Turas Camping and 4WD Adventures Magazine - Issue Eight

&

EXPLORING GREECE

SUSPENSION

SOUTH AMERICA ROOFTOP TENTS SWAGS& 4WD ACCESSORIES

ISSUE

08

OFF ROAD CAMPERS

LATEST GEAR

& MUCH MORE

V T .

S A R U T .

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Y P O C E E R F R RIBE FOR YOU

EDITORIAL

We hope you have all been having a great summer and getting out there. We have had a great time touring across Europe and discovering and using some great new gear. In this issue we explore Ipiros in Greece with Offroad Unlimited, we join an intrepid French family on their global 4WD touring adventures. As usual, we bring you lots of new gear and equipment reviews including some great Awnings, roof top tents, recovery gear and also some amazing fridge freezers and camp cooking options.

We share useful tips on getting the best out of your portable fridge freezers and also announce exciting news about some great new suspension products which are now available across Europe. All this and much more awaits within.

Don’t forget you can also check out our website at www.turas.tv which is now multi-lingual.

And we are not putting our gear away for the winter, no chance, we love winter camping and we will see you back here in November for our Winter edition, in the meantime enjoy this issue and as always, please let us know if you have any comments, feedback or suggestions, or just want to get in touch at info@turas.ie

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Camp 4WD

ping & D Gear

ENERGY SAVING

TIPS r e z e e r f e g d i r f r u o for y

W

hen we are camping off grid it is always important that we use the available power we have, be it from a deep cycle battery or other sources, as wisely as we possibly can .There is nothing worse than having a fridge freezer full of produce and having to dump it all simply because you have run out of auxillary  power from not using your fridge freezer correctly. Here are a couple of tips from SnoMaster for using your fridge freezer effectively.

r u o y r o f S IP T g n Energy Savi r e z e e r f e g d i r f r e t s SnoMa

ur freezer o y e t a r e g i t Pre refr e setting ou r o f e b s r h for 12

Sort your frozen fo

ENERGY SAVIVG

TIPS

If the fridge is running on a battery, you should consider some of these simple, yet effective tips for energy saving.

Pre-Refrigerate your Items

For at least 12 hours before travelling, it can be very helpful to pre-refrigerate everything you want to keep in the SnoMaster fridge, in your fridge at home. You can also put the food into the SnoMaster fridge and run it on 230 Volts. For products that are still warm, it is best to do this one day before you depart on your trip.

oods wisely

Sort your Frozen Foods Wisely When going on a trip for several days, sort your food by  meals to be prepared in any given day . If you cover each layer with newspaper, then less cold air can escape when the fridge is opened.

Fill up Empty Space

If a mostly empty fridge/freezer is opened, a lot of warm air comes into the box and then it must be cooled down after you close it again. This is very energy-consuming. SnoMaster recommend that you refill  empty space with frozen water bottles.

The frozen bottles also help to keep the temperature in the box longer, even when the fridge is switched off.

ime when t e s i m i n i M opening lid

GENESIS-IMPORT

Top up you l using a portab

ur power le solar panel

Minimise time when opening lid

Get into the habit of opening the lid for short periods of time, when the lid is open is not the best time to have a conversation with your camping buddies as you lean over your open fridge freezer, the alarm system should remind you to close the lid.

Operating on 230 Volt

If you stay in the same place for several days without driving the vehicle (which thus reboosts the charge in the battery), then operate your fridge on 230 Volt mains power (when possible).

Solar panels

In sunny areas, installing a solar panel and/or additional batteries is also recommended. Especially if you stay several days in the same place without moving the vehicle.

Cooling Power

An empty fridge can be cooled down an average of 6° to 8°C per hour.When the fridge is switched off, warming up an empty box from 0° to 20°C takes between 13 and 16 hours depending on the model.

Energy Consumption

The SnoMaster fridges and freezers are equipped with a 66 Watt SnoMaster high-performance compressor. This, in contrast to some models by competitors, gives its highest performance regardless of whether it is operating on 12, 24 or 230 Volt.

The compressor needs approximately 5.5 Amps. at 12 Volt to run at full power. If the fridge is filled with warm food, then cooling down to 6°C can take up to four hours. The consumption is therefore roughly 20 Ah. During operation, the power consumption of the 40 Liters fridge with the lid closed, is a minimum of approx. 0.2 Amps. and thus less than 5 Ah per day. Typically, power consumption of 10 to 40 Ah per day is needed.Typical car batteries have a capacity of 70 to 100 Ah. However, this performance can not be fully achieved. You can use roughly half of the capacity of conventional lead-acid batteries, up to approx. 80% of cycle-proof batteries (AGM) and almost 100% of spiral winding batteries.

XPEDITIO

ICE COLD

ANYWHERE

ation m r o f n i e r o m click here for

TOURING &

CAMPING CONVERSIONS

GENESIS IMPORT ab C lu A r fo rs to u ib tr is d n ea Europ

G

1 Genesis Import which is based in Germany imports and distributes top quality products for the off road, camping and touring markets all

over Europe. One of these internationally recognised brands is the South African based AluCab which is starting to make a name for itself throughout Europe.If you have attended any of the main camping and

2

3

1. The Genesis-Import Impressive HQ in Germany 2. One of the many Alu-Cab Campers now available in Europe 3. Dror Harel the man behind Genesis Import 4. Genesis-Import only import top quality products.

4

Alu-Cab has been building high touring and 4WD shows in Europe over the last few years you quality, innovative vehicle accessoFrom talking to Jose you can tell that dation, restaurants and a list of locaand conversions since 2002. willthis probably have seen the Aluis a company that takes pride inriestions of authorised garages that will Founded by Jeremy Bergh a keen Cabwhat products to the it does.attached Each Dream Overland help should vehicles get into trouble enthusiast who has verycustomer recognisable and impres-with outdoor receives a booklet and need to be fixed in a had hurry.Jose informationtouring about the also highlighted that from his expeyears of experience in the sivegeneral Genesis-Import ve-coun-many try and a road book on the routes industry.ng rience problems and issues do hapmanufacturer of aluminhicles. they’ll be exploring on there adventure, including specific information about places of interest, accommo-

pen when you least expect them and that’s why they have a 24/7 helpline.

Whether it’s just to help with a trans-

Aus Leidenschaft zur Natur und als passionierter Offroader gründete 2002 Jeremy Bergh Alu-Cab. Nach jahrelangen Erfahrungen mit unpraktischen Hardtops in der Dienstleistungsbranche wollte er ein praktisches und leicht zu nutzendes Hardtop herstellen.

Heute steht Alu-Cab für viele hochqualitative Aluminium-Fahrzeugaufbauten für gewerbliche Nutzung, Offroad und Abenteuer. Neben den in Serie gefertigten Hardtops baut Alu-Cab auch individuelle, vollausgestattete Expeditions- und Reisefahrzeuge nach Kundenwunsch. Und dies in beliebiger Größe, vom Jeep, über den Unimog bis zu großen LKWs.Fahrzeuge mit Produkten von Alu-Cab sind auf allen Pisten Afrikas unterwegs und bestätigen den exzellenten Ruf der Marke.

Alu-Cab has become a leading manufacturer of aluminium canopies, awnings, hard tops and campers amongst other specialised products, for both commercial and recreational use. Alu-Cabs main focus has been building products for overlanding (vehicular wilderness travel), where it designs and builds gear that’s light, strong, durable and functional.

Alu-Cab also builds customised products for vehicles of all shapes and sizes from Unimogs to Jeeps. The majority of Alu-Cab products are built from aluminium as it is strong yet very light and it does not corrode. In many cases Alus-Cab claims that its products outlast the vehicle itself. Alu-Cab is a pioneer and market leader in aluminum hardtops and camping equipment for pickup vehicles and these products have been tested in some of the harshest conditions around the world with most of the R&D taking place in Africa.Having built a reputation for building products that can take a beating it was an obvious choice for Genesis Import who only sell products that satisfy high German standards to add the Alu Cab range to its existing touring and camping catalogue. Lest have a look at some of the Alu-Cab products.

n a e p o r u E r Distributoe Click her

KHAYA CAMPER

With the Khaya Camper, Alu-Cab has developed one of the most compact and innovative campers for pickup vehicles. Due to the compact dimensions and the lightweight, yet sturdy Aluminium construction, full off-road capabilities are available, when required. For the first time ever, experience from the commercial safari rental business in South Africa has been combined with the requirements brought

by European weather conditions.

The Khaya Camper has everything on board to venture for a longer time outside of civilization. In the raised roof it offers a comfortable double bed for two people. Inside the camper is space for a compact 2-burner gas hob, sink, refrigerator, seating and plenty of storage space. Four large compartments to be used outside, offer space for kitchen, camping, travel and mountain equipment. A mobile gas cooker on a hanging table allows you to cook outdoors. The 270° Awning keeps you covered in rain or shine. If necessary, the awning can be converted into a 10m² tent area with side walls.

European r Distributo

EXPEDITION 3 ROOF TOP TENT The new, third generation Expedition 3 Rooftop Tent is one of the best hard-shell tents on the market. Made entirely of aluminium, it carries a heavy load and is assembled very quickly. The newest version is slightly taller than past generations, and has a sleeker look with angled sides at the front. It is much more elegant compared to other Aluminium tents.

Its new shape also makes it more aerodynamic and more wind resistant than previous generations. This improves the ability to drive at higher speeds, and reduces wind noise and fuel consumption..

European r o t u b i r t s Di

OSSEWA CAMPER Alu-Cab is revolutionising the market for pickup campers with the Ossewa Camper. Constantly updated to meet the demands in Africa, the Ossewa has everything you need to survive life out on the road. And while the vehicle is extremely compact, it offers two double beds, and therefore sleeps four people.

With the Alu-Cab Ossewa, a new generation of camper has come to Europe.

It is not intended to be a living room on wheels, but instead for those who love outdoor living.

European r o t u b i r t s i D

GENESIS-IMPORT

EUROPEAN

DISTRIBUTORS for

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o i t a m r nfo i r o f w ts o c l e u b d o k r c cli b p a C u on Al le in Europe b availa

THE BEST C ARE FOUND

CAMPSITES D NOT MADE

SUSPEN

choosing the right suspension

NSIONS

n for your touring vehicle

W

hy Foam Cell shocks should be your first choice for serious off road suspension.

Everyone knows one of the first essential off-road modifications is suspension, but it’s tough to figure out which of the many designs is the best for 4WD touring.

TWIN-TUBE, MONO, REMOTE…there’s so many shock absorber options it’s hard to know which way to look. Each of these designs have pros and cons, but what we’re talking about here is not circuit racing, not rally driving, not desert racing buggies and definitely not your Nan’s Volkswagen Beetle. We’re talking about Australian 4WD touring, one of the harshest touring environments in the world.

In short, suspension has two main components; a spring, and a damper which is also known as a shock. The spring is usually a leaf, coil or torsion bar. It sets the ride height, carries the weight of the vehicle and does a fair bit of absorbing some of the shock when a car goes over anything other than flat ground, or when there’s weight shift as the vehicle is cornering, braking or accelerating.

erts p x e e h t m o fr s p i t some

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

SUSPENSION FOR

YOUR 4WD

SHOCKS

EXPLAINED

ith oil , and w d e l l fi e r Shocks a goes down h c i h w d o on r have a pist ompression c r e d n u k oc into the sh

When a spring extends after compression it oscillates like a rubber ball bouncing on concrete and that’s where the shock comes in as it dampens down the oscillation and smoothing out the ride.

Shocks are filled with oil, and have a piston rod which goes down into the shock under compression. That rod takes up room, and as the oil is incompressible, a shock needs something compressible inside it to account for the difference in volume between the rod fully inside the shock and fully outside.

When the vehicle bounces up or down it generates kinetic energy, and that energy cannot just disappear, it has to go somewhere or transform as per the laws of physics. In the case of shocks, the energy is transformed into heat, same as when you hit the brakes in your vehicle, the kinetic energy is converted to heat by the brakes.

So just as brakes overheat and fail, so too can shocks.

SHOCKS CAN FAIL JUST LIKE YOUR BRAKES

A good off road shock is not only robust enough to handle abuse, and tuned appropriately for In some cases the vehicle and that’s high-pressure nitrogen its use, but it also needs to gas - hence the term “gas be able to get rid of heat shocks”, in other cases it’s faster than it is generated. a foam cell, hence the term If it doesn’t, well then the “foam cell shock”. Gas shocks shock heats up and can then can be twin-tube or mofail and then all sorts of bad no-tube, with the difference things happen; for example being whether the shock has seals blow, or perhaps the a single tube or an inner and oil inside the shock mixes outer tube. with the gas which means the shock can’t dampen effectiveRegardless of design, all 4WD ly and that is bad news for shocks face significant dura- your vehicles handling and bility challenges. your safety.

Specialist off-road racers like the one here run flat out over extremely rough tracks.

So you really do need to avoid your shocks from overheating.

Australian off road tourers operate in about the worst possible environment for shock heating in the world. Firstly, they drive heavy vehicles with lots of accessories, often upgrading the GVM and secondly, they do this in very hot environments. Thirdly, they drive over endless kilometres of corrugations, which involve lots of high-speed upand-down movements for the damper,and hence generating excessive heat.

And lastly they do all of this for long periods with big days driving heading to remote locations and the last thing you need when hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town is a failed

shock. A shock that can get rid of excessive heat is pretty much an essential, and this is why it is important to upgrade your factory suspension for some aftermarket gear which is designed for this sort of challenging work.

So if we need heavy-duty shocks, why not look to motor-sport, and maybe high-speed off road buggies?

These specialist off-road racers run flat out over extremely rough tracks, and would have approximately 800mm of wheel travel compared to say 260mm for a Toyota Hilux. And they also typically run remote-reservoir shocks in order to handle the massive amount of heat generated by the suspension.

MOTOR

‘‘

IRONMAN 4X4 OFFER A C RANGE OF SUSPENSIO

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING WORKS IN R SPORT DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL WORK AS WELL IN YOUR 4WD The concept behind a remote reservoir shock is simple. Remote reservoirs create an additional oil storage unit, the ‘remote reservoir’, so there’s more oil and therefore more of a heat sink.

In simple terms all of these design features mean the remote-reservoir shocks are better able to dissipate heat than one without a remote reservoir, so what works on a buggy must work on a touring 4X4, right?

Wrong.

‘‘

COMPLETE ON KITS

Just because something works in motorsport doesn’t mean it works elsewhere, and one example is race brakes which don’t work effectively until very hot, not something you could live with in an urban environment. In the same way, the remote reservoir shock design doesn’t translate to recreational work. Here’s why.

In order for the extra oil in the remote reservoir to do any good, the heat actually needs to get to the reservoir. There are two aspects to this; location and pumping.

With race trucks the reservoir is typically mounted very close to the shock itself, often on top of the main shock in a piggyback configuration. In touring 4X4s, there’s less space so the reservoir is typically mounted up inside the wheel arch, connected by a relatively long tube.

High up in the wheel arch is a really poor place for cooling because there is little or no airflow, plus the fact that the front shocks are also close to the hot engine, unlike the open-air mount on a mid-engined race buggy. You wouldn’t mount a radiator away from a cooling airflow, and the same applies to shocks.

Then there is the issue of pumping, oil actually flowing to and from the reservoir. You know how a radiator works in a car cool fluid is pumped into and around the engine, hot fluid comes back into the radiator where it’s cooled and the cycle continues. That’s also how remote reservoir shocks work, but the pump is the up and down action of the shock.

In the case of your average touring 4WD suspension there is not usually enough pumping action to cycle the oil into the remote reservoir because of the limited suspension travel, and because that range of travel isn’t always used – compare that to a race buggy which has far greater travel and uses more of it.

In short, remote reservoir shocks mean you end up paying a lot of money for marketing hype and theoretical benefits that apply to specialised race vehicles, not your touring 4WD. So what can be done to handle this problem of heat dissipation? There are designs more suited to the real-world needs of touring off roaders, such as Ironman 4x4’s big-bore Foam Cell Pro shock.

A big-bore shock simply means the diameter of the shock body is as large as it can be, and the reason for that is so it can hold more oil. The greater the volume of oil, the greater the ability of the shock to absorb heat, just like boiling a cupful of water in a kettle is a lot quicker than boiling a full kettle. But that’s only part of the solution.

The greater the volume of oil, the greater the ability of the shock to absorb heat.

No shock can absorb all the heat generated by a 4WD, it’s got to be dissipated and here again the foam cell design has an advantage.

Earlier on we described the issue every shock has when the piston moves into the body - the oil is incompressible, so something has to compress and expand to account for the piston rod taking up space in the shock. In the case of the foam cell design that’s a layer

of Nitrile foam with tiny gas-filled cells in it. When the rod enters the shock body those cells are compressed, when the rod exits the cells expand.

NO SHOCK CAN ABSORB ALL THE HEAT GENERATED BY A 4WD

The advantage of the foam cell design compared to a conventional gas shock, either twin or monotube, is better heat dissipation. That’s because the foam layer floats in the shocks outer chamber, so there’s lots of oil in contact with the entire

surface of the outer tube which is ideal for heat dissipation, unlike the gas shock approach which has to sacrifice some oil surface area for the gas. The big-bore design also means a lot of outer surface area as well plenty of oil for a heat sink, and both features are ideal for heat dissipation.

Robustness is taken care of too; the twin-tube design of the foam-cell shock means that if there’s an impact

to the outer tube, the inner tube is unaffected so the piston can still move up and down, unlike a relatively vulnerable monotube.

The foam cell is also low-pressure, in contrast to the high-pressure monotube or remote reservoir, so there’s less stress on the seals, and less need to hand over more coin for regular shock servicing. Unlike the remote reservoir, there’s just one part to the foam cell, so it’s not as complicated, less expensive to buy and easier to install than the remote reservoir design.

Kristian Ristell, Ironman 4x4’s Suspension Product Director says that “when conceiving the Foam Cell Pro shocks our objective was to make the best 4WD touring shock we could and not to make a specific type of shock’’. It was only after we evaluated a range of potential designs we chose foam cell technology. ‘’We actually make mono-tube remote reservoir shocks for some of our private label customers, so we are not unfamiliar with nor against the concept, it’s just not the right approach for off-road touring in everyday 4X4 vehicles – and we’ve got over 20 years of worldwide suspension experience to back that statement up.”The foam cell design is proven to work’’.

Ironman 4x4 stress-tested various shocks by subjecting them to increasing loads until they failed through overheating, then they went out to the Australian deserts and ran tests to see what temperatures were generated in real-world conditions by a variety of 4WD touring vehicles. The Foam Cell Pro ran appreciably cooler than other designs of shocks, never approaching its stress load limit. To rhave a look at the Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pro Torture Test Click Here.

“when conceiving the Foam Cell Pro shocks our objective was to make the best 4WD touring shock we could’’ Kristian Ristell, Ironman 4x4 Suspension Product Director

‘‘What many people don’t know is that Ironman 4x4 supplies thousands of suspensions used in heavily armoured vehicles operating in conflict regions around the world’’

‘’It’s not just touring 4WDs that have proven foam cell technology’’.

Kristian says that “the foundation of the Foam Cell Pro design concept is proven through our involvement with in the military armouring industry’’. What many people don’t know is Ironman 4x4 supplies thousands of suspensions used in heavily armoured vehicles operating in conflict regions around the world such as the Middle East and Africa. That’s a serious business which has no regard for marketing hype or supplying anything which underperforms.”

Ultimately, every shock design is good for a specific purpose.

High-pressure monotubes are great for circuit race cars, expensive and bulky remote-reservoirs work on specialist desert racing buggies, and twin-tube gas shocks can be made cheaply which is why you find them on most passenger cars. But the question for most 4WD owners is what’s the best combination of performance, practicality, reliability and robustness for a touring 4WD in real-world off-road touring conditions – and that would be a bigbore Foam Cell Pro shock.

2 a m a r o Pan

ROOFTOP TENT

‘‘

‘‘

THE PANORAMA 2 IS THE ULTIMATE TOURING TENT

DARCHE Panorama II RoofTop Tent -

The Panorama 2 is the ultimate touring roof top tent. Uniquely featuring a zippered sunroof for star gazing and enhanced air flow, its low profile pack down design aids vehicle handling whilst creating less drag.

Aluminium checker plate base, frame lugs and compact centre pivoting yoke, provide exceptional strength whilst reducing weight.

T

here are a number of reasons why roof top tents have started to become more popular in recent years. The main ones being that you can set them up quickly, they keep you off the ground and for further convenience they can be folded up with all your sleeping gear inside i.e. sleeping bag and pillow. More and more people throughout Europe are now discovering the  benefits of using roof top tents as more of us are looking to get out of our towns and cities and off the beaten track away from it all more often.

With tents like the DARCHE Panorama 2 you can stargaze while lying in bed by simply unzipping the sky window in the roof of the tent giving you views of the night time sky.

As a follow-on from our introduction to the Darche Panorama 2 in Issue 7 of the magazine we now have a more detailed look at this top quality roof top tent. The Panorama 2 is one of the more higher end roof top tents on the market and it comes with an annex. Â Â If you buy one of these you are paying for a high quality touring roof top tent that offers the superior build that is associated with all Darche products.

One of the unique selling points of this rooftop tent is that it features a zippered sunroof for stargazing. We have used this feature a lot during the recent hot spell this summer and we love the idea of being able to unzip the roof to study the milky way with the kids before sleep, not to mention it allows for additional cooling on those hot balmy nights.

oly GSM proofed P 0 4 3 ts n te e h T earing vas is hard w n ca op st ip R Cotton

A ROOM

M WITH A VIEW

Canvas

The tents 340 GSM proofed Poly Cotton Ripstop canvas is hard wearing and is guaranteed to keep you dry in wet conditions.

We have yet to use the tent in colder wintry conditions but we will be reporting on this in the winter edition of the magazine.

Frame

The aluminium checker plate base, frame lugs and compact centre pivoting yoke, provides exceptional strength and this is another feature that sets this tent apart from others on the market. Also, the re-engineered baseboard incorporates a new honeycomb filling reducing condensation build up under mattress, it’s insulating and energy absorbing and has a high strength to weight ratio and it’s all developed to be durable, non-delaminating and non-corrosive.

Low Profile

The Panorama 2 is ergonomically designed and has one of the lowest profiles of any rooftop tent on the market at just 250mm - reducing wind drag when driving. This shortness in height will save you on fuel costs on those big journeys and will reduce the overall height of your vehicle allowing you to get under obstacles easier and giving you a better center of gravity when hitting the trails.

The compromise here is that the mattress is not as thick as other tents on the market but this can be overcome by using the Darche self inflatable mattress.

u people thro e r o m d n a More discoverin w o n e r a e p out Euro roof top te g n i s u of benefits

ughng the ents

ENGINEERED FOR

e r u t n e v d A

C

Bar g n i amp

A perfect camping

set up

Annex

The  Annex comes with a strong 550gsm PVC zip off bucket floor that can be quick attached to the annex with the high quality zips.

The annex also packs up very easily into the provided bag. The annex provides a number of entry options/windows that also give excellent ventilation for those hot nights. With the option of using the DARCHE telescopic poles you can open the annex windows using various combinations. The Annex dimensions are 2500mm long and 2000mm wide offering plenty of room for shelter and storage.

Mounting Kit

Universal mounting kit included

Cover

600gsm PVC coverThe Darche Panorama 2 Rooftop Tent with Annex has a simple set up procedure and can be erected by one person (see video). The 5 minute setup simply involves releasing a couple of straps and using the telescoping ladder as a lever to pull the tent down. Guide ropes are utilised to secure it in place.

on e roof top tents h rc a D e th of One LandCruiser a Britz Safari

Darche does not compromise when it comes to quality.

As a company Darche is dedicated to building and supplying high quality products and coupled with its ongoing R&D and the development of innovative designs this dedication has seen it successfully win the contract to supply in Australia the fit out of rooftop tents on some of the Britz recreational touring vehicles, notably the Britz Safari LandCruisers. For those of you who have used recreation hire vehicles like Britz with rooftop tents attached you will be

well aware of the use and often abuse these products often receive. They need to be built tough in order to be able to withstand the number of recreational travellers who use these rooftop tents in all types of weather and conditions.

Prior to choosing Darche as the supplier of rooftop tents for the Safari LandCruisers, Britz conducted comparison tests on many brands of well-known rooftop tents in Australia and after careful consideration, chose Darche to partner with.

In 2017, Darche also designed and successfully tested with Britz a new 4 person canvas Safari ground tent to be used in conjunction with the Britz Outback Toyota Hilux. As a result, a large number of new Britz Safari Hilux SR models are fitted out with Darche safari tents.

Darche is very proud of its partnership with the Britz Brand and works closely with key Britz personnel, receiving real time feedback that assist it to continuously improve on the products performance.

n on the o i t a m r o f n i for more top of o r 2 a m a r o Darche Pan re tent click he

RAISED on the

ROAD

RAISED d a o r e h t on

L

ots of us dream about selling up all we own getting away from the rat race and hitting the road for a couple of years of adventure. But very few of us actually bite the bullet and go and do it. Last year a young French family recently sold everything they owned bought a Land Rover Defender and decided to go and do just that. Introducing Clem and Jill and their two children Martin aged six and Rose aged four oh ya and the family’s two Golden Retriever dogs who were not going to be left behind for this trip of a lifetime.

MAKING DREAMS

come true

The vehicle of choice was a 2007 Land Rover Defender 130 TD4. This big  4WD is a double cab 4-door pick-up with a permanent all-wheel and a manually locked centre differential. With a 6-speed gearbox and plenty of space to store equipment and gear this was the perfect choice to go a explore the world.

With support from sponsors including Euro4x4parts and Bearmach work began on preparing this vehicle for the adventures ahead. Jill and Clem added a canopy, a tent, a kitchen and everything a family would need for such an expedition.

A big part of preparing for this trip was for the family to be as self sufficient as possible so they could comfortably wild camp for days on end in remote locations be it in the Amazon Jungle or in the deserts of the Bolivian Altiplano.

So when preparing the vehicle special attention was given to being able to carry plenty of water and having the correct electrical system that would  give remote power when in the middle of nowhere.

Faire le choix d’un véhicule tout terrain signifie également une envie de liberté, de pouvoir aller ou on le souhaite comme se “perdre” dans les déserts de l’altiplano bolivien, se coincer dans la jungle amazonienne, camper une semaine dans le désert d’Atacama !

Nous avions ce désir d’indépendance, de pouvoir partir seul dans des paysages désertiques pendant plusieurs jours... Cette indépendance implique des réservoirs d’eaux, de nourriture et surtout un système électrique autonome.

Nous reviendrons plus tard sur les réservoirs d’eau et notre stock de nourriture.

The guys added a 140w monocrystalline solar panel with a charge regulator MPTT which would top up their onboard batteries.They stored their energy in a 200AH gel battery which proved to be a perfect solution for their needs.The main accessory on board that needed to be running continuously was the onboard fridge freezer, they also built in 3 LED lights and a couple of USB ports so the 200Ah battery was plenty big to fulfill all of their power needs.

The family’s journey started out in Argentina before heading on to Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador & Colombia, the objective is to reach Alaska by August 2019.

As part of their journey they have set up a youtube channel where you can follow their progress YouTube.com/ raisedontheroad. It is in French but all you need to do is turn on the subtitles function.

AN INCREDIBLE y As highlighted by Clem and Jill ‘’It has been an incredible adventure so far.. we love discovering new places and beautiful people along the way ’’. ‘’A key objective for us on this adventure was to show our children the world and discover new cultures, and we are doing just that’’. But as highlighted by Clem and Jill this new found freedom has come with a financial cost. The first 6 months of the journey saw the family explore six countries in South America and travel approximately 16,000km. The Land Rover performed pretty well considering the rough terrain encountered in South America.

The average fuel consumption was about 11 litres per 100km which is what Jill and Clem budgeted for and having met other travellers on the road they highlighted that this fuel consumption seemed ok in comparison to other vehicles.

journe

that were out of their control.

Within the first 3 months they spent nearly ₏9,000, the first issue was that the ship that was bringing the Land Rover Like everything, else you can to Argentina ended up beonly do so much planning, ing one month late and as a and despite the efforts put in result the family had to rent to trying to budget for a trip a vehicle for weeks, also because the vehicle had their as big as this, things don’t always work out the way you accommodation attached to it (Rooftop tent) they ended up envisaged. Clem and Jill explained that the first three having to pay for alternative months of travelling ended up accommodation which was being a lot more expensive also not built into their budthan originally anticipated get. mainly due to circumstance Unfortunately the guys had one collision on the road with another vehicle that thankfully resulted in no injuries.

Thankfully things started to improve during the second three months of the trip where the family were able to reduce their  daily living expense to just ₏38 per day. It just goes to show that things that are out of your control like the delay in the shipping of their vehicle can put a big dent into your budget. It is also worth noting that the first two countries visited, Argentina and Chile are the most expensive in South America.

Despite a few mishaps along the way, this is a trip that is more than living up to its expectations, so far

the family have walked with huge turtles in the Galapagos Islands, reached the heights of the Cajas National Park, explored Patagonia, visited  Machu Picchu and much much more. And with the first leg of their journey now nearly complete its time to prepare for North American and the final destination Alaska.

We love hearing stories about these family adventures, you can follow their Clem, Jills, Martins and Roses adventures by visiting their facebook page and YouTube channel by clicking below.

r click here fo ation m r o f n i e r o m

‘‘Despite a few mishaps along the way, this is a trip is more than living up to its expectations’’

SOUTH AMERICA

supplying

70,000 PARTS,

SPARES & ACCESSORIES

99% for

OF 4WD VEHICLES

THROUGHOUT EUROPE

www.euro4x4parts.com

The online euro4x4parts catalogue easily allows you to select the precise 4X4 part you need, avoiding unnecessary returns.Euro4X4parts prides itself on service but also on quality rebuild kits including brakes, transmission, steering, engines, axles, and swivels to name but a few.t

BAKING

CAMP

OVEN BREAD

d a o r e h t on

Using a Cast Iron Dutch Oven for cooking when camping is a great way to cook your food for your friends and family.

your friends and family won’t be too bothered if you don’t present a perfectly baked loaf of artisanal bread.

Dutch Ovens are also a great way to bake some fresh bread quickly and easily over an open fire and if you have not done this yet you need to give it a go .

One thing is for sure, and that is that when you open the lid of your Dutch Oven and everyone smells hot fresh bread they will be more than impressed.

The process is pretty simple, you don’t need to worry about baking a top of the shelf sourdough, remember you are camping, and given that you are using basic techniques

You can workout the amount of ingredients you use based on how big you want your loaf to be.The basic ingredients include, flour salt and warm water.

CAMP

OVEN

BREAD on the road

First up, combine the dry ingredients together and then add the warm water and mix together, then place in a bowl and allow to rise.Then shape to dough into whatever shape you want, the kids and some of the adults will also love it. Put the bread into the Dutch Oven, put the lid back on and then throw the cast Iron pot on your fire until it heats up, don’t forget to put some of the hot coals or embers onto the lid of the cast iron pot.25-30 minutes later, that’s it, you will know if it’s cooked if you hear a hollow sound when you tap the loaf, you should now have a perfect tasty and tanned bread thats ready to serve. Add some butter and jam and you will be the King our Queen of the campsite...

PE

X-

Off advises equesttour, explore ection site where you may

find a tour that suits you.

The standard tours can be tailored to peoples requirements to an extent;

d a e r B e t i h W e l p Sim Self-raising flour/Yeast Salt Water

that ’s it !

A SMART DUAL BATTERY

SYSTEM

I

n Issue 7 of the magazine we had a look at the new CTEK 140A Dual Battery System.

CTEK is one of the world’s leaders in vehicle power management systems and with the 140A off road solution has introduced the ultimate 12V on-board power package for your vehicle(s) The 140A OFF ROAD CHARGING SYSTEM PACKAGE comprises of the CTEK D250SA Dual Smart Charger and Smartpass along with a NEW CTEK DIGITAL POWER

MONITOR that gives you full knowledge and control of your available battery power. This new CTEK battery power monitor shows you how much “Time to Go” before your secondary service battery is fully discharged or fully recharged. With this system you can sit back and relax because you know how long your battery will last.

The package is also relatively easy to install in your touring vehicle.

BENEFITS OF DUAL BATTERY

SYSTEMS

So what are the benefits of dual battery systems? Well when you get used to having a system like the CTEK 140 Offroad solution on board its very difficult to travel on extended trips without one.

One of the real benefits is being able to set up camp for a couple of days and run a fridge freezer, camping lights and charge some of your gadgets without worrying about your starter battery going dead.

Systems like the CTEK 140A are designed to ensure the deep-cycle battery is charged smartly, without the chance of the vehicle’s starting battery being discharged.If you plan on extending your camping trip you can now easily attach a solar panel to the CTEK 140A allowing you to top up your deep cycle battery when stationary and enjoy your favorite remote camping spot for longer.

top up your leisure battery using solar power

INSTALLING THE

CTEK 140A OFF ROAD solution

The CTEK 140A dual battery system is designed to be easily installed in your 4WD and comes with easy to understand installation instructions and advice.

Typically the starter battery should be between 55Ah to 100Ah for automotive applications. Also the starter battery should never be deeply discharged. When connecting the system to a solar panel it is recommended that the output power should range between 50W to 300W.Output voltage

may not exceed specified voltage limit of the D250SA. If possible, connect the negative wire directly to service battery.To get D250SA to support a Smart alternator you need to connect the Red Smart Alternator cable to the ingnition.

The temperature sensor should be attached onto the service battery. For more details on installing the system, click here

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS My battery is made up of a bank of several batteries. Is that a problem?

Not as long as the combination produces a nominal 12 volts, and all the current drawn from the bank passes through the shunt.

Can the CTEK MONITOR monitor my engine starting battery as well as my service battery?

No, it cannot. The service battery is in continuous use, and so needs continuous monitoring. The starter battery, however, is subject only to periodic heavy loads followed by float charging, and so does not need to be monitored.

Which battery sizes can Smartpass 120 be used with?

28 - 800Ah Where in the vehicle shall i fit the D250SA? Close to the secondary battery and as cool as possible.

Can I use D250SA for lithium batteries?

No, it works only with lead acid batteries.

Where in the vehicle shall I fit the Smartpass 120?

Close to the secondary battery and as cool as possible.

REMOTE

FOR D

wi

E POWER

DAYS

ith

With the CTEK 14 0A you can spend a couple of days at your favorite campsite system

e r o m r fo e r e h he t click n o on i t a D m A r O R info FF O A 0 14 K E T m C e t s y S ng i g r a h C

Born in the Worcestershire countryside and seeing neighbours and friends using their trusty Land Rovers as work horses, Phillip Bond, founder and Managing Director of APB, started working from an old mill repairing and selling Land Rover parts and second hand Land Rovers. Phillip has spent 20 years competing in Specialist Land Rover & 4x4 off-road events with AWDC (All Wheel Drive Club) (such events as the Rallye des Cimes & Plains & Vallies both in France)

was mainly operated during evenings and weekends as a hobby business, but demand grew, and in the early 1970’s APB outgrew the old mill and moved to a larger unit on Hartlebury Trading Estate, located between Worcester and Kidderminster. It is from this location that the business grew and from which it still operates today.

(By coincidence family history has repeated itself, a relative of Phill Bond’s was the first person to sell Land Rovers in Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya).

In the beginning, the business

Following the move to bigger

2

1. Phillip and Heather of APB Trading 2. Rallye De Cymes 3. A well stocked room at APB Trading

1 premises,the APB workshops serviced and repaired Land Rovers, and supplied vehicle parts and accessories from the walk-in shop. Daily deliveries to businesses and farms as far away as Wales were made and a mail order business expanded throughout the UK and across the world.

Back in the early 2000s APB became the sole UK importers for a number of South

3

African (a country where adventure travel was born) companies.

APB stock many products which have been imported from South Africa including Eezi Awn K9 (the pioneers of the roof tent), National Luna (the investors of a fridge for the transportation of vaccines for world

health organisations), Escape Gear (high quality canvas seat covers), Bushtech (superior quality heavy load canopy tops) and Campmor (high quality canvas ground tents and many more products).

Today APB has evolved to take account of the changing demands for the variety of 4x4 vehicles available. Also the camping and expedition leisure activities are growing increasingly popular. APB workshops

now service and repair a variety of 4x4 vehicles along with vehicle rebuilds and preparation for expeditions. APB Workshops carry out Land Rover & 4x4 vehicle servicing, repairs & M.O.T’s, vehicle overland travel & expedition preparation, specialist vehicle preparation, waxoyling and rustproofing. Their parts and warehouse department supplies parts, spares and adventure travel gear & equipment to a wide range of countries throughout the world.

click here for more information

in the onsite retail shop and from the expedition-equipment website. (www.expedition-equipment.com). Ground tents, roof racks, roof tents, stoves, fridges/freezers, battery management systems, storage boxes, drawer units, water containers, and many more products are all available to make an expedition or holiday more comfortable and self sufficient.

The established team at APB are always happy to offer their ex-

pertise on any query concerning most 4x4 vehicles and can be contacted either by telephone, 01299 250174, or e-mail enquiries@apbtrading.co.uk. With an excellent delivery service APB can provide you with replacement parts almost anywhere in the world. So even if you do have a problem during your adventure, you don’t have to give up. Simply contact them and they will do their best to help no matter where in the world you are.

TOURING GREECE

s u o n i a t n u o m d n a a rugged journey in Ipiros.

A “Standard Offroad Tour” by OFFROAD UNLIMITED There is no such a thing as a standard tour says Nikos of Offroad Unlimited. “No matter how many times we have driven the same tracks,we always come across something new – which Mother Nature has generously provided for us.

Offroad Unlimited was founded

by Nikos in 2013 and in 2016

Agelos joined the company.

The company offers guided 4x4 tours in Greece, for small groups of people who drive their own vehicles and available at various levels of difficulty.

To give you a flavour of the type of tour that Offroad Unlimited provides, Nikos gives us an overview of what the company is all about by taking us through one of their tours, the Ipiros

Tour which took place during May 2018.

The Ipiros Tour starts at Manteio, Dodoni, which is conveniently situated only an hours drive on the highway from the port of Igoumenitsa. This port is where the majority of the guests arrive by ferry from Italy.

The Mirtali Art Hotel is the primary base for welcoming guests and is also the place where Offroad Unlimited perform minor (or not so minor depending on the circumstance) preparations and modifications to vehicles in

11

anticipation of the tour ahead.

A few beers, and later a homecooked dinner and a good night’s rest help give all the participants a little kick-start for the adventures that lie ahead.

On the first day, the tour makes its way to Kalarites, a remote traditional village that has fewer than 15 inhabitants.

Normally, this would be a pretty easy route with only very light offroad driving required, and a good day to ease into the tour. But on this occasion a fallen tree (and it seemed like half a fallen mountain), made the path very interesting today.

2

4

1.Nikos examines the local vegitation 2.Frequent river crossings are required 3.Articulation will be tested on these trips 4. The tour traverses a wide variety of different environments and terrains.

3

OFFROAD UNLIMITED EXPLORE THE EXCEPTIO BEAUTIFUL GREEK LAN REACHING PLACES AND REGIONS THAT ARE RA TRAVELED

ONALLY NDSCAPE, D ARELY

1

4

3 5

1. Customer vehic ed by Offroad Unli 2. High vantage 3 off-roader 4. Brea Natural features ab Greece. 5. Time fo laxation.

2

cles are guidimted Jeeps 3. a future athtaking bound in or a little re-

In Kalarites, a beautiful and picturesque mountainous village populated by wonderful stone houses, Napoleon and his wife Lamprini, are always there to welcome us, all year round they are open to provide us with their unique hospitality and a glimpse of tradition that is nowadays very rare to see. A few of Napoleon’s famous house-distilled tsipouro (an alcoholic beverage made of distilled grape

juice) and a delicious dinner with real Greek food and we all ended up singing songs in the cavernous and exotic 1000 year old cellar!

The next day the adventure really begins. We attempt to cross the Peristeri mountain,(the highest peak of the Pindus mountain range, at 2,295 m elevation, but we have to take a detour due to snow in order to reach our ‘playground’ for the day, the

Some clouds closing in on the convoy

beautiful Rona forest. There we wrestled with deep trenches, heavy mud and snow, (lots of snow) .

At the end of the day we camped in a nice clearing in the woods, where we cooked and enjoyed a roaring camp fire until late in the night.

The following day we headed to another favourite ‘playground’, a rough off-map trail that goes through a stream, where rock-crawling and pretty tough crossings are everywhere for those who wish to play a little and challenge their vehicles, and a lighter (but no less interesting) path for the “wiser”.

After the stream and before we arrive at the location of our next campsite, we have first to pass through a number of deep trenches on a steep uphill track , a task that varies from “very interesting” in dry conditions to ‘hard core’ if the ground is anyway wet. We eventually all arrive in one piece and unscathed.

The next morning on our way north we have another surprise from mother nature.. a large chunk of the road is missing! There is no way

around the landslide and no alternative routes are available, so we have to turn back, once again through the trenches and the stream – no one complains.

cation, our beloved ‘Pindos Resort’ in Krania, and the warm welcome and the hospitality of Babis and Sofia.

Here we enjoy some amazing local organic wines and Sofia’s famous cookWe drive now instead to a beautiful ing until very late in the night, before lake and through another stream and resting our tired a muddy forest trail bodies this evening before we reach our on the soft beds next overnight loand under warm

WE SPEND THE NIGHT IN MOUNTAIN HUTS, SURROUNDED BY ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS THAT ARE WANDERING ABOUT AND INVESTIGATING US.

duvets for a great night’s rest.

Leaving Krania, after “a little breakfast” Pindos Resort style and feeling a few kilos heavier, we visit the two traditional bridges in the area, the first one by crossing a river and the second by driving in the river – a unique experience for many

of our guests. We then, take a very steep uphill trail through the forest and reach our next campsite on the top of a hill with a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside and a sky full of stars – with such an amazing vista to enjoy, there is not much else someone could

WE ENJOY A FEW HOURS IN A PLAYGROUND, AN OFFROAD TRAINING FACILITY..

We build up a huge campfire and enjoy a few glasses of wine, spirits are high this evening and we have a really great time, talking laughing and joking by the campfire.

The following day is ‘training day’. We meet with local of-

froaders who know the area very well and we spend a few hours in their playground, which is an offroad training facility that has tracks for all levels of driver and is really fun to play in. Later, having had great fun and after some of us have learned some new techniques we drive to our

next campsite which is located right next to a beautiful stream, where we enjoy great evening outdoors under a starry sky.

The next day’s trail is maybe the most attractive of all the day’s driving , this day starts out with a drive along a wonderful river bed that leads to a mountain, driving through a dense forest and a long driving up towards and onto the summit. An amazing experience for everyone.

The end of the day finds us at the most remote area of the entire tour, outside the village of Plikati, right at the border. Plikati is one of the northernmost villages in Epirus and is an old village, with a church dating from the 16th century. We spend the night in mountain huts, surrounded by all sorts of animals that are wandering about and investigating us.

Dinner is prepared by Vasso and Giorgos with all of the ingredients coming from the local area and which cannot be found elsewhere – a truly unique culinary experience!

The next day we head south, through a very demanding trail. This section is difficult as it was partially destroyed during the previous winter and really requires a lot of efort to cross

After much work and lots of demanding driving, we decide to abandon our initial plans for camping that night and instead we decide to enjoy Kostas’ and Maria’s warm hospitality in Hotel Kadi in the picturesque village of Tsepelovo. Of course, we dare not miss the chance to dine at Mikri Arktos (a cosy tavern on the village’s pretty square) where we enjoy traditional, tasty food and the best lemon mousse a person can taste, baked by Thomas.

Our final day begins with a short, but really very pretty offroad trail, through a dense forest with amazing colours. Later, we split the group into two,

where one half of the group head to visit the world famous Vikos gorge and the other half to Papigko village, our last overnight location, to be picked up and enjoy a fun rafting experience on the Voidomatis river.

The excellent hospitality of Giorgos at Papaevangelou Hotel one of the best guesthouses in Greece and the great dining experience at Pantheon, our favourite restaurant in Papigo, run by Tassos (a real grill-master) and Voula, his wife and the heart and soul of the place, was the best ending we could ask for at the close of another great Tour.

new techniques we drive to our quires

click here for information

r more

ABOUT

CANVA

i r b a f t s u b o r a very

AS

ic

3DOG CAMPING PRODUCES ITS CANVAS PRODUCTS IN-HOUSE IN ITS HAMBURG FACILITY. UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF A MASTER SAILMAKER

Canvas is a fascinating fabric with a very long history, probably most of us are familiar with the use of canvas in tents, it has also been used to make sails and as a material for artists to paint upon, along with numerous other uses throughout the years. In this article we explore a little about the history of canvas and its evolution throughout the years, and some of the benefits of using canvas in modern tents.

What is canvas? Canvas is a strong, tightly woven cloth which has been used throughout history for purposes where a very strong fabric is needed, for example in applications such as sails for boats, shelters for people and equipment, clothing, bags and outdoor equipment covers.

The word “canvas� is derived from the 13th century Anglo-French canevaz and the Old French ca-

nevas. Both may be derivatives of the Vulgar Latin cannapaceus for “made of hemp,” originating from the Greek (cannabis).(wikipedia) Hemp is one of the oldest plants known that can be used to create the fibres necessary to make cloth and it is recorded that in China farmers were making cloth from hemp plants from at least 3000BC.

fabrics, using plain weave instead of twill weave, and canvas itself also comes in two basic types, plain and ‘duck’. In duck weave the threads are woven more tightly than in plain weave.

‘Cotton duck (from Dutch: doek, “linen canvas”), also simply duck, sometimes duck cloth or duck canvas, is a heavy, plain woven cotton fabric. Duck canvas is more tightly woven than plain canvas. There is also linen duck, Canvas is an extremely, long which is less often used.’ Wikipelasting and hard wearing fabric.

Modern canvas is no longer made dia from hemp however and is usuThe grade of canvas can be ally made from cotton or linen measured in GSM (grams per and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). square metre) oz/sq2 (ounces Canvas is made from a different per square yard) , where a heaviweave than other heavy cotton

1

3

2

1 2 3

Quality Zips come in a range of colours to match tent fabrics Rolls of zips, ready to add to the tents.

Specialised equipment is required to work with these materials

er weight means a strong more tough fabric. The weight of duck should always be measured in its loomstate, this is the natural weight of the canvas before it has been treated with rot or waterproofing agent. Normally canvas weight will increase by 20% once the canvas has been treated with the finishing agents.

Canvas quality is also often measured using a graded number system The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.

Once canvas has been exposed to water and moisture a few times (rain or seawater etc)it will naturally become waterproof, the cotton threads expand and swell up filling all of the gaps in the fabric. In modern canvas fabrics, chemicals are also added which further reduce water

absorption and also cause the fabric to dry out faster when drying.

One of the most important parts of a 3DOG camping tent is the canvas, which gives unmatched protection against wind and weather. Australian tent canvas is a fabric that has proven its worth over many decades. It’s extremely resilient, breathable and weather-resistant, and is one of the main reasons their tents have such a long life.

A wealth of experience and specialised equipment are needed to process this high-Quality material, which is why 3DOG camping produces in-house in its Hamburg facility. Under the watchful eye of a master sailmaker, the best of Australian outdoor tradition and unique German craftsmanship unite in their high-tech sewing room.

CANVAS

Canvas Paternoster – This composite fabric, which is an intelligent blend of cotton and polyester, meets the toughest demands that can be placed on a tent material. It combines the advantages of natural fibre with those of a modern synthetic material. The result is a strong, breathable canvas with a pleasant look and feel, which sets the benchmark for strength and stability. During the manufacturing process, special double-twined yarns are tightly interwoven. The weave is thoroughly cleaned and all natural and process-related residues, which could damage the fabric,

are removed. High quality components are used for the finishing of the fabric, to ensure ultimate protection against weathering, fungal and mould infestation, discolouring, water ingress and UV rays.

The finishing process is such that the material isn’t just sealed on the surface – because this could lead to brittleness and poor breathability. Instead, using a large immersion bath, the protective substances are impregnated deep into the fabric.

This special approach guarantees a long material life and lasting protection.

www

3DOG camping canvas is waterproof under a water column of up to 750 mm – impressive credentials for a cotton/polyester composite fabric! In other words, however much it buckets down outside, inside your tent stays perfectly dry. A tear strength of up to 1,800 N, combined with a high resistance to weathering and super-durability, make this canvas the ideal material for a tent that will last and perform well season after season.

w.3DOG.eu click here for more information

2018

SHOW

RECAP

nd from the transport to a the show campground to work ran like clock

T

he thunderstorms stayed away and the sun shined on the 20th Anniversary of the Abenteuer & Allrad show in Germany- the largest Camping & 4WD expo in the world. A big congratulations to the organisers, especially Thomas Schmitt and his team for once again pulling off a great event, where campers and tourers visited from all over Europe.

The 2018 Abenteuer & Allrad Overland and 4WD expo attracted large numbers of tourers from all over Europe with nearly 57,000 overlanders,campers and visitors attending world’s largest camping and 4WD show. The 2019 event will celebrate its 21st anniversary and will take place from 20.06. until 23.06.2019.

The event showcased all things Camping, 4WD with cross country vehicles of all shapes and sizes on display in the generous 110.000 qm exhibition space.

With over 300 exhibitors, a significant increase from last year, all of whom were showcasing and selling 4WD accessories and camping products from all around the world.

At the 2018 show the custom made off-road tracks were once again very popular as were all of the vehicles on display and guest

speakers. Speakers lined up for the 2018 shows included the very popular Thomas Rahn & Sabine Hoppe (An adventurous journey in a vintage car),Friedl Swoboda who traveled around the world in a Steyr-Puch-Pinzgauer 718T, and Adventurer Mario Goldstein who recently walked over 1400 km in Germany.

n

o i t a m r o f n for more ie click her

Also this year the show  had a wide variety of off road travel companies showcasing their most popular off road expeditions.

We love spending time at the campsite each year and this year was no different, with a huge array of  overland trucks to the smaller touring Unimogs, Puchs, Fiats to Jeeps, Land Rovers, Volkswagens, Toyotas, Suzukis, Fords to name but a few, every type of touring rig was well represented.

OVER 300 EX FROM ALL

WOR

XHIBITORS OVER THE

RLD

VO

FRO

20-6-

20

Here’s a quick look at of camping at the now fa Allrad show c

OM

OM

-23-6

019

of some of the vehicles amous Abenteuer and campground .

CAMPSITE

g n i p cam

RIGS

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER

This Toyota 2001 Landcruiser 4.2L from the Netherlands has 360,000 on the clock and been to the Alps, Catalonia, the

JEEP WRANGLER

This Wrangler from Luxembourg has not yet travelled far , with 25,000K on the clock, Abentuer and Allrad is one of its first Destinations

LAND ROVER DEFENDER TD5

This great looking 1999 camoflage Defender from Switzerland had recently returned from an expedition in Africa.

MERCEDES DB710

Linda and Ludwig have travelled all over the globe in their ‘Andenkreuzer’ which was built over a vintage 1965 vehicle and which once served as a medical vehicle for a civil protection service.

W E N l l a the

MERCEDEZ-BENZ

G-CLASS

MERCEDEZ G WAGON re o l p x e o t built

T

he new Mercedez Benz G Class has been showcased around the world over the last couple of months and according to Ola Källenius who is responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, this new ‘G’ is still a ‘G’, only better,”.Working on the development of the new G-Class was extremely challenging for the team. “Enhancing an icon such

as the G‑Class in technological terms was both a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.

Each part and every bolt came under close scrutiny,” explains Dr Gunnar Güthenke, Head of the Off-Road Product Group at Mercedes-Benz. “With the body, our main focus was on increasing the vehicle rigidity and the connections between the suspension and drivetrain with the ladder-type frame”.

THE Gappearan signific

The v

xternal e S S A L C hanged c ot n s a nce h ce 1979 cantly sin

vehicle was o riginally developed as a military vehi cle

The vehicles external appearance has not changed significantly since 1979.

The G-Class will be available at an entry-level price of approximately €107,040.50 (price in Germany, incl.

VAT) The specification includes a host of new features such as LED headlamps, driving assistance systems, a high-quality interior with leather seats, and new suspension. For customers who have a few extra Euro to spare , options such as the Exclusive Interior Plus with leather on the interior door panels will be available.This is definitely falling into the category of a luxury SUV but, to be fair, the vehicle has managed to keep its iconic rugged, boxy look.

Looking at the vehicle, its external appearance has not changed significantly since 1979. Iconic elements continue to serve very specific purposes and to give the G‑Class its unique appearance. All these are still found in the new G‑Class: the distinctive door handle and the characteristic closing sound, the robust exterior protective strip, the exposed spare wheel on the rear door and the prominent indicator lights. Features like these combined with the off-roader’s angular lines define its special look.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED AS A MILITARY VEHICLE

‘‘

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class also known as the G-Wagen which is short for Geländewagen or “cross country vehicle”, is a mid-size four-wheel drive luxury SUV manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria and sold by Mercedes-Benz.

in 1972 followed by the construction on a new production facility in Graz, where the new cross-country vehicle would be assembled nearly entirely by hand in 1975, with production of the “G Model” beginning in Graz in 1979.

In some parts of the world the Austrian built vehicle has been sold under the Puch name as Puch G. Similar to the very recognisable Land Rover Defender, the G-wagen is characterised by its boxy styling and body-on-frame construction. It uses three fully locking differentials, one of the few vehicles to have such a feature. The G-Class is one of the longest produced Mercedes-Benz in Daimler’s history, with a span of 35 years.

In 1989, for the 10th anniversary of the G Model, a new model variant with permanent 4-wheel drive, a woodtrimmed interior and optional Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) debuted at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Production began the following April.

In 1992, a new sub-series for professional users began production.

The vehicle was originally developed as a military vehicle at the request of the Shah of Iran who at the time was a major Mercedes Benz shareholder.Development started

The civilian model began to offer cruise control, a stainless-steel spare-tire cover, running boards and Burl Walnut wood interior trim. The same year, the 100,000th G Model was built in Graz.

During the G-Wagen’s lifespan many different body styles were made for army and public-service clients.The 460 was popular with military and off-road enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 built in the first decade. Mercedes-Benz initially did not sell the model in the United States, but by means of “casual importation” grey-market in the mid-1980s, importers sold a number of G-Wagens which had been modified to meet the specifications by the US DOT, and they sold for a whopping $135,000.

Jumping forward a few years the second generation W464 G Class was launched on January 14, 2018 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.In contrast to its predecessor, the new G-Class has grown in width by 121 millimeters, and 53 millimeters in length, and now has 6 millimeters more ground clearance.As compared to its predecessor with the same engine, the weight savings are around 170 kilograms.

During the GWagen’s lifesp an many differen t body styles w ere made for arm y and publicservice

hces in tec n a v d a r Some majo the years yet still er eatures f c nically ov i n o c i keep its trying to

Among other things, the front axle now has independent suspension instead of a rigid axle where the rear axle remains solid. The low range gear ratio was shortened from 2.1: 1 to 2.9: 1.

Despite these changes the exterior maintains the iconic classic look though the interior of the G-Class has undergone a fundamental modern redesign which reinterprets the genes of the classic vehicle to reflect the exterior. The shape of the round headlamps, for instance, is reflected in the side air vents. Hallmarks of the G‑Class include the grab handle in front of the front passenger and the chrome-highlighted switches for the three differential locks. Both have been optimised and retained as characteristic features.

The redesigned instrument panel features timeless tube-look analogue round dials as standard. So the fans of classic round instruments will not be disappointed in the new G‑Class. As in the new E-Class and S-Class, an instrument cluster in the form of a large display showing virtual instruments in the driver’s direct field of vision and a central display above the centre console is available as an option.

the exterior m the

maintains the iconic classic look though interior of the G-Class has undergone a fundamental modern redesign

has been activated or the LOW RANGE off-road reduction gear has been engaged. This offroad mode adapts the adjustable damping of the chassis and the steering as well as the accelerator characteristic, avoids unnecessary gear shifts The new suspension emerged and according to the manufrom the collaboration befacturers ensures optimum tween Mercedes-Benz G GmbH control and maximum off-road and Mercedes-AMG GmbH. capability.

The result is an independent suspension with double-wish- A small “G” icon discreetly bone front axle in combinalights up in the instrument tion with a rigid rear axle. As cluster. As you drive in off part of their work, the engiroad terrain you will be able neers had the task of fighting to enjoy inch-perfect manoeufor every millimetre, because vring even in the steepest off-road capability not least terrain and receive excellent also means maximum ground feedback on the traction caclearance. pacity of the surface.

The revised dimensions of the now larger G-Class benefit not only the driver and front passenger, but also the passengers in the second row.

OFF ROAD ABILITY

The raising of the axles makes a decisive contribution in this respect, while requiring a strut tower brace in the engine compartment to achieve the ruggedness objectives.

The new “G-Mode” paves the way where there is none The vehicle also has a new off road new “G-Mode”. The G-Class changes to “G-Mode” independently of the chosen driving mode as soon as one of the three differential locks

Last year saw the 300,000th G-Class roll off the assembly line in Graz and the G-Class fans around the world determined the vehicle specification by voting for their favourite equipment and appointments on the official G‑Class Facebook page. And if you have 100,000k to spare well you can become part of the dedicated G Wagon fans around the world.

THE KARGO KARRIER

AN INNOVATIVE

STORAGE

n o i t solu

A

s keen campers we are always trying to reduce the time spent packing our Land Rovers and trying to improve how we store bits and bobs in the back of our vehicles.

It’s all about making these quick camping getaways as painless as possible When we first came across the Kargo Karrier from Tuff-Trek we were immediately interested in how this clever storage product could really help us improve our ongoing storage issue in the back of our short wheel base Land Rover De-

fender.Tuff-Trek have been coming up with some clever storage solutions in recent years and if you had a chance to read issue 6 of the magazine you would have seen us cover the Tuff-Trek tailgate storage pieces that nealy attaches to the rear door of most Land Rover Defenders.

This new innovative product simple called the Kargo Karrier is another piece of the jigsaw that will help you achieve workable storage solutions that will assist in giving you easy access to all of your camping gear.

This unique patented protected Defender storage solution has been designed and manufactured exclusively by TUFF-TREK® and it’s function is to optimise dead space in the roof of your Defender.

Kargo Karrier ™ is ideal for overlanding or working Defenders but equally suited for leisure use. Kargo Karrier ™ is designed to fit camping chairs and other bulky or awkward to store equipment, and with a unique hinged action system it allows easy access to your gear. Twin adjustable stays can be set to allow the unit to drop down to a user defined height, allowing you to fit pets, fridges etc underneath with no risk. The Kargo Karrier is constructed using steel welded mesh and steel tube and all powder coated in a durable gloss finish.

This clever storage design is almost invisible in your rear view mirror, with no impact on your rear visibility.

cted usu r t s n o c s Karrier i o g r a steel tube K d e n a Th h s e elded m rable w u d l e e a t s n i g n d i der coate w o p l l a and h. gloss finis

o allow t t e s e b stays can e l b a t s r defined e u j s d u a a e o h t t T rop down d o t t i n the u height

The Kargo Karrier is designed specifically for late 90 & 110 Defenders with grab handles in the rear (side and back) with a unique ‘no drill’ fitting system (late model SW/Utilities etc) the unit is simple and quick to fit and can be removed easily if required.

Kargo Karrier ™ can also be fitted into hard top 90’s, 110’s and even Series vehicles.

You will need to drill 4 holes per side and rear of the gutter inside the vehicle and attach the custom brackets directly, it’s as simple as that.

n

o i t a m r o f n for more ie click her

THE

ULTIMATE

GPS SYSTEM FOR OFF-THE ROAD NAVIGATION

WE TAKE A LOOK AT A UNIQUE GPS SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES FREE WORLDWIDE MAPS AND TO WHICH YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN MAPS INCLUDING SCANNED PAPER MAPS

ROUTE

FINDING The team at Navigattor is passionate about adventure travelling.

And this is a good thing as your navigation device is one of the most essential tools in both allowing you to prepare and plan for any long Offroad travelling and in guiding you safely along your chosen routes.

The company has been mak-

Navigattor Camel 8 V2 is a versatile navigation companion

ing its own GPS navigation systems for 10 years and launched its Navigattor range in January 2010.

Navigattor develops and builds the systems, based on free cartographic software, that allows the use of detailed maps from all over the world.

Unlike most GPS systems, the Navigattor systems are capa-

Check out Nav igattor.com online store to see the range of GPS and ac cessories

ble of using highly detailed topographical maps, which provide a level of detail not normally available in GPS systems. Using the device itself or the accompanying OZIExplorer software it is possible to pre-plan and to create marked routes which can then be navigated using the Camel 8 V 2 when out on

the tracks.There are a host of other options and configurations available on the system which allows you to customise the maps, routes, displays and also the type of vehicle that you are using.

Navigattor can provide maps for any part of the world, and one of the great features of the system is that

you can even upload your own detailed local maps, even using scanned paper maps, to the system. This allows for a level of detail and customisation which is unrivalled in GPS systems. The system itself is easy to use and Navigattor have distributors located all over Europe where you can get access and see the system demonstrated. The guys speak English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Catalan.

In addition to the navigation systems Navigattor also provide a wide range of top quality mounts, PC Accessories and memory cards and also provide other touring and vehicle accessories and equipment.

For more detailed information, and to see the full product range, make sure to check out the Navigattor website. www.navigattor.com

el 8 V2 m a C r o igatt The Nav or a lot of user allows f isation s m o t s u c

You can upload any map including scanned paper maps

ation m r o f n i e r o for m V2 8 l e m a C e h on t Click here

SHOWERS ON THE ROAD e h t h t i w h s e r f g stayin n i b a C r e w o h S d u James Baro

poles packs d n a n i b a c ed The shower the [provid n i ly t a e n away

universal n i b a c r e t The Show to connec u o y w o l l a clips will roof racks t s o m o t r the showe

A LITTLE BIT OF PRIVACY uring to s ay d a er aft g in er ow sh when

A

s the 4WD touring movement continues to catch the imagination of adventurers throughout Europe and beyond, we are now seeing some very interesting 4WD touring related products enter the market.

Examples of these include developments in the variety of camping showers that are now available with some offering instant hot water for a well earned shower after a few days camping and touring.

We are also starting to see some easily erected camping shower cabins that now allow us to have privacy when having a shower.

1 1. Plenty of room in the James Baroud shower cabin 2. Like all James Baroud products this unit is made from top quality materials 3.The cabin poles can be neatly packed in the provided bag 4.The shower cabin can be quickly attached to your roof rack 5. the mesh pockets for storing your toiletries.

4

5

2 3

4

These shower cabins, like the James Baroud shower cabin, play a very important role for those who enjoy their privacy when out camping. This innovative product not only provides privacy for when having a shower but also can be used as a changing room and a toilet.

When you travel with small children this private space is a great edition to your touring set up. Also changing your close in the James Baroud shower cabin is much more pleasant experience than trying to change your clothes in a roof tent.

It’s pretty simple to attach this innovative design to your vehicle, all you need to do is attach the two brackets to the roof rack,a multi-part U-shaped aluminium frame is then hung and then carried in front by two adjustable aluminium telescopic feet.

The three-sided curtain has a zipper at the front and the multiple mesh pockets provide plenty of space for storing your shampoo etc.

James Baroud Duschkabine Die kompakte Kabine kann sowohl als Duschals auch als Umkleidekabine genutzt werden und bietet die oft gewünschte Privatsphäre.

Das Umziehen in der Umkleidekabine ist viel angenehmer als im Dachzelt. Vor der Fahrzeugtür montiert kann auf Bekleidung im Fahrzeuginneren zugegriffen oder diese dort abgelegt werden. Die Kabine ist auch für eine Campingtoilette nutzbar.

Für die Montage werden einmalig zwei Halter am Dachträger angebracht. In diese wird ein mehrteiliger U-förmiger Aluminiumrahmen eingehängt. Er wird vorne durch zwei verstellbare Alu-Telekopstandfüße getragen. Der dreiseitige Vorhang ist an der Vorderseite mit einem Reißverschluss versehen. Er wird in den Alu-Rahmen eingehängt und über diesen verspannt. Mehrere Netztaschen dienen als Ablage für z.B. Duschgel.

ade from m s i e m a r the f minium. u l a g n o r st

The James baroud cabin showers are made from a rubberized waterproof fabric an the frame is made from strong aluminium. The shower comes in a handy storage bag.Width 80 x Depth 80 x Height 200 cm weight 5,5 kg

click here for more information

r o f e r e click h ion at m r o f in

Contact Tel. +351 936 296 798 - E-mail: infos@jamesbaroud.com

excellence’16

Garantie comprenant la coque, la toile et mécanisme.

facebook.com/JamesBaroudOfficial instagram.com/jamesbaroud

e e D Dirty SWAG

THE ULTIMATE FREESTANDING SWAG

W

ay back in the 1800’s in Australia a Swagman was known as a roaming and mostly seasonal agricultural worker who did odd jobs on farms including labour work ,rounding up and shearing sheep.

Today swags are still very popular in Australia where campers and tourers store them in the back of their utes or on the roof rack of their 4x4 as they explore and search for the best campsites.

Widely recognised as the company that have taken the design of swags to the next level Darche They mostly slept outdoors where they lay on a piece of can- introduced the Dome Swag over 20 years ago. Designed to withvas and threw a blanket over stand harsh Aussie conditions, themselves at night, to keep the Darche swag range will keep warm. When they moved on, they then rolled up the blanket, you comfortable all year round, no matter where you camp. their belongings and the canvas together, threw it on their With interesting and progressive backs, and headed off for the designs like the Dirty Dee, the next job, and that’s where the name for modern ‘swags’ came Dusk To Dawn and the Nebula, these swags are feature packed from.Swags have been carried with proofed poly/cotton ripstop by explorers, shearers, miners, canvas, heavy duty waterproof the unemployed,the rich and PVC bucket floor and 50mm many others over the last 200 high-density covered foam matyears. tress, to name a few.

DIRTY D the

The ridge pole trigger locking system developed by Darche makes the Dirty Dee swag the ultimate freestanding tourer. Near vertical walls and all weather awnings, functionality, durability and comfort have been combined into an all-round outdoor adventure companion.This roomy

swag is made from 420gsm proofed poly/cotton 16mm grid ripstop and offers generous head room within.

The swag also boasts 6 ventilation points ensuring optimum cross flow ventilation that will keep you cool on those hot summer nights.

DEE

A TOP QUALITY

SWAG

Other features include access to the undercover front awning, seam sealed internal seams,4 internal storage pockets and anodised 7001 alloy 8.5 Dia poles with hard wearing pole sleeves.

Like all Darche products the materials are all of a very high quality. The carrier bag is a generous size and easily accommodates the swag when packing away. A big selling point for us was the 50mm covered hi-density foam mattress and the trigger locking ridge pole system.The thick mattress means you will be guaranteed comfortable nights sleep but the size of the mattress does make the swag bulkier but well worth it in our view.The trigger locking system is a great idea allowing the swag to stand freely without needing to use the supplied guy ropes. This is a great solution for those who enjoy a bit of comfort when camping.

Now available in Europe through XP-edition for more details click here.

for e r e h n o i click t a m for n i e r mo

LATE SUMMER 2018

OVERLAND SHOW STRATFORD-UPON AVON

THE Adventure Overland Show- Late Summer Edition is back, and is being held again on 22nd and 23rd September in Straford Upon Avon Racecourse. This is a great event with plenty of gear on display, and is also a very social event for the Offroad, overland and 4WD enthusiast community. There is a new website for the show also, which is available at https://adventure-overland-show.com/

GRILL, SMOKE & Se LOW COOK

4GRILL

with th

from Batavia

The 4Grill has 4 combined cooking functions, additionally it is compact to store and easy to transport With all of the essential accessories provided you can GRILL, SMOKE or COOK

You can slow cook meats over indirect heat or modify the configuration to grill directly over the coals.

W

e really love to spend as much time as we can enjoying the outdoors, and recently spent a few days living on the beach. Most people agree that food cooked and eaten outdoors just tastes better, and this is evidenced by the large number BBQs we have seen over the past couple of months. We decided to do a little BBQ cooking on the beach, and to do so we used the 4Grill Barrel BBQ from Batavia. The 4Grill has 4 combined cooking functions, and additionally it folds down and packs quite compactly making it easy to store and to carry on trips. The BBQ and its accessories can be

used for grilling, smoking and slow cooking and it can also be configured as an outdoor fire.

When being used as a grill or a fire, you can also choose the height you would like it to be.

The temperature gauge on the lid allows you to monitor and maintain the temperature when smoking or slow cooking food.

You can also customise your grill with a large range of cool temperature resistant stickers , or indeed can design your own, all through the Batavia website.

We slow cooked some ribs and a whole chicken at constant temperature of 80C, it took a few hours, while we sat around and enjoyed the sunshine. We had to occasionally top up the coals (through a handy hatch in the side of the grill) in order to

maintain the right temperature.

When it was ready we enjoyed the most succulent meal you can imagine.

has quite a large capacity and is a suitable BBQ cooker for cooking for larger groups of people.

The built in thermometer helps to This grill is very versatile, and we ensure meat is cooked well and really enjoyed cooking with it. It is the fact that it also transforms quite easy to change the configinto a fire pit is very useful. uration from grilling to smoking/ slow cooking to a fire pit.

Though not light, it does pack down into a cylinder the dimenObviously its important to ensure sions of one barrel segment, and a tough carrying case is also availthat the grill is cold before you start re configuring it in order to able. avoid a risk of getting burned. It

The BBQ can also be converted into a fire pit for those cooler evenings.

for more n informatio

TRED-PRO RECOVERY BOARDS

Th

ble noda r u d y r e v se he boards u bre mafi s s a l g m o fr ules made elting and m o t t n a t s terial , resi breaking.

TRED P RO from ARB

Specially designed for when you find yourself stuck off the beaten track without any help in sight – ARB TRED Pro is the ultimate recovery device to get you out of trouble when traction is lost in even the toughest of conditions; whether it be in sand, mud or even snow. ARB has partnered with TRED to bring these exclusive recovery tracks to the market. These tracks are manufactured in Australia and come with a lifetime warranty.

TRED- (Total Recovery & Extraction Device) TRED Pro for ARB is available in two colour versions, black on black or black with orange recovery nodules, the pack also includes a premium leash set for quick recovery of the boards following use. These tracks can be used to shovel away sand, mud or snow and can grab the tyres helping to elevate and give your vehicle traction in difficult conditions. The ARB TRED Pro is built using two materials, each designed and engineered for a specific task. A nodule material made with glass fibres, and which is highly resistant to melting from friction associated with spinning tyres , and a main board made which is made from nylon material that offers strength, flexibility and temperature performance to match the kinds of terrain where the board will be used. The nodules

e underDig out some spac eels neath the stuck wh

Wedge the board fi rmly underneath the tyres

ross the Drive onto and ac vehicle boards, freeing the

You should try to make enou gh space to firmly wedge the bo ard under the tyre

er the wheels d n u s d r a o b Place of traction most in need

Collect the boards and repeat if neccessary.

tacking s r o f e l fi Lower pro torage and s

Self recov ery from deep sand mud and , snow is m ade easy are inserted into the nylon board and then additional nylon is injected, fusing the materials firmly together.

The unique grip pattern, was modelled to be an optimal match for the tyre patterns from leading tyre manufacturers, using 3D scanning and CAD modelling of the most popular tyre brands from around the world, to create a database of the world’s highest selling off road tyres. They have been able to use real data dimensions to optimize teeth/nodule design and layout more so than any other recovery board device allowing it to engage more tyre area and to offer the best possible grip between surfaces.

l allows for e v o h s d e t An integra erial from t a m of l a v the remo wheels around the

There is also a special ridge pattern at the side of the board which matches the water evacuation channels of the tyres and offers additional grip by hooking into these channels There is also a special ridge pattern at the side of the board which matches the water evacuation channels of the tyres and offers additional grip by hooking into these channels.

In order to distribute the load on the board at entry and exit points of the vehicle where stress is high, it has a curved front end and a pointed rear end.

When using the board as a shovel, the high side walls assist with the recovery of large amounts of material ARB say that this shovel removes more material in this manner than any other board on the market.

We say, don’t leave home without them, especially if you are travelling in a single vehicle, they are almost certainly the most effective self-recovery devices you can have with you.

for more n informatio

the

ROOFTOP

BENEFITS OF USING

P TENTS

G

In our last Issue we explored the history of tents. Tents have come a long way over the last 40,000 , and today, tents are used for a wide variety of leisure, military, humanitarian and other uses. One thing that is certainly true , is that tents have evolved a lot over the millenia.

One type of tent most favoured by overlanders and 4WD Campers is the Roof Top Tent (RTT) Roof top tents have been used for decades by overlanders as a comfortable and relatively safe place to rest and get some sleep while on a long driving journey.

Its easy to see why RTTs are so popular with Overlanders and 4WD campers. These tents are easy and quick to setup and to take down, in general all it takes is removing the cover, pulling out the tent and inserting a few window poles. RTTs are supported by much stronger and more robust poles than normal ground tents, and so perform better and are more wind and storm resistant in general than ground tents are.

TEMBO IS SWA AN ELEPHANT S THE TEMBO BR OF ROOF RACK YOU COULD VI

AHILI FOR “ELEPHANT” STANDS FOR POWER AND INTELLIGENCE RAND STARTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE KS AND THE ROOF RACKS ARE SO STRONG IRTUALLY PLACE AN ELEPHANT ON TOP.

Most RTT users also admit to generally feeling safer when perched up off the ground in their cosy elevated room, another benefit is keeping the tent safe from insects, snakes and other larger creatures, whether it be wild cats or dogs, or merely curious foxes.

Most RTTs such as the rugged

the ace in p s wet of y cold or plent t s i i b e r a e Th t gets when i xxe for

anne

Tembo RTT can allow travellers to experience a comfortable and safe night’s sleep wherever a vehicle pulls up at night.

Adding an annexe to a RTT adds a second level of enclosed comfort, here the tembo annexe provides an enclosed area underneath the tent which also encloses the ladder. The annexe comes with a hard-wearing zip in,

PVC floor, the annexe can be fully sealed or the doors can be rolled up to allow wind blow through the mesh door covers. The interior rear wall can also be zipped closed or can be opened and rolled up to allow access to the side doors of the vehicle through the back wall of the annexe.

An annexe like this is the perfect place, to cook, work and plan your route, while the outdoor environment is a little

for more information on Tembo’s wide range of tents and accessories, click here ..

too harsh to sit outside. It also allows for the tents itself to be left open allowing for air circulation between the tent and the annexe.

Tembo Produces a range of tents made from heavier than usual canvas which are suitable for use in cold and wet environments. Learn more at : https://www.tembo4x4.com/

GOOD COFFEE d a o r e h t n o JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CAMPING DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN’T HAVE A GOOD COFFEE

for e r e h click n o i t a m infor

Fire Pits don’t get much better than the SnoPeak fire pit now distributed by Drifta in Europe. This kit is a unique fire pit that is both sturdy and compact. The fire pit also has a variety of cooking and grilling accessories that can be added to your set up and will definitely improve your camping experience. These stainless steel firepits come in three sizes and folds flat for easy assembly and transportation in your 4WD, car, camper trailer or RV. For more information click here www.drifta.eu

This fire starter is made in Japan by Uniflame; it is made from high quality Japanese steel. The fire started comes flat packed and is very easily stored,also distributed in Europe by Drifta click here for more information www.drifta.eu

The camp kitchen safely stores (for four people) all of your cooking utensils and your favorite spices and sauces used for cooking when camping. Everything is packed in a sturdy, handy Ammo box .Click here for more info Genesis-Import.

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