The Mud Life 4x4 Magazine - #45 - February 2023

THE MUD LIFE

ISSUE

2 days in Scotland driving the

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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.

THE TEAM

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

It's 2023! turner's torque

I know officially it was last month too, but we decided The Mud Life's 2023 would start in February because we needed to take a break.....well I say we, but actually Muddy Madam threatened to make me a eunuch if she had to put a magazine together over Christmas and New Year again.

To be fair there have been a couple of years that she has still been finishing the mag way into wee small hours of New Year's Eve, so to save my marriage AND my crown jewels I gave in.

In the past 5 years, with just two of us at the helm, creating a 100+ page magazine every month can take its toll. Add other jobs, general life and the occasional hobby to the mix and the fact that we’ve produced the last 45 issues alone is quite a feat.

Anyhow, we’re back!

As you may have noticed from social media, and our front cover, during January I was invited on stage two of the global media launch of the INEOS Grenadier from Inverness down to Loch Lomond. Now, I know there’ll be a lot of you who feel let down by INEOS - the move to France and so on - but my job is to write about the vehicle, not Jim’s business decisions, and what a 4x4 him and his team have produced The Grenadier is a no-nonsense 4x4 that’s built to work hard, and last.

In other news, it was a lovely surprise on the 10th December waking up to snow, I honestly can’t remember the last time in snowed this early in Bolton, it must be decades. After walking Lilly in the park my first thought was to drive up to the hills for a play in Deux Smurf, but a quick drive to the post office to drop off a parcel completely put me off the idea, as the entire population of Bolton were out on the road and driving at 10mph. By the time I’d have reached the moors the snow would have melted.

There was one noticeable difference this year at Muddy Towers,

and that was we didn’t have a press car to play with - sorry, review. The reason for this was that I really did need to drive Deux Smurf more, it doesn’t do cars any good just sat parked up for long periods of time, especially when the weather is so damp and miserable.

The OSRAM VX1000 light bar I wrote about last month remains unbelievably good, and I’m always surprised how quickly the heater on Deux Smurf warms up after a -10º night, I’m toasty warm in a matter of minutes, it’s exceptionally good for a 27 year old 4x4.

I’m currently writing a list of all the shows that I want to attend this year, there are quite a lot, and next month we have both the Caravan and Camping Show at the NEC, but more importantly, 4x4 Expo at the Stafford Show Ground on the 26th Feb. We won’t have a stand at 4x4 Expo, but I’ll hopefully see some of you there.

Muddy Madam and a machete. Yes, that is a look of panic in my eyes!

LIFE STICKERS!

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).

Nissan Ariya goes on a Pole-to-Pole adventure News

Set amongst Arctic-like conditions, the Pole-toPole expedition team and Nissan recently unveiled an adventureready version of the new Ariya electric SUV, which will undertake a 17,000-mile trip from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole.

During this epic adventure, which aims to kick off this March, the Ariya will need to cope with breath-taking but extreme terrains and environments, including ice fields, deep snow, steep mountain climbs and inhospitable desert dunes. Arctic Trucks, specialists in polar expedition vehicles, have collaborated with Nissan design and engineering teams to prepare the Ariya for these tough conditions.

Modifications to the car have been intentionally minimal, with no changes to the battery or powertrain, but the most recognisable difference is the adaption of the suspension and addition of 39” tyres. When coupled with e-4ORCE, Nissan’s advanced electric all-wheel-control technology, these modifications will enable the expedition car to tackle extreme terrains whilst giving Chris and Julie the necessary comfort and control to reach the South Pole.

Chris Ramsey, Pole-to-Pole EV Expedition Leader, commented: “One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production EV and aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it.

Our Nissan Ariya is no different as the vehicle’s drivetrain and battery has remained factory standard, demonstrating just how capable and versatile the production Ariya is.

“We’ve modified the suspension and widened the wheel arches so we can benefit from the stable platform and support of the 39” BF Goodrich tyres. I’m incredibly excited to get behind the wheel of what was already a brilliant vehicle, but now feels equipped to take on the ends of the earth in style!”

Chris can also capture the beauty of these spectacular environments using a drone that can launch directly from the utility unit on the roof. One further innovation is the portable, renewable energy unit that will be used to charge the Ariya in the polar regions. The towable prototype includes a packable, lightweight wind turbine and solar panels that will take advantage of high winds and long daylight hours to provide charge for the EV’s battery when Chris and Julie stop to rest.

For more details on the Pole-to-Pole expedition, including the latest updates as the team prepares for their epic adventure, head over to our dedicated pagethenissannext.com/en/PoletoPole.html

Pre-orders now open for Jeep Avenger News

Pre-orders have opened for the European Car of the Year 2023 winner, Jeep Avenger 1st Edition, the brand’s first-ever fully electric SUV, with prices starting from £36,500 OTR.

Ahead of the full range launch in June, the limited edition Avenger is a modern, fun SUV appealing to customers looking for a capable, compact, modern all-electric Jeep.

True to the Jeep DNA, it offers impressive ground clearance, approach, breakover and departure angles for its segment. It is equipped with standard SelecTerrain and Hill Descent Control which bring impressive levels of capability to the segment.

The Selec-Terrain system offers six modes: “Normal” for everyday driving; “Eco” to enhance range; “Sport” for more driving fun; “Snow” for maximum traction on icy roads or trails; “Mud” to optimise mud performance and to enhance grip; and “Sand” to limit the risk of becoming stuck on sandy soil. Avenger also brings next level safety and convenience features to a compact SUV.

Thanks to the high power (max power 156hp, 115kW) and torque (max torque 260Nm) in addition to a specific e-powertrain calibration, the new Avenger offers driving enjoyment on and off-road, providing a range up to 248 miles.

It is fitted with a CCS 2 socket (Combined Charging System Type 2) supporting 100kW rapid charging, enabling 0% to 80% charge in just over half an hour, or five minutes charge to get the average daily usage of 28 miles.

It is available in a choice of three colours (Sun, Graphite and Volcano), all with black roof, privacy glass and 18” alloy wheels. The Avenger also comes with a three year vehicle warranty (or battery warranty of 100,000 miles in eight years). It also comes with blind spot monitor, an auto dimming rear view mirror, hands free power liftgate, traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed assist and rain sensors.

It delivers a modern and technologically advanced interior with class leading space for cargo and contents. It includes a 10.25” HD touchscreen Infotainment system, DAB, voice recognition, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, 360° parking sensors and 180° rear camera, level two autonomous drive (ACC with lane centering and traffic jam assist), wireless smartphone charger and keyless entry & go.

Click to go to the pre-order page for the Avenger 1st Edition visit here.

New, enhanced Range Rover Velar revealed News

A new grille combines with the characteristic floating roof, unbroken waistline and flush deployable door handles that define the Range Rover brand. New super-slim Pixel LED headlights provide a technical, jewel-like appearance and optimised visibility while the exterior is enhanced by a new lower rear bumper and dark accents.

The Velar pioneered Range Rover’s reductive design philosophy and it takes this approach to a new level inside. The new single floating 11.4” curved glass touchscreen is integrated into the centre console, providing immediate and intuitive control of all key vehicle functions, and features the latest evolution of Range Rover’s Pivi Pro7 infotainment system. The new Velar is also Wi-Fi Enabled with a Data Plan, ensuring occupants remain entertained and connected, and for simple navigation, what3words is also integrated within Pivi Pro.

For that extra touch, Configurable Cabin Lighting provides a choice of 30 interior colours to illuminate the doors, console and footwells as part of the optional Comfort Pack, while every occupant can select their ideal interior temperature using the fourzone climate control.

The Velar has power to suit every client, including the P400e plug-in electric hybrid. It is available alongside a range of smooth Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, all featuring Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology that boosts fuel efficiency and performance.

The plug-in electric hybrid Velar is more capable and flexible than ever, with a greater pure-electric driving range of up to 40 miles thanks to a redesigned battery pack, while the choice of highly advanced petrol and diesel engines feature mild hybrid technology for assured refinement and fuel efficiency.

The Range Rover Velar engine range

Electric Hybrid

P400e - 404PS, 2 litre four-cylinder petrol PHEV, 640Nm of torque at 1,500-4,400rpm, 8 speed automatic, AWD

Petrol

P250 - 250PS 2 litre four-cylinder petrol, 365Nm of torque at 1,300-4,500rpm, eight-speed automatic, AWD

P340 - 340PS, 3 litre six-cylinder petrol MHEV, 480Nm of torque at 1,500-4,500rpm, eight-speed automatic, AWD

P400 - 400PS, 3 litre six-cylinder petrol MHEV, 550Nm of torque at 2,000-5,000rpm, eight-speed automatic, AWD

Diesel

D200 - 204PS, 2 litre four-cylinder diesel MHEV, 430Nm of torque at 1,750-2,500rpm, eight-speed automatic, AWD

D300 - 300PS, 3 litre six-cylinder diesel MHEV, 650Nm of torque at 1,500-2,500rpm, eight-speed automatic, AWD

Adaptive Dynamics is standard on all six-cylinder and PHEV models as well as all Dynamic HSE-specification four-cylinder models, and ensures suspension stiffness is optimised for the driving conditions, improving ride comfort and handling. There’s even a specific calibration for off-road driving. Advanced chassis and suspensions, including Electronic Air Suspension, Adaptive Dynamics and Configurable Dynamics, deliver exceptional performance and agility on-road.

Supreme all-terrain performance is also guaranteed, with assured Range Rover breadth of capability thanks to an intelligent torque on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system. It provides the optimum torque distribution to suit the conditions, whether driving dynamically on the road or pulling away from a standstill on slippery surfaces.

Terrain Response 2 is accessible through Pivi Pro and allows the driver to adjust vehicle settings to suit the driving environment, with a choice of Eco, Comfort, Grass-Gravel-Snow, Mud-Ruts, Sand, Dynamic and Automatic mode. Each alters the calibration of the engine, transmission, all-wheel drive system, suspension, and stability control systems for optimum traction and composure. The Velar remains a ‘single gearbox’ vehicle, meaning it doesn’t have a low-box.

Prospective customers can choose from Velar S, Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography.

Citroën Oli concept car debuts at Rétromobile Show 2023 News

Citroën has brought us some quirky cars over the years, many sporting elements from their concept cars, and we reckon you'll be seeing some of the innovations from this new concept car, Oli, which made its public debut, surrounded by a number of other iconic vehicles that represent milestones in Citroën's history, at the Rétromobile Show 2023 held recently in Paris.

Inspired by Citroën’s C10 concept from 1956, Oli is an embodiment of Citroën’s new design direction and innovative take on the future of mobility, offering electrically powered family transport that is affordable, light, versatile and tackles society's challenges.

Incorporating recycled and recyclable materials, Oli is designed to improve longevity, reliability and affordability, whilst demonstrating Citroën’s innovations including mesh seat backs, which require 80% fewer parts than traditional seats.

The bonnet, roof and boot floor panels, all of which are made from extremely strong recycled honeycomb cardboard are also impressive as they can support a person's weight. With this drive for weight reduction, the Oli weighs 1000kg, allowing it to achieve a range of 248 miles from a 40kWh battery.

Oli introduces a new interpretation of Citroën's signature chevron logo, as well as a new, vivid signature colour - infrared.

Dacia's 'hot seat' highlights rivals' money-grabbing tactics News

In a bid to highlight its opposition to the growing wider industry trend of charging consumers a subscription to access in-car features, car manufacturer Dacia is coming to the rescue of chilly drivers everywhere in these cold months and giving away free hot water bottles, named ‘Heated Seat Saviours’.

The switching on of heated seats, extra manoeuvrability and enabling assisted driving features are all examples of the latest attempts of some car manufacturers to charge consumers for stuff their car has already been built with.

Meanwhile, Dacia is famed for offering simplicity, with customers being able to access everything that they initially pay for with their vehicle. Dacia’s top specification Sandero Stepway, Duster and Jogger are fitted with heated seats as standard.

The ‘Heated Seat Saviours’ will be available for drivers, who may not feel comfortable forking out additional costs for a feature already fitted in the initial purchase of their car. After picking up their hot water bottle, motorists can safely fill it up as per the instructions provided and place it on their car seat (prior to driving) to warm it up.

Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK said:

“Our 'Heated Seat Saviours' are a bit of fun, but they do highlight the direction the wider industry is going regarding subscription-based access to features. Asking someone to pay extra to activate factory-fitted equipment certainly isn’t Dacia!

We believe in simplicity, offering our customers technology that makes driving more convenient and comfortable with features included in a car’s initial price. Whether consumers view heated seats as essential or not, our commitment to value and a fussfree ownership experience means that we will only ever ask them to push a button to enjoy them.”

To claim a free ‘Heated Seat Saviour’, drivers need to simply visit one of the below Dacia dealerships and ask for one of the limited-edition hot water bottles while stocks last.

more at » dacia.co.uk/hot-water-bottle

Limited Editions for Matchbox's 70th Anniversary News

Mattel is commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Matchbox® brand and seven decades of die-cast adventures by reflecting on its legacy and looking to the future.

Conceived in 1953 by English engineer Jack Odell, a vehicle mechanic for the British Army in World War II, Matchbox reinvented the toy vehicle category with a revolutionary scale, affordable price, and mass availability. These early values of innovation, quality and realism continue to be upheld by the Matchbox brand 70 years later.

To celebrate, the brand is introducing a line of special limitededition vehicles. The celebratory line will include special 70th anniversary die-cast vehicles, featured in 7 different assortments across the Matchbox range, all honouring the anniversary with special platinum details.

These selections are a combination of collector favourites and iconic vehicles, spanning seven decades and regions around the world. The limited-edition line is just the first of many ways Matchbox will be celebrating with more announcements to come in July 2023.

“We are so excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Matchbox and the trusted legacy this brand has imprinted on kids and collectors all over the world. We look forward to continuing to redefine the die-cast category as we move towards a more sustainable future.”

The Mattel brand will celebrate its history while also looking toward the future by continuing its commitment to sustainability as a portion of the new 70th anniversary die-cast collection will be made from recycled zinc. Additionally, Matchbox is committed to integrating more electric vehicles and eco-friendly themes into products with a vision to make all toys and packaging from 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials by 2030.

With a RRP starting from £2.30 for a single die-cast vehicle, Matchbox toys are planned to be available in 2023 at Tesco, Sainsburys, B&M Bargain, Morrisons, The Entertainer and Toymaster stores.

more at » shop.mattel.com

Roberto Stanichi, Senior VP, Global Head of Vehicles at Mattel said:

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

ARB’s range of products for the o -road and pickup market includes -

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

arb4x4uk.co.uk

sales@britpart.com

AudiQ8SLine

Whatisit?

The Q8 50 TDI Quattro 286PS, S line, tiptronic, giving it its full title, is quite a statement. And so it should be seeing that it’s the range-topper for their Q-brand. Audi wanted to combine the elegance of a luxury coupé with the comfort, convenience and versatility of a large SUV, a bit like BMW’s X6, or the Range Rover Velar, it’s certainly a well-established and lucrative market.

Ontheroad

The last time I borrowed the big Q8 we spent most of the time travelling to, and around Scotland, where it ate up the miles with ease. During the long motorway stretches Muddy Madam either tapped away on her laptop beside me, or snoozed. The quiet ambience and soft air suspension didn’t cause her to be nauseous once.

In comfort mode the huge Q8 wafts along nicely which is pretty much how I drove it all week; it suits it. However this time around I spent more time commuting and partaking in more local adventures.

Although it’s still a big car, it’s actually 66mm shorter and 35mm lower than its Q7 sister car, though the Q8 is 27mm wider in

the body. This became all too real as I nervously shoehorned its wide girth into an incredibly tight underground car park in central Manchester. I thought I wasn’t going to make it, even after I’d folded the mirrors in.

Out on the open road the Q8 loves to glide along in an unhurried manner, things are just chill, as the young‘uns say. The steering is on my preferred side of weighty and the whole experience is delightful.

Switching to Dynamic mode, that drops the suspension 40mm and offers a firmer ride and that’s when the fun begins. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a huge car, but it’s a fast huge car, and one that holds the corners incredibly well thanks to its grippy 285/45 R21 tyres, and of course quattro permanent all-wheel drive. I’m not going to say that it transforms the Q8 into an exciting driver's car, but it certainly livens things up.

Fuel wise, in ‘economical’ mode whilst driving at typical motorways speeds, the Q8 returned just over 33mpg, and pootling around town you can expect between high teens and mid twenties. The last Q8 I borrowed managed 41.8mpg after 6 hours at 60mph.

Offroad

As I mentioned, the Q8 comes with a Quattro transmission as standard, as well as an ‘off-road’ setting which raises the body just shy of 2”, or 50mm if you’re young and haven’t learnt imperial.

Raising the suspension to ‘off-road’ mode gives you quite a bit of confidence off the beaten track, but those tyres take it all away as there isn’t much in the way of sidewalls to flex.

I’ll be honest, the green lanes I took it down were quite damp after a few days of heavy rain and I did wonder how the huge tyres would cope in mud. I needn’t have, the clever all-wheel drive system kept us going forward, even after stopping on a hill to take photos didn’t prove a problem.

With the suspension of full height it can be a bit ‘thumpy’ at speeds over 10mph, but that is the nature of air suspension, it was exactly the same in the brand new Range Rover.

Like the Octavia elsewhere in this month’s mag, I feel the Q8 would rather use its AWD system to get you out of trouble rather than playing. That said, fit some decent tyres and I have no doubt you will be surprised at where it’ll take you.

Interior

There’s no doubt that it’s a lovely place to be, quiet and comfortable, but some of the functions on the double monitors aren’t easy to navigate, or find.

Like most vehicles with touchscreens, they can be difficult to use whilst on the move - simply finding the heater controls was a task in itself whilst negotiating twisty roads. For me, this is where the Q8 is deducted a significant amount of points.

Just because you have the means to make a flash interface doesn’t mean you should, just give us knobs, dials and proper switches, they're easier to use and a damn sight safer.

Now I’ve got that off my chest the rest of the Q8 feels as it should. There is ample elbow and leg room for all passengers, and a capacious 605 litres of boot space behind the back seats.

Something to bear in mind is that the Q8 is only a 5 seater, if you want 7 seats then go for a Q7. Oh, and much to the annoyance of my rear seat passengers, this particular Q8 didn’t have any USB or USB-C points in the back, only two 12v sockets.

Engine’n’transmission

There’s only one engine is available in the Q8 for those ordering this year: Audi’s 282bhp 3.0-litre ‘50 TDI’ diesel. It’s hooked up to a 48V electrical and mild-hybrid large-capacity battery and advanced engine starter-generator that helps keep it on the green side.

Conclusion

Despite my utter dislike for double touchscreens and no dials, the Q8 is on my favourite car list for 2022. Yes it’s huge, but driving it both on and ‘off-road’ simply made me smile, and doesn't it look resplendent in Matador red?

Price; £70,550 (as tested; £75,045)

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On the road again

This isn’t a new thing for me of course. Short trips really don’t do it for me, I like the fully immersive experience of spending considerable amounts of time on the road and away from it all. That’s not to say I don’t spend weekends or short periods of under two weeks Landy camping. That’s the joy of being kitted out at all times, if I like a place or simply fancy it, I can stay wherever I find myself, even if that’s just for the night, at the drop of a hat.

But, I now have another opportunity to spend many months living in Ralph. Where and why is not something I’m going to divulge for now. To be honest the details aren’t concrete yet anyway so I couldn’t share them if I wanted to, but what is for sure is that I will soon move into the L322 for a considerable amount of time. This time though, it is far more likely (although not yet definite) that I will be based in one place for a change rather than moving on each day.

While I might be 'living' in one rather awesome location for months, I will want to do a lot of exploring further afield during that time, and this will include overnight or several night stays away. So how will my things need to differ from my current tried and tested setup?

There are things we all need in life. Being a psychologist, I immediately thought of Maslow and his well known hierarchy of needs. It certainly helps break things down into digestible chunks.

This month is Chunk One: Basic Physiological Needs.

Food, water, shelter, excretion (going to the loo), comfort, temperature, clothing, rest & sleep, and personal hygienewithout these no trip will be successful.

This step usually includes reproduction too, but I’m not planning on detailing how to get it on in a Landy, you can have fun working that out for yourself!

Shelter, rest, and sleep, are going to all depend on your choice of sleeping arrangements. In-vehicle, roof top tents, ground tents, and awnings are all popular choices, but which one is 'best' really depends on many factors:

• your budget, personal preferences

• how long you’re travelling for

• where you will be staying

• how often you plan on moving

• how many people are on the trip

• the laws of the land you’re travelling in/camping on

• the local weather

• how much gear you’re carrying in the truck, etc.

As a solo traveller - and someone who has travelled with a partner many times, always with a dog, usually wild camping, moving on each day or after a maximum of a couple of nightsI’ve made in-vehicle camping my main choice, but I usually carry a

ground tent and have an awning fitted, so I have options.

In-vehicle camping is, once you’ve nailed the setup, really easy. You just park and sleep with no to minimal setup time, except for shifting a dog off the bed so there is space for you to get in.

It’s also great for wild camping (which in-vehicle sleeping doesn’t fit the legal definition of, more on this later), because you can pull up and sleep in many locations legally (local laws dependent), but may not legally be able to put up a roof tent or awning, and, for longer periods in one place, I can see how it may not be ideal or the most comfortable option.

I’ve even done it with two passengers, two of us sleeping in the vehicle, one in a ground tent, so it can be done with considerable, but well thought out (less is more folks!) gear in the back, but again, when you’re setting up a base camp, there are far better options.

I’m still not considering a roof tent. While I may not be travelling daily for a change, I’d still have to setup and pack away each time I wanted to move the Rangie, the same goes for an awning.

Both, particularly the awning, have a lot of merits, and I will be using my current 270° awning that’s for sure, but my plan is to add drive-away awning. That way my bed and other essential stuff can remain permanently, with no need to mess about with them just to go out for the day or a weekend, plus I can return and just fall into bed. I’ll keep the onboard bed though for those weekend trips further afield.

Food is one of my favourite subjects. As an ex-chef and qualified diet and nutrition advisor, my camp cooking tends to be rather involved too. I value good food for more than just the taste.

I have camp cookers of all descriptions - from the basic stalwart, the Campingaz canister one burner, the compact throw-into-arucksack meths and gas Trangias and Alpkit Brukit, to a cast iron two burner that requires a gas bottle. I use all these on my pull out kitchen unit.

I also have a variety of solid fuel options, a Rocket Stove wood burner and a fold flat fire pit/grill, coupled with a dutch oven, cast iron skillet and sandwich toaster, plus a tripod and grill to hang over the solid fuel options. I expect to use the two burner and the fire pit a lot more often during this trip than I do while constantly moving.

The joy of carrying a gas bottle is that I can use it for my hot water solution from Joolca too. While I am not averse to cold water bathing, and in fact want to do a lot more on my next trip, I will have access to onsite facilities for a change, and hot water on tap is never a bad thing.

Keeping food fresh is more of a challenge while on the road, but with my on board dual zone fridge freezer this is a lot easier than it was before I upgraded to a compressor unit. They are expensive, which is why I held out so long, but they are a game changer.

I’m all for travelling light and on a budget, but I totallyl recommend one of these. Not only will they keep your food fresh, they are clever. Mine has two zones, each can be operated independently; off, fridge, freezer, or any mixture. It has a lithium battery (sold separately) that will power it for 24 hours, and a voltage cut off, so it won’t keep charging until it has killed your truck battery.

I installed a second battery to help power gadgets and am definitely looking into solar power for a trip where I won’t be driving everyday for most of the time as I usually do, but my alternator deserves a rest!

Temperature and weather are going to be big considerations. I’ll be staying in a temperate climate in temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 30°. I’ve never used a diesel heater, and I’m not 100% sure whether to invest in one either as I’m OK with the cold, and I am set up with suitable clothing, bedding, and a fire pit to sit by, but I am looking into these.

When it comes to clothing, layering is king. Layers trap air which helps to keep you warm, you can also remove them when being active, or add to them as the temperature drops. This helps with washing too, easy-drying base layers keep mid and heavy outer layers useable for longer between washes. Although with being in one place with facilities, this won’t be as big a concern as it usually is when I’m on the move.

Washing isn’t always the difficulty, but drying always is, so I carry a mangle. It may seem old fashioned, but it is a reliable and efficient way of drying clothes, it also needs no electricity to work which is a bonus. This will definitely be coming with me!

A good sleeping bag is also an essential, with the right bag, you won’t need to carry as much, but spare blankets are still a must. I love my outdoor duvet, as does the dog! She also has her own expedition coat.

Water won’t be an issue on this trip, but it often can be when I’m always moving, even in the UK. We like to gatekeep water over here, and there can be a considerable charge for it. I usually carry between 20 and 40 litres of drinkable water, I’ll use rivers

and lakes for washing, and try and keep my stash for rinsing and drinking. The Joolca system will pump water from 30m away as well as filter it for safe washing, but not drinking, so I also carry water filters just in case.

My go-to is a Lifestraw gravity bag, because it’s light and small, but there are tons of products that do the same thing. I plan to check out the jerry can options soon as an upgrade to my basic plastic water carriers. Remember water does go off and can cause some really nasty illnesses. If I get the opportunity of a free top up I always fully empty, wash out and refill, even if I only filled up the day before. Chlorine tablets can be useful to carry too, particularly in warmer environments.

Toilets are something I won’t need to worry about for a change, they’ll be there for me to use. For nights away I’ll stick to the tried and tested alfresco methods. A simple trowel is your friend, but isn’t always suitable depending on when and where nature calls. You could carry a bulky chemical loo, but it will take up space and need proper facilities to empty. The best option I’ve found is bags, a bucket, and some wood pellet cat litterlight, simple, and easy to get rid of.

Comfort is a subjective one. I’m pretty comfortable with what most find uncomfortable, in fact I work on this all the time, the Wim Hof Method courses I’m doing are aimed at increasing our resilience by purposefully making ourselves very uncomfortable and overcoming this discomfort.

Being completely alone for long periods, the cold, kipping in cars or tents, and being challenged by surroundings (or Land Rovers), are things I genuinely enjoy experiencing or overcoming. I do take things I enjoy, or get joy from, on longer trips, while ensuring that I have everything I need, but nothing significantly extra.

It’s the extras that will start to annoy you, they take up much needed space, add unnecessary weight, and they need looking after too. If you don’t rely on them, they can quickly become a burden to nomadic existence, but that doesn’t mean that on long term trips that you can’t have any luxuries or comforts.

Mine are:

• always an onboard library which invariably increases as I find bookshops on route (a Kindle would help and I do own one, but I’m unapologetically old school)

• I stick some mementos on my dash that make me smile, and make the truck feel like a home

• my outdoor duvet and Dry Robe, because they’re cosy as well as useful

• great food

• tea, and coffee

• luxurious natural body products - they are non-toxic to the environment and make me feel and smell fab even in a field

• Celyn, my dog, of course

• and sometimes a person, even if they’re only connected remotely and can’t join me.

Your comforts may be a TV, a group of friends, an onboard bar, or even the odd night in a hotel, you do you. When it comes to your joy, this is what it’s all about!

That’s all from me this month folks. Next month we’ll look at steps 2 &3 : safety and social connection in even the most remote locations.

Drive safe, Lauren and Celyn x

INEOS GRENADIER INEOSGRENADIER

As I’m sure a lot of you will have noticed, in mid January I was one of a handful of lucky UK motoring writers to be invited on the global media launch for the Ineos Grenadier, and for the last 3 weeks, assuming you’re reading this on the 8th February when the embargo was lifted, I’ve been itching to share my experience.

So, first things first, and here’s a contradiction - there is absolutely nothing revolutionary about the Grenadier. It has a sturdy ladder frame chassis, a choice of two 3.0 litre 6-cylinder BMW engines, petrol and diesel, and a ZF 8-speed auto gearbox. It’s endowed with coil springs all ‘round, solid axles with optional front and rear locking diffs.

See, nothing special.

However, dig a bit deeper and things become a little more intriguing. The chassis for example is up to 3.5mm thick, and is protected against corrosion by a full E-Coat treatment (cathodic dip coating, an electro-chemical coating process). It also has an internal cavity wax application, and an exterior powder coat that’s backed by INEOS Automotive’s class-leading 12 year antiperforation warranty. The body is even fully galvanised!

Some would argue that permanent 4WD, beam axles and coil springs are ancient technology, whilst others, me included, would argue that Jim’s got it right as this set up is not only strong but it’s easier to repair than your average pickup using IFS.

It’s the same when you look at every other part of the Grenadier; engines, suspension and accessories, the Grenadier is built for purpose, as they say. And what’s the purpose?

Anyhow, let’s get on with the drive.

Snow was already on the ground on arrival at Inverness airport, Matt the PR guy had previously sent an email out telling us that temperatures in the Scottish highlands had plummeted to -10, so dress appropriately.

Armed with my ‘big coat’ and thermal long johns, the day started with a driver's briefing to discuss the day’s itinerary and other safety details, we were then paired up and allocated a Grenadier. Ours was the BMW B57 diesel Trailmaster resplendent in ‘Magic Mushroom’, or beige.

Leaving Inverness and heading towards Kinloch Laggan I decided to jump in the passenger seat, and as Gareth, my co-driver and I made our way along the A86 the snow began to fall quite heavily.

As a front seat passenger for an hour or so my initial impressions were that the ride, seating, space and overall ambience was really quite good. The seat was comfy and supportive, leg room ample, as was elbow space, and I could sit back, relax and enjoy being chauffeured. For context, I’m 6ft 2in tall and the best part of 18 stone, or 114kg if you’re young.

1½ hours later we arrived at the Eco Pod at the Ardverikie Estate for our first coffee break. It was a good opportunity to have a wander around the other vehicles in the convoy whilst checking out their specs. I also got the chance to have a peak at the winches that are hidden neatly behind those protruding front bumpers.

Speaking of accessories, the Grenadier is the only 4x4 available in the UK, that I’m aware of, that has a 270º ‘Batwing’ awning available as an accessory.

After a brew it was my turn to jump behind the wheel as we all followed Ian southwards to Dava Moor, a bleak expanse of open moorland covering more than 100,000 acres.

Finding the correct driving position was easier as the seats and steering wheel have plenty of adjustment.

The track itself was just that, easy enough not to warrant engaging either low-box or any of its 3 difflock, just ‘Off-Road mode’.

Hang on, Off-Road Mode?

Yup, engaging the Grenadier’s Off-Road mode via a switch on the roof panel softens the throttle response, keeps it in gear for longer and switches off parking sensors, door chimes, seatbelt reminders as well as the engine’s start/stop facility to minimise distraction and lets you focus on the terrain ahead.

Our destination was a place called the Golf Course, an area where we could engage low-box and test the Grenadier’s off-road credentials.

With snow still falling this compact off-road course had hills aplenty, great to test traction, but a bit rubbish for photos, as your can see, or not…

Engaging low-box and centre diff is pleasingly hands-on using a proper gear lever - keeping things simple and mechanical.

In normal conditions I’d say that the myriad of tracks wouldn’t cause too much difficulty, but after about an hour of around a dozen Grenadiers continually driving around, the tracks became quite icy and slippery, but with the rear locker engaged traction was always there, somehow.

As the ruts became deeper I was curious on how the Grenadiers would cope as it has drawn a little criticism from folk for the apparent lack of ground clearance, but it was fine, no grounding whatsoever. When you compare it to a new coilsprung Defender 110, the ramp over angle on the latter is 24.2º, whereas on the Grenadier it’s 28.2º. Also, the approach angle on the Defender is a mere 31.5º, the Grenadier is greater at 35.5º.

Ground clearance/ride height?

Glad you asked, the coil sprung Defender's is 226mm versus the Grenadier’s 264mm. Though the departure angle is in the Defender’s favour at 37.5º, compared to 36.1º. In fairness, when you take pricing into account the Grenadier is on par with the air-sprung Defender, which is far superior.

After much merriment it was back the Eco Hut for dinner, then the second part of the day which was probably the most popular, and that was wading through Loch Laggan, which is one of the UK’s largest fresh water lakes.

As we all queued on the shore, Ian came over the radio to explain what he wanted us to do, and that was basically to follow his lead.

Engaging low-box, centre diff-lock and both off-road mode and wade mode, one by one we entered the cold and murky water. Incidentally, wading mode disengages the radiator fan so it doesn't get damaged when entering deep water - a neat idea.

The Grenadier has a safe wading depth of 800mm, which is plenty enough. It was a tad choppy out, and despite water momentarily lapping over the bonnet, checking out the photos later show that the water level was just touching the bottom of the doors, roughly 300mm lower than it can handle.

Once we ventured a little further out to the deeper section there was a slight feeling of floating, but again traction was always there - and no, it didn’t leak, not even after the fourth ‘dunking’!

Once we’d finished messing about in the water we headed further south onto a myriad of tracks that varied from gnarly to straight forward towards the snowcapped Cairngorms.

As the track stretched out in front of us it gave me the opportunity to speed up a little and test the Grenadier’s suspension. The track had quite a few pot-holes and undulations, and even at around 20-25mph, the heavy duty progressive rate coil springs (made by suspension specialists, Eibach), smoothed them out and never once felt unstable.

By now was nearing 4pm, the sun was setting and the track that skirted along the banks of Lochan na h-Earba offered some of the most dramatic and beautiful views I’ve ever witnessed.

The snow capped peaks and lochs set against the dramatic sky were mesmerising.

But we hadn’t finished yet, another wading section across the causeway on Lochan na h-Earba proved easy, it wasn’t as deep as before, but still over the bumper and yet the Grenadier pushed through. It was deep enough in parts to see the perfectly formed bow wave in front of the bonnet. On the subject of visibility, owners of ‘classic’ Defender will feel right at home as from the drivers seat you can clearly see both wings.

From the causeway we followed the well maintained track that would eventually take us to the A86 at the start of the river Spean. With light fading we took to the road and headed Fort William. This was my first chance to stretch the diesel on-road, but within minutes the snow began to fall quite heavily, so the going was slower than I’d like.

As we joined the A82 the snow eased and we made better progress, and that’s when I noticed that I had to make small adjustment to the steering to keep it in a straight line. Also, whilst negotiating tight junctions and roundabouts, the steering lacked any self-centreing. My first thoughts were had we damaged the geometry somehow on the rough sections, as to be fair we were giving it a hefty work out. We’d find out tomorrow when we swapped cars.

Crossing Loch Leven we climbed the A82 up pass Glencoe, with the snow capped, yet barely visible Three Sisters of Glencoe on our right. I worked the diesel hard on this last stint, easing off on the steep bits, then planting my foot to the floor. It was a bit vocal, obviously, but acceleration was there, maybe not in vast quantities, though it synced impressively well with the 8-speed ZF ‘box.

Another note I made was that the illumination, both in cabin and outside was spot on. The overhead control panel was subtly lit, as was the centre console.

After an overnight stop at the Kingshouse Hotel, we swapped vehicles, and today’s Grenadier was the petrol, Fieldmaster.

Fitted with incredibly fast acting, and warm heated seats, we headed south continuing on the A82 on the fast, sweeping roads that took us around Loch Fyne, and finally to Loch Lomond and the village of Luss.

As you would expect, the M54 3.0ltr petrol is smooth and powerful, and consequently a bit more fun to drive than the diesel.

Around the sweeping bends the Grenadier remained upright, of course there is some lean, especially when you’re not as smooth as you could be, but in fairness that’s expected.

Slightly disappointing, the steering remained the same as the diesel, it felt as though I was constantly making slight corrections. I then remembered the last few times I drove the Jeep Wrangler, it too required slight adjustments, and of course it shares the same coils all ‘round and solid axle set-up. Maybe I’ve got used to carlike steering on modern SUVs and IFS pickups.

Our next off-road challenge was the Pipeline track that offered some spectacular views over Loch Long. This particular track gave us some quite rough sections, from icy steep climbs to large steps and holes to negotiate. The latter were easily driven, it was the icy climbs that I thought would cause problems. The challenge was that on the drivers side of the track was sheet ice, and on the passenger’s loose stone. I needn’t of worried, a steady throttle and strategic wheel placement meant that all I needed was low-box and a locked centre diff.

Our afternoon foray was the most technical of the launch and meant clambering up a very loose rocky incline with plenty of twists and turns. Up to this point ground clearance was never a problem, as with careful wheel placement any sort of grounding was avoided. However, with rocks the size of footballs it was inevitable that we would find the Grenadier’s limits. Being fair, even a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon would have grounded-out here.

This type of technical ‘off-roading’ is what I enjoy the most, being clever in where you place the vehicle and yet having the

confidence that your vehicle is ready for the challenge. The Grenadier was not only ready for the challenge, but it put a huge smile on my face as we crept up the gnarly track using every inch of its suspension articulation. I was impressed.

Upon reaching the top we stopped for a chat and photos, and of course what goes up must come down, so with Hill Descent engaged, along with low-box, it was Gareth’s turn to take to the helm, and I was jealous.

Named the Ski Run, this tight and unnervingly steep track was sodden and strewn with large rocks, water runs and tree roots, all prime to make any 4x4 into a toboggan, but the Grenadier remained as sure footed as ever.

With Gareth driving, or should I say steering, and Adam (one of the instructors in the passenger seat), I was sitting in the back. I have to say that rear seat passengers also have it good. It’s remarkably spacious, and just like up front, there’s plenty of head, elbow and leg room for, erm, larger than normal passengers.

And that was it, two days of on and off-road testing was over, and now I’ve had three weeks to mull over my thoughts about the Grenadier, so let’s begin with my dislikes first.

Maybe dislikes is the wrong word, let’s use niggles or slight annoyances. I’ve mentioned this already, the steering, whilst definitely not vague, the recirculating ball steering layout

featuring hydraulic assistance does require the slightest of adjustment whilst on the road. To be fair, it’s the same in the Jeep Wrangler and every other beam axle 4x4 I’ve driven of late, it’s just the nature of that type of steering geometry. I need to live with one for a week or so, as depending on the road and length of journey it could become quite tiresome. In addition to that it’s the lack of self-centreing whilst emerging from a junction or roundabout that caught me out a few times.

Next on the list are the two info screens. Although the centre screen is good and unobtrusive, it houses the speedo at the top right hand corner (it’s mirrored for left hand drives). Personally it’s a bit too small and out of my line of vision.

There is a smaller panel in front of the steering that houses warning lights like 4x4, diff-locks etc, and always shows that the auto lights are on. This has no benefit and I reckon the warning lights should be moved to the centre screen and replaced with the speedometer in front of the driver.

This is just my two’penneth as other folk on the launch didn’t seem overly bothered by it.

What else niggled me?

Although you have two huge door mirrors, rear vision is limited due to the split rear doors and spare tyre, though you do get a rear camera for reversing. And that’s it. Actually, frugal isn’t a word I would use to describe its fuel consumption either, but it’s a big ‘ole thing. Expect the petrol to return between 18-19mpg, and the diesel between 23-27mpg.

Likes?

There are a lot of likes. I like that everything has been over engineered, I like the clearly labelled and well-spaced buttons and chunky dials on both the central dash and the aircraft-inspired overhead control panel. I like that it has permanent four-wheel drive, front and rear diff locks and a two-speed transfer case built by industry transmission leader Tremec.

The suspension gives a comfortable ride both on and off-road and it doesn’t matter whether you’re crossing a continent, on the daily commute, or scraping the diffs on a gnarly green lane, the combination offers high levels of refinement as wheel-buckling potholes are dismissed with a mere shrug.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the fact that the body is fully galvanised and the chassis has a 12-year anti-perforation warranty is outstanding, but it’s the small things, too. Like the Grenadier’s tyres valve are steel rather than rubber, ensuring they won’t get torn off in coarse mud or deep undergrowth.

Another tick is that instead of the standard black powder coat finish on the chassis, customers can opt to have have finished in

‘HALO’ red or ‘Rhino’ grey powder coat. ‘HALO Red’ celebrates their development partnership with global humanitarian landmine clearance charity, and ‘Rhino Grey’ celebrates INEOS Automotive’s support for The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. For each HALO Red or Rhino Grey chassis sold, INEOS Automotive will donate €150 to the respective organisations.

Overall the Grenadier is an incredibly capable 4x4 that’s been well thought out and executed, and with that alone I suspect it’ll be a success.

With that in mind, would I buy one?

I’ve posed this question to myself many times since the launch, I even wrote far too many paragraphs on comparing the Grenadier to the latest Defender, Land Cruiser, Wrangler Rubicon and even an Ibex - despite never driving one, and my answer has always been the same - yes.

Okay, there are a few things I’m not keen on, but overall I appreciate that it’s been built to last, and that alone gives me confidence - but you won’t see one on the pages of The Mud Life anytime soon, you’ll have to wait until secondhand prices drop significantly before they’re in my price range!

Models and Prices for 2023

2-seat Utility £55,000 - petrol & diesel

5-seat Station Wagon £58,000 - petrol & diesel

As above Trailmaster £69,000 - petrol & diesel

As above Fieldmaster £69,000 - petrol & diesel

GOODS & GEAR

Let me introduce you to my new favourite lubricant and penetrating spray - Bulldog BDX.

Incorporating the latest anti-friction and antiwear technology, Bulldog BDX has worked wonders around Muddy Towers. I’ve had a pair of front recovery points for Deux Smurf for over a year now and the reason I’ve haven’t fitted them is because I’ve not been able to remove the 27 year old tie-down hooks. I’ve sprayed the rusty, mud and salt encrusted bolts with the usual yellow and blue spray many times, but without any success.

After a squirt of Bulldog BDX and a bit of time to let it soak in, the nuts loosened like they were only tightened yesterday. Amazing stuff.

I’m told that it works incredibly well on winch cables, too. Spray the cable with BDX and the next day you will see them all rusty and horrible - but don't panic. The BDX has pushed any rusty water, etc out of the core whilst lubricating each strand. You then simply wipe the surface clean and give it another application and you’re good to go. Not only has it displaced the moisture and dried the metal, but it’s left a rust inhibiting film on all the strands.

During the -7º cold spell we had last month I found myself locked out of Deux Smurf, our 27 year old Toyota Surf, with a frozen lock. After a quick spray with BDX it didn’t take long to defrost, and it hasn’t frozen since, in fact, the whole locking mechanism is so much more smooth to operate.

Not only does it combat moisture and corrosion leaving a clean and lubricated surface, but it’s proven to be a superb release agent. Another great thing about BDX, apart from that it works incredibly well on everything I’ve sprayed it on, is that a little goes a long way, so there’s no need to douse stubborn nuts and bolts with half a can. And, it won’t damage delicate rubber, plastic or decorated and painted metal.

Quite honestly, I won’t be buying anything else in the future as it’s worked so incredibly well at everything I’ve used it on, and at just £12.99, it’s a worthy investment.

price: £12.99

more at » lubricantsuppliers.com

WILD MATS

Available from Matt Savage, Wild Matts are made from a tough, rot-proof synthetic fibre compound.

With dimples on each side to grip both the ground and your tyres, they are also flexible enough to contour with uneven ground, yet stiff enough to avoid rucking up like other roll-up self recovery mats making them perfect for soft sand, slippy mud, wet grass and snow.

Weighing only 1.4kg each they have no sharp edges, and are very easy to handle and store in your vehicle.

What sets them apart from other recovery mats are that they also have many other uses, such as a windscreen sun shade, tent door mat, wind shade for cooking and even as outdoor shower mats.

Wild Mats are old in pairs with each one measuring 120cm x 45cm.

price: £112 (+VAT) (now only available in black) more at » mattsavage.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month

LIGHTFORCE DUAL VOLTMETER WITH 3.0 AMP USB FAST CHARGE

This neat unit is designed to take the stress out of monitoring both your main and auxiliary battery. You can keep an eye on voltage levels and monitor your alternator charge rate while on the road and catch any dual battery isolator faults before they cause an issue.

The voltmeter has a 3.0 Amp USB Fast Charge port that is connected to your auxiliary battery for charging essential digital devices while driving or when the vehicle is not in use. This USB 3.0 outlet is capable of charging high powered smartphones, tablets and GPS devices.

The unit is supplied with a dust cover that provides added durability when mounting in vulnerable locations and can be completely removed during installation, or if not required.

price: £46 more at » 4x4obsession.co.uk

EcoFlow RIVER Portable Power Station

Last year Ecoflow were kind enough to send me one of the their River 288Wh portable power stations, and to say that it’s been useful is a huge understatement, it’s become almost as indispensable as my mobile phone.

Weighing in at a reasonable 5kg, the River has a built-in sturdy handle on the top and overall feels fairly rugged, it’s also small enough to store in a corner of your 4x4 without taking over the entire boot and hides neatly in your tent.

On the front of the River you’ll find a 100W USB-C slot, two USB-A slots and a fast charge USB-A outlet. There’s also a 12V cigarette lighter outlet that has been incredibly useful for for the tyre compressor. Nestled in the centre there’s an easy to read display screen that includes hours and % left, input and output, and it’s very simple to use and understand - even for this luddite. Just to the left of the display screen there is a small torch with a few different illumination modes that’s perfectly adequate in an emergency, but you wouldn’t want to carry the River around the camp on a regular basis.

On one side you have two AC outlets that are activated by pressing a small button. Once fired up, you’ll be able to boil a kettle multiple times, run a fridge for up to three hours and so on. Switch to X-Boost technology and you’re able to power high-wattage appliances up to 1800W, which is enough to power a hairdryer, or even a lawnmower, apparently!

The other side is where you’ll find the sockets to charge up the River. The Ecoflow River can be fully charged in only 96 minutes via your home socket, or 3 hours by plugging it into your car with the car adapter. You can also charge it using Ecoflow’s solar panels, and I’ll get onto that later.

You can power up to 9 devices at once using all the ports,

and you have enough power to charge your phone 21 times, MacBook Air’s battery five times or even make 12 cups of coffee with a coffee maker - or you can simply bring your kettle from home. Another handy feature is that on the display it tells you how much time you have left until it runs out of power.

It really comes into its own when you’re out touring and camping, as during the day it can be plugged into the vehicle’s 12v socket, then in the evening it’ll power up an LED strip light, and top up my phone, iPad, rechargeable camp lights and other bits, and in the morning it’ll even handle a small induction hob for breakfast. A friend of mine uses his River to keep his portable fridge charged during the night as he hasn’t got a split-charge system in his pickup yet.

It isn’t just a handy product to take camping, it's also a sensible insurance policy for around your home, too. I’m not what you’d call a prepper, but it’s nice to know that if there was a power outage I can still charge my phones and iPad that’ll keep me in contact with the outside world. I can also plug in my kettle and toaster for a brew and toast!

Typically, whilst I’ve been putting the River to good use and completing this review, the good folk at Ecoflow haven’t been resting on their laurels, they’ve been busily updating and improving their wares and have recently released their the new River 2, so it could be argued that this review is slightly out of date. However, a quick search on the web shows the River is still for sale at various sites at a greatly reduced price, so I’d be inclined to grab a bargain whilst you still can.

more at » uk.ecoflow.com

EcoFlow 110W Portable Solar Panel

Whether it’s a fallen tree that can be used as firewood, catching your own food for a hearty meal or finding a beautiful wild camping spot, when it comes to free stuff, there’s nothing like it, and it’s the same when it comes to electricity.

A few months ago EcoFlow were kind enough to send me their 110W Solar Panel to use with their River Portable power station.

Straight out of the box the 110W Portable Solar Panel is very easy to use, simply remove it from its sturdy nylon carry case, unfold the panel and connect it to the power station, it’s as simple as that.

On the subject of the carry case, it’s equally robust as the panel with what appears to be a neat, waterproof zip and a padded handle that uses velcro to fasten and therefore very comfortable to carry. That said, it only weighs 6kg, which is nothing really. Also, using the four carabiners that are supplied, the carry case is also designed to be used as a stand for optimal charging. The case keeps the middle four panels steady, but not the two outer ones which can make them a little unstable in windy conditions.

Once connected the charge can be easily monitored, and it doesn’t matter what the weather’s like either as it’s waterproof, dustproof and durable. Obviously you’ll need to keep the power station somewhere dry and clean, and fortunately the cables are long enough to allow this.

A nice touch is that the cables from the panel are standard solar connectors, which are called MC4 which means you don’t have to use the solar panel with an EcoFlow power station, you can use it with pretty much any other power station that accepts MC4 cable input. And, they’re rated to IP68.

When it comes to actually using it, Ecoflow say that the 110w has an industry leading 23% conversion rate, which in a panel that’s more compact than any other on the market is pretty good. In my experience it’s taken the 110w to charge my River from empty to 100% in between 8 and 11 hours, that’s obviously weather dependant and me actually remembering to position the panel to follow the sun. Incidentally, it’ll also operate between -25 and 85º, which is quite astonishing.

Overall I have to say that the build quality is fantastic, from the carry case to the MC4 cables that couple together with a satisfying snap. It’s a product that I’ve relied on more and more and can’t see me being ever being without. Also, there’s a degree of smug satisfaction in the knowledge that I can now charge up pretty much anything I want whilst out and about for free.

price: £289.00 with 12 months warranty more at » uk.ecoflow.com

Petromax Atago

As I’ve mentioned in previous issues, I have far too many BBQs and stoves here at Muddy Towers, but there’s one stove I’ve been itching to try for a long time, and that’s the Petromax Atago.

Over their 100 year plus heritage, Petromax has a worldwide reputation for designing and producing products that are both robust and durable. Made from stainless steel, the Atago is all-in-one tool that can be used as conventional barbecue, stove, oven, and fire bowl using either charcoal briquettes or firewood.

It’s clever, too. Because of its unique extension-retraction mechanism, when you lift it up not only does the top half of its body appear, but its three legs open and slide downwards creating a perfectly steady stove that’s off the ground so not to leave any burnt patches. Folding it back down is as simple as lifting it at the base and the Atago folds back into itself.

Fully erect (snigger), it has a height of 28cm (11”) and when folded it’s only 14 cm (5.5 in), which makes it space-saving in storage. The whole unit measures 48cm (17”) in diameter and weighs in at 6.1kg.

When it comes to producing heat, the Atago incorporates a twin-wall combustion chamber that pre-heats secondary air and introduces it into the flames to create a remarkably clean burn. I have to say that it’s probably the cleanest burning firepit I’ve ever used, even in windy conditions. You can also regulated the burn by the air supply lever in the base.

What I particularly appreciate about the Atago is that it can also be used in combination with a Petromax Dutch Oven or a Griddle and Firebowl.

Whilst both the Griddle and Firebowl are placed on top of the Atago, the Petromax ft3, ft6 or ft9 Dutch Ovens are actually designed to slot inside and rest on the top lip, meaning that the heat yield is very high and efficient.

Is there anything not to love about the Atago? Well, one thing I will recommend is that you buy the carry bag that’s sold separately, otherwise, no matter how well you clean it, you’ll still end up with ash and soot in the back of your car, and it can be a bit awkward to carry without it.

As for the Atago itself, so far I’ve found it to be a fantastic all-rounder, and soon it will feature in a series of cooking videos on our Youtube channel, so don’t forget to subscribe.

price: £229.95 more at » whitbyandco.co.uk

In his first English Petromax cookbook “Outdoor Cooking”, the German campfire pro and author Carsten Bothe shows you everything you need to know about cooking and baking in the great outdoors.

From a German farmer’s breakfast, cheeseburger and tortilla lasagne all the way to cherry bread pudding, this cookbook shows the many possibilities offered by cooking using a Dutch Oven, Fire Skillet and Loaf Pan in the great outdoors.

With over 80 recipes that cover pretty much every taste, Carsten also explains the best way to cook with your chosen cookware, for instance, how much heat you require both underneath and on top of your Dutch Oven to cook thorough and evenly. He also explains a variety of techniques such as how to light the perfect fire and the variables to consider when cooking outside, like the weather, types of charcoal and so on.

Whether it’s a savoury layered meat stew in your Dutch Oven or a fillet béarnaise in a skillet, Outdoor Cooking from Petromax is full of really tasty meal ideas that have the benefit of being prepared quickly and easily. It’s also packed with quality photographs that show you just how your meals are supposed to look when cooked - mine never do!

Of course, the huge collection of recipes aren’t just for outdoor cooking, you can easily adjust and prepare them at home, too, but where’s the fun in that?

This book was developed in close cooperation with Petromax, obviously, and using their high quality camping and outdoor equipment is suggested, but not required.

Overall, I reckon this new cookbook will appeal to everyone who enjoys cooking outdoors as well as those who are keen to learn.

price: £29.95

more at » whitbyandco.co.uk

The Petromax Cookbook

Petromax 8L Cooler Bag

For decades Muddy Madam and I have been using the same old cooler bag, and it’s been fine for a day, but that’s about it. So for extended time away we searched for something better - so all hail its replacement, the Petromax 8ltr Cooler Bag.

Made using a water-repellent nylon fabric, the cooler bag has sturdy waterproof zips and dirt-resistant surfaces, ideal for the 4x4 owner, campers or those who simply enjoy the outdoors.

It’s practical too, on both the front and rear there are zipped pockets that provide space for small items, such as cutlery, kindling or a lighter. The zipped pocket on the rear can be a struggle to get your hands in as it has a narrow opening, but then I have large hands! There are also mesh pockets on both ends as well as a bottle opener fitted to the rear of the bag.

Size-wise it measures 32.5 x 26.5 x 24.5 cm on the outside and 28 x 18 x 16.5 cm on the inside, which is handy if you’re taking it shopping for cold and frozen stuff.

When it comes to lugging it around, not only does it have an extendable padded shoulder strap, but there are also two side straps on either end and a large sturdy handle on the lid.

Of course the most important part of any cool bag is how it performs, and using good quality icepacks the 8ltr version has the ability to keep food cold and fresh for up to four days, or six if you opt for the larger 24ltr version.

When empty it weighs in at just 1.3kg and I’m reliably informed is sturdy enough for a small child to sit on.

We’ve had this cooler for a month or so now, and it’s been faultless at keeping food and drinks perfectly cold and frozen, but as we’re still in December, the real test will be during summer, but judging by its performance so far I have no doubt it’ll work just as it should.

price: £119.95 more at » whitbyandco.co.uk

I have a thing for carbon steel cookware, in particularly my Open Fire Set from Madog Outdoors, and to keep it in tip top condition, Craig has created his own seasoning wax.

Formulated to give your seasoned cookware the most durable seasoning layer possible it’s made from the perfect balance of sunflower oil (high in omega-6) and rapeseed oil (high in omega-3), and provides the ideal chemical composition for

MADOG SEASONING WAX

developing a durable seasoning layer on both your cast iron and carbon steel cookware.

The wax is also reinforced with beeswax that helps to create a stronger net-like structure to your seasoning layer, which results in a better non-stick surface and increased durability.

Specifically designed to withstand flaking at high temperatures, it's perfect for searing and cooking over an open flame. Not only is it made from 100% natural ingredients, but Craig even includes the recipe on the tin if you want to make a second batch yourself!

Madog Seasoning Wax can be rubbed onto your BBQ grates, massaged into your favourite Dutch oven, or lathered up in your Madog Open Fire cookware.

price: £12 more at » madogoutdoors.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month

3 SECOND TENT

Apparently, this pop-up, lightweight, multi-season tent, which popped up (see what I did there) on my Facebook feed, will change your experience of camping. The pre-assembled mechanism will save you plenty of set up time, allowing you to crack open a cold one, sit back and watch your mates struggle.

To erect, simply remove it from its bag, lay the rods flat on the ground and lift the tent upwards. From here you push the inner rods down to lock the tent, and that’s it. Don’t believe me, watch the video on the website. Disassembling looks just as easy.

When it comes to durability it's double-skinned and is sealed and protected with taped seams. It has a built-in flysheet, a HH rating of 3000mm, and comes with 2 doors, a waterproof rain cover and a set of pegs.

Available in 3 sizes:1-2, 2-3 & 3-5 person prices: normally £179.90 - £394.60 though grab one now as they are currently 50% OFF! more at » uk.reactiveoutdoor.com

The new Range Rover, L504, was released last year, and by now pretty much all of you will have spotted a few on the roads. That said, they’re not the easiest to spot, especially from the front as they look similar to the previous model. Checking out their derrière, however, is a different matter, as those rear lights are a bit of a statement, and not to everyone’s taste.

Wandering in Wales

With a strong engine lineup, including mild and plug-in hybrid power, seven-seat flexibility in some models, 4-wheel steering, first-class levels of comfort and refinement in a sumptuous cabin, the new Range Rover is simply an outstanding luxury SUV. If you have deep enough pockets to afford one, then good on you.

It was quite a poignant moment when the HSE arrived outside Muddy Towers. For one I’ve always been a massive fan of Range Rovers and was really, really looking forward to driving it, and secondly, due to the way the JLR team are focussing their marketing at the moment, this will be the last JLR product I will get to drive for quite a while, so I’d better make the most of it.

On the usual daily commute it’s pretty much what you should expect from a £120k 4x4, an absolute dream, it cocoons you from the outside world in serene opulence and fills parking spots with only millimetres to spare. But the Range Rover is designed for more than the usual commute, despite its ability to waft you along in absolute luxury, it’s also built for adventure, so I took it on a few.

North Wales was decided upon, and the drive down to Ruthin was uneventful. Even the shocking state of the M62 proved sublime with motorway undulations ironed out in a way only a Range Rover can do.

After a quick shop in the centre of Ruthin for some food, I took the B5105 and headed towards Cerrigydrudion. This was the first time I actually felt uncomfortable in the Range Rover, mainly negotiating the narrow section of the road as it’s still a bloody big car. Despite being a Wednesday morning it seemed that all the van drivers and farmers in Wales were out in force, and all heading in the opposite direction, which in turn resulted in some sphincter clenching moments as hedgerows came uncomfortably close to the passenger side.

On wider sections I could relax and begin to enjoy the wonderful stability control, and of course, 350bhp. Arriving at Llyn Brenig I tootled along the dirt road that circumnavigates this huge lake, and after stopping to take the odd photo I pulled over at a favourite spot for some dinner, or lunch if you’re a southerner. The weather up to now had been quite grim with a mixture of light and heavy showers, but as I perched myself on the Range Rover’s tailgate, the clouds dispersed and the sun made an appearance. I do miss having a tailgate to sit on.

I was going to bring a stove with me and some other bits of kitchen ware and cook something fancy, but I cheated and bought a sausage roll, and a turkey and stuffing butty, though I did bring a flask full of coffee.

The dirt roads around Llyn Brenig are just that, nothing arduous, just the odd water filled hole to avoid, and quite often you’ll find plenty of cars parked up as it’s a popular place to fish.

Returning to the B4501, then A543, that forms part of the ‘EVO Triangle’, I headed towards a green lane that would take me to the ‘Lost Lake’. Not sure why it’s called that, maybe because it’s a dead-end and at some point someone forgot that it existed. Trailwise refs are SH8753-06 and SH8753-04, and if you’re on All Terrain UK’s SmartTrail, CW2610 & CW2611 are the refs.

The lane leading up to the Lost Lake isn’t really that demanding, it’s a sustainable gravel track that, with drainage ditches and sharp rocks on either side, can get a bit narrow in places, something to be wary of especially if you’re in a wide 4x4, or you’re driving at night.

For these sections I made good use of the Range Rover’s camera system, especially those under the door mirrors that show the front wheels. They are an absolutely godsend in these situations.

Something else to be aware of, especially if you’re in a smaller 4x4 is that there are a couple of wash outs which could cause some grounding on standard vehicles. Also, if you are venturing alone, you’re unlikely to have any phone signal due to the remoteness, so be prepared.

As a matter of course I raised the HSE’s suspension, and just like any 4x4 riding on air suspension, at any speed over 10mph the Range Rover feels a bit ‘thumpy’.

On a clear day like today, the higher you drive the more spectacular the views become, this is why I love Wales so much, that and the often secluded roads.

After opening and closing many gates I eventually arrived at the lake and pulled to take a few more photos and soak in the view. Despite hints of blue sky, the clouds in the distance looked quite menacing, as I’d later find out.

After devouring my custard tart from Chatwins (my favourite food stop-off in Wales) with another mug of coffee, I set off on foot to have a look at the last section of the lane that takes you to the abandoned farmhouse at the end.

The last few 100 metres or so is boggy, deep and impassable for some smaller 4x4s; the last time I drove it I was in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the muddy water went over bumper - and it’s a tall bumper. I have to admit that the depth of the water didn’t really bother me, I was confident of the Range Rover’s 900mm wading ability, but it was the steep lean and narrowness that had me concerned.

As convinced as I was of getting through and making it to the abandoned farmhouse, the chance of damaging this £120K press car was a constant worry at the back of my mind, so common sense prevailed, and I walked back to the Range Rover a little disappointed, but confident that I’d made the correct decision.

After another ten or so minutes taking in the baron vista I retraced my tyre tracks and headed back towards the A543 and pondered about

taking the B4407 over towards Ffestiniog then over to Black Rock Sands. However, as it was getting a on bit, I decided to head back towards Ruthin, then Mold and motorway network up to Lancaster.

With the HSE’s Adaptive Cruise set, and Anita Baker playing via AppleCarPlay, the 3 hour journey passed by in an instant.

Arriving at Middle Sands, the menacing clouds that I'd seen in Wales loomed heavily over Blackpool, and were now slowly making their way towards me - they made for some great photos. Stepping out from the Range Rover I noticed a sudden drop in temperature and the quiet eeriness in the air was suddenly interrupted by cracks of thunder. You expect to see these types of clouds in America, not the north west of England!

Before the impending storm hit I decided to explore a short track that leads to a Bridleway around Sunderland Point, but it wasn’t long before huge droplets of rain and hail began to fall.

Like marbles cascading from a school kids satchel, it was deafening as it hit the Range Rover. Visibility through the windscreen had all but disappeared, as had the track under a vast carpet of white.

Confidence and sure footedness whilst being cocooned in luxury is exactly what Range Rover is about, and as the track ahead vanished under a layer of hail and water, I selected drive and slowly inched my way back towards the beach and firmer ground. The Range Rover didn’t hesitate, nor should it.

My final destination was Sunderland Point, a small village among the marshes on a peninsula between the mouth of the River Lune and Morecambe Bay. It’s also tidal, which means twice a day it’s cut off from the mainland.

By this time the storm had passed but the menacing clouds remained looming overhead and offered more epic photo opportunities, but I didn’t stay as it was getting late and time to head back home.

Kudos has to be given to the Range Rover’s 3.0 litre, 6-cylinder Twin Turbocharged Diesel MHEV power unit, as after todays outing it had achieved an amazing 44.8mpg. Other journeys around town and on the normal commute it achieved around 36mpg, which is still very good, considering its size.

I love old 4x4s with creaky suspension and no mod-cons, you feel like you’re at one with the vehicle whilst fighting untamed terrain. The Range Rover manages to do this cool thing in which you still get a sense of the adventure, yet it cossets you at the same time.

People will buy a Range Rover because of the kudos, some because of it’s status and some because of its workhorse credentials and ability to tow 3.5 tonnes worth of machinery in consummate luxury. Personally, it’s about how it makes me feel. I will always enjoy the lofty driving position and the way it’s able to glide over pot-hole strewn roads, handle bends yet tackle the most arduous of terrains. As one of the original posters said 'A car for all reasons'. It still is.

Genesis GV60 All Electric

For those of you who still aren’t aware of the name Genesis (which included a bloke in the hotel car park where this gathering occurred), Genesis is the luxury arm of the Hyundai Group, just like Lexus is to Toyota.

You may remember that last year I reviewed both the GV70 and GV80, two of Genesis’ SUVs, and I really liked them. More recently however, not only have Genesis electrified their GV70 and G80 saloon, but they’ve also created a new SUV in the shape of the GV60, and along with other members of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers, Muddy Madam and I were invited over to Yorkshire to drive the range.

Being the newest vehicle on the Genesis fleet, we were eager to get our hands on the GV60, and with a starting price of ‘just’ over £54,000 we started with the base-spec, Premium.

Calling the Premium the base-spec model is really quite disingenuous as its specification sheet reads like an automotive wish list. It is, however, the only GV60 that ditches four-wheel drive in favour of rear-wheel drive, and with 226 bhp / 168.1 kW, it may also be the least powerful, but it has the best WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) range of 321 miles.

Jump in and you’re greeted with one of the nicest, and funkiest interiors of any car on the market today - you can’t help but smile.

Everything about it gives the impression that you are in a concept car - examples being the crystal ball on the centre console that spins upside down to reveal the drive selector as soon as you push the starter button, and the funky microphone-looking speakers in the door. Both of these made Muddy Madam very happy (its the little things).

Front and rear passenger room is immense, no matter how tall or wide you are you are never likely to feel claustrophobic. There is so much more positive stuff to write about the interior, but I’ll save that for when I get to borrow one for a week.

Out on the road the Premium’s single rear-mounted electric motor feels sprightly, and will effortlessly get you from 0-60mph in around 7 seconds. That’s all well and good in a straight line, but what about when the roads become twisty? Well, for starters, the steering feels weighty and accurate, and despite it being a heavy car there’s less body lean that you might imagine, and it’s impressively grippy around corners.

The GV60 defaults to Comfort driving mode when you switch it on, but you also have the choice of selecting either Sport or Eco. Sport is the sharpest, obviously, with a quicker accelerator response and heavier steering. Not only does make the driver display gauges glow red, but it also tightens the seat bolsters to grip you around corners.Eco does what it says, and is set up to maximise your range between charges. You can also adjust the strength of the regenerative braking using paddles on the steering wheel, and lifting off the accelerator in Level 4 is so strong that you rarely need to use the foot brake.

After an hour's drive we arrived back at the hotel and both agreed that we are impressed, not only by its comfort and level of poshness, but its power delivery was both super smooth and relentless.

It could be argued that you really don’t need the other, faster models as the Premium is more than adequate. Then we laughed and jumped into the full fat GV60, or Sport Plus as it’s officially called.

Resplendent in Sao Paulo Lime, the Sport Plus comes with a 214bhp electric motor on each axle giving four-wheel drive. Wait, it gets better, there's a Boost button on the steering wheel, and once pushed, for a 10 second bout of utter hooliganism, you have 482bhp on tap.

Press the button and plant your foot and expect to be thrilled and scared at the same time as you’re catapulted from 0-62mph in just 4 seconds. It feels like it too, as you're instantly and forcibly pinned back in your seat. As you would expect, it’s quite addictive, and if you’re wondering why not just have the power available all the time, that’s because constant use would significantly drain the battery.

The GV60 Sport Plus does this amazing thing in which it can casually take you where you want in comfort and style, then turn into a fire-breathing monster at the touch of a button, literally.

The Active Road Noise Cancelling does a great job of doing just that, then the bespoke Bang & Olufsen sound system provides a subtle but rich, high-quality sound with a choice from four moods: relax, energetic, bright and warm.

This particular model had digital side mirrors fitted, and although they’re designed to reduce drag and noise, I couldn’t get used to them, so they’re not an option I would choose.

Despite being cavernous on the inside, the GV60 isn’t a huge car, so threading our way through tiny villages or parking wasn’t a problem.

After another hour or so of driving, both Muddy Madam and I were totally smitten with the GV60’s practicality, looks and of course speed, and agreed that if we had the cash we’d buy one in an instant. That said, there’s obviously a difference between driving one for a few hours and living with one, so as soon as I’ve finished writing this I’ll get onto the PR team at Genesis to ask if we can borrow one for a week.

Our next drive of the day was the new electrified GV70, but I’ll tell you more about that next time.

squirting pleasures!

A.K.A The Best Mod EVER!

Ever since I’ve owned Deux Smurf, which is around 7 years now, her windscreen washers have been pretty poor, with each nozzle trying their upmost to squirt two jets of water somewhere in the vicinity of the windscreen. I’ve tried cleaning the nozzles and blowing through the hoses in an attempt to improve matters, but nothing worked, so I was resolved to live with lacklustre squirters for as long as I had her.

Then a few years ago on an American Toyota 4Runner Facebook page, it was mentioned that it was possible to replace the standard nozzles with those from a Honda Odyssey, additionally, they had the added benefit of having a fan spray - whereas the old nozzle shoots out a jet of water, with a fan spray it douses the entire windscreen in a large fan shape covering the majority screen with liquid.

Then Chris, a regular Mud Life reader, told me he’d bought a pair from a UK seller and my attention was well and truly grabbed. To cut a long story short, for around £16 I followed suit.

Fitting

The first thing to do after opening the bonnet is to disconnect the rubber hose from the nozzles, obviously. Thankfully neither side were difficult to remove, they just required twisting and a bit of encouragement from my thumb nail.

Next, each nozzle is held in place by two clips, and once pressed they release the nozzle from the bonnet. YouTube videos show them being released using a flat-head screwdriver one side at a time - I tried that and it didn’t work. Instead I used the pliers on my Leatherman Wave to squeeze them both together, and out they popped.

Once removed I gave the outside of the bonnet a quick clean to remove the previous nozzle’s residue, then fed the new ones into the hole which clipped into place. Both sides were as easy as it sounds.

After pushing the hoses onto the new nozzles, the next job was to adjust them.

Again, using the Leatherman’s flathead screwdriver I gently prized the nozzles up and down, left and right until I was happy with the placement of the water on the windscreen. Once satisfied I took her out for a quick spin up the road to check that the coverage was still good whilst at driving speed.

The end result is the difference between night and day, the amount of water and coverage isn’t just good, it’s actually better than a lot of the new cars I get to drive. Overall this is one of the best, and cheapest modifications I’ve ever made to any car.

Nozzles or startled little aliens?

Škoda Octavia 4x4 vRS Estate

(2.0 TDI 197bhp DSG 4x4)

What is it?

Now in its fourth generation, the Octavia is widely acknowledged in many motoring writer circles as one of the best cars you can buy. Driving lots of miles? Buy an Octavia. Want a value for money estate for the dogs and kids? Buy an Octavia. You get the idea.

With this in mind, the reason I asked to borrow an Octavia this time ‘round was because I had a 12 hour round trip to Great Yarmouth to endure. It would carry both Muddy Madam and Muddy Madam's Mum, Lilly (the Mud Life dog), me and enough paraphernalia for four days away at a Sci-Fi convention. Don’t judge us.

With this in mind I didn’t need a big 4x4, not even an SUV, just a reliable and spacious load-lugger that was compact and frugal on fuel, and of course 4x4. They sent me the vRS version, which was nice.

On the road

Let me begin with something quite astonishing, and really all you need to know about the car. Fully loaded, as I mentioned above, after the 6 hour drive to Great Yarmouth the vRS achieved a very satisfying 59.6mpg. Pretty good considering that when I had the opportunity to overtake slower vehicles on the A17 and A47 I did, with gusto. At 70mph the engine sits below 2,000rpm barely making a fuss, and the standard 7-speed DSG gearbox works an absolute treat.

I had a feeling that 59.6mpg could be bettered, so on our return leg I decided to take my time a little by being more gentle on the overtakes and keeping to around 65mph on the motorways. After almost 250 miles I was rewarded with a remarkable figure of 62.6mpg. These figures aren’t scientific, it’s what the car was telling me. On the opposite side of the scales the 2.0litre Tdi will get you to 62mph in 7.1 seconds. It may not be the quickest off the mark, but its power is unrelenting, and, more importantly, effortless.

On poorly maintained roads, both the low profile tyres and 15mm lowered suspension didn’t do much to help with comfort and serenity as some road noise entered the cabin, but on smoother roads the ride was comfortable and relaxing. On the subject of lowered suspension and 4WD, you can fathom that around corners it held the road incredibly well with the transfer of power to road being impressively smooth. It really does put a smile on your face.

Something that has divided many a tester’s opinion is Škoda’s synthesised V8-esque petrol engine noise that’s emitted through the speakers. I personally like it, whilst other writers think it’s dreadful. If you’re part of the latter, don’t worry, it can be switched off.

Interior

It wasn’t until Muddy Madam and I had packed everything for our extended weekend away and placed it all in the front room that I suddenly realised I should’ve booked its larger sibling, the Superb, but there was no going back. However, I needn’t have worried as the Octavia swallowed everything with ease. With the rear seats up the estate has a deceptive deep boot at 640 litres, and folded flat, 1,700 litres.

Off road

I’ve always been left in awe at how well 4x4 Škodas perform off the beaten track, whether its a Karoq, Kodiaq and even the Yeti. However, with its aforementioned lowered suspension and rubber-band tyres, this vRS stayed mainly on tarmac. I say mainly, I did find myself on a greasy field after a downpour, and while other motorists dug themselves into the mire by spinning their wheels, I felt quite smug as the vRS found traction and drove away.

The Octavia's 4x4 system uses VW's latest fifth-generation Haldex setup that can direct up to 50% of the engine’s drive to the rear axle, which should be enough to get out of most sticky situations. Ultimately though, the vRS is designed for those of us who want extra security rather than extra fun ‘off-road’.

Up front the dash layout typically Škoda, which isn’t a bad thing, just not exciting. The front seats however are not just wonderfully enveloping, but proved very comfortable for a 6-hour nonstop stint.

The vRS comes as standard with an Alcantara padded dash with contrast stitching, aluminium pedals, black headlining and much more. This particular press car also had heated front seats (£510), panoramic sunroof (£1,235), and a space saver spar (£195).

There are only a couple of things that slightly irritated me, the first being that front cup holders, those between the front seats don’t hold travel flasks, or at least none of mine. There is space in the front doors, mind.

Then, like the Fomentor, this DSG box doesn’t have an actual gear lever, simply a smallish switch that you flick from drive, neutral and reverse. That’s nothing negative, just a few things I’m not keen on.

Conclusion

The Octavia remains a perfectly balanced family machine, and all ‘round cracker of a car, especially if you have a lot of ‘stuff’ to cart around. Then there’s the vRS performance, which is rather addictive, even fully loaded.

Once you’ve lived with an Octavia it’s easy to understand why there are so many around.

Price £37,970 (as tested £40,935)

Mooch AT35 Vs gnarly lane

A few issues ago you’ll remember that Andy from the Yorkshire Times and Annabel and Ben from Planet auto, and I took 3 Isuzu D-Maxs for a mooch in the Lakes. Of course, having such a capable and formidable pickup for a week meant that I didn’t stop there, and a few days later I decided to take the AT35 up a rather gnarly lane not far from Muddy Towers.

The road itself hasn’t got an official name, or at least I don’t thing it has, but locally it’s simply known as Rivington, or the lane by the side of the Pigeon Tower. The first time I drove it was in the late 1980s not long after I bought my first 4x4, a Series III 109 hardtop. With rocks the size of footballs it was always a bit bumpy, but never what you would call technical. In fact, I recall once driving down it in my old Citroën Dyane.

Over the years it’s been the subject of massive rain storms, and of course vandalism that mar the majority of lanes these days, and because of that it’s become almost unrecognisable from what it once was. So much in fact that if you want to drive it these days you need something a little bit more rugged than a Citroën Dyane, like an AT35.

Starting at the bottom car park, the road soon becomes rocky, with each rock a good foot in diameter, and as you reach a sharp left hand bend it narrows to a vehicle width.

Up until this point the road is a steady incline, but as you reach the next right hand bend it becomes steeper, and this is where the fun begins.

Within around ten yards I was faced with my first obstacle, a near vertical rock step over three feet high. As gnarly as it looks traction is actually pretty good and if you look carefully you actually see where the best place for tyre placement is. The last time I was up here I was in a SWB Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial on small-ish tyres and I managed this section with relative ease.

As I eased the AT35 towards the step, the bonnet rose slowly, and at such a steep angle I was convinced the side steps would hit the rocks before it was the rear wheels turn to climb, but they didn’t, and up they followed without a scrape.

A few yards on and there’s a twisty section that’s guaranteed to lift a wheel or two, at least it did in the Land Cruiser. The AT35 however simply flexed its way through.The next section of the road was quite easy, just more rocks and the odd smaller step, but it wasn’t until I reached the next right hand turn that I was genuinely taken aback by the blatant off-piste activity to my left. Every time I venture up here it just gets worse, I reckon it won’t be that long before we lose this lane forever.

Carrying on, what was once a wide open section of road with a hard dirt base and a mild rain channels was now a deep and eroded section littered stone and rocks that had been washed down the hill by the amount of storms we’ve experienced over the years.

Of course, the AT35 was still taking everything in its stride, the huge 35” tyres that I’d lowered a fraction to give me a bigger footprint hadn’t missed a beat nor lost traction once, though the worst was to come.

Passing a huge slab of tarmac in the middle of the road, which I’ve always thought was a bit random, and the end of the road is in sight, but this next section is the most treacherous.

As with the rest of the lane, decades of major storms have washed away most of the dirt and smaller rocks to leave some fairly unforgiving rock steps. There was once a visible path that lead to the top the last time I was up here, with obvious places to place your front wheels, but not anymore, just a series of steep ledges on either side at vary spaces and angles, so I jumped out for a scout.

The last AT35 I drove up here was a few years ago, and it both unladen and without a rear locker, and it was pouring down with rain. I managed to reach the top, but there was a lot slipping and sliding. Today it was dry, and although it was still unladen, I had a rear-locker.

Duly engaged, I aimed the AT35 towards the first step which it gently climbed. Visibility was a bit of a problem as I was constantly facing upwards and I had absolutely no idea where my wheels were in conjunction with the terrain, so I was continuously jumping out trying to figure where to go next.

A few metres on and despite having the rear-locker engaged I lost traction. After a quick inspection showed that I’d managed to get the mighty AT35 completely crossaxled with front tyres up against a 2 foot vertical step. Reversing slightly I jumped out and used a few rocks to pack-out the step. It worked, with a little more momentum and a less severe step the AT35 found traction and up we climbed, although at a rather odd angle!

Unless you’re in a coil sprung Jeep Renegade Rubicon with front and rear lockers engaged, or a similar tricked out 4x4, the last few steps of the climb requires both momentum and commitment, and that’s what I gave it. There’s a hole on the drivers side which isn’t too bad when the front wheel dips into it, but when it’s the rears turn the passenger front lifts a good few feet in the air, and this is when you need the aforementioned commitment.

Scrambling for traction the AT35 managed with only a bit of drama, and upon reaching the top a young couple walked by and casually asked if it was a demonstrator! “Close.” I said, “It’s press car!”

After the obligatory pose next to the Pigeon Tower I made my way down towards the main road, stopping for the other pose at the deep water channel that skirts along the side of the road. Regular readers will recognise this as somewhere I take most of the press cars, from the biggest to the tiniest. The only SUVs that haven’t managed to drive out from the ‘wheel-in-the-air’ scenario with ease are the Honda CR-V and HR-V, both where quite useless! Oh, and the Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross didn’t want to play ball, either.

The following day the AT35 was collected, and although I don’t need a pickup in my life, I’m always sad to see it go. The AT35 sits some 50mm higher than the regular Isuzu D-Max thanks to a body lift and specially made Bilstein suspension that accommodates the huge 315/70 R17 All-Terrain tyres.

Despite the bulging wheel arches, black alloy wheels, leather upholstery seats with Arctic Truck embroidered on the headrests and other such niceties, the AT35 isn't just built for show. It has been subject to a programme of careful development by Arctic Trucks and Isuzu, thus ensuring it is one of the most capable off-road vehicles on sale in the UK today. At the time of writing it also remains the only pickup that boasts five-star Euro NCAP.

Read our D-Max review here back in issue 26.

The Tales of Lilly, The Mud Life Dog

We've All Got Twinges

by Karen Lee Turner

Over the past year and a half of owning Lilly, or, more accurately, being her loyal servants, we have seen her flourish into a dog that we can mostly trust off lead. Yes, she still has moments of deafness when she spots a brazen squirrel, or does a runner after a fluffy deer that was happily minding its own business (that's why the 'mostly' was in there), but both Damian and I can now take her out for a walk around the park off the lead 95% of the time, and it's brilliant.

That said there are consequences for all of us, and they involve a bit of pain.

As mentioned in a previous Tale, I have already been damaged by walking Lilly when my wrist got all bent out of shape with a wayward on-lead moment, so now with Lilly off the lead, and not tugging me about, you would think the likelihood of damage would be lessened, but no.

What has occurred since has been as a result of trying to keep an eye on her as she wanders off-track, and not looking at the muddy, or icy, or undulating terrain underfoot. So far I have done an epic, legs in the air, black ice bum drop - that was painful, a back-jolting slide down a muddy track, wrong-footed myself and twinged my hip on a wayward rock and thwacked myself in the face when I didn't spot a small, but surprisingly inflexible branch across my path.

I know I'm clumsy, but having a dog definitely seems to have given rise to more damaging outcomes.

Damian has acquired damages too, though these come from being a delusional dog owner who is the wrong side of 50. "Why delusional, and what's wrong with being over 50?" I hear you say.

Well, when he decides he is going to do a spot of running to keep up with Lilly (may I remind you she is half Whippet!), and hasn't really run in the past 10+ years....and is sporting a tad more poundage than he should, then you can imagine the result - aches, pains and ibuprofen. I told you, DELUSIONAL!

Lilly readying herself for a bit of squirrel chasing.

Lastly, Lilly's off-lead exploits have also caused her some injuries.

There have been two different swollen eyes incidents from the fact that she becomes completely unable to see obstuctions in her path once to blood-lust of the squirrel chase kicks in. She will happily charge willynilly into sticking-out-twig territory if there is even a glimpse of a fluffy tail.

Recently a new affliction has come to light, that is proving harder to cure. There are a lot of dog friends in the park, and now she is free to play chase with them, she loves to run about hell-bent-for-leather style with a big dose of whirling dervish thrown in for good measure. She will run, and run, and run, and generally only stops when the other dogs go home, and at some point she pulled something in her back leg, resulting in a sorry looking limp when she gets up from bed (I think she's copying me).

The limp goes away once she is walking, but returns after a good run, so we kept her on lead-rest to let things heal.

Once she was fine we let her off the lead, but because she's a big daft pudding, she went straight back to bombing around (check out the video below) and did it again, so it's back to lead-rest, with the added bonus that it's probably safer for me too.

Lilly's

Lilly is always on the lookout for cool, fun and useful new products.

Charley Chau Winter Warm Snuggle Bed

We've seen the Snuggle bed before, but now it just got even cosier with the addition of a winter warm padded duvet top for your dog to snuggle under during the colder weather.

Available in 3 sizes and 2 superior quality upholstery fabrics these beds, made in England, are lined with Faux-Fur Fleece - soft, fluffy and warm, yet breathable.

The deep-filled luxury mattress makes the bed suitable for use directly on the floor and has a fully removable outer cover and machine washable everything.

price: £115 to £280 buy here » charleychau.com

Sophie Allport Woof Leather Stamped Collar & Lead

You can never go wrong with a timeless classic leather collar. Made from dark brown premium top grain cow leather, these soft feeling and waterproof collars and leads feature brass fixtures.

They both boast high pulling strength, and are embossed with lovely dog designs from Sophie's Woof collection and the range of sizes (S, M, L) mean no pooch is left behind!

prices:

Woof Leather Stamped Collar - from £16.50

Woof Leather Stamped Lead - from £24.50

more at » sophieallport.com/collections/woof

Beco Pets' Natural Rubber Treat Bone

These colourful rubber bones are made from thick and springy natural rubber and can be filled with yummy treats to keep your dog interested and occupied for longer!

Once the bone is filled, dogs can chew on the bone to try to get them out, or, if your dog is a lively soul they might work out that if they throw the bone around, the treats come flying out. Available in one size only - 17.5cm

price: RRP £9 - currently £5.40 more at » charleychau.com

HygieCatch

Pet owners know it can be tricky and a bit messy to get a urine sample when you need one

. HygieCatch is a new and efficient way of monitoring your dog's health. The collection device contains a specially formulated fragrance that not only attracts the dog, but also encourages urination.

It can be used in several ways, including:

1. To screen general health at home.

2. Get a urinalysis test result prior to an online vet teleconsultation.

3. Collect a urine sample for a face-to-face vet consultation.

more at » hygiecatch.com buy from » reputable pet shops & online retailers

PawBakes Cupcake Baking Kit

Each of these award-winning baking kits contain everything you need to make 6 delicious peanut butter cupcakes with dog-safe choc drop topping. Only the finest ingredients are used, and the kit even includes cupcake cases so you can get started straight away. So grab a mixing bowl and enjoy making something extra special for your four-legged friend.

Made in the UK by dog lovers and approved by pets. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

price: £4.99 buy from » dfordog.co.uk

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