Tabla de contenidos para July 2024 en NZ4WD

A decade after arriving in Australia, American pickup brand Ram is celebrating 30,000 vehicles remanufactured into righthand-drive for down-under buyers. Ram, part of automotive giant Stellantis, beat Ford and General Motors to the Australian market in offering a factorybacked full-sized pickup locally remanufactured in right-hand drive. The brand commenced local operations in 2014 and has increased its sales every year since then. It sold 6833 vehicles in 2023, with its 1500 being the most popular vehicle in the full-sized pickup segment with 5922 examples sold. Trucks are delivered from Ram’s US production line and remanufactured in right-hand drive for the Australian market at a facility in Clayton, Victoria. The remanufacturing is done by local firm Walkinshaw, with Ram Trucks Australia offering RHD versions of the 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups.…

Fans of Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport get a fresh look for 2024, with an all-4WD range. The updated Pajero Sport retains the familiar 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre fourcylinder turbo-diesel engine and eightspeed automatic transmission combination offered previously. A revised frontal treatment and rear bumper cover differentiate the revised Pajero Sport from its predecessor, as does a black-out headlight treatment and inclusion of automatic headlights and wipers across the range. Adaptive cruise control system is standard. New-look 18-inch alloy wheel designs debut with a blackened treatment for the GSR grades – which further adds black door and tailgate handles and mirror caps. The 2024 Pajero Sport also gets the new Triton’s three-spoke, leather-trimmed steering wheel. Next up for the Pajero Sport is a comprehensive revision, though that’s a few years away.…

TESTED LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT Land Rover’s sleek Discovery Sport is updated for 2024 with a more modern luxury interior, latest tech and added functionality. It also stays true to its ten-year heritage. The Sport was first shown to the public in 2014 and arrived in 2015 as Land Rover’s replacement for the Freelander. As such, it was officially a ‘compact’ SUV, at a time when the SUV category was white hot: more than 30 percent of new car sales was in this category. Discovery Sport, sharing its mechanicals with the Range Rover Evoque, was the first of a new family of Land Rover SUVs. The Landie had decent body underguards, useful, though not ute-class approach and departure angles, a wading depth of 600mm and a terrain response system. From…

4WD LIGHTS AND BATTERIES Off-road driving and adventuring is one of the incredible benefits of living in a country like New Zealand. Being able to explore the bush in a 4WD is a privilege that doesn’t need to stop when the sun goes down. The most important equipment needed to explore the backblocks after dark is of course lighting. More to the point, it’s rugged, quality lighting – a light bar, side light units, spotlights and even a hand unit plugged into the dash. After that decision is made, it’s important to have a system that capable of supplying the electricity required to run the lights. The next clear step from there is a system that is resilient enough to power the equipment used in off-grid camping. Turn off the…

4WD LIGHTS AND BATTERIES Primarily an application for 4WD vehicles, a dual battery system is especially useful when the vehicle is the base for off-grid camping or working. A second battery is primarily used to run appliances such as portable fridges, inverters and camping equipment, other applications could be trades people that have remote power needs. The additional battery would normally be a deep cycle type as these are better suited to this application profile. While traditionally the second battery has been mounted under the bonnet, usually on the opposite side of the engine bay to the start battery, there is a trend to mount them in the tray (ute) or behind back seat for better weight distribution and less risk of cracking inner guards. This also isolates the battery…

Adventure I was talking to the editor about future articles and trying to see if there was anything specific that he would like me to write about. His reply was: “something different”. Not very specific, but it did get me thinking about ideas. So many of the articles that I and others write, show wilderness, river valleys and stunning alpine scenery. This got me thinking. What do I do with my partner Andrea when we are on holiday, just the two of us? Well, Andrea hates going to wilderness places because, as she so often says whilst looking at an outstanding alpine scene, “there’s nothing here”. I think that you get the point. We don’t exactly have the same ideas when it comes to escaping the rat race. So here’s…

COLUMN Two national championship rounds in one weekend. In some ways that cuts drivers some slack. In olden times, national rounds would be one short course, one enduro, and one that was both short course and enduro. The double event offered a lot of racing for the entry fee, but was hard on gear and only offered the same points as the other two did. So, we went on out to West Melton for the first day of racing at the Canterbury club’s short course track. There were three entries in the big truck class: northerner Nick Leahy, Dean Christmas and I. The Giti Tyres Chev Prolite was a bit out-gunned by the other trucks, both of them V8s. She’s well set up for the short course though, in fact…

TECH TALK Everybody loves personalising their 4WDs, making them the perfect truck. Some of the coolest and most useful add-ons are in the area of protection. Here’s a wee guide of the very worst to the very best in regards to protecting occupants and vehicles. The rear bar Looks cool, stronger than a stock bumper, lasts longer in the bush. Also heavier, and only protects in cases where the driver’s reversing into tree stumps. Rating: 3/10 The side rail Also called brush bars, beloved of Aussie offroaders. Running back from a bull bar, they shield the front guards from impacts. They look cool, and may fend off tree branches, but add 30-40kg to the vehicle. Rating 4/10 The second spare tyre Super handy on longer adventures, but does create storage…

The LDV T60 has undergone significant lifecycle revisions for 2024 including the addition of multi-link rear suspension, new safety and specification features, new exterior design elements and a new driver-focused cockpit design. The LDV T60 Max Plus is a new variant has just launched in Australia. It has key technical, specification and safety updates. It has a 12.3” central touchscreen, 12.3” driver instrument cluster, lockable tailgate, heated and power-folding side mirrors, electric power steering and park brake. The 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine makes 160kW at 4000rpm and 500Nm from just 1500rpm. Fuel consumption is 9.3L/100km for the manual and 8.9L/100km for the automatic. T60 Max Plus has a multi-link rear suspension for more control over a range of surfaces, as well as an increase in payload capability. An on-demand…

The Toyota Retro Cruiser concept made a big splash when it debuted in 1999. It looked like an FJ40 from the outside, but the running gear underneath came from the most advanced Land Cruiser at the time, the J100. Toyota let journalists beat on it in off-road testing. It was then put away for a quarter century. Not only was the Retro Cruiser fully functional, which is rare for a concept, but it has a clear Kiwi connection. This truck was built for Toyota by Rod Millen, the same racing and engineering whiz behind the record setting Pikes Peak Celica and Tacoma race truck. The Retro Cruiser started life as a 1967 FJ45, but it wasn’t as simple as just stretching that body over J100 Land Cruiser mechanicals. The FJ45…

Winter. Depressing days of horizontal rain. Even in Auckland, temperatures hover around zero in the mornings. But what can shake off the gloom? An extreme allterrain 4WD, that’s what. Lots of 4WDs can lay claim to being very capable. That’s why people buy them. But ‘the most capable’? That’s a big call. Step forward, the Atlas. Made in the Ukraine, this extreme 4WD vehicle has it all. Climbing ability? Portal axles and internal drop-gearing maximise torque at more than 1,355Nm. Sloppy ground, a river or lake? The Atlas uses its bar-tread tyres for propulsion. It will do up to 7km/h on water, 60km/h on land. Those tyres are as tall as some humans. That’s 66 inches. And they support the 2.2-tonne vehicle at 2.0psi. Payload? Many 4WDs boast of a…

NEWS The Drain Group (TDG) has welcomed twelve Volkswagen Amaroks into the company’s trans-Tasman fleet. As a leading provider of sustainable waste management and recycling solutions across Australia and New Zealand, these new additions come at a crucial time for TDG. With over 570 dedicated employees and a fleet exceeding 250 vehicles, TDG’s investment in the Amarok amplifies their capability to deliver innovative environmental solutions to a range of industries. The specifications laid out by TDG required nothing short of excellence: double cab, 4WD, automatic transmission, all in a white livery. But beyond the standard requisites, TDG sought a custom fit-out to optimise their fleet’s functionality. Tasked with a rigid timeframe, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, in collaboration with Custom Fleet, Fleetline, and Tristram West, delivered a tailored solution. Mike Shutes, TDG’s…

AUGUST 2024 Off Road Racing National Championship round 5 Hosted by Otago Offroad Racing Club. Date to be confirmed. www.oranz.co.nz 23-25 AUGUST New Zealand Fishing Hunting & 4X4 Expo Energy Events Centre Rotorua. Prepare for an incredible outdoor experience, all conveniently located in one place. From hunting equipment, apparel, fishing gear, scopes, night vision to 4X4 vehicles and modifications, live demonstrations, informative workshops, and plenty of activities for the whole family. Admission is $5 online, with a $10 family pass and free admission for children under 16. www.wildnzexpo.co.nz 7-8 SEPTEMBER 4x4 Outdoor Expo. Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch. 4x4 vendors, Show & Shine, Camping, Swap meet. The full information pack for Christchurch will be out soon, we have some amazing sponsors and vendors on board. Details www.4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz email info@4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz Phone 021 268…

4WD LIGHTS AND BATTERIES Ironman 4×4 has a range of lighting and electrical equipment offering a little bit of luxury, refinement, and solid practicality when going off the grid. Products are tried and tested in harsh Australian conditions with quality, performance and reliability in mind. LED driving lights Ironman 4×4 lights are designed and engineered to meet the demanding conditions of off-road and on-road travel. Using the latest technology, featuring Osram LEDs these lights are brighter and more efficient than ever before, increasing visibility and reaction time. Manufactured from diecast alloy housing built to withstand hours of corrugations and extreme conditions, these lights feature shockproof polycarbonate lenses, high-quality reflectors, and stainless-steel mounting bracket for ultimate performance. They are rated to IP67 – water and dust ingress protection. They operate on…

Redarc’s new Manager Alpha is a revolutionary three-way battery charger that redefines mobile power management. The Manager Alpha is available in 50A, 75A, and 100A variants. With this much power on tap, users can power everything from induction cooktops and fridges to coffee machines and air conditioners while still charging their batteries faster than they can drain them. The Manager Alpha continues the legacy of the legendary Manager30, enabling users to charge from a combination of vehicle (DC), mains (AC), and solar simultaneously. This makes it an ideal companion whether they’re on the move, remote camping, or at their favourite caravan park. Key features of the Manager Alpha include: • Ultra-fast charging: with charge rates of up to 100A available, the Manager Alpha ensures your batteries are charged quickly and…

Weekend Drive After a year of planning and two recce trips, the Coast-to-Coast trip Ashley and I were running for our 4WD club was finally happening, with a party of seven vehicles and twelve people meeting at Wanganui on a Saturday morning. May’s Friday commitments saw us leave Lower Hutt at 4:00pm with a plan for tea at the Wanganui Top 10 with Gillian and Ashley. Unfortunately, 45 minutes later we were stopped near the front of what ended up being a very long queue caused by a multi-vehicle incident that blocked the SH1 expressway at Otaki. Still, better to be part of the queue than part of the incident – and with the K-Pod in tow we were better equipped than most for a long delay. With good work…

Had to get a new ‘cup’ recently. About 2.5 cm diameter and made of black rubbery plastic material it’s an important part of my small white spirit stove. It’s the moving seal for the fuel pump. If it doesn’t seal there’s no pressure, no hot meal, no coffee. Crucial! It’s a common type of seal, found in tyre pumps, brakes and many other systems. These seals are called cups because of their shape. A shallow flexible cup with tapered edges that seal against the internal walls of a tube. Continued use wears the edges until they fail to seal. My stove is around 15yrs old and pumping had become an unpredictable chore. These particular seals are unavailable locally so had to come from the ‘States. With an eye to the…

If you are going to drive offroad, it is inevitable you will eventually become stuck; a fact you can count on. While it has been said before that you should never venture off on your own, we are a nation of explorers and do just that at times. When we do, it is important to ensure you have some way of becoming unstuck, especially if on your own. The minimum of recovery gear would include: a shovel or spade, an axe or bow saw, a hi-lift jack, recovery-rated shackles, chain and/or wire rope, a snatch or pulley block, a tree strop and a stretch or kinetic rope. Never leave home without at least a spade. So before we set off we need to have some basic recovery gear and knowledge…

Confirmed for Australia and imminent for New Zealand is GWM’s new Cannon Alpha, promoted across the Tasman as a lower cost, smaller alternative to the North American “full size pickup”. Its top-spec form is a petrol-electric hybrid 4WD ute. Alpha is essentially a ute version of the GWM Tank 500 SUV, sharing front-end sheet metal and mechanicals with the SUV. Falling size-wise between a regular one-tonne ute like the Toyota HiLux and the Ford F-150, the three grades of dual-cab Cannon Alpha range will be an entry Lux diesel model, the Ultra diesel model and the hybrid. Alpha is 35mm longer than current Cannon (which will remain on sale alongside it), 57mm wider and 38mm taller. It has more rear legroom than other double cab utes, as well as reclining…

Toyota’s FJ Cruiser was never intended to be sold in enormous numbers. But those who know them seek them out. The SUVs are attaining cult status. A quick scan of Trademe revealed a handful of 2011 FJ Cruisers for sale, ranging in price from $29,000 to $50,000. People are hanging onto these things and looking after them. The original 40 Series Land Cruiser – from which the ever-popular FJ Cruiser took its name – included a pickup sold between 1963 and 1986. Curiously, Toyota never saw fit to sell a ‘truck-ified’ version of the FJ Cruiser. But where there’s a demand, the aftermarket will fill it. Those who own an FJ Cruiser but desire a pickup will go to extreme lengths to own an FJ Cruiser ute. Les Camilleri owns…

A new three-model Hyundai Santa Fe range has been confirmed for Australia, and diesel and petrol options have been dumped in favour of hybrid power. Prices for the fifth-generation Santa Fe have risen sharply due to the switch to hybrids, which have a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-electric setup matched to a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Santa Fe now produces 172kW and 367Nm – up 3kW and 17Nm. Combined fuel consumption is rated at 5.6L/100km – but it is unclear if this applies to the front or all-wheel-drive Santa Fe Hybrid, or both. The previous Santa Fe Hybrid AWD consumed 6.0L/100km. Aussies get more standard equipment than before for the entry-level Santa Fe. At launch, the entry-level model will be offered in front or all-wheel drive, while the mid-spec Elite and…

EVENT The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo was held over three days in April at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and was co-located with the Collision Repair Expo. NZ4WD was attending in conjunction with sister publication Motor Equipment News. This year for the first time the expo had a separate 4WD Innovation zone and quite a number of general exhibitors also were displaying 4WD related products. Here are some of the items that caught our eye.…

TESTED RAM 1500 BIG HORN World famous in America, the Ram 1500 Big Horn has arrived down under. With a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine, class-leading 4.5-tonne maximum braked tow rating, and a choice of two cargo tub sizes (including a massive 6’4” long tub), the Ram 1500 Big Horn is a true workhorse. At the beginning of June, NZ4WD got an early media drive opportunity of the new arrival, running it up the west coast north of Auckland to Woodhill Forest. This is the most affordable Ram in the range, and now uses Ram’s new DT chassis platform. The DS version it replaces was smaller and narrower. Anyone thinking ‘entry level’ needs to have another think. This latest addition to the Ram range is priced at $129,990. That’s at least…

MY 4WD He’s been in the dirt forever. Daniel Hill has had a wild career of motorsport and off-road fun. His latest project, a Triton build, started last year and took five months. Daniel’s never settled for the run-of-the-mill or conventional in anything automotive. He says he’s loved motorsport and off-roading for years and was a keen follower of the Mitsubishi brand when the company’s two vehicle works-teams dominated both rallying and the toughest off-road endurance race in the world, the mighty Dakar. He went rallying. But not in an Impreza or even a BDA Escort. Not even in a Mitsubishi. No, the ride of choice was VW Beetle. A very quick one. Though the days of rear wheel drive beating 4WDs had long gone, spectators would wait to see…

4WD LIGHTS AND BATTERIES Trusted by everyday users and professionals alike, Delkor is one of the best-selling battery brands in the automotive aftermarket industry. The company is part of the Clarios group, which globally manufactures over 150 million batteries every year and supplies batteries to leading automotive manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia. Delkor excels on the technology front with its patented PowerFrame Grid Technology delivering the performance needed for modern vehicles. Modern 4WDs have more power requirements than ever before. Modern vehicles are fitted with multiple power-hungry accessories which can put tremendous strain on batteries. Vehicles using Idle Stop Start (ISS) technology will shut off the engine when the vehicle is stationary, and then automatically re-start the engine when required to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. PowerFrame…

DIY MECHANICS Compared to the average mall crawler, 4WDs that go off-road endure more water, more mud, more dust, more flexing, more stress, and more elevated engine temperatures. To a seasoned 4WDer it’s no surprise that their trusty vehicle needs more maintenance to ensure it stays trusty and most are happy to get their hands dirty doing the jobs on their rigs. Conversely, people newer to the 4WD lifestyle or those who haven’t yet got their hands dirty may need some encouragement to begin the daunting task of working on their own vehicles. This article is not a ‘how-to’ but is aimed at encouraging people to start working on their own vehicles. Why? Firstly, save some money. Also, learning about your vehicle which will give you a better chance of…

4WD Sport Brendon Midgley has won his first Woodhill 100. Driving his Jimco Chev class one race car, Midgley dominated the event, finishing ten minutes ahead of the next car and completing the 162km race distance in one hour 51 minutes. Six-time Woodhill winner Tony McCall had qualified on pole, 2023 winner Slim Templeman behind him and Midgley third as part of a class one lockout of the top five grid positions. Defending champion Carl Ruiterman was the first non-class one racer, starting sixth in his Yamaha UTV. Alan Hilliam was a DNS, having destroyed his car’s Porsche gearbox in qualifying. At the start, McCall was quickly into a lead of 400 metres, Templeman second and challenged by Midgley in third. Leigh Bishop had qualified tenth and was also in…