The Mud Life 4x4 Magazine - #47 - April 2023

THE MUD LIFE

To find out about advertising in the magazine,

email :

damian@themudlife.co.uk

Important information

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

Copyright

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

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

Rant Alert! Turner's Torque

After reading a few posts on Facebook the other day I found myself quite angry. It’s not often I feel this way as I’m generally too laid back to give a crap about things, but then I started analyse my feelings a bit deeper. Don’t forget, my other job in life is that of a therapist, so it’s a bit of a habit.

The triggers in question were a photo on a certain 4x4 and green laning Facebook page of a 4x4 bogged in a field, and quite clearly off-piste. Then a video of a trail rider riding up a stream, then a steep waterfall just off a green lane, again off-piste.

I see the same images quite frequently on my local newspaper’s Facebook page when kids, adolescents and grown-ass men tear up fields, footpaths, cricket and football pitches on their quads and dirt bikes.

Under the images sits the same old questions -

• Why do they do it?

• Don’t they realise they spoiling it for the rest of us?

And the simple answers are, they do it because it’s fun, and yes, they do realise that they’re spoiling it for the rest of us!

What are rules for anyway? To control us? Well, yes, and obviously to help to obtain a safe and fair society, but when you disregard certain rules that you deem unreasonable and simply in place to ‘control’ us, what happens then? Yes, we break the law, but it would appear we also live life more freely.

Want to go fishing without a permit?

Why not.

Want to go wild camping in the UK?

Go for it.

Canoeing along a canal or cycling on its embankment without a permit?

Oh, you little devil!

What I’ve gleaned from reading the aforementioned posts is that the guilty parties don’t care who reads their responses, because there are no repercussions. They simply laugh at us as we’re getting more and more annoyed by their antics.

I’m on the wrong side of fifty and have an unhealthy interest in all things 4x4’s and being outdoors.

Over the years I’ve written for various magazine titles such as LRM, LRW, Difflock magazine, 4x4 Mart and both Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines.

I’ve had a selection of V8 saloons, but I always go back to 4x4’s. My first was a 1976 Land Rover Series 3 109, then a Lightweight, a 1974 Range Rover which turned into a 90 Hybrid. Next a Toyota Surf, V6 Shogun, 1955 Series 1 Land Rover, 300Tdi Discovery and currently a 1996 Toyota Surf.

More importantly, they simply don’t care, and when all the lanes are closed to those of us who obey the rules, guess who will still be ‘tearing up’ the countryside, whilst living life to the full and laughing at us?

It’s like builders and handymen who dump their rubbish on a side street or down a green lane - they don’t care! People who drop litter, cigarette butts and don’t pick up their dog crap - they don’t care either!

Every now and again I think about the Law of Lebowski - how if you stop caring about certain things in life, you will be happier.

Think about it, it can be argued that they’re living life to the full, and having much more fun than we are. They’ll go home, have their tea, watch TV with their family and go to work, and the following weekend f**k it all up again whilst having an absolute ball.

Are they happier than us?

Probably.

I’m obviously not suggesting we all go out and break the law, that would be daft and irresponsible, but I thought it would be an interesting exercise to think like they do.

Did it make me happy?

Erm....I feel my blood pressure rising, so I’m going to leave it here, and hopefully I’ll be in a more good humoured disposition next month.

EV9 - 3 row electric SUV revealed

Kia has revealed images of the exterior and interior design of the Kia EV9, its first 3 row electric flagship SUV, which show bold styling and sophisticated elegance inside and out.

For the look, Kia’s designers have created a sleek, sculptural shape. The front of the EV9 has simple clean lines, accentuated by the ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ and striking vertical headlamps.The EV9’s signature 'Digital Tiger Face' features two clusters of small cube lamps within the bodywork adjacent to each headlamp. The EV9’s innovative ‘Star Map LED daytime running lights (DRL)’ deliver a sophisticated animated lighting pattern that will denote Kia’s Digital Tiger Face for the brand’s future EV models.

The side profile of the EV9 combines a strong SUV identity with exceptional aerodynamic efficiency. Dynamic triangular fender structures and highly pronounced geometric wheel arches combine with the fuselage body to create a futuristic look. Flush door handles and a tapered back roofline gives a sense of smooth and efficient motion. At the rear, the tailgate has simple, clean lines with slim rear lights that mirror the design of those at the front.

In the interior Kia’s designers have prioritised space, comfort and technology for all passengers. Offered in both 6 and 7 seats, the EV9’s long wheelbase, low beltline, and completely flat electric vehicle architecture, has combined to create a generous space to relax with lounge-style comfort in all three rows of seats. Occupants sitting in the first and second rows can simultaneously recline their seats to relax when the EV9 is charging. The seats in the second row can be swivelled 180° so that occupants can interact with those sitting in the third row. The third row also have cup holders and charging points.

The centre console is equipped with ample storage options, including a spacious compartment located at its base. The open, floating panoramic dashboard extends from the steering wheel to the vehicle's centre. There are two 12.3" touch screens integrated with one 5" segment display that Kia proclaim 'offer effortless control of the vehicle’s functions ensuring physical buttons are kept to a minimum', though if you are a regular reader you'll know that here at Muddy HQ we probably won't agree - we like buttons!

Bowler Defender 100th Edition Fast Road Conversion News

Bowler Motors have revealed their celebratory 100th Edition Bowler Defender 90 Road Car Conversion. Now available to buy, this unique celebration model has been built on the same lighter weight 90 hard top derivative as the original Defender Challenge cars and tributes its heritage. A must-have for any collector or Defender enthusiast, the 100th Edition 90 retains the body protection and signature white rally wheels developed by Bowler for off-road racing.

This key milestone model also incorporates some very special features including Bowler’s new signature headlight surrounds, Corris Grey body protection pack, roll over protection, relocated spare wheel, bespoke graphics and a specially commissioned badging.

The base vehicle comes from an exclusive fleet within Jaguar Land Rover and has undergone a comprehensive refresh by the Bowler Works Team. This includes many new parts such as body panels, transfer box, dash and door cards, paintwork, various mechanical components replaced or upgraded, steering box, carpets, rubber matting and chassis protection to provide owners or collectors with many years of enjoyment.

The full list includes:

- Bowler Fast Road

Suspension

- Bowler Stage 2 Engine Upgrade (including intercooler)

- Bowler Performance Exhaust with Mudflap Kit

- Bowler 18” Lightweight Alloy Wheels with 285/60/18” BF

Goodrich All Terrain Tyres

- Bespoke graphics package

- Bespoke badges commissioned by Fattorini’s artisan badge makers

- Bowler external protection pack in Corris Grey (Bumper, Steering Guard, Sills and Rear Steps)

- Bowler Signature Headlight Surrounds

- Roll over protection with bespoke cross to mount

spare wheel internally

- Stainless steel fixings

- Bowler Bonnet Lettering

- Bowler Big Brake Kit

- Half bulk-head deletion

- Fully soundproofed interior

- Recaro SVX 60th Anniversary seats

- Leather dash tops

This stunning vehicle is priced at £78,000 (+ VAT) Iwnterested parties should contact Bowler on 01773 827 111 or email info@bowlermotorsport.com

- MOMO Race Style Alcantara Steering Wheel

- Bowler Gear-shifter Kit

- Alcantara roof lining

- Alpine double din head unit with reverse camera

- Bumper mounted Lazer ST4’s

- LED headlights, smoked side lights and side repeaters

New, all-electric Ford Explorer engineered and built in Europe News

Combining German engineering with striking American style the Explorer is the first in a wave of innovative new electric vehicles from Ford, and forges the way for a complete reinvention of the brand in Europe. The mid-size crossover has seats for five across two rows and is fully equipped to set families on the road to adventure.

Adventure-ready design and combined storage of 450 litres in 5 seat mode help you the city and beyond. Futuristic exterior styling is matched by an ultra-modern interior with premium materials and features such as sculpted sporty seats and a sophisticated soundbar. The 17-litre console between driver and passenger can hold a 15" laptop, combining with a private locker behind the touchscreen and hands-free accessible bootspace.

All this comes together with the ability to fast charge from 10% - 80% in just 25 minutes and access to 21k charge points in the UK on Ford’s Blue Oval Charging Network. By 2024, Explorer customers will have access to more than 500,000 charging points in 25 countries across Europe.

At the forefront of Ford’s electric vehicle charge, the new electric Explorer is the company’s first electric vehicle to be built at scale in the new Ford Cologne EV Campus in Germany. Ford in Europe is committed to offering an all-electric portfolio of passenger vehicles by 2030.

An aerodynamic exterior captures the spirit and assertive style of Ford’s iconic American SUV for a new electric era, also defined by a bold 'shield' design in lieu of a traditional grille.

Explorer’s SYNC Move infotainment system not only keeps occupants connected but also features a movable 14.6-inch touchscreen that can smoothly slide up and down to suit the driver and conceals a private locker storage space for valuables. A compartment for two large smartphones comes with wireless device charger as standard, and SYNC Move provides wireless compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Comfort-boosting standard specification includes heated front seats and steering wheel, a massaging driver’s seat and climate control that allows driver and front passenger to choose their own temperature. Even returning to the crossover is made simple with standard keyless entry and handsfree power tailgate that means owners can access the boot when their arms are filled with sports kit using a simple kicking motion beneath the rear bumper.

Advanced driver assistance systems include, for the first time on a Ford in Europe, Assisted Lane Change for smoothly and safely changing lanes at the push of an indicator stalk, and Clear Exit Assist that provides warnings of approaching cyclists before opening doors in busy city centres.

Ford has teamed up with adventure influencer Lexie Alford (AKA Lexie Limitless), the youngest woman in history to visit every country in the world, for a global expedition in Explorer. Inspired by the Fordsponsored exploits of record-setting explorer Aloha Wanderwell 100 years ago, the trip begins later this year.

Available to order later this year in two versionsSelect and Premium.

Dacia Jogger - UK’s only Wheelchair Accessible Car News

Here at The Mud Life we are fans of the Jogger, and now Dacia’s award-winning practicality is now available to all, thanks to an innovative Wheelchair Accessible Car conversion by Sirus Automotive. The conversion makes it currently the only new Wheelchair Accessible Car for sale on the UK market.

Sirus Automotive has been designing and manufacturing forward-thinking mobility solutions for more than 20 years. In the Dacia Jogger, its engineers found a platform that allowed them to deliver favourable levels of interior space for a car of this size that are usually reserved for van-based conversions.

The conversion enables wheelchair access via a lightweight, counterbalanced ramp. By lowering the floor, Sirus Automotive has been able to achieve a seated head height of 139cm with the Dacia Jogger’s space and generous headroom ensuring a wheelchair user can sit comfortably. The mid-row seats - capable of seating one, two or three people and with integral ISOFIX mountings for two car seats - can be safely folded out of the way to create additional space or left in place so a wheelchair user can sit with other rear-seat passengers. An anti-slip coating on the ramp ensures safe access even in wet weather, while a variety of wheelchair restraint systems, including manual or automated locking and winch-assisted loading, are also available.

Andrew Russell, one of the first customers said: "Just because you are in a wheelchair doesn’t mean life stops, we still need a car that is nice to drive, offers flexibility, has rear seats for our grandchildren, and ISOFIX for two child seats. To be able to fit myself plus another five people in the car is fantastic. We will use all the rear seats on the occasions we are taking our grandchildren on holiday. The modular roof bars also mean we can easily transport our luggage.

Travelling in the back is very comfortable and there is plenty of headroom, and I am 5 ft 10. I also need flexibility and plenty of space in the rear as I use different wheelchairs. I am sat further forwards, so I can sit with my grandchildren and just feel like part of the family. My wife loves it too, as its dimensions mean it’s easy to manoeuvre and drive, and with it only taking a couple of minutes for me to get in and out, it means we can now take going out for granted. I also like the fact that I’ve got everything in the back that everybody else does, such as a USB charger and cup holders. It’s really well thought out."

All Dacia Jogger trim levels are available, with the top trims proving the most popular. Each Jogger is converted at Sirus’ facility in Wednesbury, West Midlands, where the team pride themselves on maintaining their high quality of engineering and the robust factory finish for which Dacia has become known. In addition to Dacia’s 3 year manufacturer warranty, Sirus provides a 3 year conversion warranty for extra peace-of-mind. The new Dacia Jogger Wheelchair Accessible Car is available through the Motability Scheme from £4,495 Advance Payment, or for private purchase priced from £26,995 (ex VAT)

Off to Iceland in an Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 News

A small team from Hunt Forest Group, an Isuzu dealership, has embarked on an Icelandic expedition to demonstrate the impressive capability of the brand’s flagship Arctic Trucks AT35 model.

The demonstrator vehicle set off on March 16th, arriving in Iceland on the 21st. Iceland’s iconic natural landmarkswaterfalls, geysers, glaciers and beaches, will be the backdrop whilst the team put the AT35 through vigorous outdoor testing in Arctic Trucks’ ancestral homeland.

In its entirety, the trip will cover over 5000 miles and 10 countries, with the team travelling from England to Calais, then to the top of Denmark where they will board a longship and sail to Iceland, before returning to England on Monday 3rd April.

The purpose of the trip is to understand, test, and evaluate the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 model, with the team even taking a visit to the Arctic Trucks workshop to further comprehend the process behind creating an AT35 model.

Gareth Thomas, Isuzu and Arctic Trucks Sales Manager at Hunt Forest Group, said:

"It’s going to be an epic road and a real chance for us to showcase the AT35 in its natural environment. The AT35 is designed to be comfortable and extremely capable both on and off-road so the journey is the ideal route to explore both. It’s taken months of careful planning to get the project off the ground and it’s exciting to be about start the journey! I hope it inspires customers and future owners to get out there and enjoy their own adventures."

The Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is a professionally reengineered vehicle that incorporates significant enhancements to the body, frame, drivetrain, suspension, wheels and tyres, whilst retaining Isuzu’s five-year/125,000-mile warranty. This new halo model has been developed and engineered to handle the most challenging landscapes with ease while offering a distinctive presence and authentic performance thanks to the 35” all-terrain tyres and Bilstein suspension upgrade, making it the perfect adventure pick-up for thrill seekers."

Cumbria GLASS volunteers help improve Breast High Road News

Breast High Road in the Lakes has shown significant signs of damage from exposure to weather and the harsh environment for many years. Previous repairs have long since fallen short of that required to keep this ancient lane fit for use by all including motorised users. A challenge it may have been, but often for the wrong reasons.

In 2022, The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) secured funding, largely through the National Grid’s Landscape Enhancement Initiative and a grant for improvement and enhancement of the route. This also included the planting of 50 plus native trees on the flanks of Borrowdale Edge fellside above Borrow Beck at the Eastern end of the route.

The Cumbria GLASS team has been involved in discussions with all parties regarding this and, alongside TRF, were asked to find volunteers to help with the planting alongside NPA Field Team.

They met at 9.30am on the side of the Beck for a briefing from LDNPA project leaders Mike Tattersall and Suzy Hankin. 19 people in total with three experienced dry stone wall builders being sent off to fix a new entry for the Bridleway that runs from Hucks Bridge.

The rest struggled over the famous stepping stones and up the route for about 200 metres where they picked up materials and tools for the planting at marked intervals along the fellside.

The small trees (whips) are planted on levelled patches with coir mulch mats and recyclable twin wall shelters (tubes). They are made stock and deer safe with rather vicious Cactus Guards which needed assembly before being stapled to two stout wooden poles. Strong gloves were needed for this operation, but even with them, some minor injuries were inflicted!

After a late coffee lunch break they continued on until completion around 3pm when they got together for a final debrief, cup of tea and a great slice of home made cake from North Yorks TRF chair Gill Mitchell.

A good day’s work done with great cooperation between all parties. A small party will be back to do a final check of the route once some snagging has been sorted so hopefully the lane will be back up and running by May!

New FORD Ranger Wildtrak X and Ranger Tremor News

Ford Pro has just revealed the new Ranger Wildtrak X and Ranger Tremor - two exciting off-road focused models for the best-selling pickup’s most comprehensive line-up ever in Europe. Targeting customers who require enhanced capability in challenging off-road conditions, both models feature a substantially reworked chassis with unique suspension upgrades including advanced Bilstein dampers as standard.

Off-road focused driver assistance systems provide enhanced confidence, while the two new Ranger variants possess a rugged new style that reflects their prowess in tough conditions. Ranger Wildtrak X and Tremor offer the segment-first Flexible Rack System option to maximise load-carrying ability for longer items. The easy-to-use system will also be available as an option for Ranger Wildtrak.

Order books are open now, with deliveries from August 2023.

Ranger

Wildtrak X

Ranger Wildtrak X builds on the Wildtrak model with a 26mm ride height increase, and 30mm wider track width for sure-footedness on rugged terrain. 3 Standard Bilstein highperformance position-sensitive dampers provide the right amount of damping force throughout their travel to enhance off-road ability without compromising on-road performance. An uprated heavy-duty power steering system and a protective steel bash plate deliver even more confidence off-road.

Standard new off-road technologies include Trail Turn Assist, which uses brake-based torque vectoring to reduce turning radius by up to 25% when tight turns are needed. Trail Control operates in a similar way to cruise control: the driver can select a speed below 20mph, and the vehicle will automatically manage acceleration and braking while the driver concentrates on the difficult terrain.

Ford’s proven 2.0-litre EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel engine powers all Wildtrak X models, producing 500Nm of torque from 1,750rpm

and 205PS paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. An advanced new full-time 4WD system with a reassuring set-andforget mode is standard, designed to deliver capability when and where you need it.

Ranger Wildtrak X has a wider stance, underbody protection and increased ground clearance compared to the existing Wildtrak. Its distinctive look is enhanced by a unique Asphalt Black grille surround and bumper H-bar, wheel arch trim and rear bumper, and optional matrix LED headlamps with auxiliary lamps in the grille. Chunky Wildtrak X badges, blacked-out Ford ovals and matching black 17" alloy wheels, with all-terrain white-lettered tyres, complete the more hardcore off-road styling.

Inside, occupants benefit from unique Miko suede-trimmed seats with exclusive Wildtrak X embroidery, supported by soft-touch Terra suede with contrast Cyber Orange stitching on the upper dashboard, door trims and centre console. Built-in connectivity as standard to FordPass 6 and Ford Pro services such as FORDLiive enhance the ownership experience.

Segment-first Flexible Rack System

Both Ranger Wildtrak X and Tremor can be specified with Ford’s innovative new Flexible Rack System. 7 The unique feature’s folding roof rack and adjustable sliding rear load hoop allow long items to be carried above the roof rather than wedged between the tailgate and cab. This improves load security and frees up the load bed for other items. Flexible Rack System will also be available as an option for Ranger Wildtrak series from March 2023.

Ranger Tremor

The new Ranger Tremor is based on the hard-working Ranger XLT, and shares the chassis and technology upgrades as well as the new all-wheel drive system from Wildtrak X to suit customers who desire confident off-road ability.

The revised suspension geometry helps to create a tougher, more planted stance, enhanced by the increased track and extended arch mouldings. A distinctive long-leg tubular sports bar is fitted as standard and defines Ranger Tremor’s adventurous look, while cast aluminium side steps and exposed twin front tow hooks continue the functionled styling. Unique Boulder Grey exterior details and a darkened grille complete the model’s bold, distinctive appearance.

Ranger Tremor’s seats and floor feature water-resistant, easily-cleaned vinyl trim. An optional pre-wired overhead switch pack offers 6 inputs for winches, LED light bars and other equipment.

EV drivers - are you missing out cheaper tariffs?

If you are an EV driver you could save hundreds of pounds when charging your car at home by switching to specialist EV tariffs, but EV payment specialist Mina has discovered most are missing out.

In its latest EV Report into running costs for electric cars and vans, Mina found that the average pence per kWh cost for charging at home was lower than the average overall home energy cost - but only just - suggesting that drivers were not using lower off-peak or EV-specific tariffs enough.

The average home charge was 30p per kWh - only slightly less than the average cost of all home electricity at 34p per kWh for the period analysed. Added to this, Mina’s data, which tracked the charges, costs and consumption of more than 60,000 plug-in events, found there were over 800 different home tariffs.

The result is customer confusion and an inability to work out if, or how, they should move to a more suitable tariff, which potentially meant some drivers were paying over 6 times more than they could be to charge: equivalent to spending £15 more on each home charge for a typical EV with a 60kWh battery. Over 20,000 miles a year, that would equate to around £1,500 that could otherwise have been saved.

Mina CEO Ashley Tate said

"The lowest rate in our data of 60,000 charges was 5p per kWh for an EV specific home tariff, yet the average cost was 30p per kWh. Clearly, those two numbers are a long way apart which suggests there is more work to do, in that not enough drivers are on specific tariffs that will save them money.

There is no lack of desire from energy suppliers to offer EV tariffs and help drivers make the switch, but with current wholesale energy costs being so high and unpredictable, they’re finding it hard to launch these tariffs. However, I do think we’ll see more of these coming to the market over the next two years. They are vitally important for the development of the EV market.

We have spoken to some EV owners who have been contacted by forward-thinking energy firms about the possibilities of switching to a more suitable tariff, and that’s really good to hear how they are changing over and saving money. Certainly one of the most proactive energy suppliers is Octopus Energy in trying to get EV drivers on the right tariffs."

Octopus Energy is one of the leading energy suppliers in the UK and a smart tariff pioneer. Its Intelligent Octopus tariff allows drivers to charge for 10p an hour during a 6 hour window when it is best for the grid - helping drivers cut charging costs while balancing the grid.

Often EV-specific tariffs have a shorter low cost window at night for charging than standard off-peak, but the charges are considerably less during that period - perhaps only a third of the cost of off-peak.

Ashley Tate said there were a number of issues drivers should be aware of when considering an EV tariff:

• Do you understand how much energy you are using at home to charge your EV?

• Is a nightly 4-5 hour EV tariff window enough for daily charging needs, and can you schedule your EV (or EVs!) charge to fit into it?

• Often the accompanying peak tariff rate is higher than average. Would the rest of your home energy bills negate the savings of the EV-specific element?

• Would a standard off-peak tariff, which is a higher cost at often around two-thirds that of peak, but goes on for longer (usually around eight hours), be a better bet?

Ashley added:

"Our data shows that home charging is by far the most economical way to charge your car or van, and users of our system agree, but choosing the right tariff is a question of balance, and requires a holistic understanding of all home energy - not just EVs, but owners need more practical assistance with personalised calculations based on the usage of all their household electricity needs. This will hugely help in getting people on the right tariff for them, and so lower costs, spread energy demand and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles."

All-new KONA Electric News

Hyundai Motor Company held a digital world premiere to unveil the all-new KONA. The second-generation KONA offers one of the most comprehensive product packages in the segment, including the widest range of powertrains. Customers can choose from EV (standard or long range), hybrid electric (HEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) variants as well as sporty N Line versions of each.

In an unconventional move, Hyundai Motor developed the new KONA as an EV first, in line with the company’s March 2022 accelerated electrification strategy announcement that will bring 11 new Hyundai EVs to market by 2030. Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company said:

"At Hyundai, we don’t see the EV revolution as just the latest trend. We believe it is a pivot point for not only the industry but also for society. Through the implementation of ecofriendly mobility solutions like our EVs, we hope to speed the transition to clean mobility and make progress for humanity."

With its rugged, dynamic design and upscaled dimensions, the exterior design. With a drag coefficient of just 0.27, the new KONA excels at aerodynamic performance without sacrificing style. The N Line versions boast black mirrors, wing-type spoiler and optional black roof, more aggressive front and rear designs with wing-shaped bumper to emphasize a lower stance, twin exhausts and silver side skirt.

Hyundai was able to design a larger interior ‘living space’ to embrace a wider range of lifestyles. The driver-centric front row

is accentuated by a floating horizontal C-Pad with integrated dual 12.3-inch panoramic display screens. As part of KONA’s new layout the shift-by-wire gear selector has been relocated from the center console to behind the steering wheel, which allows more storage in the open console area.

The first row’s relaxation comfort seat option is optimized for ‘weightless’ body pressure distribution to help alleviate fatigue after driving. The Curveless Bench Seat in the second row maximizes habitability and provides easy maintenance and a twostage latch allows rear seat reclining.

The fully foldable second-row seat and rear compartment provide up to 466 liters of cargo space to meet the highest level of customer needs with improved loading convenience. Loading anything from luggage to shopping bags is made easier than ever with the convenient customizable Smart Power Tailgate that enhances cargo space access.

An assortment of EV-specific features for the charged-up driving experience. Battery preconditioning ensures secure charging and range performance in winter and a frozen charge door prevention system enables the user to open the charge door in a minus 30° environment.

The new i-PEDAL enables a driving mode that allows drivers to accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal.

The motoring future, back from the past News

Motopia? Past Future Visions, an exhibition at the National Motor Museum, will showcase a journey through 130 years of future thinking about automobility. Opening on the 20th May 2023 the exhibition will run until the 14th April 2024 at the museum located at Beaulieu, Hampshire.

Jon Murden, Chief executive of the National Motor Museum says,

“Concept cars, visions of the future at the start of the 20th century and ideas on how we travel and power our vehicles will be on display, and we’ll be encouraging visitors to explore ideas for an ideal way of living and getting about. It’s the first of a series of exhibitions at the Museum that will focus on the future as well as the past of automobility. Visitors to the Museum will see bold visions for vehicles and the built environment in which they would operate.

We’ll explore how radical motoring concepts from the past that remain relevant today and how these have influenced what we ride and drive, the nature of our towns and cities, the way we work, shop and socialise.”

The title of the exhibition is inspired by the work of British architect Geoffrey Alan Jellicoe. In the 1950s he described the place where vehicles and humans co-exist in harmony as Motopia. Much earlier, at the turn of the 20th Century, another visionary, John Scott Montagu, second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, was predicting fast roads connecting cities. Successive generations have taken these ideas and built upon them. The exhibition looks at those and other visions of the future from the past.

The exhibition will have 4 key themes;

1. vehicle visions will look at car design concepts

2. propulsion asking how our vehicles are powered (particularly timely when there is a resurgence of electric vehicles)

3. architectural dreams which will include science fiction visions

4. urban solutions showing how vehicles have constantly been re-imagined to suit our needs and surroundings.

more at » beaulieu.co.uk/motopia-past-future-visions

Morris Commercial JE Van gets closer to production

OK, it's not a 4x4, but Muddy Madam thought this retro-styled van looked so funky that she wanted to put this bit of news in.

Based in the UK Midlands, not far from the original Oxford heartland of the spiritual predecessor, Morris Commercial set its mission to revive the historic and iconic Morris Commercial marque, but fully engineered for the 21st century. The JE van, which takes its fundamental design cues from one of the most loved commercial vehicles ever produced in Britain, incorporates innovative state-of-the-art technologies, with a zero emission, pure electric drivetrain, combining to make the vehicle carbonneutral over its entire life cycle.

The company unveiled its first concept prototype Morris JE Nov 2019, showcasing a fully battery electric van for the 21st century with the style, charm and charisma of the famous 1950’s van upon which it is based. The vehicle immediately received worldwide acclaim, and to prove the practicality and functionality of the JE, a fully road-worthy Morris JE prototype has already travelled across UK and Ireland and has appeared in a number of TV programmes such as the BBC Travel Show, Guy Martin and German state-owned station, Deutsche Welle.

Substantial funding and resources have already been invested to bring the Morris JE from an incredible concept to production reality. The vehicle is now close to production readiness, with the completion of various prototype and development vehicles featuring the ultralight recycled carbon fibre monocoque body and lightweight aluminium chassis.

The production prototype made its debut at industryleading LCV show in September 2022. Boasting class leading performance and range, the JE has an unparalleled combination of a 1 ton payload and 6.5 m3 carrying capacity at a 2.5 ton GVW, and a driving range of up to 250 miles. This remarkable vehicle is also packed with safety, technology and comfort features such as side and rear vision cameras, infotainment system and a beautifully crafted interior.

With the new funding round, the Morris JE will now be subject to further R&D, engineering validation, certification, and productionisation. It marks a significant step forward for Morris Commercial and will enable the company to recruit further talent and expertise, and to strengthen its partnerships with core suppliers. With the establishment of the company’s production facilities, the delivery of the new vehicle is set to begin in early 2024.

Alistair Currie, the CEO of Capital for Colleagues commented: “We are delighted to have successfully led this significant investment round for Morris Commercial, alongside existing stakeholders in Capital for Colleagues. Our combined investment will enable Morris Commercial to bring this incredible and unique vehicle to market, completing its mission to revive the historic Morris Commercial brand with state of the art, zero emission, technology, wrapped in a stunning, classic design.”

more at » morris-commercial.com

Brand New Automotive Spectacular News

The brand new automotive spectacular Petrolheadonism

Underground will be held on the 15th & 16th April 2023 in the gigantic coach parks around the globally recognised iconic Wembley Park stadium, The huge two-day indoor family event, set in the unexpected, unknown and surprisingly huge coach parking areas in the shadow of the iconic national stadium, will welcome up to 10,000 people per day, and bring over 1,000 cars together, including Supercars, Classics, Americana, JDM, Retro Rides, Highly Modified Cars and more.

Automotive celebrities and influencers will be mixing in with

like-minded enthusiasts - Shmee150, one of the hardest working YouTuber’s in the scene will be displaying a selection of his vast collection of cars, as well as offering free Meet & Greet’s and appearing on the Live Stage for a daily interview. Joined by a cool group of similarly popular Petrolheads including Helen Stanley, Auto Alex, Adam C, Mark McCann, Ratarossa, Sam Hard, Mark & Nicco Filimize with more to be added.

There will be the Fast & Furious Line Up of Movie Screen legends and Need For Speed Tributes, as well as the seriously underground display of Japanese Domestic Market cars (JDM) which will give that Tokyo Drift style vibe with Classics, Retro and Modern Modified. There will be veritable classics, retro rides and a huge display celebrating the Max Power Era, as well as the Supercars and sprinkle of Hypercars thrown in for sheer delight. Bring your camera!

more at » petrolheadonism.club/ underground

All-New Ford Ranger Raptor

What is it?

With flared wheel arches, C-clamp headlights, square bonnet and bold F-O-R-D lettering on the grille, the all-new Raptor is an imposing vehicle to say the least.

As you walk around the back, the LED taillights provide a signature styling link to the front, while the precision grey rear bumper features an integrated step and towbar that’s tucked up high to avoid getting hung up and acting as a ground anchor. Then you have a pair of not-so-subtle chrome tailpipes exitWing from either side. Add to that, 17” alloys shod with BF Goodrich All-Terrains, tough, grippy cast-aluminium side steps, a ridiculous amount of approach angle, a choice of bold colours and you have quite a good looking, yet intimidating pickup.

As we know from the previous generation, as a commercial pickup the Raptor has limitations. It has a maximum payload of just 700kg, so this does not qualify as a commercial vehicle. It will only tow up to 2500kg, and with CO2 emissions at 315g/km it falls in the highest tax band.

To be fair, the Raptor isn’t aimed at the working pickup market, it’s for those of us who want a bit of fun, and fun it offers by the bucket load.

The biggest news is the introduction of an all-new twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine that’s tuned by Ford Performance to produce just shy of 300bhp and 491Nm of torque. Then there’s a specific boost profile for each gear of Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission and a racebred anti lag system to help deliver maximum thrills, supported by four exhaust modes from Quiet to Baja.

Speaking of it’s transmission, the V6 is mated to a new fulltime four-wheel drive system (which can switch to 2WD), and features an electronic two-speed transfer case. It’ll reach 62mph from rest in 7.9 seconds, which feels much quicker, and take you to a top speed of 111mph. It’s a bit thirsty mind, expect mid to high twenties.

On the road

From the moment you press the start button and the throaty V6 snarls to life, you get the sense that it isn’t any normal pickup. Everything about it feels tough, from the weighty steering to the way it dismisses potholes.

The 1½ hour on-road route took me along fast dual carriageways and through sleepy villages and narrow roads that are scattered around the South Downs National Park. You would think a loud, brash pick up would feel as out of place as Alf Garnett in today’s woke society, but it didn’t. Despite its size the Raptor negotiated tight lanes with ease, visibility was helped due to the squared off edges of the bonnet, and if there are any blind spots then the camera system is there to help.

For on-road you have three modes:

• Normal - designed for comfort and fuel efficiency

• Sport - more responsive for spirited on-road driving

• Slippery - for more confident driving on slippery or uneven surfaces

On wide and sweeping roads I turned the knob to select Sport, and along with a different full-screen graphic on the instrument display, the exhaust gets louder, the steering stiffens and the transmission becomes more eager. Oh yeah, the gearbox blips the throttle on down changes, which brought out the adolescent in me.

At this point I set the limiter to 60mph as the amount of grip and stability available makes corners almost non-existent, and it’s far too easy to exceed the speed limit. As far as stopping the Raptor goes, braking was consistently solid and confidence inspiring.

There are flappy paddles, but with a total of 10 ratios to choose from it can get a little confusing - 'should I be in 7th gear or 9th?' - I found leaving it auto the best as the ‘box never seemed to get flustered.

Off-Road

Midway through the road route we had a short detour along a green-lane; TW2 ref SU8608-03. A wide, chalk based lane giving fantastic views over Chichester and surrounding area. There was quite a bit of water erosion at southern end creating a few medium ruts that snaked across the width of the lane, but these were no match for the Raptor’s impressive clearance.

The main off-road challenge was a couple of laps around Slindon Safari’s 100 acre off-road site. There were some interesting sections, but nothing that really challenged the Raptor, but that was okay as it was the first day of the press launch and no one wants a broken pickup by a motoring writer with no off-road experience. With this in mind I’ve asked to borrow one for a week to give it a proper test.

The Raptor’s off-road credentials include 272mm ground clearance, a 24º breakover angle, 32º angle and 24-27º departure angle (with and without towbar).

Via the 12” centre monitor you can lock both front and rear diffs and view the 360 camera that automatically pops-up when in offroad modes. The front camera was handy when cresting some of the inclines.

Plus, and I didn’t know this until after the event, there’s a fourlow and off-road cruise control for crawling that Ford call Trail Control. The driver simply selects a set speed below 20mph and the vehicle will manage its acceleration and braking while the driver concentrates on steering through difficult terrain. Can’t wait to try that out whilst green-laning.

Look underneath and there’s some serious underbody protection made from 2.3mm thick high-strength steel that protects key components such as the radiator, steering system, front crossmember, engine sump and front differential.

There’s also twin rated tow hooks at the front and rear to provide flexible recovery options designed to facilitates access to one of the tow hooks if the other is buried, as well as enabling the use of balance straps during snatch recoveries in deep sand or thick mud.

Of course the off-road test wouldn’t be complete without switching to Baja mode and going hell for leather around a fast undulating circuit.

The next-generation FOX 2.5” Live Valve internal bypass shock absorbers and completely redesigned suspension promised to deliver more control across rough terrain at high speed, which they did.

Add to that, the new anti-lag system that’s available in Baja mode keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle, allowing for faster resumption of acceleration out of corners or through the gears when the driver steps back on the accelerator. The only weakness in all of this wonderful tech was me, the driver, as I quickly ran out of talent and slowed down around some of the fast corners. I’m not going to say it was a magic carpet ride, but the ease in which the rough terrain was covered at speed was quite effortless.

Interior

It doesn’t matter where you sit, with plenty of head, shoulder and leg room, the Raptor is a very comfortable vehicle to be in, and the all-new, jet fighter-inspired sports seats in the front and rear increase comfort and offer more support during high-speed cornering.

Here’s a shocker, I even found the 12” centre monitor inoffensive as it’s well integrated into the dash and worked intuitively. Beneath the screen I particularly liked that it has proper dials for the heater, and look up and you’ll spot an overhead panel with a bank of switches for auxiliary extras like lights.

Ford’s new-generation SYNC 4 connectivity and entertainment system is wireless and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility at no extra cost. There’s also a 10-speaker B&O sound system that even drowns out the exhaust!

Another plus was plenty of storage and rubberised cubby areas so things don’t go sliding around when you’re having a bit of fun.

The rear seat can fit up to three passengers who have their own rear vents, USB, USB-C and even three-pointed plug socket.

Tech ’n’ safety

I don’t know where to begin!

When it comes to safety the Raptor offers pre-collision assist, evasive steer assist, reverse brake assist, blind-spot alert with trailer coverage and lane-keeping assist. Then there’s adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane-centring, active park assist, centre side airbag and post-impact braking all help to give it a full five-star EuroNCAP rating.

Conclusion

On the outside the Raptor may resemble the new Ranger, but with unique suspension, chassis and a 3.0-litre V6, the Raptor is the Ranger’s boisterous sibling that you don’t take out unless you want to get noticed.

At just under £60k it ain’t cheap, but the amount of tech available and work that’s gone into the chassis and gearbox means there’s nothing else like it in the UK.

You don’t buy a Raptor because you need a pickup, you buy a Raptor because you want one, like an old Defender, a Wrangler Rubicon or a 2-seat sports car. It’s a fantastic off-road toy that in the majority of cases will never see mud, but it looks great, handles great and sounds great.

On the road again Part 3 The journey to yourself

Welcome back to the third and final part in the trilogy of preparing yourself for a long term remote adventure!

We’ve covered the basics - food, shelter, warmth, where to relieve yourself in the woods - we’ve covered security, the social aspects, communication while in remote destinations or travelling solo, and now we come to the stuff only you can provide - the internal stuff, your esteem and self-actualisation needs; in other words self-confidence, independence, freedom, self-fulfilment, and living your best life on the road.

Anyone who says they are not at least a little apprehensive about setting out on a self-sufficient journey is a liar or an idiot. Without recognising risk, we are doomed to meet it, because

we’re doomed to failure if we ever become so big-headed that we think we know it all.

We are always learning, even if we are travelling in places we’ve been to before, and/or we have been doing this for decades. Life is full of variables: the weather, the frailty of the human body –illness, tiredness, injury, the risk of the actions of other people, our rigs experiencing problems, changes in local infrastructure, and much more.

Being self-aware and self-confident are very different from being arrogant, and these things grow as we travel, as we experience new places, situations, and challenges.

One of the greatest joys, but also sometimes the biggest risks, of overlanding is not knowing what is around the next corner or what tomorrow may bring. What's certain is that having met the unknown and dealt with it, that we are certain to learn, grow and benefit from every experience, whether it appears to be positive or negative at the time.

It’s how you react to a situation that dictates whether it is positive or negative. Mind set is everything!

Be proud of what you know, but also be willing to change your mind and opinion if you find evidence to the contrary. Always be the first to admit what you don’t know, and make the latter the focus of your research, learning, and practice. I’m a firm believer that every trip should challenge us, but we need to balance this and not put ourselves into known danger.

Conversely, not being confident enough is just as potentially problematic as thinking we know it all. Both ends of the spectrum can lead to fear, indecisiveness, or the inability to handle what is thrown at us and that can lead to problems.

If we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs again, he breaks down esteem into two parts:

1. The esteem that comes from receiving respect and acknowledgement from others

2. The esteem based on your own self-assessment, selfconfidence, and independence

In a world of social media influencers, point 1 is king, but no amount of followers are going to help when you are miles away from anywhere, without a phone signal, and axel deep in the sh��t. Point 2 is supremely important. Point 1 might feel nice, but think about it, does it really matter?

On a trip, it really does not, other than to maybe provide a pleasant sense of belonging and social interaction to while away the lonely nights (and this is important as I mentioned last month), but it cannot help you where you might need it most - this is all on you now!

While it might feel nice to have people to chat to, or just to have several hundred notifications every time you open an app (although, honestly, I would rather not have that to deal with!) the best way to learn from our experiences is to immerse ourselves in them. Distracting ourselves with what others think takes us away from the experience of our present situation, and in order to learn we need to be present, fully.

You have to put yourself first, and in doing so you will earn a lot more than a few followers. The road and the wild are the greatest teachers, as is solitude. We’re so used to being reliant on others in our daily lives - to do things for us or to instruct us, that we don’t (or many don’t) bother to learn even some of the most basic life skills.

When we begin a self-sufficient journey, all of a sudden we’re going to need these skills and the ability to use them in locations where we don’t have the option of calling someone to help or do it for us.

"Nothing has more strength than dire necessity." Euripides.

There is no such thing in life as good or bad, only lessons.

This is how I learned to do many things I had no previous experience of. While I might get a fair bit of flack from my non-Land Rover owning friends about reliability, it is only because I’ve needed to fix trucks myself due to location, lack of funds, or available help, that I am now pretty confident with a spanner.

The same goes for all sorts of skills I’ve needed on the road. If I identified that I was bad at something, or had little to no ability, I admitted it and learned. There can be no hiding what you cannot do when you’re reliant on yourself!

It’s something I focus on before going, identifying what I can and cannot control, repair, endure, or handle while solo. It helps me design my rig, as well as build it. It assists me to plan my routes, and insists that I keep an eye on the weather, identify where the nearest help might be, as well as dictating what I’m carrying in regards to supplies and gear.

It’s a mental risk assessment without the boring paperwork, and it is the key to freedom.

It may mean that you cannot, or at least should not, try a particular route alone, or even mean not going on a particular trip at all, at least not yet. While missing out can suck, it also means that you’re not going to end a trip early or come a cropper because you’re in over your head.

In reality, you’re not missing out, you’re learning and focusing on self-improvement. Admitting what you cannot do or may find difficult and then improving upon this, it is the key to bigger, better, and longer adventures. Being faced with seemingly insurmountable challenge identifies something you need to change, and once you have, you’ll be able to take it on the next time with confidence.

This isn’t just about the driving or mechanical issues either. You may discover that you liked the idea of a place or experience more than the reality, and that’s ok, at least it can be depending on how you deal with that realisation.

You’ll learn so much about yourself without the noise of the rat race - listen to it. It may be that you realise overlanding isn’t for you once you try it. You’re miserable in bad weather, apprehensive all the time in remote locations, or would just prefer to be in a hotel on the Costa del Sol or at home in your pyjamas. There’s nothing wrong with that, you do you.

Long journeys are inevitably life-changing. Sometimes in a big, obvious way, other times in the more subtle realisations that come to the fore without the background noise of civilisation.

For me it was the realisation that I am never more happy than in remote wild places. Everything is better for me, my health both physically and mentally, my motivation, levels of inspiration and creativity. Being nowhere in solitude brings me true joy to the point that I have reorganised my life to spend as much of my time in that situation as I possibly can.

For you, time out may make you realise how much you want that job you’ve been thinking about, or that you need to be surrounded by people or in a city. There is no right or wrong here, listen to and choose what fits, thank the road for what it has taught you, then go forth and make it happen.

It can also change your view on your social connections. I’ve both ended and cemented relationships on the road, and both choices turned out to be excellent ones.

One major lesson travelling taught me is independence, selfconfidence, and the realisation that the fewer people you rely on the fewer you need, which in turn gives you the ultimate freedom to hit the road whenever the fancy takes you, but also more importantly, the strength to walk away from people and situations that no longer serve you. Rather than becoming antisocial, you become selective, and this is no bad thing.

There is nothing more real than nature and the wild, and there is nothing truer or more loyal than a genuine friendship. Once you have experienced either, you won’t want anything less than 100% real.

This is something I love about overlanding - going with the natural flow of things. The freedom from co-dependency, worrying about time or deadlines, what other people are doing or thinking, and only needing to do what needs to be done when the time is right, is liberating.

• When the weather is dry, wash, dry, and maintain your gear.

• When it is wet, too hot, or dark, rest.

• Wake with the sun.

• Carry out maintenance - fix things before they become a big problem.

• Always fill up with water, food and fuel when the opportunity arises.

• Eat when you’re hungry.

Be confident that if you open your eyes to the opportunities that come along, that you will always be ready with the things you absolutely need - food, dry shelter, clean clothes, water, fuel. The rest is gravy, and if you’ve done the former you will enjoy and have time for lashings of gravy. You will also get that sense of self-esteem based on your achievements.

Most of us only get to spend a couple of days or a couple of weeks camping somewhere. When you know you will be home soon and have 20 cans of beans and pairs of clean socks, you can spend your time on socials and worrying about what other people think of your rig as much as you like, but when you’re weeks/months in and are miserable and uncomfortable, hungry, have nothing dry to wear, and are not returning home for weeks to months, this is a different matter altogether.

To paraphrase Wim Hof - anyone can do this. Those influencers you follow are not, in any way, any more capable than you are, many aren’t even close to what they appear to be!

Even the true great adventurers paved their own way while being a human being just like the rest of us. The difference often comes down to confidence, a willingness to learn, often through trial and error, and a focus on their own needs rather than what others (who are likely to have never done the thing before themselves!) think.

Self-sufficient travel is true freedom, as least as close to it as is possible to attain in the modern world. It isn’t easy, if it was everyone would be doing it, but it is one of life’s greatest teachers.

True freedom isn’t an open space or an open road, unless you can survive there, and you can, as long as you listen to the lessons the wild places teach us.

You’ve got this!

Just remember that it is not a destination, it is an ever-evolving and fluctuating journey. You’ll never stop learning and you’ll never know everything, but every mile will bring you opportunity; so go out and take it.

That’s all from me this month folks. I’m off to prepare for full time life on the road, more on that another time.

Drive safe, Lauren and Celyn x

become a mega Mud Life Supporter

Lauren E. laf BILLY F.

Jim H. LRAsser

Click here to support us

We've always wanted the mag to stay free to readers, and especially now, when some people are being squeezed financially, but it does take a whole lot of effort, a decent chunk of money and two completely barmy people to get this mag out into the world.

If you would like to help support us as we create the next mag, you could buy us a 'hot choc', and in return you'll get a name check in the mag. Buy us 2 hot chocs at one time, or become a regular monthly hot choccy provider then you'll get a even bigger mention. Just click the big red button above.

Damian & Karen Lee

All these lovely people chose to support us in the last month.

Subaru XV e-Boxer Mooch

Subaru’s XV isn’t a new car to the magazine, I think it’s been in the mag every year since its inception, and for good reason too.

Over the years it has gained itself quite a fan base, even more so after its update back in 2017 that included a brand new platform, a new interior and exterior design. It also received Subaru’s X-Mode and Hill Descent Control as standard and better handling characteristics.

Then, a few years ago the company attached a compact lithiumion battery pack and a gearbox-mounted electric motor offering a combined output of 148bhp and 196Nm of torque to the to 2.0ltr petrol.

Power-split adjusts according to the driving condition and alternates between 3 driving modes: EV driving, Motor Assist driving and Engine driving. The battery is said to work up to 25mph, but in my experience it switched off around 15mph, as did the Forester I had a few months ago.

Six years on from its last major update and I reckon it’s aged rather well, it still looks fresh but I suspect that it’s nearing the end of its production lifespan - but that’s just my theory.

Because it hasn’t changed much since I last reviewed it back in our 14th issue, I’m not going to bother with another write-up, instead I simply wanted to drive it around and enjoy some green lanes, and maybe a bit of camping.

After throwing my Peli 1650 Protector case in the boot, along with my Anevay Horizon stove, I headed over to North Yorkshire, Long Preston to be precise, as there’s a lovely green lane that offers some amazing views, but getting there means an hour of mixed on-road driving. It’s this part of the XV experience that will have you smitten as it does this really cool thing in which it smooths out pot-holed strewn roads and those really nasty speed humps with ease, yet aim it towards fast and twisty corners it handles them like it’s on rails. The suspension feels taut, the steering is sharp and of course, Subaru’s symmetrical AWD system makes sure you stay on the blacktop, no matter what the weather.

Upon reaching Long Preston, the lane I wanted to drive is TW2 ref - SD8259-03 and ATUK ref - N1 U9600579.

It isn’t the most demanding lane as the majority of the surface is hard dirt, but as you climb steadily towards the summit, you’re confronted with a few rocky patches, especially on some of the inclines, which can make life interesting.

Just before you reach the aforementioned summit you have two inclines, both rocky, but the one on the right has opposing holes that have caught out many a 4x4 that I’ve driven up here in the past. Neither the Suzuki S-Cross or Skoda Kodiaq could manage it, so how would the XV cope?

Well, after a two very slow and methodical attempts I couldn’t get past the opposing holes, so I decided to use a little more momentum, and with the odd scramble from the tyres the little XV managed it easily.

The XV is already equipped with permanent Symmetrical All Wheel Drive for use in the majority of situations, but X-Mode now provides added assistance for more extreme driving conditions. X-Mode takes control of the engine, transmission, Symmetrical AWD, brakes and other components to help safely navigate slippery surfaces, rough roads and climbing steep hills, like this.

It wasn’t long before Andy showed up in his Toyota LC120 Colorado for a chinwag, and in the galeforce wind we shielded ourselves behind his Land Cruiser and chatted absolute nonsense for the next hour or so. We could’ve easily have sat in either of the two vehicles and kept warm, but nah.

I was going to light Horizon stove that I’d brought to make a brew, but the wind was just too strong, instead we continued to chat about nothing until the light began to fade and the threat of rain was imminent, then we said our goodbyes.

From the summit heading north towards Settle you have quite a steep incline to negotiate, it looks a little gnarly but it’s easily driven, and the rest of the lane settles to a flat, hard surface with the odd rut to be mindful of.

Upon reaching the end I decided to drive it back again as I wondered how the XV would manage on the steep incline - it was fine.

As I’ve mentioned in my Jimny article elsewhere in this mag, when you normally drive a 4x4 with large tyres, it’s often easy to dismiss certain obstacles as you can simply drive right over them, but in the XV, despite its decent ground clearance and approach and departure angles, you have to think about wheel placement more, and for me, it’s the technical aspect that I enjoy.

On lower ground, hidden from the gale-force wind, I managed to find a sheltered spot to fire up the stove, not only make myself a brew, but also for a quick chilli con carne in my favourite pan set from Madog Outdoors.

There are more fuel efficient and accomplished crossovers out there, but overall I still like the XV. Maybe it’s the 4x4 owner and adventurer in me that appreciates its honesty and rugged, workhorse-like charm. As you get into the XV it gives you the impression that it’ll cope with whatever life can throw at it, both in the suburban environment and out in the sticks.

I have to say that if I ever spotted one for sale at a decent price I’d probably buy it. Yes the CVT can be a bit lethargic and the best I’ve ever achieved is 27mpg, but not only is packed full of safety spec, it’s a cracking AWD for those who don’t want to buy a traditional large 4x4, yet still want to explore the great outdoors - and get back home again.

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).

GOODS & GEAR

I love the aroma of burning wood, either from a bonfire, fire pit or a wood burning stove, maybe it’s a primaeval thing, sat around a fire keeping warm, either by myself or with family and friends, it gives me an enormous sense of wellbeing. Sadly my neighbours aren’t keen on the smoke they create, nor the smell, so I don’t tend to light them at Muddy Towers that often, which is a shame.

So when I met Tim and a trade show last year I figured I’d found the ideal solution. You see, El Fuego isn’t a traditional fire pit, it’s an eco friendly, smokeless and sustainable alternative to burning wood. Let me explain....

The El Fuego comes in 4 parts; the main body (available in a variety of designs), a drum insert, and lid. It also comes with a handy waterproof cover.

The fuel, that is placed into the drum insert, is a high burn candle made of 100% biodegradable vegetable wax. Not only is this better for the environment (no wood burn), but it has also been sustainably sourced from recommended and audited suppliers, so you can an open fire guilt free.

Ignited quickly, it burns the equivalent of 90-100 kiln dried logs and emits only 1.4kg of CO2/hr, where other fire pits discharge up to 10-15kgs/hr, making the El Fuego the most eco-friendly fire pit on the planet.

The high burn candle can burn for up to 8 hours, and if you’re fishing, camping, and calling it a night, or the party has migrated into the house, the fire pit can be safely extinguished by simply starving the fire of oxygen by placing the ceramic lid on top.

EL FUEGO FIRE PIT

It's built for the garden more than travel, as, measuring 30cm tall and 37cm in diameter, it isn’t the most compact, and weighing in at approximately 17kg, including fuel, it isn’t the lightest either. However, if you have the space in your vehicle it’s well worth the effort as it produces a constant, large, hot flame that keeps on giving with absolutely no maintenance.

They also have a Citronella candle inner too, so whether you’re at home in the garden and want a fire without the smoke, or want a quick and easy campfire that keeps the bugs away, the El Fuego Fire Pit is the perfect solution.

price: from £225 - £357.78 (dependent on design and material) Refills: from £26.95

more at » elfuegoworld.com

COOL BOXES

Petromax Cool Boxes are sturdy, independent ultra-passive cooling systems specially made for outdoor use. Operated using commercially available ice, cold packs or dry ice, the doublewalled, void-insulated Cool Boxes keep ice cool for up to 12 days on end without electricity or a generator.

Available in three sizes and three colours, there’s a Cool Box for all your outdoor adventure needs.

To explore the range, visit www.whitbyandco.co.uk or scan the QR code

GOODS & GEAR

RI N G RAC900 COMPRESSOR

Having a portable tyre compressor in your 4x4, or any vehicle for that matter, is just as important as carrying a spare tyre. Ring classes their RAC900 as a professional model, which certainly explains its performance. It can inflate a 13" tyre from flat to 35psi in just 90 seconds, and Deux Smurf’s 265-75-16 KM3s from 15psi to 31psi in just over 2 minutes.

First impressions are that everything about it feels well made, even the heavy duty carry bag has a quality feel about it - I especially like that there are 2 compartments that allow the hose and compressor to be kept separate. I’m going to describe the RAC900 as a no-frills compressor as it lacks niceties such as a digital gauge, auto-stop function and lights.

You connect the 7 metre coiled air hose to the pump using the push-on brass fitting, then using the two medium sized crocodile clips, attach the pump direct to the battery. On Deux Smurf and older vehicles this is quite easy, but on some modern vehicles it would mean unclipping a fiddly plastic battery cover, which can be a nuisance.

The power cable isn’t that long, so to reach the rear tyres you rely on the coiled air hose. Using the brass screw-on tyrevalve coupling I’d recommend smearing a bit of copper grease on the threads of your valves to ease fitting and removing.

The instructions say that when in use the pressure gauge shows over pressure (around 6psi) which means switching the unit off to check the proper reading.

Annoyingly, this means when inflating the rear tyres, you have to get up, walk to the front of the vehicle, switch the unit off, walk back to the rear tyres and recheck the pressure, then if they’re still low, get up, walk back to the compressor to switch it back on again, and repeat. This can be a bit laborious, especially in the dark when you have to use a torch, and a bit painful if you have dodgy knees! It would better if it had a longer electrical power cable and shorter air hose.

That said, there’s nothing stopping you from over inflating your tyres, walking back to the compressor to switch it off, then deflating them to your desired pressure. This is easily done by pushing the small black grip connector towards the valve, and if you’re deflating for off-road use, you can lock the grip into position by turning it ¼ of a turn. This is a really useful addition.

The build quality and speed in which it inflates tyres are really quite impressive, and checking the pressure gauge reading against my digital gauge shows the readings to be accurate.

Have I mentioned the thermal overload protection and waterproof on/off switch yet, and attachments/adaptors that come in a sealed bag? It has those, as well as an inline fuse to protect vehicle electronics, anti-vibration rubber mounted feet and a carry handle.

Overall, apart from the faff of walking back and forth to check the pressures, I’m really very happy with the RAC900 and it's now part of my Deux Smurf kit.

price: RRP £74.99 (though we found prices vary quite dramatically!) more at » ringautomotive.com

GOODS & GEAR

WOODWALKER 1 8" BOOTS

I was recently sent a pair of Gateway 1’s bestselling wellies to review, their Woodwalker 18” that are rammed with clever ideas and comfort levels that are through the roof.

Available in a variety of men and women’s sizes and colours, they’re certainly designed for hard work.

I initially found the standard fit can be a little tight across the top of my foot, especially if I’m wearing thick socks, but after a while they seem to have stretched a little. If you have big feet and calfs then a wider version is also available.

An example of clever thinking is that the adjustable gusset is on the rear of the boot as opposed to the side, it’s now less likely to catch on things, like dogs when they’re walking to heel, or undergrowth.

For the past month or so I’ve worn them 3 times a day whilst walking Lilly around the park, not just a meander, but three proper 45 minute yomps that includes a tarmac path, muddy forestry paths, a couple of steep climbs on uneven surfaces and fast flowing streams.

Despite my pace, on cold and frosty mornings my feet have never been too hot or too cold, as not only are they comfort rated to -20c but their moisture transporting lining regulates heat so well I usually wear thin socks as a matter of course.

I can’t argue about their grip either as the ‘all-terrain gripper’ tread on the Woodwalker is very aggressive, so no matter where I’m walking I’m confident I won’t find myself sliding on my backside!

Gateway 1 haven’t simply put huge cleats on the sole adhoc, it’s more technical than that, as is the rubber compound that’s strategically placed along the sole for grip, comfort, flexibility and wear - a design they call Lynx Ice Grip. A heel kicker function is also incorporated to help remove them.

Overall I’m more than happy with them as they’re lightweight, comfortable and incredibly grippy with outstanding shockabsorbing qualities that are akin to a running shoe.

price: RRP approx £160 - though with just a quick Google search we found some in the UK on sale at £100 more at » gateway1-footgear.com

Every now and again I like to re-review products that are, and have remained, simply awesome, and in this case it’s the OsoMount 360 Grip.

Back in 2010 when I wrote for Land Rover World magazine, Michal from OsoMount sent me his 360 Grip to review. I gave the dash in my old Discovery a quick wipe with a bit of spit on a cloth and that’s where the 360 Grip stayed for the next 3 years, despite plenty of ‘off-road’ action.

Three years later I gave it to a friend and replaced it with another 360-Grip, and 10 years on both are going strong, and have never once lost their grip and fallen from the dash or windscreen. The 360 Grip has a lockable pivotal head that as its name suggests, pivots 360 degrees, and its grippy silicone coated U-Grip jaws securely holds pretty much any mobile phone.

To secure to any flat surface it uses a sticky suction pad and locking mechanism. The great thing about the OSO range of holders and mounts are that they’re all removable and I often swap it from press car to press car. To remove it simply unlocked the mechanism and peel it off the surface. If you do this often enough the suction base will get a bit grubby. When this happens I simply run it under warm water, clean it off with by hand and leave to dry for a few minutes when it’ll be clean and ready for action again. Over the last 10 years or so my 360 Grip has coped with summer heat, dust, freezing conditions all whilst being jolted around off-road both in my old Discovery, Deux Smurf and a variety of press cars.

For less than £15 I can’t think of another phone holder that will take this much abuse, last so long and continue to work as it did from the day I first got it. A true 5 ⭐ product if ever there was one.

price: £14.49

more at » osomount.com

ALU-CAB LT-50

Introducing the LT-50, Alu-Cab’s ultra lightweight roof top tent that’s been designed for vehicles typically unable to support larger RTTs, from the Suzuki Jimny to a host of smaller SUVs, and even ‘normal’ cars.

The LT-50 pops up within seconds, and unlike some other lightweight RTTs, you can keep your bedding inside and even carry a 30kg load up top. One of the standout features of the Alu-Cab rooftop tent is its lightweight construction and it has a nut slot lid and base frame for easy mounting of accessories such as awnings, shower cubes, ladder brackets, spades etc.

The tent is made from lightweight, high-strength aluminium, which makes it easy to install and transport. The tent also features a compact, streamlined design that minimises wind resistance while driving.

Speaking to Dara at Tuff-Trek, he believes that stock availability will be an issue as he’ll sell out before he can bring them in, so if you fancy one, get in touch and preorder yours ASAP!

more at » alu-cab.com

price: £2845 - buy in the UK - tuff-trek.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month

OSRAM LEDRIVING PROFESSIONAL SERIES (PX)

Lighting specialist, OSRAM, has announced the launch of its most recent PX range, based on a unique matrix system. The range is available with 16 working lights in total with a variety of performances, shapes and beam patterns.

The working lights are suitable for 12V and 24V applications and a total of four beam patterns - Flood, Spot, Wide and Ultra-Wide - and four power levels1500lm, 2500lm, 3500lm and 4500lm - are available for each light. In addition, they can be mounted in three different ways: directly to the vehicle, with a flexible mounting kit or a heavy-duty mounting kit.

OSRAM has developed a range of accessories to work with the range including two mounting kits and a cable with a DT connector, so users can simply assemble, adapt, combine and, if required, easily interchange the lights they need. Its Flexible Mounting Kit is compatible with all work lights in the PX series, and is designed for easy, uncomplicated and flexible assembly, with the mounting requiring just one central screw. The final accessory is the Connection Cable 300 DT AX for 12V and 24V applications, it is three metres in length and provides easy installation for all vehicles.

All PX-Series working lights are IP6K8 & IP6K9K protected and provide powerful performance with an exceptionally long service life, but for peace of mind, OSRAM provides a 5 year guarantee.

more at » osram.co.uk

RING RTC4000 CORDLESS TYRE INFLATOR

Ring has introduced the RTC4000 to fill a gap in the market for a compact, yet powerful, and high quality cordless tyre inflator for cars and motorbikes.

The RTC4000 is easily chargeable via a USB Type C cable or 12V DC cable and is quick to inflate a tyre, even from flat.

To help save time, the RTC4000 also has a memory function, so the user can save different tyre pressures and activate them easily from the home screen, and it also has an auto-stop feature so there’s no risk of over inflating the tyre, which can be as dangerous as an under inflated tyre.

Because space can be limited in cars, and especially with motorbikes, Ring has ensured that this tyre inflator is as compact as it can be, which also means it’s light, so it’s easy to move around the vehicle and top up the tyres. Additionally, there are multiple LED lights on the tool, so inflating tyres can be done at any time.

price: £54.99

more at » shop.ringautomotive.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month

OUTWELL ARCTIC FROST

Cold drink, ice and food storage during summer months is always a challenge, but Outwell solves the problem with their range of new compressor coolers with remote operation via an app. The top of the range Arctic Frost model comes in 35, 45 and 55 litre options. Powered by 230V, 12V or its own optional integrated battery pack for off-grid camping, the Artic Frost keep contents cool down to -20˚C in two compartments that can be individually temperature controlled via an LED display or Bluetooth app.

The rugged plastic body features an integral bottle opener, re-enforced corners and large detachable puncture free wheels. A slide out handle and strong foldable handles aid transportation. The lid handle has a built-in lock, and the lid can be removed or opened to the left or right.

Inside, there is a cutting board located in the lid, and an inset light. The waterproof inner has two compartments with wire baskets, drain valve and independent temperature control via the app or the external touch display.

Outside, a handy USB charge port provides emergency power. battery protection prevents running down a car battery and the box itself is tilt and anti-vibration protected.

prices: 35L - £519.99 / 45L - £599.99 / 55L - £649.99

Mooch Jimny Adventures Part Two

Last month I explored some of my favourite lanes around Preston, but they were quite tame, and I had an urge to drive up to the Lake District and explore something a little more controversial - Parkamoor.

The hour spent on the M6 was a casual one, it has to be as any faster than 60mph and the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and 5-speed manual box in the Jimny becomes quite vocal, and you’ll need to turn the stereo up to 11 (I'm showing my age now, and if you got the reference, you're probably showing your age too.).

To break up the journey, after leaving the M6 at junction 36, I turned right and headed for an enjoyable little green-lane just on the outskirt of Lupton.

TW2 ref - SD5580-02 / All Terrain UK ref - CU U5372

Upon arrival the clouds were hanging low over the hills and there was a dampness in the air, and to my right as I began the steep descent to the ford at the bottom I was disappointed to see that someone had chopped down the trees and hedgerows making it look quite barren, I guess it was some sort of essential maintenance, or something.

First gear low-box is called for as you make your way down hill. It isn’t a gnarly hill, just the odd loose stone but fairly solid - I’ve driven all manner of AWD SUVs up and down this lane over the years.

Despite the recent weather the ford wasn’t as deep as it had been, so after a few posing shots of the Jimny mid ford I made myself a brew and enjoyed the serenity for 30 minutes or so before heading back on the road for Parkamoor.

Up until a few years ago, Parkamoor had the reputation for being one of the gnarliest greenlanes in the Lake District that had some really treacherous rock steps to negotiate. I only ever drove it once, and that was on the new JL Jeep Wrangler launch back in May 2019 - even in the 3-door Rubicon it was challenging.

However, with the risk of imminent closure, a local 4x4 tour company took it upon themselves to grade Parkamoor, along with other lanes in the area.

That led to an outcry from 4x4 enthusiasts nationwide who believed that you could now drive anything up it and that it had lost it’s uniqueness. The point, of course, was to make it accessible for everyone to enjoywalkers, mountain bikers, horse riders.

The first interesting section along Parkamoor is not that far from the start, it’s an S-bend that includes a few steps near the top where I had to carefully consider the Jimny’s wheel placementI really enjoying this type of green-laning

The next section of note is a narrow bit where you squeeze your 4x4 between two stone walls. It was easy in the Jimmy due to its size, especially at one point where the walls lean in slightly and there’s a protruding stone. I wouldn’t want to bring anything wide up here, not without someone to spot me!

A few minutes along and the lane widens up with a stream running to your right, and it’s on this section where I realised just how much stone they’d used to grade the lane - gone are the huge steps that created such a challenge, shame really, but needs must.

Round the tight left hand corner at the top and I was faced with another challenge, this time loose stones and deep ruts, though it wasn’t the ruts that concerned me, rather the high-centred sticky-out rocks that are strategically placed to catch the Jinmy’s diffs!

It was at this point I noticed a problem with the Jimny. Despite being a square box with great visibility, you’re sat quite low in the drivers seat, even me at 6ft2”, therefore I found myself looking across the flat bonnet as opposed to down on it, as you would, say, a Range Rover, or Defender of old. This meant I had difficulty judging how close I was to obstacles, and the aforementioned wheel placement. All part of the fun.

The higher you drive the more the lane becomes tricky as new water channels are being formed that crisscross the narrow lane.

Another section I remembered from the Jeep launch was a gnarly rock step close to another treacherous S-bend. Now it’s a mere hump and the Jimny climbed without fuss.

A little further along I arrived at another section that looked troublesome. It was an outcrop of jagged rocks that from the outset looked tricky. I jumped out of the Jimny for a closer inspection. The gnarly looking rocks would surely ground the Jimny, so again, with my head protruding out of the drivers side window careful wheel placement was required. As the front wheels climbed there was a little wheel-spin as the rear tyres scrambled for grip on the loose stones, but it was short-lived as the electronics swiftly figured things out.

Upon reaching the top I met a lone motorbike rider, and we chatted for a while about the state of the lanes whilst enjoying the stunning views of Coniston below us.

I was saddened to see signs of off-piste beginning to scar the landscape, as it looked like motorbikes are seeing one of the hills as a challenge and riding up it.

Many years ago you were legally allowed to continue and drive the entire length of the lane, these days you reach a gate at the top and turn around due to the other part being TTRO’d. (Temporary Traffic Regulation Order).

That said, as I turned around and headed back down, I had to occasionally stop and let a couple of large groups of off-road trailriders pass as they overtook me. Who knew it was okay for them to ride the entire lane with a TTRO in place?

I’ve mentioned ‘carefully considering the Jimny’s wheel placement’ quite a bit, and that’s because it has a tiny wheel and tyre combo. If I was in Deux Smurf, or a pickup, none of the steps would have caused me much bother as I would have simply driven over them. I can’t imagine I’d have the need to even engage her centre diff-lock either. In the Jimny however, due to its diminutive size and tiny wheels, it did create some welcomed challenges, and it was fun to actually think about wheel placement, and how that would take me to the next step. I’m guessing that having a triple locked 4x4 on 37” tyres can take the fun, and challenge out of a lot of lanes.

From here I headed past Hawkshead towards a lane that was blocked by a broken down 4x4 in last month’s issue, only to find that this time the entrance was again blocked by vehicles. I’m not sure whether it was intentional or pure ignorance, but it was annoying.

At this point I noticed the fuel gauge was getting low, and being a tight northerner figured I could manage to get home without putting any more fuel in. Press cars come with a full tank of fuel, but after that you have to fund the miles yourself! I have to say that I was impressed by the Jimny’s frugality, as after nearly 400 miles of on and off-road motoring, in achieved 37.8mpg, and considering my heavy right foot, that pain’t too shabby.

Despite its limitations on long open roads, keep the revs up and on tight and twisty roads the Jimny comes into its own with rock solid stability and sharp-ish steering, though you will find yourself always trying to change up to sixth gear, which doesn’t exist.

The Jimny remains a cracking vehicle, it’s just a shame it doesn’t come with Suzuki’s fantastic 1.4 litre Boosterjet engine and 6-speed auto, then it would truly be an awesome 4x4.

Storm Jeeps have a number of modified Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicons for sale. More details on available stock via our website or call 01482 666491

Genesis G70 Shooting Brake

What is it?

Well, it’s not a 4x4, it isn’t even AWD! So, you may ask, what’s it doing in The Mud Life?

Well I’ll get to that shortly, but first, what is it? The G70 Shooting Brake is essentially the estate version of the G70 executive saloon, and is bespoke for Europe. When I say ‘estate’ I mean that it’s been given a hatchback-style extension on the rear end that gives it a more practical silhouette.

With this in mind, the reason I asked to borrow G70 Shooting Brake was because I had a 12 hour round trip to Great Yarmouth to endure. I wanted a large yet comfortable vehicle that would carry both Muddy Madam and Muddy Madam senior, Lilly, myself and enough paraphernalia for four days away at a Sci-Fi convention. Don’t judge us.

Usually I’d go with a large spacious load-lugger of an SUV, but I fancied a change, and as I’ve really enjoyed everything so far from the Genesis stable, I thought I’d give the SB a go.

On the road

As I’ve mentioned, the whole point of borrowing the SB was for its long distance cruising ability, and for that it excelled. From the M6 we took the A1(M), A17 and A47 to Great Yarmouth stopping only once for a loo break. Genesis has clearly done a decent amount of work to cancel out any excess noise, vibration and harshness as I didn’t feel any fatigue at our journeys end, even my back felt fine.

If you want to play around you have Sport and Sport+ modes that not only stiffen things up, including the seat bolsters, but you also get a rather gruff exhaust note emanating through the speakers. For the majority of our week together I was more than happy to leave it in either Eco or Comfort modes, they suited me just fine.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and 8-speed auto combo did a fine job and achieved just over 38mpg, and I suspect I could have got more, but I wasn’t in the mood for dawdling. Well, with 241bhp that propels it to 62mph in just 6.4 seconds, who can blame me?

There is a 2.2 litre diesel version available, and a 191bhp version of the 2.0 litre petrol, all are rearwheel drive and are bolted to the silky smooth 8-speed auto box.

Fancy a plug-in hybrid or electric version?

Unfortunately these aren’t available yet in the G70, though they’re offered in the rest of the Genesis range.

Interior

Get behind the wheel and it’s a comfortable, if not snug, place to while away the hours driving, the dash layout isn’t as visually exuberant as the rest of the Genesis range, but that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the heads up display, limiter, adaptive cruise and all the other switchgear are all laid out at your fingertips in the form of physical buttons and dials, none of that searching through the touchscreen monitor nonsense to find the heated steering wheel control, it’s all there in front of you.

Some would call this ‘old fashioned’, even retro, but I like to think that Genesis has listened to the masses of drivers and got rid of the unnecessary and distracting tech that nobody needs, or asked for. I haven’t been this impressed by switchgear for a long time!

Finding your comfy spot is easy with the electric and very supportive seats that are long enough in the base making them ideal for housing a packet of crisps between your legs - so I’m told.

There’s a decent amount of cubby space up front with two cup holders and a wireless mobile charging plate underneath the heater controls with a USB and 12v socket.

There’s another USB port found within the arm rest, but no USB-C. Rear seat passengers only get a singular 12v socket.

On the subject of those relegated to the back, despite the sloping roof, they have plenty of head space, though leg room, especially if sat behind 6-footers, is a bit limited, and there’s no space under the front seats to slide your feet, unfortunately.

Now for the boot. When Muddy Madam and I peered into the back, the stark reality hit us - it wasn’t as big as we were hoping for. With the rear seats in place you get 465 litres and 1,535 litres of space with the seats folded down. Another potential problem was the steeply raked boot lid that means a bit of squashing may had to happen.

Fortunately, Muddy Madam is a Tetris master and it wasn’t long until she had everything packed for our extended weekend away. The trick is to use plenty of bags instead of bulky items like suitcases and boxes.

Are you wondering what that weird looking head thing is on the top is?

Well this is just one of the outfits Muddy Madam made me wear during our geeky getaway.

The things I do for love!

Tech ’n’ stuff

Genesis have packed so much tech in vehicles it’s difficult to know where to begin. There’s the usual adaptive cruise control, lane assist, rear blind spot collision assist, forward collision assist, intelligent speed limit assist and the list goes on. It also has the blindspot camera set-up, which shows you a rear view from the side mirrors in the instrument panel when you turn the indicators on.

The shooting Brake’s 10.25” touchscreen works well in the car, and you can sync your phone easily for Android and Apple connectivity.

Have I mentioned the internet-based connected services that are on offer? You get live traffic info, local fuel prices and where the nearest bit of parking is. Unfortunately it wasn’t something managed to take advantage of as I didn’t have the time to scour the owners manual!

Conclusion

Of course, there are estates with larger boots, but the Shooting Brake offers you something a little bit different. It adds extra practicality and versatility with decent load carrying capacity, without sacrificing the sleek and elegant design.

Website - https://www.genesis.com/uk/en/index.html

Price of vehicle £40,700 + options £50,020

Deux Smurf The Story So Far...

January 2023 saw Deux Smurf’s 27th birthday and our 7th anniversary together, and as there always seems to be a lot of love for her, I thought I’d dedicate a couple of pages to her ‘story so far’.

Back in January 2016, after our 1996 Land Rover Discovery lost her battle with rust, I desperately needed to find another 4x4, and quickly, as Muddy Madam and I had just set up The Mud Life website. At the time, the irony of having a 4x4 and outdoor website and NOT having a 4x4 wasn’t lost on us, so the search commenced.

In no particular order my list of basic requirements looked something like this:

- No more than £4,000

- Reliable

- Nothing too modern

- Good off road

- Good on road

- Parts easily available

- Proper 4x4 system, with low box

I decided to disregard Land Rover products as I wanted The Mud Life to be more generic, not just another green oval appreciation website; although a Discovery 2 was very tempting.

Having scoured the internet for a month searching for a new-to-me 4x4 that would make me feel all fuzzy inside, without success, I began losing the will to live. I arrived at the conclusion that I’d be better off searching for a set of hen's teeth in a bucket of rocking-horse poo.

I then posted a thread on the UK’s Toyota Hilux Surf forum bemoaning the fact there was hardly any Surfs for sale anymore. It didn’t take long for a forum member to link another selling type website that had a rather tasty 3rd Gen listed that was only an hour away. That fuzzy feeling returned.

Muddy Madam and I went over to Ormskirk to have a look, and not only was the Surf genuine, but more importantly for me, so was Paul, it’s current custodian. He insisted on showing me its service records and discussed at length what he’d done to it over the 2 years. I was smitten, but more importantly, so was the ever wary Muddy Madam. So we bought it, and I was a Toyota Surf owner, again.

With 166,861 miles on the clock, I was to be her third UK owner, and at £3,500, a little over the price I really wanted to pay, however, her condition was so good, and her current owner genuine, so it was a no-brainer.

Getting to know you…

Because she was our second Surf, and Surf still rhymes with Smurf, she was christened Deux Smurf, and after a full service that included changing all her belts and fluids she was put straight into Mud Life action. There were numerous blasts to the NEC in Birmingham, Wales and the Lake District, and before I knew it we had covered nearly 1000 miles in just a couple of weeks.

Although the windscreen wipers did their job, they did so in anger, they squealed with every single wipe they made, so I invested in a pair of Bosch Aerotwin wipers. I also replaced the rear wiper, a complete unit from Roughtrax. The wiper is attached to the arm with 2 very small screws and is quite a fiddly job to replace. You need to be careful not to thread them as they don’t come with the wiper, so you better not drop them either!

The General Grabber tyres that came with Deux Smurf, although perfectly road legal, had sadly past their sell by date when it came to green-laning, so a new set was required. This of course brings with it a whole new headache; mud or all terrains, expensive or budget? I have to admit that I’m a bit of a closed book when it comes to tyres as I’ve had BF-Goodrich All-Terrains on my last four 4x4s, and they’ve been exceptional.

With this in mind I sent a cheeky email to BFG, and low and behold they agreed to send me a set of their KM2 Mud Terrains to review.

Apart from servicing, nothing else was done to her for the next 2 years / 10,000 miles, and that was when her exhaust back box began to rattle when idling, so when I was at Milner Off-Road, on an errand, I bought a replacement. A new battery was fitted, too.

I think it was around this time when I got myself a pair of Thule roof bars so we could take our 16 foot open canoe on paddling adventures. I’ve had Thule bars on other 4x4s and I have to say they’re very sturdy - they have to be as they’re often thwacked by over hanging branches whilst green-laning.

In February 2019 we’d covered almost 20,000 miles with majority being green-laning, and two big changes happened. First BFGoodrich contacted me to ask if I wanted to try out their new KM3 Mud Terrains - daft question, and secondly I swapped her suspension.

When it came to on-road manners, Deux Smurf handled like a go-kart - absolutely brilliant for fast country lanes and motorways, but driving her around town and along bumpy green-lanes she was a nightmare and quite adept at rattling your fillings out.

Wanting a smoother ride with great flex whilst green-laning I posed the question on the Hilux Surf Facebook page for replacement suspension, and by an overwhelming majority Pedders was the name that cropped up time and time again with comments like; “Unbelievable ride quality”, “best decision ever” and, well you get the idea.

So the following day I sprung into action (see what I did there?) and had a chat with Roger at Pedders and I ordered their +1” TrakRyder kit and wow, what a massive improvement it made. Not only did she flex better ‘off-road’, but she no longer skipped and jumped over pot-holes, and her steering was much sharper, too.

The following year, 2020, with 192,434 miles under her tyres, her exhaust fell apart, so after recommendations I took her to SK Garage in Manchester and spent £400 on a new stainless steel exhaust which sounds epic!

Since then there have been more oil and filter changes, headlight bulbs and various suspension bushes and other sundries replaced, and of course we had the wheel nut debacle from a few months ago.

We also fitted a LTPZ-DLX-20E slim-line light bar on the bumper that Chris from ORE4x4.com kindly sent us, and more recently OSRAM’s 40” VX1000CB SM light bar that’s fitted underneath the Thule bar. Oh, and my best mod ever - fan washers jets that are covered in our February ‘23 issue.

There will be other bits that I’ve probably forgotten, but overall she’s been a fantastic 4x4 to own. In 7 years and around 32k miles I’ve spent around £2k on servicing, parts and labour, which I don’t consider too bad for a 4x4 that spends its time off the beaten track.

Fuel wise, a big 3 litre turbo diesel is never going to be the most efficient vehicle on the planet, but on a long journey she’ll achieved up to 27mpg. She’ll also run on veg oil which keeps the cost down.

Overall I’m incredibly happy with Deux Smurf, but I can’t take all the credit, we were lucky, she’s had 2 very fastidious UK owners who’ve kept her in fabulous condition since being imported into the UK.

What’s quite remarkable that everything still works. Having said that there are some things that are beginning to show their age, like the small bulbs in switches on the door panels which are dim, and of course headlamp bulbs which are a typical annoyance to Surf owners.

So what’s next? Not much if I’m being honest, With 198,500 miles under her tyres it could be argued that she’s just about run in, and I’m happy keeping her fairly standard, but I’m tempted to make some practical and sensible additions that’ll make her better off-road. A rear locker would be beneficial, and I guess at some point I would also like to fit a drawer system in the back for when camping. But more importantly her chassis and nether regions will need coat of protection soon as surface rust is beginning to show, and there’s a spot of rust appearing on the bonnet that requires looking at.

Mooch Ford Ranger Supercab

As you read earlier in the mag, I was offered a spot on the new Raptor launch, but as I didn’t have a press car, and the launch was in Arundel, which is not far from Portsmouth and 5 hours away, I asked the PR team if they had a spare Ranger for the journey.

I could have asked for a Focus, or Fiesta in which I could have achieved decent mpg, but where’s the fun in that? Besides, I can’t go green laning in either of those two.

I was given a Supercab version, and literally, the moment it arrived I threw my overnight bag in the back, filled a flask with coffee and set off for the tedious drive to the south coast. From the M6, I took the M42, M40, M25 and a myriad of back roads until I arrived at the White Swan Inn in Arundel for my overnight stay. For the return trek I opted for the A35, as I despise the M25!

The Ranger’s 2.0-litre 167bhp, 6-speed manual box made light work of the 552 mile round trip, and at average motorway speeds it managed to get me there and back on a full tank, with just 13 miles to spare. According to the computer, it achieved just over 37mpg - not bad, considering.

With the Raptor launch out of the way I had quite a few green lanes I wanted to explore in the Peak District, most that I’d never driven before. So after an hour or so checking both All Terrain UK’s Smart Trail and GLASS’s Trailwise 2, I had my route sorted, and with a few butties packed, another flask of coffee and my ActionTrax strapped down, off I ventured to Derbyshire.

Lane 1

TW2 - SK0275-02

ATUK - DY 033

Heading south to north, this is the ideal warm-up lane, and by that I mean a non-damaging singletrack lane that offers lovely views across the valley. That said, despite the ruts not looking too bad, they were at times fairly deep, which in turn caused some clangs from the Ranger’s nether regions as it scraped along the high centre. A slightly modified 4x4 with taller tyres, like Deux Smurf, wouldn’t be affected.

Within a few hundred yards the ruts calm themselves down, and I was able to enjoy the cracking views on offer. Apart from one muddy section the majority of the lane has a good hard base and should be drivable in all conditions. In fact I didn’t really need to engage 4WD in the Ranger, though I suspect driving upwards towards the southern gate would be a different matter.

Something to consider if you’re out in convoy is that both ends of the lane are next to the main road and therefore parking space whilst someone is opening the gate is limited. This is especially so at the northern end that’s on sharp and fast bend.

Lane 2

TW2 - SK0277-02

ATUK - DY 1089

Again, starting from the southern end this lane begins flanked between two stone walls, then after the second gate, opens up to fields used for grazing. It didn’t take long for the wooly locals to surround the Ranger. I suspect the farmer who feeds the sheep may have a Ranger as they probably recognised the sound of the Ford diesel as a chuck wagon, and came charging towards me!

Avoiding the livestock, it isn’t long before the lane takes a sharp right and descends into the valley. At this point the lane becomes a little bit rocky with a few minor steps to negotiate that flexed the Ranger’s suspension.

Width wise it varies from being unable to get out of the Ranger to take a photo to wide open spaces. If you’re in a smaller 4x4 some of the rocks and steps could catch you out, so be careful of your wheel placement.

To add a bit of spice, the next time I drive this lane it’ll be in the opposite direction.

Lane 3

TW2 - SK0179-03

ATUK - DY 034

Just as I was about to embark on the next lane I heard the rumbling of motorbikes coming from the opposite direction, and because it starts off quite narrow, I reversed down a bit to let them past.

After the usual nods they stopped, looked at the Ranger and suggested that it might be a tad too wide for the lane as there are some particularly scratchy bushes encroaching the lane. With that in mind, and because PR teams get a little upset when press cars are returned damaged, I parked up and went for a walk to see how bad it actually was.

There were some gorse bushes along the way, but I figured the lane was just about wide enough to get the Ranger through without causing too many go-faster stripes, so I headed back to the Ranger.

With Combs Reservoir down on my right, the views were outstanding, and there are a few places where you can park up for a brew and enjoy the solitude.

Overall the surface is fairly solid with a few shallow but long puddles to splash through, and a couple of off camber sections to avoid the scratches. As this mooch took place at the beginning of March I would expect it to be more overgrown come the summer months, and therefore I would be tempted to avoid it, especially in a press car.

As you near the end of the lane the scenery changes as you begin to descend into a wooded area with more errant branches protruding from the side ready to spoil your paintwork, so be careful. The surface on this section is a little damp and if you’re driving upward I’m guessing a bit more of a challenge, but all was good in the Ranger.

Lane 4

TW2 - SK0779-04, SK0879-01, SK0978-04

ATUK - DY 1122

Reading the feedback on TW2, lane 4 is described as an easy and pleasant lane, and certainly worth a drive. So starting from the Donkey Sanctuary, just off the A6, I gave it a go.

Due to a quarry the old RoW no longer exists, and in its place, skirting around the gaping hole in the ground, is a new road that is made from hard packed limestone and planings.

Despite being quite uneven, with a fair number of potholes and blind summits, it’s relatively easy going. I’d say it’s drivable in any vehicle on decent tyres, though one of the hills is quite steep and could pose a challenge if it’s wet.

On the subject of rain, just be aware that due to the many undulations, after a good downpour I suspect this will lead to many deep puddles that could catch a smaller vehicle by surprise.

Driving from west to east this is another lane that didn’t require me to engage 4WD, but due to the views it’s certainly worth the detour if you’re in the area.

Lane 5

TW2 - SK1177-03

ATUK - DY 1156

All of the lanes I had driven so far were new to me, but within just a few yards this lane looked quite familiar; I realised I'd driven it previously back in 2019, and it formed part of an article .

Driving from west to east the lane heads along on a gentle downhill single track towards a tall rock face where you take a sharp left.

At this point I pulled over as a large contingent of walkers, who were mostly cheerful and chatty passed me by. That was until around a dozen trial riders both overtook and weaved through them and sped off into the distance kicking up dirt and stones in their wake. Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve been that embarrassed by a like-minded group of enthusiasts, they could’ve showed some respect.

Once they’d walked by I continued, and from here the lane takes a steepish right hand turn that’s also lightly offcamber. Once you reach the top the surface turns to large cobbles which by all accounts, when wet or icy can become incredibly slippery, so if you’re up there in winter, take care. It continues like this for quite a while and I remember the last time I was up here in Deux Smurf I was wishing for more supple suspension, or that I had let some of the air out of the tyres as I swear I could feel every filling rattling loose! The Ranger on the other hand took it all it its stride, but being fair I hadn’t given anything to challenge it, at least not yet.

Upon reaching the main road I was 5 lanes down with a further 7 to go, so I figured it would be a good time to park up for some food, and reflect on what a cracking day of laning I had enjoyed so far, and that weirdly, despite being a Saturday I had only seen one other 4x4, and just that one group of mainly pleasant walkers.

In next month’s issue I'll tell you about the lanes in which I had to engage the rear locker, and you may read about why I felt the need to say sorry to the Ford PR team.

Trouble & Squeak

by Karen Lee Turner

Quite a while ago I told you about Lilly's love for squeaky balls, and I've also mentioned her favourite toy, a quacking duck from Home Bargains, both of which are not expensive, so when the squeaking and quacking dies it hasn't been costly to replace them. However I am conscious that keeping replacing them is not really great for the environment, so I decided that although nothing could be done to save the balls, I could use my making and mending talents to repair the ducks.

We had ended up with a number of mute ducks, in various colours, and in various states of mangling. She always plays with them up until she manages to puncture the plastic bag that was the air bladder, or until we take them off her when she rips a hole and starts pulling out the wadding innards - an exploded duck in the lounge is a sight to behold!

It wasn't a case of just replacing the bag, as the quacker works in a similar set up to a bagpipe - it has to be capable of drawing in

air by itself before Lilly's jaws clamp and squeeze the air back out, so I set on a mission to find replacements.

I headed to Amazon, as you can pretty much find anything on there, but these little air-quackers proved elusive, so I started looking for alternatives.

Now squeakers are in plentiful supply on the aforementioned shopping site - big ones, little ones and everything in between. There are ones for human toys, ones for dog toys, and all have reviews, so I spent time reading reviews telling me which was which, and how well they could stand up to a bit of doggy munching.

It's amazing how much time you can lose to reading how Rover only took 2 minutes 23 seconds to demolish his toy, or how unimpressed Luna was because her new squeaky toy wasn't in the same decibel range as her last one.

Honestly, my will to live was ebbing away.

Then I came across some squeakers that mainly, about 95%, had great reviews, so a quick few clicks later they were ordered along with a bunch of other stuff (I wouldn't do an order just for squeakers, that really would be a waste of resources), and the following day a bag of 50 arrived.

I gathered up the dead ducks that I had been hiding from Lilly, grabbed my needle and thread, and began the process. I surgically sliced them open, removed the old quakers, and put 2 new squeakers inside each.

One of the ducks made the ultimate sacrifice - he was too far gone, his war wounds would never have healed properly so he bravely donated his inners to save/re-plump the other 3 ducks.

Two brown and one green duck returned to do battle on the Dog Bed of War, ready to squeak Lilly into glorious submission. She was so happy to see them return, and proceeded to chomp away at heads and bodies to make them talk.

It took a few moments for her to find the little noisy bladders, but when she did it was like a bunch of Scottish pipers had invaded and taken up residence in our lounge. She went at it non-stop for about 10 minutes, at which point we noticed the noise started to dwindle, then it stopped.

It wasn't that she had got bored, she never gets bored! It was that she had killed the 'supposedly sturdy' squeakers one by one until all that could be heard was the feeble up and down of squeakerless plastic.

I'd had great intentions, but unfortunately the equipment didn't hold up. I tell you this story not to put you off doing repairs - repairing is better for the planet, but mainly in the hope that you will learn from my failure, and realise that reviews on Amazon are basically a big pile of steaming horse��, and a complete waste of your time.

In the end, I'm not really that bothered that they are a bit useless, I knew that for £6 for 50 that they probably wouldn't last too long (though I had hoped for longer that 10 minutes), but I still have 44 more of them, so those remaining ducks better be prepared for me to go all Hannibal Lecter, and keep slicing them open to stuff more of those noisy little buggers inside, because my Lilly always get what she wants, and what she wants is to make ducks SCREAM!!

Lilly's

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

Sid The Squid Eco Dog Toy

Sid The Squid is so cute with a knowing expression that says 'I am going to be slavvered on any moment'.

Sid is an eco-friendly, sustainable and plastic free dog toy, made from a suede outer with natural jute fibre stuffing.

Jute is a natural, sustainable plant fibre that is 100% biodegradable. The suede is a by-product and ensures that this material is not wasted.

Tough and long lasting, made without using any compound that would harm or be released when chewed.

price: £7.99

more at » petsoftheearth.com

Mighty Mussels Munchies

Green & Wild's Munchies with green lipped mussels, are full of phytonutrients which promote cellular health, strengthen the immune system and improve digestive health. Green lipped mussels are also a natural source of chrondroitin and glucosomine.

• Mighty good treats for dogs with arthritis and joint problems

• Strengthens bones and boosts immunity

• Natural anti-inflammatory reduces joint pain and can aid in the prevention of arthritis

• Promotes healthy skin, coat, eyes, nerves, and muscles

• Aids gut health and hypoallergenic

• Very low in fat and cholesterol

• No grain, gluten or sweeteners

• No added colours or preservatives

price: £4.96

more at » greenandwilds.co.uk

Decimus Heavy Duty Softee Bed

The Decimus Softee pet bed is designed to keep your dog warm and comfortable. Covered in waterproof heavy-duty 100% polyester, it has bonded thermal polyester fiber to insulate your pet from the cold floor.

It is easy to keep clean, just brush off loose dirt, and the thick base cushion is removable. Wipe with a wet cloth and then rinse under a running tap/hose or even a low setting on a pressure washer.

Made in the UK, and available in multiple colours & sizes prices: £82.48 -£148.49 more at » https://www.wayfair.co.uk

Dorwest Soothe & Calm Shampoo

Specially formulated for sensitive skin, this nourishing, natural shampoo for dogs and cats helps to restore, moisturise and rebalance. It combines the soothing and hydrating powers of oatmeal, aloe vera and chamomile extract with the calming properties of lavender essential oil and extract.

A neutral pH ensures this shampoo works harmoniously with your pet’s skin and by using no artificial fragrances, SLS or parabens and being free of silicone, mineral oil and PEGs, it`s both natural and hypoallergenic.

From helping to relieve dry, irritated or flaky skin, to maintaining healthy skin and a glossy coat, this shampoo provides the perfect pamper treat for your pet.

price: £8.90 (250ml) more at » dorwest.com

Natural Cornish Pet Peanut

Butter for Dogs

Made in Cornwall, this is the perfect treat for your dog. The thick, sticky texture of peanut butter, combined with its strong smell, means that it is great at disguising medication. Just spread onto feeding mats or use with enrichment puzzles and training toys for some extra motivation!

• 100% natural.

• Contains no Palm Oil, Xylitol, artificial flavours or preservatives.

• Peanut Butter is not only a great source of protein, but it also contains heart healthy fats, vitamin B, niacin, and vitamin E.

• Conscientiously produced.

prices: £4.49 buy from » naturalcornishpet.co.uk

Škoda help to calm your anxious furry passengers

6 out of 10 dogs become anxious in cars, so to mark the brand’s sponsorship of this year's Crufts, Škoda collaborated Anna Webb, a leading Dog Behaviourist and Nutritionist, to curate a Spotify playlist entitled Happy Hounds, compiled of music tracks scientifically proven to soothe dogs' travel anxiety.

Škoda’s research, carried out among 1,000 dog owners, revealed 60% feel they must limit where they go on days out due to their dog becoming distressed in the car. While the problem affects a number of dogs, our Lilly included, many owners have no idea how to ease their dog’s discomfort, many saying they had tried but failed to solve the issue.

Dogs can become anxious in cars for many reasons including the space being unfamiliar, hearing unusual sounds from the road and weather, the temperature being too warm in the car, previous bad experiences, and motion sickness.

Anna also revealed her top mindfulness tips to guide listeners on how to help their canines enjoy car journeys - Top Tips for Happy Hounds. These include ensuring your dog is comfortable in their harness before entering the car, starting with the music volume low at first and keeping the car under 20°C.

Hound Dog, the aptly named track from the King of Rock'n'Roll, Elvis, made it onto the curated playlist, as did luminaries Rihanna, Bob Marley, Bee Gees, Adele and Harry Styles, amongst others.

Anna Webb advises that the beats per minute of a song is key to keeping dogs calm on long journeys:

"Emulating the heartbeat is thought by science to offer a calming effect. Small dogs and puppies normally have heart rates of 120 to 160 beats per minute. These songs work as they are not heavy metal or similar genres which is known to disturb sleep patterns in dogs. I included some reggae songs on the upper end of the BPM as it’s proven dogs like reggae, so these will work well for smaller dogs as their heartbeat is faster than bigger dogs.

We based the playlist on a deep understanding of the relationship between beats per minute and high and low frequencies. The larger the dog, the slower the normal heart rate. This means it is a slow tempo, which science has proven is calming to dogs. So slower tempo songs work for bigger dogs. This is important for dogs as their hearing is more attuned to hearing the vibrations in high and low frequencies than us. Their responses to music genres will be different to how humans respond to music, as they have increased sensitivity to the high and low frequencies we cannot hear.

It’s worth acclimatising your dog to the playlist before you get into the car, so the dog makes positive associations with these songs before moving them into the car. These songs therefore will offer a ‘memory’ that all is okay in situations like weather conditions making the car suddenly a bit scarier, or suddenly sensing the movement of a larger vehicle overtaking you."

Off Road Driver Training & Experiences

UK WIDE

All TerrAin ServiceS

4x4 Driver Training & Exp., Self Drive Tours

https://www.allterrainservices.co.uk

01792 862669

NORTH

GrAyThwAiTe AdvenTure

Off-Road Driving & Training, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Watersports, Archery, Bushcraft, Axe Throwing, Glamping

https://www.graythwaiteadventure.co.uk

07498 574659 & 07779 162710

norTh yorkShire off roAd cenTre

Off Road Driver Training & Tours

http://www.nyoffroad.co.uk

07787 555060

explore off roAd

Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences

http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk

07970 286881

SOUTH

John MorGAn 4x4 drivinG

Pay & Play, Off Road Driver Training

http://www.4x4driving.co.uk

01903 812195

wild TrAckS

Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences

https://www.wildtracksltd.co.uk

01638 751918

True Grip off roAd

Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences

http://www.truegripoffroad.co.uk

01233 662251

proTrAx

4x4 Driver Training

https://www.protrax.co.uk

01536 772238

AvAlAnche AdvenTureS

Pay & Play, 4x4 Experiences

https://avalancheadventure.co.uk

01858 880613

ASh 4x4

Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences

http://www.ash4x4.com

07581 030331

Bala 4x4

WALES

4x4 Driver Training

https://www.bala4x4.co.uk

01536 772238

4x4 TOURS

ArdenT off roAd

4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences

SCOTLAND

ScoTTiSh off roAd

Off Road Driver Training

http://www.scotoffroad.co.uk

07711 217759

Pay & Play

hill ’n’ diTch - ChEshirE

http://www.hillnditch4x4.com

07974 398201

explore off roAd - ChEshirE

http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk

07970 286881

kirTon off roAd - gainsBorough

https://www.korc.co.uk

01652 245022

frickley 4x4 off roAd cenTre - WEst Yorks.

https://www.frickley4x4.co.uk

07881 590593

cowM leiSure - roChdalE

https://cowmleisure.com

07970 101 879

ulTrA AdvenTure drivinG - WalEs

http://www.ultraadventuredriving.co.uk

01978 358 444

eSSex rochford & diSTricT 4x4 club - roChford

http://www.4x4er.co.uk

devilS piT - BEdfordshirE

http://www.devilspit.co.uk

07764 159478

AvAlAnche AdvenTureS - lEiCEstErshirE

https://avalancheadventure.co.uk

01858 880613

4x4 wiThouT A club - BErkshirE

http://www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk

07887533168

John MorGAn 4x4 drivinG - WEst sussEx

http://www.4x4driving.co.uk

01903 812195

piccAdilly wood - WEst sussEx

http://www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk

07984 543886

https://ardentoffroad.com

Tel: 01405 947 001

hiGhlAnd All TerrAin

4x4 Tours with wild camping, ATV

https://www.highlandscenicsafari.co.uk

Tel: 01528 544 358

one life AdvenTure

4x4 Tours & vehicle prep training

https://www.onelifeadventure.co.uk

Tel: 01347 830188

ArdvenTureS

4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences

https://ardventures.co.uk

Tel: 01757 638 479

4x4 AdvenTure TourS

4x4 Tours

https://www.4x4adventuretours.co.uk

Tel: 07769 336 099

TrAilS And TrAckS 4x4 AdvenTureS

4x4 Tours

https://trailsandtracks.co.uk

Tel: 07976 393 838

cAMbriAn wAy

4x4 Tours

https://www.cambrianway.com

Tel: 01550 750274

roAM free AdvenTureS

4x4 Tours

https://www.roamfreeadventures.co.uk

Contact via website

TiMeleSS overlAnd

4x4 Tours

https://www.facebook.com/tloverland

Tel: 07508 833 899

lAnd TrAckS And TrAilS Green lAne

AdvenTureS

4x4 Tours

https://www.lanestracksandtrails.co.uk

Tel: 07855 213355

coMpASS AdvenTureS

4x4 Tours

https://www.compassadventures.co.uk

Tel: 07508 708 588

bATTlefieldS by 4x4

4x4 Tours

https://www.battlefieldsby4x4.com

Tel: 07014 241 418