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NEW SUZUKI JIMNY
Driven: does the new truck live up to its name?
ARCTIC TRUCKS: Big Icelandic makeover for Toyota favourites CAMP POLARIS: Off-road festival built for side-by-sides and ATVs USED B-SERIES: How to snip a no-frills Mazda work horse
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GREAT H S I T I R W B O H S R E V O R D LAN Ston NAEC
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Great British Land Rover Show
Sunday 25th November 2018, 10am to 4pm
Buy your tickets in advance and be entered into our prize draw to win over £1000 worth of prizes including this Traxxas TRX4 Defender worth £499!
➤ BFGoodrich Land Rover Walkway ➤ 2.4m off-road course to check out with your own vehicle in association with the AWDC ➤ Live Land Rover Workshop ➤ Land Rover only parking areas + further features to be announced...
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PICKUPPRO
& 4X4
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE PICK-UP AND 4X4 PROFESSIONAL November 2018
THIS MONTH News 4 5 6 6 7 8 9
Isuzu D-Max Pick-up gets updated for MY18 Nissan Navara Star-gazing truck shown in Hannover Volkswagen Transporter Popular van sets new record Nissan Navara New special edition released in UK Trailwise 2 GLASS update off-roading database Polaris Electric Ranger donated to farming project Can-Am New launch of SxS and 6x6 ATV models
Products 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 55 56 56
Nokian The Scandinavians know about winter tyres Lazer Lamps Motorsport grade lights for the road Gearmate Get the most out of your load space National Luna Pros and cons of auxiliary batteries Ironman 4x4 Camping gadget you never thought of SuperPro If something comes over Bilstein Top quality dampers for any terrain Pedders Suspension kit for iconic Toyota truck Anglia Vehicles Bringing legends into the UK Speedliner The story of a leading bedliner
Tel: 01283 553243 Email: enquiries@assignmentmedia.co.uk Web: pickupand4x4pro.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ pickupand4x4pro Instagram: pickup4x4pro Editor George Dove Contributors Mike Trott, Dan Fenn, Vic Peel, Gemma Pask Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Group Editor Alan Kidd Group Advertising Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Manager Colin Ashworth Tel: 01283 553244 Advertising Sales Manager Peter Topley Tel: 01283 553245 Advertising & Exhibition Sales Executive Abigail Cooper Tel: 01283 553246 Publisher and Head of Marketing Sarah Lowe Email: sarah.lowe@assignmentmedia.co.uk
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Every effort is made to ensure the contents of Pickup and 4x4 Pro 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 Pickup and 4x4 Pro, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers will not be liable for loss or damage incurred from responding to adverts
Suzuki Jimny We find out if it was worth the wait Mitsubishi L200 Automatic Barbarian truck driven Arctic Trucks The Hilux and Land Cruiser with AT kit Mazda B-Series Old warhorse still an off-road legend Camp Polaris Off-road festival celebrates ORVs Nottingham Off-Road Training in beautiful midlands
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Pickup and 4x4 Pro is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House G11, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby, Derbyshire DE15 0YZ ISSN 2516-8894
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NOVEMBER 2018
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NEWS
UPDATED ISUZU D-MAX
Highly popular pick-up gets a refresh for new model year, with suspension tweaks, safety tech and interior upgrades – CV prices from £16,799
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suzu has announced a range of updates to its high-selling D-Max pick-up. Effective from 1 October, the vehicle gains improvements to its suspension, cabin quality and safety tech, as well as a minor increase in payload and a set of new colour options.
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The headline story for commercial users and off-road enthusiasts alike will be the move from five-piece to three-piece leaf packs for the rear springs on double-cab models. The result of this is an improvement in ride comfort and reduction in cabin
noise, helping enhance the truck’s overall refinement. This comes with no penalty in terms of overall strength and durability, as the new springs are made from a higher grade of steel. Indeed, the newer material has a higher hydrogen resistance, meaning it will resist corrosion for longer. Towing ability remains unchanged, meanwhile, and a 10kg reduction in kerb weight means a concomitant increase in payload. On the subject of towing, the D-Max now gains Trailer Sway Control. This uses sensors to detect the onset of trailer swing and reduce speed if sway is identified. Speed is controlled by reducing engine torque and braking automatically. All of this happens without any input from the driver, however the vehicle’s brake lights will still illuminate to warn following traffic even though the pedal hasn’t been touched. Inside, the D-Max gains new soft-touch padding on its
armrests, binnacle and cubby box lid. This aids the feeling of perceived quality, as does gloss black trim on the window switches, air vents and glove box. These features become part of the spec on all premium versions of the vehicle, as does a new D-Max badge on the glovebox cover. Moving to the outside, you get the choice of three new paint colours – Spinel Red, Sapphire Blue and Galena Grey. The rangetopping Blade model, meanwhile, becomes available in four colours, with the addition of Obsidian Grey and Spinel Red on top of its existing palette. The D-Max starts at £16,799 CVOTR for the 4x2 Single Cab model, climbing to £29,799 CVOTR for the top of the range Blade with the optional automatic gearbox. The 1.9-litre Euro 6 diesel engine is retained from the previous model year, as are a 3500kg towing weight and 125,000 mile / 5-year warranty.
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 18:42
NEWS
DARK SKY CONCEPT STARS IN HANNOVER
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ebuting at the Hannover Motor Show, Nissan showcased the Navara Dark Sky Concept – featuring more tech, funky decals and a massive professional telescope. Lighting up their stand, the Dark Sky has been conceptualised in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) in the UK to highlight the capability and robustness of the Navara, that enables it to power and tow a mobile astronomy laboratory. An industry standard PlaneWave telescope sits atop a bespoke created trailer unit. With the setup of the trailer, it can accompany the Navara to harder to reach locations away from the roads, into ‘dark sky’ locations that
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are remote and offer the best atmospheric stargazing scenery you can find. The concept Navara is also fitted with an advanced version of Nissan’s ProPILOT driver assistance technology. The bodywork features a unique colour scheme, with intricate white decaling contrasting with the dark tones of the Dark Sky’s bodywork. The interior is a smart mixture of black leather and orange trimming that is similarly geometric to the exterior designs. Nissan are confident in the Navara platform and the diversity it brings to the table, and Ashwani Gupta – Senior Vice President of the Light Commercial Vehicle unit – feels it enables them to cater for a wide range of clients. ‘The tough pick-up trucks
on display are the perfect embodiment of Nissan’s dedication to excellence in conversions. Powered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility and including ProPILOT, the incredible versatility of each vehicle allows us to go above and beyond to support any business need and serve as an authentic partner for our customers.’ The other Nissan models on
show in Hannover include the NV200, NV300 and NV400 vans. Plus the all-electric e-NV200 and the Coffee and Camper versions of the NV300, plus the NV400 Dropside. Representing the Navara, the N-Guard special edition and the N-Guard AT32 Off-Roader accompanied this rather interstellar concept on the Nissan stand.
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NEWS
SPECIAL EDITION NISSAN TRUCK ON SALE IN THE UK
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limited-edition version of the blends toughness and style within the model line-up and is on sale now in the UK. The N-Guard is based on the flagship Tekna spec and is inspired by the luxurious EnGuard concept from the 2016 Hannover Motor Show, with the new model set to make its public debut at the same show this year. The level of standard equipment on N-Guard models is high, with leather and cloth upholstery, metallic or pearlescent paint (Twilight Grey, Metallic Black and Storm White) all come fitted. Headlamp washers are fitted as stock, too, despite not even being an optional extra elsewhere in the range, and the only added extra for
the N-Guard is a rear diff lock. Inside, the interior is black and grey, with double yellow stitching and geometric motifs on the floormats that echo those along the side of the truck and in the bed. Toughened exterior features include a black finish for the front grille, mirror covers, door handles and other exterior furniture – including the side-steps and roof rails which have been added to the spec. Unique 18” alloys are fitted, as is a tinted sunroof and the interior of the headlamps have been darkened, too. On offer with the N-Guard is the 2.3 cDi 190 engine, with both a six-speed manual and a sevenspeed automatic transmission to choose from. Also, the fruits of Nissan’s collaboration with Arctic
Trucks, the AT32 Navara Off-Roader, is available in conjunction with the N-Guard specification. The truck is the first time Nissan has worked with another company on a truck in Europe, and prices start
at £32,779 – without tax or the N-Guard treatment. Order books are open, with pricing for the N-Guard starting at £28,075 for the manual and £29,525 for the auto – both OTR figures before VAT.
VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER SETS NEW RECORD… AROUND THE NÜRBURGRING The Volkswagen Transporter is a popular work vehicle for a multitude of reasons. The van from Wolfsburg is reliable, tough and incredibly practical – especially in full size longwheelbase guise. But it recently set a record that not many people would have expected. With British Touring Car driver Rob Austin at the helm, a Transporter hit the Nürburgring Nordschleife and set a new lap record. The HMS Racing wheelman completed a blistering lap of 9 minutes 58 seconds and took a whole minute off the time infamously set by Sabine Schmitz in a Transit back in 2005 on TopGear. Austin’s team are sponsored by Northgate Vehicle Hire – the UK’s largest van rental company – who also supplied the mid-spec, 2.0-litre 148bhp TDi Transporter for the record attempt. A spokesperson said: ‘At Northgate we believe a spirit
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of partnership is key to success, and we work tirelessly to ensure our customers have the right van to power their business. This feat by a professional racing driver was an unusual way to showcase the quality and durability of one of our most popular vans.’ The Transporter used for the lap was a production-spec example, and Kate Wright, National Rental Manager for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the UK, believes the lap record was an effective way to showcase the Transporter’s capabilities. ‘The Transporter has won a host of accolades throughout its history, but this is perhaps one of the most unusual. We’re really excited to be part of this record attempt which shows just what our vans can do. ‘Most customers choose them because they’re reliable, costeffective and offer some of the best technologies available, but maybe this is another good reason to choose one!’
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 18:42
NEWS
SUZUKI JIMNY SCORES THREE-STAR SAFETY
New version of Suzuki’s small off-roader performs amicably in Euro NCAP regime but falls short on autonomous features
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he Suzuki Jimny has garnered a significant amount of attention in recent months. This is something which comes as no surprise, given that the new model is the first full revision of the offroading icon in two decades. And, as you’ll find out in our review in a few pages time, most of the chatter surrounding it is very, very good. However, the Jimny has fallen foul to the latest Euro NCAP testing – scoring three stars. Suzukis historically haven’t excelled when it comes to safety, and although the Jimny performs reasonably across the board, but the new categories for the driver aids didn’t
flatter the little Suzuki, where it scored half marks. It performed marginally better in the Vulnerable Road Users category, with a score of 52%, and in terms of occupant protection, the Jimny scored 73% for adult safety and 84% for children. Looking through the report in more detail, the Jimny performs very well in lateral impact tests and is safer for passengers than the driver when it comes to offset front collisions. In tests based on children of six and ten-year-old children, the Jimny scored an impressive 23.4 out of 24 but was weak when it came to autonomous braking for pedestrians.
GLASS TO LAUNCH UPDATED GREEN LANE DATABASE Those who also use their work truck for the odd spot of green laning will more than likely be familiar with the wonders of the TrailWise database – the one-stop shop for green lane maps and info. It is a bit old now, but the Green Lane Association (GLASS) have revealed an updated version – TW2. The new database has been restructured from the ground up using more up to date tech and is entirely mobile and tablet friendly. A legacy layer means that the map will still house all of the previous information from the original database, but now also includes BOATs and UCRs in separate layers. Launched on the 31st August, TW2 is only available to those who are
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a member of GLASS – which is easy enough to do if you aren’t already, simply sign up on the ‘Join Us’ tab on the GLASS homepage. The new and improved TW2 will have fresh features, too, that permit users to add comments and images of routes to help out others, and make the experience better for all concerned. Once TW2 is up and running, there will be no future updates to the old Trailwise database, meaning the upgrade is definitely worthwhile, and the future availability of the old platform cannot be guaranteed for any length of time. All in all, this is a solid move from GLASS, and great news for green laners. After all, who better to keep you in the know?
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NEWS
POLARIS SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING
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olaris Britain have teamed up with a Cumbrian farming initiative that strives for a sustainable way of farming and maintaining grazing cattle in regions where crops will not grow. The Horned Beef Company has gained support both on the local and national scene, and Polaris have shown their support by supplying a Ranger EV 4x4, which fits in perfectly with the company’s ethos. With support from the National Trust, the Prince’s Countryside Fund, the RSPCA and Cumbrian Wildlife Trust, David and Bekka Corrie-Close set up their company with the aim to create an innovative approach to
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sustainable, ecologically sound farming that incorporates sound land management and nature conservation, which has seen them go from running scattered areas of local land to a National Trust tenancy of 150 acres at their base near Kendal. Plus, the duo also has a multitude of sites across five other locations where cattle graze periodically throughout the year. In all, they are caring for around 1000 acres of National Trust land across the country. ‘We’ve a mixed bag of cattle,’ said David. ‘From the Longhorn, probably the most majestic, to the Highland, Shetland and Dexters. The native breeds are quite rare and we have to travel far to acquire them and now we have a colourful
herd of very calm, naturally wellbehaved animals.’ Given their ecological ethos, the Ranger EV was the perfect addition to Bekka and David’s stable. With a decreased environmental impact paired with unimpeded off-road performance, the all-electric off-road vehicle makes life much simpler for them both. ‘It’s a wonderful vehicle,’ states David. ‘Covering the exposed and rough terrain without putting a foot wrong and it seems appropriate to be moving around the landscape without a noise. It lives at the farm for day-to-day work. We want to explore solar power for charging the Ranger EV, we already use solar well pumps and we’re keen to expand it as a
power source.’ Before the arrival of the Ranger EV the couple were moving hay bales on foot, so the electric Polaris helps them transport the stock around with ease. Ben Murray, National Sales Manager for Polaris Britain, is glad that the Ranger EV is helping what the company see as an innovative company. ‘We were truly inspired with what David and Bekka are doing. It’s great to see such a unique approach to farming and in many ways the Ranger EV shares a similar approach. We’re confident that the Ranger EV is the most suitable and ecologically sound choice for their farm.’
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 18:43
NEWS
CAN-AM REVEAL NEW MAVERICK AND 6X6 ATV
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s BRP President and CEO José Boisjoli promised, in 2015, to launch a side-byside model every six month until 2020 Can-Am have revealed the Maverick Sport Max DPS 1000R – and at the same time debuted the Outlander 6x6 450 ATV. With over 200 accessories at launch, the four-seat Maverick Sport MAX is intended to be as versatile as it is thrilling. Tuned for trails, the Fox 2.0 Podium QS3 shocks work with the double A-arm setup with sway bar with 32cm of travel at the front, and the torsional trailing arms at the rear – also with a sway bar but offering a further centimetre of travel. The electric power steering and 60-inch width works to keep the 120-inch wheelbase planted. Powered by a 95bhp 976cc Rotax, liquid cooled, V-twin unit and with selectable two or four-wheel drive, with lockable rear axle, the Maverick Max will
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no doubt be capable, and comes fitted with two drive modes – Sport and Eco. It may be better suited to carrying crews rather than cargo, as the four-seat side-by-side only possesses just under 25-litres of storage space – including the glovebox and cubbies – and a 136kg payload. But, it does have a two-inch hitch receiver with tow ball, 7-pin trailer connection and a 680kg towing capacity it could still haul some kit around and is pre-wired for a winch. UK prices are yet to be confirmed. The brand’s other new addition – the Outlander 6x6 450 ATV – offers true six-wheel traction with an ATV that is tougher than its four-wheeled siblings and is available in three trims (450 T, Pro+ 450 T and Max Pro+ 450 T). All models share a 38bhp Rotax single-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission – featuring extra low low-range, double a-arm front suspension,
double torsional trailing arm independent rear suspension and a quick release rear sway bar. A 159kg payload is unchanged by the ATV’s spec, as is the 10.9-litre waterproof storage compartment and the 907kg and 465kg towing capacities for braked and unbraked trailers respectively. All 6x6 models feature selectable four or six-wheel drive systems. The base 450 T model features 12-inch steel wheels with 25-inch
Carlisle TrailWolf tyres, which are upgraded to cast-aluminium wheels and 26-inch Carlisle ACT HD tyres on Pro+ and Max Pro+ models. The top two specs are fitted with a 3,000lbs rated Warn winch with roller fairlead, and also feature heated handgrips. The Max model then adds additional passenger comfort with the additional seatback. Prices for the Outlander 6x6 in the UK start at £9,299.
NOVEMBER 2018
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NEWS
THE GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW IS COMING
The UK’s only indoor Land Rover show prepares to take over Stoneleigh Park and close the show season in style
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t only seems like five minutes since the 2017 show, but this year’s Great British Land Rover Show is fast approaching – and promises to be better than ever. Sponsored by BFGoodrich, there are a multitude of favourite features returning to the NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on Sunday 25th November alongside some new additions – plus plenty more still to be announced! Before entering the hall, there will once again be the Land Rover only car park – a get together for daily drivers, pristine show cars and burgeoning project vehicles. Everyone is welcome from Series Is to Range Rovers to Freelanders – just as long as it wears a Green Oval! Inside the halls is the eyewatering walkway, sponsored by BFGoodrich and curated by the Landy team. This is a selection of special vehicles that have stood
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out to us over the last year for various reasons and are sure to get you talking and in the mood as you enter into the first of the two halls full to the brim with accessories, services, parts, performance upgrades, engine specialists and off-road professionals. Once again, the off-road course at Stoneleigh Park will be utilised and the 2.4-mile route will be open to you and your Landy – but places are in limited supply! For the first time there will be space for Land Rover clubs – outside the main entrance there are 10x10metre stands available on a first come, first serve basis. Each club stand will come with four exhibitor passes and up to three vehicle passes for the stand – if interested you can enquire by calling 01283 553244 or emailing colin.ashworth@assignmentmedia.co.uk. All advanced ticket purchases
will enter a prize draw with over £1,000 worth of prizes to be won – chief among which is the Traxxas TRX4, the ultimate big boys’ toy worth £499! Tickets cost £7.50 when booked in advance and will be £12.50 on the day – under 14s go free. The cost for the off-road course is £10 per vehicle if you pre-book
online or £15 if you rock up and chance it on the day. To ensure you don’t miss out, you can book your tickets at www.greatbritishlrshow. com – and keep up to date with new announcements as they happen. Alternatively, keep up to date by following the build-up on Facebook at facebook.com/ gblandrovershow.
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ON TEST
SUZUKI JIMNY
It’s long been seen in the UK as a bit of a toy. But our first drive of the first new Jimny in twenty years reveals a vehicle which Suzuki says has been developed with professional users very much in mind
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t’s been a long time coming. The original Suzuki Jimny lasted two full decades, and during that time it carved out a reputation for itself as a small but indefatigable slayer of giants. But now at last the new one is here. And it looks absolutely brilliant. It looks brilliant in pictures and, now we’ve seen it in the metal, it looks brilliant for real. If anything, actually, it looks even better for real. Everyone seems to say it looks like a scaled-down G-Wagen. On the launch event, even some of Suzuki’s own people said that. You might also note a similarity to the old LJ, or go looking for a Wrangler-style cues in its styling. We prefer to see it as a new Jimny – there’s a bit of retro to it, but most of all its styling is a work of off-road function. But what you really want to know is whether it’s any good. And yes, it is. Actually, here comes that word again: it’s brilliant. As brilliant as it looks. And, if you didn’t notice, it looks brilliant. Right then, now we’ve got that off our chests we can get into it. The new Jimny is a little wider and taller than the old one, but a little shorter too, and its approach, departure and breakover angles are all improved. It’s still built on a ladder chassis (now with added bracing), it still has live beam axles and it still has a dual-range transfer case with a mechanical lever. All boxes ticked so far. Suzuki says it designed the vehicle to appeal to people who will use it professionally. People who work on the land, in forests, around construction sites and so on. The lurid green colour featured on launch vehicles is a nod to high-vis jackets, and there’s also a dark green designed to blend in with the landscape, should your recreational bag involve ridding
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The old Jimny was never less than an honest truck throughout its life, but its cabin was always cramped and, by the time it went out of production, felt pretty ancient. The new one addresses that superbly, with robust materials and a pleasing layout that has more than a touch of the Jeep Wrangler to it. It’s well equipped, too, and more spacious – elbow room is still limited, but it’s easy to get into a driving position that’ll keep you comfortable for hours at a time said landscape of as much wildlife as possible with your big gun. So, it’s aimed at people who used to buy Defenders but who now buy Rangers or other doublecabs instead. It is, in Suzuki’s
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words, ‘the world’s smallest authentic off-roader.’ Does this mean it still has the world’s smallest cabin? Well, it’s definitely not enormous, but it’s certainly a lot less cramped than
the old one. You can stretch your legs quite comfortably and, while elbow room is still pretty slender, headroom is excellent. In the back, knee room is as tight as you’d expect – though with soft
and deeply sculpted seat-backs ahead of you, it actually is possible for one tall adult to sit behind another. It won’t feel spacious, but head room is plentiful here too and there’s a very decent view out from a position that’s bang in between the B and C posts. Drop the back seats, and you get a near-flat cargo space with a floor that’s hard and waterproof, albeit completely devoid of grip. Some way of securing your luggage would be good, otherwise it’ll set off sideways every time you go round a corner. The rear aperture is huge and almost square, which is excellent, though when the seats are up you’re left with next to no baggage room at all. Up front, the dash is very reminiscent of the Wranglers, both in terms of its general design and the use of exposed hex bolts to secure the trim panels. It’s all trimmed in hard plastic, of course, but none of this feels brittle – though there’s a bit of creaking from behind the facia, and the floor console is pretty wobbly.
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A short wheelbase and tidy overhangs give the Jimny a strong set of angles to boast about – approach, departure and breakover alike are all improved over the old model. We were unconvinced by the brake-operated limited-slip diffs – but with a rear locker and a decent set of tyres on its 15” rims, there’s not a lot that the Jimny couldn’t tackle
Most of all, it looks great. And it’s home to a world of features that leaves the old Jimny far behind – think cruise, climate, heated seats, sat-nav, phone pairing and so on. Even the entry-level SZ4 model is well equipped, while the SZ5 adds a further dollop of good kit – as well as giving you the option of automatic transmission. This goes on to the back of a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 101bhp at 6000rpm and 95lbf.ft at 4000rpm. Those don’t sound like big numbers (well, the rpm ones do), but the vehicle only tips the scales at a kerb weight of 1135kg and the result is that so long as you don’t have frankly stupid expectations, it’s perfectly brisk enough to keep you happy.
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The engine doesn’t need an offensive amount of revs to get the vehicle going, though we found it quite easy to stall when pulling away. First gear is nice and deep all the same, though the spread of ratios isn’t helped by the fact that there’s only five of them – there’s a long step up to second, and the vehicle’s civility at speed would definitely be helped by an overdrive sixth. Not that it would ever be in its element here, with a good bit of wind and road noise at anything above about 60mph and steering that doesn’t really settle at speed. It’s not made for the motorway, however, and both around town and on back roads it’s in its element. By that we don’t mean
it’s some sort of B-road weapon, but for general tooling around it’s as zesty as you could reasonably want. It corners exactly the way you’d expect, which is no bad thing unless you wish you were driving a hit hatch instead, and is
far, far smoother than the old one on any kind of road surface. Off-road, our instinct is that there’s more ground clearance than before. We were shepherded round a forest, on a very tight leash, over terrain that rarely
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provided any sort of test for the vehicle, but there was enough there to demonstrate good articulation from the three-link suspension system and enough space below the diffs to navigate typically rutted woodland conditions without alarm. Its small footprint makes it exceptionally manoeuvrable, too, and its 195/80R15 tyres are tall
enough to be tractable most of the time. One thing we didn’t see much evidence for, however, was the brake-operated LSD system that’s standard on all models. We managed to break ranks for long enough to get the Jimny quite well cross-axled – whereupon its traction management software should start braking the wheels with no traction in order to shuffle
drive to those planted more firmly on the ground. What we found was further evidence for what we always say: there’s no substitute for locking diffs. Naturally, the aftermarket will already be working on solutions. There was no shortage of difflocks, suspension lifts, bash plates, snorkels, winch bumpers and so on for the old Jimny, and that won’t
change with the new one. You’ll soon be able to put one of these on your driveway and turn it into the coolest off-road ride in town. How soon is soon? Suzuki says the UK on-sale date is 1 January, which we’re fairly sure is a bank holiday but never mind. Initial deliveries will be spoken for well before then, at any rate – the factory has allocated 1500 units to Britain in the first year, and with more than twice that number of prospective customers already having registered their interest you can safely assume that demand is going to outstrip supply. What this means, of course, is that you can forget about dealer discounts. Which brings us to one
Suzuki has retained the traditional off-road layout that served the previous Jimny so well. It still has live beam axles at both ends, a flexible three-link suspension set-up and a dual-range transfer case operated by a lever rather than a button. And of course there’s a proper ladder-frame chassis – now strengthened by a pair of new crossmembers in the central area to give it greater stiffness
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of the big questions that’s so far been answered solely with hints and suggestions. We asked Suzuki’s people if it was fair to assume the new Jimny would cost around 10% more than the old one, and they said ‘maybe a little more’ or words to that effect. Which we take to mean it’s going to cost about £2000 on top of what the old one used to be. This of course means that the Jimny will be the cheapest real 4x4 in Britain by a long, long way. It’ll cost significantly less than any of the aforementioned pick-ups, and even the next-cheapest proper off-road station wagon in the UK market (the new Utility-spec Toyota Land Cruiser) comes in at about twice what you’ll pay for a range-topping Jimny. In fact, assuming those price forecasts aren’t out by an eye-opening degree, the Jimny is going to undercut most of the road-legal side-by-side UTVs on the market by a handy degree too. Inevitably, its towing weight is going to look more like that of a UTV than a big 4x4; whichever gearbox you plump for, it’ll haul 1300kg tops. For cargo carrying,
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a 1435kg gross weight means you should be able to put 300 kilos’ worth of load in the back, depending on what options you’ve fitted and how heavy you are. Talking of figures that matter, the 1.5-litre engine will return 35.8mpg on the combined cycle and put out 178g/km of CO2. Those figures become 32.2mpg and 198g/km if you opt for the four-speed automatic, which we wouldn’t be inclined to do. All of which leaves us on tenterhooks. That the new Jimny is a worthy successor to the old one is, we think, without doubt. Indeed, on the basis of what we’ve seen so far we think it’s fair to say that it’s a quantum leap forward. But we’ve already had one bucket of cold water thrown over our reaction to a new off-roader this year, when Jeep told us that the new Wrangler, exceptional vehicle that it is, was likely to start at approaching £45,000 when the UK order book opens. Yes, Jeep can get away with being greedy, because demand is way ahead of supply. But that’s the same very happy situation that Suzuki is going to find itself in. If
prices do indeed rise as modestly as the UK importer says they will, this is going to be a devastating new arrival here. We’ll find out,
they say, in November. For now, we’ve found out that the Jimny is back. ot\s ready for work – and it wants a job as your next truck.
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ON TEST
MITSUBISHI L200 BARBARIAN AUTO
High-spec version of the truck that created the double-cab market is good value for what you get – and no less so in self-shifting form
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hesa days, the L200 may have lost its place at the top of the pick-up sales chart. But it will forever be credited for having brought the concept of the lifestyle doublecab to Britain. Mitsubiushi was the first car maker here to really figure out the potential of the market for high-spec trucks – and as a result, this is the third generation of L200 to tempt buyers with poshed-up models like the Barbarian. If you leave out vehicles marketed under Mitsubishi’s Special Vehicle Projects brand, this is the range-topper in a line-up that also includes familiar names like 4Life, Titan and Warrior. All are well equipped – alloys, cruise, air-con, Bluetooth and USB are standard across the range – but in the model tested here, you pay a premium of £6475 plus VAT over the entry-level model to add a range of equipment which, if you want a premium pick-up, is well worth the money. This includes obvious things like leather, climate and bigger alloys, plus full-time four-wheel drive and, as tested here, an automatic gearbox (stick with the manual version, and the price difference quoted above shrinks to £5075). In addition, this model features a recently updated multimedia display with a touch screen operating various sat-nav and infotainment functions. What you don’t get, which you do on the entry-level 4Life model, is a locking rear diff. In this way, the L200 follows the previous model; high-line versions with Mitsubishi’s Super-Select 4x4 system use traction control instead. You can’t spec a proper locker as an option, so if you want the full luxury works but also want to be able to work your vehicle off-road to the maximum effect, you’ll need to look to the aftermarket.
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The previous-generation L200’s interior always felt a little stark, even in high-spec form, but this model is absolutely spot-on. It’s very well suited to being dressed up with the sort of leather and high-tech toys you see everywhere in the Barbarian model – and the toys themselves have improved as time goes on, with a better multimedia system than was found in previous model years. Rear-seat legroom isn’t the best, however – you can fit a full crew of adults into the cab at a push, but there are other double-cabs out there with far more room in the back
CABIN AND PRACTICALITY It may be at the top of the range, but the Barbarian doesn’t try to hide its true nature. Its dash is trimmed in hard plastics – however they feel strong rather than cheap, so they’re certainly becoming of a vehicle you’d put to work. Likewise, while the seats are trimmed in leather it’s tough rather than soft. The driver’s seat is electric, too – though it doesn’t have adjustable lumbar support,
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and we found ourselves shifting about uncomfortably after an hour or so. The seating position is excellent, however, giving you a good view all round – though the reversing camera on this model is a valuable aid nonetheless. The media screen in which it’s housed looks slick and as if it’s meant to be there (it’s mounted in the dash rather than on it, which is always a good start), and it works far better than those in L200s we’ve tested from previous model years.
In the back, our notes from those previous versions of the current L200 suggests we thought there was enough legroom for one six-footer to sit comfortably behind another. Which came as a bit of a surprise, because this is an area in which we feel the vehicle short-changes you somewhat. Certainly, there are better options in the pick-up market – and when a six-year-old in his car seat is asking daddy to move forward so he can fit his legs in properly, you know it’s not generous.
Headroom in the back is limited, too; if you’re carrying a work crew of big lads, the ones here are apt to have their heads pressed into the roof lining. They’ll get a good view of the world outside, though, which is the silver lining to the high seating position.
DRIVING This L200 has a 2.4-litre engine, which is smaller than the models that went before it – but gruntier than ever. Its 178bhp and 317lbf.
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The auto box adds £1400 to the L200’s price tag. It’s a good, smooth unit that does what you want it to most of the time and responds well to being put under manual control. It’s mated to Mitsubishi’s Super-Select system, meaning this is one of the few pick-ups with full-time four-wheel drive
ft do a sterling job of winding up the automatic box and shifting the truck, and even when you put the boot in the engine doesn’t raise its voice unreasonably. The auto unit can also be controlled by paddles behind the steering wheel, which will forever strike us as being a bit incongruous in a work truck. However much they look like F1 technology here to claim refugee status, however, they allow you to keep things in the guts of the rev range by short-shifting. The common-rail unit delivers its power very smoothly, at any
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rate. There’s little in the way of vibrations, even when its worked hard, though you do get a bit of road and wind noise at speed. Still, the L200 remains a pretty refined truck in which to travel – you can certainly do long distances in it without getting upset. On A and B-roads, it’s actually pretty enjoyable to chuck around, though you do need to use those paddles to keep the gearbox up with the plot. Leave it in auto mode, and it does its thing unhurriedly – which is fine for general tooling around, but can be frustrating if you’re trying to push
on as it takes its time to get the idea when what you want is a bit of urgency. If that’s what you’re after, as far as we’re concerned there’s no substitute for a manual. But paddle-shifting the auto works well enough to keep you happy most of the time, even if it doesn’t play on the truck’s gung-ho chuckability the same way as the real thing.
Ride-wise, too, the L200 demonstrates how well mannered it’s possible to make a vehicle on a live rear axle – even one with leaf springs. It doesn’t slop about in fast corners, and grip is excellent – even in 2wd with the traction control switched off, it didn’t get loose when provoked. Instead, the L200 has that thoroughly reassuring feeling of hefty substance to its steering
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In this form, the L200 does a pretty good job of striking the balance between work-truck toughness and lifestyle bling. Slick paintwork, big alloys and lashings of chrome aren’t necessarily what you’d call well suited to a construction site, but when push comes to shove you can chuck a lot of rubble in the rear bed then return it to show-and-shine condition with no more than a hose
and handling which can be so endearing in a truck. We even tried to upset its poise by going too fast over a lengthy series of diagonally offest speed pillows at the worst possible angle, and it remained more composed and comfortable than we thought possible.
OFF-ROAD As mentioned above, this version of the L200 has traction control but no locking rear diff. We don’t like that, but we’ve got to give it credit where credit’s due. Taking our test vehicle off-road on its standard tyres, we went
looking for somewhere to make it break traction. Articulation isn’t the best, but it follows the ground well nonetheless and, when all’s said and done, we struggled to find anywhere that would bring its traction control into play. That says to us that if we had a locker instead, we wouldn’t have had to engage it often if at all. An excellent combination of engine and transmission helps here, providing a smooth, controlled delivery of torque in low range. The auto box
doesn’t misbehave when you’re taking extreme terrain at a crawl, and it even delivers quite effective compression braking so long as you control it with the paddles. Certainly, it feels as if it would get a long way on a set of mud-terrain tyres alone. On that subject, the 4Life model comes on 16” rims as opposed to the Barbarian’s 17” units, so you’ll get a wider range of options in your chosen pattern – particularly if you’re looking to go up a size or two. That’s becoming less and less of an issue as time goes on and more and more all-terrain and mud-terrain patterns come on stream in 17” sizes and above, but you’ll still get the greatest choice by dropping down an inch or two on rims. The fact that the 4Work comes
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The multi-function steering wheel adds paddle-shifts to the usual cruise and stereo buttons in this model. Few trucks’ leather treatments are more convincing than the L200’s on 16-inchers proves that they’ll make it around the L200’s brakes, so if you want to spec a Barbarian that’ll really be capable of earning its living there should be nothing to stop you doing so using a set from the aftermarket.
VERDICT The current L200 is a significant step up over the previous model, particularly in terms of its interior quality, and there’s precious little to criticise about its engine
AT A GLANCE Base price £28,075 + VAT OTR inc VAT £33,995 Fuel consumption 37.7mpg combined Emissions 196g/km Payload 1050kg Braked trailer 3500kg Kerb weight 1860kg Gross vehicle weight 2910kg Service interval 12 months / 12,500 miles Warranty 60 months / 62,500 miles
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and drivetrain. If you need an automatic, this is a good one. We’d still like to see a rear locker, though, and there’s a 62,500-mile limit on the five-year warranty which
looks very stingy, but purchase prices compare well against the competition – and the L200 still has an unmatched heritage in the UK double-cab market.
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LAND CRUISER AT35 AND HILUX AT37 – THE ARCTIC TRUCKS YOU CAN'T GET FROM MAIN DEALERS
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t’s unlikely to have escaped your notice that the pick-up industry in the UK has recently started embracing Arctic Trucks in a big way. Isuzu was the first manufacturer to team up with the company on the build of the old-shape D-Max AT35, then in the last year there’s been the Toyota Hilux AT35 and Nissan Navara AT32, as well as a facelifted version of Isuzu’s original. All of these are trucks you can buy through their manufacturers’ main dealers, just like any other model in the D-Max, Hilux or Navara range. Commensurate with
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The AT35 conversion uses +40mm springs and shocks. Here, on the AT37 Hilux, Arctic Trucks has fitted remote-reservoir units from Old Man Emu
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Arctic Trucks’ proclaimed position as an OEM supplier rather than an aftermarket modifier, they come with their factory warranties intact and can be insured as standard vehicles. Here, though, we have a couple of Toyotas which you can’t get from main dealers. Not yet you can't, at least. The Land Cruiser AT35 is similar to the Hilux AT35 in that it’s lifted to the point where it can run on 35” tyres, while the Hilux AT37 is taken that bit further and sits on 37” rubber. There’s
a clue in their names, as you’ve probably noticed. Two inches can make a lot of difference (insert joke of choice here), but Arctic Trucks told us that the AT35 and AT37 are fundamentally the same conversion, just using longer springs and shocks on the latter to accommodate the taller tyres. There are no body lifts going on here; the company does use this technique on its AT35 version of the Isuzu D-Max, but not on the Hilux or Land Cruiser.
So how do you get a 37” tyre beneath a Hilux without lifting it so high its transmission angles start needing their own postcode? Arctic Trucks only uses a 40mm lift on the AT35 model, so even the AT37 is hardly going to be taking the suspension mods to the extreme. The answer is what the company describes as ‘extensively re-engineered inner arches and bodywork.’ A virtual lift, in other words, though we can safely say that as an OEM supplier, they’ll
do it properly rather than just laying into it with a jigsaw the way your mate with the dodgy Fourtrak did. Just as well, as a lot of material needs to go to create enough space for the big 37x12.50R17s, which ride on 25mm offset alloys to maintain the vehicle’s stability. Having removed material, Arctic Trucks replaces it with its own extended wheelarches, which enhance the vehicle’s looks with an impressive blend of subtlety and presence. It’s not in-your-face, but
Right: A virtual lift and much-increased negative wheel offset are key to Arctic Trucks’ ability to fit much taller tyres while using only a modest increase in suspension height. Inner arches are extensively cut away to make room for the tyres, and the rims have an offset of minus 25mm – basically, a whole inch Below right: Tyres on this Hilux AT37 are 37x12.50R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrains. You’d never normally be able to fit something so tall without adding a massive suspension and/or body lift
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Options include front A-bars and various lighting packages, as well as underbody protection plates stamped with Arctic Trucks’ logo it’s certainly purposeful. A key test of any modification to a vehicle’s appearance is whether it looks like it was meant to be there in the first place, and it’s one which the AT35 and AT37 alike pass with absolutely flying colours.
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Going back to the suspension, Arctic Trucks says this is ‘fully optimised’ and custom built to its own specifications. Various suppliers appear to be used; an AT44 Hilux we looked at while visiting the company’s
UK headquarters was running Fox equipment, while the AT37 in these pictures was sporting springs and shocks sourced from Old Man Emu. Phrases like ‘fully optimised’ are incredibly easy to mock, of
course. But as always, the proof is in the pudding – and the AT35 and AT37 alike do drive beautifully on the road. In each case, cornering stability is retained, even enhanced in comparison to the standard vehicle, despite these
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trucks’ higher centres of gravity, and there’s little more in the way of impacts from imperfections in the road surface. In the case of the Hilux, the leaf-sprung rear is noticeably firmer but also better controlled; it’s perhaps a touch more nervous than standard over minor bumps, but more settled and better damped when you hit the big stuff. With the Land Cruiser, meanwhile, whose rear axle is coil-sprung, the simplest thing to say is that if you notice any differences between the AT35 and a factory standard model, you’re doing better than us. While Toyota has always tended to market the Cruiser as a premium vehicle, it stands out from the SUV crowd by having the reassuring manners of the true off-roader it assuredly is, and the AT35 conversion does nothing to change that. Our view of the 150-Series Land Cruiser has always been that in a world of road-only SUVs, it’s exactly as it ought to be, which means Arctic Trucks’ version is exactly as it should be too.
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Whether this means Toyota GB will take it on is another matter. The company only recently started offering the Hilux AT35 as an official dealer-supplied model, however, so it wouldn’t exactly be coming out of the blue if this were to happen. The model in the pictures was commissioned by a Toyota main dealer, which you might choose to interpret as having some significance, but at present the two vehicles you see
here are available only in this form by going direct to Arctic Trucks. That doesn’t sound like too much of a hardship, though the Warwick-based company is keen to do business as a supplier to vehicle manufacturers rather than via the aftermarket. Which, you can reasonably assume, means the trio of official models already on the market is just a precursor to the presence it intends to create for itself in the UK.
So will the time come when we start seeing AT37 options on main dealers’ forecourts? It's open to question. But while the bulk of interest in these conversions is likely to remain rooted in the pick-up market, the Land Cruiser you see here proves that away from the world of VAT returns and personal tax allowances, Arctic Trucks can make the world’s best passenger-carrying 4x4s better than ever too.
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BUYING USED
MAZDA B-SERIES: 19982012
The Mazda pick-up was never as popular as its American sibling, but current prices of the no-nonsense B-Series make them a viable option as a dependable one-trick pony. The only trouble could be finding one…
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hen released just before the turn of the century, the Mazda B-Series pick-up was a breath of fresh air – not in terms of ground-breaking performance that tore a chasm into the market, but because it was, simply put, a competent option on the scene. A proper working truck. B-Series trucks, which then became B2500s, were badgeengineered by Ford, which means if you do pick up an old Mazda truck you’ll kind of be picking up an old Ranger. And there are pros and cons to this. Both vehicles were available in the UK, but many Brits shunned the Mazda in favour of the Ranger, as it propositioned a better interior and more refinement. This all means that the choice of B-Series’ on the second-hand market is scant – but don’t be deterred. If you keep your wits about you, you could just find the ideal rough and ready colleague that boasts low running costs, dependability and a machine that is happy to work for a living. Come 2006, the name changed once again. The Mazda BT50 brought a step forward in refinement and power, but still remained the solid, yet left-field choice in the UK. The key here may be to avoid expecting, or telling your mates down the pub, that you’ve basically bought a Ranger. Whilst it’s true mechanically, the lack of interior refinement and creature comforts in the Mazda means the two vehicles actually feel worlds apart. The fact that the B-Series was the least SUV-like, not just in comparison to the Ranger, but of all its peers – both internally and to drive – did leave it with the character of a focused work truck.
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BUYING USED
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BUYING USED INTERIOR
Inside you’ll find that Mazda have been frugal with the furnishings and the end result is a decidedly agrarian feel – even in top-spec Barracuda trim. There was a whole host of additional extras when new, which included air conditioning and CD players, and some later models feature double-DIN units in the centre console, so updating the unit with a new system, should you feel the need to, will not pose too difficult a task. When 2004 arrived, it brought with it an interior upgrade for the B-Series. The seats were revised and improved whilst the rest of the cabin was given a refresh. This made it a nicer place to be but make no mistake – versions with the revised interior are still far from being a byword for luxury. However, this does mean that they’re ideal for moving grubby workmen around without the risk of ruining the interior. In double-cab versions, the rear seats are a bit tight, so will be comfortable for limited periods of time, and in single cab version there
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are obviously only the two seats. In 2006, the B-Series went from using the name B2500 to BT-50 guise and the interior didn’t change too much. Two years later the truck was updated again and came to include a full leather set of seats, an auxiliary input and six-disc autochanger in the flagship Intrepid spec.
DRIVING
During the stint shared by the B-Series and B2500 names, there was a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine on offer with an output of 109bhp, then the BT-50 utilised a version with 141bhp and added a 3.0-litre unit in 2007 that pumped out a total of 154bhp. The gearbox had always been a five-speed manual until the arrival of the 3.0-litre unit, which came fitted with an automatic equivalent. At no point would it be reasonable to consider any era of the Mazda pick-up quick, but there was enough torque available, even in the early trucks, to ensure that the trucks could always handle a payload over a tonne and towing figures of 2,800kg. Unfortunately, if the
sluggish acceleration is going to bother you and you want to fit an aftermarket power upgrade, you will more than likely struggle to source one, as the Mazdas were a small niche in the UK pick-up scene when they were on sale – let alone now. It may not have been quick, but the B-Series was light – even in double-cab body style. This meant that with the maximum torque available low down there was little issue with trickier tracks and the boggier ground. Following the update in 2006, the BT-50 handled with more finesse and featured a more civilised ride. This doesn’t mean
that it was totally transformed, it was just better than before. It packed impressive capability off-road, just like the B2500 and B-Series before it and retained the adequate and useful towing and cargo capabilities. If part of the reason this truck appeals to you is its relationship with the Ranger, then it is in its performance that a Mazda will please you most, as the differences between the two trucks never changed what it could do.
RELIABILITY
The engine is an old one, therefore the turbodiesel unit requires service intervals of
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BUYING USED VERDICT
6,000-miles. This is rather frequent compared to other trucks of a similar age, which will usually require a seeing to after around twice as many miles. Counteracting that, the truck’s Ford ties mean that servicing and sourcing parts may be easier than you’d expect. Mazda dealers are unlikely to retain the old parts, whereas the Ford equivalents often do, and practically all of the mechanicals are identical and therefore universal across the B-Series’ and Rangers of the same age. Another perk of this is that should you be cut from the cloth that inclines you to maintain a full dealer service history, you should be fine at a Ford garage and
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they aren’t usually too dear. But, as always, if you aren’t insistent on heading to a main dealer, a respected independent specialist is also a good way to go – you’ll pay less for labour and know that the guys working on your truck have relevant expertise. The list of problems that may require you to fork out to fix isn’t a long one. With the Ford-sourced 2.5-litre, the biggest problem comes with the oil pump. It fails. Not always, but it can give up the ghost and starve the engine of oil, causing it to fail at the top end. But, this isn’t something that is likely to happen at the drop of a hat – keep an ear out for knowing when at idle and especially just after firing it up.
We all know that the B-Series was never the most desirable truck on the market. The spartan interior wasn’t plush and the performance was respectable, and this meant that it was often overshadowed by the more SUV-like competitors and overlooked as an outright work truck – despite there being arguments that it was the best suited for such a job. If you want an old truck that can double up on family duties at the weekend, then even the plusher later options might not tick enough boxes. But, the Mazda trucks are capable and cheap, which is a combination that makes them a viable option for a workonly pick-up. Due to the fact that there are so few around (a search on AutoTrader at the time of writing found three
B-Series’, two B2500s and five BT50s) you may well have more room to manoeuvre as sellers shouldn’t see too much interest. Prices range from around £2,000 for examples that’re both basic and leggy, to £7,500 for much newer versions with higher kit. We’d say that your best bet would be to aim in the middle and go for an ’06 or later BT-50 model with a target price that doesn’t breach the £5,000 mark. But, if you’re adamant that you need more kit and comfort, the contemporary Rangers should be just the ticket. If you’re after a cheap workaday truck that has credibility, then there are few options on the second-hand market that are as suited as the Mazda B-Series, under whichever name, for the same money. It’s just a case of finding one on a limited market.
TOP PICK: BT-50 (06-11) Price (low milage) £6,000 Price (high milage) £3,000 Fuel consumption 26mpg combined Engine 2.5-litre turbodiesel Power 109bhp @ 3,500rpm Torque 199lbf.ft @ 2,000rpm Payload 1,000kg Braked trailer 2,800kg
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FEATURES
HOLIDAY CAMP In the West of France, on a sunny weekend in September, if you enjoy riding Polaris machines you’ll find Le Camp of your dreams WORDS: GEORGE DOVE PICTURES: ERIC MALHERBE
F
lying into Bordeaux, you expect your flight to be full of wine tourists and not, bizarrely in our case, a lively rugby tour. But I was heading somewhere a little different. A few hours’ drive from
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Bordeaux sits a rural, typically French region called Reygades – home of Camp Polaris. With France holding the largest market for the US company in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, it is the logical home for
an annual gathering of hundreds of Polaris vehicles along with their owners. The carpark is, as you would expect, a sight to behold – RZRs, Generals and Sportsman ATVs all lined up and sporting their various custom paintjobs,
accessories and modifications as one big, proud family. Club Polaris is a riders’ group for that family. Set up twelve years ago by Polaris, the club offers a forum for owners to get together and ride, exploring the
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capabilities of their side-by-side or ATV. Some 125 Polaris dealerships organise over 100 events a year, including local rides and national events at the sixty-odd primed riding spots all over France. How successful is the club? Well, it
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has upwards of 31,000 members already signed up and on average grows by 250 members each month, as every owner of a new or second-hand Polaris vehicle is offered the chance to sign up by their dealer. And Camp Polaris
is the annual showstopper, with around 500 vehicles each year making the pilgrimage. To attend Camp Polaris, you have to register through your dealer, and so can your mate – even if they rock up to the festival in their Can-Am!
The site in Reygades has space for camping for all of the guests attending the two-day owners’ event, plus local food stalls, accessories and riding gear, along with an official Polaris showroom, a fantastic off-road course and a
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FEATURES
workshop full of mechanics for any overnight tinkering that may be required for a second bite of the cherry come Sunday morning. Sticking with the fruity metaphors, the off-road route is a peach – one so sizeable it doesn’t even require a James. Starting at base camp, the goliath 55km (!) route was surprisingly technical and very, very well balanced. The route meandered from base camp downhill through a vast selection of scenery, terrains and gradients to thoroughly test the ORVs – but it never offered scenarios that would jeopardise the fun, i.e. spots that run the risk of customers getting stuck. After nearly four hours of blasting through woodlands, fields, gravel tracks and country roads, we finished with a splash in
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the rocky waterfall finale in front of a buzzing crowd. If you weren’t out on the course there was still plenty of action, with demo rides available throughout the day, where attendees could test out an ATV on a short course through the woods or take a passenger ride with decorated professional drivers. Once evening came and the riding was done for the day, the festival atmosphere took over. The bonfire was lit and the wine tasting began (oblique continued, depending when you stopped riding) under the stars whilst food was served in the tent. From the rows of tables, the Polaris family were serenaded by the band who played from a stage at the far end, and next to the platform a local artist painted an homage to the brand at the
heart of the whole weekend. A sense of togetherness spanned the whole weekend – not just after the wine began to flow. With much of the ride taking place on a single track there were a couple of stoppages as a result of mechanical issues. When this happened, there was not a single stern word – riders simply disembarked and passed the time talking about each other’s machines, the route and admiring the wonderful setting until the issues were fixed. Then, the sound of engines firing up ricocheted down the line and it was business as usual again. The Camp functions fantastically, not just as a tool for Polaris to paint themselves in a fantastic light – which it undoubtedly does – but it also
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intensifies the passion throughout the Polaris community. Before arriving, it was hard to know exactly what to expect from the camp. Reading that there will be hundreds of vehicles doesn’t prepare you for the chaotic excitement of being amongst six hundred customer vehicles chomping at the bit to push their pride and joy to the limit on a fantastic, bespoke route. There was never a question over the ability of Polaris vehicles, so it was no surprise that such a high number of vehicles completed the course with 100% of them
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crossing the line with a smile on the rider’s face. It was impressive that after riding hell for leather over a technical course of such distance, you could count the breakdowns on the fingers of one hand. But the most surprising thing was the community and the fact that such a large number of owners rode their Polaris, be it a Sportsman, RZR, Ranger or General, purely for the passion of it. It feels that in the UK ATVs and side-by-sides of any brand are seen predominantly as tools. A big part of the reason why this is different in France is Club
Polaris. Membership is free and you usually join when you buy your ride, although if you want to sign up it’s as simple as a trip to a dealership. Membership brings a monthly newsletter, with information on all of the dealerorganised riding events, so you don’t miss out on a get together. You’ll receive an e-mail on your birthday with a special offer, plus there’s a monthly competition with vouchers to be won and the annual magazine is posted out to every member. And with its success in France, Polaris are looking to expand the club to
other markets as soon as possible. The good news is one of these is the UK. Just because Club Polaris is coming to Blighty doesn’t mean that a Polaris Camp UK will happen, too, but there’s no reason it couldn’t in the future. It could be a huge success if Brits were to see the fun side in the vehicles, and the comradery and ease of dealer organised events more frequently could go a long way to changing that. Replace the wine with a plethora of Strongbow flavours, and the proposition still sounds like it would work over here.
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TRAINING
THE SECRET IS OUT Being able to drive on the road doesn't mean you can drive off-road, and the fact that the SMA site is tucked away doesn't mean it's not great… PICTURES SMA DRIVER TRAINING greater level of competence and ask technical questions of even the most advanced off-road drivers. Designed to be challenging and exciting with heaps of variety – and water pools included – there is never a dull moment to be had. Why is this relevant to you? Well, if you’re looking to gain some understanding of using a 4x4 off-road or need to attain certain training qualifications to allow you to use your pick-up for work, you can’t get many better proving grounds than this. And with SMA Driver Training, you’ll be on your way to being an advanced driver yourself in no time. So what else is catered for at the SMA training ranch? Besides a venue capable of testing all abilities, the facility also handles all types of vehicles. Equally at home are old, new and technologically advanced trucks. 20-year-old 4x4 vehicles, such as the iconic Vauxhall Monterey and Isuzu Trooper, can showcase perfectly the skills and understanding of how this sort of vehicle actually works, by giving you full control of the driving experience. Jumping into a new four-wheel drive double-cab provides a
different perspective, thanks to the built-in technology, which will assist you when needed should you become stuck! Going further, the ground has played host to high-end manufacturers, allowing them to test the capability of their luxury SUVs, alongside vehicle launches and testing days. Not one to ignore the fast changing market and emerging technology, a new track has been constructed which is now suitable for electric vehicles. For those needing to be health and safety compliant, all 4x4 and winching courses are LANTRAapproved and can be delivered at their headquarters, with accommodation close by for those travelling, or alternatively an SMA instructor can come to your own site – providing it is suitable – and conduct the training. Whether you are looking for accredited courses, corporate days out or even manufacturer launches and testing, you can contact SMA Driver Training Ltd and speak to the experienced Sandra Macdonald-Ames, on 07776 352847 or email macdonaldames@gmail.com if you would like to discuss exact requirements of your training.
B
ased in the stunning Mid Wales borders, you will find a well kept secret. Hidden behind a grand hotel and set deep within the woods there lives a purposebuilt off-road course that is fully Lantra-approved and caters for all levels of driver ability and vehicles. Some tracks lead the way along terrain suitable for first timers, whilst others navigate a path through patches that require a
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EXPERIENCED DRIVER DEPICTED
WHAT AR E YOU 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/KM3
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24/09/2018 01/05/2018 18:52 13:06
TRAINING
DRIVEN IN A MAN'S WORLD
Whether you're after a day of fun in dirt buggies of BORDA-approved driver training, Notts Off-Road have got you covered WORDS AND PICTURES GEMMA PASK
I
t’s fair to say that motoring, of any description, is predominantly maleorientated. As a general rule, it’s men, not women, who you see fiddling with engines, competing in motorsport and on the whole the ones who have a passion for cars. Having said that, there are plenty of women out there who could teach me a thing or two about the inner workings of my car. It’s certainly refreshing when you come across the fairer sex getting involved in such activities and a pleasure to find that a woman appreciates a good vehicle when they see one – as opposed to ‘I like it, it’s blue’… Occasionally you’ll even get a 4x4 experience and training company run by a couple of women who wouldn’t change
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their jobs for anything. You’ll experience one of these occasions at Nottingham Off-Road Events, which is run by Sarah Berry and Angela Selkirk. Nottingham Off-Road Events is about a half hour’s drive north of the city centre, but within the grounds at Lockwell Hill Activity Centre, you could easily be hundreds of miles away from civilisation, with lush countryside providing a scenic backdrop to the fun that lies ahead. Of course, it always helps when the sun is shining, but the course at Notts Off-Road is suitable for any weather. Sarah took the time to have a chat with me about how this pocket of heaven came to fruition in the Nottinghamshire countryside. ‘We switched trading to Nottingham Off-Road Events
about two years ago, after being Nottingham Dirt Buggies. The problem with that name was it does exactly what it says on the tin, so we changed to encompass more of what we can offer here,’ explains Sarah. There are three different companies on site, though they are all endorsed by Nottingham Off-Road Events. The site caters for almost any outdoor activity imaginable, ranging from the buggies to archery, zorbing and quads. I asked Sarah how she and Angela got into off-roading and a smile came across Sarah’s face as she wondered where to begin. ‘Angela and I were both fully employed, both from clerical and administration backgrounds, but we used to provide the catering for Skirmish Paintball Games.
Customers would arrive early on the weekends and we would cook for 200 to 300 guests. We ran a sandwich bar for a while and continued catering. ‘My brother runs the quad biking up here now and an opportunity came up to do something with the land. Rather than join forces, we wanted to do our own thing, so we thought about what wasn’t already available on the site. That’s when we invested in these three dirt buggies. We’d take the customers out and it was just me and Ang for a while. We sold the dirt buggy business in March, by which stage it was the largest experience provider of its kind in the country.’ The two ladies bought Off Road Training Ltd a couple of years ago, before turning into the company
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we now know. For a while they were operating both the buggy and 4x4 sides of things as well, and their fleet was a little different. ‘We had a couple of V8 Discos, a manual and an auto – great sound, but so thirsty. And then there was the old Bedford truck – an MJ to be exact. We did want to try and keep the Bedford and planned to get some seats in the back for taking kids around the site, but unfortunately there were too many health and safety conditions involved.’ They sold the Bedford while it was still of some value and have since moved to a selection of Discovery Tdis. There are five in total, although Sarah reckons four would be enough. Most have minor modifications – the likes of a snorkel, mud-terrain tyres and a two-inch lift have been added just to make sure that the entire course is manageable. Now that I mention the course, 60 acres is plenty for a proper off-road experience, from varying gradients, ruts, side slopes and special tracks for demonstrating what articulation is all about. Throw in some beautiful woodland and you have yourself the perfect site. It’s also the season for weddings (I’m informed), meaning many of the weekends ahead are booked with stag and hen parties galore. Whether guests come along for training or simply to experience driving, Sarah and co. always like to have some fun with them. ‘We try to scare the living
daylights out of them,’ Sarah jokes. ‘We’ll say “Ooh, have you ever done this before? It can be quite scary!” Often you hear them coming back through the woods just laughing. It’s amazing to think what I take for granted now; it has made their day, or even year, just trundling at 5mph. ‘It gives me such a buzz. We took out a blind lady before and she’d lost her sight as an adult, so knew what it was like to drive. We do the likes of team blindfold driving here and we asked her if she wanted to drive and she was quite surprised. It’s perfectly safe, loads of space, so why not? She absolutely loved it. For those 30 minutes she had the experience of driving again and it really made her day.’ Besides making dreams a reality here, Sarah and Angela do focus on the BORDA training and admit
it’s something they want to expand upon, becoming more corporate in the process. ‘It’s been hard, to be fair,’ Sarah continues, ‘Some people think you can just buy a bit of land on a Monday, buy some Land Rovers on a Tuesday, have a bit of training on a Wednesday and then have yourself a successful off-road training company by Thursday. It doesn’t quite work like that. ‘We can’t say enough about BORDA though, they’ve welcomed us with open arms and it’s nice to be a member an organisation and also to have that BORDA recognition. There are only about 25 accredited members. The emergency services like to use BORDA, so we’ve got good connections; we had the fire brigade up here not too long ago with their fire engine.’ Seeing a fire engine tackle some of the terrain would be quite a sight, not least impressive. But what happens if you get the odd client who isn’t so valiant…? Shay Perry, one of the instructors, who gave me an initial tour of the course before letting me play, recalled a couple of past customers who weren’t quite as fearless as the fire brigade. ‘I was directing this one girl down a slope before, but she would not come up off the clutch or brakes. It took me about five minutes to persuade her to trust in the vehicle and that it wasn’t going to run away with her! ‘It’s all about building that trust with the vehicle and getting to know what it can do. Sometimes I have taken people out and they’ve said: “Do you mind if I get out here?” They can end up looking quite pasty,’ Shay chuckles.
Sure enough, off-roading won’t be for everyone, just as some people can get a little pale travelling in a straight line down the motorway. But while some humans won’t take up a seat in a 4x4, a dog can quite easily take their place. Sarah’s dog, Ben, is always happy to tag along and not always inside the vehicle either. ‘Sometimes I’ll hop into one of the Land Rovers and Ben will just tag along behind,’ says Sarah, ‘and that’s his walk for the day! Occasionally though, we’ll all jump into the 4x4s and, because he’s a bit colour-blind, he can’t tell which one I’ve jumped into!’ While I was there, Ben made lots of effort to make me feel welcome, when he wasn’t curling up and falling asleep, of course… it’s a dog’s life, for sure. Sixty acres of land to roam, lots of fuss from visitors and even a café on site to do a little bit of poaching for treats. Some have it made. Eventually, I managed to turn my attention away from envying the dog of leisure long enough to ask Sarah how customers usually react when they arrive to find two very knowledgeable women as the bosses. ‘Our unique selling point is that two women run the business. People are often surprised. They’ll ask: “What do you do about repairs?” But Ang and I know our stuff. I’ve had people ask me whether I get to drive the 4x4s at any point. I tend to smile and tell them I drive them when I buy them…’ Most instructors will tell you that women make better pupils when they’re learning to drive a 4x4: looks like they’re pretty good at running the show from the other side of the desk too…
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PRODUCTS
WINTER IS COMING
Winter is hard on your truck, and you can make it so much easier simply by fitting Nokian’s winter tyres
WITH WINTER ON THE WAY, your thoughts might be turning towards a suitable set of tyres for the harsh weather ahead. If they’re not, they certainly should be – once you’ve experienced the difference winter tyres make, you’ll be a convert for sure. And this year there’s a new winter option for 4x4 owners, in the shape of the Nokian WR SUV 4. Designed with European roads in mind, this promises strong handling on cold, slushy roads and consistent performance in changeable weather conditions. Most people by now have figured out that winter tyres aren’t just for snow, and sure enough Nokian emphasises the WR SUV 4’s ‘superb wet grip and precise
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handling during heavy rainfalls and on mud-strewn roads.’ Whether on the motorway, around town or in the back of beyond, ‘driving feel is controlled and predictable on slippery and bare roads alike.’ As well as its winter tread, the WR SUV 4 has reinforced sidewalls to resist damage – albeit just the kind you can get on the road. Nonetheless, its robust structure was designed specifically for big, heavy SUVs, as well as for the realities of what winter has become for most of us. ‘Heavy rain is becoming more frequent,’ explains Nokian, ‘which increases the amount of slush. The overall volume of rainfall is expected to grow and heavy rainstorms are expected to be more frequent due
to climate change. Adding to the chances of aquaplaning, the snow on the roads can be quite watery and slushy as roads are heavily salted. When handling a heavy SUV especially in high speeds, it is necessary that the tyres are suited for all these conditions.’ To tick all these boxes, Nokian has used a combination of winter rubber compound and directional tread with what it calls ‘a unique siping system.’ This includes a continuous centre rib for high-speed stability, along with elements to draw water from the road, dig into soft snow, deform for extra grip under braking and support the shoulders for more precise steering feel. Oh, and it was designed to look good, too.
The WR SUV 4 replaces Nokian’s old WR SUV 3, and the company says that particular areas of improvement are wet handling and braking, running economy and snow braking. The tyre’s design was finalised after an extensive testing programme in Germany, Spain, southern Finland and Lapland – where it was caned through the snow at a place called White Hell. The WR SUV 4 is available in 57 size and speed combinations covering V and W ratings and a range of sizes from 16-21 inches. It’s on sale imminently, so check it out wherever you normally get your tyres – and take it from us, fitting the right rubber for winter is always, always a good investment.
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Landy
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With your subscription, you’ll get:
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24/09/2018 03/07/2017 18:58 17:08
NEW VEHICLES PRODUCTS
LAZER INCORPORATE MOTORSPORT TECH IN NEW LIGHT BAR RANGE UK-based Lazer Lamps have released a new range of light bars incorporating the technology used in WRC for on-road use LIGHT BARS ARE COOL. That much is largely undisputed, and in the UK, they’re a hugely popular way of enhancing the road presence of your vehicle – especially a pick-up truck. Even though they’re often added to a truck or 4x4 purely for show, they do have an actual, practical purpose that is sometimes the secondary purpose. But if you’re adding something to your truck, for whatever reason, you want it to be top quality, don’t you? With Lazer Lamps’ new Linear range, you don’t have to worry about that. Using the same 3W LED know-how that put them in a position to provide lighting for the World Rally Championship – a.k.a. the WRC – Lazer have produced a range of lightbars that is optimised for the road market to provide better long-range illumination with a broad spread across the tarmac.
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Tailored to be mounted on the front of a vehicle up to one-metre above the road, the Linear series is corrosion resistant and has a low-profile cross-section – to enable the design to be mounted in tight spaces on the front of your vehicle – like in the grille or air intake, and all come with a variety of installation options. All of the Linear range has been ECE approved for domestic vehicles and are totally roadlegal. The light bars are amongst the most slimline auxiliary lighting solutions on the market, measuring just 40mm in height, and are available in three widths – six, twelve and eighteen – each with an elite version including anti-theft brackets for your peace of mind. Not only safe against theft, the Linear light bars are tough, too. The polycarbonate lens is labelled unbreakable by Lazer, and their
confidence is backed up by a lifetime guarantee. The automotive grade materials also ensure that the product is resistant to that old pain in the backside corrosion. The range is manufactured with the same premium bin 3W LEDs you’ll find in the WRC bars, housed inside a vacuum-metallised unit that is IP67 watertight, and the dynamic drive modulation monitors the
heat of the LEDs, and ensures that they don’t overheat. All necessary wiring is supplied with the lightbars and across the range they come with a five-year manufacturer warranty. Pricing for the new Lazer Lamps Linear range kicks off at £145 for the Linear-6, and goes up to £429 for the range-topping Linear-18 Elite (prices excluding VAT). For more information and the full specifications and dimensions, check out the range at lazerlamps.com, and make sure you get the light bar that is the right product for your vehicle.
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LOW PROFILE. HIGH IMPACT.
WITH NEW AND UPGRADED PRODUCTS FOR THIS AUTUMN/WINTER, LAZER LAMPS CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD IN HIGH PERFORMANCE LED SPOTLIGHTS FOR THE 4X4 AND PICK-UP MARKET At just 40mm in height, the new Linear range boasts a low profile design and high-end styling, that ensures the lights are easy to install while impressing whatever time of day or night. Not all LED lights are made the same, visit lazerlamps.com and see for yourself.
WWW.LAZERLAMPS.COM T +44 (0) 1992 677374 E SALES@LAZERLAMPS.COM MADE IN THE UK
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/LAZERLAMPS
/LAZERLAMPS
SEE MORE GO FURTHER GO SAFER 24/09/2018 18:58
PRODUCTS
GEARMATE: HELPING YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRUCK BED Storage solutions that fit all UK pick-ups and most SUVs, allow you to organise your loadspace and carry everything you need
GEARMATE ARE SPECIALISTS in load bed storage systems for pick-ups and 4x4s. They know what is demanded of a vehicle that works for a living, and therefore they provide a variety of drawer options as well as the Gearslide – a slide-out base for load beds with an extended capacity of 400kg. ‘As pick-up truck drivers ourselves, we became frustrated at the limited utilisation and accessibility of our vehicles’ load beds,’ says a spokesperson for the company. ‘So we decided to do something
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about it. Using many years of engineering experience, we got to work on a solution, initially for our own needs only. We very soon realised that what worked for us would work for others. The main goal was to improve the driver’s daily life, at work and leisure, allowing 4x4 owners to maximise the potential of their vehicle.’ Gearmate’s range extends beyond the Gearslide, with their core products including twin drawers available in a trio of depths. The company also offers a range of accessories including
racking solutions, infill pods and dog boxes – plus it has a bespoke service which involves clients in the manufacture of their custom build. Gearmate’s customers include private individuals as well as fleet users, with systems to suit dayto-day life alongside professional use.The Gearmate arsenal is compatible with all pick-ups currently on sale in Europe, plus they’re easily transferable from one to another with only additional brackets required for re-fitting. The Gearslide has four lockable positions, extends the bed by
75% and costs £799. The Gear Drawers, meanwhile, have heights of 226mm, 300mm and 500mm and cost from £799 to £1449, and come with a choice of single or twin units. ‘Our design team’s primary goal is to produce automotive standard products that offer different solutions to different users while following a common theme of bringing your load out to you,’ adds Gearmate. To browse the full range of top-nothc pick-up kit, stick www. gearmate.co.uk into your preferred web browser and dive right in.
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 19:33
Make the most of your 4x4 with Gearmate storage systems, accessories and hardtops
Partner with
www.gearmate.co.uk Compatible with all pick up trucks and a variety of SUV’s information call 01789 595 200 or email us at info@gearmate.co.uk JULY/AUGUST 2018 27 PICKUPFor & more 4X4 PRO Unit 15, Kinwarton Farm Road, Arden Forest Industrial Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6EH Gearmate 46-47.indd 47
24/09/2018 19:33
PRODUCTS
BALANCE OF POWER
Onboard dual battery systems vs. portable power packs – know the pros and cons of both options before deciding which is best for your truck PICK-UP TRUCKS are designed to be work horses, but being up to the task in that regard means that they are also ideal leisure vehicles for the more outdoorsy among us. Camping technology has evolved radically over the years, but with the introduction of the portable fridge freezer came the need for additional battery power. This opened the door to another form of camping technology − dual-battery systems. Generally speaking, dual-battery systems come in two forms: onboard units (typically mounted within a vehicle’s engine bay), and those packaged in a portable power pack. The problem lies in deciding which solution is best. To be clear, there’s no right or wrong answer, as both
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systems have their strengths and weaknesses (as can be seen in the table below). The trick is to figure out which auxiliary battery system best suits your needs. Although the table below may seem to favour the portable power pack, you need only run out of boot space to realise the true value of an onboard dual-battery system. That said, the two most significant features of these two systems are space and mobility. What you need is to decide which aspect is more important to you. There are various dual-battery systems available on the market, but in National Luna’s case, we’ve opted for the tried and trusted durability of an intelligent solenoid system. In fact, 18 years ago, we were one of the first companies to
develop such a setup. This unit is designed to be a compact, fullyautomated split-isolator system that piggybacks off your vehicle’s main battery. In other words, the dual-battery isolator runs parallel to your vehicle’s OE wiring and features zero interference. What’s more, the isolator is designed as a low-loss, high-current system that places particular emphasis on simplicity, rate of recharge, and long-term reliability. Some competing, more electronic-savvy dual-battery systems (such as an intelligent DC to DC charger), are often three times the price. Even more important is that while these socalled intelligent chargers are great at prolonging battery life (due to their trickle-charge feature),
in a real-life scenario, they often recharge your battery at a much slower rate, in some cases requiring up to 48 hours to replenish a deep-cycle battery. In comparison, a high-current solenoid system, when paired with the right battery type, can restore full battery power within six hours or less. In terms of price, you can expect to pay approximately £50 for a National Luna Portable Power Pack, while the National Luna On-Board System typically retails for around £53 (excluding the battery itself ). Both products can be found through APB – outdoor and 4x4 specialists. Visit www.apbtrading.co.uk for their full range of batteris – and for more overland solutions, or visit their Worcestershire store!
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 18:59
Untitle
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16/04/2018 24/09/2018 12:37 18:59
NEW VEHICLES PRODUCTS
MULTI-TASKING
Australian Off-Road experts Ironman 4x4 know what they’re doing – even if the headlines suggest otherwise…
THE BEST IDEAS sometimes come from something you would never think of doing. For example, placing chilli and chocolate together, or taking a horse away from its cart and propelling the latter with a lump of metal that runs on coal… But did you ever think to merge a fan with an LED light? Well, if you didn’t, don’t worry, because Ironman 4x4 has done the job for you. This is great news if you’d like to see where the turbulent air is being propelled towards, and it continues to get better. This light and fan in one is actually designed to work perfectly in the camping environment, specifically in a tent where space is at a premium, so it makes sense to combine functionalities – no matter how
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breath from your fan and the glow of your light, a full recharge takes a mere five hours until you’re back up and running. West Coast Off Road are the UK’s exclusive importer of Ironman 4x4 products, so to get your hands on this versatile tent fan light, head over to westcoastoffroad.co.uk.
disperate they may seem. The fan element works at two different speeds and can run for a maximum of 16 hours straight. Bet you can’t match that… The LED has flexibilities of its own, too. Just like the fan, the LED light possesses two different settings, namely a 100% brightness option and a dimmer 50% setting for when you don’t want to be lit up like a Christmas tree. There’s up to 40 hours’ worth of light to behold, with a maximum of 100 lumens on tap at its most vivid illumination, whilst you’ll be pleased to know that the whole unit is rechargeable, thanks to its USB slot at the rear. But putting the spotlight back on the fan for a moment, you should know that this device
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 18:59
WCORFP160418
means you no harm. The fan blades are made from foam, so this is safe to operate around the youngsters in your life, and on the practicality front, a foldaway hanging hook makes for a useful attaching point on tent ceilings, if not being stood on the floor or table. And once you’ve exhausted the
18 W
COMPLETE
IRONMAN 4X4
Vehicle Solutions
Family Owned Australian Company
YEARS SINCE 1958
Since 1958
12
1
10
4
2 3
11
6 9
7
8
WCORFP160418
5
1
Bull bars
5
Underbody protection
9
Tow bars and rear protection bars
2
Air compressors
6
Side rails
10
First aid kits
3
Driving lights and LED lightbars
7
Side steps
11
Recovery kits and jacks
4
Dual battery systems
8
Big bore exhaust systems
12
Canopies
71 Gorsey Lane, Banks, Southport, PR98ED
01704 229014
www.westcoastoffroad.co.uk www.ironman4x4.co.uk
18 Westcoast Road UK51 April Advert 2018.indd 1 Products 42-56Off Nov.indd
16/4/18 4:09 pm 24/09/2018 18:59
Supe
NEW VEHICLES PRODUCTS
SUPERPRO:FINE-TUNED OVER 35 YEARS SINCE THE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED over 35 years ago, SuperPro has earned itself a global reputation for providing high performance upgrades that enhance the operation and efficiency of suspension systems, especially when it comes to 4x4s, pick-ups and SUVs. Its prowess when it comes to off-road and utility vehicles is hardly surprising, bearing in mind the company was established in the acknowledged home of the Yute; Australia. SuperPro’s expertise is no more apparent than in the area of suspension bushes. Indeed polyurethane suspension products have been the staple of its business since the outset and why the company is the global market leader in this sector of the automotive aftermarket industry. Coincidentally, over the past three-pus decades the 4x4 and pick-up market has also expanded and diversified, with this genre of transport used for an everincreasing range of tasks: from road-going passenger car, tow vehicle and load carrier, through to a utilitarian off-road workhorse.
Consequently, SuperPro has studied the development and cultural expansion of these vehicles and is now proud to offer the largest range of polyurethane suspension bushes in the world covering models produced from the 1950s to the present day. After carefully studying the combination of forces and conditions to which vehicle suspension systems are subjected – especially those of pick-ups, SUVs and 4x4s - extensive development has seen SuperPro create a unique blend of polyurethane material that is not available from any other manufacturer. Its fit-for-purpose chemical construction means that it performs, stays in grade and maintains its structural character for longer. Consequently, SuperPro bushes provide a considerable range of benefits for all suspension systems. These attributes are even more significant for vehicles that are used for a multitude of purposes and in demanding conditions - both on and off road - a set of circumstances that describes pickups and 4x4s perfectly.
More responsive steering, greater control, traction and better stability under braking and acceleration are just some of the benefits that have been levelled at SuperPro bushes – all without the harshness and vibration often associated with other makes of polyurethane products. All SuperPro bushes are manufactured to precise tolerances to ensure they fit each application perfectly, keep components working as the manufacturer intended and will probably outlast the useful life of the vehicle itself. These unique attributes combine to provide the ridecomfort of rubber together with the durability of polyurethane – qualities that set SuperPro bushes apart from any other suspension bush manufacturer. Also available from SuperPro is an innovative range of bushes that have offset centres. These can be used to correct geometric alignment when ride heights have been modified, or if suspension components have suffered excessive wear.
For over a century, rubber has been the universal material used in the design of suspension bushes. However, it is vulnerable to abrasion and will deteriorate when exposed to ultra-violet light, water or chemicals such as oil, petrol, salt, antifreeze and other solvents and airborne contaminants. This causes rubber to start to lose its elasticity and importantly, its resilience and shape. Therefore suspension components start to move position, causing a loss of handling, precision and predictability as well as accelerated wear of other components, including tyres. In contrast, polyurethanes - especially those manufactured using cold pour/ thermo-setting processes - can be resistant to all these issues. The result is a bush that will last far longer than a rubber version and perform consistently throughout its life. With SuperPro bushes on your 4x4 or pick-up, you’ll reap the benefits. The longevity of your tyres will increase and the handling and stability of your truck will improve. The long-life, low maintenance bushes make your life easier as they’re precision engineered for an exact fit and are ideal for multi-purpose vehicles that are put through the wringer – plus their universal fit means no component modifications are required when you install them. You’ll be able to find any other information you require by visiting www.superproeurope.com.
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SuperPro_PickUpAd_Bushes_2018_Layout 1 24/09/2018 15:28 Page 1
NEW PRODUCTS VEHICLES
UPGRADE YOUR SUSPENSION WITH SUPERPRO BUSHES
Innovative design and superior materials means that SuperPro bushes offer dramatic improvements in handling. They provide a precise feel through corners, more responsive steering and greater stability under braking and acceleration – all without the harshness and vibration often associated with other polyurethane products. These attributes make them an ideal choice for cars that are used for a multitude of purposes, both on and off the road. Applications are available for the UK’s most popular pick-ups, SUVs and 4x4s.
ADVANTAGES OF FITTING SUPERPRO BUSHES • Improved suspension performance by achieving consistent geometry • Increased tyre and suspension life • Precision engineered for an exact fit • No component modifications required • Better handling and stability • Provide a range of benefits for vehicles used for carrying loads or towing • No increase in vibration and road noise • Long life, low maintenance • Ideal for multi-purpose vehicles that are used both on and off road • Offset centre, geometry correction bushes available for most models • Extensive range of applications • Camber and caster adjustment options
For further information on all SuperPro products, range of applications and a list of stockists please visit our website or contact SuperPro Europe:
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Tel: +44 (0)1823 690281 | Fax: +44 (0)1823 698109 | Email: info@superpro.eu.com SuperPro Europe Ltd | Thorngrove Barn | Main Road | Middlezoy | Somerset | TA7 0PD | UK MONTH HERE 2018 4X4 PRO
www.superproeurope.com
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24/09/2018 18:59
PRODUCTS
BILSTEIN: SUSPENSION WITH CONTROL The importance of correct damper fitment for off-roading IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE throughout the off-road game that if you want to get the best from your vehicle, the right choice of dampers is absolutely crucial. For many, however, the primary concern is just how much travel they’ve got. But there’s much more to it than just being able to match the extra height of your new springs. When the terrain closes in, your shocks’ performance starts to matter more and more – and, no small matter, staying in control is a pretty big deal when you’re relying on a vehicle with lifted
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suspension and larger tyres to get you home safely afterwards, too. In the world of suspension, Bilstein is a name you’re bound to know well – if not necessarily from the world of off-roading. But the German company has been a world leader in damping technology for more than half a century, and during that time it has come to offer an array of options for most popular off-road vehicles – so it’s well placed to offer advice on what really matters once your quest for extra inches is at an end. ‘One of the most important considerations when choosing uprated suspension for an off-road vehicle is where you plan on using it,’ says Bilstein. ‘Articulation really is key. It’s essential to ensure that the wheel (and therefore the tyre, your only source of traction) remains in contact with the ground as much as possible, and your choice of damper plays a huge role in this. ‘Too soft and the damper will “bottom out” when placed under compression (the “bump” stroke), leading to a loss of control. Too firm, and the damper will be unable to deal effectively with smaller bumps. ‘The flip-side of the above is “rebound,” the term used when discussing the rate of damper extension when
no longer under full load. This is dictated by the relationship between the damper and the spring and as such is harder to fine tune. The ideal set-up is the one that’s best able to control the release of built-up energy created by the initial “bump” stroke. This release of energy needs to be done in such a way so as to not impact the relationship between the tyre and the wheel.’ In most applications, Bilstein’s dampers have a monotube construction. This, the company says, makes them perfectly suited to work in the most hostile of conditions by allowing the nitrogen inside them to be placed under direct, even pressure at all times. This greatly reduces cavitation, the term for the separation of gas and oil molecules when placed under load. Cavitation results in a marked drop-off in damper performance, leading to a loss of suspension articulation and, in due course, a loss of traction. Bilstein says its monotube dampers are also able to dissipate heat faster than twin-tube designs, thanks to there being no barrier between the pressure tube and the atmosphere. And then there’s the aforementioned journey home. This is where you might be expecting Bilstein’s long-running reputation as a motorsport supplier to come into its own, and
the company isn’t going to disabuse you of that notion. ‘Our engineering team goes to staggering lengths to ensure that all our dampers are every bit as suited to the hustle and bustle of the public highway as they are to the rigours of off-road competition’. The company promises a comprehensive range of fitments, too, including the subtly uprated B8 range of OEMstyle dampers. It has applications for most popular makes and models, including the Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover and smaller vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny and Vitara, as well as a wide range of onetonne pick-ups
24/09/2018 19:00
NEW PRODUCTS VEHICLES
PEDDERS KIT FOR LEGEND Suspension specialists’ kit to make the iconic Land Cruiser even better THE 80-SERIES TOYOTA LAND CRUISER came to the UK as a luxury wagon and went on to become an enthusiast’s legend. But most of all, it’s known around the world as a really, really good tool. If you want evidence for that, just look at the number of them that go round and round the clock. An 80 is still worth decent money with a quarter of a million miles on it – and it’ll still work hard for its living, too, whether on a farm, around construction sites or out in the hills and forests. No wonder there are people who’ll say it’s the best 4x4 ever made. And if you want to make the best even better, this +4” suspension kit from Pedders could be your perfect ally. This contains you Ad Brake everything Disc Conversion need to complete the lift, all the
way down to a set of extended brake lines. In Pedders’ own words, ‘simply fit the parts, get the vehicle wheel-aligned and you’re ready to go!’ Available for vehicles with and without ABS, the kits include Pedders’ TrakRyder raised extra heavy-duty coil springs and longtravel foam-cell shock absorbers – as well as replacement anti-roll bar links, alignment products, extended brake hoses and assorted chassis parts. All the items in the kit are designed to be ‘more suited to rough terrain driving conditions.’ We’re talking premium hot-wound, and drag links as well as wide-bore stress-relieved springs and 40mm steering dampers to make the bore shocks with enlarged oil most of the enhancements the kit capacity – and if you’re really already offers. serious about it, Pedders 1also06/04/2018 offers April 2018 - PRINT.pdf 16:40 With that lot in place, an extended heavy-duty trailing arms 80-Series will become one of the
DISCOVER REAL STOPPING POWER
most formidable pieces of kit you could imagine. Not that it isn’t already, but you know what we mean. It’s very well worth looking at – which you can do by visiting www.pedders.co.uk.
BRAKE KITS
C
M
Y
CM
MY
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CMY
K
PEDDERS TRAKRYDER REAR DISC BRAKE CONVERSION KIT Now available for: Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger Features and Benefits:
• Increased stopping power over drum brakes • Significantly reduced stopping distances • Brake pedal feel and modulation are improved • The disc brakes are completely self-adjusting • Reduced brake fade on heavily laden vehicles • Kit includes all necessary hardware • Installation video supplied along with fitting instructions • 2 Year 25,000 mile warranty Specialising in suspension solutions since 1950 For further information go to: www.pedders.co.uk or please contact your local Pedders experts on:
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info@pedders.co.uk 01296 711 044
NOVMEBER 2018
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NEW VEHICLES PRODUCTS THE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 70-Series was built to survive in the harshest conditions that would destroy other vehicles. It makes sense, then that it’s the 4x4 of choice for the UN, NGOs, mining corporations and military forces et al all around the globe. They’re also a very enticing prospect for anyone who’s in the market for an uncompromisingly strong truck, with heralded off-road ability and reliability that is the byword in, well, reliability… ‘But,’ shout the anoraks at the back, ‘it doesn’t come to Britain you plonker!’ Once upon a time you would’ve been right. But you obviously are not acquainted with John Charlesworth and what his company, Anglia Vehicles, does. The Stamford-based company offer the only way to get your hands on this particular Land Cruiser here in good ol’ Blighty. ‘There is nothing available in the UK for those needing a “real” four-wheel drive vehicle,’ says the company. ‘After more than 25 years of supplying Land Cruiser 70-Series globally, it is our duty to make it available in the UK.’ These days, the 70-Series comes
THE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 70 SERIES
with a 4.5-litre V8 diesel engine that develops 202bhp and 317lbf. ft. Stats like this help it tackle the toughest of terrains – such as sandy deserts to rocky mountain ranges – with consumate ease. ‘Maintenance is very straightforward,’ says Anglia. ‘Having no ECU means all work can be carried out in the field without special tools or diagnostic equipment. Even tyre changing is a simple DIY operation thanks to the split-rim wheels.’ Land Cruisers sold by Anglia are left-hand drive, however they also offer a fine RHD conversion kit. ‘Thanks to the design of the vehicle,’ it says, ‘this is a straightforward task that can be safely carried out by any competent workshop.’ All of that sounds great, but you’ll need an incredibly large piggy bank to buy one, surely? ‘The cost of these vehicles, too, will come as a pleasant surprise!’ says Anglia. Even better. If a 70-Seriessounds like the truck for you, why not kick-start the procedure by visiting www.angliavehicles.co.uk.
STRENGTH - RELIABILITY - ABILITY FOR THOSE WHO NEED THE BEST
76 LX 10 5 Door MWB Hardtop
79 Single Cab Pickup
79 Double Cab Pickup
For further information contact Anglia Vehicles Ltd Tel 01780 757080 Email sales@angliavehicles.co.uk Website www.angliavehicles.co.uk SPEEDLINER® EUROPE introduced their unique sprayliner – Speedliner Euro HS® – back in 2011. Speedliner Euro HS® provides a thick and tough, hard rubberpolymer coating. There’s no loss of load space with the spray-on liner which will protect the truck’s load bed from rust and corrosion and, being a highly resistant polymer it won’t crack on you or warp over time. The bed-liner’s textured finish provides a practical and grippy anti-slip surface for load carrying that is also very easily washable. A selection of unique aesthetic finishes are also available, with customers able to request unique colours should one of the twenty five options already available not fit the bill! Aside from the Speedliner Euro HS®, Speedliner Europe Ltd. also offers their Speedliner Euro HC® (Hygiene Coat) option. This spray-on liner is the first and only long life, active anti-bacterial, anti-microbial spray liner coating available for vehicles of all types in the UK and Europe, offering 21st Century vehicle hygiene control.
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Quarter Page Truckbed AD 2018.indd 1
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78 “Troopy” 3 door LWB Hardtop
12/09/2018 11:21
Speedliner Euro HC® is often requested for applications to pick-up trucks that may carry police, security services and other high value specialist working dogs. This is as well as for many other specialist animal services, where the liner gives the carrier vehicles an extra level of hygiene protection and bacterial cross contamination prevention. Speedliner Euro HS® is now applied by over 130 authorised dealers and applicators across the continent. The list includes many specialist vehicle companies that range from bespoke coachbuilding companies, specialist conversion experts and numerous automotive bodyshops all over the UK. Specialist vehicle suppliers to the Ministry of Defence have chosen Speedliner products, – as well as health service trusts, utility services and countless local authorities. If you need protection for your loadspace, whether that’s on a pick-up or 4x4, then visit Speedliner Europe’s website to find out more about how their spray-on bed liners can not only protect, but improve your vehicle and its loadspace.
PICKUP & 4X4 PRO 24/09/2018 19:00
THE NEW MUSSO TOUGH ENOUGH TO HAVE A 7-YEAR WARRANTY
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
£19,995
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 £25,425 ex VAT inc. optional metallic paint at £430. 3.5 tonne towing capacity only with automatic transmission. 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.
Gearmate 46-47.indd 45
24/09/2018 19:29
www.hankooktire.com/uk
High-performance for luxury SUV's. Excellent wet performance, low noise and excellent mileage
For aggressive all-terrain driving. Tough pattern design and block structure to overcome any road
Off-road driving excitement. Superb multi-directional traction, excellent grip with anti-puncture capability
Hankook Tyre UK Ltd Fawsley Drive, Heartlands Business Park Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8UG Tel: +44 1327 304 100 Fax: +44 1327 304 110
Gearmate 46-47.indd [UK]4X4_RA33 RF1045RT03_210x297mm.indd 1
24/09/2018 19:30 2018. 4. 13. ě˜¤í›„ 4:14