NZ4WD

‘should i stay... or should i go now?

As a long-time resident of the fine city of Auckland, I’m sure that in the six odd (some, very, others not so much!) years I’ve presided over the editorial side of things here on the good ship NZ4WD I have been guilty of some ‘big city’ bias. Whether it is the use of Muriwai Beach for a lot of our vehicle tests and therefore photography, or the fact that so much of our ‘column commentary’ seems to centre on issues of land use and access problems it would be easy for someone keen to ‘take a poke at us.’ I’m sure, for instance, that we have readers out there who think that we live some sort of ‘Life of Reilly’ existence as ‘latte-sipping, rental-property-speculating slum landlords with a worrying penchant for wearing…

new ‘trail boss’ model to join nz-bound silverado ute line-up

GMSV has released details of the latest addition to its NZ-bound RHD Chevrolet Silverado 4WD utility line-up, the new LT Trail Boss. “LT Trail Boss personifies what Silverado is all about. It’s big, it’s tough and it comes ingrained with brand-DNA which showcases qualities of strength, power, performance and no-nonsense work-hard attributes,” said the General Manager of GMSV New Zealand, Matthew Taylor. A key differentiator between the LT Trail Boss and its Silverado LTZ Premium stablemate is an innate desire to venture off-road and tackle the rough stuff. “Key to its performance credentials is a factory-fitted suspension lift-kit, which increases ride height by approximately 25mm at the front and 30mm at the rear,” said Mr Taylor. “Rancho monotube shocks provide for better damping, in turn enhancing ride and handling when venturing into challenging terrain.” A…

winter is coming – don’t let your battery let you down

❝Microscopic amounts of the internal chemical substances inside your battery react even when not connected to your vehicle.❞ There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to start your vehicle when you need it most. The frustration is even worse and more prevalent during the colder winter months. Although there are many factors that affect the capacity and performance of lead acid batteries, temperature variation is definitely one to be considered. Self-discharge, age, driving habits and abuse are also factors that contribute to the life and performance of your lead acid battery. Self-discharge is a phenomenon that all batteries will endure, like it or not, it will happen. A lead acid battery will self-discharge even when not in use and rates can change depending on the type, AGM, EFB, Flooded or Deep…

train hard, drive easy

Canterbury “Rec”, as it’s known, is based in Christchurch and has around 90 Members. Training days are held by the club around four times a year and each member is obliged to attend at least one training day every five years. As we used to say in the army, “train hard, fight easy”, or in this case “train hard, drive easy”. The day started sunny and hot as we met on the outskirts of Christchurch and headed out to Mt Thompson Station to the training area. The training ground is owned by a local farmer, borders the Ashley River and is truly a great spot. With ten trucks in attendance, we were set for a great day. Not being a member of the “Rec”, I was not permitted to bring my own vehicle…

projecta’s new ‘clip-on’ portable solar chargers

Going off the beaten track means so much more when you can capture memories on your phone or tablet to look back on later ... until you realise the battery is flat and there is no way to recharge it. Enter one of Projecta’s new personal solar chargers, piggybacking neatly across your rucksack, which have just been released in New Zealand. Drawing power from its folding monocrystalline solar cells, the 15W charger features a built-in power bank, which can store power from the sun and continue charging devices when night falls. USB-powered devices such as mobile phones, tablets, cameras, Bluetooth speakers and even drones can be charged directly and simultaneously from the three available USB ports, with a total combined output of up to 2.4A (5V). The solar charger kit comes with corded…

boost for rv/caravan power management

The growing popularity of motorhomes and caravans in New Zealand has also seen a rise in the number of devices and conveniences connecting to the power supply... which can quickly drain the batteries or even overload them. To help manage the demand, battery technology company Projecta has now extended its INTELLI-RV range of RV and Caravan power management systems to include a second Bluetooth compatible model, known as the PM300-BT. Previously available only on the range-topping PM400, the Bluetooth feature allows users to control and monitor key electronics from the comfort and ease of their smart phone using the official app. Like the PM400, the lower cost PM300-BT comes with a remote LCD screen that offers information on battery/solar charging (Volts, AMPs, SOC, time remaining), up to four water tank level inputs with…