Tabla de contenidos para December 2023 en NZ4WD

NEWS They are calling it ‘unstoppable’: the newest version of Land Rover’s Defender 110 P400e plugin electric hybrid will be released in 2024. Officially unveiled in Sydney in October, the P400e offers zero-emissions off-road capability, tapping into its power on any terrain when operating in electric-only mode. Available exclusively with the 110-body design, it delivers a blend of performance and economy while also being the most capable and durable electrified Land Rover. With unrivalled capability and off-road geometry for a full-sized plug-in hybrid electric 4x4, the P400e is capable of being driven in low range purely in EV mode, bringing a new dimension to adventures in the wild. Land Rover says the Defender’s legendary all-terrain ability power and fuel efficiency makes it perfect for the Australian and New Zealand environments,…

Amphibious vehicles have been around for 150 years or more. Longer, if we throw the horse into the equation Truly capable, massproduced amphibians like the 6X6 DUKW, the American LVT Buffalo or the German Schwimmwagen were developed during the Second World War. Although not much of a car or a boat in terms of performance, each of these vehicles has served as inspiration for a host of modern amphibian cars. After the war ended, the idea behind these types of vehicles gave birth to several interesting models including recent vehicles like the Argo, the Amphicar and the Kiwi-made Gibbs Aquada. Southern California-based WaterCar holds 27 amphibious-related patents as well as the Guiness World Record for the fastest amphibious vehicle. WaterCar developed and refined a prototype called Phyton, which led to…

Segway, makers of innovative personal mobility solutions, is launching a major push into New Zealand through its Powersports operation. The company sells ‘side by side’, quad and workhorse off-road vehicles, and recently made headlines with the launch of a hybrid version of its Villain recreational UTV. The regular version of the Villain has a 1.0-litre four stroke engine making 72kW (105bhp) and just under 100Nm. The big Fugleman UTVs are the workhorses of the range and have the same engine and up to six seats. The smallest offering is a quad called Snarler, which runs from $9,000 to $13,000. Segway offers a wide range of accessories, including luggage pods, skid plates, bumper bars and even a dozer blade for the quad. There’s a snow plough for the Fugleman versions too.…

Offroad Caravans offers Kiwi adventurers a huge range of off road accommodation options from respected caravan brands Highline Caravans, Red Centre Caravans and Network RV. Highline Kinsman The 19’6 Kinsman off-road family caravan offers durability and comfort for home on wheels. The Kinsman offers a perfect design for family trips. An ideal choice for families while travelling on road trips, this caravan comes with two bunks and an option for a third with plenty of storage, and a large fridge. Key features include: • A stylish and practical design tailored for families. • Plenty of room for both rest and play along with ample storage for all family needs. • Separate shower and toilet facilities, plus a built-in washing machine. • Equipped with a rollout awning, picnic table, and slide-out…

Adventure NZ Paul Richards has been exploring our golden past. One of the many bucket list tracks for me is the track up to Mount Buster goldfield, on over Mount Kyeburn and down to Danseys Pass. This track is in the Oteake Conservation Park which covers almost 65,000 hectares of mountainous high country, tussock plateaus, scree slopes, shrubland, and wetland, in the area between Danseys Pass, Naseby, Omarama and Kurow. We were fortunate to have this track as part of the High Country Journeys South Island Grand Slam Tour. On this day we started at Omarama, coming over the Omarama Saddle to Saint Bathans, around to Naseby and up the Mount Buster Road to the DOC information board at the end of the road. Passing through the gate, we ascended…

One of my favourite destinations for a quick day escape when we get a fine day is the area around White Rock and Tora, on the East Coast of vthe lower North Island. Martinborough makes an excellent meet-up and starting point for this trip, with the winery-influenced cafes offering a pleasant point to transition from the highway trip up from Wellington into the more relaxed touring of the backroads just out of Martinborough. Heading out of Martinborough on Lake Ferry Rd, we turned off onto White Rock Rd, just past the town limits, leading to a pleasant drive up into the ranges and along the side of a wind farm. Having the wind turbines all around us as we reached the top of the ridge made the warning sign for…

COLUMN If you have ever experienced the ‘Death Wobble’ you will be able to relate to a friend’s recent experience and I certainly have a couple of times over the years. I got a message from Ray asking about a failed steering damper and would it give the vehicle severe speed wobbles as it drives over uneven or rough road surfaces like the wheels were unbalanced? Even though it was via text, you could almost feel his concern just reading it and it was the end of a long holiday weekend. The answer is it could, as one of a steering damper’s main purposes is to take any slight shimmy out of the steering, but in Ray’s case and his 1995 Defender 110, the more likely scenario is that a…

NEWS Arguably the ‘it’ 4WD among the small SUV set, Suzuki’s Jimny is about to massively expand its appeal by going to a five-door format. Building on the strong Jimny nameplate and heritage, the all-new Jimny five-door taps into a part of the 4WD tribe not previously catered for. Long a cult vehicle in New Zealand and overseas, it now gets an upsize with a longer wheelbase and two extra doors. The October election result means the now-cancelled Clean Car ‘Ute Tax’ requirements will no longer put a ‘CO2 cloud’ over new entries like the Jimny - and in fact, for many buyers, those restrictions were hardly a deciding factor in the purchase decision. First to arrive will be the five-speed manual version, arguably the preferred format for off-road adventures.…

It was never really going to work: LDV’s electric T60 ute is about to disappear. It was bravely introduced to New Zealand media at an LDV launch event some time ago, but with only two-wheel drive, there was little interest from tradies and those who like to adventure off-road. The death knell was sounded back in October after the Inchcape Group took over the brand and announced a discount on remaining stock that dropped the price below that of the well-equipped diesel 4WD version. Inchcape confirmed a discount off retail of $7,015. A week later, the discount was ramped up to $23,000. The company then confirmed that the current inventory of heavily discounted eT60s in the country is the last available. Between January and September of 2023, only 53 eT60s…

The original Range Rover. Two doors, seating for five, commanding driving position, 3.5-litre V8 under the bonnet. Unnervingly, amazingly capable on and off road, the ‘Rangie’ is widely recognised as the original SUV. However. The Brits (some of them) are questioning whether the rumble of that all-alloy V8 is an embedded part of the character of a Range Rover. After all, the truck was also available with a diesel. A slightly breathless one. So, a crowd in the UK called Inverted has dumped internal combustion altogether and created an EV Rangie. The conversion follows standard practice for a high-dollar ‘electromod’: take one carefully restored shell and add low-mileage Tesla bits. Charge comes from an 80kWh Tesla Model S battery pack that has been split up so that nine of the…

There’s nothing like an overland camping trip in a 4WD. Overnight over-weekend or longer, the pure silence and serenity of the backblocks is good for the soul. Imagine, then, doing the adventure in a big 4WD or even 6WD truck. That’s the growing trend in ‘extreme camping’, and a number of Kiwis have taken the plunge, mainly using ex-Army Unimogs. But in the UK, a bloke named Matthew Payne has taken a slightly different approach, though it achieves the same aim: roughing it in style and comfort. In fact, his truck is built for true long-stay wilderness adventuring. Meet Matilda. It’s one of two ex-British Army Leyland DAF T244 trucks, Matthew building Matilda alongside “Puddles”, which was bought by his friends Gary and Tina. The projects started in 2016. Matilda…

25 NOVEMBER Moawhango School annual 4WD event Raising funds for the Moawhango School, this year’s event is heading over Mounganui Station and the neighbouring property Rim Rock Hills. Information at facebook.com/moawhangoschool4WD/ 9 DECEMBER NZFWDA National 4x4 Trial - Round 2; Hosted by Wairarapa 4WD Club at Pirinoa/ Lake Ferry - South Wairarapa. Fun day out for the whole family watching extreme 4×4 competition vehicles go wheel to wheel. For more details visit nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar-and-results/ 2024 19-22 JANUARY Manawatu 4WD Club Charity Safari Hosted by the Manawatu 4WD Club over Wellington Anniversary weekend. Tag-along trip suitable for all 4WD vehicles with a transfer box. Two days off-road over tracks in the upper Waitotara valley including the steep spectacular tracks around Ngamatapouri in the upper reaches of the Waitotara valley (the longest noexit…

CAMPING AND OFF-ROAD GEAR There is no better summertime mission than camping way up in the boonies with mates and the wilderness for company. Summer is almost here, so this is the time to plan that adventure, and make sure the 4WD is equipped are ready to hit the trail. Everybody has a different ‘ideal’ campsite set-up, and their own idea of the best places to visit. Using a 4WD makes the camping experience super-convenient and satisfying because the vehicle can easily reach challenging tracks, whether the conditions are sandy, muddy or snowy. It improves the driving experience, and it is way safer than 2WD. The capability of a good 4WD means adventurers can visit all the best campsites in New Zealand. A back country checklist for adventurers, inspired by…

Mudstuck rooftop tents make it possible to camp, explore and sleep anywhere. The company’s tents are designed for families, comfortably fit two adults and up to three children. How good is a rooftop tent? Avoid having to set up and take down large land-based tents which are time and space consuming. These family tents pop up in no time with ease and safety right on the roof of your vehicle. There is even an added rain shelter around the tent for extra comfort and protection from the elements. Design and set-up Enjoy total freedom for you and your family, views from atop your vehicle with the ability to always have somewhere to safely sleep. Fitting securely on top of any quality roof rack system with a reinforced aluminium chequered base…

The Thunder came to 4WDland recently and was a fun family day out capped by an evening bo0nfire and barbecues. Thunder Hop events were started in 2022 by Mark and Melanie Aldridge who own the NZ Motorhome Travel Group (NZMTG) after lots of feedback from members with custom cars wanting to attend and enjoy social events. The 4X4 event is an offshoot of the main ‘hop’ and caters for everything from family ‘shinies’ through to gnarly mud-pluggers. The organisers say it‘s all about coming and along and giving it a go “and having a great social weekend with other social campers at a great location.” A dedicated 4WD area was available, and registration numbers were kept low to enable people to enjoy their 4WD outing. The next event will be…

4WD Sport Brendon Midgley held off a swarm of UTVs to win the 2023 NZ1000 at Labour Weekend. Driving his ex- Brad Prout V8 unlimited class car, he surged through in the closing laps to take the chequered flag, setting fastest lap in the process. The closest UTV at race end was Scott Munro, 14 seconds behind in second place, and seven of the top ten finishers were UTVs. It is the second 1000km title for the Chev-engined Jimco. The previous owner, Australian Brad Prout, won the Taupo 1000 in 2011, leading both days of the event and fighting off determined challenges from Kiwi racers Raana Horan and Malcolm Langley, Prout setting a new lap record for the unlimited class cars. This time, there were only two race trucks in…

COLUMN A year ago, we were musing on the ‘good old days’ when a dak-dak engine was good enough to win the national champs. Back in those days, the Morris van steering rack was prized and engines were meant to smoke and leak. When it stopped leaking it was time to top up the sump. Race cars were ‘buggies’ and utes or SUVs were only used to tow the buggies. Up north, people brought 4WDs out to places like Woodhill and raced them in events like the Leadfoot and the Woodhill 100. The dak-daks continued to rule, but the sport had been served notice by the likes of Tauranga well-driller Ewen Cameron, who had dropped a big Chev V8 into his work Hilux, and Lyndsay Dowler who dropped a V8…

NEWS Toyota has released some details of the coming Hilux GR Sport II. Building on its Dakar Rally-winning heritage, the Hilux GR Sport II achieves a new pinnacle for Toyota’s ute. Toyota says the “double cab Hilux GR Sport II delivers a powerful combination of enhanced handling and stability, with best-in-class towing (3500kg) and payload (1000kg) capacity allied to an assertive design evolution. It stands out from the crowd, wherever the spirit of adventure takes it.” Visually similar to the original GR, the second GR Sport model features a wider track which is expanded by 140mm at the front and 155 mm at the rear compared to the standard Hilux. Wider track directly enhances stability to create a confidence-inspiring ride even in adverse weather or road conditions. The optimised handling…

PRODUCT Avoid ground obstacles, carry heavier loads, get more off-road handling control or simply improve driver sight lines: Lift Junkie offers the ultimate combination of increased suspension functionality and affordability. No modification is required, just replace the original components with the uprated heavy-duty shocks and springs. Compiling the very best combinations of suspension and ride control products, the Lift Junkie Team has created a product that offers light commercial and 4WD users the lift they are looking for without needing costly engineering certifications. Lift Junkie lift kits use premium-brand components to enhance the capability of light commercial and 4WD vehicles, providing them with up to an additional 50mm (two inches) of ride height. Using feedback and insights gained from ute owners, the company’s suspension specialists have created Lift Junkie systems…

NEWS With the EV civilian SUV and pick-up versions of the mighty Hummer selling like hot cakes in the USA, demand for the originals is also increasing. They’re big, brash, loud and beloved by active 4WD adventurers around the world. The original H1 is a barely civilianised version of the military’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), or Humvee for short which probably had more in common with a tank than with the average SUV. When AM General initiated sales to civilians beginning in 1992 with a modest 316 that year, it had toned down the military-ness, but only a little. The H1 is, after all, the only vehicle on the market that has big steel loops coming out of the hood, left over from where the military attached a…

The UTV or ‘side by side’ market sector has for some time been the focus of some intense innovation in power systems. The recent launch of a 2.0-litre petrol-engined UTV was quickly trumped by non-traditional drivetrains. It’s become a question of who will do it first. After Segway showed its hybrid UTV recently, now there’'s a prototype hydrogen powered off-roader. Yamaha has revealed a prototype hydrogen powered YXZ at the Japan Mobility Show. Beyond the ‘right now’ of electric vehicles, many industry observers say hybrid and hydrogen hybrid is the future of motoring and motorsports. Asian manufacturers are creating off-road competition race series with hydrogen, and Kawasaki has built a hydrogen-based KRX UTV.…

CAMPING AND OFF-ROAD GEAR The rooftop advantage The summer season is here and many will be planning getaways into the outdoors to enjoy the beauty of the country. Rooftop tents are a great solution for both touring and extended camping trips. Rooftop camping comes with a range of benefits including an elevated abode away from animals, away from running surface water in heavy rain, and away from uneven ground and rocks. They also offer a simplified setup and pack-up to ensure there’s more time for adventuring. Soft shell rooftop tent The Ironman 4X4 roof-top tent provides the ultimate in ease and convenience when traveling. Unfolding in minutes, a rooftop tent provides sleeping quarters off the ground, protected from the elements. Spacious and comfortable, all bedding can remain inside the tent…

Oztent is an Australian business which grew from the dream of one man into an outdoor company that now provides adventurers around the globe with products to help them get out and have awesome experiences. Never comfortable with convention, the company pioneered the first 30-second tent, making sure it could withstand the harshest environmental conditions by choosing quality materials and enforcing a strict design and manufacturing process, together with rigorous testing - there’s nothing quite like the Australian outback to put a product through its paces. All Oztent products are crafted from experience, and whether the adventure involves 4WDing, kayaking, hiking, or just enjoying some relaxing time in the great outdoors, we've got you covered with quick, durable, comfortable and hassle-free gear. Oztent backs its products with a committed customer…

MY 4WD Shane Neal has created his ideal 4WD garage-full of off-road capability. He’s been off-roading for years, bought his first truck when he was 18. “I have been 4WDing for years with multiple different ones from Pajero to Isuzu mu and Land Cruiser.” His current garage-load kicks things off with a 2020 Ford Ranger bought new and built for overlanding and some pretty tough tracks. “I bought the Ranger new in 2020, stock standard. I got it so I could have some room to take the kids out on adventures and set it up with enough space for everything but also still use it for work,” he says. Over the last couple years he has added a four-inch Superior Engineering lift with coil-over shock absorbers. The truck also has…

Carl Ruiterman has once more won the outright New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship title. Driving his Yamaha YXZ side by side (UTV) race car in the final over two days of Labour Weekend, Ruiterman won all four short course in-class heats, then won the enduro the following day. “Kurow was the perfect end to the NZ off-road championship. The track was amazing. Thank you Slee family and everyone who helped organise the event.” A last-minute rule change meant the team had just a day to modify its cars before making the epic 1,300km drive down from Pukekohe to compete at Kurow. “The parts we didn’t get finished came down by plane.” The team’s efforts were well rewarded, Ruiterman also setting fastest time outright for the short course. Though he had…

Wire cable versus synthetic winch rope? It’s a question for the ages, but in simple terms it depends on how the winch is to be used. Winching for work? Recreational user? There are points for and against steel winch cable and synthetic winch ropes. Most people prefer to avoid winching, but it’s typically not optional. Sometimes a snatch strap is enough. Tug a mate’s rig back onto the track, no problem. But when really stuck, winching is much more precise, controllable, and safer. Winches have been around about as long as off-roaders have needed them. Power take-off (PTO) winches were on Jeeps in WWII; Land Rover was designed from the outset with PTO take-offs The first automotive electric winch was developed in 1950. Since then, winches on recreational 4WDs have…