The Mud Life 4x4 Magazine - #41 - August 2022

THE MUD LIFE ISSUE 41 August 2022

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4x4

ngY o Mus ng Magazine so Sar ace n

Dacia Jogger

mazda cx30

Škoda kodiaq

To find out about advertising in the magazine, email : damian@themudlife.co.uk 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 © 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

4

MUDDY MADAM'S MOMENT

6-7

NEWS

8-10

DACIA JOGGER COMFORT

12-20

LANING LIFE

22-27

OUR GARAGE

29-30

ŠKODA KODIAQ SPORTLINE

32-42

FLASH DRIVE - Maxda CX30

44-45

STRESS FREE PACKING

47-50

GOODS & GEAR

52-57

TASTY TREATS

58-61

CAMPING LIFE

62-64

MOOCH - Houndkirk Moor

65-70

SSANGYONG MUSSO SARACEN

72-82

BE OUR GUEST 84-87 THE TALES OF LILLY

88-89

WOOF STUFF

90

READER'S RIDES

92-95

DIRECTORIES 97-99

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

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

Creative Director, Editor, Reviewer

LILLY - THE MUD LIFE DOG Cuddle Monster, Model, Reviewer

F O L LOW U S

THE TEAM

BACK ISSUES 100-101

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

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☀

turner's torque

summertime, and the living is easy

😎

Yay, it’s the school holidays, which also means that I’m off for six weeks from the job that actually pays the bills (school counsellor). What shall I do?

🤔

Well, on the press car front, during the first week I have a £100k V8 Defender to play with, which is nice. Fortunately, with the exception of BMW, all press cars come with a full tank of fuel, and what’s even better is that I don’t have to replenish them when they’re returned.

That said, I fear I’ll need to top-up the V8 Defender’s fuel tank a few times during our week together as I have a 280 mile round trip down to Lincolnshire, more specifically Grimsthorpe Castle for the wonderfully entertaining Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional. Then the following day I’m up to Thirsk in North Yorkshire to visit Twisted Automotive - that’s another 200 miles for the V8. Of course, that doesn’t count any ‘off-road’ detours!

The day the V8 is returned to JLR I get a 5-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon delivered, with a Tentbox rooftop tent. The Rubicon is always an entertaining 4x4 to drive, and I have a few overnight wild camping trips planned.

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The week after the Jeep comes the new Isuzu D-Max AT35. At the same time two other motoring colleagues have a V-Cross and standard D-Max, so we’re planning a couple of days out in the Lakes and Yorkshire enjoying some of the more difficult green lanes. I dare say that Ben and Annabelle from Planet Auto will be videoing the whole exploit for their YouTube channel.

The week after that I have the LWB Ford Nugget camper. We had the short wheel base last year, but it arrived with dead leisure batteries, and although we enjoyed a few days out in it, overnighters were a bit dark and cold!

After the Nugget, and before I eventually get my hands on a new Range Rover, I have a week free from press cars, this will mean I can go out and enjoy driving Deux Smurf again, our 1996 Toyota Surf. I have to admit, since she was broken into a couple of months ago I’ve fallen out with her a bit. Not her fault, obviously, it’s me, I’ve been distant. I’m hoping that exploring quite a few green lanes in her, as well as visiting some off-grid camp sites will mend the bond that’s been temporarily broken.

Let's hope September doesn't come too soon!

Wondering what to do during the school holidays?

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muddy madam's moment Hippy Hippy Ache! 🎵Fat bottomed girls

you make the rockin' world go round🎵 At the end of May I had the chance to see Queen and have Adam Lambert sing this to me live in Manchester, and it was brilliant. OK maybe Adam didn't sing it directly to me, but as a fat bottomed girl I claimed the moment, though I am beginning to think that car designers don't believe these lyrics.

I think they believe everyone has a narrow, emaciated, waif-style arse, and design accordingly. This is not surprising as statistics gathered in the US showed that only 19.8% of automotive designers are women, proving most car interiors are designed by people who have narrow hips and normally do not have a lot of 'junk in the trunk'.

Designers are so used to thinking of men as the default, and women as a sort of niche. It has been proved over and over again that men design for men, and don't seem to, (or don't want to) understand how women's bodies are different, and how those differences need to be addressed in product design.

Some of the more famous examples are: police stab vests that

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don't account for breasts, safety goggles that are too large for the female face, work boots that don't fit women's feet and my favourite, that time when NASA had to cancel the first allwomen space walk, to much public outcry, because they only had one properly configured medium spacesuit on the International Space Station, and they needed two. What was more telling is that they actually only have M, L & XL suits on the station, so if you are a smaller woman in space you are stuffed.

So what has this to do with cars?

Over the past four weeks we have had four different cars delivered to test for a week at a time, and for three out of the four I couldn't drive them without the seat belts digging in to my hips.

Now before you think "fat b*tch, just lose weight", I will tell you that, although I am overweight, I am in proportion, and my backside does not protroud beyond the width of the seat, so why am I having such issues?

Well in the belief that more space is wanted for the ever-increasing size of the centre cubby and console, some designers have decided that instead of cutting out the shape for the seat belt mechanism from the console they will just cut the shape out of the seat space!

We had two Hondas, the CRV & HRV, both in which the designers had decided that this was the way to go.

Not only did they cut out the seat, but the socket bit actually protrudes into the seat space even more!

It made for a rather uncomfortable drive, but I realised that if I just dropped the seat down to it's lowest point I could get the seat belt to sit slightly above my hip.

Not the ideal driving position, but at least I wasn't in pain, which couldn't be said for the third car, the SsangYong Korando.

You will find out what Damian thought of all the cars over the next month or two, but unfortunately they only thing I can tell you about the Korando is this....

I drove it for 3 minutes, in two 1½ minute stints nipping up to the shops, and in that miniscule time I got a f***ing painful bruise on my hip, due to SsangYong's designer jamming the seat belt holder between the console and the seat, and then using a triangular 'torture device' of a seat belt catch to stick out right into where you sit.

Above - The cutout on the seat base for the belt socket in the Honda.

It was as bad on the passenger seat side too, so for a whole week I refused to set foot back in that car - it was that painful!

I will end this mini-rant with a plee to the designers of this world - please think about other people who don't have the same dimensions as you. You figured it out (eventually) when it comes to sliding seat tracks, allowing the steering wheels to be moved up, down, forwards and back, and when you put the adjustable height seatbelts in, but strangely you have yet to figure out that women are built with wider hips. Could this be because this issue doesn't affect you?

I beg you to look at, and talk to, your wives, sisters, mums and female friends, and hopefully realise we have curvier bodies, and stop sticking things in a car that stick out in uncomfortable places. Honestly they will all thank you for it!

Below - SsangYong's torture device. First of all the socket juts into the seat space, then add on the clip with the weirdest chunky shape that seems designed to cause suffering and discomfort. Why on earth does it have to be so chunky?

This bit is the evil bruise maker!

OUCH! THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Polestar's first performance SUV debuts soon

Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car company, has announced that the world premiere of its next car, the Polestar 3 electric performance SUV, will be in October 2022.

Polestar 3 is the company’s first SUV, and the launch of the car marks Polestar’s entrance into one of the highest margin and growth segments in the automotive industry, particularly in the United States.

Polestar 3 will, over time, offer autonomous highway piloting powered by the best-in-class LiDAR sensor from Luminar and centralised NVIDIA computing power. At launch, Polestar 3 will feature a dual-motor drivetrain and a large battery, with a range target of over 370 miles (WLTP).

The confirmation of the world premiere comes with a new film and a first undisguised image of the car. Customers can expect to order Polestar 3 in initial launch markets from the day of the premiere. Production is expected to begin in early 2023, and Polestar 3 will be manufactured in the United States and China.

Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO says: “Polestar 3 is the SUV for the electric age. Our design identity evolves with this high-end large luxury EV, with a strong, individual brand character. With this car, we bring the ‘sport’ back to the SUV, staying true to our performance roots.

This is a major milestone for our company, one that boosts our growth trajectory and takes us into our next phase.”

Polestar plans to launch a new car every year for the next three years, starting with Polestar 3, and aims to enter at least 30 global markets by the end of 2023.

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Apollo Tyres brings all-terrain Vredestein Pinza to Europe

Apollo Tyres is launching its first dedicated all-terrain tyre: the Vredestein Pinza, which is the result of the most ambitious product-specific R&D project in the brand’s 113 year history.

The Pinza has been tested in challenging all-weather conditions, both on and off-road, in North America, Finland, South Africa and the Middle East, and has been designed to be the most capable off-road Vredestein tyre ever, while at the same time offering superior standards of on-road grip, traction, rolling resistance and refinement. The result is the best balance of on and off road capabilities of any allterrain tyre on the market.

Bold claims indeed!

The tyre was launched in the USA in 2021 and has quickly established itself as one of the most highly rated products in the competitive all-terrain segment. It is one of only four all-terrain tyres to be recommended by the highly reputed independent testing agency, Consumer Reports.

Particularly well suited to 4x4s, pick-ups, and SUVs that venture off road, the Pinza is available to customers from August, in 24 dimensions and with more size options to follow later.

The tread on the Pinza features a distinctive 4 groove herringbone pattern and fulldepth interlocking sipes that offer excellent grip on all surfaces, including mud, sand, ice and snow, while minimising on road noise. A robust three-pitched shoulder features aggressive ‘biting’ edges to further aid loose-surface grip, and twisted ‘stone ejectors’ have been incorporated into the tread to help clear debris.

The new Pinza features a three-ply triplex casing for enhanced durability, while a unique sidewall design extends the aggressive tread pattern for a rugged aesthetic befitting a tyre in this category, as well as providing enhanced protection from rocks and ruts.

Multi-pitch technology and broad tread blocks help to minimise noise and maximise steering precision, and the use of a fifth-generation polymer compound and deep sipes ensure outstanding grip in all conditions.

Underlining its all-weather credentials and further differentiating it from many other products in the all-terrain segment, the Pinza has secured ‘3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake’ certification, signifying that it delivers superior standards of grip and traction on snow and icy surfaces.

The Pinza will be offered in two types of construction: ‘P’ and ‘LT’. The more aggressive ‘LT’ tyre pattern is suited for working vehicles that are primarily used on more demanding off-road terrain.

The ‘P’ variant features a more road-biased design, making it ideal for fitment to passenger vehicles.

Both versions are highly capable off-road, enabling users to feel safe and secure across on all surfaces, year-round. more at » www.vredestein.co.uk

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Smart technology for the 2023 Toyota Highlander Highlander, Toyota’s largest hybrid electric SUV, is to get a more connected and personalised user experience for the 2023 model.

It is the latest model to adopt the new Toyota Smart Connect+ multimedia system, which introduces a 12.3” touch screen highdefinition display, and added functionality including cloud-based navigation with realtime information on road events and an on-board voice agent.

The cloud navigation can be accessed without having to pair a smartphone and with no additional data costs; the new Highlander is sold with an inclusive 4 year data plan that also covers convenient, overthe-air system updates. It also provides an embedded navigation system which allows routes to be planned when and where connection to the cloud is not available. This also provides 3D city mapping, road sign recognition and fixed speed camera location information. After 4 years I assume there will be an additional cost.

The system also enables useful remote functions, including locking and unlocking of the doors and operation of the hazard lights to help locate the car in a busy car park.

They allow wireless smartphone connection via Apple CarPlay, plus wired connection to use the Android Auto system. All Highlander models now come with a wireless charging tray, relocated in the front console for easier use.

The driver’s instrument display has undergone a full redesign with the introduction of a new 12.3” digital combimeter that provides easy-to-read information and intuitive operation. Also new for 2023 are 20” gloss black alloy wheels.

Launched in the UK in 2021, Highlander has a flexible 7 seat interior and intelligent allwheel drive (AWD-i) performance.

The sale date for the 2023 Highlander will be announced later, but we'll let you know when we know.

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Dacia Jogger

Comfort

What is it?

Of all the vehicles I’ve driven in the last few years, it’s Dacia’s new 7-seater that has surprised me the most.

Is it because it’s unbelievably quick? No. Is it because it’s as comfortable as a Rolls Royce? Again, no. Is it a brilliant offroader? Don’t be silly!

With a starting price from just £16,645, that makes it the cheapest new seven-seater in the UK, the Jogger offers incredible value for money, and if you think ‘cheap’ also equates to nasty, well, you’d better carry on reading.

On the road

The Jogger’s turbocharged 1.0 litre petrol offers 109bhp and a 0-62mph time of 11.2 seconds, which feels surprisingly quick.

In fact it, once that turbo kicks in you’ll end up with a smile on your face. That said, it isn’t the smoothest of delivery, but that’s fine, and if you press the Eco button on the dash, not only does it

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soften the engine response, but fuel economy is also improved.

Whether you’re ambling around town or having a bit of fun on your favourite B road, the manual 6-speed gearbox is a joy to use, and if you find yourself heading a little too quickly towards a corner you’ll find the brakes are strong and progressive.

Even better is the ride comfort, helped in parts by the with sensibly sized 16” wheels. The Jogger handles potholes and undulations better than something in this price bracket has any right to.

Not only does it remain fairly upright around corners, but it also grips the road surprisingly well.

I didn’t get to drive it fully loaded with 7 people, but 200Nm of torque at 2900-3500rpm, it should be okay. Fuel wise, after a week of mixed driving the on board computer said 48.3mpg, which is less than I got out of the Dacia Duster the week previous.

Off road

With 200mm of ground clearance you could be tempted into a little ‘off-road’ excursion, especially if you opt for the more rugged looking Extreme SE version with it’s plastic arches, but don’t forget that the Jogger is still 2WD.

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Interior

Jumping behind the wheel and you’ll find that everything is logical and to hand. The front seats are height adjustable but are a bit on the flat side and lack lumber support. That said, a few 4 hour + drives over a couple of days didn’t hurt my back, so all is good.

Passenger space in the Jogger is plentiful, even for those relegated to the back, and as for headspace, you could almost wear a Chef’s hat!

Yes, the interior is mostly made of plastic, but there are some tasteful cloth trim covering part of the front doors and dash, which is nice.

Despite having a ‘stick-on’ style iPad, it’s easy to read, and use, and the beneath it there are some proper heater controls in the form of dials - hooray!

Odd for a 7-seater there was only 1 USB up front, and that was awkwardly placed at the side of the monitor, and the second row passengers have to share a singular 12V socket.

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Access to the third-row seats is easy as the second-row seats can be tumbled forwards with just one ring pull.

With the third row of seats in place, the Jogger has plenty of space behind them for luggage or shopping, and if you don’t need the third row seats they can be either folded forward, or removed completely.

With the second row seats folded there’s a van-like cargo area that’s one metre wide and two metres long up to the front seats.

In Comfort and Extreme SE trims, the Jogger gets a modular roof-rack system with an 80kg capacity.

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Safety

Okay, let’s get the low NCAP score out of the way. It isn’t because it’ll fold like a can of Pepsi in a collision with a pigeon, the Jogger has all the crash structures and airbags you’ll need, it’s more due to the lack of any ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist Systems), like lanekeep assist, adaptive cruise, etc. Maybe it’s a better a car without all that tech as it may make drivers more aware and drive better.

Engine ’n’ transmission

As mentioned earlier, there’s only one available, and that’s the turbocharged 1.0 litre petrol that offers 109bhp and a 0-62mph time of 11.2 seconds.

Conclusion

Overall I had a great time driving and living with the Jogger, and I found myself easily forgiving it for some of its shortfalls because it’s such good value.

In fact, I’ve started to question why other cars cost so much more.

Go for the entry-level Essential trim and you get 16” steel wheels with wheel trims, cruise control, front electric windows, LED headlights, manual air conditioning and basic, yet decent infotainment system.

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The Comfort trim (as tested), gets you heated and electronicallyadjusted wing mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers, electric rear windows, keyless entry and front fog lights. It also adds touchscreen infotainment, blind-spot monitoring and a reversing camera.

The Extreme SE adds 16” alloy wheels and a black exterior trim package, heated front seats and wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay.

Price - £16,945 plus extras that included metallic paint (£595), and a spare wheel (£300), £17,840

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!

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later

Welcome to the last ever Laning Life column!

I was first welcomed on board by Damian and Karen Lee back in 2019, and what a ride it has been! Who’d have thought rights of way could be such a diverse, complex, and contentious subject?

Over the years we have been busting common myths, setting the record straight when it comes to anti-4x4 rhetoric in the mainstream media, celebrating wins that protect our rights going forward, and having a lot of fun.

While this is a joyous place to be, the power of the press should not be underestimated. We all know how persuasive the media can be, but sadly outside motoring publications, our hobbies are rarely given much positive coverage.

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When 4x4s appear in the news, it tends to be because someone made a mistake, because someone has an axe to grind, or because some plonker decided to take it upon themselves to represent us in a bad light.

It only takes one person to put a foot wrong and it will inevitably be shared so far and wide you’d think everyone who owns a 4x4 was out intent on destroying the entire countryside or had a second hobby collecting ASBOs like Happy Meal toys.

Someone needed to speak up for our community, and thanks to The Mud Life, that’s exactly what has happened over the last few years.

Unconstrained by content filters, flexible and accessible due to its online platform, strengthened by the commitment to the needs of its readers, and fully supportive of our rights as motorists, The Mud Life has been THE platform to counter the bias that affects us daily.

It has also been educational, informative, interesting, fun, and on the odd occasion a bit tongue in cheek!

While bringing us huge amounts of new content every month, it never loses sight of itself as being a magazine that is created for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. And what’s more it is brought to you for FREE! Let’s take a look at the top laning stories The Mud Life has covered so far: • Hubble, bubble, toil, and…well, bias!

• Stilettos, stupidity, Snowdonia, and a whole lot of spin • The valley of intolerance: YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE! • The ABCs of laning - Part 1 and Part 2 • Fun in 4WD! - Non-laning 4x4 pastimes.

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• Regular digital bulletins • 2 printed magazines per year • Members website and forum • TW2, the essential green lane route planning tool • • Access to area reps for route planning and advice • Member discounts from selected suppliers • Legal challenges • Extensive knowledge base •

While my job at GLASS took me all over the UK to the people who shout the loudest against us, and to the few places that have experienced genuine problems with drivers and riders - which we must remember are very few compared to the majority of the network that is largely unproblematic, most problems are due to local authority neglect rather than those who use the lanes - the above negative media view often contradicts my experiences.

In the time I’ve spent with GLASS, I’ve seen laners and trail riders achieve some really great things: fighting for our rights, repairing lanes, helping themselves, each other, and their communities, raising money for charity, giving countless hours of volunteer work, rescuing people in need, and even saving lives.

The reality on the ground is that our community is an awesome place to be and it is full of some of the very best people!

I have tried to pay some homage to the best the laning community has to offer in a recent publication, inclusive Countryside Access, you can read it here. We’re a minority group with a big heart and a lot to offer, and those stories deserve to be told.

The idea behind the paper is that this message finds its way into the hands of those who have the authority to make huge decisions about our hobby. It insists that they consider the facts and will hopefully shift perceptions about who we are and what we do, but also why we do it.

It is the summation of years of work - all the reading, courses, meetings, negotiations and conciliations between us and those who have very fixed ideas about our community and want us banned. The legal cases, the physical projects, working groups, and events. The clubs, organisations, and members. The truth about the environment, how much we contribute to the economy, and how much we save the public purse. Everything gets its five minutes in the limelight in one document.

It even explains why, despite all the good stuff, people still insist on hating us.

Understanding the psychology of prejudice is a stepping stone to tackling it head on. This was step one of a process I had planned for the future, a future where perceptions are shifted based on facts, evidence, and a lot more positive representation of the motorised community.

Although, that future has now taken an unexpected turn as come early September, I will no longer be working for GLASS. ) At the time of writing this, I am not in a position to divulge where I will be moving on to. To be honest that wasn’t actually known, nor were the plans GLASS have to replace me, or pick up where I left off, or if they even intend to do so, but one thing is for sure, I will continue to write for The Mud Life.

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I will also be publishing several other pro-laning publications, and I will continue be heavily involved in the laning community.

I do, or did, my job because I believe in the cause. Access really should be for all!

Those who use public money to manage and preserve public rights should be held to account when it is misused or not used at all. We should be able to trust that our interests are being protected in the same way other user groups are protected.

The law insists that this happens, but when it doesn’t, it really bothers me. Most importantly it motivates a passion in me beyond anything money, caffeine, chocolate, or even car parts could hope to inspire.

I’m already working on future publications that will look at subjects like environmental impact, law, and other subjects in finer detail, and have been engaging with various organisations who could be extremely helpful when it comes to affecting change.

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I’ve also been working hard on Ralph the Range Rover L322. Having a mobile base that I can work from wherever the need arises is vital to being able to represent laners where it has the most impact, and I can’t bring you the latest news if I’m sat behind a desk!

So, this isn’t the end of the road, it’s the beginning of a new one.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you for supporting me over the last few years. It’s not been an easy job, although I loved every minute, but hopefully it has made some small difference. Thankfully the strength of our community is far greater than it was when I first joined it, many years before I joined GLASS, and that is thanks to every single person who has lent their support to the cause.

You’re all awesome and every time we represent our community in a positive light we are all strengthening our position and helping to create positive change!

I’ll be back with a new look column very soon, but for now I’m heading off in a newly converted Ralph on a very much needed road trip for an indeterminate length of time; one month, two months, three months… who knows?

In the words of Tom Petty: It's time to move on, it's time to get going.

What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing.

But under my feet, baby, grass is growing.

It's time to move on, time to get going.

🎵

(admit it, you sang that in your head didn’t you?)

🎵

Drive safe and happy laning!

Lauren and Celyn x

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IN OUR GARAGE

Lets talk about my nuts and my bush!

Last month I wrote that some thieving scum had broken into Deux Smurf and had stolen a few bits and pieces. After making a list of what I remembered being in her cubby holes, I couldn’t shake the thought that there was something else was missing, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

A few days later when I went out to inflate her tyres (slow punctures due a rusty rims) it dawned on me, “Where the ‘f*** were the locking wheel nut keys?”

Yes, the air was blue, and I’m fairly confident I invented some new swear word combinations. Not much of a consolation, I know, but I think my neighbours were impressed.

Annoyingly I had a couple of trips planned that weekend, so they had to be cancelled. Although I’ve never had a puncture whilst ‘laning before, it can be guaranteed that this would be the time I’d get a flat if I had ventured out without the ability to change the wheel.

Not only had her first UK owner fitted a locking wheel nut to each wheel, but he also replaced all the other normal nuts with spline sockets, which was another item I’d have to replace - great.

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Despite being old, Deux Smurf is quite a quiet vehicle to drive - I don’t hear the rumbling of the mud terrains tyres, nor the whistle of the Thule roof bars, though being fair, neither of them are that noisy, even at motorway speeds. So it came as no surprise that, until I opened her windows for some fresh air, I hadn’t heard the newish stainless steel exhaust banging against her rear axle.

The cause?

The rear rubber exhaust bush fell apart.

Shoddy Toyota workmanship!

I mean it ONLY lasted 26 years.

A quick repair was required, but due to the aforementioned robbery last month, I no longer keep any tools or anything useful inside anymore.

However I remembered I had a couple of Gear Ties from Niteize hidden away in the back.

With a sturdy rubber exterior, a Gear Tie has a strong, bendable wire interior and is available in many colours and sizes.

After removing the old bush, which looked to be the original one, I lifted the exhaust towards the hook, and after a simple wrap-and-twist motion the Gear Tie now held the exhaust securely, and there it will stay until I remember to order a new bush....

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ŠKODA KODIAQ SPORTLINE 2.0 TDI 200PS 4x4 DSG

WHAT IS IT?

Having had a slight refresh recently, I was asked whether the Kodiaq still one of the most practical, family orientated 7-seat SUVs on the market today? It’s certainly up there, but there’s also plenty of competition from the likes of the Discovery Sport, Peugeot 5008, Kia Sorento and Ssangyong Rexton, to name but a few.

What do I mean by ‘slightly refreshed’? As well as a tidy up inside, including more eco-friendly materials, there are new lights, grilles and tech upgrades, which proves how good the Kodiaq was in the first place - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

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ON THE ROAD

The 2.0ltr 198bhp four-pot diesel is really is quite a gem making the Kodiaq an fun and engaging vehicle to drive, especially with its 4x4 system.

In ‘Sport’ mode the whole car feels tighter and far more eager, just as you would expect. It’ll ferry you from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds, and whilst I’m not going to say that acceleration is neck-snapping, it does feel relentless. Around the twists and turns grip levels are predictably high, it’s also very well balanced for such a big lump of an SUV and Skoda have done a great job with its handling.

Select ‘Comfort’ mode and you can cruise around all day in comfort whilst achieving up to 42mpg (WLTP figures).

Despite being fitted with 20” wheels, the Kodiaq coped really well with holes and undulations that us modern motorists have to contend with these days, it always felt composed, no matter what the surface.

Be careful when you’re driving down a hill with cruise control engaged as the Kodiaq won’t keep you at your desired speed, and will therefore put you at risk of a speeding fine if you’re not on the ball.

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OFF ROAD

Exploring a few lanes around North Yorkshire and the Kodiaq proved itself to be quite capable; lose rocks, a bit of mud and we kept a steady pace. Of course I knew it would as I’ve had the pleasure of playing, sorry, evaluating numerous Kodiaqs in the past.

As the norm these days, there are no levers to shift, simply prod a bottom next to the gearshift and there you are, ready for adventure.

The Kodiaq only failed on a very lose uphill section of lane with two opposing holes creating a cross-axle situation. All-terrain tyres would’ve seen me right, and maybe a bit more flex from the suspension, but on this occasion gravity and grip wasn’t on its side.

As long as all four wheels were on terra firma the Kodiaq didn’t give me a moments bother, and when faced with a particular sketchy downhill section, the HillDescent worked an absolute treat.

The Kodiaq isn’t what you’d buy as a greenlaner, but it’s perfectly capable of getting you and 6 passengers over some demanding terrain.

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INTERIOR

Launched in 2016, the company’s first and only 7-seater is spacious yet compact, and full of those clever little touches that set Skoda apart from other car manufacturers.

Jump behind the wheel and the dash layout is typical of the brand, not necessarily exciting, but definitely functional and efficient. The driving position is hard to fault, the seats are comfy and offer decent lateral support for spirited driving, and I love the neatly integrated infotainment screen and proper dials heater control!

The SportLine comes with a 9.2” touchscreen with built-in sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android, and it works really well, as we’ve come to expect from Skoda.

You’ll never be caught short for places to put things - there are two gloveboxes, a deep well under the forward sliding centre armrest and massive door bins. Some models also get drawers under the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

Visibility all around is great due to its boxy shape and leg room in the back is excellent. The third row, as usual, is good for smaller kids.

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Not only does the middle row of seats slide back and forth, but you can also adjust the angle of the backrests.

In the boot with all 7 seats in place there are 270 litres of space available, and up to 2,005 litres on offer with both the second and third rows folded neatly away. They fold completely flat giving the Kodiaq an extra edge of versatility when loading items.

In typical Skoda fashion, the tonneau cover pulls across the whole boot area when the Kodiaq is in 5 seat mode, and it also cleverly slots away under the boot floor when all seven seats are not required.

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CONCLUSION

As I sat behind the wheel before it was collected I really couldn’t think of anything that I didn’t like about the Kodiaq, it ticked a lot of boxes.

Of course, if you don’t require 4WD or a mighty 198bhp engine, the 2WD 1.5 TSI 150 might be better value, but the good news is, whichever you choose, the Kodiaq remains an incredibly practical 7-seater and a great all-rounder. more at » www.skoda.co.uk price: £45,175 (as tested)

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H S A L F IVE DR

What is a Flash Drive? On media days we get to drive cars for around an hour, which is great when you want to get a feel for it, but not necessarily enough for a full review, so these are our mini reviews.

Mazda CX-30 2.0 186ps 2WD Sport Lux I’ve always enjoyed my time driving Mazdas, it doesn’t matter which model it is, they always have a knack of making me smile, and the CX-30 that I drove last year (I know, sorry for the delay!), was no exception.

Since the demise of the CX-3 (that passed me by), the CX-30 is now the smallest crossover with an engine that Mazda has to offer. Based on the Mazda 3, the CX-30 uses the same newly mild-hybrid engines and gearboxes. Mazda have been busy improving their engines, and their latest 2.0-litre e-Skyactiv X engine is no exception.

Out on the road the 6-speed manual is lovely and slick, and the small steering wheel gives it a sporty feel. Actually, scrap that, it isn’t just a ‘feel’, the 2.0ltr CX-30 is sporty, and fun.

On a long stretch of road the CX-30 is smooth and quiet, and it’s equally at home on the twisty bits, its extra height didn’t seem to be a hindrance.

The interior is well thought out and put together and comes with a certain ambience. There is plenty of soft touch fabric along with knobs for the heater controls. Overall it’s uncluttered, really nicely thought out and screwed together.

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There’s only so much I can say after a 30 minutes drive, but sometimes you know when you’re onto a winner, and that’s what the CX-30 feels like.

It’s a car that you can spend a day driving in, yet it’s also at home in towns as well as on country lanes.

If you’re looking for a small SUV, the CX-30 is one that you really shouldn’t overlook. price: from £24,645 more at » https://www.mazda.co.uk/cars/mazda-cx-30/

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Stress-free packing ideas

Among all the preparations for going on holiday, loading the car is one of the tasks that too often is left to the last moment. When there’s simply too much luggage and too little space, hard choices must be made about what to leave behind.

To help you out the packing supremos at Toyota have come up with these handy hints and tips, some of which are pretty obvious, but you know you don't always do them, so we thought a reminder would be good to have before family meltdowns ensue...

Plan ahead Think about what you want to take and what you need to take. Drawing up a list of essentials that have to be carried means you can prioritise your packing. You can then add on 'nice to have' extras if space permits.

Don’t wait until there’s a pile of bags, bikes, prams and tents on the drive before finding out if everything will fit. A dry run well before the day of departure will save you time and help avoid frustration and delays when you’re wanting to be on the road to your destination.

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Think outside the box It is easy to think in terms of boxes as the best form of adhoc luggage, but you can make better use of your car’s load space with soft bags that can be pushed into corners and curves.

Today’s cars also come with plenty of additional storage spaces throughout the cabin, from door bins, seatback pockets and console boxes to under-floor areas. Think about how you can use these to ease pressure on boot space.

A balanced car is a safe car Carrying a full load of passengers and luggage increases your car’s weight, which in turn will have an impact on its handling. As a general rule, try to put your heaviest items as near the middle of the car and as low down as possible. This will help keep the vehicle stable and make driving less arduous if you have a long journey ahead.

A height to remember If you’ve added a roof box or are using a roof-mounted cycle rack, remember to make a note of the change in your car’s height and think before you enter a car park with low ceilings or barriers.

A moment’s inattention could cause some expensive damage.

Remember too, that the change in height might affect your ferry or Eurotunnel booking.

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Keep a clear view It’s tempting to load every part of the car to the roof in order to squeeze everything in, but doing so can compromise the driver’s view. Safety comes first, so make sure that there is a good field of vision from the steering wheel and that the rearward view is clear. If the height of your load means you cannot use the rearview mirror, make sure your door mirrors are clear and properly positioned; remember to adapt your driving style to check the door mirrors regularly.

Keep the essentials close at hand Before you pack the car, think about the things you may need to lay your hands on quickly. Keep safety items such as a warning triangle, torch and hi-vis jackets within reach, along with your first aid kit and any essential medicines.

If your trip takes you to the Continent, be sure to research the items you are required to carry by law in each country you pass through, not just at your destination. Keep these items together and at hand should you be stopped by the police or highway authorities.

Make sure children have their favourite toys with them and if you’re travelling with infants, ensure nappies, wipes, bottles and other items are easy to locate.

If your journey involves an overnight stop, keep one bag packed with everything everyone in the family needs in terms of toiletries, clothes and chargers. This will avoid the need to unload and unpack several different suitcases.

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Keep it covered A luggage-laden car can be a target for thieves, so if you’re leaving your vehicle at any time during your journey, try to keep the contents of the load space out of sight, using a tonneau cover, or conceal your bags with a car blanket. If you can, take any essential or valuable items with you.

If you’re carrying bikes or a roof box, make sure they are securely locked. If you’re going to be away from the vehicle for some time, perhaps overnight, it’s wise to use a secure or monitored car park if you can.

Labelled with love Your holiday should not start with cries of “Where did I put the… ?” Some simple organisation can save time and calm tempers. Keep a checklist of what is packed where, or label your bags with details of what’s inside. Sensible list-making can also help avoid leaving things behind when you make the return journey

You’ve arrived!

Try to find a parking spot where you have space to open all the doors and the tailgate, and can stack things on the ground without getting in the way of traffic or passersby.

Unpacking in a hurry in a cramped space is not a good way to mark your arrival.

Think about the things you will need first when you reach your destination. For example, if you’re heading to a self-catering property, don’t lose time on arrival searching for the local directions and information sheet. If you’re camping, your tent and everything you need to erect it should be in one, easily accessible place, and if it’s been a tiring journey, think about tea, coffee, or something stronger that will help you help relax and get the holiday vibe going.

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R A E G & GOODS G O O DR S U NG LAS SES This particular pair is called Sunbathing with Wizards .

Yes, you read that correctly, that really is their name!

Designed for the active amongst us, or as they like to put it

"designed to look good and fit comfortably on your face whether you’re haulin’ tail down a mountain trail or drinking beers at a school for the magic arts"

so I'm guessing jumping in and out of your 4x4 could count as active.

'Sunbathing with Wizards’ is from their OGs range which have a classic shape that makes you look good out and about or simply chillin’ by the pool.

Using a special grip coating they are designed not to slip when sweaty, and have a snug and comfortable fit so they don’t bounce when being extra active either.

The mirrored reflective lenses offer UV400 protection, a polarising filter and an anti-scratch coating, and come with a soft drawstring cloth bag inside a nice presentation box.

These sunglasses were in a press goodie bag (a bit like Hollywood stars get at the Oscars, only without the Rolex watch, and the 3 day wellness retreat) at a trade show for outdoor businesses.

When I returned from the trade show Muddy Madam claimed them to be super cool'n'funky and made them her own, so I’m going to have a word with Goodr to see if they’ll send me another pair!

Goodr have a number of ranges of functional and stylish sunglasses that will not break the bank, and look great whilst wearing them, and they seem to have a very light-hearted way of selling too - if you want to be amused check out all the origin stories about how all the glasses got their weird names.

There are 45 different colour combinations in the OGs range so there's got to be at least one that tickles your fancy. price: £30 more at » goodr.co.uk

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R A E G & GOODS

B E E VI TA LI SE BOARD & B OW L RE ST O R E

When it comes to kitchen utensils, nothing gets quite as much abuse as the humble wooden chopping board, whether that’s at home or out at camp, and to keep my boards in tiptop shape I got my hands on a tub of Beevitalise Board and Bowl Restore.

With no additives, solvents, silicons or thinners, Beevitalise is just a lush mix of natural plant based oils and beeswax that’s not only perfect for chopping boards, but as the name says it can also be used on wooden salad bowls, butcher's blocks and platters.

At Turner Towers we don't actually have any wooden boards as such, but we do have bamboo ones, and serendipitously this Beevitalise can also be used on bamboo, which I did with both my Cobb and rubber backed bamboo chopping boards. I tested it out by just applying it to half of each board, and then took the pictures.

Although you can’t really see the detail on the photos, it did a great job of reinvigorating the boards, and hiding the knife marks.

Look at the difference after doing just one half

Beevitalise nourishes the wood, adds greater waterproof protection, and makes it look great too, and is handmade and ethically sourced in the UK. Simple to use - just apply a small amount on the cloth provided, and using circular movements rub in well, then wait until completely dry and using the buff ball (included), bring to a natural luster.

They recommend that once you establish a good base repeat the process three to four times a year to keep in top condition. price £11.50 more at » www.oakdalebees.co.uk

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R A E G & GOODS

G R ANGERS FO OTW E A R CA RE KI T Designed to take care of all your footwear, regardless of its material, the new and improved Grangers all-in-one kit includes their Footwear + Gear Cleaner, Footwear Repel, Footwear Brush and Odour Eliminator.

In just 4 steps my Zamberlan Mountain Lites, that are pushing 30 years old, welcomed the lavish treatment, as did the rest of my footwear.

Using the wooden-handle Footwear Brush with its tough bristles and pointy end that’s great for cleaning treads and other hard-toreach places worked a treat at removing any dried-on dirt.

Next, the Footwear + Gear Cleaner is a powerful, yet bluesign approved spray-on cleaner formulated to remove all dirt, grime and odours from all footwear and gear, including Gortex.

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Once you’ve brushed off any caked mud, simply spray on and work in with a clean brush or cloth, then remove any any excess product and lightly rinse.

Whilst slightly damp, spray the Footwear Repel Plus and allow to dry naturally. Incidentally, Repel is suitable for a range of materials including Suede, Nubuck, Leather and Fabric.

Finally, a blast of Odour Eliminator tackles odours at their source rather than masking them with sweet smelling perfumes, but is kind to breathable membranes and water-repellent finishes at the same time. price: £20 more at » grangers.co.uk

If you’re looking for a sturdy, all-in-one knife / axe for a range of different jobs, then look no further, Alamzan Kitchen has recently created their Carbon Axe which is a versatile hand-forged utensil.

The Carbon Axe is the world’s first axe that can be used as a cooking tool thanks to its razor-sharp blade and unique shape. It can slice meat & vegetables, chop bones and large chunks of meat, and of course, be a reliable bushcraft tool for chopping and cutting wood at home or on your adventures in the wilderness.

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The hand-forged blade of this multifunctional tool is made of top-grade carbon steel, while the comfortable ergonomic handle is made of Serbian chestnut wood.

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The axe comes with a natural handmade protective leather sheath and has a length of 39cm, the blade alone is 19cm long and 15 cm wide. The weight of the whole axe is 900g and the hardness of the blade is 60-64 HRC. price: €499.95 (currently on offer at €249.95) more at » almazankitchen.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month STARK CAMPING FIRE PIT Your camping experience isn't complete without a fire pit, and the Camping Fire Pit from Stark looks to fit the bill.

Comprised of five pieces of 3mm thick recycled carbon steel, every piece is designed to maximise heat flow which means you can enjoy your nights under the stars longer.

The camping fire pit measures H: 225mm x W: 480mm x L: 500mm and weighs 12kg. It's practical, stylish and easy to set up and pack away, it even comes with its own carrying bag, and when hunger strikes, there’s also the all-new Teppanyaki attachment grill.

Made of quality food hygiene stainless steel, the Teppanyaki is built to last and designed to sit safely and securely on top of the Stark fire pit.

To clean, simply turn the Teppanyaki attachment around and let the fire burn off all the food and fat from your BBQ, then, simply wipe down store away. prices: Fire Pit: £129.99 down to £99.99 Teppanyaki Grill: £92.00 down to £79.99 more at » starkfirepits.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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BARMAH HATS With skin cancer on the rise, wearing a hat is a good way of protecting yourself from dangerous rays, and although peak caps are great for keeping the sun out of your eyes, a full brimmed hat will stop your ears, face and neck from getting burnt.

Barmah Hats are proudly Australian-made, and they developed the Original Hat-in-a-Bag, a range of leather, suede and canvas hats designed to be folded away and stored in a bag, and when removed they spring back into shape when you want to wear them. In the UK BushGear.co.uk are the exclusive distributor of these versatile and durable hats.

All Barmah Hats are water resistant, enhanced with Barmah's own DriHide process, UV resistant to SPF 50+, and are made with a soft sweatband, making them exceptionally comfortable to wear. They are the ideal choice for any outdoor activity, whether it be travel, fishing, bushcraft or just dog walking.

Prices: range from £39.95 to £69.95 more at » www.bushgear.co.uk/collections/hats

New Stuff we've discovered this month BARBOUR EXPLORER TWIG PULLOVER The Barbour Twig Pullover (or what we in the north would call a cagoule),boasts a large stud fastening patch pocket to the front for stashing keys, nibbles or maps.

This pullover features zip close side vents, a drawcord to the lower hem and an exposed half zip neckline for versatile layering.

It is manufactured using: 100% waxed cotton outer, with 100% cotton inner and trim, making it machine washable at 30°C. Available in racing green only. this is a fashionable, yet functional piece of outdoor clothing. price: RRP £239 currently on SALE: £167 more at » www.barbour.com

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BATTERYSTART PRO 700 OEBSPL700 The OSRAM BATTERYstart PRO 700 is a compact lithium-phosphate battery starter (LiFEPO4) developed by and for professionals and can be optimally used in professional workshops. Developed for use in vehicles with up to 8 L petrol engine and up to 6 L diesel engine.

Much smaller in size compared to traditional Lead Acid starters, the BATTERYstart PRO 700 is up to 75% lighter, yet still delivers high performance power. The Rapid Recharge function allows the clamps to remain connected to the vehicle and will recharge the starter from the vehicle alternator in around 60 seconds.

It includes intelligent safety clamps to manage power between the jump starter and vehicle, maintaining user safety during Rapid Recharge as well providing reverse polarity, short circuit and anti-spike protection.

The durable and robust rubber construction makes the BATTERYstart PRO 700 optimal for use in professional workshops. It is supplied with a 220 V docking station, which can be used to quickly recharge the BATTERYstart Pro 700. price: £433.14 at Amazon.co.uk more at » www.osram.com

Mud Life mugs themudlife.co.uk/mugs

"My latest coffee-mug. I got it from The Mud Life magazine - it's the best Range Rover Classic mug I have ever seen, and I paid for it by the way, no favour for a favour." - 4x4 writer Frank Elson THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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• THE SAUSAGE MAN • I bumped into The Sausage Man team at the Food & Drink Expo a few months ago at the NEC, and on the stand they had a constant supply of sample Frankfurters, Bratwursts and Hot Dogs. Their selection were so bloomin’ tasty that I returned on more than a few occasions - and when I felt they’d seen me enough, I sent Muddy Madam!

Who or what is The Sausage Man, and why are their sausages so damn good?

Glad you asked. The Sausage Man started importing fresh sausages from Germany back in 2005, and have continued to specialise in supplying sausages and other speciality foods from award winning butchers in Germany ever since.

Searching through their website they have more sausages than I might ever have thought possible, from delicious bratwurst, beef, pork and turkey sausages, paprika sausages, frankfurters, hot dogs and many, many more. You can buy a single pack or go for one of their many bundles.

I've found they are great for throwing on a BBQ, or cooking on a stove whilst out and about, and just as good for popping in the frying pan at home for a quick morning feast.

That’s not all, The Sausage Man’s range also includes Schnitzels, steak, burgers and even a sizable vegan offering, all shipped out frozen and pre-cooked (except for the steaks). Almost all of their sausages are gluten free (excluding the vegan hot dog).

After a natter, they were kind enough to send me a selection of their sausages. So far it’s been impossible for me to pick out a favourite as all of them are totally delicious, but I'm only half way through so there is still time to discover the winner, oh and the Curry ketchup is really yummy!

I am living my perfect life!

Check out their website at https://sausageman.co.uk

This is what I am currently working my way through:

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• Venison, Wild Boar & Pork Bratwurst • Vegan Bratwurst • Bratwurst XXL

• • • •

• Curry Ketchup

• Senf - Mustard

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Beef Hot Dogs Vegan Hot Dog Pork Hot Dog Turkey Hot Dog

• Vienna Beef Frankfurter • Krakauer Bacon Frankfurter XXL • Cheese Frankfurters • Chilli Beef Giant Frankfurter

Lovely reader, The Sausage Man have given us a special discount code just for you!

Use the code - MUDLIFE22

and you’ll receive 22% OFF your first order over £50 at sausageman.co.uk Valid until 31st August 2022

22% OFF

(excludes sale items - not compatible with other voucher codes - one use per customer - retail orders only)

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• TORQ FLAPJACKS • Whether you’re stuck on the motorway for an hour or so, or you’ve spent the last few hours jumping in and out of your 4x4 opening and closing gates whilst green laning, snacks are important, and getting the right type of energy can be crucial.

I was given a handful of TORQ Bars at a show recently with no obligation to write about them, but they’re so good, and tasty, I figured they deserved a mention.

TORQ Bar is an organic ultra-low fat moist and chewy energy bar that’s been formulated to deliver a unique blend of multiple-transportable carbohydrates to the working muscles quickly and efficiently.

Being the first performance product Torq Fitness ever produced (back in 2003), the company has recently evolved the recipe so that all of the new range of bars are certified organic by the Soil Association and, aside from the orange flavour bar, also utilise fairly-traded fruit.

Each TORQ Bar provides 30 grams of multiple-transportable carbohydrates - not sure what that means, but in my experience they’re a good pick-me-up, especial ly after a morning of laning or a couple of hours wandering around the NEC.

They come in 6 mouth-watering flavours • Black Forest • Apple Strudel • Bakewell Slice • Banana Cake • Carrot Cake • Ginger Cake On their website you can buy a 20 flapjack pack of each flavour, but if you like a little variety and don't fancy having to buy 120 bars then they also offer the option to build a box (or boxes) of your favourite flavours.

20 pk price: SRP £37 - currently £33.30

(with 10% discount, 2 boxes get 15% off, 3+ boxes get 20% off)

more at » www.torqfitness.co.uk

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• REAL TURMAT •

When it comes to freeze dried food I’m not usually a huge fan as I much prefer making my own fresh meals before, or even during, days out laning and camping. However, there are occasions when it’s not practical to start creating a wholesome meal, especially if you’re packing light, in a rush or during emergencies, and that’s when they come into their own.

When I was given a selection of Real Turmat dishes at a show recently I thought nothing of it, I actually thought that it would be a bit of a chore to even make one for a review, but that was until I ate one - wow, talk about being tasty!

To prepare, simply tear off the top of the bag, add hot water up to the level marker, stir well, close the bag using the ziplock and let the dish rest for 8 minutes (as a habit I usually add a few minutes on).

From the moment I added the water the aroma was amazing. I was intrigued, and my taste buds started to tingle in anticipation. As I took my first spoonful I actually exclaimed out loud “Bloody ‘ell, this is good!”

It wasn’t just the taste, or the aroma, but the texture of the food, in this case the chunks of salmon (creamy salmon with pasta), actually felt freshly cooked. Even the vegetables had the correct consistency, the whole experience was one of culinary delight. Seriously, it was that tasty!

Created in Norway by Drytech, and sold in the UK via Base Camp Food, the range of healthy and nutritious meals are vast, and include gluten free, lactose free, milk free, vegan, vegetarian and of course my preferred choice, full meat.

Each meal has 5 years shelf life from the manufacturing date, and once opened should be treated as a fresh product and eaten within 2 hours of adding water. prices: from £10.99 more at » realoutdoorfood.com available in the UK from » basecampfood.com THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Robens Settler Chair I’ve actually lost count of how many camping chairs we have at Muddy Towers, so when I say that the Settler is my new favourite travelling go-to chair, that’s high praise indeed.

The Settler is a directors style chair that provides a high degree of comfort and support whilst maintaining the relative low weight and small pack size required for car camping, or for simply a day out at the beach.

Weighing just 4.5kg it’s made using a steel frame and PU coated 600D ripstop polyester with mesh fabric for enhanced breathability and comfort. It’s easily stowable too, the Settler measures 50 x 47 x 13 cm when packed away and includes a really convenient builtin carry handle.

Once unfolded, which takes a matter of seconds, it measures 60.5 x 50.5 x 95 cm (WxDxH), and has a 45cm seat height and maximum payload of 115kg (18st 1lbs), making it wide enough, high enough and strong enough for my fat arse, long legs and manly frame! There’s also a locking mechanism ensuring a stable platform that doesn't need adjustment.

Overall the Settler is a great camping chair that’s compact when folded and large, comfortable and sturdy when ready to relax. price: RRP £75.99 (currently £69.99 at Amazon) more at » www.robens.de

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Mounts Slumber Sack

If you’re an avid outdoor person who happens to have a toddler, fear not, you can now keep them cosy with this Toddler Sleep Sack from Mounts.

The sleep sack gives you the ability to balance safe sleep

They also have closing hand grips, and a snug-fitting neck that ensures your child does not slide down into garment and has maximum heat retention.

A full body multidirectional zipper ensures easy entry and exit, and access for nappy changes without having to take your child out of garment..

techniques with high quality materials whilst your child is on their first camping trip.

There are two temperature ratings available: • Blue: 5° to 15°C (40° - 60°F) • Yellow: 5° to 10°C (20° to 50°F) Both have an extendable length to accommodate ages 18 months to 3½ years old, and feature removable sleeves - to help adjust for variation in temperatures.

The shell is made from 100% nylon, and the insulation is PrimaLoft, and packed up in it's handy stuff sack it weighs just 759 grams, and measures 35 x 15 x 15cm. prices: Blue - £100 & Yellow - £130 more at » www.mountsstore.co.uk

New Stuff we've discovered this month Coleman Galiano 4 Pop-Up Tent Can’t be bothered unpacking an unwieldy tent then threading poles the through tight sleeves? Coleman have the answer with their ultra-convenient FastPitch Pop Up Galiano tents. Ideal for festivals and weekend getaways, the Galiano is a lightweight tent that’s up in an instant and packs away compactly for easy transportation and storage.

Weighing in at 4.5kg, the Galiano 4 person tent (2 person also available), is water proofed to a 2000mm HH rating, and taped seams ensures your tent stays nice and dry. A fully sewn-in groundsheet helps to protect the tent interior from bugs and water, for an extra level of comfort.

Fire retardant is a given as the material ensures that the fabric will not flare dangerously out of control and will self extinguish, giving time to escape in an emergency.

The Galiano 4 has a packed dimension of 90cm, and a pitch size of 4.5 m². price: RRP £99 more at » www.colemanuk.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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New Stuff we've discovered this month Dometic TRT120E Roof top Tent The TRT120E tent is an electric roof top tent

by Dometic. Setting up takes just a matter of minutes thanks to its powered 12V operation and remote control fob.

With a 5cm, high density foam mattress that’s big enough to comfortably sleep two people, Dometic reckon that you’re guaranteed a peaceful night’s sleep.

The TRT120E features a two layer construction and is suitable for most remote destinations in the middle of winter. The TRT120E’s robust design is further enhanced by a durable water resistant PVC tent cover with a UPF 50+ protection rating, and can handle just about anything that is thrown at it.

Thanks to the double layered windows with integrated fly screens, you can get plenty of airflow through the tent while keeping insects out.

Despite the robust construction of the TRT120E, its frame is made from lightweight aluminium alloy and entering the tent is easy thanks to the lightweight, telescopic aluminium ladder.

Watch the video here price: £2,130 more at » www.dometic.com

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h c o o M

Houndkirk Moor

It has to been around six years since I last drove these lanes, when I was on my way home from visiting Milner Off-Road in Matlock, Derbyshire in the very capable Mitsubishi L200 SVP. This time the new Hilux was my, and Muddy Madam's ride for the day. We were on our way back from Sheffield after collecting a couple of tickets to watch Queen and Adam Lambert for Muddy Madam’s birthday.

From Sheffield we headed towards Ringinglow, more specifically the lane that goes over Houndkirk Moor, the aptly named Houndkirk Road, or SK2780-04 if you’re a GLASS member and use Trailwise 2.

After a few minutes our own hound, Lilly, became restless in the back of the car, and began getting whingy. She tolerates being in the car whilst on the move at speed, and eventually settles down, but drive slowly, for example when green laning and it’s a different story, so Muddy Madam decided it would be easier to walk with her down the road, thus giving me the opportunity to stop and take photos in peace.

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Lane 1 Start at the east end of the lane and the surface is solid and fairly flat, but I still engaged low-box as I dawdled onwards and admired the spectacular views that this side of Yorkshire had to offer.

It wasn’t long before a Ranger pulled up alongside me, also in a Hilux, and we had a good chat about the Moor, Rights of Way and off-piste vandalism by all groups; walkers, bikes and 4x4s.

By the time we’d finished putting the world to rights, Muddy Madam and Lilly had passed us and were already out of sight.

Houndkirk Road varies in width, from just about wide enough for one vehicle to three car widths, and it’s in these wider sections that you have the option of driving along a smooth bit, or the more challenging rocky sections.

I tried the challenging bits and the Hilux dismissed them with ease.

The last time I drove along Houndkirk I remember thinking that it had to be one of the busiest green lanes that I’ve ever driven, the amount of walkers, cyclists, quads and trail bikes that passed me by was amazing, even on a weekday. Today was a Sunday, and it was quiet, I was past by one dog walker and a cyclist. The cyclist was on an electric mountain bike, so I flagged him down and asked him a load of question about it as I’m quite interested in buying one.

After mithering him I figured I’d better catch up to Muddy Madam and Lilly, who were both visible in the distance. This next section is fairly flat and narrow with some wide holes that would create , there are some wide holes, that after rain creates some huge puddles. Overall Houndkirk Road is a nice easy lane with a mixed of surface sands and rocks that offers some spectacular views.

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Lane 2 From Houndkirk we headed towards Castleton and our second lane, SK1582-02. The last time I drove this lane I was in my old 300Tdi Discovery and writing for Land Rover World at the time - so a while back.

Driving from east to west there’s a slight incline and the surface is hard enough, not really challenging, but as you climb further up, on the left hand side there’s quite a bit of evidence of off piste motorcycle and 4x4 use, there was also a huge pile of builders rubble that had been dumped. The lane is wide enough to squeeze by, but I jumped out first and checked for any nails or screws that could have caused a problem. From here the lane becomes quite narrow and rocky, so if you’re planning on driving this lane, you’ll need a lowbox and none of those silly low profile tyres!

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Lane 3 Next were Dirtlow Rake and Rowter Lane which are covered by the same UID, SK1282-02. Again, heading from east to west Dirtlow Rake begins with a slight incline on lose stone, there’s the odd rut but nothing taxing, especially in the Hilux, in fact a well driven Ateca or Yeti could manage it easily enough. Heading up towards there’s a disused quarry on the right where there’s more evidence of off-piste driving, but there’s now strategically placed boulders to discourage the numpties amongst us.

Once it flattens out it becomes nice hard packed surface and like Houndkirk, has some wide holes, that after rain creates some huge puddles. There’s the odd gate to open and shut, but just take your time and enjoys the views.

Further along there’s a sharp right turn, and from there on its Rowter Lane which is a very well maintained gravel track with even more great views.

That was it, the end of a great afternoon’s adventure, there was no man and machine battling against nature as we fought hard against treacherous ancient byways, nothing like that. We simply trundled our way along lovely public rights of ways, keeping to the tracks and being polite whilst enjoying the views.

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SsangYong Musso Saracen

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What is it?

Did you know that SsangYong are the longest-running Korean vehicle brand, manufacturing vehicles since 1954? So it came as no surprise that around 4 years ago, when I first drove the Musso, that I found myself questioning why anyone would even consider spending and extra £1020k on the Mercedes-Benz X250D pick up I was driving at the time.

So 4 years later, what’s new?

Well, the most obvious change comes at the front where there’s a huge, and much bolder grille.

Then there’s the new headlights that include daytime running lights, projection headlamps, and triple LED fog lights that double as positioning lamps. I’ll come to the engine later.

On the road When I think about it, over the last four years I’ve driven quite a few Mussos, I’ve racked up some miles, too, and no matter which model, I haven’t been disappointed.

The steering always feels light and offers plenty of feedback, whilst the double wishbone suspension up front and rear coil springs offers a decent ride on the flat. It’s a tad pitchy on undulating B roads, but considering that during our week together it was unladen, and it’s role in life is to carry and tow, I’ll let it off.

In normal driving, the default ‘eco’ mode can make the Saracen’s six-speed automatic gearbox hunt around a tad for the right gear to give optimum fuel economy. Selecting ‘Power’ cures this and smooths out the changes. There’s also a ‘winter’ mode, but as we experienced the hottest day ever, I’ll hopefully get to try that another time.

It’s quiet. This can be contributed to its rigid body on frame construction being carefully tuned by Pininfarina to ensure that the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are excellent. It even has polyester wheel-arch linings that reduce road noise, and the engine bay includes better sealing than the outgoing model to improve sound, dust and waterproofing.

Despite being a pickup the Musso is quite refinement, this is due to the fact that it shares a lot of components with the Rexton.

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Off road The Musso has a part-time 4WD system with 2WD High, 4WD High and 4WD Low, but it lacks a rear diff-lock, though its electronics can often compensate for that. The system also includes Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist to provide optimum grip, traction and safety.

Balancing the Musso on its two opposing wheels caused no embarrassment as it simply drove forward without even a scramble from its tyres. However, on one particular green lane it struggled. Being fair it was a short hill made of lose gravel with two opposing holes ready to catch out unsuspecting 4x4, and driving slowly, as you do, the Musso became cross-axled. Fear not, with a little more momentum the Musso made it to the top with just a slight scramble.

Throughout the week I drove a fair number of green lanes on which it proved more than capable, from grassy hills to mud and rocks, the Musso managed them with ease.

The only downside, and this isn’t a criticism, but its 20° approach, 22.5° departure and 20.3° ramp-over angles are among the lowest in the sector, so the Musso wouldn’t be my first choice as a weekend off-roader. Having said that, I drove some rough lanes, and its low-slung chin didn’t scoop anything up, neither was there any scrapes from underneath.

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Interior Inside the Saracen is a very nice place to be; the dash layout is intuitive, the heated, nappa leather power adjustable seats are wide and comfortable, even back seat passengers are in for a treat with plenty of leg room.

Ssangyong haven’t been shy when it comes to safety spec either, there are 6 airbags, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist amongst other things.

The Saracen also gets a 9.2” integrated screen with TomTom navigation, dual zone adjustable climate control and a 12.3” digital cluster and privacy glass. Of course there’s DAB radio, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Spend a bit of time with a Musso and you will find that it’s a well put together, comfortable and squeak free place to be. The only negative I found was that at night the centre infotainment screen reflects in the rear window, which can be a bit annoying. I solved it by flipping the rear view mirror.

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Pickup stuff The Musso not only holds the UK record for being the only pickup that can carry its max payload of 1 tonne and tow 3.5 tonnes at the same time (automatic only), but opt for the LWB and it also has the longest pick up bed of 1,610mm, which is 300mm longer than the normal Musso.

The Musso is powered by the same 2.2ltr diesel engine found in the Rexton and delivers a maximum power of 200bhp at 3,800rpm and a maximum torque of 441Nm. What that means is that it’s no slouch from a standing start and has a strong low-end torque.

Although there’s only one engine you do get a choice of either a 6-speed manual or an Aisin 6-speed automatic gearbox. I haven’t driven the manual for a while, but checking my notes I did comment that it’s quite smooth. Given the choice I’d go for the auto as it takes the hassle out of stop/start M6 driving.Fuel wise, I was seeing figures around the 29-30mpg mark.

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Conclusion Like the rest of its siblings, the Musso enjoys SsangYong’s 7 year and 150,000 mile warranty - the best in the business, knocking Kia of its long-standing pedestal.

Although it’s very capable off the beaten track, I think its target audience are more commercial owners who won't necessarily need the clearance of an off-roader. Overall, my conclusion remains the same as it was the last time I drove one, and that’s that the Musso is a bloody good pickup at a very reasonable price.

The Musso line-up consists of the EX (£23,610 OTR Price exc.VAT), Saracen (£31,010 OTR Price exc.VAT) more at » ssangyonggb.co.uk

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Rebel (£27,610 OTR Price exc.VAT), LWB (£32,010 OTR Price exc.VAT).

Get yourself one of these new

MUD LIFE STICKERS! Get them in our Ko-Fi shop: ko-fi.com/mudlifemag/shop

We now we have these 2 fun new designs to pick from, and they are bigger than the last ones.

Stick 'em on your 4x4, caravan, toolbox, laptop or wherever else you just want to stick things.

• Size - approx. 10cm • Printed on high quality vinyl • Suitable for exterior use.

These glossy vinyl stickers are £1.75 each plus P&P (it's just a one-off P&P of 66p no matter how many stickers you buy).

Be Our Guest Damian's mutterings are good, but we have decided that you wouldn't mind reading the compositions from other people every now and then, so let's welcome ATUK director, Brad Unwin to the pages of The Mud Life.

A DAY IN THE LIFE of 3 ATUK directors

People may wonder what we get up to as directors of All Terrain UK, in fact they may wonder if we do anything at times!

The truth is that most days the three of us communicate with each other and with other members of the team. Sometimes we are simply socialising, other times we are discussing policies and the like, or thrashing through decisions regarding how the organisation is run.

We do all of this because we are passionate about green laning and the fact that we want our organisation to be as good as it possibly can be, given the constraints that we exist in.

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We all have definite strengths and weaknesses but together we have created a well-run and effective organisation with our members at the centre of it.

It may come as a surprise how many hours running an organisation takes on top of our working life, plus family and 'normal life', and how it (for us at least) has become the 'norm'.

The day that I want to talk about now is not our usual day...

On a bright Saturday morning we met with key members of the team running the Big Weekend Event over breakfast at a local supermarket.

We all have points to raise and questions to ask, so there was about two hours taken on this.

because of the various agencies involved and a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

After breakfast we drove to the camping site location where the big event will be run from; some of the team hadn’t been there yet and a site visit was needed with the owners.

Once the site survey was complete we headed off for our last appointment of the day, meeting up with Brad (our third director), so that we can attempt to film some footage for the fantastic Jennifer Hirst to work her magic on and create a video that we can publish for all to see via our All Terrain UK YouTube channel.

Accepting a large group is a big ask for a campsite to accommodate, but they were positive and appreciated our organisation. We have taken into account things like nearest shops, pubs, fuel stations, tourist attractions and even arranged a discount for activities on-site such as archery for example.

Saturday morning done we say our cheerio’s, and Darren and I drive to a track about 7 miles away that is under threat of closure due to irresponsible use.

The idea was simple, create some footage explaining more about All Terrain UK and what we are about.

We met at a pre-determined location that we knew was an interesting location with a narrow bridge and wide hedge lined track leading up to it. We placed the vehicle in a good spot then proceeded to find out exactly how hard it is to film anything outside.

We are trying to evaluate what (if anything) we can do as an organisation. Things are made a little more complicated

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The first problem was wind, lots of it arriving at exactly the wrong time. There was little wind while setting up, only to start howling the minute we tried to talk - we discovered those fluffy mic covers don’t really work as advertised!

After two wind blasted attempts a decision was made to switch to location B, which in reality involved driving about a mile along the track to a fairly deep wooded section that created a fantastic windbreak. It was not without its drawbacks, as we could now hear birds, planes, the occasional chainsaw, motorcyclists riding past and a member of the 'crew' munching on his crisps!

The second revelation was that to create a video you need a plan, so, instead of mumbling amongst ourselves and not really knowing where this was going, we should have been working off a script/storyboard of some kind.

Again everything is a learning process, and after a fair amount of faff we decided that I would get asked a question then respond with an answer - simple!

Well that’s how I felt, often forgetting the question or fluffing my lines, even the ability to speak was lost at times!

To cut a long story short we took lots of footage, some spoken and some from a drone, we then bundled it up in a big, disorganised mess and Jennifer proceeded to make it into the fabulous film that is now on our YouTube channel.

We finished the day with a (non-alcoholic) drink in a local pub, and discussed the day, ATUK and life in general, so that’s what happened in the day in the life of three ATUK directors.

You can watch our efforts in our ATUK 2022 video on the next page, and you can see the Bloopers video here.

Learn more about the Big Weekend Event here.

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The Tales of Lilly, The Mud Life Dog

I'll Tell You What I Want...

by Karen Lee Turner

Am I a bad mum? Read this tale, and then make up your mind At the beginning of the month I was invited to a friend's birthday party, so off I toddled leaving Lilly at home with her favourite person in the whole world, her Dad. I arrived at the venue, and even before I'd set foot in the place my friend greeted me with "Do you want a puppy?"

"Err, not really I already have a dog."

"Well you'll want one in a minute, we have wolf puppies."

I had a very confused look on my face, until I went inside, and in a small ring set up on the side of the dance floor were 4 passed out Lupine puppies, and another 5 being cuddled and played with by guests.

The reason - one of her friends couldn't come because of having no one to look after the puppies, so my friend just told her to bring them with her, so as a result we got an Adult Puppy Party.

This needs to be a thing!

I could not resist the chance to get my hands on one, and OMG they were fluffy. The one I got my hands on was a gorgeous bundle of flooooof called Tater-tot, but Tater-tot had other things on his mind, he just wanted to be off and meet all the other weird strangers that were within eyesight....oh so wiggly.

After quite a bit of puppy wrangling I handed the little wiggle butt back, and joined other pals at a table, but I had to be facing the play pen to watch their antics.

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Every now and then I interrupted conversations with exclamations of "Look that one's learned how to climb and is doing its own version of an escape room." and "Oh the white one is trying to catch its own tail, and has just fallen over it's own legs", but my favourite moment was when one of the white ones decided to show us all how good he/she was at doing a baby wolf howl. Oh....so....cute!

After a while she took them home, and the party continued, and my mind forgot about teeny wolves.

Forward four or so hours later, and I walked into my house. Initially Lilly didn't come to greet me - she was passed out on the back bed, but as I went up stairs I heard the familiar thud of sleepy dog jumping off the bed and heading to me.

A slight voice came from our bedroom indicating Damian was still awake so I headed in with Lilly closely in tow. As I sat on the bed to take off my shoes it began...... the sniffing, sniffing, and more sniffing.

My arms, boobs and crotch were all being investigated with olfactory obsessiveness. Basically anywhere that had contact with the puppy was a smorgasbord of smells.

I think Lilly was totally overwhelmed with the scent of not only the one puppy, but because they were all together in the same pen, she was getting blasted by all nine of the little whiffy wolves all in one go. I had been cheating on her with PUPPIES, and she knew.

I had Been Unfaithful, and I felt So Guilty.

I whipped off my clothes and launched the top into the laundry basket, and hung up my trousers, and proceeded to give her some big cuddles, face kisses and a proper good belly rub, and then she headed back to the back bed to continue dreaming of catching squirrels.

No more was thought about it until the following morning when she walked into the bedroom, and instead of coming for a cuddle she swerved towards the coat stand that my trousers were hung on and restarted the sniffing game.

Sometimes I wish we had a better sense of smell as those puppies must've smelled amazing.

No matter how adorable they were, and they were sooooo adorable, I didn't end up sneaking one into my handbag, though I was tempted.

She knows!

So next time I hear the Spice Girls ask THAT question I can honestly say that I know what I want, what I really, really want - a puppy party!!!

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Made from stainless steel with a cotton canvas storage case, the Dog Cot from Snow Peak offers a comfortable and elevated sleeping pad for your exhausted hound after a hard day in the outdoors.

Snow Peak Dog Cot

Constructed with the same folding action as their Low Beach Chair, the Dog Cot is foldable and easy to stow with all other camp gear.

Don’t worry if it get too mucky as the seat cloth can easily be removed and washed.

Weighing in at just 2.3kg (including storage case), the Dog Cot measures 65cm x 65cm x 30cm open, and 14cm × 14cm ×80cm folded.

Sadly the Dog Cot isn’t suitable for dogs weighing more than 15kg. price: £138 more at » snowpeak.co.uk

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Ultimate Waterproof Nest Dog Bed

From Forest and Fell these beds are designed to be some of the toughest, practical, yet comfortable dog beds on the market. They’re ideal for working & active dogs or just mucky pups, and excellent for the boot of your car, transit box, kennels and of course your home.

Made from texturised nylon with a high abrasion resistance, with a polyurethane coating on the underside and a DWR finish, these beds are totally waterproof so nothing gets through to the inside to cause dampness and bad smells. They also use a heavy duty anti wick sewing thread to ensure there are no weak points.

The beds are easily cleaned by machine washing or simply soap and water. Most dirt and mud can be left to dry and just sponged off with a damp cloth.

The Ultimate Nest Beds are available in 4 sizes and 3 colours. colurs: Burgundy, Navy, Olive sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL prices: range from £90 to £165 more at » forestandfell.co.uk

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

My name is Keir Manning, I'm from Ashburton in Devon and for work I'm a Land Rover mechanic History of cars leading up your present 4x4 I've had a number of cars over the years, too many to list, but the 4x4 life started when I bought a short wheelbase Mk2 Pajero, since that I've had Mitsubishi Delica, Shogun Sport, an L200, Land Rover Defender 110, and the Mk3 shogun I have today

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Present 4x4(s) A 2004 Mk3 shogun 3.2 long wheelbase and a 2000 MY Discovery Td5.

Modifications done The Discovery has a 2” lift and steel wheels shod with 265-75-16 Maxis Bighorn tyres.

The Mitsubishi Shogun on the other hand has a 2” Old Man Emu springs, EFS front shocks and KS International rear shocks and a set of Nissan Patrol wheels that are shod with 285-75-16 Cooper STT Pro. Inside there’s a split charge system for most of my 12v needs, as well as a custom draw system with a gas twin hob, 35 litre fridge and a Midlands CB. Back on the outside and there’s a steel roof rack with a Wildland roof top tent and a 13,500lb Rhino winch fitted to a hidden winch mount.

Favourite Modifications The draws and hob.

Modifications to do A pair of rock sliders, more under body protection and I’m going to fit a water tank.

Favourite off-roading / adventure trip For off roading has to be the lake district and touring an adventure trip to Scotland’s NC500.

Lottery / Lotto win 4x4 A 200 Series Land Cruiser with a chopped tray back with all the toys!

Favourite car related film Gone in 60 Seconds Favourite biscuits Jammy Dodgers Where can we find more details?

Instagram sk_overland_adventure Facebook: keir.manning

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es d i R s ' r e Read

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

My name is Tom Rees, I’m from Bristol and I am a marketing manager and digital marketing specialist.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 Car life started learning in a 1.2 VW Polo named minty. I then moved out to Canada for 3 years and bought a Ford Explorer named Eddie.

After Canada I moved to Australia and bought a 1985 HJ60 series Land Cruiser named Syd with a HJ60 2h converted to turbo and built for the long adventure. Then moved back to the UK and have what I have now!

Present 4x4(s) 1999 Land Rover Discovery 2 TD5

Modifications done 3” lift, +3” 4 stage shocks and 3” corrected caster trailing arms. 285/75r16 Insa Turbo k2 MTs Tyres on 16x8” -35 offset rims with Flat Dog 75mm flares to keep things legal.

Upgraded drilled and slotted brake rotors, extended 4” brake lines, double cranked watts linkage and extended abs rear lines.

Winchester gears front diff upgrade and a rear propshaft swap to delete the rubber coupling.

Then there’s the transfer case rebuild, full cooling system rebuild with gravity performance parts High flow Ali radiator and hoses.

ACE system delete, 40” double layer LED light bar, 3” stainless turbo back exhaust 3” stainless snorkel, K&N air filter and a headlight upgrade.

On top there’s a Direct 4x4 expedition Roof rack with a Sheepie Bookara roof tent, Bush Company 270 XT Awning and in the back there’s a rear drawer system with rear door table. Other bits include an Ice 4x4 rear tyre carrier, UHF/CB Radio install and a steel front winch bumper that’s currently without a winch.

I’m sure there is more but I’ve lost track now…

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Favourite Modifications Probably the tyres and the rooftop tent & awning for sure!

Modifications to do Will probably be putting a new winch bar on with a good winch. Then looking to build a full 12v system for off-road self sufficiency.

Favourite off-roading / adventure trip I did an amazing solo trip in Western Australia. I spent 6 hours weeks on the road travelling in my 60 series. I travelled and camped 10,228km from Perth all the way north up the coast to Kununurra and then back to Perth.

Included some of the most iconic north western Australian locations; steep point (The most westerly point of mainland Australia), Exmouth, Karijini national park, Broome, Cape Leveque, the Gibb river road, lake Argyle and the bungle bungles. It’s a trip I’d recommend to anyone and would do again in a heartbeat!

Lottery / Lotto win 4x4 I’d definitely be getting a 76 series Land Cruiser and do a jmax conversion on the rear axle to swap the leaf springs for coils and widen the axle so the wheel alignment is right, as well as lifting it and adding all the fruit.

Favourite car related film I think Rush is probably a big favourite for me.

Favourite biscuits Chocolate browny, McVities Hobnobs, or I’m a sucker for a chocolate bourbon.

Where can we find more details?

Best place to find out more is Instagram - OverlandDiscovery2 YouTube - Overland Discovery (I've just made the YouTube channel, and should get the first videos up soon, I can’t wait for everyone to see what I have in mind!)

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Fancy an off-road challenge? Over the next few pages we have listed many of the business that you can play, train and holiday with.

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 number plates, so you can stay legal whilst driving home!

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

THE MUD LIFE MAGAZINE

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 UK WIDE All Terrain Services

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training & Experiences, Self Drive Tours https://www.allterrainservices.co.uk 01792 862669

NORTH Graythwaite Adventure

Activities: Off-Road Driving & Training, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Watersports, Archery, Axe Throwing, Bushcraft, Glamping https://www.graythwaiteadventure.co.uk 07498 574659 & 07779 162710

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

Explore Off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

WALES 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

SOUTH John Morgan 4x4 Driving

Activities: Pay & Play Off Road Driver Training http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 01903 812195

Wild Tracks

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

True Grip off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training 4x4 Experiences http://www.truegripoffroad.co.uk 01233 662251

Protrax

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

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