Indice dei contenuti per October 2022 in NZ4WD

NEWS It started the year with 'just' a four-star safety rating but the upgraded 2022 Hyundai Palisade has bounced back with a current-year five-star ANCAP rating. The top rating has been awarded to all petrol and diesel Palisade models manufactured from May 2022. Palisade models built before that date remain four-star. Hyundai Palisade models originally released into the Australasian market from late 2020 were restricted to four stars due to low scores in Adult Occupant Protection (79 per cent) and Safety Assist (63 per cent). Respective scores of 80 percent and 70 per cent are required for five stars. Updated Palisade models (2023 facelift) were tested and assessed by ANCAP with improved scores of 84 per cent in Adult Occupant Protection and 83 per cent in Safety Assist. ANCAP Chief…

The 'Friends of 42 Traverse' volunteer group works with the Department of Conservation to look after one of the North Island's most epic off-road drives. Annual working bees sort out erosion, overgrowth and other issues along the track's length. The 'Friends' will be at the track for the weekend working bee November 26-27. The call has gone out to 4WD owners for help with the work. As in past years, the main effort will be on the Saturday with the option of continuing on the Sunday morning. Overnight accommodation options are still to be investigated. The use of chainsaws is not allowed under DOC health and safety rules. Brush cutters and pole saws can be used with suitable protective attire. More information about the workshop is available by emailing the…

Kia is about to strip the camo off its big electric SUV, the EV9. The all-electric Kia EV9 will become the brand's flagship model and KIA says it will revolutionise the large electric SUV segment “accelerating Kia's brand transformation and affirming its leadership in sustainable electric mobility.” Developed over a period of almost four years to set new standards In design, performance, range, driving dynamics, technology and comfort, every facet of the EV9 is currently being pushed to the limits of durability at Kia's global Namyang research and development centre in Korea. During this final testing phase, the EV9 must tackle a 4WD climbing hill and a rough terrain track, as well as a deep-water wading test, to ensure maximum reliability even in the most challenging conditions. Kia's high-speed, handling,…

Mazda's BT-50 has had a profound impact on the New Zealand 4WD scene since its global debut in 2006. It has become a genuine alternative to rival diesel double cab utes, successfully carrying the company's Kodo design language across into the world of diesel double cab utes. We New Zealanders had a distinct Australasian first-mover advantage, getting the BT-50 long before Australia. Mazda launched the firstgeneration BT-50 (J97M) at the Bangkok Motor Show in 2006, The engines were a 2.5-litre petrol unit and a 3.0-litre diesel. Later that year the transmission was upgraded to a five speed Borg Warner auto. A minor redesign (facelift) came in 2008 with a revised interior. A full model update (UP, UR) was revealed in October 2010 at the Australian International Motor Show, based on…

Suspension manufacturer KYB has commenced the global release of ‘in-demand’ replacement steering components to the automotive aftermarket industry. With more than 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing steering and suspension components for original equipment (OE) applications. Now the company's OE experience has enhanced the development and quality of the KYB aftermarket range. Larry Coulthard, Group Product Manager for KYB, says in the Australasian aftermarket, five KYB steering product groups will be initially stocked by NGK Australia which include: • ball joints • tie rod ends • steering rack ends • stabiliser links • control arms “These components are crucial parts of a vehicle's steering and suspension system and must be in excellent working condition, as they have great influence over a driver's ability to maintain vehicle control and comfort,”…

The automatic transmission is one of the most significant inventions in the automotive industry's history, making driving much easier and helping with better fuel efficiency. Transmission fluid is an integral part of the transmission, lubricating the numerous moving parts inside the transmission. The fluid absorbs heat and as it heats up it becomes less effective in its lubrication. Every year thousands of transmissions fail due to the overheating of the fluid. Once the transmission fluid hits 93 degrees C, the fluid starts to break down. This means there is less lubrication of the components and eventually can cause failures of critical components. This is where a transmission cooler becomes an important component of the vehicle. Some vehicles may come with a built-in cooler which is often included within the radiator.…

4WD PARTS AND UPGRADES Bendix's new ADR-compliant Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits deliver vastly improved braking performance for owners of dual cab utes and their SUV siblings. Dual cab utes are not known for having great braking performance, and while stopping power might be adequate in standard specification, the truth is that not many stay in standard trim for long. The increasing popularity of these vehicles as family haulers and workhorses means that there's a huge range of accessories and modifications available. Although these improve functionality, they also add weight, increase centre of gravity and rolling resistance. In short, standard brakes can quickly become ‘underdone’ and even more so if towing a camper, caravan or trailer full of tools. The new Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits address this…

MY 4WD Hawke's Bay's Chris Morris is a hands-on, DIY type of bloke. Loves his fishing, and loves the Kiwi outdoor lifestyle. He has been a “Vanthusiast” forever, and has been progressively modifying his dieselpowered Mitsubishi Delica van for equally as long. Eventually, the asthmatic diesel donk was not doing what he wanted and action was called for. “I had been tossing around the idea of repowering my Delica with something more reliable and powerful. A few guys had used the 1UZ-FE Toyota V8 with success as it bolts straight on to the Mitsi's transmission.” The four-speed auto in the Delica S1 van is the Aisin Warner 4 series. Toyota's Soarer/Crown's features the 1UZ-FE V8 and uses the same transmission. “So all you have to do is swap the Mitsi's…

ENGINE Toyota 1UZ-vvti. LINK G4 Storm ECU. Engine intake: Custom stainless snorkel and alloy perspex lid airbox with K&N air filter. Engine cooling: 43mm big core alloy radiator and tigweld (UK) alloy expansion tank. 2x Spal 12-inch fans sucking and one 16-inch Davies Craig fan pushing. SAAS temperature gauge in dash binnacle. Transmission: Standard Delica Aw4 four-speed auto with Lexus V8 bellhousing, torque convertor, input shaft and pump. Transmission cooling: Additional Davies Craig trans cooler below right-side headlight. Trans oil temp gauge in dash binnacle. Tiptronic unit: Headley tiptronic unit made in Australia, allows for manual shifting and TCL. Transfer case: Standard Delica. Front diff: Standard Delica with LOKKA auto-locker and manual freewheeling hubs. Rear diff: Delica nine-inch from a series 2 V6 Delica. Suspension: Dobinsons 50mm lift kit, coils,…

Adventure NZ Rangitata Gorge Road As I write this (mid August), South Canterbury has just survived heavy and prolonged rain and a couple of heavy snow falls. Up at the ski-fields they are talking of a two-metre base of snow and are looking forward to a good ski season. Here in Geraldine, we are at 190m above sea level so just caught the fringe of the snow storms as they went through with just snow flurries, not enough to settle. We did get quite a bit of rain though, our normal monthly rainfall in 36 hours, which caused the rivers to flood and a lot of surface water across paddocks and roads. This came at the worst time for our daughter and family, their farm is at 290m and they…

NZ4WD SPORTS SECTION SKUXXERS SHRED THE TECT PARK KIWITRUCK DAY FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE A full day of racing and not an 'adult' race in sight. The 'Skux As' race day at Tauranga's TECT Park was all about the next generation of off-road racers. Privately organised by a group of parents that included racers from past years, the event was a chance for the next generation to gain massive amounts of 'seat time' and learn race-craft in a day that focussed solely on them. The Kiwitruck category was devised by Auckland's Richard Crabb, and is designed to work for off-road racing in a similar way to the career 'ladder' established for circuit racing through karting. The sport was facing a 'Boomer fade' as its star drivers began to retire. Very…

Phew. Disappointment for the racers who planned to contest the last regional round of the championship. Waikato pulled the pin on their round, which was to have been held at the TECT Park. Reason: midweek rain. New date: same weekend as V8Supercars go to Pukekohe. Many are 'meh' about the taxis, but there are passionate racers who will not miss a V8 race weekend, and this time is the last time for V8s at Pukekohe as the horsey people take it over. Historic. So far, the epic Woodhill 100 has attracted the biggest entry of any of the championship rounds and that record seems unlikely to be in danger. So, looking forward to the 2022 national finals at the end of October, who's going to take the outright title? Leading…

COLUMN It's a sad time for friends of NZ4WD and 4WD club members. Last month I finished off mentioning the passing of a long-standing Auckland club member and contributor to NZ4WD and now I am back home after attending the funeral of David Brown long-time member of the Manukau 4WD Club. David Brown was the youngest of three in the family and from an early age got involved on committees with whatever club he belonged to. It was as president of the University Skiing Club that he met his wife Pru. They had been married for 42 years and 364 days before his sudden passing. He was into his camping with Pru and his daughters and as many do, he found the car too compact so purchased an Isuzu Bighorn…

NEWS Kiwis are accustomed to complaining about the amount of tax and excise levied on petrol and diesel, but things got a bit silly in the second quarter of this year. In Auckland during May the price for 91 hit $3.15 a litre while 98 went beyond $3.40. Diesel was line-ball with petrol, meaning by the time Road User Charges were added into the calculation, the preference pendulum had swung hard toward petrol. Then in July, after the Government extended its 'excise holiday' on fuel, more pain: the fuel retailers were found to be taking some rather fat margins as well, thanks to a tumble in crude oil prices. While international crude oil prices dropped faster than pump prices and the government extended the 'excise holiday' it had applied in…

NEWS American SUV owners rejoice! Dodge is bringing back its exciting but rather mad Durango SRT Hellcat for the 2023 model year. Originally to be offered only for the 2021 model year, the Durango Hellcat proved so popular that Dodge has decided to bring it back for another round. The return of the Hellcat is also a farewell for the brand's 6.2-litre supercharged V8. Dodge has pulled the pin on its Charger and Dodge Challenger ahead of putting EV sports cars on the market. It's unclear if the current Durango will continue beyond the 2023 model year, but it's definitely bye-bye to that glorious V8 engine. Mechanically, the 2023 Durango Hellcat is identical to the 2021 model year. Its V8 produces 529kW (710bhp) and 874Nm (645 lb-ft) of torque. It…

Land Rover owners are good types. They gathered at Hampton Downs recently in a massive cluster of classic British engineering to support Sir John Kirwan's Mitey initiative, which aims to help children in school years 1-8 understand the world and develop coping strategies to maintain good mental health. The gathering was in support of a national road trip by Sir John to promote Mitey. Mitey is built for NZ educators, by NZ educators. Every part of Mitey from the role of the coaches to the units of work, has been co-designed with teachers and the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education and Social Work. It is grounded in both international best practice and pioneering local research. Seventy schools currently use the Mitey programme and there are another 300 on the…

16-18 SEPTEMBER Ultra4 New Zealand Battle in the Bay TECT Park, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. This year's course will be technical with fast areas. There will be a winch challenge class with extra areas that may require a winch. Entry form at www.ultra4newzealand.com/entry-form Queries and further information can be directed to www.ultra4newzealand.com email info@ultra4newzealand.com or phone 027 683 4327 8-9 OCTOBER Mainland Winch Challenge Dunedin. For entry form email mainlandwinching@gmail.com 15 OCTOBER Matariki Forestry Charity Run 2022. Hosted by the Whangamata 4X4 Club Inc. The event will be a one-day event with a shiny 4WD trip separate to tougher event (rego and WoF required) run elsewhere at same time. All funds raised will be donated to charity. Limited numbers. Further details in due course. Enquires please email whangamata4x4@gmail.com or phone Bhavesh Ranchhod…

4WD PARTS AND UPGRADES This is a great time of year. The days are warmer, longer, calling us out to explore again. It's time to spring into action, or at least out to the garage. The 4WD awaits, and there are projects and upgrades to get on with. Perhaps winter has highlighted some weaknesses in the truck's charging system, or an upgrade is needed to make the camping lifestyle more fun. Towing is big from here to Christmas and into the new year. How do we rough it? With a toy hauler full of gear and clothes and provisions perhaps, or a decentsized caravan, or go old-school with a pop-top or tent. Maybe the truck just needs a brake bleed, or maybe the brakes got well hot and stinky last…

4WD PARTS AND UPGRADES Century Batteries is entering the lithium market with its new Lithium Pro product offering. Incorporating Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology, the Century Lithium Pro is designed to provide long lasting power in recreational deep cycle applications – by offering a compelling energy density in a relatively lightweight footprint when compared to conventional lead-acid batteries. Capable of delivering over 3000 cycles at 80 per cent depth of discharge, the Lithium Pro offers a longer service life compared to lead-acid batteries, whilst also providing more usable energy and up to 10x faster recharging. The most important aspect of any Lithium Deep Cycle battery is the Battery Management System – or BMS. The role of the BMS is to regulate and protect the charge and discharge of the lithium battery…

4WD PARTS AND UPGRADES With so many different options available, it's hard to know exactly what solution is right for a specific setup. Redarc has broken down the three most popular charging solutions to get a 4WD charged and ready for adventure. Battery isolator Perfect for: fixed voltage alternators, budget builds and under-bonnet installations. Cost effective and a great set-and-forget option, Redarc's SBI senses battery voltage and disconnect when a specific voltage is reached, switching to connect and charge the secondary battery. When the alternator stops running, the isolator will disengage the auxiliary battery from the start battery. DC-to-DC battery charger For more flexibility or to charge from solar, a DC-to-DC battery charger is the solution. Redarc's ‘set and forget’ BCDC DC-to-DC chargers can not only detect battery type and…

Chris Morris is by no means the only Delica 'Vanthusiast' out there. Earlier this year he met up with 12 others for a one-day group drive. “I'd left Napier at 4.00am in order to be in Wellington by 8.00am. I joined a group of members of the Delica owners' Facebook page and spent the day driving around in the beautiful Akatarawa forest. Roads in the forest are not public roads as such, you must be member, or guest of, a NZ four-wheel drive club to go in there. There are rules and regulations to be followed and that is why 4WD enthusiasts are still able to access such places.” That means users must treat the area with respect. Among the vans present there were early L300 to L400 series 2.…

TESTED Mazda's CX5 Activ is the latest addition to its CX5 range and the latest entrant in an intensely heated market segment. It also follows an emerging trend of sport/activity-focussed medium SUV fit-outs from most of the big name-plate manufacturers. For Mazda, the Activ version slots in above the GSX. Key numbers tell the story: it is dimensionally similar to its major rivals at 4.575m long with a track of almost 1.6 metres within an overall width of 1.854m. Its doors open on seats that are nicely at hip-height and yet it has a full 200mm of ground clearance and a turning circle of 11.0m. It stands out from the rest of the CX5 range thanks to model-specific alloy wheels and cool green trim highlights inside and out including grille…

Adventure International When I left the 4x4Explorer European truck in the UK in 2019, I had plans to return the following year and explore either Greece or Corsica and Sicily. Little did I know that it was going to be three years until I would see the truck again. In May, with the 4x4Explorer Adventures guiding season over and my son having just finished his military service in Finland, I decided it was time to book a ticket and escape. I hadn't seen my son Max for three years and the prospect of spending a winter in Christchurch was more than a bit depressing. We both arrived in London and set off to recover the truck, which had been stored in a barn in Cornwall. The friend who had been…

4WD Sport A record crowd of around 5000 people turned out to catch all the spectacular action in this year's Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge. The day was held on organiser Dan Cowper's farm property at Turakina. A course of terraformed obstacles carved out of the hillsides tested every competitor and there were a number of rollovers and tip-overs on the day. “Beautiful weather, awesome crowd, all the drivers put on a really good show and there were a few whoopsies; couldn't ask for more really,” he said “A bit of carnage, a few rollovers but everyone finished the event.” The competition went right to the wire, requiring a run-off to decide second and third. Cowper builds specialised 4WD trials vehicles based around a full space frame (tube) chassis and roll…

Dereliction of duty, chronic slackness, apathy? Who cares? All my own fault. Life was too busy for a while so I didn't fit in as much 4WD as I'd have liked. Then that damn C-19 stuck its nose in the pie. Never mind, so far this year I've caught up. Between New Year's Eve and August we've done over a dozen excellent off-road trips, some were repeats of faves, some new. Canterbury, Otago, West Coast, beach to bush, to stuck in the snow. Brilliant. It's been rewarding to revisit faves after long gaps. Seeing the natural landscape changes from weather and, in some cases, earthquake upheaval. Recently we did the Godley/ Macaulay duo in snow. What a blast. Postcard/Christmas card scenery, perfect weather for it, a good bunch o' friends…

NEWS Land Rover revealed a new special edition version of its Range Rover in late August, but it's not likely we will get to see one here in New Zealand Only 17 Range Rover Carmel Edition are being released Friday morning, and you'll probably never actually see one on the road. The Range Rover SV Carmel Edition is a USD$345,000 version of the newest Range Rover. It was revealed at “Range Rover House” in Carmel, California. The Carmel Edition is a tribute to the part of Pacific coastline the house overlooks. Beyond just putting it in the name. Land Rover says it will donate some proceeds from sales to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Range Rovers don't get more opulent than this. The Carmel Edition has the SV's four-seat…

Fieldays, the Waikato region's annual agricultural trade show, returns in a temporary new date this year. Due to New Zealand's continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it happens from 30 November to Saturday December 3. Organisers will monitor the way the event ran in its new time slot saying holding it at a warmer time of the year could have positive spin-offs. Feedback from exhibitors and customers was strongly in favour of running the event creates much needed economic stimulus and reconnection with the rural sector and urbanites alike. The new timing took account of a range of rural sector seasonal timings, though there was no intent to make the shift permanent. The later date means the event and its exhibitors could access student labour that is not necessarily available…

In rodding, racing, off-road racing, 4WD trials and the epic King of Hammers off-road motorsport events. Ford's legendary nine-inch differential remains the standard to be measured by. Among the many, many companies selling competition-specific nine-inch diffs, US-based Strange Engineering has the biggest, strongest Ford nine-inch rear end. It has heritage. Ford produced this famous rear axle from 1957 through 1986 for road use, and izt's been installed in nearly every Ford passenger car and truck. In racing and off-roading these rear ends and their aftermarket descendants are everywhere. All widths, all types of 'centres', air lockers, mechanical limited slip units, the nine-inch is everywhere. Any mechanical product that can last 65 years in motorsport has some serious credibility. Strange is one of the leading names making these things; selling axles…

NZ4WD has been watching the growing trend toward six-wheel drive premium off-roaders for some time - with a mixture of envy and alarm. Envy because it's obvious there's not much chance of a test drive opportunity; alarm because the price tags of these things are Lotto-level. They are mostly destined for the enormous garages of oil billionaires and technology moguls. They tend to run massive diesel or petrol engines that will crush dunes and low mountains while burning essence of dinosaur with a side dish of pure Green Party manifesto. But then along comes a 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser with more wheels under it than absolutely necessary. We'd be the first to admit undying admiration for the Land Cruiser 70. Tough, practical, great looking, they evoke a simple time…

TESTED Mazda has added a layer of style and luxury to its BT50 and in the process arguably created a new upper niche in the super-competitive diesel double cab category. This new Takami version slides in above the Limited that was previously to the top spec and was tested recently by NZ4WD. Takami literally translates as 'above'. Fair enough, then. It delivers the truck-tough performance expected of a ute but does so with the comfort and features found in Mazda's current SUV and car range, overlaying the steel fist of 'uteness' with the velvet glove of premium SUV style. What's new or different? The best way to think about the Takami package is definitely as an enhancement of the previous top model the Limited. It uses a combination of black…

4WD PARTS AND UPGRADES The Hulk Professional Series Smart 8 Switch Panel can control up to eight different auxiliary LED lights or electrical devices. Suitable for 4WDs, as well as SUVs, caravans and trucks, the 8 Switch Panel features 64 programmable backlit colours and has a complementary smartphone app to ensure absolute control at your fingertips. Users can customise the unit's appearance via the app to match the vehicle's dash lights or to suit their mood. It also allows remote control of all the switches, perfect for turning off the camp lights when heading to bed or from around the fire. With three functions (on/off, momentary and pulsed), a high beam trigger for driving lights and light bars to meet ADR approvals and a compact design, the Hulk Professional Series…

TOWING WITH A 4WD Whether it's fish-tailing, snaking, shaking, or swaying, caravan sway is something that anyone towing a caravan will dread. It is caused by a combination of factors both inside and outside of your control, there are a few simple things you can do to keep caravan sway at bay. Causes of caravan sway include weight distribution, incorrect tyre pressure, and towing speed. One of the most common reasons for caravan sway is uneven weight distribution and poor packing. Pack all heavy loads as close as possible to the axles and never at the rear of the trailer. Too much weight behind the axle reduces the drawbar loading to a dangerous extent. If the load is packed incorrectly, any steering or braking input while driving can quickly cause…

MY 4WD Rallying, off-road racing, overlanding. Mitsubishi is world famous for vehicles that deliver excitement and action in all these environments. So, when people look for a vehicle that will best enable them to get out there in the wilds, they will look for one of auto maker's… vans? Yes: the Mitsubishi Delica. The name is a contraction of “delivery” and “car.” Mitsubishi first introduced the Delica in 1968. It was a cab-over delivery vehicle, a 1,000cc pickup truck for the working class with a tiny payload of 500kg. A year and a bit later, Mitsubishi saw the need for a van version that could carry more than two humans and some boxes of veges. Enter the Delica Coach, which could seat nine people with its three seat rows. In…

WEEKEND DRIVE In which David and May look at how they can enhance their camping experience. Longtime stalwarts of tent camping on their trips, they had seen their camping gear slowly wear out and a 'park and sleep' camping solution was attractive. By the end of our long summer holiday around the South Island we were noticing that our small two-person tent was showing its age. While it was still suitable for short, overnight trips in good weather, we really wanted something more robust for the longer trips we were planning. We were also getting a little envious of way that our travelling companions Ashley and Gillian, who had recently moved from tenting to sleeping in their vehicle, were now able to be set up and relaxing when we were…

4WD Sport Kiwis represent! Andrew HawkeSWood doesn't race his class 8 Ford race truck across a live volcano every day, but when he does, he grabs huge air. The Clevedon-based rally-man and off-road racer is never shy about flattening the accelerator against the firewall, and jumped at the chance to have a thrash across the slopes of Mt Tanna in Vanuatu in the company of a random assortment of rally cars. The event was part of Vanuatu's rally championship - who knew such a series even existed? “Rally Tanna was brutal but rewarding, well worth the effort. The landscape is amazing and the people are friendly and the most enthusiastic spectators ever. The active volcano above the race track was incredible.” Hawkeswood finished second overall. The event's Facebook page is…

In central North Island is the Tongariro Power Scheme, a series of dams, tunnels and water diversions that were engineered from the 1960's to the '80s. It was a four-stage project that began in 1964 and was completed in 1983: the Western Diversion from 1964 to 1971, the Tokaanu project (Rotoaira Diversion) from 1966 to 1973, the eastern diversion from 1969 to 1979, and the Rangipo project (Tongariro Diversion) from 1974 to 1983. With the extent of the earthmoving and construction, many roads were built to enable access across many areas such as the lands to the east of the Desert Road. Those same roads also ended up providing access to an otherwise isolated corner of the then-Kaimanawa State Forest and some interesting geological locations like the Pillars of Hercules,…