parks able to survive without water for much longer periods. Their bushy black manes give them an imposing, threatening appearance – and they keep us awake at night, too, with their loud, raucous bellows. From Piper’s Pan, we continue north-east towards Deception Valley,
74 | JANUARY 2020
4pp Botswana Travel.indd 74
pausing at the numerous waterholes along the way and chalking up additional sightings of all manner of African wildlife. Think of any African animal that comes to mind and the chances are, if you haven’t already seen it here, you will soon. Lions are plentiful in this area, as are cheetahs
– and of course their preferred fare of springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, wildebeest and the like. Deception Valley is an ancient fossilised river bed, providing good grazing for the huge herds of antelope which frequent the area – in turn attracting the predators which so enthral us. During our game drives in and around here, we encounter lions, cheetahs, jackals, hyena and bat-eared foxes. You might possibly spot a leopard, too, though they can be extremely elusive – as can the Fukawi bird, though we’ve been known to spot them on these adventures. We leave the Central Kalahari Game Reserve at Matswere Gate in the north, on our way to the town of Rakops. Here we can at last fill
our dwindling fuel tanks, stock up on fresh water and provisions and enjoy a bit of banter with the locals. The Tswana are a fantastically friendly and welcoming people, always with huge smiles and great humour. And they love their country and their wildlife. The road from Rakops to Maun is potentially the most pot-holed in Africa – and that’s saying something! It’s worth it, though, because Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta. We stay at Audi Camp, on the river just north of Maun, where a sunset boat cruise adds hippos, crocs and all manner of waterfowl to the ever growing list of wildlife encounters. It’s a wonder-filled experience in the backdrop of the
4x4 30/11/2019 18:29
ver
2 019
BOOK
Jeep Parts and Accessories Tel: 01482 666491 Jeepey.com
£X.XX £X.XX
Replacement parts and accessories for all models of Jeeps.
Discount Code MAG18 Apply on our shop
Full workshop facili8es and fi:ng service located in Brough, East Yorkshire, HU15 1ZQ
Glories
tored better-than-new 110 ored into this better-than-new 110 A FINAL A FINAL FLOURISH FLOURISH
Breathing new Breathing new life life into into this this ultra-rare 6x6 ultra-rare 6x6 Stage Stage 11 54 | 4x4
OCTOBER 2018
The essential essential annual The annual for for Land Land Rover Roverowners ownersand andenthusiasts enthusiasts
Makes an TOR Folios and classifieds.indd Makes an 5150 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd ideal gift for
4x4 4x4
4x4
JANUARY 2020 | 75
The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts
03/12/2019 12:41 04/09/2018 13:55
Breathing new Breathing new life life into into this this ultra-rare 6x6 ultra-rare 6x6 Stage Stage 11 4x4 Explore Portugal with your 4x4 The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts
54 | OCTOBER 2018
Makes an Makes an ideal gift for ideal gift for a Land Rover a Land Rover fan! fan!
Drive some of the best off road routes in Europe!
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 50
04/09/2018 13:55
019 Land guide Rover to22adventure Your YEARBOOK 019 YEARBOOK LONG-RANGE The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts
Land LandRover Rover
The essential annual for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts
YEARBOOK LONG-RANGE CHARITY RUN CHARITY RUN An expedition with a VENTER TRAILERS UK LTD UNIT 3 ORCHARD COURT ARMSTRONG WAY YATE, BS37 5GW
ved 4 Modified Modified ed 4 expedition The Land RoverAn Yearbook, now in its 5th with Year and a on-
other insideThe The Land RoverRover Yearbook, now in its in 5th noble cause The Land Yearbook, now itsyear, 5th covers Year and onsale Rover in timeYearbook, for the lucrative Annual ther inside Land now inChristmas its 5th year, coversmarket, noble cause everything from the latest vehicles off the production line in sale in time for the lucrative Christmas Annual market,
coversfrom everything from the latest vehicles off the line in everything the latest vehicles offYearbook the production Solihull to classic Series vehicles. The isofffull covers everything from the latest vehicles theof The production line in Solihull toThe classic Series is vehicles. Solihull to classic Series vehicles. Yearbook full of essential information forSolihull Land Rover owners andvehicles. enthusiasts production line in to classic Series The t 01454 325109 m 07894 529452 Yearbook is full of information for Rover essential information foressential Land Rover owners andLand enthusiasts from Yearbook parts and accessories to improve and maintain your e info@ventertrailersuk.com is full of essential information for Land Rover from parts and accessories improve and your owners and enthusiasts from parts andmaintain accessories to vehicle to adventure travel. to The Landy Rover Yearbook has owners and enthusiasts from parts and accessories to vehicle to adventure travel.inThe Landy Rover Yearbook has improve maintain your vehicle to adventure travel something for and every taste Land Rovers! improve maintain something for and every taste in your Land in everyone’s favourite type vehicle ofRovers! 4x4! to adventure travel in everyone’s favourite type of 4x4! The Landy Rover Yearbook has something for every The Landy Rover Yearbook something for every taste in Landhas Rovers! taste in Land Rovers!
SALES & RENTALS
ITS FOR TISERS IN 19 LAND 19 LAND EARBOOK: EARBOOK:
2 019 2 019
12 12
£X.XX
£X.XX
the year’s pages of ucts for best prod d Rover your Lan the year’s pages of ucts for best prod d Rover your Lan
Future Glories Future Glories
How a wrecked old farm hack restored into this better-than-new 110 A FINAL FLOURISH110 Plug-in Rover HowRange a wrecked old farm hack restored into this better-than-new
Driving the new P400e
Plug-in Range Rover Driving the new P400e
Breathing new life into this ultra-rare 6x6 Stage 1 A FINAL FLOURISH
Breathing new life into this ultra-rare 6x6 Stage 1
ON TEST
4 Enhanced 4 Restored 4 Preserved 4 Modified ONRover TESTafter another inside One great Land
4 Enhanced 4 Restored 4 Preserved 4 Modified
One great Land Rover after another inside
LONG-RANGE CHARITY RUN
An expedition with a noble cause LONG-RANGE
CHARITY RUN
An expedition with a noble cause
144 pages BENEFITS FOR 144 £6.99 pages Only BENEFITS FOR ADVERTISERS IN Only £6.99 ADVERTISERS THE 2019 LANDIN Available in WHSmith and THE YEARBOOK: 2019 LANDand Available innewsagents WHSmith independent or ROVER independent newsagents or ROVER orderYEARBOOK: online at
Discover your Wildtrax!
order online at 4www.toronline.co.uk Guaranteed Product www.toronline.co.uk 4 Guaranteed Product Editorial for advertisers giving
Editorial for advertisers giving you the maximum exposure Who Should advertise: www.wildtraxoverland.co.uk | 07896 704866 | wildtraxoverland@outlook.com and the increased awareness you maximum exposure Garages, parts advertise: retailers, accessories retailers, parts Should within the Yearbook. and increased awareness 72 | JUNE 2019 Who manufacturers, accessories manufacturers, tyre companies, Garages, parts retailers, accessories retailers, parts APRIL 2019 within theDECEMBER Yearbook. 2019 || 61 39 76 | AUGUST 2018 overland travel tour operators, Land Rover dealerships, manufacturers, accessories manufacturers, tyre companies, 4 Be seen in front of the suspension upgrades, wheels and tyres manufacturers and overland travel tour operators, Land Rover dealerships, 20,000+ TheofLand 4 Be readers seen in of front the30/04/2019 11:16 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 48 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51suspension 26/02/2019 14:21 retailers, lighting, underbody protection, winches, brakes, upgrades, wheels and tyres manufacturers andoff TOR Folios Folios and and classifieds.indd classifieds.indd 48 51 24/10/2019 11:35 11:26 TOR 03/07/2018 Rover Yearbook. 20,000+ readers of The Land road equipment, towing and trailer manufacturers, onboard retailers, lighting, underbody protection, winches, brakes, off Rover Yearbook. storage solutions,towing roof racks, roll cages, seats and trim upgrades, road equipment, and trailer manufacturers, onboard 4 Quality 144 page perfect performance equipment, sound tuning, oils storage solutions, roof racks, rollproofing, cages, seats andEngine trim upgrades, bound collectors 4 Quality 144 publication. page perfect and lubricants, custom vehicle builders, insurance, aftermarket performance equipment, sound proofing, tuning, Engine oils bound collectors publication. partslubricants, and accessories and toys /builders, books / merchandise. and custom vehicle insurance, aftermarket 4 Available all year round parts and accessories and toys / books / merchandise. in45,000+ stores Available allincluding year round WHSmiths, independent Rates: Copy deadline: in 5,000+ stores including Newsagents, direct from the WHSmiths, independent DPS: £750 2nd November Rates: Copy deadline:2018 publisher, online and at the Newsagents, direct from the Full page: DPS: £750 £425 2nd November 2018 Great British Land Rover show. publisher, online and at the Half page: page: £425 £240 Publication: Full Great British Land Rover show. Quarter page: £125 16th November 2018 4 Out in time for the Half page: £240 Publication: lucrative Christmas market. Eighth page: Quarter page:£75 £125 16th November 2018 4 Out in time for the Venter.indd 1
4x4 4x4
29/11/2016 16:08
4x4
4x4 4x4
Eighth page: £75
lucrative Christmas market.
Discounted rates for advertisers in The Landy! Discounted rates for advertisers in The Landy!
teed Product 76 | JANUARY 2020
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 50
4x4 4x4 4x4
03/12/2019 12:53
OR
blood-red evening sun. Then it’s back to camp for yet another meat feast from the braai. Steaks, chops, boerewors – you name it, we serve it, following deliciously authentic cooking methods. From Maun, we head to Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta. Located near South Gate, our bush camp is semi-wild in character – in that, although located deep in the Bushveld, it’s equipped with toilets and showers. The animals roam freely, through – and naughty elephants regularly destroy the water pipes, much to the chagrin of the manager who seems to spend an inordinate amount of time on remedial plumbing work! The next few days are spent in and around Moremi, an absolute
4x4 4pp Botswana Travel.indd 77
treasure of a nature reserve which provides the most amazing and exciting wildlife viewings at very close quarters. It was the first ever wildlife sanctuary to be established by a local tribe, and very proud of it they are too. With good reason: it is exceptional, offering varied vegetation, terrain and conditions in which to experience the best of Southern Africa’s big game. During our travels we cross the legendary Third Bridge, Fourth Bridge and Khwai Bridge, in addition to the occasional challenging river crossing. After the exhilaration of Moremi, it’s hard to imagine that there is anything left to be excited about. But there is, and it comes in the form of the Makgadikgadi and
Nxai Pan National Park to the east. ‘Makgadikgadi’ is a word which many Brits will hear in their head being enunciated by the velvet tones of Sir David Attenborough… We stay at North Camp, marvelling at the spectacular wildlife which abounds around the main waterhole. August is the perfect time of year for this – because the Bushveld is so dry, rather than spending all their time out grazing under cover, the animals all need to come and take water. South of Nxai Pan, we camp out at Baines’ Baobabs, where some of Africa’s largest, ancient sentries majestically overlook an endless flat salt pan. From this imposing natural spectacle, we make our way east to the luxurious resort of Elephant
Sands for a very special conclusion to our adventure. From the mighty Kalahari Desert to the awesome Okavango Delta, this trip offers diversity in spades. It’s been a wonderful, unforgettable experience – for me, having grown up in southern African and done the trip several times, as much as for any of our clients. Seeing this landscape and these animals at first hand is such a massive privilege – if you’ve never done such a thing yourself, it’s life-changing. Our Botswana excursions only run once every two years, and there is a maximum of 12 spaces available. To find out more about the trips, as well as Active 4x4 Adventures’ many other self-drive itineraries, visit www. active4x4adventures.com.
JANUARY 2020 | 17
30/11/2019 18:29
OVERLOADING IS COMMON
YOUR INSURANCE COULD BE INVALID IF YOU’RE OVERLOADED
4x4 Overloading – a problem easily solved What would your thoughts be if you were told your vehicle, trailer and everything carried on it and in it were not insured? Scary thought isn’t it, but of all the vehicles stopped and checked by DVSA (2015-2016), over 80% were found to be overloaded and/or exceeding the driver’s licence entitlement. When was the last time you checked your vehicle weights? If you knew there was an inexpensive option to avoid your overloading problems, would you be interested? For over 20 years, SvTech have covered GVW rerating on vehicles, from small sub 3.5t vehicles all the way up to 150t Special Types vehicles. SvTech can uprate the GVW of most 4x4’s and in some cases also increase the towing allowances. e.g. Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max – GVW increase to 3500kg + GTW of 3500kg (7000kg combined) A GVW uprate can increase your payload allowance thus reducing the size and number of vehicles involved for transporting your goods. Try using SvTech’s free Load Distribution Analysis program to check your weights. www.svtech.co.uk/lda
GVW AND TOWING ALLOWANCES AFFECTED
HAVE YOU WEIGHED YOUR VEHICLE? DO IT NOW BEFORE THE DVSA DO!
WE CAN HELP. WE ARE THE UK’S LEADING RE-RATING SPECIALIST SVTECH LTD Chandler House, Talbot Road, Leyland Lancs. PR25 2ZF www.svtech.co.uk webenquiries@svtech.co.uk
01772 621800
Untitled-13 1
29/08/2017 14:11
VENTER TRAILERS UK LTD UNIT 3 ORCHARD COURT ARMSTONG WAY YATE, BS37 5GW
VENTER TRAILERS UK LTD UNIT 3 ORCHARD COURT VENTER TRAILERS SCOTLAND ARMSTRONG 50 EASTMUIR STREET WAY GLASGOW, G32 0HS YATE, BS37 5GW
SALES & RENTALS t 01454 325109 m 07894 529452
e info@ventertrailersuk.com
Venter.indd 1
29/11/2016 16:08
ã ã
Call now on:
ã
01452 309 983 HEATING & AIR - CON SPECIALISTS • SERVICE • REPAIR • INSTALL
Unit 2 Llanthony Business Park, Gloucester. GL2 5QT
www.ac-automotive.co.uk
4x4 4x4 4x4
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51
JANUARY 2020 | 79
03/12/2019 12:44
OUR 4X4S Vehicle: Jeep Cherokee 4.0 Limited Year: 1994 Run by: Alan Kidd Last update: December ‘19 On the fleet since: Dinosaurs roamed the Earth
It was a dark and stormy night… OUR CHEROKEE HAD passed its MOT and, having become part of the furniture at Jeepey, it was ready to head home. It took me a while to get round to going up there to collect it, but then one day a Ford Ranger XLT turned up on test and lo and behold, it had a towbar on the back. So I chucked on a trailer and off we went. Now, if you were paying attention at school, you might remember being taught about a thing called pathetic fallacy. This is when you believe you’re seeing human emotions in nature, often in a portentious kind of a way. Wot the hell, you’re thinking? And, yes. But the day dawned, I took a run down to PB Customs in Oundle
to photograph one of their builds (coming soon, and it’s a beauty) then I headed up the A1 in the general direction of Hull. It would be hard to exaggerate what an awful journey it was. But ye gods, the rain. It rained and rained and rained, and just when you thought it was going to stop raining it rained even more. Think I’m overdoing it? On the way back down the M1 after collecting the Jeep, I passed about ten miles of standing traffic going the other way and it wasn’t until I got home that I learned about how the centre of Sheffield was basically under water. Yeah, it was that day… So, yes, pathetic fallacy. It was as if the world was warning us about
what we were unleashing upon ourselves by bringing the Cherokee home. To which, obviously, we say Up Yours, World, but still. I mentioned the Cherokee’s tyres last month, and as you can see from the picture above they look a little silly under so much lift. We’ve been offered some 33x12.50R15s, but there was a set of those on it before and to be honest, they were too fat. The absolutely ideal size in my mind would be a 34x10.50. They do exist, but only to people whose access to the world’s tyre supply is not restricted by all those new rules that came in a few years ago. So it seems likely that we’re talking either 33x10.50, which again do exist but they’re a pretty scarce
size in Britain, or the inevitable fallback of a 35x12.50. I don’t have any qualms about running the latter on the Jeep’s standard axles, despite what forum jockeys will tell you. Mainly, I’m concerned about whether they’ll fit under the vehicle without fouling on full articulation and/or lock. Which is quite something when you’re talking about an 8” lift, but that’s the Cherokee. Amazingly capable out of the box, but you didn’t half need to fetch it skywards to get big tyres on. If only I’d known all this back in the day, huh? The old tart still makes me smile – but I’d have done her very differently if I knew back then what I know now.
There’s a bit of a difference between the old steering set-up and the new one. The angle between the drag link and panhard rod has been reduced in a bid to cut down on bump-steer, and the damper now acts on the former
80 | JANUARY 2020
80 Our 4x4s Jan AWAITING PIC.indd 80
4x4 03/12/2019 13:55
Jeep Parts and Accessories Tel: 01482 666491 Jeepey.com
Replacement parts and accessories for all models of Jeeps.
Discount Code MAG18 Apply on our shop
Full workshop facili8es and fi:ng service located in Brough, East Yorkshire, HU15 1ZQ
As easy as 1, 2, 3 1 hour to install or remove Available for all 4x4 European pick-ups inc. Amarok, Defender, D-Max, Hilux, Ranger etc Supatracks Ltd Unit 3, Alva Industrial Estate Alva FK12 5DQ 01259 760418 | sales@supatracks.com
4x4 4x4 4x4
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 51
JANUARY 2020 | 81
03/12/2019 12:43
ROADBOOK
CENTRAL POWYS
Magnificent scenery and some of Britain’s very best rights of way WARNING This roadbook includes several water crossings which can get very deep and fast-flowing. The consequences of getting it wrong here can be deadly – as was illustrated around ten years ago when a passenger in a 4x4 died after the vehicle overturned into the water. You’ll also spend much of the route with no phone signal. As a result, we don’t recommend doing it in a solo vehicle. And the water crossings are a matter for your own judgement – just because it’s in the route doesn’t mean it’ll be safe for you to drive on the day. Note also that the right of way in question, Strata Florida, was closed for repairs just after we set out this roadbook and before the magazine was published. The closure is only expected to last a few weeks, which is why we’ve gone ahead with using the route in this issue – however in order to avoid disappoinment, you should make enquiries to check the lane is open again before setting off.
82 | JANUARY 2020
10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 82
4x4 30/11/2019 17:36
ROADBOOK Most of our roadbooks stitch together something like a couple of dozen rights of way. This one is different: it contains just five. Yet it’s one of the most intense you’ll ever experience. The main three lanes you’ll drive are long, challenging and exceptionally beautiful, and one of the others takes you through a ford that’ll have water lapping over your bonnet. There’s an unusually high amount of road mileage in between – but amid the glorious scenery of the Welsh mountains, that’s hardly a chore
USING OUR ROADBOOKS Our roadbooks guide you through the countryside on a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads. The tracks we use are public rights of way, either Byways Open to All Traffic or Unclassified County Roads, all commonly referred to as green lanes.
NAVIGATION
We’ve deliberately made it as easy as possible to follow the route, using a mixture of instructions, tulip diagrams and grid references. We normally only include junctions at which you have to make a turning or don’t have right of way, so stay on the main road or continue straight ahead unless we tell you otherwise. You’ll find a guide to using grid references on the legend of any OS map. Our aim is for you to be able to do the route without maps, whether paper or online, but you should certainly take a set with you.
SAFETY
The notes on thee pages advise you of how suitable the route is for your vehicle. These are just guidelines, however. We’ll warn you of any hazards or difficult sections, but the nature of any green lane can change quickly. Wet weather can make a huge difference to the conditions underfoot, and what’s wide open in winter can be tightly enclosed and scratchy in summer. The responsibility is yours! Our roadbooks are designed to be safe to drive in a solo vehicle. We do recommend travelling in tandem wherever possible, however. The risk of getting stuck can be greater than it appears – and even the most capable of vehicles can break down miles from anywhere.
RESPONSIBILITY
Irresponsible driving is a big issue on green lanes. In particular, you must always stay on the right of way. Never drive off it to ‘play’ on the verges or surrounding land, even if you can see that someone else has; doing so is illegal and can be tremendously damaging. This kind of illegal off-roading is a key reason why green lanes get closed. If you see others doing this, they are NOT your friends. They’re criminals, and you are their victim. If it’s safe to do so, film them in the act and pass it to the police.
4x4 10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 83
Elsewhere, let common sense and courtesy prevail. Keep your speed down, be ready to pull over for others and show the world that we are decent people just like them.
ANTIS
Anti-4x4 bigotry does exist, but it’s less common than you’d think. By and large, it’s limited to organisations who just want to get the countryside all to themselves. These organisations are beyond being reasoned with, but it’s rare to encounter real hostility even from their rank-and-file members. If you’re friendly towards the people with whom you share the countryside, the vast majority will respond in kind. There are always bad apples, but no more so than anywhere else. Likewise, most local residents will accept your presence if you’re driving sensibly. What suspicion you do encounter is likely to be from farmers worried that you’re there to steal from them, so be ready to offer a word of reassurance. Once satisfied that you’re not after their quad bikes, their mood will lighten.
DO…
• Keep your speed right down • Pull over to let walkers, bikers and horse riders pass
• Leave gates as you found them • Scrupulously obey all closure and voluntary restraint notices
• Ensure you have a right to be
there. We research the routes on our roadbooks very carefully, but the status of any route can change without notice Be prepared to turn back if the route is blocked, even illegally If you find an illegal obstruction, notify the local authority Stick absolutely scrupulously to the right of way Always remember that you are an ambassador for all 4x4 drivers
• • • •
DON’T…
• Go in large convoys: instead, split into smaller groups
• Drop litter. Why not carry a bin bag pick up other people’s instead?
• Go back to drive the fun bits, such as mud or fords, again
• Cause a noise nuisance, particularly after dark
• Get riled up if someone challenges you. Be firm but polite, stay calm and don’t let them turn it into a fight
JANUARY 2020 | 83
30/11/2019 17:36
ROUTE GUIDE
is it suitable?
START FINISH HOW LONG? TERRAIN HAZARDS
TYRES
OS MAPS
Llangammarch Wells (SN 935 473) Beulah (SN 919 513) 65.75 miles / 7-8 hours Forestry and rolling mountains Isolation; very deep water, potentially fast-flowing; other users Landranger 146 (Lampeter & Llandovery) Landranger 147 (Elan Valley & Builth Wells)
WEATHER LOW BOX SOFT-ROADERS SCRATCHING DRIVING
DAMAGE
Step
1
0.0
SN 935 473
Start outside the railway station in Llangammarch Wells, which is on the road in to the north of the village leading from the A483. Zero your trip in the car park and, with the station to your left, set off down the hill then immediately turn right at the T-junction
Step
3
Llanwrtyd
SN 920 478
Turn left into Glancamddwr Farm
1.05 Step
4
1.35 84 | JANUARY 2020
10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 84
5
1.4
6
0.65 Step
Step
Step
2
Tall profile necessary, at least an all-terrain tread strongly advised Avoid when foggy or icy. Potentially lethal after heavy rain Essential Totally unsuitable Moderate risk on one lane General off-roading skills required. Discipline required to stay on the right of way in several places Possible ground clearance issues. Potential for water damage
This ford is a monster – it’s wide, deep and may be fast-moving. Approach with great caution
1.6 Step
7
1.65 Take it easy through the farmyard after the ford – as the sign says, there are animals about
Step
8
SN 881 435
Bear right on the Cat A track into Crychan Forest – look out for the ‘Y Mynegbost’ sign a little way beyond the junction
4.9 4x4 30/11/2019 17:36
Step 6: Treat this ford with the greatest respect – it’s wide, deep and potentially fast-flowing. You’ll be pushing enough water in front of you to make progress very difficult if you’re not in low range Step
9
Cross over a bigger track and strike left ahead into the trees. The going immediately gets rougher
5.85 Step
10 11
Join a bigger track then immediately carry on ahead as it swings right
12
Step
14
The track splits in three for a short spell. Take the middle route, which goes through a water trough, and don’t deviate off it to play
7.8 The track splits in three for a short spell. Take the middle route, which goes through a water trough, and don’t deviate off it to play
6.7 Step
13
And another… this one the deepest yet. There are several more to come, too – in every case, you must always stay on the main track
6.95
6.45 Step
Step
Step
15
Caution – this is a main road
ZERO TRIP
10.2 Another big water trough – again, stick to the main track and stay off the bypass route that’s been created to the left
6.75
Step
16 0.2
Llanerchindda 234
Step 11: Stick to the main track, which takes you straight into a water trough
Step 9: Cross the big Cat A track and head into the trees, on what turns out to be a much smaller, bumpier right of way
4x4 10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 85
JANUARY 2020 | 85
30/11/2019 17:36
Step
17 1.9 Step
18
SN 783 407
Turn right into what looks like the driveway for a house called Pendrainllwyn. Take it dead slowly and keep noise to a minimum. The road becomes a track as you pass through the second gate
After the gate, follow the main track hard left
2.55 Step
19
ZERO TRIP
Step 17: At first, it feels like you’re turning into someone’s driveway. But once you’re through, it all makes sense
10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 86
20
Don’t be put off by the ‘no vehicles’ highway sign – this refers to a hidden byway which drops off into the trees at the same junction
0.3 Step
21
You might have right of way here, but the whole junction is completely unmarked
5.85
2.65
86 | JANUARY 2020
Step
Step
22
Ignore the road on the left and follow round to the right through the cattle grid
6.0
Step 20: Don’t be put off by the ‘no vehicles’ highways sign – it relates to a hidden byway which starts at the same junction
4x4 30/11/2019 17:37
Step
23
Stay on the main road
Step
27
7.1
16.7
Step
Step
24 12.9 Step
25
28 Tregaron 11 Soar-Y_-Mynydd 2
SN 785 534
Caution – it’s hard to know who has right of way here, as there are no white lines, but in theory this is a crossroads
14.6 Step
26
It’s just a small ford at the bottom of the valley, followed by a steep climb up the other side
Dead slow past the youth hostel
17.7 Step
29 18.2
Follow ahead as the main track swings left – it’s a steep climb from the word go
14.7
Step
30
This is as you come into Llanddewi Brefi
ZERO TRIP
24.2 Step
31
There’s a village shop on the corner as you turn
0.0 Step
32 Step 26: The track climbs steeply at the beginning of the green lane proper – be in low range before the start of the hill
4x4 10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 87
3.25
This crossroads appears after you’ve passed through the centre of Tregaron
Pontrhydfendigaid B4343
JANUARY 2020 | 87
30/11/2019 17:37
Step
Step
33 8.75 Step
34
37 Strata Florida Abbey
Take the rocky track to the left of the main Cat A track
12.3 Step
38
10.9
12.6
Step
Step
11.7
12.8
Step
Step
11.8
12.8
35 36
Step 34: This is the start of arguably Britain’s greatest green lane. You’ll be on it for about two hours, and during that time you’ll be a long way from anywhere with no phone signal
88 | JANUARY 2020
10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 88
Caution – there are sharp rock steps to negotiate as you climb the hillside
39 40
More rock steps, followed by a long water trough
Join the Cat A track
Drop off the main track immediately before the gate and into yet another water trough
Step 37: You might need a bit of momentum to clear these axletwisters – but be warned, the drop-off to the right is much bigger than it looks here
4x4 30/11/2019 17:37
Step 40: Turn left off the main track, dropping down the embankment then plunging straight into a water trough (right) Step
Step
13.1
15.0
47
41 Step
42
There’s a couple of huge water troughs after the junction
13.1 Step
43
Step
48
Caution over a short set of rocky steps as you drop down the hill
Look out for the waymarker as you cross the ford
15.2 It’s a steep, sharp climb up and over a bigger track – you can’t see ahead over your bonnet to start with
13.4 Step
44
You may find yourself driving along a river bed for a while…
13.65 Step
45 14.7 Step
46 14.9 4x4 10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 89
JANUARY 2020 | 89
30/11/2019 17:37
Step 49: Ease your way down the rock face – it’s way steeper than these pictures make it look
Step
53 15.5 Step
54 15.6 Step
49
This is the infamous Bomb Hole. There’s a route around it to the left, but the correct line of the right of way takes you straight down what feels like a sheer wall of rock…
15.25 Step
50 51
As you approach what looks like a lake, stay on the main track and look for the waymarker posts ahead to guide you towards the correct route
52 15.45
Step
56
Caution over a sharp step downwards
16.0 This is normally the deepest of the many water crossings on this lane. On the day, it was nothing like as high as we’ve seen it, but don’t make any assumptions – approach with extreme caution!
15.4 Step
55
Caution – there’s a short side slope on bare rock that leads straight into the river. Take it dead slow – and in icy conditions, just say no
15.7
15.3 Step
Step
Step
57 16.0
Where the track skirts the river, stay on dry land
Step
58
Caution – immediately after Step 57, there’s a harsh, uneven side slope followed by a water trough which leads into a sharp axletwister
16.05
Step 51: This is likely to be the deepest of all the many water crossings on this lane – as you can see, it wasn’t anywhere near as deep as the ford at Step 6 on the day we visited, but be in no doubt that after a bit of rain, it can turn into a savage beast
14 | JANUARY 2020
10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 90
4x4 30/11/2019 17:37
Step 55: Extreme caution here – it’s a steep, uneven side-slope on jagged bedrock which, if you were to slip or roll down it, would leave you in deep water in every sense of the word. It’s only a couple of car-lengths long, but it’s reason enough to give this entire lane a swerve if the weather conditions mean there might be ice on the ground Step
59
Immediately after the end of Step 58, you’re into a small ford
Step
64
16.1
0.5
Step
Step
16.7
4.7
Step
Step
60
65
61
10.3
Step
Step
18.2
10.4
62 63
6
66
17.3
Step
Beulah
67
Llanfair-Ym-Muallt Builth Wells A483
Pull in to the petrol station in Beulah, which leads into the Trout Inn car park, for the end of the route
ZERO TRIP
18.3 4x4 10pp Roadbook Jan.indd 91
JANUARY 2020 | 17
30/11/2019 17:37
T X E N E H T
S E U S IS
2 1 GET
fort jus
! 2 1 £
E V SA
% 8 7
Subs Ad_DPS.indd 2
ww
22/03/2018 20:43
ww
Subs Ad_DPS.indd 3
r 3 o 8 f 2 2 1 / 1 r 0 m/to
o c . ines
z a g ma
0 7 9 2 74 12
36 s at ÂŁ that e u n i re ont ally c e be awa ent c i t a ym as om it aut 4.75. Ple t Debit pa b e D ÂŁ c of ire . rect ly. Di over price agazine D World Ltd n o r M ys ec offe riber 8% off th refore 4x4 Waterwa c s b su as l. 7 he Debit ou cance azines, t tatement t c e r s g y k Di W Ma nless new r ban *UK, months u ency is W p on you ag 12 wu every bscription s will sho u nce our s refere
22/03/2018 20:43
We currently stock O.E. propshafts for many 4x4 models, but we are proud to have also spent time developing our own “Extreme” range. For the majority of 4x4 vehicles we can offer an upgraded propshaft option, whether you need greater angle, longer splines or larger torque capacity (which may give increased potential life-expectancy). Why choose “Extreme?” Wide Angle Operation - Double Cardan Joints - Heavy Duty Universal Joints Upgraded sliding assembly - Higher Torque Capacity - Heavy Duty Tubing
www.baileymorris.co.uk T:+44(0)1480 216250 E:sales@baileymorris.co.uk
94 | JANUARY 2020
TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 48
4x4 03/12/2019 12:40
CLASSIFIEDS
TEL: 0797 439 8201 EMAIL: hillnditch4x4@gmail.com
VISIT www.hillnditch4x4.com for OPEN DATES. NO booking required!
You've seen the new Defender, and at last you can buy one. But should you? The answer is in the 2020 Land Rover Yearbook – the ever-popular annual for fans and owners of all things Landy. And in addition to its analysis of the new Defender, the Yearbook is jam-packed with features on rare, classic and fascinating Land Rovers and Range Rovers – including some of the most extraordinary custom builds you'll ever see. If a six-wheeled 110 motorhome isn't your thing, perhaps a hot-rod Range Rover pick-up might be? Or a 90 rebuilt as the pinnacle of a lifetime's work by one of the best known names in the off-roading scene? How about an early Discovery that still looks like the day it left the showroom, or a teenager who grew up to own the car he lusted after in his youth - a Series IIB forward control…? That's just for starters. We've got Ford and Cummins-engined 110s in profile, a £450,000 Mk2 Range Rover that once belonged to Noel Edmonds and a long-lost Series I that came home after many years to the family that had learned to drive in it. Oh, and there are tales of adventure travel from Europe, Africa and South America, as well as advice on living in your Land Rover and step-by-step workshop guides to a jobs on a variety of Land Rovers. Plus tests on the new Evoque and the ultimate long-wheelbase Range Rover - and a comprehensive Buyers' Guide to every vehicle Land Rover has ever made. The Land Rover Yearbook is on sale now - don't miss it! Buy online at www.toronline.co.uk for just £6 (no P&P) or from your nearest WHSmith store for £7.99.
4x4 TOR Folios and classifieds.indd 49
Whitecliff NEW Jul 17.indd 1
01422 322300 | 07872 611541 SERVICE - PARTS - REPAIRS 30/05/2017 10:00
Clutchfix Special Offer ONLY £695.00 - Offer ends 30th June
adamsonautomotive.co.uk TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS SECTION CALL ABI COOPER ON 01283 553246 OR EMAIL
ABIGAIL.COOPER@ASSIGNMENT-MEDIA.CO.UK JANUARY 2020 | 95
03/12/2019 12:33
NEXT MONTH IN 4x4
4x4
ON SALE: 10 January
of the
Year e
After winning the overall title last year, the Suzuki Jimny gets ready to take on the rest of the market – as the latest and best new models line up to compete for the biggest honour any 4x4 can receive… PLUS • KAP’s stunning new Jimny-based pick-up • New Mitsubishi L200 – full test • Exploring France’s hidden ‘Grand Canyon’ • Mongolia: the holy grail of overland travel Derby Dales Roadbook: Great scenery and a set of green lanes you can use all year round 96 | JANUARY 2020
96 Next Month Jan.indd 96
Fill in your name and address and give this form to your newsagent ●
Please order 4x4 Magazine and reserve/deliver me a copy every month
Name Address
Newsagent This magazine is available to your wholesaler through Comag Magazine Marketing, Tavistock Rd, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel: 01895 444055 Fax: 01895 433602
4x4 01/12/2019 00:14
4X4 Pick Up FP Dec Iss 2019.indd 5
17/10/2019 16:18
“
“DIFFERENCE DEVON MAKES THE
DEVON DEVO D VON N DID YOU KNOW...? Devon 4x4 stock a huge range of pick-up truck accessories. We supply everything from canopies to underbody protection, winch bars to suspension, locking differentials to drawer systems – you name it we stock it. And… if you don’t want to fit it yourself, our highly skilled technicians will carry out the work for you to a standard others only aspire to.
DON’T WAIT FOR PAY DAY! FINANCE AVAILABLE
INSTANT DECISION
01769 550900
Devon 4x4 Southlea Business Park, South Molton, Devon. EX36 3QU
www.devon4x4.com g off-road For everythin