Table of contents for July 2022 in NZ4WD

Ford has changed the launch order of its next-Gen Rangers in the UK, pushing out the high-performance Raptor first. The regular model range is scheduled to arrive in 2023. It’s an extraordinary move that has media there wondering whether it’s more about supply chain glitches than a strategy of pushing high performance models first. The Raptor is on sale now, priced from £57,340 ($NZD111,300). Deliveries start in August-September. The first Ranger Raptor offered will be the version with the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost petrol V6 producing 211kW (284bhp). The V6 version makes 491Nm. The engine has an anti-lag system that keeps the turbo spinning when off the throttle, improving response time. That technology was born in rallying. An active exhaust offers four noise levels too, including a neighbour-appeasing ‘Quiet’ mode…

After the uncertainty of two years of Covid restrictions, a record crowd descended on Dan Cowper’s property in Turakina for the annual Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge at the end of May. “We had somewhere between 3000 and 4000 spectators here, great weather, a huge crowd, and spectacular action,” he said. Cowper created the event with the aim of showcasing the high performance side of 4WD trials events. “I thought it would be perfect to have a real good spectator event and a TV event and make a race that could be shown on TV with these four-wheel drives [so] people could understand the scoring and it would come down to the wire at the end.” Kevin Hermansen and Nick Hamilton of Wanganui 4x4 Club won outright, but Cowper said a…

Hard on the heels of the ‘spy’ images in last month’s NZ4WD of the new Range Rover Sport testing at the Nurburgring in Germany came confirmation of spec and tech details. Land Rover says the new 4WD “redefines sporting luxury, effortlessly combining assertive and instinctive on-road performance with trademark Range Rover refinement, progressive design sophistication and connected convenience. The third-generation model is the most desirable, advanced and dynamically capable yet.” The Sport’s suite of powertrains will include six-cylinder ‘extended range’ electric hybrids, a potent new V8 and a six-cylinder diesel Ingenium engine. Pure-electric propulsion will be introduced in 2024, as Land Rover continues its electrification programme. The new Range Rover Sport is available in Dynamic SE and Dynamic HSE specifications, with a First Edition available throughout the first year of…

There’s a reason New Zealand’s favourite vehicle is no longer a three-box passenger car, or a hatchback. There’s a reason the once mighty ‘station wagon’ or estate is now an endangered species. They simply don’t do what we need to do these days. At work or play, moving furniture, chasing that fish elusive or on the grocery run, our utes and SUVs do everything we need them to. So many would agree: there’s nothing more enjoyable than a run in the forest in a good capable 4WD ute or SUV. Nothing. Luckily, the major manufacturers were quick to lock onto our passions for utes and SUVs. Some of the best of these share platforms these days. Just as the Fortuner lays a veneer of SUV usefulness over a Hilux base…

Sean Goddard has always wanted to do a no-holds-barred 4WD build. Though he was looking for a Hilux as a base to work from, he spotted this half-done Toyota Surf on TradeMe. The rest, as they say, is history. It was purchased as an auto 2WD truck with the V8 already installed. “The truck had been ‘converted and certed’ with rear wheel drive (only) as part of the engine conversion prior to my ownership.” His first plan was a “full noise” re-conversion back to 4WD with bigger shocks in the rear that came through the floor but he compromised on this to meet the legalities and make sure it could still be certed and road legal. Sean said he had also planned to use Land Cruiser 80 Series diffs for…

Baja-born and bred, super-tough, super-bright KC HiLites are now available in New Zealand exclusively through Joel Stirling’s Option 4WD in Auckland. As a mobile showcase, he has fitted out his latest vehicle with what must be every possible light and switching option available. Spot lights, light bars, ditch lights, side lights, load light – his Ford Ranger Raptor is filled with inspiration for those wanting to upgrade the look and night-time functionality of their vehicle. The KC brand was forged in the heat and dust of Baja off-road racing and has a 24-year warranty. The company was passed from father to son; the lights are also passed along in a similar fashion. “These are lights people will transfer from vehicle to vehicle. They are that good and that reliable.” On-road…

Hankook makes some excellent 4WD tyres, but how many of us knew the company is also a major battery manufacturer? The company produces its own batteries and also manufactures batteries for other companies. It has been in business for more than 80 years. It’s true that 4WDing is a torture test for batteries: heat, vibration, dust, water, mud and heavy loadings are routine. From a huge range of starter/runtime batteries to suit every 4WD known, through auxiliary batteries for campsite use and specific batteries for vehicles equipped with iStop or other stop-start technology, Hankook’s range covers the bases. There are batteries for all applications and with every type of positive/negative connection required. They are both leak-proof and spill-proof. The best way to find Hankook batteries? Start with the nearest Hankook…

Coming out of a sensational summer, off-road adventures are more popular than ever, and 4WDers are stocking up with all the gear to get them to the most remote parts of the country. It is easy to spend hundreds of dollars on high quality batteries, but even the most expensive battery won’t perform or last very long if it is not charged correctly. Much like having the right fuel in the engine, batteries operate in much the same way to increase performance and efficiency. Getting a DC battery charger that follows the specific charging profile recommended by the batteries’ manufacturer is crucial for safe and optimal recharge and discharge. When selecting a DC battery charger, it is important to consider the two major components of its charging profile – maximum…

For the third year in a row, David and May, with their travelling companions Ashley and Gillian, have headed overseas to the South Island to continue their exploration. So far this year, they have travelled from Picton down the east coast then inland and across Arthurs Pass to Greymouth for a few days, then south to Fox Glacier for another day of exploring. Having found a garage just outside Lake Hawea township, we checked in at The Camp camping ground on the shore of the lake, then dropped the car off for an assessment of the problem. Our major challenge was not doing without the car, we could always get a lift with Ashley and Gillian, but rather that without the car we were also without secure storage for all…

Holly Russell won class five at the 2022 Woodhill 100 at the start of June. More remarkably, she did so on debut, and in her first enduro in the Racing Russell Family’s US built class five race car. She did all this up against the ubersuper-quick Tyler Castle and rose from a start position of 37th to an outright finish position of 20th. Holly won the Counties Class series outright and won her Kiwitruck class at the same time. She’s stepping up into the regular championship and her Kiwitruck is for sale. So to wind back the clock a little: Holly started racing when she was eight years old in a home-built Kiwitruck. The Russell family bought the frame and then dad – good old dad – got the job…

Chilly mornings and a beehive sentinel Christchurch-based Jared Curry is an avid outdoors bloke and hiker. On a recent trip to Kaikoura he spotted this Land Rover standing guard over a cluster of beehives. It actually looks like a great candidate for a restoration, even comes with its own under-bonnet ‘power plant’. Jared is this month’s winner. Wellington reader Jonathan Goodson was last month’s Your 4s winner and is in the running for the end of year prize of a set of Kumho tyres to fit his Land Rover. The images was a stunner, of a remote campsite at sunset the day before tackling the Old Woman Range and the Old Man Range off the Nevis Valley. He also sent us a very frosty ‘morning after’ pic.…

Geoffrey is rather busy currently, what with kiwifruit to be picked and a workshop overflowing with vehicles requiring major work. I have added another vehicle to the queue. Well, not actually mine but a friend’s Land Rover Discovery 2 that failed a WoF with a short list. The garage that did the check also included some maintenance work to get the vehicle up to a good standard. The list included left engine mount, rocker cover gaskets, front driveshaft, front ball joints both upper and lower both sides, drag link, tracking rod, coolant seals, brake pads and rotors both front and rear, and a transfer case oil leak. Stu, the vehicle owner, also had a few other inner and outer trim matters to add to the list and is even contemplating…

So what does a company do when it has planned to show its latest product to an eager public at a mega-event and that event gets postponed six months? Shipping is booked, the first (pre-production) products are on their way. The specific event caters to rural and urbanites alike – and is arguably the biggest event of any kind in New Zealand. In the best tradition of resilient response to pandemics and supply chain choke-offs, a pivot is called for. Ford faced this dilemma earlier in 2022 while planning the launch of the ‘next-Gen’ Ranger. The annual multi-day Fieldays agricultural expo fell victim to the Covid ‘traffic light’ response system and was pushed back from June to November. With 4,000 or more very serious expressions of interest (basically 4,000 orders)…

Toyota’s Land Cruiser has been in more places and witnessed more significant events than any other SUV. Thanks to lengthy deployments for the UN and non-governmental aid agencies, extensive use by police and military in third, second and first-world countries and their dedicated following among 4WD enthusiasts the world over, they are arguably the most widely recognised SUV of all, with the Nissan Safari coming in second and the old-school Land Rover 110 station wagon third. Each of these vehicles share – or shared – common traits: durability, simplicity, and (reasonable) comfort/ergonomic design. The Land Cruiser name has been around for 75 years, and they are a testament to off-road capability. From the Amazon to Australia, the Land Cruiser is just as capable in the Sahara as it is in…

Too pretty by half: this restored and modified 1955 Chevrolet 3200 NAPCO 4WD pick-up has had a serious heart transplant. It is now powered by a 223kW (300bhp) Chevy 350 cubic inch V8. Power goes to the rear wheels only, or to all four through a 1950s third-party NAPCO conversion. The Chevrolet 3200 was a member of the “Chevrolet Task Force” series of pickup trucks first released in 1955 and sold until 1959. Chevrolet Task Force trucks represented a significant step forward in design. They were the first pick-up trucks offered with a car-like wrap around windscreen. A wrap around rear window was also an option. The Task Force trucks also offered more powerful V8 engines – for the first time since 1917. From 1956 onwards, Task Force trucks could…

Land Rover promises epic all-terrain adventures for up to eight when its new Defender 130 lands in New Zealand. The original 4x4 ‘family’ will expand with the introduction of the practical Defender 130 body design, to join the existing 90 and 110 derivatives. The new Defender 130 will offer owners premium interior practicality for up to eight occupants across three rows of seating in a 2-3-3 seat configuration, the latest digital technologies and advanced integrated chassis technologies. In its longer wheelbase form, the coming version is expected to have more length in the rear body than the 110. The stretched Defender 130 is designed to cater to demand from the massive US and Chinese markets. Expect it to be offered almost exclusively in higher trim levels and with both six…

ENGINE: 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel with intercooler MAX POWER: 135kW at 3,500 rpm MAX TORQUE:430Nm at 2,500 rpm TRANSMISSION: Eight speed automatic with sport mode and paddle shift/Super Select 4WD ECONOMY: 9.2l/100km* EMISSIONS:243gm/km* SUSPENSION: Independent McPherson Strut front suspension/three-link coil-sprung rear with anti-roll bar. WHEELBASE:2800mm TURNING CIRCLE11.2 TOWING:3,100kg braked BRAKES: 17” ventilated disc brakes front, 16” solid discs rear WHEELS/TYRES: Aluminium alloy 18X7.5/ Toyo Open Country 265/60 R 18 SAFETY: ANCAP five star *Manufacturer figures…

In the early 1980s Toyota was looking to have a vehicle to offer in the booming compact-mid SUV market segment. It settled on a full-cab passenger version of the Hilux and the Surf was born. Launched in 1984, the Surf took the short-bed Hilux body of the time and added a removable rear roof section that was apparently inspired by the Ford Bronco and Chev Blazer of the period. From the beginning, the Surf offered a more refined ride than the Hilux, due to its independent front end (the Hilux of course had a live axle) and torsion bar front springs. The Surf has advanced through five main generations. In 25 years of constant improvement, the body style has evolved to better accommodate occupants and the suspension has been developed…

Toyota’s RAV4 is one of those vehicles that charts the development of a whole category. From its origin as a spindly-wheeled three-door or five door (right) in the 1990s to today’s medium SUV offerings, the RAV4 has been the flagship of small-medium SUVs. That first RAV, with its four-cylinder engine and a full time AWD similar to the system used in the Celica of the time, was really the first small SUV to offer such sophistication at an affordable price. Ignored by the hard-out backblocks 4WDers, it nonetheless began building a strong following among urbanites for its sure-footed stance and perky looks. That following has grown and grown over the years. Looking back a decade, the RAV4’s story has developed from simple category leadership to now also leading the push…

Ironman 4x4 has a range of lighting and electrical equipment suitable for providing 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 4x4 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, the lights are built to withstand hours of corrugations and extreme conditions, featuring 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 10-30V…

Charging any battery just got a whole lot simpler with the CTEK CS One. Its revolutionary APTO (adaptive charging) technology takes the trickiness out of charging a vehicle’s battery system. With dedicated app control to unlock additional features it may be the most advanced charger available today. APTO technology automatically recognises the type of battery in use and then automatically delivers a customised charging program, displaying key information including the likely duration of the charge period. There are no buttons to press or modes to select, just connect the CS One to any 12V battery and charge. Polarity-free clamps mean there isn’t even a need to make sure the right clamp goes on the right battery post. The clamps are spark-free too, meaning there’s no issue with them accidentally making…

The south has something the north cannot quite offer: some amazing and scenic routes through very old and historic places. Regular contributor Kevin Isemonger is a North Islander, and last month sang the praises of northern off-road drives. Now he turns his gaze southward to the Mainland for a pictorial tour of the high and low roads. The recent human history of the south was based on gold and coal – while the north was based on timber and pasture. Almost all of the famous 4WD routes in the south are old gold or coal-field access roads. As New Zealand grew, some of these main roads were left to fall into disrepair, only maintained by farmers or acclimatisation societies for access to summer grazing or favourite fishing holes. The more…

Matamata driver Dion Edgecombe has fought through to his first win in New Zealand’s oldest and fastest forest offroad endurance race. Qualifying fifth for the Hydrovac Woodhill 100 at the Auckland 4X4 Adventure Park, he pushed up through the field to challenge and then overtake pole man Tony McCall. It was not an easy drive. From the opening lap he was managing his Polaris UTV’s engine, which ran hot in the faster going and would only cool down in the slower sandy tracks. At one point he was also hit from behind by McCall, who had battled for the lead with Joel Giddy, Brian Rutgers, Daynom Templeman and Paul Hackett. The light and agile UTVs handled the soft going in the narrow sand tracks of the 11km lap better than…

Just been cleaning an old tarp. Its been over a vehicle, was growing moss and getting a bit slimy after rain, Its a good old heavy canvas tarp, a throw-out from industry for being torn with many patches, some of which were spreading. I’d cut a bad section out of it and made it two smaller tarps. Its been very useful and I like it because its heavy and doesn’t flap around in the wind like flimsy plastic ones. I reckon if you want to cover something outside don’t waste money on a cheapy. Almost anything for sale these days is claimed to be ‘Heavy Duty’ but little of it is. Tarps are a prime example. Gazebos too. I use a gazebo roof as a car cover and its rubbish.…

From the South Pacific, as economists here talk about fuel staying above $3.00/litre for the immediate future, it’s hard to imagine the same fuel being $1.10 a litre. It’s equally hard to imagine casting fuel efficient and practical small and medium SUVs as fuel ‘baddies’. In the USA, things are different. From the land of cheap fuel, fracking technology and ratings in gallons per mile comes news of a tough new fuel efficiency standard. Fuel (petrol) costs around $4.20 in the USA. A gallon. That’s $1.10 a litre, and it’s not an old historic price; the price has just risen to that level. For context, the average wage across the whole continent is just over USD $70,000 The NHTSA’s* directive represents a significant increase in efficiency compared to the current…

The electric Hummer (featured in last month’s news section) can ‘crabwalk’. Handy for getting such a behemoth in and out of tight park spaces in an urban environment. Probably also handy on tight trails in the outdoors. But a new party trick trumps that, and it’s something no self-parking or four-wheel-steer traditional or electric 4WD can do: the Tank Turn. Taking inspiration from the skid-steer capability of tracked armoured vehicles, the makers of 4WD electric vehicles are showing off the smarts of their new products in spectacular ways. As the European markets boldly set deadlines to put an end to new production and sales of petrol and diesel powered vehicles, Mercedes has rolled out ambitious electrification plans having already launched the EQB cross-over and EQS SUV. Eventually, even the G-class,…

This one’s from Italy: the ARES Defender V8 is another modern-day homage to a timeless off-roader, built on a Defender donor chassis. The silhouette is that of Land Rover’s Defender, a classic for more than 50 years. Like the stand-alone INEOS Grenadier this tribute 4WD has taut, square lines. The ARES version doesn’t betray its origins, remaining perfectly recognisable at first glance, but design details give it a whole new identity. New body elements such as the carbon fibre bonnet and widened wings, are designed by ARES Centro Stile and seamlessly match the original body panels. The light units - often rudely compared with elderly glow-worms in the days of Lucas electrics - are now powerful LEDs, with the front lamps housed in a new front end, made from a…

8-9 JULY Mainland Winch Challenge Round 3 Rallywoods Wellington. Email mainlandwinching@gmail. for entry form. 16-17 JULY Off Road Racing National Championship Round 4 and 5 hosted by Christchurch Club. Short course and enduro (separate rounds). www.oranz.co.nz 28 AUGUST Off Road Racing National Championship Round 6 hosted by Waikato Offroad Racing Club at TECT Park. Short Course. www.oranz.co.nz 9-10 SEPTEMBER Mainland Winch Challenge Alexandra hosted by Shotover Club on Central Otago grounds. For an entry form, email: mainlandwinching@gmail.com 16-18 SEPTEMBER Battle in the Bay Ultra4 New Zealand race at Te Matai Motorsport TECT Park, Tauranga Bay of Plenty. The course this year is going to be a good time, technical with fast areas and some winching may be involved. There will be a winch challenge class. Entry form at www.ultra4newzealand.com/entry-form Queries…

The mighty Pajero turns 40 this year. To the dismay of many, the original ‘big’ Pajero doesn’t get to see that milestone. In 2021, Mitsubishi confirmed the ‘full size’ Pajero would cease, leaving the visually similar but smaller Pajero Sport to carry the name forward. The announcement was made in Japan at a board meeting which also celebrated the Mitsubishi Pajero’s dominance of the Paris-Dakar Rally from 1985 to 2007 – during which time it clocked up a record 12 wins including seven in a row from 2001 to 2007. The end of the big Pajero was attributed by media to the rise of the soft-roader ‘unibody’ SUVs, which offered more technology, better ride comfort and better compliance with the world’s increasingly tough safety and emission rules. After four decades…

After a knockout summer and a long warm autumn, we have arrived in the depths of winter. Horrible weather (nice snow in places), mud and road grime, and a 4WD that could maybe do with a spruce up for winter fun. In particular, this is the time of year the electrical system comes under great stress. Batteries that may have done their best work, charging systems that don’t charge very well. Time to work through the obvious ways to make it all work better. Buy the most battery possible. Focus on the amp-hour and cold-cranking amp (CCA) ratings, then on the dimensions and the right post style/location for the vehicle. The best thing about 4WDs, though, is they are generally spacious under the bonnet and can even run a dual…

Founded in Australia more than 70 years ago, Matson is a leading name in the manufacture and supply of quality battery related products. The diverse product range covers everything that charges, discharges and connects batteries, such as: Charging – Battery chargers ranging from 6V through to 48V applications, big and small, waterproof, domestic and industrial. Jump starting – 12V and 24V jump starters and jump leads for all applications. Lightweight, high-tech lithium jump starters for passenger vehicles through to trucks, as well as super duty lead-acid starters for the heaviest applications. Testing – Industry leading battery testers for all 6V and 12V batteries, including Stop-Start/ISS. Featuring patented Single Load Dynamic Resistance technology, Matson battery testers simulate actual vehicle starting conditions and are not susceptible to errors caused by poor cell…

Exide batteries are supplied in New Zealand by Ramcar, the company that manufactures some of the biggest battery brands on the market. There are a lot of battery brands available in New Zealand, yet many of them are made in the same factories. Ramcar manufactures and designs its batteries in its own production facility and builds batteries specifically for the Australasian environment. Mark Johnson, National Sales Manager for New Zealand says the strength of the Exide brand is that the comprehensive range offered is tailored for use in local conditions. Exide also provides one of the industry’s longest warranty coverage periods. Exide batteries offer the latest technology and premium quality products. Their AP9/SNT construction technology is geared to deliver the extra performance that is demanded by modern vehicles, small family…

As Covid-19 and its variants settled the country, Paul Richards’ family have had a brush with the ‘tricky virus’ and it temporarily stopped overlanding play. He takes up the story: Our daughter and family, who farm near Ashburton, all got Coronavirus when hubby went to squash and inadvertently brought it home. My partner Raewyn and I had been in contact with them shortly before they tested positive so we cancelled our planned five-day trip to Te Anau to visit Milford, Mavora Lakes, Walter Peak Station, Lake Monowai and possibly out to South Arm of Lake Manapouri to wait out the 10-14 days at home to see if we too had caught it. Thankfully, not yet. Also, thankfully all of our grandies and dad quickly recovered with no major effects. It’s…

Who doesn’t love AC/DC’s song Thunderstruck? Their anthemic hit is completely hummable and I would use it as my walk-on tune to any type of sports event: “Thundertruck!” Summer and the 2022 Central Zone Club Truck Challenge ended with Round 5 at Taihape in May. Thunder and lightning were forecast for the day, and it arrived in the afternoon. Competitors in the series range from national trials competitors to club members to novices and the aim is to keep it even and let everybody have a fair chance to show their skill. Using a registered and warranted vehicle is only a requirement so that there is an independent safety check on the vehicles. As a fitting end to this year’s series, Round 5 was a gala event, with most people…