The Mud Life - 20 - November 2020

THE MUD LIFE ISSUE 20- NOVEMBER 2020

V U S Y R U X U L 'S E C Y O R S L L RO

N A N I L L U THE C

SUBARU OUTBACK TOYOTA HILUX JEEP 4XE VW AMAROK MERCEDES X-CLASS

History of Jeep pt. 4 Laning Life Reader's Rides Goods & Gear Green Laning

Cullinan pages

Cullinan on test pages 54-66

Important information Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Mud Life magazine are accurate, we accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, nor the consequence of actions made as a result of these. When responding to any advertisements in The Mud Life magazine, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers and owners take reasonable care to ensure advertiser’s probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts.

Copyright All images and material on these pages are protected by copyright Š Damian Turner. All rights reserved. None of the images or material within this magazine may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly authorised by Damian Turner or Karen Lee Turner.

IN THIS ISSUE TURNER'S TORQUE

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NEWS

6-9

LANING LIFE 10-17 SUBARU OUTBACK 18-27 TOYOTA HILUX 28-36 JEEP 4XE 38-45 AMAROK VS X-CLASS 46-53 ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN 54-66 GOODS & GEAR 68-76 JEEP - A HISTORY 78-85 FB PAGE of the MONTH 86-87 MOOCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 88-94 OUR GARAGE 96-97 A BLAST FROM THE PAST 98-103 SIMON SAYS

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READER'S RIDES 106-111 PAST JALOPIES 112-115 RETRO SNAPS 116-117

DAMIAN TURNER Editor-in-Chief, Writer, Photographer, Reviewer

KAREN LEE TURNER (A.K.A. The Muddy Madam)

Creative Director, Layout Designer, Reviewer

F O L LOW U S

THE TEAM

DIRECTORIES 118-121

FACEBOOK - TheMudLifeMag INSTAGRAM - themudlifemag TWITTER - themudlifemag WEBSITE - www.themudlife.co.uk

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Click on the covers to read any of our past issues.

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TURNER’S TORQUE

Hello and welcome to our twentieth issue, and what a journey it’s been! As some of you will know, I didn’t wake up one morning with the urge to start a 4x4 magazine, not quite.

We have help from our readers who often contribute, and Simon (can’t not mention Mr Hastelow), a good friend who toils over his computer once a month, for free, to give us his Simon Says.

This ‘ere writing malarkey started way back in 2000, when after a few years of writing the odd piece for my local Land Rover club’s magazine - Red Rose, I had my first proper article in Land Rover Monthly entitled ‘Two Lollipops Later’.

So a massive thank you to all our readers, contributors and advertisers for believing in us, and here’s looking forward to the next 20 issues!

Another one followed in 2001, then a few years after that a regular slot in 4x4 Mart magazine. Then came the Difflock.com magazine, and straight after that I had 4 years with Land Rover World before its sad demise in 2014.

Back in 2016, after another a few articles in Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines, Muddy Madam and I started The Mud Life. Back then it was a purely a website, and once Muddy Madam taught herself the skills to create a magazine, in December 2018, The Mud Life Mag was born, just in time for the launch of the new Suzuki Jimny.

Friends and colleagues are often amazed that it’s just the two of us who produce the magazine, especially considering we have other jobs that pay the bills.

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NEWS

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JLR use aerospace tech to develop lightweight vehicles Matt Walters, Lead Engineer, Metals and Process Materials for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This research project is a prime example of our commitment to developing lightweight, durable and robust materials for our future vehicles.

Using advanced aerospace-grade technology, such as these sensors, is testament to the quality and standards we are achieving.......... as we continue to raise the bar for quality and durability.”

Working with industry leaders across quality assurance and manufacturing to develop future lightweight vehicles, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions further is a key part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero vision - a future with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

Jaguar Land Rover is taking part in pioneering research trials to test the capability of advanced lightweight metals and composites to be used in future vehicles. As part of a 2 year project, the company will use technology developed for the aerospace industry to understand how materials respond to corrosive environments, in global markets and over rigorous terrains.

Samples of new metals and composites planned for use in future vehicles will be built into aerospace-grade sensors, and put through their paces in some of the world’s most extreme physical conditions, tested for over 400,000km across North America.

The sensors will continuously measure the performance of the materials, and share data with the JLR’s product development team in the UK. With this information, the engineers can accurately forecast the material’s behaviour in the development of future vehicle programmes to ensure that next-generation lightweight metals meet the company’s stringent standards, delivering a longer-lasting, high quality finish.

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The project builds on continued research into future materials, from the REALITY project, a pioneering recycling process which gives premium automotive-grade aluminium a second life, to the development of printed structural electronics, which can reduce the weight of in-car electronics by up to 60%.

NEWS

NEWS

NEWS

TORUS' extreme 4x4 school bus for the toughest school runs TORSUS has revealed the Praetorian school bus, an extreme and special-made version of the durable, heavy-duty and versatile Praetorian that’s intended for the toughest school run routes in the world.

This special edition is ready to carry schoolchildren across some of the world’s most rugged environments in comfort and safety. Based on the same platform as the standard Praetorian model, the school bus edition can carry up to 35 children, and retains all of the off-road features that make the TORSUS vehicle a durable off-road all-rounder. The heightened ground clearance of the bus allows the Praetorian to clear obstacles with ease, while the 4x4 drive adds to its capability in challenging conditions.

Special features include bespoke original seats styled around mathematics and science designs. The seats are covered with a

polymer protective coating and come equipped with a seat belt suitable for all ages, while optional extras for the seats include a foldable armrest and hip support bar on the aisle side.

The TORSUS Praetorian is built for world’s toughest jobs and to transport personnel and equipment across inhospitable terrain in any conditions. The Praetorian is based on an upgraded heavy-duty MAN chassis and is powered by MAN engines and drivetrain. The school bus edition of the vehicle features uprated off-road Michelin tyres and coating on body parts meaning that Praetorian is engineered to take on any terrain, on any terrain, anywhere in the world.

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NEWS

NEWS

VW Commercial reintroduces California 6.1 Beach Model Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is reintroducing the Beach model to the California 6.1 range, following increased interest in campervans as more people holiday in the UK. The California 6.1 Beach will feature two variants, Camper and Tour, with prices starting from £52,062.

By extending the California 6.1 range to include two new versions,Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles aims to make the California line-up more accessible for larger families and to those who need a more flexible MPV to accommodate their hobbies or occasional rest stops.

The California van has been the campervan of choice for many and provides the ideal companion to explore some of the UK’s most popular destinations as more people opt for staycations instead of travelling abroad. The addition of the Beach to the line-up makes the range more comprehensive allowing customers to tailor the campervan to suit their needs.

The Camper and Tour models are on sale now, but deliveries aren’t expected until March 2021.

Both feature a manual pop-up hydraulic roof, 17inch alloy wheels, DAB radio with App Connect and a camping table with two folding chairs. Both models will be offered with the 2.0 TDI 150PS seven-speed engine and direct-shift gearbox (DSG).

The California Beach 6.1 Tour features five seats as standard, with an option to increase to six or seven making this the only factory-produced camper on the market flexible enough to seat this many people. It also features sliding doors on both passenger and driver’s sides to ease entry and exit.

The California Beach 6.1 Camper features four seats as standard with an option to increase to five, as well as a pull-out mini kitchen that includes a single gas hob and pull-out awning.

Further details on the new California Beach will be available on www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk around the end of October.

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NEWS

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Yorkshire Green Laners clean up the countryside Green laning has a lot of negative connotations in the minds of many people who also explore the great outdoors, but a small group of people in Yorkshire have taken it upon themselves to do some good for the places they they like to roam.

On Sunday 20th September, a few members of the Yorkshire Green Lane Facebook group took part in the GB SeptemberClean.

Liasing with Nidderdale AONB (Nidderdale AONB is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in North Yorkshire, bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the east and south) on where would be best suited to take part in the clean, and areas around Pately Bridge and Lofthouse were identified as the best places.

Find out more about the Yorkshire Green Laners here: www.facebook.com/groups/Yorkshire.Green.Lanes

The small group of laners met up at Pately Bridge, cleaned that area, then headed north towards Lofthouse, stopping to admire the view at Gouthwaite Reservoir, and gave the picnic area a quick tidy up. They then moved to Lofthouse where they cleaned up around their community bins.

Weather-wise it was a good day, and once the cleaning was complete they all took advantage of the clear sky, and continued along the a few of the local green lanes that included Scarhouse reservoir and Dead Man's Hill.

Members who took part included James Henderson and his wife Laura, Jon Meredith (a first time green laner) and his sister Ailsa Shields along with their 2 children Chloe Meredith and Ben Shields.

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g n i n Life a L

aton E n e r u a

by L

Read about green laning as seen through Lauren ‘Sunshine’ Eaton's windscreen at The Green Lane Association, and find out what’s hot, or not, in the laning world each month. Enjoy!

In this time of ever-changing restrictions it’s difficult to know what the situation will be by the time you get to read this; although Wales will still be locked down that’s for sure.

So, without having a crystal ball at my disposal, and considering it’s been another tumultuous month both on and off the lanes, I thought I’d write about…

The Power of Positivity!

Some of you may know that as well as a considerable number of years in the 4x4 world, I also have a background in psychology. Now I’m not going to whittle on about the intricacies of the human mind, or baffle you with psychobabble - you’re all here for the laning after all - but I do use this experience a lot in my work in the laning world, and I am hopefully going to bring you a different perspective of a couple of pressing (and potentially depressing) matters that could impact our hobby should we choose to let them.

You have the choice.

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There are times in life when things outside our control seem insurmountable; Wales is locked down, England is under varying levels of restriction, our freedom is taking a beating for yet another long month, and then we’re subjected to social media posts about people tearing up lanes and encouraging others to follow suit. It’s not been the best of months all round, its understandable people may be feeling a bit grim, but…we have a choice in

all this.

While we cannot control what has happened, it’s done, dusted, and forevermore will remain unchangeable, however much we may wish that wasn’t the case (and we cannot control how others behave), but we do have the ability to change how we react to it, and that changes everything.

It’s not the cards you’re dealt, but how you play them.

I spend an inordinate amount of my time battling negativity. I’m sure that doesn’t come as a surprise considering my role within GLASS! If someone wants to complain it’s usually me they aim those complaints at.

If there’s been a significant incident it’s me that has to address the public at large, explain it to the community and media, and in many cases help physically clean up after it.

I also spend a lot of time meeting very angry locals, land owners and authorities. But what I also do is see, experience, and enjoy all of the fabulously positive things that happen in our community, and that is what I choose to focus on, and want to share with others, far more than all the negative stuff.

I saw the recent incidents near Tamworth that went viral on Facebook, I was at the scene the very next morning, but what I didn’t do was give the culprits a platform or any free advertising. I didn’t comment on or share their posts to incite complaints from fellow responsible laners and therefore didn’t help spread the negativity.

What I did do was use my annoyance to fuel a solution and immediately organised a site visit, I supported a rep (the ever scrumptious Hannah Bailey from above) who’s been tearing her hair out for months trying to deal with a council who couldn’t seem to care less, and by putting our heads together within 24 hours we had got things moving for the better.

You reap what you sow.

After returning from my visit I read posts that were inspired by this particular lane; responsible laners threatening to give up the hobby, woefully drowning in negativity, alleging that laning has gone to the dogs, plus on top of these I continued to see the shares of the original posts that caused all this ire.

Looking in from the outside how do you think that makes our hobby look? If you were someone looking to start laning, or an anti, who searched Facebook for green laning that day the result would far from sum up what our community is really about, or how flipping awesome it is to be a part of, no, it would look pretty grim.

The whole situation we actively created was doing a disservice to ourselves, more than the idiots who went out and drove like plonkers in the first place!

We’d magnified the negativity despite being against it; we’d fuelled the plonkers by our own reactions, shares and saturation of our community under its weight - not to mention we’d given ourselves a headache.

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So, other than complain ad infinitum on social media, what could we do differently?

Be the change you want to see!

The Wu Wei: Effortless action While I and everyone else at GLASS puts huge amounts of effort into combating incidents and behaviour that threaten our community, often the most effective methods of countering the mud-plugging mind set is to simply do the opposite.

If every responsible laner championed the positive posts as much as they do the negative posts, shared their own trips, their friend’s posts, and those from all the awesome organisations, clubs and magazines we have all over the UK we’d soon drown the idiotic minority out of the public eye. We might even tempt them into joining the legal side!

The opposite is not getting angry at a screen, but instead going out, having a great day laning, and sharing that experience with others. It doesn’t take much effort, and most importantly it is enjoyable for everyone.

It’s kind of hard not to see someone’s awesome day out and not want some of that for yourself. If we lead by example we set the bar for our culture as a community, and majority rules OK!

Shouting at people, telling them what to do, or screaming “JOIN GLASS!!” is unlikely to get the response you want, and it will also make you miserable. Showing them what a fabulous legal time you’re having will always pique their interest, and by sharing your positive experiences you may find yourself in a constructive conversation rather than an argument.

And on that note...here’s an example of some of

the fabulous work laners are doing across the country.

Hannah Bailey is our Staffordshire rep, she set up the Staffordshire Green Laners group who do some wonderful charity work! I’ll hand you over to her to explain what her club got up to near Stafford.

I set Staffordshire Green Laning up in March 2020 during isolation. It was a page where we could share information on green lanes, and form a community based around the hobby. We started off as a really small group, but since then, and with restrictions being lifted, our group grew pretty much overnight. Our page has changed so much that now we meet up monthly to go laning with our 4x4’s, and have had an opportunity to take SGL to the next level by organising events.

Our first event was the charity camp and auction which was very successful, especially with it being on an August bank holiday weekend, and the current circumstances of COVID-19.

The night was held at Carney Pools campsite in Wolseley Bridge, and organised by me, Gavin Dolman and David

Griffith, and we raised an amazing £626 for Alzheimer’s Research UK. The charity holds a big place in my heart as I lost one of the most precious people in my life earlier this year due to this awful disease and Parkinson’s disease, we also lost my uncle to this disease in 2009, so I’d like to think we can try and help make a difference for the sake of my daughter’s generation and thereafter. Our aim is to now host more events, and with it raise money for charities Hannah handed over a cheque for £626 to Bernie Carranza, Regional Fundraising Officer, who said: “We’re so grateful to Staffordshire Green Laning and everyone who came along to support this event. One in two people know someone affected by dementia. Fantastic fundraising efforts like this will help us to make life-changing research breakthroughs that will keep people connected to their families, their worlds and themselves for longer.”

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Readers’ Questions

This is your opportunity to ask me anything! Thanks to all those who sent in ideas last month, if I haven’t answered your question here be sure to check out next month’s column where I’ll be writing a bumper Q&A edition!

If you have anything you’d like to ask, whether it be a newbie enquiry, a more complex question, something serious, or even funny, you can contact me at: lauren.eaton@glass-uk.org

How do lanes get added to TW2?

(from Dorian, via the Trailwise2 Facebook group)

If you think you’ve found a lane that isn’t recorded on TW2 here’s what to do…

• Firstly check that you have both BOAT and UCR layers selected on the menu. BOATs appear in red, UCRs in blue.You’d be surprised how many people miss this and end up looking at one or the other rather than both!

• If you’ve found the lane on an OS map, or an app like ViewRanger, check the status of it by using www. findmystreet.co.uk , or by visiting the local county council’s highways maps (for UCRs), or Definitive Map (for BOATs).

• If it appears that the lane carries current vehicular rights forward the location and accompanying evidence to tw2_dataofficer@glass-uk.org who will check out the information, and once it is verified they will add the lane to the map.

• If you are unsure of the status of a lane, or need some help with the process of researching, contact the local area rep, or ask on the Trailwise2 or local area Facebook group for assistance.

Where do you personally stand on the view of a permit system to use lanes, thus maybe making it more sustainable?

(from Mike, via the Byways, BOATs & UCRs Green Laning in the UK Facebook group)

Great question Mike!

Permit systems are something GLASS as an organisation, and I personally, do try and avoid using as potential management strategies.

Lanes are public roads and GLASS’s primary function is keeping them open for all, to impose restrictions on a nationwide scale would go a long way to defeating that aim in some respects – plus boy would we get it in the neck for doing so!

One thing I really dislike is the phrase “access for all” being used by authorities, when in reality it is often only ever inclusive of nonvehicular users, particularly as the work of GLASS and other vehicular user groups benefits everyone;.

Surely we deserve to be welcome on the very lanes we strive to keep open and maintained?!

But the phrase works both ways; if we insisted on permits the public’s right to access would be removed, ‘access for all’ would no longer exist.

While permits would of course make it a lot easier to manage illegal usage, damage, and maintenance, the process of creating, implementing and managing that system would be an extraordinarily complex, costly, and time consuming process, and one that would be unlikely to be taken up by many county councils who invariably have very little time and budgets when it comes to lanes as it is.

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While lanes are governed by centralised national legislation, such as the Road Traffic Act, the day to day management is the responsibility of the 70 odd councils and, to a lesser extent, other authorities such as national park authorities. It would take legislative changes at national government level, with agreement from the Welsh Assembly, and either a nationwide standardised strategy rolling out, or each county creating a unique plan for their area of responsibility.

If we consider that not one county in the UK has ever in the history of PRoWs kept their RoW records up to date, and they’re all currently struggling under the weight and cost of the upcoming Path Extinguishment Day (more on that next month!), I imagine such a huge undertaking wouldn’t be popular to the point of being vehemently opposed. Even if a strategy was created who would manage it? Police it? Many organisations would need to be involved to make this work.

from the national purse by simply extinguishing all vehicular rights; in fact it would likely be less costly and far simpler for them to do this than write in a permit scheme.

Us saying, “Hey! We have loads of costly problems with some drivers, can you fix it by introducing a nationwide scheme?” may well end in a solution none of us want!

While permits work on lanes such as Gatescarth Pass, as a nationwide notion it would be such a huge undertaking it wouldn’t be particularly feasible either practically or financially. Another very important point to consider is that if legislation pertaining to our rights to drive lanes was to be amended at great cost, it would be just as simple for the powers that be to cut a huge swathe of problems and financial burden

While I can see many merits to the idea on the surface, as someone involved in an organisation that can affect change I have to address the practicalities, and I’m afraid the challenges and feasibility of a nationwide scheme would render such a proposal impractical.

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Those who would support such a move to remove vehicular rights far outweigh us in numbers and in financial terms, while GLASS is twice the size it was last year and has a very healthy fighting fund, a proposed “NERC2” on this scale would likely be beyond anything we could stop once it got rolling! I’m not saying it would happen, or that we’d lose if it did, but it could and we might! Not poking a sleeping bear is definitely good advice!

When talking about gates etc., PLEASE remind people to make sure the gate is closed behind them. I rode a lane both ways, and met another group coming up the other way. They had let the gate open (I’m assuming by accident) and sheep had got out into the caravan field.

Thankfully me and my bike rounded the sheep up and put them back. I wish I’d filmed it. (from Carl, TW2)

Well done Carl!

Gates continue to be a problem on all levels of rights of way; sadly I think they always will be. I’m currently waiting on 50 ‘Please Close the Gate’ signs that I’ll spend considerable time putting up across North Wales; I’ve also been filmed (autographs on request lol!) for an upcoming laning video that includes a reminder.

It’s a subject I keep banging on about but that is because it is so important. I’m helping a land owner out at the moment who has had livestock escape onto a main road more than once, the police have been involved and thankfully are not imposing fines on him as they realise he was not at fault, but it makes it no less dangerous for oncoming motorists, or costly for the farmer if he loses his stock. Such a small act can protect someone’s livelihood, and even save lives!

That’s all from me this month folks. Don’t forget to send me your questions to lauren.eaton@glass-uk.org and join me next month for a bumper ‘Readers’ Questions’ edition!

Happy laning and stay safe!

Lauren x GLASS Media and Communications Officer

For more information on green lanes visit: www.glass-uk.org To join GLASS go to: www.glass-uk.org/join-glass.html

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SUBARU OUTBACK

Subaru Outback 2.5i SE Premium Lineartronic

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What is it?

Did you know that Subaru has sold more 4x4s globally than any other motor manufacturer, and the average Subaru will have travelled 8 times around the world in its lifetime? Bet you didn’t.

The Outback has come a long way since the first incarnation back in 1994. The first model was based on the second generation Legacy, and was quite a hit. These days, sadly, the Outback is almost overlooked in the UK. Ask someone who lives in a city to name a capable AWD manufacturer, and they’ll probably answer with Land Rover, Audi or Skoda. Ask the same question to someone who lives and works in the country, and you’ll receive a much more varied answer, with Subaru being high on the list.

So, let’s take a look at the Subaru Outback.

On the road

During our week together the Outback was absolute delight. It was smooth, comfortable and very forgiving over pot-holed strewn roads, and listening back to my voice recordings after a long drive to Ingleton Falls, I actually used the word ‘waft’.

Despite its 173bhp from the 2.5 litre petrol engine, the Outback isn’t the spriteliest of estates, and the CVT gearbox does strangle some of that power. If you’re not interested in outright performance, you'll enjoy how it seamlessly transports you through city centres, villages and open roads.

The Outback’s steering has a nice weight to it, and if you’re in a hurry along country lanes you’ll notice a bit of body roll, but it is progressive, and grip, as you would imagine from Subaru, is excellent.

As with the rest of the Subaru range, the CVT gearbox keeps the revs consistently high when accelerating hard, and sometimes you wonder if they’re ever going to come down again, that said, it’s never harsh.

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Off road

I didn’t go crazy on the green laning front, but I did enjoy a few lanes that a friend and I took a Discovery Sport along, which included a few water crossings, and with 200mm of ground clearance it performed brilliantly.

As well as having permanent Symmetrical All Wheel Drive for use in the majority of situations, Subaru’s X-Mode provides added assistance if you encounter extreme driving conditions. X-Mode takes control of the engine, transmission, Symmetrical AWD, brakes and other bits to help safely navigate slippery surfaces, rough roads and climbing steep hills.

Subaru's legendary off-road ability will constantly surprise you when you venture off the beaten track, and under-body protection panels mean the Outback is one of the more rugged options in a sector that’s mostly aimed at the lifestyle market.

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Interior

As far as the interior goes, it’s a pleasant place to be, some would say it isn’t stylish as other vehicles in its segment, but I didn’t mind it at all.

If I was to have a gripe, I’d say the front seats lack the necessary lumbar supports if you’re having a little fun along twisty roads, and they’re a bit narrow for a 6ft 2” 19 stone bloke like me. Despite that, they’re lovely and comfortable and if I’m being honest, wouldn’t put me off buying one, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re on the large side.

You do get an integrated 7” touchscreen with Starlink infotainment system that’s easy enough to use, and all the important buttons and switches are all in easy reach.

The Outback receives full marks for having proper heater control dials, too.

There’s a bank of 8 buttons by your right knee that are a bit difficult to see, but they’re the ones you don’t really need whilst driving, like boot open button and switches that turn off lane departure and so on.

In the back you have 559 litres of space (up to the parcel shelf), and 1,848 litres with the rear seats folded flat. As a bonus, it has no loading lip, a wide entrance offers good access and the rear wheel arches don’t intrude too far inside, meaning that you have a useful, square boot shape for bulky items.

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Specs & safety stuff

The choices you have with the Outback are refreshingly simple, you can either have the 2.5i SE Lineartronic or 2.5i SE Premium Lineartronic.

EyeSight is Subaru’s advanced driver assist technology, which is now standard throughout the range and acts as a second pair of eyes for the driver and includes adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist along with a host of other autonomous safety features.

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The system cleverly uses two stereo cameras to capture three-dimensional colour images to recognise vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians and lane markings. Subaru say that it's more accurate than traditional camera and sensor technologies as it can distinguish objects as opposed to noticing that there is an unidentified obstacle.

The Outback achieved a maximum five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test, and it has 6 airbags and a stability control system as standard.

Engine ‘n’ transmission

One engine, which is the Horizontally-opposed, 4-cylinder, 2.5 litre petrol, and one CVT gearbox.

Who wants choice anyway…

Conclusion

Drive any Subaru for a week or so, and you’ll understand why they’re revered by so many country folk, from farmers, doctors, vets and everyone else who live out in the sticks.

I really enjoyed my Outback experience, and as I’ve written in other reviews, it’s a very likeable estate. It may not have the dealer network that Skoda,VW or Audi have, so its presence is limited, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked if you’re searching for a capable and roomy AWD family estate. price: from £33,700 more at » https://subaru.co.uk/overview/outback/

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Toyota Hilux

Toyota Hilux Active Extra Cab

What is it?

Currently in its eighth generation, and soon to be ninth, the Hilux has been around since Adam was a lad, well, the late 1960s to be precise.

The Hilux is available in the UK in six guises, from the basic 2-Door Active, to the top of the range 4-Door Invincible X.

This current generation was launched back in 2015 with the aim of redefining toughness. As well as being tougher, it also boasted ride comfort that made interminable, tough drives less gruelling with a quieter cabin and enhanced cruising range thanks to improved fuel efficiency.

It’s obviously nice have top of the range vehicles delivered to your door every week, but that’s not always what everyone wants, or can afford, so I asked the good people at Toyota if I could borrow their back-tobasic Active Extra Cab.

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On the road Arrival day was a bit of a rush, I had to get home from school and literally grab my overnight bag and camera case, and swap from the comfort of the press Subaru Outback to the Hilux and drive 3 hours and 200 miles down to Abergavenny for a car launch.

Being honest, I expected it to be rough ‘n’ ready on the driving stakes, but it really wasn’t, and from motorways to A roads, the Hilux was quiet, smooth and actually quite relaxing.

From the steering to its suspension, both felt solid and dependable, it isn’t a ‘heavy duty’ feeling as such, but everything feels just right, if you know what I mean.

Ride quality on the majority of roads was good, even whilst unladen, and the 148bhp from the 4-cylinder 2.4 litre lump, although not the quickest, I found more than adequate for what I wanted it for. The 6-speed manual gearbox was maybe a tad truck-like, but there’s a precision to it that’s easy to use, and I warmed to it almost immediately.

Fuel wise, on a decent run that included motorways, A and B roads along proper lowbox technical green laning, I was chuffed that it achieved just over 30mpg, which I thought was cracking.

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Off road To test its off road abilities I drove for 2 hours up to Sellafield towards a lane I hadn’t driven before, one that had a reputation of being quite difficult. I won't go into details here, as you can read more about it on page 72, the Hilux crawled and flexed through the ruts with relative ease, it would have been smoother if I’d had some weight in the back.

In normal road use the Active is rear wheel drive, with a large dial for engaging 4-wheel drive high and 4-wheel drive low and a button for the rear difflock.

The problem with electric modes like this is that they can sometimes take an age to connect and disconnect, and as I reached a tricky part of Bootle Fell, the switching from high to low box took around 5 minutes to engage, which was annoying. It isn’t just the Hilux that has this problem, I’ve waited a similar amount of time in the new L200 and Ranger. The only vehicle in that it worked quickly and seamlessly in was the Land Cruiser Active, which was belting!

Once low box was engaged, the Hilux went everywhere I pointed it, it even surprised me in a few places

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Interior Remember, this is the entry-level Active trim, designed and built for work, not molly-coddling and stroking your ego, so you can expect lots of tough plastics and hard wearing, yet comfy seats.

The centre infotainment screen is again basic, there’s no DAB radio or navigation, you’re limited to an analogue radio and a single CD. All is not lost, mind, you can still plug in your phone using the USB and listen to all your playlists, as well as your phone's sat-nav system through the two speakers.

As well as the 4-wheel drive dials, the heater controls are large chunky too, perfect for when you’re wearing gloves or being thrown about in the quarry.

Despite it’s basic trim, you still get air con, a heated rear window and door mirrors, lockable and cooled glove box and a few other bits that make life comfortable.

If I have one criticism, it would be that I really needed the steering wheel to adjust higher, or the drivers seat to be lower, as getting in and out was quite a nuisance for someone with long legs like me. Once behind the wheel though, everything was to hand and perfectly readable with great visibility. If you’re in the habit of man-splaying, then the hard plastic door trim and can become a bit annoying after a while.

Open the rear ‘suicide’ style back doors, and behind the front seats you’ll find a couple of jump seats. I say ‘jump seats’, they’re basically fabric covered sponge pads. The space behind the seats is actually quite decent, I managed to fit my huge 1650 Peli case, camera bags, tripod and the Tyre Table in there with plenty of room to spare. There’s even enough space for my 6ft 2”, 19 stone frame to get in and out with ease. I’m not saying I’d enjoy a long journey back there, but at least I managed to fit.

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Conclusion Apart from getting in and out of the thing, life with the Extra Cab was great. I didn’t even miss the soft plastics on the dash or the heated seats, and after a few days I even got used to not having cruise control!

As a vehicle that I used primarily to go green-laning in, I really appreciated the rubber floor mats, unpainted plastic bumpers and steel 17” wheels that made it all the more practical and rugged.

Once you spend a bit of time driving a Hilux you begin to understand why they’ve been so successful and revered over the last fifty years.

That's right, the Hilux has been around for over half a century, and I have no doubt that it’ll be around for a lot longer still.

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Jeep 4Xe

Jeep 4xe

the encore

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In last month’s issue, Simon took one for the team and headed over to Italy to test Jeep’s new hybrid Renegade, the 4xe (4-bye). Fortunately, I wasn’t left out of the frivolities, as Jeep invited down to Abergavenny for the UK launch. Okay, not as glamorous as Italy, but not as far, either.

After a rather lovely stay at the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny, I made my way towards a farm deep in the Black Mountains where the launch was to be held.

After the usual checks I was given the option of the Limited or Trailhawk model, I opted for the latter, and after a presentation we set off around a homemade off road course. To be fair, it wasn’t as naff as it sounds, the folks had created some tricky obstacles for us to negotiate and test the Renegade’s abilities.

If you’re a regular reader, you may remember that last year I was invited for a days laning around Yorkshire with Ardent Off-Road

and Storm Jeeps. I joined them in a Renegade Trailhawk, and despite everyone driving highly modified Jeeps, the Renegade easily kept up with the others. I was impressed.

Anyway, back to the launch. Engaging low box, the route began with a long, steep ascent made of loose dirt and stone, which was almost demeaning for the Renegade as it made light work of the climb.

Next we entered the small forest via a steep drop at a peculiar angle. I stopped to survey the angle, pressed the Hill Descent Control button, prodded the accelerator and gently eased my way towards the trees in full control. The steepness of the decent and damp grass meant that the Renegade wanted to toboggan down at a great speed of knots, but the electrics did a fabulous job of keeping everything under control. Likewise on some of the other steep sections, it was like a Mountain goat.

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Seriously, you may think the Renegade’s a glorified Fiat 500L, but it isn’t, it can handle to rough stuff better than most, especially in the Trailhawk guise.

To make it even better offroad, all Renegade 4xe trims have the Jeep Active Drive Low system. The new plugin hybrid technology further enhances its off-road capability, with the combination of both the electric motor and petrol engine resulting in more torque.

Trailhawk 4xe with 240hp, for example, boasts an increase in torque output up to 50% versus the 170hp diesel Trailhawk model.

Traction to the rear axle isn’t provided by a prop shaft, but instead through a dedicated electric motor. This allows the two axles to be separated and control the torque independently in a more effective way than a mechanical system, with traction being delivered to the rear wheels immediately when needed. Being honest, I couldn’t tell, but whilst negotiating the wet off-road route, power when I needed it was seamless.

After messing around at more strange angles, it was time time to take the 4xe on the road.

Bypassing Abergavenny I followed the A465 and Crickhowell Road until the ever clear sat-nav told me to turn left towards the twisty and picturesque B4560, where I began to have a little fun.

As Simon wrote last month, the 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine has two output levels: 130hp and 180hp, or 190hp and 240hp when combined with the electric motors. On full chatter, acceleration can be described as relentless and you can easily find yourself hitting licence losing speeds if you’re not careful.

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I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the Trailhawk 4xe was a total joy, and with 240bhp on tap, it was a bit of a hooligan. Or was that me?

It isn’t all about foot down oomph either, the Renegade Trailhawk handle the corners without hardly any roll, to the point you’ll never notice its extra height, it was always planted firmly on the road, no matter how much I pushed it.

From hooligan to bumbling along at 60mph in cruise, the 4xe is a comfortable and pleasant place to be.

You have three modes to choose from, Electric, Hybrid and E-Save. Electric means just that, you have a range of up to 26 miles and a top speed of 81mph. Hybrid is the default mode when the car is started. It’s designed to manage and use the system in the most efficient way. E-Save is the mode for maintaining battery charge or for charging it while driving using the petrol engine As Simon mentioned last month, the 4xe range stars at £32,600 for the Longitude model, £34,500 for the Limited and £36,500 for the Trailhawk.

The Renegade 4xe offers Jeep’s off road pedigree with a new, eco twist.

Jeep UK are now working with TentBox to supply roof-top tents for their range of vehicles..

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V

Vs

AND THE WINNER IS....

Amarok vs X-Class And it's goodbye from us…

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Two of the most powerful pickups on sale in the UK are bowing their heads and are saying goodbye, as both Volkswagen and Mercedes relieve the market of their hardhitting V6 models, the Amarok Aventura V6 and X350D Power.

ct on e fl e r s ’ m, let

Earlier on in the year, which seems like such a long time ago now, I had the pleasure of living with them both for a week, both V6 models, each producing over 250bhp. I enjoyed them both in equal measures, but if it was my money, which would I buy?

es...

tha

w pag e f a r o tf

Hmm

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On the road

- Unsurprisingly, both pick-ups have a lot of presence.

VW Amarok

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

If I have one gripe it’s that there’s an untimely lag after you’ve put your foot down hard on the accelerator, it takes a moment to wake up. That said, using the small paddles fixed to the steering wheel helps to liven things up a bit.

All I’m going to say about its pace is that it’s a good job it has a speed limiter, use it and you’ll keep your licence.

Producing 258bhp,VW decided to give the Amarok an extra 30Nm (for a total of 580Nm) and a 272hp overboost feature.

Couple that to an 8-speed automatic 4MOTION gearbox, and the Amarok feels light and easy to drive.

Its steering is much heavier, without being arduous, which I like, and its thick rimmed steering wheel has a nice weight to it. Once you dab the accelerator, 550Nm of torque pulls you away easily and its power delivery feels a lot smoother than the Amarok’s.

Both pickups drive exceptionally well and offer an SUV level of ride quality, even unladen on twisty and undulating roads, they both have the ability to keep all 4 wheels on the tarmac, and both offer a comfortable and well balanced ride, but when it comes to handling I’d say the Mercedes marginally has the edge, but for overall drivability theres no beating the Amarok’s 8-speed auto, and the Volkswagen is slightly better on fuel, despite its extra grunt.

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Off road There is no loser here, both pick-ups have permanent 4 wheel drive and handled rocks and wheel-in-the-air action with ease. I drove the same green lanes in both and neither faltered.

Oddly, where the X-Class has the usual high and low ratios, along with an optional rear locking differential, the Amarok only has a Hill-Descent Control switch, which didn’t seem to hamper it in any way.

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Interior VW Amarok

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

The seats are seriously comfortable and supportive, some of the best that my backside has had the privilege of sitting on, though legroom for rear passengers is fairly non-existent.

I love what they’ve done to the interior in terms of making it feel a bit more special, but there are a few things I don’t like. For one there’s hardly anywhere to put your gubbins, apart from in the centre cubby box, which is quite small. The heated seat switches are on the seats, better placed than the XTR D-Max I’ll give it that, and the start button is on a slight angle by your right knee. Probably the most annoying thing is that for a 6 foot something bloke, the steering wheel doesn’t adjust high enough for me to get my left leg under when I’m getting in and out.

With a huge amount of glass and large door mirrors there’s excellent all-round visibility which negates the need for parking sensors, which it has anyway. The turning circle is spot on too.

That said, it’s still a lovely place to be, even for rear passengers who have a good amount of leg, shoulder and head space, where the Amarok fails.

Although slightly less classier than the Merc, the interior of the Amarok is more spacious and better thought out. There’s space for a lot of gubbins and no switch appears like an afterthought.

The dash layout is easy to read and looks quite classy, with a carlike quality about it, albeit make from tough plastic.

Another joy is that the sat-nav and infotainment system which are easy to navigate, and visibility all ‘round is good enough.

Looking ahead you see the huge tall bonnet and behind there are three small windows, which aren’t as big in other pick ups.

However, the 360º view camera system is very good giving you a birds eye of your surroundings.

You do get a better quality switchgear in the X-Class, shame it’s just a bit cramped.

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Pick-up stuff The Amarok is able to carry in excess of 1 tonne and can tow a 3,000kg braked trailer. The X-Class however, as well as carrying one tonne, its towing capacity is 3.5 tonnes.

Conclusion If it was my money...I’d take the Amarok. There, I’ve said it.

Yes the X-Class has a high and low 4wd along with a rear locking diff, but as I said, the Amarok performed really well with its electronics. The main reason I chose the Amarok is purely down to its interior, it’s much more user friendly and spacious, for a tall fat bloke, at least. I also saw marginally better fuel figures from the Amarok.

If you want to read my full reviews on both vehicles you'll find the Volkswagen Amarok Aventura Black Edition V6 in issue 15, and the Mercedes -Benz X 350 d in issue 17.

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ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN

CULLINAN

The Jewel in Rolls-Royce's Crown?

By Andy Harris

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I

t is always a delight to spend some time with a Rolls-Royce.

The epitome of luxury, and one of the world’s best-known brands, the experience is still one that excites.

The Cullinan is Rolls-Royce’s first foray into the world of the all-wheel drive SUV, and the British manufacturer clearly has high aspirations for its new model.

I think it would be fair to say that the Cullinan has received a mixed reception with some saying that moving into this market dilutes the brand. However, it’s the looks that are somewhat more divisive especially the rather bold front end.

So why has Rolls-Royce decided to enter this market?

The business model undoubtedly makes sense as up until now, wealthy Rolls owners looking for more everyday transport for family duties, etc. have had to look elsewhere. A Bentley Bentayga perhaps, Maserati’s Levante a distinct possibility or most likely a Range Rover.

The Cullinan is also set to appeal to the more adventurous owner who perhaps wishes to head to a remote moorland shoot, cross a desert or perhaps just pull a horsebox.

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My long weekend with the Rolls saw me journey to Northumberland and the lowlands of Scotland. There had been talk of indulging in a little off-roading, and I am quite sure that the AWD Cullinan would have coped admirably. Call me a coward but being charged with such an expensive vehicle, and one lacking a spare wheel, I chose to stick to terra firma!

And stick the Rolls most certainly did…

Once adjusted to the car’s considerable girth, it can be hustled along twisting country lanes at a fair old lick. There’s more body roll than perhaps is ideal, and no option to firm the suspension up.

Rolls-Royce knows best. Far better to rein it in somewhat and enjoy the surging wave of torque which ensues with the merest prod of the accelerator.

And then there’s the ride!

The Cullinan cossets like no other in its class, with only the very deepest of potholes having the audacity to disturb the calm of the cabin.

If time is short, the Cullinan will sprint to 60mph in exactly five seconds dead, and will run out of steam at a restricted 155mph. Not only that but the capable all-wheel drive system allows the driver to deploy all that power whatever the weather.

Make full use of it and I suspect the 16.5mpg I recorded will be fairly representative. I am sure that won't matter to those with the deepest of pockets.

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The highlight of any Rolls-Royce is the bespoke interior. A heady aroma of wood and leather greets, and once on board, pillar-mounted buttons shut the doors electrically.

The sunroof bathes the cabin in natural light, though opening it allows the outside world in and rather spoils the hushed ambiance.

The steering wheel is a delight to hold, and the switches and major controls are tactile to the touch. The silky-smooth automatic gearbox is controlled by a column-mounted stalk, and once acclimatised, it makes a lot of sense.

The front seats are as comfy as the best armchair, and the view out imperious.

Cullinan buyers can specify standard seating for three rear passengers, or there is the option of two rather more accommodating and adjustable individual rear seats. Whatever the choice, head and legroom is more than plentiful.

In addition, electric picnic tables fold down, and these hide the twin rear touchscreens, capable of taking control of the sound system. We picnicked on a couple of occasions, my only time to enjoy the rear compartment. Sadly, I forgot to order the Fortnum and Masons hamper‌ THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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The Cullinan is still a rare sight in the UK, and unsurprisingly attracted a huge amount of attention wherever I journeyed. Street-parked for two nights in a Northumberland coastal village, it was interesting to watch passers-by stopping to take in the detail, many crossing the road to take a closer look.

Despite its heady pricing, the Cullinan seems destined to become Rolls-Royce’s best-selling car, and it’s easy to see why.

The press office tells me that many wealthy clients already own several examples of the marque, and for those a Cullinan will be an obvious addition, for the rest of us, we can but dream.

I am thankful to have been given a taste of how the other half lives and I have to say it was really rather lovely!

Details • price from £276,000 • Iguaza Blue paint with Charles/Navy blue • 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine • 571PS and 850Nm torque • 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds • Top speed 155mph (limited) • Combined economy 18.8mpg • Emissions 341g/km CO2 • Weight 2,660kg Options fitted to the Test Car • 22” Fully Polished Wheels • Rear Privacy Glass • Front Massage Seats • Rear Theatre Configuration • Picnic Tables • Lambswool Footmats • Rolls-Royce Bespoke Audio • Electronic Tow Hitch

And now some action pics from Rolls-Royce's photoshoot in Dubai - a slightly more exotic, and sunny location than Scotland....

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WARNING

Clothing so FABuLOUS that extreme selfie pouting may occur!

Take a look at Live The Mud Life our online shop for cool T-Shirts, hoodies and jumpers.

livethemudlife.co.uk

CAR-BOOT BOX Made from birch plywood using quality fixings and a wipe clean rubber top, the Car-Boot Box is a bespoke boot box that can be ordered with either a single or two drawers.

Designed and handmade in the UK, the Car-Boot Box is made from a lightweight CNC machined timber frame with a removable rigid top that doesn’t require any tools or skills to assemble or remove.

They’re designed to fit mid to large SUVs, MPVs and estate cars and built to the exact dimensions of your car. They’re also designed with a slight angle to ensure the drawers don’t open when the car is being driven, which is handy.

Delivery is £45 to UK mainland only (or free collection from their workshop in Bristol), but allow 3 weeks for the box to be built and delivered. price: £395 more at » www.car-bootbox.co.uk

New Stuff we've discovered this month COLEMAN SPORTSTER II Not exactly a new product, but the Coleman Sportster is worthy of a mention, especially if you’re fed up of carrying gas bottles around with you.

Last month I wrote about my Coleman Unleaded Dual Fuel stove that runs off either unleaded petrol, or Coleman’s own fuel, and the Sportster II works the same way, but is a single stove and much easier to cart around with you.

It’s ideal for camping, fishing trips and expeditions and is strong, reliable and economical to run.

Weighing in at only 1.19kg and measuring 15 x 12cm the Sports II comes in a tough plastic carry case, and when full has a run time of up to 8h 30min, with a boil time of 5min.20sec. more at » www.coleman.eu price: £109.95 buy in the UK » amazon.co.uk

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READER OFFER

LIGHTFORCE BLITZ 240MM HALOGEN 994 METERS @ 1 LUX The 240 Blitz has a reputation that literally blitzed all other lights on the market. The ability to quickly customise the beam pattern with the virtually unbreakable clip-on filters.

With variable beam patterns and optional clip-on filters, the Blitz 240mm halogen driving lights are lightweight for less vibration and because they’re made from a polyamide hitech construction, they’re also super strong.

It also has a Hi-impacts polycarbonate lens, 12v 100 watt Xenophot long life bulb with 730,000 candle power output (approx.

The Lightforce Blitz 240mm is supplied with clear polycarbonate covers and supplied as a pair.

Act quickly as 4x4 Obsession are knocking £70 off the price!

SALE Price: £265 (normally: £335) more at » www.4x4obsession.co.uk

GET 5% OFF

everything at 4x4obsession.co.uk

Use code:

MUDLIFE5 THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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RATEL X DIFF GUARD The Ratel-X Industries offers a selection of Xtreme Diff Guards for your green ovals. They’ve been uniquely designed and manufactured in the UK from High Strength Structural Steel to give your Landy, Disco or Rangie the stylish yet functional protection it needs to assist your axle when sliding over rocks and stumps so you don't get stuck in the field.

These bolt-on parts have been expertly engineered using the latest in laser technology to ensure you the best quality available. Ratel-X Industries Differential Guards are Zinc Plated and Yellow Passivated to give the best in corrosion resistance along with that sought after gold effect. price: from from £58.95 more at »www.ratel-x.com/diff-guard

COMPATIBLE VEHICLES Defender 90 All rear axles Range Rover 1986-1994 All rear axles Discovery 1 All rear axles Series 2 & 3 All rear Rover axles Range Rover to 1985 All rear axles This will not fit Wolf, P38 or Salisbury

New Stuff we've discovered this month EMPIRE TUNING VARIABLE VANE TURBO 2020 may have been disappointing, but the new turbo from Empire Tuning is anything but!

Their new Variable Vane Turbo is for those of you wanting the absolute maximum performance from your Td5. With ceramic ball bearings and a larger billet compressor wheel, the spool and air flow is unmatched by any other Td5 turbo on the market.

Being both water cooled for extra longevity and oil lubricated for extra reliability, this turbo can handle the most inhospitable and demanding of conditions.

Capable of producing torque figures that not have not been seen from a Td5 before, this one is not to be missed. price: contact Empire Tuning for further details more at » https://www.empiretuning.co.uk

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Britpart are delighted to now be an approved stockist for the entire ARB range of products in the UK. For nearly 40 years Britpart has been synonymous with parts for Land Rovers and now we are expanding our range of quality aftermarket parts with the introduction of the ARB catalogue for a multitude of 4x4 vehicles.

arb4x4uk.co.uk

ARB’s range of products for the off-road and pickup market includes Air Lockers & > Compressors

Recovery Points & > Equipment

> Canopies

> Roof Racks

> Drawers

> StealthBar Bumper

> Lights

Steps & Side > Protection

Upgraded > Suspension > Rear Protection

> Tyre Accessories > Underbody Protection

ARB accessories & suspension products for a wide range of manufacturers & models Ford Ranger / Isuzu D-Max / Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee & Jeep Wrangler Land Rover Defender & Land Rover Discovery / Mitsubishi L200 / Nissan Navara & Pathfinder / Toyota Hilux / VW Amarok

sales@britpart.com

DOG RAMP Have you got an aging dog or a bad back?

If you have either then a dog ramp is a great idea for helping your furry family member into your vehicle, and means no more hurting your back lifting up your dog.

This handy dog ramp is perfect for dogs who have difficulty jumping into the back of your 4x4, such as older or injured dogs, as well as puppies and smaller dogs whose little legs just can’t reach!

It has an anti-slip coating which makes the ramp quick and safe to use even in wet conditions, rubber feet to hold it in position and the telescopic design has a catch to keep it fastened when stored.

Specifications - Maximum weight capacity - 90kg - Weight - 7kg - Length compressed - 1m - Length extended - 1.85m - Width at widest point - 45cm - Deck width - 39cm price: approx £115 more at » www.britpart.com THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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E F I L D U M E H T E LIV

S T N I R P T AR

Muddy Madam not only likes to put her university design course to good use by doing all the layouts in this magazine and designing t-shirts, but she also likes get all artistic by creating funky original Art Prints for your walls.

She does the funky 'car-toons' you see in the magazine, and digital pen scribble sketches and watercolours so that you can have some cool vehicles adorn your walls.

These prints can be pinned straight on your walls, or if you want to hang them, they come in 3 frame-friendly sizes - A3, A4, A5.

If we don't currently have a print of the vehicle you want just let Muddy Madam know on a quick e-mither to klt@themudlife.co.uk, and she will endeavour to do one.

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GOODS & GEAR I’ve wanted to try one of these for a quite a while now, but up until recently they were only available in America (hence the non-English spelling). Intrigued by their usefulness and practicality, Dean from Ox Overland decided to import them, and become the UK distributor.

The Tire Table is a table that slots over a tyre, it’s as simple as that.To use it you simply reposition 2 small legs that help to keep the table secure, then after unscrewing and repositioning 2 small T-bolts you then extend the support slider to slot over your tyre, and finally tighten up the bolts.

If you’re going to put some weight on the table, there’s also an extendable centre leg that folds down to add extra support.

The table, which is constructed of powder-coated steel, measures 23" W x 29" L x 1.5" D, and weighs in at just over 5kg. It will hold just over 22kg, which is ample for most camping accessories and stoves.

I’ve had it for just over a month, and have used it regularly, not just on my Toyota Surf, but also on a few press 4x4s, and I have to say it works a treat.

Any downsides? Well, if you’ve just driven through a particularly muddy section that may contain manure, you may not want to cook and prepare your food on a table that’s next to the 'fragrant' tyre.

Is it better than an ordinary camping table?

Well, that depends on your use and where you are.

There are many benefits: • It’s heavy duty, and therefore difficult to damage when transporting.

• The open wire grill means that it won’t melt when you’re using certain stoves, like a small wood burner.

• It can be used on any tyre, including a fixed rear spare on a back door.

• With it's steel construction, and being secured to the tyre, it definitely won’t go flying with a gust of wind!

• It comes into its own when you park on uneven or boggy ground, even if you find your self on a steep slope, the table slots over your tyre and remains perfectly horizontal.

T A IL G A TER TIRE TA B LE

It may seem a bit pricey for 'just a table', but it has a different remit from the usual camping set up. With its robust build quality and off-the-beaten-track usefulness, I'm confident I'll get a lot more use out of it for a long time to come, therefore I feel it's worth every penny. price: £140 more at » www.oxoverland.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR L EA T H ERM A N C RUN CH As we all know, the majority of multitools have an integrated pair of pliers, but as far as I know, the Leatherman Crunch is the only multitool that has locking pliers that work as good as they do.

The fold away locking pliers clamp up to a 1” diameter pipe, and its smooth body gives you good leverage on the most stubborn nuts.

The Crunch may not have as many gadgets as other multitools, as it’s a bit more specialised, but what it does have are not only useful, but sturdy. All tools are lockable and accessed from inside the body, and if you remove the adjusting screw, you'll find a built in hex-bit adapter and accepts any of the virtually infinite number of after-market bits made for this format.

15 TOOLS include: - Regular Pliers - Locking Pliers. Clamp a pipe (up to 1" diameter) with these adjustable pliers.

- Hard-wire Cutters. Easily cut through electrical hard wires.

- Wire Cutters. Cut regular-gauge electrical wire with this durable, edge-retaining tool.

- Wire Stripper. Safely strip multiple gauges and types of wire.

- 420HC Serrated Knife. A toothed blade crafted from 420HC stainless steel. Serrations grab and cut materials easily, making this style of blade useful for cutting through rope or fibre.

- Ruler. Make precise measurements in inches and centimeters.

- Pin Vice. Hold things like wire or fish hooks to help tie fishing flies.

- Bottle Opener. Pop the top on your favourite beverage.

- Wood/Metal File. Precisely file and smooth edges on surfaces.

- 1/4” Hex Bit Drive. Insert a ¼” hex bit into this slot to customize your multi-tool.

- Phillips Screwdriver - 3 Flat Head Screwdrivers (S, M, L) Weighing in at just 196g and measuring 10cm, the Crunch is actually quite comfortable to hold and use.

As for its longevity, I’ve only been using it for a month or so and it‘s excelled at whatever task it’s been used for, but even if you do overuse it and it breaks, Leatherman offer a 25 year warranty. price: £144.95 more at » https://www.leatherman.co.uk watch the video here: https://youtu.be/09Fi3j5dG6Y 74

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GOODS & GEAR R O BENS LARGE A D VE N TURE A LUM I N I UM TABL E When out camping, or parked up by the side of the road preparing a meal, flat surfaces to work on are always at a premium, and for this reason, the large version of Robens Adventure aluminium table works a treat.

The table can be erected within just 20 seconds and comes in its own handy carry bag, (packed up size - 78 x 11.5 x 10cm, so it can be easily stored in the back of your 4x4).

It comprises of a folding slatted aluminium hard-top that clips onto a collapsible aluminium frame. Once in position it measures 58 x 77 x 53cm and can hold a maximum load of 20kg.

Although it offers a generous amount of space, being tall I don’t find it easy to cook on, unless I’m sat or kneeling down, but that isn’t a problem (I have plenty of chairs to choose from).

At just over 2kg,. It’s lightweight too, which is handy for keeping your load weight down, but not so much if it’s a bit blustery out - yes, I’ve chased it across a field and along a beach on a couple of occasions!

To be fair, apart from not being as tall as I would like it to be, there isn’t anything major to moan about. I like its aluminium top which feels sturdy and safe when preparing food and cooking, so overall a great space saving option when out. price: £62.50

more at » www.robens.de

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GOODS & GEAR Written by Martin Port, this book tells the story of the very first production Land Rover, chassis number 860001.

Initially intended for King George VI, JUE 477 instead found itself in the north east of England working for a living on farms and mining sites. 22 years later it was bought by a farmer who, although with good intentions, sadly let it sit in a field for many more years.

Eventually, JUE 477 was bought by Sir James Ratcliffe, founder of Ineos, the soon-to-be manufacturer of the much anticipated Grenadier.

Over the subsequent 18 months, 860001 was painstakingly restored, with the emphasis on retaining its patina and re-using as much of its original material and component parts as possible.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

This 128 page book is an enjoyable read, and contains 240 photographs from historical images through a complete documentation of JUE 477’s careful restoration. It's the perfect gift for any Land Rover, or classic car enthusiast.

JU E 477 TH E WORLD’ S FI RST PRODU C TIO N L AN D-ROVER B OOK

Before the book arrived at Muddy Towers, I had every intention of giving it away in a competition, but having read it and enjoyed every page, it’s going nowhere. It now has pride of place in my bookcase.

There are two editions available, a standard edition that costs £30, and the special launch edition at £45 that’s signed by author Martin Port and chief restorer, Julian Shoolheifer, which is limited to only 1000 copies. more at » www.porterpress.co.uk

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History of Jeep part 4

The 1970s Written by Simon Hastelow

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1970-1980 THE AMC YEARS:

A

s America entered the 1970s, Jeep was poised to expand, but Kaiser Industries was not the company to do it.

On February 5,1970, American Motors Corporation acquired Kaiser Jeep Corporation for $10 million in cash, $9.5 million in serial notes and 5.5 million shares of capital stock - a total price of $70 million.

The change of ownership triggered a decade of growth and expansion unprecedented for Jeep and the entire 4WD industry. At the time of the acquisition, daily production of Jeep vehicles was 175 per day, covering both civilian and military vehicles. By the end of the decade, production of Jeep vehicles was up to 660 per day.

One of AMC's initial moves was to separate military from civilian production with the creation of two subsidiaries Jeep Corporation for civilian vehicles,based in Toledo, and in 1971, AM General Corporation for tactical military vehicles, buses and Post Office vehicles which was located in the former Studebaker plant in South Bend, Indiana.

It turned out to be a wise move, as not long after the separation, the United States experienced a boom in the commercial 4WD market.

One of the first offerings of the new Jeep Corporation was the 1971 limited-edition Renegade II, a 4WD version of the CJS incorporating many of the custom performance features which, at the time, made CJS the leading 4WD vehicle in off-road racing and endurance event history.

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Early in the Renegade model production, there was a special run of 600 Jeep Renegade II models, with 200 of each painted in Baja Yellow, Mint Green and Riverside Orange to signify CJS wins at the Baja 500, the Mint 400 and the Riverside Grand Prix.

The Jeepster Commando also was built in a special limited edition.

The 1971 Hurst Jeepster Special was a customized Commando station wagon featuring rally stripes on the cowl and tailgate, wide-tread tires, scoop-mounted tachometer and a choice of Hurst's Dual Gate shifter with automatic transmission or T-handle shifter with manual.

Also in 1971, the Gladiator J-3000 was replaced by the longer J-4000 series. When 1972 rolled around, AMC was starting to make its first real impression on Jeep vehicles, providing a lineup 'with the guts to come on stronger than ever?'

The Universals were now simply called the Jeep.

AMC equipped these CJSs and CJ6s with heavier axles, brawnier brakes, a wider track and highercapacity heater/def rosters while attaching a new tagline for this workhorse -

All Jeep vehicles, from the Universals to the Gladiator pickups, came equipped with AMC-built engines, and all were available with 304 or 360-cubicinch V-8 engines.

'If a new Jeep vehicle can't take you there, maybe you ought to think twice about going?'

The Jeepster Commando line for 1972 experienced some additions and omissions. Added was an allnew front-end design, an optional 258-cubic-inch 6-cylinder or 304-cubic-inch V-8 engine, a roomier interior, stronger suspension and bigger brakes.

Gone, along with the Kaiser grille, was the Jeepster name, and the convertible model for the 1972 Jeep Commando line.

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Jeep Wagoneer for 1972 included the biggest standard engine in the 4WD station wagon field - a 258-cubic-inch AMCbuilt OHV 6-cylinder.

In addition, for the first time the most luxurious 4WD station wagon in the world was given the choice of two optional AMC-built V-8 engines.

The new engines in the Wagoneer were also available in all models of the Gladiator truck line, touted as the 'only 1972 pickup truck built with 4-wheel drive from the ground up.'

The Jeep Renegade name, previously used in 1971 and 1972 for high-performance limited-edition runs of the CJS, appeared again in January 1973. However, this time it was more powerful than ever.

This Super Jeep came equipped with standard equipment such as the 304-cubic-inch V-8 engine, roll bar, specially styled wheels, racing stripes, a hood blackout, fender lip extensions, custom vinyl interior and a choice of bright, sporty body colors.

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The 1973 Wagoneer introduced yet another Jeep exclusive to the 4WD market.

Quadra-Trac, with its unique controlled-slip differential, represented the first completely automatic full-time 4WD system.

The next year marked the passing and birth of two great names in Jeep history.

The Commando name and model was discontinued, while the Cherokee name joined the 1974 J-series as a sporty 2-door model alongside Wagoneer and Gladiator.

A four-door model was available by 1977, the same year a new, higher performance 258-cubic-inch two-barrel six-cylinder was added as standard equipment.

Although the sporty Cherokee was similar to the more luxurious Wagoneer at birth, down the road the names Cherokee and Cherokee Chief would apply to the most successful Jeep vehicle in history.

In addition, the sporty 1974 Jeep Renegade became available as a regular production model.

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As America celebrated its 200th birthday in 1976, Jeep capitalized on the American spirit with the introduction of the seventh generation of the civilian Jeep, the CJ7. For the first time, the CJ7 offered an optional removable molded plastic top and steel doors.

Both 93.5-inch wheelbase CJ7 and 83.5inch wheelbase CJS models of the civilian Jeep were built until 1983, when demand for the CJ7 left AMC no choice but to discontinue the CJ5 and concentrate on CJ7 With the 1978 introduction of the ultimate Wagoneer, the Wagoneer Limited, Jeep added a new and unique level of luxury to the 4WD market with its standard features such as leather upholstery, air conditioning and AM/FM/ CB stereo radio.

As Jeep vehicles entered the 1980s, they were poised to remain as the most complete and diverse group of vehicles available in the 4WD market.

Photos courtesy of Jeep -

https://www.jeep.com & the Free Library of Philadelphia, Automobile Reference Collection - https://libwww.freelibrary.org THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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acebook Page of the Month Once, not so long ago, if you wanted to catch up with like minded enthusiasts, you’d join a forum. It appears these days however that Facebook has taken over the mantle for the place to go for information. So, in the aptly titled ‘Facebook Page of the Month’ every month I will invest hours of time, effort and energy searching Facebook for interesting and relevant groups so you don’t have to. It’s serious work, or so I tell Muddy Madam!

OK, so this month's Facebook Page of the Month isn't really 4x4 related, but it does involve something a lot of us do, but with restrictions can't exactly do a lot of at the moment - camping.

WHO STARTED IT IT, AND WHEN? Me, Neil Gantley, and my good friend Adam, March 2020.

WHY / PURPOSE? The group was started in a bid to give people a positive activity to look forward to, just like a normal holiday, amidst all the chaos and uncertainty that we all found ourselves in during lockdown.

It was a chance conversation between Adam and I just before lockdown. He told me that he was about to set up the tent in his garden and spend a night camping with his kids, and I thought it was such a good idea that I did the same.

They've set up something that has gone viral, luckily in the social media sense, not the infectious one, so have a quick read, and if you fancy it, join them and have a go yourself.

That evening we wondered how many people were doing the same, and how a lockdown would affect kids who were going to miss out on school, holidays and spending time with their mates. It was then that I set up the Facebook page.

Amazingly, it caught peoples imagination almost immediately as we had over a thousand members in the first night!

We wanted to bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and the relaxed fun of camping, but at home in their garden or front room. We want to show that we don't need to be together physically to have a good time, and help lift peoples spirits within our communities.

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Photograph © - Jim Johnson HOW MANY MEMBERS SO FAR? To date we have 8,620, and counting

AREA? We have active members in 27 countries.

ARE THERE PUB MEETINGS? Well, no.

CAN MEMBERS ORGANISE THEIR OWN TRIPS? Yes, trips out in their gardens!

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? They say imitation is the best form of flattery, there have been many similar Facebook pages since we started ours, and one such page even managed to raise over £100,000 for the NHS! At the height of lockdown we saw over 20k posts a day, and even now it’s still an active community, something both Adam and I are rightfully proud of.

FIND US: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/2841301125987223/

Photograph © - Ash Palmer

If you, or your group, would like to be featured as FB Page of the Month send us a quick email to:

POTM@themudlife.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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h c o Mo

mooch ado about nothing The other day on Instagram I watched a video of a slightly modified Toyota Hilux lifting a wheel or two whilst driving a very rutted green lane, and curiosity got the better of me, so I sent Lowrange Adventures a quick DM asking where it was.

Turns out it wasn’t that far from Muddy Towers, well more like 2 hours away, on the coast of Cumbria, not far from Sellafield.

Checking Trailwise 2 I noticed a few other lanes in that area that looked intriguing, so after bunging in ÂŁ25 worth of diesel in the press Hilux I had that week, I headed for the small Cumbrian town of Millom for a short adventure.

Situated on the south western corner of the Lake District on the Duddon estuary, Port Haverigg Marina is dominated by a large holiday village, but what intrigued me was that the road that encompasses the marina is actually a green lane, TW references SD1678-06 and SD1678-04.

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Lane 1 Starting at the side of Haverigg beach, SD1678-06 is essentially a wide gravel track with lots of puddles that can easily be driven in Grandma’s Micra, but that didn’t matter.

The view across the mouth of the estuary was particularly pleasant today, with the odd break in the grey clouds that promised blue skies, the chilly wind put a stop on pulling over for a brew.

Being a Friday afternoon there wasn’t that many people out, 3 or 4 cyclists, a couple of joggers and around a 1/2 dozen doggers - sorry, dog walkers, some frowned at me, one smiled and the rest ignored me.

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Lane 2 Once you reach the end of the marina, the lane turns into SD1678-04, and this section is largely tarmac with a few sneaky parking spots hidden away. I spotted a couple of VW camper vans scattered around minding their own business, which was nice. Further along the single track road serves the caravan park, which you drive through to get back to the start.

Overall they were pleasant lanes with great views, and if I’d had more time I would have taken the time to explore some of the beaches in the area.

Lunch On the subject of beaches, my next port of call was a narrow lane just to the left of Bootle called Stockbridge, which is literally right on the beach. I pulled over and got out the Tire Table that I’ve reviewed this month in the Goods & Gear section, my Coleman Unleaded stove and heated up a pre-prepared sausage curry - lovely!

Typically, every time I park up on an empty and secluded beach, or anywhere where I’m alone for that matter, guaranteed within 10 minutes I’m surrounded my other motorists with absolutely no sense of personal space.

It was good timing, actually, as the strong wind had scattered the clouds that presented the big beautiful blue sky, and my next lane awaited my presence.

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Lane 3 SD1188-02 or Bootle Fell was the lane I watched on the short video, and it’s a majestic gravel green lane that rises up from the A595 at Bootle.

To begin with it’s a bit tight in places with soft overhanging bracken to negotiate. As it began to get steeper I engaged low box in the Hilux, which frustratingly took a few minutes as it’s electric and not a simple lever.

So far the going was good, SD1188-02 has a solid base with very few ruts, in fact I was beginning to wonder what all the fuss was about.

However, next section is a very different kettle of fish.

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If you check out Trailwise, at some point the lane turns into SD1288-02, and it’s this section that has become badly eroded due to the weather.

I had to get out of the Hilux quite a number of times to choose a route as the lane had suddenly become quite technical, and careful wheel placement was required.

As I edged to Hilux into the first rut there were creaks from the suspension and scrapes from the undercarriage, but traction was never in doubt.

Within a matter of yardsnI was stood in front of the Hilux again, slightly bemused and scratching my head as there didn’t seem to be any discernible path forward. The deep ruts snaked in all directions.

Choosing the route that appeared less damaging to both the Hilux and the lane, I engaged the rear diff lock and aimed at the shallower ruts. At one point I decided to straddle a wide section, but suddenly it became wider and much deeper, and as I didn’t want to cause any panel damage, I reversed back to try a different line.

Another tricky section found me found me again stood for a while trying to figure out the best lines forwards!

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• • • • •

PC, smartphone and tablet friendly Toggle between BOAT and UCR (ORPA) layers Information on restrictions and closures Multiple mapping options including 1:25k Easy to zoom in and out

• • • • •

Add comments and photos against routes Extensive coverage of England and Wales Share a lane on Facebook or Twitter Available exclusively to GLASS members TW2... TrailWise, but smarter!

WHERE WILL YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

Once you get past the ruts the lane levels out again and you're treated to some epic views, and as I sat on the tailgate taking them all in, I couldn’t help reflect on the Luxie and what a great job it had done. Of course, it was a lovely dry day, add rain and it would have been a much different and far more difficult experience.

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I wouldn’t dream of bringing a soft roader up here, I’d even have doubts of driving Deux Smurf due to her lack of locking diffs and electric aids, though driving the lane from east to west, downwards, wouldn’t be too bad, I guess.

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And that was it, at the end of the lane I turned right and headed back towards the A595 and eventually home. I’ll really miss the Hilux Extra Cab Active, but next week I have the Land Cruiser Utility coming as a replacement, so I’ll see how I get on with that.

IN OUR GARAGE

How Exhausting part 2

Last month I mentioned that rear section Deux Smurf’s exhaust had pretty much disintegrated, in fact it was in two parts it was that bad.

Of the three exhaust fabricators I had on my list, which were all within 1/2 hour of Muddy Towers, I chose the gents at SK Garage in Manchester as they had a great reputation, replied to my emails and even answered the phone, which is more that can be said for the others.

They quoted me two prices, one for the whole exhaust, and another for just the rear section.

I decided on the latter for two reasons, one because they were honest and told me that the front section was still in great condition, and secondly we still don’t have enough advertisers to be flamboyantly frivolous with our hard earned pennies!

When the time came to collect her I was really quite impressed, the welds were tidy and they managed to tuck the exhaust well away from the axle to prevent catching during full articulation.

They even fitted a removable chrome tip for free as a bonus.

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IN OUR GARAGE On tick-over she sounds deeper, a little throatier that befits a 3.0ltr diesel. Yet, the following day whilst driving down to Bicester for a BMW press day the rumble was much more muted than I expected. To be fair though, Surfs are quiet 4x4s anyway, but she cruised along nicely.

Due to the amount of press cars I’ve had for that last few months I haven’t driven Deux Smurf that much. This was evident when I started her up to get her exhaust fitted, I could sense a sluggishness, so when I returned to Muddy Towers I drove her ‘round the back where she spent the rest of the day attached to the wonderful CTEK MSX 7.0 charger that I reviewed back in our June 2020 issue.

Next on my list of jobs is to sort out her balancing and tracking, we’ve done a lot of green laning lately and she’s gained a bit of wobble.

Another job before winter sets in is to explore the possibility of changing her washers for the fan spray type. A lot of new cars have them, and I reckon they’ll be a good improvement.

www.facebook.com/SKGarageManchester

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Blast from the Past The other day, during a mass culling of over 60k photos I have on my computer, I came across a collection that I took of a very rare Range Rover.

Around seven years ago when I wrote for Land Rover World magazine, I was asked to visit a gentleman in Cheshire who happened to have a 1978 2-Door Range Rover that was said to be in a time-warp condition. I was told that it was in fact the cleanest and most original Classic 2-door Range Rover in the UK. A bold statement, indeed.

The trouble was, we often received emails and phone calls asking us to come and look at rare and interesting green ovals, sometimes they were simply run of the mill vehicles, and other times they were a pile of rust languishing in a dark and dingy corner of a garage.

The article was subsequently written and promptly sent off for publication, but sadly a little too late, as LRW was doomed to be sold off to Land Rover Monthly, well, it’s subscribers list was, and my poetic prose was doomed never to see light of day, until now.

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So what happened?

Well, I had my orders, and the following weekend I packed my camera, butties and set forth to Northwich hoping that it would be indeed worthy.

Upon arrival, Richard, owner of Auric Classic Cars, invited me to peruse his garage that was busting to the seams with classic cars. There were two Sierra Cosworths, a 2 door with only 3k on the clock, a 1969 Series 1 Jag and later V12 Series 3. He also had various Mini Coopers, the original ones, of course, an MGBC and a couple of VW camper vans, Richard was teasing me...

It was in the next garage where Richard kept his Range Rovers. Yes, plural.

Back then he had five Range Rovers, including a CSK that is was in the middle of a refurb.

Although I was itching to go for a spin in the star attraction, amusingly Richard had misplaced the key for it, and whilst he franticly searched his office and home for it, he gave me the keys to his other Range Rover Classics.

Now the last time I drove an air sprung Range Rover it was P38 and I found the ride a bit unpleasant as it pitched and rolled everywhere, not to my liking at all. However, Richard’s late Classic, air sprung Range Rover had only done 40,000 miles, and driving it along the A49 was a dream.

Now, I’d driven ‘Classic’ Rangies in the past, in varying stages of decay, but none that looked and felt ‘as new’ as these did. All automatics, all 3.9 litre V8s and all like new. It was a very good day to be a green oval fan, I can tell you!

Arriving back with a huge grin on my face, Richard had found the keys to the 2-Door, and low and behold it was spectacular and exactly as described. From its original rust proofing still in the engine bay, to wrapped tools in the back.

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Without further ado I jumped in, arranged my driving position and off I drove.

It took me right back to when I first drove my own 2-Door, a ’74 that had been really well looked after. There was the familiar, yet distant whine from the transfer box and the instantly recognisable rumble you only get from a carb fed 3.5 litre V8. My day couldn’t get any better.

Personally, I simply love driving Range Rovers. The driving position, the large windows and views that they afford? the driver and all who aboard them, is classless, in my humble opinion.

This ‘78 2-door brought a certain honesty back to driving, I loved how basic it was with no gadgets, or safety features.

The brakes, steering and gearbox were a joy to use, all just about run-in! It was a lovely day, too, so the windows were wide open and I just cruised towards towards Peckforton. In fact, I didn’t want to stop, but I was gone a while and suspected that Richard would be getting a tad anxious!

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Once back I reluctantly retuned the key to Richard and we made our way to his office where we sat down, and over a brew and some biscuits told me a bit more of the vehicles history.

The original owner used to have both a works van and Series 2 Land Rover, but his wife said the van was too dirty and the Series 2 too bumpy, so he went out and bought the Range Rover, from new. Garaged for its entire 33 year life, up until that point, it was only ever used in the summer months, and judging by its original 28,000 miles, not very often.

Eventually, the owner got fed up of people leaving notes under windscreen, and even pulling him over with offers to buy it, he eventually decided to sell it to Richard.

As I mentioned earlier, all this took place around 7 years ago, and just out of curiosity I checked his website, and low and behold, Richard still has it. I knew at the time that secretly didn’t want to sell it, I mean, who would, seriously?

Here’s a dilemma for you all.

I’ve always believed that cars should be driven and enjoyed, letting them sit in a heated and dehumidified garage is a waste, in my opinion. However, when does a car become... what word shall I use, unusable? When does it pass a certain threshold in its life and become far too valuable to use and enjoy on a regular basis? Tricky question, I guess.

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With enough money you can buy a rotten old Range Rover, and throw all your hard earned at it so it looks and drives like new. Then you can take it to Iceland, Morocco or wherever you chose; the question is, would you do it with something as original as this? I’m not sure I would.

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There was no doubting Richard’s passion and enthusiasm for collecting such beauties, and I remember him telling me that he had had plenty of offers for the Rangie, but had turned them down, he’s most reluctant car dealer ever, but I don’t blame him!

So if you fancy an original, low mileage Range Rover, this is still available, but it won’t be an easy task buying it from Richard, and I suspect that in another 7 years or so I’ll be writing this article all over again! more at » auricclassiccars.co.uk

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wri t es Simon says

by Simon Hastelow

If we get separated while we’re out shopping, my wife always knows where I’ll be: either looking at magazines or records.

Unless we’re in Lidl, in which case I’ll definitely be rummaging in the bins up the middle!.

Anyway, on a recent ‘quick’ trip to Sainsbury’s - you know the kind, you go in for bread and somehow come out £40 lighter - I did manage to sneak a print-based car magazine into the basket.

Normally I don’t bother, I scan the pages while still in the shop, and can probably glean as much useful information from those two minutes flicking that I can reading it cover to cover. But on this occasion there was a longer article that I fancied reading properly.

Even the initial shock of parting with an entire FIVE POUND NOTE! didn’t put me off for long. The photography magazine, that I put back on the shelf after seeing the £7 price ticket, made this one seem almost cheap in comparison.

I won’t embarrass the publishers or fine wordsmiths who put this particular rag together by naming and shaming, they’re just doing their job, but I hadn’t bought a copy of this title for at least three or four years, and all I got was an immediate sense of déjà vu.

Other than the content which included new models, I could have picked up any copy of this mag from the past ten years and not known the difference. The same stories, the same features, the same design, everything was stuck in previous decades.

Is this what people want, or have the publishers just run out of ideas?

I read the one article I was interested in and recycled the rest.

Seen it all before.

I know it’s difficult with niche interest subjects, there’s usually not many late-breaking news stories to deal with so you just cover the same stories over and over again, with different faces or locations in the photos. With a niche market motoring magazine everyone will probably get their car in print eventually.

But £5 every 4 weeks! No thanks.

What Damian and Muddy Madam have created with The Mud Life is just about perfect (I know I am biased).You get a regular hit of interesting material that you can read at your leisure, coupled to the Facebook group to stay in contact day to day with other readers.

The printed mags will try and catch up eventually, but they’ll be too late, those of us who get everything online will have already moved on.

I could liken this to the way Land Rover treated the Defender.

They just let it sit there stagnating whilst everyone else moved into the 21st century, then the only thing left was to kill it off.

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We want to keep the mag free to read, though it costs quite a bit for the two of us to put it together each month.

If you like what we do, we'd love it if you'd chip in for a hot chocolate every now and then, to help support us whilst we put together the next mag.

Everyone who buys us a hot choc each month will get a name check in the mag.

Buy us 2 hot chocs at one time, or become a regular monthly hot choc provider then you'll get a even bigger mention.

Margaret R. Lauren E. Neil W. LRAsser Laf Jim H.

Edward P. Matt S. Billy F. & anonymous person

All these people supported the creation of The Mud Life Mag by buying us two lunatics a hot chocolate or 2 this month, and we would like to thank you all so much, it really is appreciated so much more than

you can know. y Ta muchl n Lee e r a K & mian

Da

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es d i R s ' r e Read Who are you, where are you from and what do you do?

I’m Carlos Benetó Turner.

Originally from Spain but been in the UK for over 10 years.

I’m an air traffic controller but was a draughtsman in a previous life, so I used to work with CAD software.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 A fairly eclectic succession of cars. My first restoration was a 1963 Vespa 150S when I was 16. After that vehicles took a back seat whilst I got my air traffic control career going.

Before I got into the overlanding / off-road scene I went through the following noteworthy cars (the ones I still have are marked with *): - BMW Z4 3.0si - 1967 Ford Mustang Notchback (289cu V8) - Citroen C6 - Honda S2000 - 1988 Mercedes 190E 2.6* - 2005 Mitsubishi Delica V6* - 1988 Citroen 2CV* - 2006 BMW 330i M-Sport* It was a trip back to Spain in the S2000 that gave us the idea of getting a more suitable vehicle for long trips, which lead us to our Delica. Been hooked to overland vehicles ever since! The Adventure Overland Show in Stratford-upon-Avon consolidated that addiction.

Present 4x4(s) Citroen 2CV (not 4x4 technically!)

Mitsubishi Delica V6 ActiveField Camper 2005 Ford Ranger (my wife’s car!)

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Modifications done (2CV) BMW R1100RT bike engine (95bhp, original engine 29bhp) Original 2CV gearbox with Quaife limited slip differential Roll cage Banded wheels to enable larger tyres. Originals are 125/80R15, currently on 165/80R15. This provides 10.8% longer gearing overall.

Sparco Sprint seats 6 point harnesses Custom exhaust with air to air heat exchanger for cabin heating Reinforced suspension with 100% uprated springs and reinforced suspension arms (known as Belgian arms for those familiar with fast 2CVs Custom wiring harness to enable placement of he ECU inside the cabin and enable all other functions Custom wood dashboard with full VDO gauge set and dashboard mounted fuse box CB radio Heated front and rear screens Removable bed for solo travelling The list goes on!

All the work (apart from roll cage, some engine parts and exhaust) has been done by myself. This includes all the wiring harness ,etc. It was an educational endeavour I set for myself, thanks to this car I’ve taught myself welding, bodywork and motorsport wiring!

Favourite Modifications All of them!

Modifications to do 4x4 at some point Favourite green-laning trip Not really a green laner. We use our vehicles to get places to go camping, hiking and cycling.

Lottery win 4x4 Off-road Porsche 911 Favourite car related film Drive Favourite biscuits Chocolate digestives Where can we find more details?

Instagram - 2cv_motorraid

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you, where are you from and what do you do?

I'm James Dickson, originally from Edinburgh but now living Espoo, Finland (the next city to Helsinki, the one you've heard of).

Currently a curator for a car collection, and can be also found driving an AMG ML55 for a specialist videographer company called Koptercam.You can see a hint of that in one of the images.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 I have a long history of cars, that goes into numbers way beyond mention here, (ADHD has its curse).

I started in 4x4 world with a £300 Suzuki Vitara my father and I went half on. She became known as Vitara Palmer, and was the first in a very long history of Suzuki shaped adventures that helped cement some very solid friendships through the Scottish Off-Road Club, and not always because I needed to be recovered, I promise.

After almost 2 years of RTV trials and punch hunts, the desire to seek something more adventurous set in, I found The Ladoga Trophy, and the few videos online in those days looked insane, but I figured if those local guys can do it in a Lada, I can build a Suzuki for it.

Many hours, and phone calls later, a Suzuki Samurai pick up was built, mostly of other Suzuki parts. It was driven out of the garage 12 hours before the ferry from Newcastle to take me on my trip to Russia, yes I left with no shakedown or test drive, deadlines are to be pushed!

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Present 4x4(s) Nowadays I have an 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser as our sensible family daily. We had bought her with plans to make a family camping trip vehicle, then work related matters took some twists and turns. Now she is my workhorse for towing cars around for customers.

I also have one LWB Suzuki Samurai on the driveway that is quite heavily modified for off-road use, I keep promising to get it muddy again soon, but it’s always pushed back in favour of other projects.

Modifications done My 80 is possibly the least modified car I've ever owned, not to say she is stock.

- When the 600k+ km driven turbo sheered the impeller shaft as I was accelerating onto the motorway and went into full runaway mode by feeding on its oil, which is a story in itself, I - chatted to Wink4x4. We settled on a new unit he had in development a Stage 1.5, not so big to need an intercooler or be peaky, but gives a bit more oomph than the stage 1, I planed to fit intercooler anyway so why not.

- Next was a 3”stainless down pipe with single box that exits by the rear wheel, my kid says it sounds like a dinosaur, it kinda does.

- A Domestic fridge keeps supplies fresh on the long hauls, I’ve updated the shocks to run Koni Heavy Track units all round but with stock springs.

- It’s fitted with an Eberspacher winter heater that both warms the water in the block and blows warm air into the cab in winter, even at minus 25 it's enough to make clearing the windows easy after big snow dump.

Favourite Modifications Hard to decide whether it’s the new turbo or the Eberspacher, but in winter it’s the latter for sure!

Modifications to do Some welding work at a friends garage in Estonia, and then reconnect the original exhaust that was filled with old engine oil a year ago. Finally she should get the intercooler I promised her a year ago. Also the interior is due for a refit, luckily I just made some new contacts for that.

Favourite green laning trip I've only ever been on one with some Diff-Lockers from Difflock.com way back in early 2006 on a 'Ladoga Differs meet' in Ruthin, Wales. Since moving here my favourite safari trip was probably the Independence Safari in ’08 with some Finnish off-roaders on a long weekend over the border into what used to be Finland before it was given to Russia after the second World War. I got some odd looks turning up in my SWB, lifted Samurai soft top. Everything went well until 100kms to home when my wipers broke and we had to ghetto fix some string out through each window and pull onto the arms directly!

Lottery win 4x4 An Audi Quattro Sport would be first purchase, and probably a 100 series Land Cruiser with 1HDFT engine and refit it with more modern gadgets.

Favourite car related film Finding things to enjoy with the small humans in your life can sometimes be a challenge - Pixar's Cars movies have been great. I have survived watching them over and over. She enjoys them, and so do I to an extent; I consider not rolling eyes and begging for a different choice from your daughter a victory.

Favourite biscuits If Millionaires Shortbread count, those. Otherwise Orange Club, less for the biscuit than all the associated memories of eating them at my grandfather's house at the weekend.

Where can we find more details?

You can follow my adventures on Instagram - I'm found as turbowankel after my filthy love of a rotary RX7; that's another story. Also look out for my new venture Element5Cars coming soon, and my driving job with koptercam You can find me posting on the Mega Mud Lifers Facebook group as James Dickson THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Who are you, where are you from and what do you do?

Chris Solowey from Manchester I work for the RAC as a recovery driver.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 My first car was a 1.2ltr Vauxhall Corsa, followed by another

Corsa, this time a 1.3 Limited Edition. Both were cheap cars for my age, typical boy racer!

The clutch went first Corsa and I sold the second one for a Skoda Octavia VRS. Present 4x4(s) Mitsubishi L200 Series 5 Barbarian. I chose this L200 because I love the colour and the styling of the Barbarian. As a responder for Community 4x4 Response, I also use it for call outs.

Modifications done - The modifications I’ve done so far are Mud Terrain tyres, Old Man Emu suspension, snorkel and a winch.

- On top I’ve fitted a Front Runner roof rack with an ARB roof tent, and next to that there’s a 4x4 Direct awning.

- For extra protection I’ve fitted Rival under protection, and to see where I’m going I’ve fitted better reversing lights, and so I’m seen when parked up there’s an amber beacon on canopy.

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Favourite Modifications My favourite modification that I’ve done has to be my winch.

Modifications to do Next modification is a light bar for on the roof rack.

Favourite green-laning trip My favourite green lanes has got to be in the Lake District, it offers some beautiful views.

Lottery win 4x4 My lotto win 4x4 is Ford F-350 pickup.

Favourite car related film Favourite film is Fast & Furious Favourite biscuits My favourite biscuit is Jammie Dodger Where can we find more details?

Facebook - Solowey Instagram - chrissolowey22

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PAST JALOPIES

Travelling Smurf Pt.6 Goodbye to an old friend

It suddenly occurred to me recently that we hadn't published the sixth and final part of 'Travelling Smurf', the tale of my 2nd generation Toyota Surf - christened the Smurf, ‘cos it rhymes with Surf. (Parts 1 to 5 can be found in issues 7-11) She was a cracking 4x4, and one that taught me that Land Rovers aren’t the be all and end all when it comes to offroaders, and let’s not even mention reliability.

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She took us on some amazing trips, towed the caravan and never once let me down off road, or left me stranded at the side of the road. Actually, that last bit isn’t actually true.

One dark and wet December evening after spending a day playing off-road at a friends farm near Queensferry I was 20 minutes into the journey home on the M56 when I suddenly heard, and felt this awful grinding noise coming from the front off side wheel, it was bad enough to call the local exorcist!

PAST JALOPIES

Pulling over onto the hard shoulder (remember those?), reversed a little bit thinking that it maybe a stone lodged in the brakes, but it was still there. As it was wet, dark and on the drivers side, I didn’t bother to investigate, and promptly phoned the rescue service.

Within twenty or so minutes she was on the back of a flatbed, and a further 40 minutes after that I was reversing off outside Muddy Towers, but with one noticeable difference, the noise had disappeared! This led me to believe that it actually was an errant pebble that had got itself stuck in the brakes. Weird timing though, I’d been driving for 20 minutes before it showed up.

During our time together our Smurf had adorned the pages of 4x4 Mart magazine on numerous occasions, and judging by the amount of questions the editor forwarded to me, she created a lot of interest.

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PAST JALOPIES Then, back in 2009, our esteemed editor, Emm, left the magazine, and the new one didn’t bother returning any of my emails, so I had no one to write for. At the time John, my father-in-law, was thinking of scrapping his 1993 Lexus LS400 as it had developed an annoying fault of randomly cutting out. Since I had a thing for big V8 saloons, and this 4.0 litre monster had my name written all over it, I bought it off him for £100.

And so it came to be that after 5 years and 25,000 miles together, the time had come to pass our Smurf onto someone else who would enjoy her.

Have you ever had one of those moments in life when you aren’t sure if you’re doing the right thing? That’s how I felt when Dan was looking over the Smurf and the sale was imminent. There was no doubt that he would be driving her home, she was in great condition.

I was actually quite sad watching him drive off as I had nothing but great memories with her. She was a great motorway cruiser, commuter, play toy and explorer. She was regularly serviced with the odd part being replaced when required, and during that time she was utterly reliable, but alas it was time to move on, I had a V8 Lexus itch to scratch!

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RETRO SNAPS Can you spot you or your motor in these photos from bygone mud adventures?

2000 ARC National, billing 116

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Fancy an off-road challenge?

Want to get your 4x4 filthy?

Don’t ruin our ancient byways, try out your local P&P site, join a tour or brush up your skills on a driver training day instead.

Over the next few pages we have listed many of the business that you can play, train and holiday with.

If you fancy going along, always find out what you'll need to bring along or which vehicles are allowed:

Does your 4x4 need to be road legal?

Do you need to show proof of age, vehicle MOT and insurance documents?

Are your recovery points secure?

Do you even have any recovery points?

Always check with the individual site before you set off.

Remember, as well as a good quality tow rope, it’s always useful to bring along some rags and a bottle of water to clean your lights and reg plates, so you can stay legal whilst driving home!

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Pay & Play Directory

NORTH

SOUTH

Hill ’n’ Ditch

Essex Rochford & District 4x4 Club

Mouldsworth, Cheshire http://www.hillnditch4x4.com 07974 398201

Explore Off Road

Crewe, Cheshire http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

Kirton Off Road

Hibaldstow, Gainsborough https://www.korc.co.uk 01652 245022

Frickley 4x4 Off Road Centre South Elmsall, West Yorkshire https://www.frickley4x4.co.uk 07881 590593

Cowm Leisure

Whitworth, Rochdale https://cowmleisure.com 07970 101 879

WALES Ultra Adventure Driving

Wrexham, Wales http://www.ultraadventuredriving.co.uk 01978 358 444

Canewdon, Rochford http://www.4x4er.co.uk

Devils Pit

Barton Le Clay, Bedfordshire http://www.devilspit.co.uk 07764 159478

Avalanche Adventures

Market Harborough, Leicestershire https://avalancheadventure.co.uk 01858 880613

4x4 Without A Club

Aldermaston, Berkshire http://www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk 07887533168

John Morgan 4x4 Driving Slindon, West Sussex http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 01903 812195

Piccadilly Wood

Bolney, West Sussex http://www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk 07984 543886

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4x4 TOURS DIRECTORY

Highland All Terrain

Trails and Tracks 4x4 Adventures

Single & Multiple Day Tours with Wild Camping 100s of miles of Off-Road Tracks Access to Private Estates

Cambrian Way

The Old Filling Station, Kinlochlaggan, Newtonmore, PH20 1BX

tel: 01528 544 358 mob: 07708 819 157 email: info@highlandallterrain.co.uk www.highlandscenicsafari.co.uk

Ardent Off Road

Activities: 4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences https://ardentoffroad.com Tel: 01405 947 001

One Life Adventure

Activities: 4x4 Tours & vehicle prep training https://www.onelifeadventure.co.uk Tel: 01347 830188

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.cambrianway.com Tel: 01550 750274

Roam Free Adventures

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.roamfreeadventures.co.uk Contact via website

Timeless Overland

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.facebook.com/tloverland Tel: 07508 833 899

Land Tracks and Trails Green Lane Adventures Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.lanestracksandtrails.co.uk Tel: 07855 213355

Ardventures

Compass Adventures

4x4 Adventure Tours

Battlefields by 4x4

Activities: 4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences https://ardventures.co.uk Tel: 01757 638 479

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.4x4adventuretours.co.uk Tel: 07769 336 099

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Activities: 4x4 Tours https://trailsandtracks.co.uk Tel: 07976 393 838

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Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.compassadventures.co.uk Tel: 07508 708 588

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.battlefieldsby4x4.com Tel: 07014 241 418

Off Road Driver Training & Experiences NORTH

SOUTH

North Yorkshire Off Road Centre

Wild Tracks

Explore Off Road

True Grip off Road

WALES

Protrax

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

Tours http://www.nyoffroad.co.uk 07787 555060 Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

Bala 4x4

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training https://www.bala4x4.co.uk 01536 772238

SCOTLAND Scottish Off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training http://www.scotoffroad.co.uk 07711 217759

Far X Four

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.farxfour.com 01450 860275

John Morgan 4x4 Driving

Activities: Pay & Play

Off Road Driver Training http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 01903 812195

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences https://www.wildtracksltd.co.uk 01638 751918 Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.truegripoffroad.co.uk 01233 662251 Activities: 4x4 Driver Training https://www.protrax.co.uk 01536 772238

Avalanche Adventures

Activities: Pay & Play

4x4 Experiences https://avalancheadventure.co.uk 01858 880613

Ash 4x4

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.ash4x4.com 07581 030331

UK WIDE All Terrain Services

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training

4x4 Experiences

Self Drive Tours https://www.allterrainservices.co.uk 01792 862669

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