Performance upgrades p38

FEBRUARY 2024

Gam e - c h a n ge r
e n a d i e r
Ineos Gr
MY 4WD:
Klem’s
dream
build

Pl u s
ÄNEW TRITON ÄRAM BIGHORN ÄSEGWAY IS ON THE WAY
OPENING SHOT

Classic southern summer scenes greet columnist Paul Richards.

News

6 New Mitsubishi Triton

10 Ram Bighorn
19 Ineos Grenadier launch
26 Segway launch
28 Nissan Navara Pro4X tested

Features
19
38 Performance upgrades

Regulars

4 Editorial
18 Events
32 My4WD: Klem’s dream build
41 Adventure:
Paul Richards in Te Anau
46 Weekend drive
26
50 4WD sport
56 Dirt Nation
58 Geoffzone
59 Vahryous thoughts
64 Torque Talk

32

2 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

ANYTIME.
ANYWHERE. XRS-660

gme.net.au/getxrs
 NZ4WD FROM THE
Volume 28 No 1. FEBRUARY 2024

EDITOR
Mark Baker
EDITOR
EMAIL: editor@nz4wd.co.nz

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Rachel Walker

CONTRIBUTORS:
Ashley Lucas, Kevin Isemonger,
Bryan Chang, Sean Willmot
David Coxon, Geoff Anders, Peter Vahry
Advance, Australia
EVENTS MANAGER
Ashley Lucas
Flying into the flies
EMAIL: Ashley@nz4wd.co.nz

Two trips across the ditch in three weeks. Sounds like fun, and parts of the venture
NZ4WD ADVERTISING MANAGER
certainly were enjoyable. Zooming up flinty tracks on a single-banger quad. Clawing
Dan Prestige
EMAIL: dan@nz4wd.co.nz through eucalypt forests in an immensely capable SUV. Watching mad cockatoo mobs
flapping around the trees, squawking.
PUBLISHER Not so much fun: the blasted Aussie flies, worst ever. Wave them off, they circle
Cathy Parker
EMAIL: cathy@adrenalin.co.nz
straight back and land. On your face. Taking aim at the nice watery corner of your eye.
Worse: another journalist left his bag open and a hand-sized spider took up residence
SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER & ENQUIRIES in there. Imagine reaching in there for passport or muesli bar and shaking hands with a
Annette Colbert huntsman. No thanks.
EMAIL: subs@nz4wd.co.nz
The events themselves were excellent. Well thought out, well run, plenty of ride/drive
PROOFREADING time. Segway was showing the media its UTV and quad range of vehicles, not usual
George Ward fare for this magazine but certainly of interest to rural readers. The Ineos Grenadier is
an immensely capable SUV that reminds me of the original Range Rover in terms of its
Adrenalin Publishing Ltd
56 Kuru Place, Papamoa, 3118 potential to disrupt the large SUV market worldwide.
PO Box 65092 Mairangi Bay, Both Segway and Ineos have soft-launched into New Zealand already, but 2024 looks
Auckland 0754 set to be much bigger for both brands.
Phone: 09 478 4771
Meanwhile, with the wiping of the ute tax, the auto market is looking likely to bounce
Facsimile: 09 478 4779
back, and the 4WD accessory trade will of course follow suit. In fact, it’s well ahead
SUBSCRIPTIONS: already as is the off-road caravan market, which is going gangbusters.
NZ4WD magazine is an 11 issue magazine Finally, here’s to summer adventuring, exploring New Zealand’s wild places or hauling
plus one Annual Subscription in NZ $99
(incl GST). Please call us for overseas rates. trophy snapper out of the water at Spot X. We’ll be working on a ‘roadie’ to the Horopito
area to look over the Baker family paddock and plan next steps to build down there.
COPYRIGHT: That area is a great part of the North Island to ramble through, although of course we
NZ4WD is copyright and may not be
all know the best scenery is stored south of Cook Strait!
reproduced in whole or in part without the
written permission of the publisher. Neither
editorial opinions expressed nor facts
stated in advertisements are necessarily
agreed to by the editor or publisher of
NZ4WD and, whilst all efforts are made
to ensure accuracy, no responsibility will
be taken by the publishers for inaccurate
information, or for any consequences of
reliance on this information.

PRINTING: SCG
DISTRIBUTION: Gordon & Gotch
ISSN 1175–1827 (Print)
ISSN 2253–2773 (Online)

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4 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

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 New Triton emerges
New tech takes popular ute forward
Mitsubishi has unveiled its ‘New-Gen’
Mitsubishi, a completely new body/chassis
featuring its Super Select II transmission
and proven diesel engines.
Added technology includes Active Yaw
Control, first used on its later Evo rally
cars, redeveloped to suit use in a 4WD
ute, and seven drive modes.
The Super Select 4WD-II gives four
driveline setups: 2H, 4H, 4HLc (locked
centre differential), and 4LLc.
All Wheel Control combines all four
drivetrain settings and seven drive modes
to maximise capability. A centre-console
‘Drive Mode’ button enables access to an
even greater depth of capability.
The seven available drive modes work
in conjunction with Mitsubishi’s Super
Select 4WD-II system, which offer 2H, 4H,
4HLc and 4LLc drivetrain settings.
The ability to switch from high-range
2WD to 4WD on the fly has long been a
hallmark of Super Select 4WD-II. This is
made possible by the Torsen control
system that enables a 40/60 front/rear
drive distribution while leaving the centre
differential unlocked, giving strong
6 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
traction on slippery surfaces without
reducing on-road agility.
For even more traction and control,
‘4HLc’ – high-range four-wheel drive with
locked centre differential – gives a 50/50
locked drive split, front and rear.
‘4LLc’ utilises the transfer case to
engage low-range gearing along with the
locked centre differential. Using 4LLc also
allows engagement of the rear differential
lock, via an accessible console-mounted
button, for maximum pulling power. The
4Lo transfer ratio is 2.556:1, enabling
accurate low speed/low grip work.
The new Brake Active Yaw Control
system uses a vectoring function to
further optimise traction and response.
This system calculates optimal yaw angles
based on current driver operation and
road condition, directing torque between
the inner and outer wheels using the
braking system.
Brake Active Yaw Control also differs its
operation based on the selected drive
mode.
New-Gen Triton introduces electric
power steering to the nameplate for the
first time.
Tuned to suit Australasian conditions, the
new EPS system offers positive on-centre
feel and 3.3 turns of steering lock.
The responsive steering and
manoeuvrable, well-proportioned chassis
combine for a tight turning circle of 6.2
metres at the wheels (6.6 metres
measured at the body) for maximum
agility and accurate response.
With 222mm minimum ground
clearance across the GLX, GLS and GSR
dual-cab pickup variants, New-Gen Triton
is setup to work – on or off-road, laden or
unladen.
The new truck has a 30.4 degree
approach angle, 23.6 degree ramp-over,
and 22.8 degree departure angle.
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Five years later, Tesla delivers on Cybertruck’s promise
Telsa has finally delivered some
Cybertrucks in America, and even threw
a party to celebrate the long-anticipated
(and delayed) release of its polarising
pickup.
Releasing the trucks into the wild is
interesting enough, but the company
has also revealed some important details
about what the truck is supposed to be,
and what the company is targeting.
Most importantly, the company has
also revealed how much the truck is
going to cost, and when folks can expect
to start seeing various models on the
road.
The first production units are
(unfortunately?) only rear-wheel drive.
Hybrid SUVs continue to impress
The SUV sector continues to rumble
along just behind 4WD utes in New
Zealand new car sales. The loss of clean
car subsidies does not seem to have
negatively affected SUV sales.
In the UK, meanwhile, respected
magazine Autocar has come out
strongly on the side of hybrid SUVs for
their practicality and excellent
emissions performance. The UK
Government’s decision to cancel
financial grants for these models saw
sales slump as buyers looked to either
petrol or diesel models, or still-
subsidised EVs. PHEVs were dealt a
further blow when the EU announced a
8 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Worth the wait?
This rear-drive pickup is expected to
travel 250 miles per charge and will hit
100km/h in 6.5 seconds with a top speed
of 178km/h.
The rear-drive Cybertruck will be able
to tow 3,400kg.
It costs $60,990USD – just under
$100,000NZD.
Next model up the range is the
dual-motor (4WD) variant. This one has
305mm of ground clearance and 432mm
of suspension travel. Scheduled for
delivery ‘in 2024’, this $79,999USD
($128,900NZD) pickup has electric
motors at the front and the rear axle.
The 447kW (600bhp) powertrain is good
for a 4.1-second sprint to 100km/h.
Kiwis and Brits buy on merit
wholesale ban on all ICE cars from
2030. And yet there’s a growing sense
that these petrol-electric models could
be back in the frame for sales success.
Why? Well, for starters there’s increasing
consumer disquiet and even cynicism
about the 2030 legislation, a mood that
could force governments to perform a
swift U-turn.
At the top of the Cybertruck’s ladder is
its Cyberbeast, which costs ‘at least’
$99,990USD ($163,000NZD). This
three-motor pickup is the most potent
of the bunch. Tesla says this truck’s three
motors work together to make 630kW
(845bhp). While battery capacity isn’t
disclosed, the company says it’s good for
514km per charge. The dual-motor
Cybertruck weighs 2,995kg, while the
top of the range three-motor Cyberbeast
weighs in at 2,940kg.
Initial production will focus on the
domestic US market and overseas
left-hand drive countries, which means
Kiwi fans wanting a Cybertruck are in for
a wait.
Their top hybrid SUVs for 2023 start a
bit rich: the BMW X5 xDrive 50e. Next
up is an equally pricy SUV: Volvo’s XC90
Recharge T8. The third best is more in
line with New Zealand sales figures:
Toyota’s excellent RAV4, which is a
well-engineered combination of
Toyota’s hybrid technology and internal
combustion engines.
Fourth is Hyundai’s Santa Fe, once
more an SUV well suited to Kiwi lifestyles.
Fifth is another SUV that occupies the
higher end of the price spectrum: the
Volvo XC60 T6. A two tonne SUV that
posts a 5.7 second 0-100km/h figure.
Nice.
ALUMINIUM PIPING RACK ENDS
BALL JOINTS SHOCK ABSORBERS
BODY / SUBFRAME MOUNTS SILICONE HOSES
BUMP STOPS SPRING SEATS
DIFF MOUNTS SUSPENSION BUSHES / ARMS
s t s
ENGINE MOUNTS SWAY BAR LINKS / BUSHES

i a li
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HANGER MOUNTS TIE ROD ENDS

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INTAKE HOSES TOW POINTS
LIFT KITS U BOLTS
S
 Ram’s Big Horn arrives
Big V8 pickup range expands

Ram Trucks’ Big Horn nameplate has
arrived in New Zealand in the form of the
Ram 1500 Big Horn.
With the 1500 DS in run-out mode at
$99,990, the new Big Horn is set to be the
starting point to RAM ownership. All 1500
models are now built on the DT platform.
“The Big Horn, with its impressive cargo
space, class-leading 4.5-tonne braked
towing and legendary 5.7-litre V8 Hemi,
broadens our product offering of Ram
Trucks in NZ even more. It’s a true
workhorse and packed with practical tech
and useful features. It’s perfect for the job
site during the week and dirt-biking or
family adventuring during the weekend”.
said Todd Groves, RAM Trucks NZ general
sales manager.
Big Horn uses a 5.7-litre V8 Hemi engine
delivering 291kW and 556Nm through a
eight-speed gearbox. This powertrain
features eTorque technology creating a
mild hybrid system which assists the
engine’s fuel-saving cylinder deactivation.
Official fuel consumption is 12.2L/100km.
The V8 engine makes the Ram’s best-in-
class 4500kg towing abilities possible.
The double cab’s wellside cargo area is
two metres long.
Bighorn has a bedliner, multiple
tie-down points, bed step, 18” aluminium
alloy wheels and a useful payload of
878kg.
Inside, robust Diesel Grey cloth seats,
60/40 stadium folding rear bench, trailer
sway control function and hill-start assist
double-down on the practicality equation,
while a full suite of airbags help keep
occupants safe.

NZ4WD of the year

Celebrating the best and brightest

Above, Todd Groves (Jeep), Kevin Richards (VW) and Leighton Agnew (Nissan) receive their awards from editor Mark Baker.

The future is bright, if NZ4WD’s Mark Baker and Company Vehicle industry to present plaques to the
annual awards are any indication. editor Sean Wilmott went on a magazine’s category and outright
At the end of 2023, NZ4WD editor whirlwind tour of the automotive award winners.

10 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

 s t s
i a li
.
F R O M . . RY 2 0 2 4 ec
FEBRUA Sp
 SEMA standouts
The future creeps into the Big Show

From mild to wild, America’s annual SEMA
show displays the automotive industry at
its most inventive and passionate. Among
the chrome and candy paint, there are
whole halls of 4WD goodness to take in.
It’s not a show anyone can ‘do’ in a day.
This year, among the old school
products, there are some interesting ideas
about the future of auto-mobility,
accurately reflecting trends in the more
mundane outside world. Take a quick
ramble through some stand-outs from
2022 and 2023.
added Camburg Racing Kinetik upper
control arms, Camburg Racing rear billet
lower and upper trailing arms, and a set of
17 x 8.5-inch Innov8 Racing G400 wheels
with LT 37×12.5R17 Nitto Recon Grappler
A/T tyres. There are exterior lights and
even a rack for a vintage Kawasaki 550
stand-up Jet Ski.
conditioning, differentials and springs,
leveraging this platform’s proven
performance and reliability. They then
added a custom coil spring suspension
up front, a JMACX heavy duty differential
upgrade for the 79 series Land Cruiser leaf
spring suspension, and a stainless-steel
exhaust system.

Ultimate Overlanding Sequoia

CJ Surge
Jeep customers have always loved to
modify their vehicles. As the brand adds
EVs to its retail lineup, this isn’t expected
to change. The Electromod CJ Surge
concept is an Electric Drive Module
that provides energy through battery
modules and power through a 200-kW
motor.
Customisers can opt for the CJ Surge’s
four-wheel-drive system and two-speed
transfer case. The idea is to make EV tech
a viable drop-in for owners of older
classic Jeeps.
Visually, the CJ Surge combines Copper
Canyon body paint with gloss black and
Surf Blue accents, with a sprinkling of EV
touches here and there.
Custom camper
Westcott Designs in Phoenix, Arizona,
created a one-off Toyota Sequoia with an
in-house-designed lift kit, providing 76mm
of front and 40mm of rear lift. The team
This overlanding rig began life as a 2023
Toyota Sequoia Limited TRD. CBI Offroad
Fabrication in Idaho Falls, Idaho, jacked it
up using Toytec coilovers for a 76mm lift.
From there CBI added Camburg KINETIK
upper control arms and 6061-T6 billet
aluminum rear trailing arms, bronze 706
Bead Grip Method Race Wheels wrapped
with LT285/75R-17 (34.1-inch) Toyo Open
Country M/T tyres, CBI Offroad skid plates,
rock sliders, and front bumper and rear
bumper with dual swingouts to provide
trail-traversing protection.
Strapped to the outside is a set of
MaxTrax MKII traction boards, a Warn VR
EVO 12-S winch, Warn winch recovery kit,
Hi-Lift 48-inch jack, Power Tank tire repair
kit, Power Tank PT10 onboard air tank,
and a Power Tank Overlander 0-60 psi
digital inflator.
FJ49 – a restomod from Australia
This 1977 FJ45 Land Cruiser was built
by twin brothers Christian and Ashton
Montesalvo, sons of Patriot Campers
company principal Justin. The brothers
swapped the engine, transmission, air
Ram TRX Gold Shot
Mopar started with a Ram 1500 TRX,
which it has modestly called “the apex
predator of the production-truck world” –
the “quickest, fastest, and most powerful
pickup truck in the world.”
Then it added side-spanning TRX
graphics in Satin Bitter Yellow and Satin
Black, custom Vintage Bronze 18-by-9.5-
inch Black Rhino Chamber wheels, and
37-inch BFGoodrich tires.
The Gold Shot concept serves as a
truck-sized showcase for official Mopar
accessories. It has a retractable bed step
and dual five-inch black Mopar exhaust
tips. The RamBar accessory bar behind
the cab holds two bright, 14-inch LED
concept lights from TYRI that can blast
the scene with up to 4300 lumens. Up
front and at the back, custom metal skid
plates with laser-etched Mopar lettering
protect the underside, while Mopar rock
rails protect the side sills.

12 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

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13

Are durability and reliability important? Buy a 4WD
Great news for 4WD fans: utes, pickups
and SUVS are the longest-lasting vehicles.
The American market analyst company
iSeeCars.com has produced a report that
lists vehicles that are good for more than
400,000km.
Their list of the top 23 longest lasting
vehicles is dominated by utes and SUVs,
and all vehicles in the list are from US or
Japanese auto-makers. Toyota dominated
with eight models in the top 23.
Highlights:
• Ten of the 23 longest-lasting vehicles
are pickup trucks.
• Toyota is the most prominent brand,
making up eight of the 23 longest-
Bowler Challenge on the rise
Rallying a new Defender? Why not?
It’s probably the stuff of nightmares for
most Defender owners. Roaring down
slushy tracks in gloomy forests, leaping
over ditches and hammering through
muddy puddles.
But the Bowler Defender Rally Challenge
is heading into its third season and looks
set for a record year of competition.
The Challenge is based on the Land
Rover Defender 90 with the Ingenium
2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Bowler has added a full roll cage, modified
underbody, raised suspension, motorsport
specification 18in wheels and column-
mounted paddle shifters. According to
Bowler, the more compact, shorter
wheelbase Defender 90 proved the
14 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Top of the charts
lasting models.
• The Toyota Land Cruiser, the giant
Toyota Sequoia and the Honda Pilot
(MDX) are the longest-lasting SUVs; the
Ford F-350 is the longest lasting pickup
perfect starting point for the conversion.
Each vehicle is completely stripped
back to install a full FIA-compliant roll
cage and the chassis tweaked to increase
stiffness. The front and rear subframes are
modified and given additional bracing to
accommodate the uprated suspension
set-up, which is designed in collaboration
with Fox and increases the ride height by
25mm.
Bowler’s engineers also add a suite of
electronic components from fire
protection and electrical cut-offs to
additional lighting and vehicle control
systems, fully integrated into the existing
electrical architecture. The Bowler-
developed column-mounted paddle shift
and was top overall.
• The study analysed more than 260
million vehicles sold between 2012 and
2022 to determine which was most
likely to survive to high mileages.
completes the transition.
The standard doors are trimmed to
remove the sill covering section, which
allows the fitment of full-length, side-to-
side underbody protection panels.
Additionally, the front end of the vehicle is
modified to increase airflow to the
cooling system and houses additional
lighting, while a new roof spoiler houses
additional rear lighting.
There are a number of race-prepared
Bowler Defenders in New Zealand,
though they are all the older-model
‘Landie’, mostly with the Rover V8 engine.
It is reasonable to expect that local Bowler
fanatics are following the UK series with
interest.
 Van life
goes off-road
Growing trend toward
4WDing in comfort

Internationally, the ‘vanlife’ phenomenon
has taken over a serious chunk of social
media bandwidth as thousands of
enthusiasts abandon apartment living
for the promise of open road adventure.
America started this trend, and there are
now huge roaming communities living in
vans and motor homes.
It’s not surprising, then, that there’s
growing overlap between the traditional
Volkswagen van-living crowd and the
overlanding community. Both of these
groups share the same fascination of
living mobile, with overlanding pushing
the boundaries off the beaten path and
deeper down the trail.
In the past most off-roaders would be
happy with a larger SUV if they planned to
camp out during a weekend trip, the
popularity of overlanding has created
boom in four-wheel drive vans.
As a result, 4WD van builds are becoming
increasingly common. Whether these are
factory-built 4WDs or custom outfitted
models, it’s fair to say that go-anywhere
off-road vans could be on the verge of
becoming the next off-roading craze.
In New Zealand, the movement is led
by owners of the capable old-school
Mitsubishi 4WD vans, but there are a few
running imported vans including VW’s
excellent Transporter, which is available
new through the VW dealer network at
around $57,000.
Van life, as the name suggests, involves
converting a van into a cozy, compact
home on wheels. It’s about minimalism,
simplicity, and the freedom to pick up and
go whenever the mood strikes. Vanlifers
often opt for smaller vans, such as the
iconic Volkswagen Transporter or the
more spacious Mercedes Sprinter, and
transform them into personalized,
self-contained living spaces.
One of the key appeals of van life is the
ability to bring the comforts of home on
the road. Van conversions can include
sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, and
even a bathroom, providing a level of
convenience that is unmatched in many
other forms of nomadic living. This makes
van life an excellent choice for those who
value creature comforts and want the
flexibility to explore without sacrificing
basic amenities.
That means the 4WD is also the base
camp for adventuring outdoors.

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15
 Defender limited edition
Rough road exploring to find that perfect wave.
Back in the day, the surf set was all about
panel vans and station wagons. It’s not
clear what teenage surfers drive these
days, but Land Rover in Australia is inviting
well-heeled (probably older) surfies to
get behind the wheel of a limited-edition
Defender.
The Defender Pacific Blue Edition
celebrates Australian surf culture; inspired
by with the quintessential road trip along
the eastern coastline to find a spot off the
beaten track for the perfect wave
It was unveiled at the Defender
16 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
The Lucky Country gets luckier
Experience Byron Bay in December 2023
where clients travelled to a hidden oasis,
to enjoy a menu of elemental experiences
and off-road adventures.
Each of the 15 Limited Editions is
available exclusively with the powerful yet
efficient D250 Ingenium twin-turbo
six-cylinder diesel engine. Wrapped in a
Pacific Blue matte finish “evoking the
Pacific Ocean on the East Coast of
Australia” with a contrasting white roof
and white steel wheels.
They are priced from $129,976.
Clever Aqua Sports
board racks are included.
Each vehicle is equipped with electronic
air suspension and adaptive dynamics
and headlamp levelling which will come
in handy when owners are making their
way to their favourite Pacific Ocean
beach.
Each Defender Pacific Blue Edition is
equipped with a unique custom
“Defender” surfboard. Other accessories
include a black side-mounted gear carrier,
fixed side steps, an Aqua Sports carrier,
portable rinse system, tow hitch receiver
and locking wheel nuts.
 In the eye of the beholder
Things Jeep would prefer we forgot
“What is that?” A dark moment in Jeep
history, the FC was arguably proof of the
phrase ‘just because you can, doesn’t
mean you should’.
American media wondered if it was a
VW microbus with a Willys pickup truck
bed slapped on the back.
There may well be a Kiwi afficionado
who thinks this is a thing of beauty – we
just haven’t met him/her yet.
The Jeep Forward Control FC-150 or
FC-170 was a strange child of the 1950s,
when the Jeep nameplate was owned by
the Willys Overland corporation.
Facing a downward slide in terms of
overall market share, there was a push to
broaden the appeal of the range.
True, the Jeep CJs were starting to
dominate the market for small utility
4WDs.
But back then, Jeep CJs were barely
civilianised versions of the original, and
only the dedicated would use one as a
daily driver.
In 1956 Jeep came up with an
affordable utilitarian design that it hoped
would appeal to work-oriented
consumers. The Forward Control FC-150
and FC-170 arrived late that year.
The FC-150 was a short-wheelbase
pickup built on a slightly modified 81-inch-
wheelbase Jeep CJ chassis. By placing the
front seats directly atop the front tires and
astride the engine, the FC-150 allowed for
a much longer cargo bed than would be
feasible if it had used the traditional CJ
layout with the interior occupant and
controls placed behind the engine. It was
a design that offered a good amount of
utility in a relatively compact footprint, so
for industries and agriculture where overall
Suzuki Extreme 4X4 Challenge returns
Ninth year for spectacular event
It’s the most spectacular 4WD trials
event in New Zealand, and it’s back. The
Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge is set for
28 April, slightly later in the year than
the 2023 event.
The only event of its kind in New
Zealand, organised by Dan Cowper, the
Suzuki Challenge is an invitational event
featuring the best drivers and 4x4 Trials
vehicle length was a concern, it was a
handy solution. Powered by the same
53kW (72bhp), 155Nm (115lb-ft) F-head
four-cylinder found in the Jeep CJ, it was
available with a T-90 three-speed
transmission and a Spicer 18 T-case that
sent power down to a Dana 25 front and
Dana 44 rear axle. Not winning any gravel
drag races then.
After 1958 the front axle was a closed-
knuckle Dana 44, but the 5.38 gear ratio
remained, which no doubt helped the little
four-cylinder climb grades with the bed
fully loaded.
The FC-170 was a longer-wheelbase
version of the FC-150 built on a
103.5-inch-wheelbase chassis that shared
much with the 104-inch Willys Wagon
chassis. While the FC-150 made do with
narrow CJ axles, the FC-170 had wider
Willys pickup axles with a Dana 44 front
and either a Spicer 53 rear in the single-
wheel versions or a Dana 70 in the
dual-rear-wheel models. Axle gearing was
competition vehicles in the country.
It is hosted by CowperTrucks and
held at 2278 SH3, Turakina near
Whanganui.
Dan Cowper says this year the event
goes ballistic: “twelve teams, Fifteen
courses. And afterward, five one-hour
TV shows.”
Steep hills, vertical banks, massive
4.88, which complemented the more
powerful 226-cubic inch L-head inline-six
that produced 78kW (105bhp) and 257Nm
(190lb-ft). The transmission backing this
six-cylinder was a three-speed T-90.
Although the civilian market had a
choice of only the FC-150 or FC-170, a
number of military versions were built, but
not too many exist today in the public
sphere. The M-676 was little more than a
militarised version of the FC-170. The
M-677 was a crew-cab version powered
by a unique three-cylinder, two-stroke
Cerlist diesel engine that puts out 63kW
(85bhp) and 230Nm (170lb-ft).
Finally, the M-678 and M-679 were
full-bodied military wagon versions, with
the M-678 featuring windows for transport
or ambulance service and the M-679 with
panel sides and only vents for airflow.
Today, the few FCs that survive are
cherished by a sub-set of Jeep-lovers.
Proof positive that beauty is in the eye of
the beholder.
jumps, mud and speed, combined with
good food, easy spectator viewing and
live commentary all make for a fantastic
day out with mates and family.
17
 Where to go, what to see and do – and when
19-22 JANUARY
Manawatu 4WD Club Charity Safari 2024
Hosted by the Manawatu 4WD Club over
Wellington Anniversary weekend. Tag-along
trip suitable for 4WD vehicles with a transfer
box. Two days off road over tracks in the upper
Waitotara valley taking on the steep spectacular
tracks around Ngamatapouri in the upper
reaches of the Waitotara valley (the longest no
exit road in New Zealand). Free camping once
again will be on the sports field.
$225.00 per vehicle.
Must have mud tyres, no exceptions. For more
info: manawatu4wdfundraiser@gmail.com
27-29 JANUARY
Ongarue Safari
Hosted by the King Country 4WD Club, this
event is open to 4WD vehicles with low ratio
transfer box and good all terrain tyres. This two
and a half day event is limited to 50 vehicles
and tours farm land surrounding this early
King Country milling, farming and railway
settlement.
Driver and Passenger $480. Extra person $180.
($90 under 12). Spot prizes, Raffles, and Ongarue
Safari stickers.
For further details and to register go to
www.kc4wd.co.nz Contact Steve Kernot Mob
027 281-4433 or email kermielr@slingshot.co.nz
28 JANUARY
NZFWDA National 4X4 Trial – Round 3
Hosted by Wanganui 4WD Club at Wanganui.
Round 3 of the 4x4 National Trial 2023/2024
season. Fun day out for the whole family
watching extreme 4x4 competition vehicles go
wheel-to-wheel.
For more details visit: nz4x4trials.co.nz/
calendar-and-results/
24 FEBRUARY
Central Hawke’s Bay 4X4 Trek
Hosted by the Waipukurau Rotary Club, a one-
day coastal hill country trek from Omakere to
Porangahau Beach. $200 per vehicle entry fee
includes two adults, $100 per extra adult $35 per
extra child. Finish at Porangahau Beach with
gourmet BBQ meal & refreshments. Registration
forms on website with further details.
www.waipukuraurotary.com/4wd-trek
For inquires contact Dan von Dadelszen
027 891 7659 or email chb4wdtrek@gmail.com
If you, your club or anyone you know are planning any events, please get in contact with our Event Manager Ashley Lucas. We can
assist in promotion of the event and may be able to offer some assistance in other areas. Email Ashley@nz4wd.co.nz
18 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
25 FEBRUARY
NZFWDA National 4X4 Trial – Round 4
Hosted by Eastern Bay Twin Diff Club at
Whakatane. Round 4 of the 4X4 National Trial
2023/2024 season. Fun day out for the whole
family watching extreme 4x4 competition
vehicles go wheel-to-wheel.
For more details visit: nz4x4trials.co.nz/
calendar-and-results/
2 MARCH
Lake Tekapo Brightstars/School 4WD
fundraiser;
Join the first ever Lake Tekapo High Country
4WD School and Brightstars Fundraiser. The
tour covers stunning scenery, giving access to
two incredible stations on a route not usually
accessible to the public.
This full day tour offers a unique look behind
the gates at Glenmore and Godley Peaks, two
iconic High Country Stations. The event is
fully guided, with spaces available for personal
vehicles or chauffeured seats.
Enquiries to tekapo4wdfundraiser@gmail.com
2-3 MARCH
Conquer the Palace 2024
Winch challenge and enduro hosted by
the ‘Norwest OHV Club’ at Possum Palace,
Arapohue. A mix of an individual enduro and
winch challenge event. This is a points-based
event with emphasis on clever strategy.
Entry fee is $200 per competitor/truck. Toilets,
showers and all-day BBQ is provided. This is a
non-spectator event. Must be a member of the
NZFWDA.
Email possumpalace4x4@gmail.com
24 MARCH
NZFWDA National 4X4 Trial – Round 5
Hosted by South Waikato 4WD Club at South
Waikato. Round 5 of the 4x4 National Trial
2023/2024 season. Fun day out for the whole
family watching extreme 4Xx4 competition
vehicles go wheel-to-wheel.
For more details visit;
nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar-and-results/
29-31 MARCH
Waiotira Community Hall Easter
fundraiser.
Hosted by the Whangarei 4WD Club and the
Waiotira community. two-day 4WD safari
over Easter weekend 2024. Funds raised from
entry will go towards replacing the floor in the
community hall at the heart of Waiotira.
The safari will cross several farms and
forestry blocks, with a flat camping area to
return to after each adventure.
For all correspondence including expressions
of interest, please email: treasurer.
whangarei4wdclub@gmail.com
29-31 MARCH
ROBA 4WD Tour
A three-day 4WD tour in the Wairarapa
over Easter weekend 2024. An opportunity
to see some of the Wairarapa’s picturesque
farming landscape and raise funds to provide
a scholarship or two for students that would
otherwise not have access to an education of
this quality and all that Rathkeale has to offer.
Strictly limited to 100 vehicles.
For information email:
4wd@rathkealeoldboys.org.nz
13 APRIL
NZFWDA National 4X4 Trial – Round 6
and Final
Hosted by Mt Egmont 4WD Club at Mt Egmont.
Fun day out for the whole family watching
extreme 4X4 competition vehicles go wheel-to-
wheel.
For more details:
nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar-and-results/
20-21 APRIL
4x4 Outdoor Expo
Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland. 4WD vendors,
show and shine, camping, swap meet.
Details www.4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz
email info@4x4outdoorexpo.co.nz
28 APRIL
Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge
Held at 2278 SH3 Turakina, featuring the top
10 drivers from the 2023/20243 National 4X4
Trials season. Starts 9.00am. There are some
additional changes planned with more courses
so not to be missed. Awesome spectator
viewing, live commentary, steep hills, vertical
banks, massive jumps, mud and speed,
combined with good food, easy spectator
viewing all makes for a fantastic day out with
mates and family.
www.cowpertrucks.co.nz

Game-changer
Imagine being in the oil
exploration business, and
(of course) using tough long
wheelbase 4WDs to get
into and out of remote and
inhospitable places as a matter
of course.
Imagine owning a group of
companies based on this
work. Using big, gnarly Land
Rover Defenders as a mainstay
of the transport pool.
Electronic gewgaws and
lane-change/lane keep assists
are less of a priority than a
robust pair of live axles and a
Is this the best SUV of 2024?
strong ladder chassis.
Imagine reading in Autocar
that these tough trucks were
to be replaced by the modern
Defender.
Then imagine heading on
over to Solihull to ask if you
can buy the tooling to
continue producing the old
Defender.
Imagine being a Land Rover
manager and telling one of the
richest men in the world “sorry
old chap, can’t do that, trying
to rule a line under the old
beastie”. Phew.
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH
Jim Ratcliffe, the chief of
Ineos, reckoned there was still
a niche for a hardcore
body-on-chassis 4WD.
Even better, the high-
pressure development timing
would enable the company to
correct the many foibles that
gave the old Defender its
‘character’. Developed from
scratch and apparently
sketched out in concept on a
napkin or five at a London pub
called the Grenadier, it would
be a clean sheet development,
retaining live axles and a tough
body-on-frame chassis, rigid
axles front and rear, and
permanent four-wheel drive
with a two-speed transfer
case.
In December 2023, NZ4WD
joined a well-planned launch
event for the Ineos Grenadier
that resulted. A seriously
accomplished off-roader with
BMW power and excellent on
road performance. A first effort
from a new-formed company.
Impressive.
Magna Steyr, automotive
‘guns for hire’, developed the
19
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH
Grenadier’s suspension: a total
of 11 different Eibach coil
springs, Bilstein dampers,
five-link suspension, antiroll
bars. Ineos Automotive bought
the Mercedes-Benz Hambach
production facility for building
the new vehicle, and every
Grenadier at launch proudly
carries side window decals
acknowledging its build
location.
The core principles of the
Grenadier premise are
reliability, capability, durability.
The catch-phrase at the
launch was ‘everything you
need, and nothing you don’t’.
Hence an immense amount
of thought has been put into
the features included standard,
and those offered as options. A
certain amount of townie
frippery has simply been left
out.
Interior
Jump in. The inside is modern
and functional. All five seats
Hill Descent Control is smooth and quiet, will
idle Grenadier down sketchy tracks with ease. are superb – Recaro front and
rear, instantly and intuitively
20 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Grenadier takes soft uphills in its
stride. A throttle pedal
geared for careful application of
power helps immensely.
supportive and comfortable for
all-day off-road adventuring.
Looking for electric adjusters?
Sorry, these are all-manual
in deference to the vehicle’s
potential use in muddy and
flooded places.
The main 12.3 inch info
screen is centrally located to
maximise the driver’s view of
technical conditions off-road.
Behind the steering wheel,
there’s just a small, low-set
display featuring a small
readout with warning lights.
The main info screen is
scrollable to provide
information useful on or off
the road.
In what is likely a first across
the 4WD auto industry, there
are two horns. A gentler ‘parp’
to let horses, cyclists or
pedestrians know the
Grenadier is coming without
scaring them and another
boss horn for idiots, morons
and emergencies. Or perhaps
for autobahns, where louder is
safer.
Selectable controls are

A shallow layer of forest duff has
long since been torn off the bedrock
of Lerderderg forest.
divided between the centre
console and an overhead
aircraft-style panel, the latter
devoted to essential functions
including diff locks, hill
descent control and two
special drive-assist modes:
off-road and wading, the latter
maximising the truck’s 800mm
creek driving depth and
turning off the electric radiator
fans so they don’t fling waster
all over the engine bay or
‘hydraulic’ their way into the
fan’s core.
The console and dash are
where the comfort controls
are located; the interior has an
IP54 rating for water
resistance.
The functions of the centre
touchscreen are all duplicated
by actual knobs and buttons,
minimising the modern
frustration of greasy, sweaty
fingers adding grunge to the
screen.
For navigation, owners will
use wireless Apple or wired
Android Auto. Ineos, with
adventuring in mind, urges
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH
clients to invest in a
downloadable map system for
those times when cell signal is
lost. Steering is off-road-
friendly, well damped and
assisted, but not to the point
where the driver is left
wondering where the front
wheels are in rough going.
The leather clad steering
wheel looks slightly small to
anyone who learned to drive
in a Series II Landie and a
Range Rover, but once under
way it’s just right. Like most
such SUVs these days, it’s a
smart wheel with controls for
a range of functions including
cruise control.
Refinement has been a
focus, and in-cabin noise is
admirably low. Attribute that
to the use of six-cylinder BMW
engines, which have won
multiple ‘International Engine
of the Year’ awards and are
coupled to the ultra-smooth
ZF eight speed auto. Also
contributing to the serenity Stream driving, not exactly
testing the big SUV’s excellent
are BF Goodrich All Terrain 800mm fording depth.
KO2 tyres, among the best A/T
21
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH

Above and below: Grenadier is a comfortable cruiser on the road

oxides in diesel exhaust
emissions.
For those using the
Grenadier around town the
petrol is more refined, but off
road or on the highway the
torque of the diesel rules. Sales
in Australia (almost 1,000 to
date) favour the diesel, while
in the USA it’s petrol all the
way. Funny people, Americans.
They think diesel is for
18-wheelers.
Safety, plenty of it
While the 2023 INEOS
Grenadier is avoids Euro
NCAP or ANCAP ‘star’ ratings
through its commercial
vehicle status but Australian
INEOS chief Justin Hocevar
says the heavy-duty off-
roader had been extensively
crash tested as part of its
development program and
delivers high levels of safety
for its intended purpose.
The standard safety suite
includes six airbags (including
side curtains), anti-lock brakes,
electronic traction/stability
control, automatic hazard
warning, tyre pressure
monitoring, lane departure
warning, trailer stability assist
and front parking sensors.

treads in the world. Quiet and
grippy on and off-road, they
are perfectly suited to the
Grenadier, which seems to
have been developed
specifically for these tyres.
Under the bonnet: serenity
Those engines are sublime,
and choosing between petrol
and diesel is a no-cost process.
Both are turbocharged 3.0L
inline sixes, reprogrammed to
be supremely off-road capable.
The diesel makes 183kW and
Smooth 3,0-litre BMW petrol or diesel power
550Nm, the petrol 210kW and is price-equal across the range.
440Nm. Acceleration (official
figure) is around 8.9 seconds
0-100km/h.
The diesel uses AdBlue
exhaust additive. More
common in the heavy
transport sector, Specifically,
AdBlue is an aqueous urea
solution made with 32.5
percent urea and 67.5 percent
deionised water. It lowers the
concentration of nitrogen

22 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
 INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH

Cruising back to base at Woodend. End of a great

day in the Aussie bush. None of the Grenadiers
returned to town bearing damage.

Five-seat models also get heated leather seats, and

ISOFIX/iSize child seat anchor
points for each of the two
outboard rear seats, while
cruise control and off-road
assistance functions including
off-road mode, wading mode,
hill descent control and uphill
assist are also standard across
the range.
Overview
The Grenadier is a five-door
SUV guise (actually six, as
the rear door opens 30:70). It
arrives as a base model with
a large list of accessories; the
Fieldmaster with alloy wheels,
premium sounds or the more
hardcore Trialmaster with
front and rear diff locks and air
intake snorkel.
Realistically, any variant will
live up to expectations on or
off road because the build
spec has majored in capability,
not frills and gewgaws.
Uniquely, the super-smooth
BMW six-cylinder engines can
be specified as diesel or petrol
without any cost difference.
The Grenadier will to be
joined this year by the
Quartermaster double-cab ute.
There’s a third model in

development now that will management are a bit sorry

add alternative powertrain
option, though this is on a
separately developed chassis.
It’s clear this new vehicle will
share all of the off-road
capability of Grenadier and
Quartermaster.
version, the Quartermaster.
The Grenadier bears a
resemblance to the Defender
The central infoscreen is scrollable;
County Wagon that inspired it,
there’s a smaller display in front of the driver. which prompts thoughts that
maybe Land Rover
they didn’t work a bit closer
with Ineos, given that the new
vehicle erases every quirk of
the old Defender, and will
cruise through rough terrain
that would leave a new
Defender gasping.
Though up front the bonnet
shape is visibly different, it
follows the basic theme of a
Defender, leaving the front
guards alone to give the driver
the best possible view of the

23
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH
terrain. No ‘clam-shell’ bonnet
allows this kind of view.
Headlights and driving lights
are LED units.
Though the truck’s turning
circle is around 13m, the
Grenadier coped fine with
tight turns on the single-
vehicle width test route.
Driver inattention did see a
couple of the ten-strong
launch fleet into a three-point
manoeuvre at hairpin turns
through gateways, and as
usual in Australia, iron-hard
tree trunks stand right at the
edge of the trail through
Wombat, waiting to punish
any inattention.
The steering is recirculating
ball steering, which out-
performs rack and pinion in
true off-road conditions and
enables engineers to design
steering assemblies that are
well tucked up out of harm’s
way.
The steering does have a
24 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
different feel from straight
ahead, but the truck tracks
straight and true nonetheless.
The all-wheel disc brakes
are by Brembo and – get this
– braked towing is rated at
3500kg. That’s the ‘industry
standard’ for utes, and very
few SUVs can match it,
especially SUVs with plush coil
spring suspension at all four
corners.
The Grenadier has huge
ground clearance: 264mm.
That’s very useful on our
test route where we were
often edging down bedrock
shelves or scrambling over
loose flat pieces of rock the
size of suitcases. Did that
ground clearance make it
difficult to climb in and out?
Not for us, grab handles are
well placed and side steps
offer a robust base to climb in
or out. Grenadiers equipped
with rocksliders are only
slightly trickier.
All five seats are by Recaro,
finished in leather or cloth.
Supportive and equipped with
side bolsters that do the good
job of retaining occupants
during rough going. Again, this
is an area where the Grenadier
simply outshines its rivals as a
purpose-designed off-road
SUV.
In keeping with the ‘keep it
simple’ mantra, seat operation
is fully manual so less to deal
with if the wading depth of
800mm is reached or
exceeded. go wrong when
you’re washing out the
interior.
The toughest part of the
drive route was Ratcliffe Track,
tackled in both directions.
There was a bowling-ball
rock on the apex of one corner
which we avoided – at about
350mm it was more than our
ground clearance was good
for. Hard rock step-downs
occasionally grounded-out a
side step but they are
obviously built to deal with
much worse.
A creek drive-along
presented no issues, the
Grenadier in 4-lo with only the
centre diff locked.
Diff articulation is as good as
any 4WD with live axles can be
(in other words better than
any full-independent set-up).
A wheel only occasionally lifts
off and the 4WD system keeps
the truck moving without
murmur.
Hill descent control has
come a long way. Our first
experience of such system
was at the launch of the Land
Rover Freelander in the late
1990s. It was effective, though
noisy and juddery on wet
grass downhills.
The Grenadier’s is a
revelation, speed adjustable
and quite capable of bringing
the vehicle to a complete stop
on downhills. Feet-off

downhills still feels weird, but
it’s also quite serene.
This review only scratches
the surface. How to describe
all the many areas where the
Grenadier excels with limited
magazine space? Impossible.
For example, the four grab rails
and the four high-rated power
outlets nestled safely behind
the bars; the high load rated
‘utility belt’ cargo system on
each side of the truck; the four
standard five tonne rated
recovery points; the winch
(standard on some Grenadiers,
optional on others) that hides
behind the flip-up front
number plate; the double dust
seals on all five doors. The
three-piece front bumper,
which reduces repair/
replacement costs after a
tangle with a roadside rock or
gum tree. Safari roof windows
above driver and front seat
passenger.
Any prospective owner who
enjoys 4WD adventuring will
find this SUV exceeds
expectations.
So where did we go?
Lerderderg State Park is
close by the quaint rural
town of Woodend, an hour’s
drive from Melbourne. It’s
not far from Mt Macedon
and Hanging Rock. With a
population of just over 5,000
people, it nonetheless has two
classic Aussie pubs. Woodend
has long been a haunt of well-
off Melburnians, who double
the population each weekend
during summer.
The Lerderderg State Park
features grassland, eucalyptus
forest and the steep-sided
Lerderderg Gorge, carved by
the Lerderderg River. Walking
trails fan out from O’Brien’s
Crossing campsite in the north.
Part of the Lerderderg Track
winds from northwestern
Blackwood to Bacchus Marsh
in the south. Park wildlife
includes wallabies, echidnas
and birds like wedge-tailed
eagles and cockatoos. This is
real Australia, and a suitably
tough environment to drive
test a proper 4WD.
INEOS GRENADIER LAUNCH
SPECIFICATIONS
Ineos Grenadier Fieldmaster
Price: $120,000
Engine: 3.0-litre bi-turbo six cylinder, B57 diesel or B58 petrol
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, hi/lo transfer case, full time 4WD,
up to three locking diffs
Power: petrol 210kW, diesel 183kW
Torque: petrol 450Nm, diesel 550Nm
Economy: petrol 14.4k/100km, diesel 10.5l/100km
CO2: petrol 292gm/km, diesel 262 diesel gm/km
Road wheels: 18” aluminium alloy
Safety: Grenadier is an MB1 category vehicle and is not ANCAP tested
Length: 4,898mm
Width: 1,590mm
Turning circle: 13m
Approach angle: 35.5 degrees
Ramp-over angle: 28.2 degrees
Departure angle: 36.1 degrees
Wheel travel: 585mm
Braked towing capacity: 3,500kg
Ineos Grenadier Trialmaster
Price: $120,000
Engine: 3.0-litre bi-turbo six-cylinder, diesel or petrol
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, hi/lo transfer case, full time
4WD, up to three locking diffs
Power: petrol 210kW, diesel 183kW
Torque: petrol 440Nm, diesel 550Nm
Economy: petrol 14.4k/100km, diesel 10.5l/100km
CO2: petrol 292gm/km, diesel 262 diesel gm/km
Road wheels: 17” steel
Safety: Grenadier is an MB1 category vehicle and is not ANCAP tested
Length: 4,898mm
Width: 1,590mm
Turning circle: 13m
Approach angle: 35.5 degrees
Ramp-over angle: 28.2 degrees
Departure angle: 36.1 degrees
Wheel travel: 585mm
Braked towing capacity: 3,500kg
25
 A new name enters the UTV market
The brand founded in
innovation, Segway, is about
to make huge inroads in the
New Zealand UTV (side by
side) market.
At the close of 2023,
NZ4WD was invited to a
launch event in ‘the bush’
outside Melbourne, a slick
event that included an
overnight stay at the Pentridge
Adina, an apartment
development set with in the
blue stone walls of the former
prison.
The briefing and drive/ride
part of the launch event was
held at Seven Hills, Tallarook,
Victoria. It was a chance for
media to sample Segway’s ATV
(quad) range and the
Fugleman utility side-by-sides.
26 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Segway ramps up its off-road offer
The quads and UTVs will be
of interest to Kiwi farmers as
they are priced well below the
offerings of established brands,
but lack nothing in tech, spec
or power and torque.
Part of the comprehensive
media briefing was also a look
at the near future: the arrival
of the Villain range of
recreational UTVs.
Flagship among the latter is
the Super Villain, the first ever
hybrid quad, and first to break
the 300bhp barrier.
After the briefing, there was
an opportunity to ride the AT5
and AT6 quads, and to ride in
the UT10 and UT10 Crew
UTVs.
The loop course wound
through open fields and sparse
eucalypt bush, up hills strewn
with loose flinty rocks and
through sandy gullies that
never once presented a
problem to the quads. All
quads have a rollover
protection pole at the rear that
provides survivable space for
the rider/s in the event of a
roll.
Throttles are thumb-
activated, and the
transmissions are simple to
use. Most of the media spent
most of the drive in low gear,
the choice being that or high
and the up-and-down trail
being fairly tight.
Where quad technology
shines through is in the info
display and the connectivity of
each vehicle. That can be
tracked from the Segway app,
and the same app can be used
to remotely tune settings like
the electric power steering.
This has three levels of
assistance from comfort to
sport, though after trying other
settings we found comfort
worked best (bearing in mind
the last time we sampled a
quad was when Honda’s Big
Red was fresh on the market).
Classic Aussie – the riders
were watched by a fine mob
of farm goats, mad parrots
clowned in the eucalyptus
trees, and at the lunch break a
mob of about 40 kangaroos
hopped silently past.
The AT5 quad has a 500cc
29kW DOHC single cylinder
engine, electric power steering,
 The ATV line-up is extensive.
UTV touring in the Fugleman.
an 1134kg rated winch and
front and rear diff locks. The
big single throbs its power
through a CVT transmission
and even inexperienced riders
can tackle difficult tracks using
the grippy balloon tyres and
those diff locks.
The AT5 has 250mm ground
clearance and there are short
and long wheelbase versions.
Segway’s T-Box Smart
Feature app allows owners/
drivers to access driving
settings, a wireless team up
function, real time data
tracking, incident SOS and
Airlock remote unlock.
Versions of the AT6 are
called ‘Snarler’. The AT6 steps
up the performance matrix
with a 32kW 570cc engine,
Above right and below: Editor Mark Baker gets to grips with the ATV range.
again DOHC and a single
cylinder unit. The front and
rear air shock absorbers are
adjustable and ground
clearance is 180mm front and
220mm rear. Payloads are
80kg rear and 40 kg front. Like
the AT5, the AT6 is available in
Best place to be, out under the trees.
short (1.3m) and long
wheelbase (1.45m) versions.
The shorties run on 12” rims,
the LWB versions are on 14s.
The UT10 two-seater UTV
leans toward the work-horse
end of the UTV world. The
engine is a 1000CC liquid
cooled twin cylinder DOHC
unit that makes 78kW and
93.5Nm of torque. It has a
payload capacity of 680kg, a
towing capacity of 700kg, and
its winch is rated at 2041kg.
Ground clearance is 320mm.
The UT10 Crew is a six-
seater with a rear tray to carry
up to 450kg and tow 1134kg.
Its 1000cc engine makes
78kW and 95Nm.
It will tackle a gradient of up
to 30 degrees.
This year looks set to be a
big one for Segway, with
strong pushes into New
Zealand and expansion in
Australia.
Next up: the Villain and
Super Villain recreational
UTVs.
27
TESTED NISSAN NAVARA PRO4X
The current Nissan Navara has
had a good long run on the
New Zealand market.
In the last couple of years,
though, Ford and VW have
created a clear stratum at the
top of the 4WD ute market.
In the same period, the
previous government
attempted to talk Kiwis out of
28 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Working
No better time to go ute
their favourite vehicles and
into electric appliances. Ute
buyers were ‘using their
vehicles inappropriately’.
Naughty.
Welcome a new
government, farewell the ute
tax and EV subsidy. Buy the
vehicle that suits Kiwi lifestyles,
and buy an EV on merit.
Auto companies suffered
through the final months of
2023 and can now look
forward to a boost in vehicle
sales and reduced
governmental meddling in the
market.
Nissan can look forward to a
boost in Navara sales
generally, and the flagship
Pro4X will be part of that.
Though the new Ranger and
the Amarok are an upper strata
in the ute class, the Pro4X can
arguably head up the next
level, its 2.3-litre four-cylinder
twin-turbo diesel producing
140kW and 450Nm with a very
useful torque spread low in
the rev range.
 TESTED NISSAN NAVARA PRO4X

The Pro4X is the smartest-

looking of the range but is no
show pony; it’s ready for work.
Backing up the ute’s tough
character and businesslike
exterior is Nissan’s Intelligent
Mobility technologies. These
prioritise convenience and
safety without compromising
the vehicle’s excellent driving
performance, its 3,500kg
braked towing capability,
durability and overall reliability.
The peak torque figure
being available so low in the
rev range means it always feels
punchy in traffic, whether A comfortable driving position, the steering
moving speedily from rest or wheel a chunky highlight on and off the road.
heading onto the motorway.
There’s a clean surge of urge
from down low that keeps
delivering to somewhere near
the redline. Navara will happily
sit on 110km/h all day (speed
limits allowing), and remain
efficient doing it. Not so long
ago, single-figure fuel usage
from a dual cab would have
been the stuff of fantasy. Now,
though, against an official
figure of 8.1l/100km, we saw
8.8l/100km in city driving and
briefly got down to 8.2 on the
open road before skewing the
readings with off-road work.
On a point-to-point open road
trip it’s entirely possible to hit
the official figure.
The key is not asking the Emphatically Nissan from the rear, the Navara’s
bumper step is extra-handy when loading gear.
twin-turbo four-cylinder
engine to work too hard. If
towing or working your way
through heavy terrain off-road,
the Navara can get thirsty.
Around town or on the open
road the real-world fuel
efficiency is solid.
The engine will work hard
when towing, but it never feels
especially stressed cruising
along the motorway or in
stop/start traffic. Cleverly
matched to the engine, the
automatic transmission works
away without seeming to hunt
or constantly shift gears just
for the sake of it. In the rear, seats are
In 4WD, the Navara activates certainly built for
adults; air-con vents
a system called Active Brake are welcome and
Limited Slip Differential (ABLS), knee-room is ample.

that manages power delivery

29
TESTED NISSAN NAVARA PRO4X
Pro4X is distinctive from any angle.
Rear window tints help keep the cabin cool.
Above and below: Geolandar tyres weren’t totally happy in TECT Park slush.
and wheel braking between
the front and rear axles and
between the left and right of
the vehicle, depending on
traction and speed.
Working with the Vehicle
Dynamic Control system
(VDC) and ABS brakes, this
system enables drivers to be
30 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
more confident and feel
secure when towing large
payloads and driving through
muddy terrain with less
acceleration and brake
operation.
The Navara’s five-link,
coil-spring rear end is a ride
quality bonus. While it can’t
The toughest looking cargo
retainers on the market.
haul huge weight as easily as
leaf springs can, it’s also an
object lesson in rear
suspension design, tracking
straight and true through
washboarding and potholes
and pulling up without fuss in
hard braking.
There’s a sense of solidity
and insulation to the way the
Navara works its way through
rubbish patches of road, right
up to highway speed.
Pro-4X does get all-terrain
tyres – Yokohama Geolandars
– but they are quite urban,
cornering and braking
accurately and without undue
noise on tarmac. Having said
that, the tyres did not inspire
confidence in wet volcanic
scoria/pumice mush on our
tour through TECT Park trails
near Tauranga. They quickly
clogged and were not as quick
to shed the muck.
The steering is light and
communicates well on most
surfaces.
Disc/drum brakes are well
up to the job, never needing a
heavy shove to pull the Navara
up even when a fellow
motorist changed lanes using
Braille on the motorway.
Around town, Navara works
well among hundreds of other
diesel double cab utes that
mostly won’t ever get into the
dirt. No matter how good they
are off-road or at work, the
reality for the more expensive
variants is that they will be
doing urban motoring. A pity
really.
When the new Navara

arrived, the vehicle’s front end
received a distinctly American-
styled look. It carried the new
“interlock” grille – a bold
vertical shield-styled grille first
introduced on the US-market
Nissan Titan – creating a
powerful front face for the
vehicle. The interlocking frame
grille gives Navara an
unmistakeable road presence.
The grille carries the model’s
name embossed across its
upper edge.
The Navara features
distinctive quad LED projector
headlamps, increasing
brightness and adding a level
of sophistication to the rugged
design. At the back, there are
LED tail lamps.
There are leather seats for
occupants, and the leather
wheel carries the expected
‘smart’ functions. Navara’s
cabin has always been well
executed, and Pro4X is no
exception.
Second-row passengers get
air vents, and there’s dual-
zone AC up front.
Two USB ports up front and
two in the back take care of
device charging, and we’ve
always liked the sliding rear
window, which aids with
airflow through the cabin
when the mood takes you.
None of the Navara’s direct
rivals have anything similar.
The cabin remains, as it has
been since launch, comfortable
and insulated around town or
out on the highway.
It is a lovely touring
dual-cab on any road. Those
all-terrain tyres remain
impressively quiet, even at
highway speed.
Safety is – as it should be
– world class. The 2023 Pro-4X
gets seven airbags,
autonomous emergency
braking with forward collision
alert, trailer sway assist,
lane-departure warning,
TESTED NISSAN NAVARA PRO4X
lane-keep assist, blind-spot
monitoring with rear cross-
traffic alert, automatic high
beams, a driver fatigue
detector, rear parking sensors,
a 360-degree camera, and tyre
pressure monitoring. Hill
descent control and hill start
SPECIFICATION
2023 Nissan
Navara Pro4X
Price: $71,590
Engine: 2.3-litre turbodiesel four
cylinder
Transmission: seven speed
automatic, hi/lo transfer case,
part time 4WD
Power: 140kW at 3,750rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 1,500-2,500rpm
Economy: 8.1l/100km
CO2: 213gm/km
Safety: ANCAP 5 star
Length: 5,360mm
Width: 1,875mm
Turning circle: 11.8m
Braked towing capacity: 3,500kg
assist are also included.
All-up, it earns the Navara a
five star ANCAP rating.
For a ute that looks the
business and works hard – and
is a visual point of difference
from the Ranger throng – the
Pro4X has much to offer.
31
MY 4WD

Klem’s Dream build Land Cruiser 79.

Side view showing the custom designed alloy

deck in camping configuration.

32 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024


Serious mounts for the
Ironman Premium ‘side steps’.
Front
suspension
Ironman
two-inch lift.
Klem’s
DREAM BUILD
When business and pleasure meet
You have a business that specialises in
repairing trucks and heavy equipment in
the Central North Island, your business
fleet consists of a number of Toyota 4WD
utilities set up for mobile servicing, you
love 4WDriving and you have a 2.2 tonne
off-road caravan.
Taupo Iron Man and Terrain Tamer agent
Klem Christensen’s blood runs ‘Toyota Red’.
He has a new ‘built’ 2022 Toyota Land
Cruiser 79 double cab ute, with the mighty
V8 diesel engine.
The LC is still fairly standard
Rear view of
deck showing
the single
camping pod.
Rear drawer.
The nex
t project
LC BJ44
.
By Cathy Parker
mechanically with mods limited to a
larger crossover exhaust pipe for the
single turbo and larger fans for the top
mounted factory intercooler to help
power and cooling. Air comes to the
engine via an Ironman snorkel. Klem says
the engine is lazy, and an ECU tune is on
the wish list.
While the mechanicals are standard not a
lot else is, the set-up shows that a lot of care
and attention have gone into the build. The
rear deck is a local custom-made alloy unit
from Taupo company CPS integrating a
MY 4WD
TESTED
number of Klem’s ideas. It is set up so that
he has two alternative sets of pods that can
be mounted on the deck. The single black
pod in the photo is the camping pod, which
normally contains a small compressor, gas
shower unit and induction stove. However,
when we saw it he was heading off to the
bush for a weekend-long staff Christmas
bash and it mainly contained the beverages.
The single pod leaves deck space for
camping gear and toys. This pod slides off
and can be replaced by a pair of white pods
that have a larger compressor and tools for
33
MY 4WD

Rear Suspension Terrain Tamer parabolic springs. The power set-up behind the rear seat. Ingenious exterior power set-up!

work duties. The roof-top tent fits above the two-inch lift, the front has Ironman thought was the best option.
pods on the deck roll cage frame and there springs and Ironman Foam Pro shocks Loaded the LC can tip the scales around
is a 270-degree Ironman awning set up for along with Ironman Panhard rod and 3.2 tonne and has a towing capacity of 3.5
camping. steering damper. The rear features Terrain tonnes.
Along the deck sides are sliding and Tamer parabolic springs, air bags and Apart from the standard starting battery
removeable load retaining rings in 250kg Ironman Foam Pro shocks, there is an Klem has set up behind the rear seat two
and 500kg ratings. There is a rear pull out onboard air system for the airbags. To fit slim line 120aH Gel batteries (240aH total)
draw and a couple of side compartments the 35-inch tyres Klem also did a 50mm with a CTEK dual charging system. There is
under the rear deck corners. At the front body lift which lets the suspension an interconnect to allow these batteries to
there is an Ironman Roof Rack for extra articulate more and avoids the tyres start the engine if needed. There is a
load carrying. fouling on the body. 2000w inverter which is used to run the
The body has been coated with PPF The tyres are Maxxis RAZR MT 35x12.15 induction stove and other appliances. Klem
protection film, which Klem says lets you 17-inch, which both look good and perform has an ingenious ‘pool noodle’ seal for the
wash off scratches from the local Manuka well off road, assisted by factory front and rear window which lets the power cord
and there are Airplex sun and bonnet rear lockers. come out the window whilst keeping rain
visors. If things do go wrong there is a 12,000lb out.
More serious body protection comes Ironman winch at the front and a In the interior, Klem added extra sound
from the Ironman Premium 60mm tube removeable rear 9,000lb winch that proofing to most panels and added
bull bar and the Premium 60mm rock mounts between the rear chassis rails and aftermarket leather trim for door panels
sliders/side steps – on some very robust feeds through a hawse via the tow bar and seats.
mounts. receiver hitch. The tow bar is the standard One of the indispensable upgrades in
The suspension features a road legal heavy duty Toyota part, which Klem Klems view is the Terrain Tamer electric
park brake which is a vast improvement
over the temperamental factory unit.
Klem also highly rates the Clearview
exterior mirrors that replace the factory
units, these extend out when towing for
better rear visibility.
Future plans include an engine tune,
adding some heavy-duty recovery points
front and rear . Currently the bull bar points
are used at the front and a receiver hitch
recovery point at the rea.
The LC proudly carries the name Medusa
across the front bonnet guard (With some
Medusa sporting the
custom designed Medusa signage coming
mobile Starlink terminal. for the bonnet). Klem’s son came up with
the name based on how many people
stopped and stared at the truck as if they
Cyclone busters were turned to stone!
Klem’s business Performance and Mechanical Engineering in Taupo services the Klem says Medusa puts a smile on his
local Downer road maintenance fleet along with others. After Cyclone Gabrielle dial every time he drives it – his dream
many of the Downer vehicles were working around Eskdale doing Cyclone build indeed.
cleanup work and the mighty 79 series was the first vehicle to get through the Meanwhile he has found a BJ44 Land
Napier Taupo Road to there so he could fettle their fleet during the emergency Cruiser to restore and build for wife Sharon,
work. With radios and cellphones out of service due to cyclone damage, Klem this was the first of the mid-wheelbase
hooked up a mobile StarLink terminal to provide communications (this now Land Cruisers and will be getting new
provides camping comms.) During the week the LC is a genuine work vehicle with panels and we would guess quite a lot
a full tool load out and the off-road chops to go almost anywhere it is needed. more for a project we may well revisit in
the future!

34 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

 MY 4WD WORKSHOP

Performance Mechanical and Engineering

For all Ironman and Terrain Tamer gear
Performance Mechanical and
Engineering in Taupo has a well-
stocked 4WD accessory store,
backed by an extensive workshop
and service capability for installations
and repairs. Suspension can be
customised due to the ability to
weigh axle weights and determine
exactly what is required.
Performance Mechanical in
Taupo supplies, fits and maintains a
wide range of 4WD parts and is an
authorised Ironman and Terrain Tamer
stockist, in particular the company keeps
in stock an extensive range of suspension
kits ready to fit.
Owner Klem Christensen has raced
4WDs across Australasia for more than 20
years and built the impressive Medusa
LC79 featured in this issue.
There is pretty much nothing he doesn’t
know about 4WDs, so he can help 4WDers
out with ideas and advice.
On the road, off the beaten track or
around the farm, New Zealand now has
• Suspension Kits and
components.
• Bull bars.
• Customised suspension.
• Winch and recovery gear.
• Snorkels.
• Ute boxes and ute liners.
• Camping gear.
• First aid and survival kits.
• Fridges.
• Dual battery kits.
• Underbody protection.
greater choice in 4WD suspension and • Big bore exhaust.
accessories. Ironman 4X4 products have • LED light bars.
been developed and tested in the harshest • WOF inspections and repairs for 4WDs
proving ground in the world – the and SUVs.
Australian outback. • Tow bars.
The first choice for serious 4WDers for • Wheel alignment.
more than 50 years, sold in more than 120 • GVM upgrades.
countries, Ironman 4x4 will deliver the • Maxxis Tyres.
comfort and safety drivers demand as well Performance Mechanical and
as quality and value for money. Engineering can be found at
Performance Mechanical and Engineering 220 Rakanui Road, Rotokawa, Taupo.
offers a wide range of Ironman and Terrain www.performancemechanical.co.nz or
Tamer parts including: phone 07 376 5982.

WE CUSTOMISE VEHICLES
Trade X Farm X Leisure
The ultimate upgrades with robust designs
suitable for all conditions
• Bull bars
• Suspension
• Winches
• Lights
• Protection
• Canopies
• Roof racks
• Recovery
• Camping and
much more
• Maxxis Tyres

PERFORMANCE MECHANICAL & ENGINEERING: 220 Rakaunui Rd, Taupo

Ph 07 377 4982 | E: performancemechanical@xtra.co.nz | www.performancemechanical.co.nz

35
ADVICE
Vehicle theft prevention
Story by Scott Fellers and photos by Scott Fellers and Jacob Donnelly
After countless hours of work, the
Safari on its one day out.
Big D’s efforts into creating the perfect overland
touring rig were gone in the blink of an eye.
Imagine scouring Trade Me and
Marketplace for weeks looking for that
perfect 4WD vehicle. Then imagine
spending months getting all those camp
mods perfected, the off-road upgrades
dialled. Put your heart and soul into the
rig, planning a long-term relationship with
it.
Now envision waking up one morning
and it is gone. This is a reality that many
4WD owners are dealing with, these days
36 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Safeguarding the 4WD
more than ever. This happened to our
good friend Big D, who had just put the
finishing touches on a beautiful black high
roof Safari. He was only able to do one
short trip to test out all his work before it
disappeared into the night.
As passionate 4WD enthusiasts, we
understand the deep attachment and
pride we feel towards our vehicles.
Unfortunately, the issue of vehicle theft,
especially of sought-after 4WDs from the
90s, remains a persistent concern. In
Christchurch, for instance, the situation
has reached alarming proportions. In July
2023 alone, more than 600 vehicles were
stolen and sadly it’s not uncommon to
come across stripped, burnt out 4WDs
dumped along the rivers or on quiet
country roads. It’s not just a Canterbury
problem; AMI Insurance stated that, in
New Zealand as a whole, vehicle theft
numbers in 2022 were up 54 percent
from 2019.
The appeal of 4WDs to both enthusiasts
and criminals has led to an alarming
increase in theft rates. Their scarcity, high
resale value, and ease of illegal parts
resale contribute to their desirability
among thieves.
Parking security
One of the most easily avoided mistakes
is parking a vehicle in vulnerable places.
Leaving a vehicle unattended in insecure
or isolated areas significantly increases
the risk of theft. (Just ask Big D. Or maybe
don’t, it’s a sore subject!) Criminals target
places where vehicles are less likely to be
noticed or monitored. Finding a secure
parking spot for your 4WD is crucial to
preventing theft.
Whenever possible, park the 4WD in a
locked garage, a well-lit area on the
property, and behind a locked gate.
Consider using motion-activated lights
in the driveway or parking area to
increase visibility and discourage
unauthorized access. Installing security
cameras and alarms around the property
can serve as a deterrent to potential
offenders, though personally I aim to keep
This sad scene
my vehicle from being stolen in the first is all too common!
place, not having a grainy video of it
driving away.
When parking in public areas, choose
well-populated, well-lit, and CCTV-
monitored locations: parking spaces near
entrances of buildings or under
streetlights make the vehicle more visible
and less appealing to criminals. Park close
to other vehicles or in the line of sight of
security personnel or parking attendants.

Enhancing physical security measures

Bolstering physical security measures adds
an essential layer of protection.
A decent alarm system and immobiliser
offers a crucial level of protection. These
systems provide both audible and visual
alerts, discouraging thieves and making it
more challenging for them to start the
vehicle. Look for alarms with multiple
sensors, such as motion detection, glass
breakage, and tilt sensors, as they provide

“Leaving a vehicle
unattended in insecure
or isolated areas
significantly increases
the rick of theft”
the most comprehensive coverage. Many You do not want your 80 series to
systems will add remote locking and end up like this! What a waste.
unlocking to my early ‘90s 4WD.
Installing a GPS tracking device allows
the owner to remotely monitor the
location of a 4WD. In the unfortunate
event the rig is stolen, this technology can
help the Police to find and recover it.
Devices with real-time tracking
capabilities can provide accurate and
up-to-date information.
People are putting Apple Air Tags on
everything these days, so why not your
4WD? I would put the Apple Air Tag into
the category of “hey it’s better than
nothing.” They are comparably cheap
versus a real GPS tracker. The Air Tag must
be within 30m of someone’s iPhone but
given the proliferation of iPhones there is a deterrent against opportunistic theft. vehicle’s ignition system can thwart
chance that your air tag would ping a These visible devices make it difficult to attempts to start the engine, even if they
location before your pride and joy is turn the steering wheel, hopefully have managed to bypass the regular
stripped. Just remember to hide the tag discouraging the attempted theft. immobiliser system.
away and ensure the battery is replaced While having some form of an As passionate 4WDers, we need to
every year or two. immobiliser system is a great, determined make a concerted effort to ensure our
While steering wheel locks seem a bit thieves can still bypass them. Installing a vehicles can continue to provide us with
antiquated, they can be used as a simple hidden kill switch that interrupts the countless memorable adventures for

37
PERFORMANCE UPGRADES
FROM THAT 4WD
The world of performance upgrades is
vast, and it’s easy to get lost in a maze of
tweaks.
The key for any owner is to start with a
firm idea of what is to be achieved, what
the budget is, and what the vehicle is to
be used for.
A few decades ago, obtaining more
performance was about engine swapping.
Land Rovers received Holden six-cylinder
38 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Starting at the start
engines, ‘shorty’ Land Cruisers had Chev
V8s shoehorned under their bonnets.
Then, as engines became more and
more electronic, the focus shifted to
performance gains achievable by ‘flashing’
the engine management or using an
aftermarket chip.
Turbocharging and supercharging also
gained some fans, but were mainly niche
modifications for off-roading.
Many now know that massive
horsepower is not the ideal for off-roading,
and that a fat torque profile is much more
important and much more useful.
Today, 4WDers understand that
improving performance is a broader
project than just getting more power:
brakes, suspension, tyres and more create
a performance ‘envelope’ for off-road
driving.

Upgrade and save
Better braking without the new car price tag
The arrival of the new Ranger and
Amarok has created a new performance
benchmark in the 4WD ute market.
Specifically, dual cab 4WD ute models
in Australia and New Zealand are starting
to ditch rear drums in favour of the added
stopping power of disc brakes.
While the added braking performance is
certainly welcome, it comes with a
notable price premium – if purchasing
new, once a few option boxes are ticked,
buyers can quickly find themselves in
$80K plus territory for these vehicles.
Fortunately, for owners of late model
dual cab 4X4s or their wagon derivatives
who have spent considerable effort
building up their vehicles to suit work and
recreational needs, Bendix has two cost
effective answers.
Front kit
Bendix Ultimate 4WD Big Brake upgrade
kits deliver vastly improved braking
performance and are available in the
convenience of two comprehensive kits
(front and rear). The front kit includes
larger diameter Ultimate 4WD disc brake
rotors, Bendix 6-Piston monoblock
callipers with bracket mounting kit, as well
as Ultimate 4WD brake pads and Ultimate
4WD braided brake hoses.
The larger Ultimate 4WD disc brake
rotors are a generous 365mm in diameter
and feature a ‘Diamond Tip Slot’ that
allows gases to escape in demanding
driving situations, maintaining braking
performance and consistent pedal feel.
The rotor design also has improved
self-cleaning qualities. Other benefits of
the rotors include high carbon
metallurgy which improves noise
dampening while lowering thermal
conductivity – together this results in
added durability and stopping power,
while robust pillar construction aids
thermal stability.
Complementing the
disc brake rotors are
Ultimate 4WD brake pads
which have been specially
designed for use with
slotted rotors. The pads
feature ceramic friction material
that has low dust and noise
properties, while providing high
temperature stability and excellent fade
resistance. Also included is a mechanical
retention system (MRS) backing plate, a
technology that’s used in commercial
vehicle brake pads and offers improved
pad attachment strength in heavy duty
operating conditions.
Another important component of the
front kit is the Bendix 6-Piston callipers
– with additional pistons compared to
OEM callipers, greater pressure is applied
to the brake pads, resulting in shorter
stopping distances.
Kits also feature SAEj1401-approved
Ultimate 4WD brake hoses which comply
to international design standards and
offer the added protection of a braided
line with sleeve, leading to firm and
consistent brake feel in all conditions.
Rounding-out this offering is a litre of
PERFORMANCE UPGRADES
Bendix heavy duty brake fluid, a can of
Bendix clean-up, a tube of Ceramasil
brake parts lubricant and a 60 litre Bendix
branded icebox.
Rear drum to disc conversion
The rear Ultimate 4WD big brake upgrade
kit is a full drum to disc conversion kit,
that removes the OE drum assembly
and replaces it with the Bendix Ultimate
4WD disc rotors and hydraulic callipers.
Kit installation requires removal of all
components from the vehicle axles,
which is why the kit comes complete
with replacement bearings and seals (ABS
rings and collars depending on vehicle
model).
The kit also includes a replacement
park brake mechanism that’s actuated
using the OE park brake cable, Bendix
brake hoses, Ultimate 4WD brake pads
and all the ancillary components and
accessories mentioned for the front kits.
Test results show big braking gains
In developing the Ultimate 4WD Big
Brake upgrade kits, Bendix undertook
extensive testing on an unmodified
Dual Cab PX Ford Ranger 4x4.
Stopping distance from 80 to 0
km/h in this standard, unloaded
Ranger was 41.5m. The same
vehicle fitted with both front
and rear kits is 32.5m, an
improvement of 9m or around
1.5 car lengths.
39
TECH TALK
Happy with your 4WD, but maybe it could use some more power?
Most 4WDers have been in that situation.
A slippery uphill perhaps, and thinking
“hmmm… it would be even better if it
went a little bit harder.”
There are two approaches to
improving 4WD engine performance:
‘hotting up’ the existing engine or
repowering the vehicle. Both have their
advantages and disadvantages. The
traditional way of getting more power
out of an engine is to improve its
breathing and make it rev faster: that
results in more ‘bangs’ per minute and
hence more power.
There may be a torque sacrifice,
because the engine mods may move the
maximum torque point higher up the rev
scale and torque may actually be less at
lower revs than the standard engine’s.
That’s not a good result if trying to
improve towing or mud-driving
performance. Youtube is full of videos of
relatively stock 4WDs chugging past
40 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
More power
high-powered V8 beasts that have dug
new holes where there were none.
An alternative to making an engine rev
faster to produce more power is to cram
more air into it, allowing it to burn more
fuel during each combustion stroke:
bigger bangs per minute rather than
more bangs per minute.
Forced induction – turbocharging or
supercharging – is a popular means of
getting more air into a given engine and
increasing its fuel-burning capability.
That route results in bigger bangs
without any increase in engine speed.
Good quality turbo and supercharger
kits cost between $5000 and $7,500.
‘Intercooling’ is common on factory-
built turbocharged and supercharged
engines and can be added to earlier
turbocharged engines. An intercooler is
an air-to-air or air-to-water radiator
between the supercharger or
turbocharger and the inlet manifold, to
drop the temperature of the compressed
air and increase its density and oxygen
content.
Heat is a factor. The standard cooling
system will need to be upgraded with a
high-flow thermostat, a larger radiator or
a supplementary electric fan. A decent
oil cooler is insurance against meltdown,
and the transmission cooling should be
uprated as well.
‘Chipping’ is another way of getting
the most from an engine by optimising
the performance of the engine
management computer.
It’s not as easy as it was, because
manufacturers are ‘locking’ their engine
computers very thoroughly these days,
so best left to the specialists.
However, there’s no such thing as a
free lunch and performance
improvement may come at the cost of
higher fuel consumption and reduced
engine life.
 Adventure NZ

The best laid plans

of mice and men
Staying adaptable on the trip
to Te Anau with Paul Richards

New tent with dinner cooking at Mossburn.

41
Adventure NZ
One of the many bucket
list trips for me has been to
explore the Southland / Milford
area. This included Walter Peak
Station, Mavora Lakes, Milford
Sound, Manapouri, Borland
Road, Lake Monowai and, if
possible, out to Lake Hauroko.
While these are all public roads
and do not necessarily require
a 4WD, there is a lot of gravel
2 and so it is easier in a 4WD
especially when the intention
is to camp out in spots where
the hordes of tourists in slider
vans and camper vans are not
staying.
The plan then was to drive
from Geraldine to Kingston at
the south end of Lake
Wakatipu the first day and set
up camp there – about five
hours and 380km so a
relatively easy day. T
he second day was to drive
out to Walter Peak Station for
3 lunch and be back at Mavora
Lakes by mid-afternoon to
42 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
camp overnight by the lake.
The third day was to drive
out to Te Anau, refuel there to
ensure a full tank, then head
out to Milford Sound and
spend some time there
enjoying the vista down the
sound to Mitre Peak, before
returning to Te Anau and
possibly camping at the DOC
Henry Creek campsite.
The fourth day was to go to
Manapouri to look at the ferry
terminal for the cruises to
Doubtful Sound, travel on to
Borland Road and go out to
South Arm of Lake Manapouri,
check out Lake Monowai and
the power station on the way
back, then out to Lake
Hauroko (the deepest lake in
NZ).
We would then camp at
Monowai (if it looked good) on
the way back to Te Anau or at
Te Anau itself before driving
back to Geraldine on day five
– about 1700km in five

6 7
relatively easy stages. For
guidance with some of this
trip I was able to reference
Mark Wilson’s book 4WD South
(Mt Nicholas Road, Mavora
Lakes, Borland Road), plus
using Google Maps to get
milage and rough times to
plan the trip.
The first attempt was called
off when Covid hit and we all
had to camp at home. The
second attempt was called off
when family members caught
Covid and as we had been
visiting them days before they
tested positive, we decided it
was better to can the trip than
find we had also caught it and
had to isolate in a
campground somewhere. As
we had sold our tent and
camping gear in the meantime
(pulling tent pegs out was
hurting my back and the
standard stretchers were not
wide enough for 70+ year olds
who cannot bend in the
4 5
middle like they used to),
attempt three was to be based
out of a motel in Te Anau for
four nights. I discovered that at
1 October most motels and
hotels in that area switch to
their high season rates until
30th April. This meant a room
went from $240 per night to
$480 per night. So, I booked
the motel for the last week of
September. I then found
Borland Road is closed until 30
October each year so that was
a no-go. High winds and
heavy rain hit the Te Anau area
that week, Milford Road was
closing and opening
intermittently through that
period with rock and snow
avalanche warnings, the road
out to Walter Peak has two
fords that are weather
dependant, so after some
muttering, I cancelled attempt
three. As I did not want to pay
tourist rates for a motel, I
researched options for a new
tent and bigger stretchers and
came up with a solution from
Adventure Kings. This
consisted of a 3m x 3m gazebo
into which you hang a tent
utilising the gazebo frame,
210cm x 90cm stretchers with
30mm mattresses, and XL
210cm x 90cm sleeping bags
with waterproof outers and
good down to -3c. Best feature
was it needed no tent pegs at
all, unless the wind got up
whereby you could put on the
optional guy ropes. After a
sales job on the Minister of
Finance, the gear was
purchased and attempt four
was set up for the next break in
the weather. There looked to
be a four to five day window of
fine/cloudy weather in the last
week of November so I put the
platform, Waeco fridge and
secondary batteries (one for
fridge and one for camp lights)
into the back seat area of the
BT-50 and packed all the
Adventure NZ
1. Ford at Gorge Burn.
2. Eroded hill sides above road.
3. Bush Creek bridge with ford
upstream.
4. Culvert at White Burn.
5. Looking down the steep hill
to Von River.
6. Old Nicholas homestead.
7. Ford at Station Burn.
camping gear in the tray ready
to go on attempt four of the
Te Anau trip.
Setting off from Geraldine
just after 8:30am, and being
patient with the many rental
cars, SUVs and camper vans
(some being driven erratically
at times), we got to Omarama
in time for a coffee break at
11:00am at the Wrinkly Ram.
While there we overheard the
conversation at the next table
where four guys were
discussing what their options
were because the Lindis Pass
was closed by a fatal accident
43
Adventure NZ
and would be shut for a least
six hours. Like many others,
we opted to go to Duntroon
and take the Danseys Pass
Road through to Naseby,
Alexandra and then back on
track at Cromwell.
Unfortunately, many others
were coming the other way
as well, many of whom were
in cars, not used to driving on
gravel and certainly not
keeping left around the
corners. After several near
misses and some very tight
squeezes to get past on the
one lane road, we made it
through with no damage.
This added 145km and 3.5
hours to our trip though. In
hindsight, it would have been
quicker, but further, to stay on
the tarseal and go right down
to Oamaru, Palmerston and
up the Pig Route to Ranfurly.
When we got to Cromwell,
the Lindis road was still
closed. When we got to
Kingston, the camp was full,
and the wind was blowing
44 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
down the lake, so we
continued to the Mossburn
campsite where we found
plenty of room out the back
in the non-powered sites. A
long day of 9.5 hours driving
so glad to pitch tent, get the
dinner on and crack a bevvy
from the Waeco.
Unfortunately, Mossburn
campsite had a pair of
2
peacocks which roamed free
through the camp and
screamed all night resulting in
very little sleep. It was a relief
to pack up and get on the
road. the shuttle pickup of the there is a bridge over Bush
From Mossburn we headed Around the Mountain Cycle Creek with a ford upstream if
up SH94, turned right into trail, a great long drop dunny you want to get the truck wet.
Centre Hill Road. After only and a picnic table. The road At 53km the culvert over White
3km we got on to the gravel through this valley was Burn showed signs of recent
which was in good condition relatively flat, in good flooding with erosion and
but dry and dusty. At 16km it condition and very dry and wood debris on the up side.
was right on to Mavora Lakes dusty. At 41km we came to Whilst the road was relatively
Road. At 34km we carried on the Ford at Gorge Burn which flat up to this point, at 55km
ahead on to Mount Nicholas was ankle deep. Along this we came to the steep hill up
Road (left was to the Mavora section there were big, eroded from the Von River South
Lakes). At 36km we stopped at hill faces indicating that there Branch gorge. Great to look
the Oreti River bridge for would be a lot of water down but I would think the
smoko. This has a shelter for run-off when raining. At 47km cyclists on the Around the

Mountain trail coming from
Walter Peak would be gutted
by the time they got to the
top. We had seen signs that
the road had been recently
graded and at the bottom of
this hill we met the grader so it
was very recent.
At 64km was the Old
Nicholas homestead which
we stopped to look around.
On the other side of the road
here was another shuttle
pickup shelter and long drop
4
dunny. Around the corner was
the ford at Station Burn which
again was ankle deep.
Continuing, there were views
of the Von River gorge on the
left until we came to the first
of the views of Lake Wakatipu
at about the 70km mark. We
carried on ahead at the
turnoff to Mt Nicholas Station
as we were going to Walter
Peak Station. From the road
you could look down to the
Mt Nicholas Station woolshed
by the shore of Lake Wakatipu,
across to the road going up
the far side of the lake to
Glenorchy and to the top end
of the lake at Glenorchy.
Stunning mountain scenery
around a blue lake. As we got
to Walter Peak Station (about
84km from SH94 turnoff) we
could see the Earnslaw had
just left Queenstown and the
RealNZ boat was arriving at
the jetty bringing tourists from
Queenstown across the lake
to have lunch, sheep handling
demonstrations and horse
riding. We waited to see the
Earnslaw tie up to the jetty but
decided to leave before the
200 or so tourists came
ashore – there was already
about that many milling
around the homestead from
the RealNZ boat, taking selfies
with random things in the
background. Lunch for us was
off the tailgate beside the road
overlooking the Von River on
the way back to Mavora Lakes.
This is a great road with
Adventure NZ
stunning scenery along the
whole length. On a fine day it
is brilliant, not so sure what it
would be like in the rain. We
met several groups of cyclists
who had been dropped off
earlier in the day at Walter
Peak, making sure we slowed
down well before them so
that they had a break in the
dust after we passed them.
The fords posed no problems
for us in the BT-50 but could
have stopped some cars.
Would be different after rain.
As a day trip, I would
thoroughly recommend the
trip out to Walter Peak
Station.
1. Mt Nicholas Station woolshed
on the shore of Lake
Wakatipu.
2. Walter Peak Station with
Queenstown on the far side of
Lake Wakatipu.
3. Walter Peak Station
homestead.
4. Earnslaw coming into jetty at
Walter Peak.
45
Weekend Drive

Hitched up and ready to leave

Alfredton Domain.

Touring the Puketoi Ranges

The K-Pod gets a shake-down
The starting point for this trip that Ashley for photos for this article without holding With the planning done we had time for
and I were running through the Puketoi everyone up. Since our final route was still a leisurely breakfast before the rest of the
Ranges for our 4WD club was Alfredton a little flexible, I decided to take the K-Pod group started to arrive to join us in a
Domain north of Masterton. with me rather than potentially having to pre-trip coffee. With the trip briefing over,
While this is a comfortable two hour run detour to pick it up on the way home. the first part of the trip was up Pori Rd to
from Wellington, the need for a post-winter
camp and shakedown trip for the K-Pod
was a perfect excuse to avoid an early start
by camping at the domain the previous
night.
I met up with Ashley and Gillian at the
domain late on the Saturday afternoon, and
while it was a bit cloudy and grey, it was
warm and fine enough to enjoy dinner
together in the peaceful surroundings
before I settled into the K-Pod for a very
comfortable night.
The next morning, we finalised our trip
planning, getting a clear route planned
through to the lunch break but leaving that
afternoon run a little flexible so that we
could adapt it to the time and the weather.
We had also planned that I would run at Misty views from Pori Rd.
the back of the convoy so that I could stop

46 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

 Weekend Drive

Heading up Coonoor Rd.

I stopped to enjoy the view from

a small bridge on Coonoor Rd.

47
Weekend Drive
Heading up Coonoor Rd.
The convoy snaking up
the upper end of Coonoor Rd.
The quarry at the top
of the Puketoi Ranges.
the southern end of the Puketoi Range,
then past the end of Puketoi Rd, which we
hoped to visit later in the day, and down
the other side to Makuri. Although not
hitting the ridgeline, the narrow and
unsealed road runs along the edge of a
very steep bluff for much of the way,
normally offering passengers spectacular
48 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
views over the Northern Wairarapa.
Unfortunately, on this trip the low cloud
and light drizzle that kept the dust down
also hid many of these views, however the
receding lines of hills disappearing into the
clouds had its own appeal.
Dropping down into the valley, we
followed the Makuri River up its valley on
The pine trees are now knee-high. In a few years
they will probably block the view totally.
Coonoor Road. This road was a mixture of
seal and well-graded gravel, and a very
attractive part of the trip with the sun
breaking through the low cloud and mist to
highlight the rich green grass of the
surrounding farmland. I stopped a number
of times on this section to take
photographs and enjoy the almost
spring-like weather, and finally caught up
with the convoy again at the Pipinui Falls
car park for the short walk up to the falls. A
nice walk, and the bush-shrouded falls
create a very pleasant environment but it is
limited in terms of photo opportunities as
the falls are slowly being hidden by the
growing native bush.
We continued up Coonoor Rd, turning
right at the intersection to climb over the
ridgeline at 600m. Just before the top, the
road opens up into the truck turn-around
and loading area for a quarry, which can be
a bit confusing in low cloud. The road does,
however, continue straight through and
out the other side of the open area. Luckily
the quarry does not seem to operate over
the weekend. Descending from the ridge
line, I stopped for a few photos of the new
plantation forest and was pleasantly
surprised to find that for once there was
only a light wind. On an earlier trip the
wind there had been so strong I almost
couldn’t open the door to get back in the
car after taking photos.
I trailed the convoy all the way down to
our lunch stop at Waihi Falls, finally
catching up just as we reached the falls. It
was still cool and largely cloudy, but the
sheltered picnic table made a pleasant
communal lunch spot, and the walk down
to the waterfall gave some after-lunch
exercise.
 Weekend Drive

Waihi Falls from the upper viewing

platform. Little walking required.

A quick lunchtime planning session

gave us a route back that skipped visiting
Akitio in favour of a meander along a
range of backroads between the ranges
and Route 52, which is part of a pleasant
back route that avoids the main SH2
between Eketahuna and Waipukurau. We
finally rejoined Route 52 near the little
township of Kohiku, and followed it
generally south turning off at the sign for
Otapawa Station and camping area, and
heading back up into the Ranges on
Puketoi Rd. Our plan was to use this as a
way back up onto Pori Rd then follow Pori
The falls are even more impressive from the
Rd back down to Alfredton, the reverse of bottom. And so is the walk back up again.
the morning route. After about 5km of
narrow, twisty, unsealed road we came to
a gate and a sign stating that the road
continued as an unmaintained road, with
warnings about having a suitable 4WD
vehicle. The road continues as a benched
track across open farmland, and in
summer is an easy, although sometimes
bumpy, run. However in winter it can get
churned up by stock and get very greasy,
and it can be signposted as closed if the
locals consider it not safe for general use,
although I have never found the gate
locked. We carried on for a few more
kilometres and through a few quite
slippery sections before we found a more We drove through extensive new pine plantations.
This road will feel very different in a few years.
challenging slippery uphill section with a
tree trunk blocking most of the road.
Given this was a touring trip with most the K-Pod, and get past it to turn around, over for the final run back to Alfredton and
vehicles not set up to deal with very but in organising to get everyone turned the end of another fun club touring trip.
muddy conditions, and we had already around we found an access track into a After everyone else took off I treated
had one near-recovery out of a ditch, we hill paddock that was a perfect place to myself to an afternoon coffee and cake
decided to call it before things got too back the K-Pod and turn without needing break in the peace and quiet of the
bad. Of course, my challenge now was to to disconnect it. I was now at the front of domain before an easy run back over the
turn the car and K-Pod. I had had the the convoy so led everyone back down to Rimutuka Hill Rd to the Hutt Valley and
foresight to park up where I could drop Route 52 where the real trip leader took home to end a very enjoyable outing.

49
HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS

Great Kiwi
off-road experiences
Five top southern holiday must-do trips

It’s well known that Kiwis have stored

most of their scenic treasures south of
Cook Strait.
The geographic oddity is a source of
wonder to our cousins across the ditch,
so NZ4WD asked longtime supporters of
the magazine at Redarc what their top
five spots were. No surprises, they are all
South Island offroad camping/trekking
gems:

Macetown
The track to Macetown begins in the
historic Chinese settlement town in
Arrowtown. The initial crossing of the
Arrow River sets the pace for the rest of
the 15km drive, which can include up
to 25 water crossings. The track ends at
Macetown, a historic settlement from Skippers Canyon.

New Zealand’s gold mining days. Though

it is well posted with signage about the
area, a booklet can be picked up from
the Arrowtown museum with more
information about the history of the area.
The track to Macetown is a narrow,
single vehicle track that traverses
waterfalls, high bluffs and sheer drops so
having a 4WD is necessary. With the
number of water crossings, always check
the depth before crossing and a snorkel is
highly recommended. Packing recovery
gear is also recommended in case of
emergency. This track is often shared with
walkers and mountain bikers, so be
careful.
Skippers Canyon
Located in the south west, Skippers
Canyon track follows a 27km gravel road
rated one of the world’s top 10 most
Macetown.
dangerous roads. Cut from the side of
the mountain by miners over 140 years
ago, it hugs the cliff face looking down
a sheer drop of almost 100 metres. The
Skippers Canyon Road eventually crosses
over Skippers Bridge, a suspension bridge
above the Shotover River. At 91 metres
above the river, Skippers Canyon Road is
one of the most thrilling drives in New
Zealand.
As a single lane road, it’s incredibly
narrow along majority of the drive,
making overtaking impossible. This means
that if vehicle is travelling in the opposite
direction, one party will have to reverse.
Take it slow as this is a mountain road
and there are many hairpin and blind
turns. With no guard rail there is very little
room for error. Most insurance companies
will void insurance if a claim is made for
damage or loss on Skippers.

Clarence Valley
Located on private land, Clarence
Valley lies in the valley that runs
between the inward and seaward
Kaikoura Mountain Ranges. It traverses
one of the most remote parts of New
Zealand. To gain access to the track,
contact Muzzle Station and pay the

50 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

 rough sections that are not
recommended in wet conditions. As
Oteake is a conservation park, do no
venture off the tracks. Many of the tracks
are often difficult to reverse or pass other
traffic so always be wary of surroundings
and only drive to your ability. Recovery
gear is always recommended in case of
emergency.
Weather conditions should also be
checked prior heading out and then
monitored along the way. A large amount
of Oteake is considered high alpine
therefore weather conditions can change
extremally rapidly.
Clarence Valley.

Molesworth Recreation Reserve/Station

$100 access fee. Within the valley are Conservation, and there are several access Located in the Marlborough region,
several Department of Conservation points on both the Otago and Canterbury Molesworth Station is New Zealand’s
huts for camping. They’re all accessible sides of the park. largest farm and contains the Severn to
by 4WD and positioned adjacent to the East Manukerikia Track, which follows a Sedgemere and Rainbow-Hamner 4WD
Clarence river. popular, well-formed track and climbs Road. Only open from January to mid-
Due to the snow the Clarence Valley steadily to the Little Omarama Saddle to February each year, it’s surrounded by a
track is impassable in winter, even with a Mt Buster or Mt Kyeburn track, has steep, stunning mountain range.
4WD. The weather should also be taken
into consideration when looking at
visiting Clarence Valley as many of the
roads have large drop-offs either side and
shouldn’t be driven when wet. As Muzzle
is still a working station, all gates should
be left as they’re found as a courtesy to
the owners.

Oteake Conservation Park

Only open between Labour Weekend and
the 30th of April, Oteake Conservation
Park has several four-wheel drive tracks.
With six different tracks which range
between 14 to 34km long, there is
something for every calibre of 4WDer. The Molesworth.
park is maintained by the Department of

As Molesworth is a working station,

make sure to leave all gates as they have
been found. In order to protect native
plants and wildlife, dogs are always
prohibited. four-wheel drives need to
stick to the tracks and high clearance
vehicles are recommended as the track
can get quite rough with the disuse over
winter. There is no mobile phone
coverage within the station, so always be
prepared with recovery gear in case of
emergency. Camping: there are several
Department of Conservation huts and
camps along the way.

For the 4WDers feeling the north has

been left out, check back next month
Oteake. and there’s a list of northern camp/
adventure spots being assembled.

51
 rand Prix action
Offroad G

Gravel
flies
Youth event
at TECT Park

52 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024


The year ahead
Spectacular action at trials series
The 2023/2024 Lucas Oil NZ 4×4 Trials
Series kicked off in early November 2023
at the City Pavements National 4X4 Trial in
Waiterimu.
Counties 4 Wheelers hosted the first
round of the season in the Waikato near
Huntly, in a dry and challenging day.
During the day there were six DNFs and a
further five that broke before the finish,
however completing at least 75 percent to
score a placing.
Mitchell Caldow and Jamie Elms came
away with the win and an early lead in
the series.
At the second round, the series
standings were shaken up with Scott
Biggs and Phil Walton taking the event
win ahead of Chris Gifford and Shaun
Joblin.
A benefit to the community
Rounds of the series often fundraise for
worthy organisations. In August 2023,
Waipuna Hospice benefited to the tune
of $15,000 from three muddy motorsport
events.
Bay of Plenty Four Wheel Drive Club has
hosted three rounds of the 4X4 national
trial series at the Powdrell property in
Rangiuru Rd over the past four years, each
time making a donation to the hospice
Te Puke St John has also received
money from the funds raised at this year’s
round in February.
“With the help of the Powdrell family
and BF Goodrich, from three events in four
calendar years we have raised $15,000 for
Waipuna Hospice and $3000 for Te Puke
St John,” says club member and C class
4X4 champion Nathan Fogden.
4WD Sport
Image by 4WD Trials/Sam Bolton.
Manukau kicks off racing year
For the second year running, the New
Zealand Offroad Racing Championship
year kicks off at Manukau’s purpose-
built stadium short course venue near
Auckland airport.
Defending national champion Carl
Ruiterman can start a campaign to record
his third straight outright title, while Leigh
Bishop will be looking to once more
dominate class eight for unlimited trucks.
Given the unbeatable form of
Ruiterman and Bishop in the past two
years, drivers of the fastest cars in the
sport will also be pushing hard to score an
early points advantage in the seven-round
championship. Brad Harvey and Justin
Davies have been wheel-to-wheel in their
class 1 cars and can be expected to
continue their duel in 2024.
53
4WD Sport
Nick Hall.
Ruiterman takes Grand Prix title
Bishop best of six-strong truck entry
Carl Ruiterman is fast becoming the ‘man
who can’t stop winning’.
Driving his Yamaha YZX UTV, Ruiterman
won the Mickey Thompson Offroad
Grand Prix at Manukau 26 November
2023.
He was dominant throughout class-by-
class heats and then won the class and the
outright title with rising star Holly Russell
Carl Ruiterman
celebrates his title.
54 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
second and Ed Hiestand third.
Leigh Bishop has his truck well dialled-
in for the fast and demanding Colin Dale
track, and was the fastest of a six-strong
truck entry, fending off challengers from
Nick Hall, Ash Carlyle and others and
winning the truck title.
Others had a torrid time in their heats.
Keri Louie had been hard at work
upgrading the Troll Racing Thundertruck
and the Grand Prix was the first outing for
the new-spec truck, having fitted a new
camshaft to the Chev LS3 engine and
tuned it to develop more power.
Changes had been made to the
drivetrain and suspension, all aimed at
giving the truck a faster entrance and exit
in the corners.
The truck now runs 35-inch Mickey
Thompson Boss MT fitted to 17X9” Dirty
Life DT1 Beadlock race wheels.
In one heat, Louie found himself
tangled with two other competitors, and
the Troll Racing truck took a big hit to the
passenger-side rear panel and door. The
rear fiberglass panel was completely
ripped off its mounts.
After some hard work in the pits, the
truck was back out and Louie finished the
day third in class.
Nick Leahy also had a spectacular
crash, though he recovered to be third
Prolite for the day – minus most of the
truck’s bodywork.
The youth Kiwitruck classes were won
by the Rowberry family – Zac taking out
J class and Luke winning the more
modified M class.
 4WD Sport

Brad Harvey. Bruce McKeown.

Lazboy KiwiTrucks
1st J26 Zac Rowberry
2nd J10 Mateo Hackett
3rd J11 Jack Rice

Lazboy KiwiModifieds
1st M58 Luke Rowberry
2nd M29 Vincent Joy
3rd M10 Enzo Hackett

Lucas Oil Superbug

1st 798 Asher Morgan
Keri Louie, post-crash. Justin Davies. 2nd 712 Chris Wright

Lucas Oil Challenger

1st C01 Dave Maggs

Lucas Oil LiteBuggy

1st 551 Holly Russell
2nd 584 Bradley Scott
3rd 517 Nick Magness

ENZED ProBuggy
1st 377 Mike Gibson
2nd 355 Lindsay Pointon
3rd 356 Shaun Dickins

Polaris Ultra2
1st 1082 Ed Heistand
2nd 1032 Scott Buckley

CT Civil Ultra4
1st U22 Carl Ruiterman
2nd U31 Shane McWatt
3rd U72 Scott Mitchell

Polaris Ultra4Turbo
1st S75 Aaron Rogers

Federal Tires Pro1

1st 196 Justin Davies
2nd 162 Dan Fromings
3rd 144 Brad Harvey

Cooper Tires ProLite

Ash Carlyle. 1st 861 Nick Hall
2nd 886 Ash Carlyle
3rd 887 Nick Leahy
Leigh Bishop. Dan Fromings.
Dunlop Pro2
1st 863 Leigh Bishop

Carlton Party Hire Pro4

1st 860 Keri Louie

Overall Winners
1st U22 Carl Ruiterman
2nd 551 Holly Russell
3rd 1082 Ed Heistand

55
4WD Sport
Nurturing the next champions
A day for young racers at TECT Park
William Stuart flung his class 7 around to the limits of its handling.
For the second year running,
a group of dedicated Waikato
Offroad Racing Club members
have staged an event focusing
on the next wave of racers: the
youth Kiwitruck category.
Held on the club’s purpose-
designed short course track at
the TECT Park near Tauranga,
the Super Fly race day attracted
11 young racers across the
category’s J and M classes.
Also invited this year were
56 NZ4WD
4WD FEBRUARY 2024
racers under 18 who have
graduated to the sport’s main
classes.
There were in-class heats
and a longer enduro race, with
prizegiving, trophies and
product prizes afterward.
The event was combined
with the club’s end of year
celebration, with a BBQ
camp-out on the Saturday
evening and an all-comers ‘fun
laps’ day on the Sunday.
 4WD Sport

Zac Rowbery.

Jack Rice leads the

pack into the infield hairpin. Jack Doland.

Vincent Joy. Lucy McKay.

Sareena Paterson ahead

of Kenna Baker.

Luke Rowbery.

Dylan Buckley.

Results
J class M class U-18s
Zac Rowberry Lucy McKay Kenna Baker
Jack Rice Luke Rowbery William Stuart
Bryn Willetts Lachlan McWatt Serena Paterson
Jack Doland Vincent Joy
Tanner Willetts
Dylan Buckley

57
COLUMN
DIRT NATION WITH BRYAN CHANG
North Island, truck central
Is the north taking over truck racing in
New Zealand? After Leigh Bishop came
south to win the Thundertruck (class 8)
category at Kurow, there’s a yawning
silence from southern truck racers.
The Preston Toyota V8 is massively
competitive, but hasn’t been seen for
ages.
The Giti Chev is sitting in the shad,
awaiting a clean-up and some fresh fuel.
Darrin Thomason really should be out
there as well, but seems to have been
distracted by stock car racing.
Trevor Cooper has one and a half trucks
in his garage, but sometimes turns out in
a UTV. What?
A northern racer has also bought the
58 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Prolite imported from the USA by Gary
Baker, it’s a grab-bag of goodies that won’t
take too much to turn out for racing.
Gary’s waiting on a slow supplier in the
US to supply rocker arms for the class 8
truck he bought from Joel Giddy, but both
his girls are likely to front this year in
Yamaha UTVs.
Allan Joy’s mad Thundertruck beast is
also being revived for racing. It had a fairly
ugly plastic body over a full tube frame
with Nascar-level engine. They’ll likely
need a fuel sponsor, that thing’s
spectacular but it does like a drink.
Nick Hall’s still out there in the Vertex
Toyota Chev.
Keri Louie’s got some damage to fix
Bruce Mckeown dives hard into a downhill
right turn at the Grand Prix
after the Offroad Grand Prix where his
stunning truck took a huge hit in the door,
but he will be back.
Nick Leahy’s also nursing damage from
the same event, where the trucks (six of
them) got a bit over-excited and fiberglass
flew in clouds over the track.
Ash Carlyle escaped the mayhem
unscathed and says the truck is much
improved after some suspension work.
Bruce McKeown is getting quicker and
quicker in his truck, though like many he’s
up for some body panel repairs after the
Grand Prix.
And Leigh Bishop, champion of
everything in truck racing, heads into
2024 ready to do it all again.
 “I have raced on other brands of tyres but haven’t found anything else that can offer as much
traction as the GT Radial Komodo. Whether racing, going off-road or simply from A to B give
them a go, you won’t be disappointed.”
Bryan Chang

GT Savero Komodo Extreme GT Savero Komodo MT GT Adventuro AT3 Giti AT70

www .gtradial.co.nz
Photo taken by Mark Baker
COLUMN
GEOFFZONE BY GEOFF ANDERS
We have learned 4WD truths operating
scooters, trikes, roller skates, bikes,
skateboards. Here are some basics.
• Wheels operate easily in their rolling
direction. Attempts to move them
sideways may be risky.
• Small diameter wheels drop into holes
that big wheels go over. We may topple,
electric city scooters do this.
• Wheels get caught in ruts – bike wheels
get caught in railway tracks.
• Low tyre pressures make for hard
pedalling and higher fuel consumption.
Very low pressures may damage
sidewalls and wheel rims, cause crashes.
• Riding wiggly – slalom fashion – is fun.
Until at some point it may unravel and
punt you off! Happens to 4WDs also.
• Looking well ahead for hazards is
advantageous to our health. Assessing
potential hazards is also advised – could
another vehicle, animal or person
unexpectantly occupy the space you will
need?
• On sand or snow never stop in a hollow,
it may be impossible to drive out of.
Pre-plan to stop on a rise from where
you can restart downhill or possibly turn
around. Conserve vehicle momentum.
• Lowering of tyre pressures for off-road
driving – ‘airing down’ – is common and
often essential. 4WD AT or MT tyres are
constructed to allow this. It is common
to reduce pressures into the 20s (psi) for
rough tracks. For more extreme soft
terrain/mud conditions 15psi may be
useful, though this risks a tyre forced off
the rim if attempting abrupt turns. Airing
down makes the tyre footprint much
bigger, which increases traction, reduces
suspension bounce, disturbance to the
terrain, and leaves less trace. It’s also
easier on suspension, transmission,
passengers and your lunch.
• Following airing down, tyres must be
returned to normal pressures for
highway driving so carrying, and
60 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
Truths
knowing how to use, a compressor is a
must. Don’t buy a small one – our tyres
hold a lot of air.
• Compressors have three ratings –
voltage, pressure and volume. Almost all
are 12V. Most claim over 100psi pressure,
we are unlikely to need more than 40psi.
The crucial figure is its volume – look for
at least 50lpm (litres per minute),
preferably over 100Lpm.
• Compressors draw high current from
your battery, though for only a few
minutes. Speed it up and help the battery
by idling the engine while pumping. This
raises the available voltage from 12 to 14
volts and allows the alternator to supply
the power. Connect direct to the battery
terminals. A compressor to a ciggy
lighter (10Amp rating) will blow its fuse.
• The compressor pressure gauge will
probably read high when pumping.
Check with a hand-held gauge until you
understand any error.
• I often see drivers on tracks on road
pressures. This is lazy and selfish on their
part. On loose surfaces, particularly loose
climbs, tyres at road pressures will roll
rocks out of the track, damaging it.
They’ll spit stones that may damage
windscreens or lamps of a following
vehicle (I recently had to replace a blinker
lens because of that). Please don’t do it.
Air down, we want to go there again and
lights on modern 4WDs are very
expensive!
• Some drivers of part-time 4WDs love to
off-road in 2WD thinking they are more
skilled drivers. They are not. Using 2WD
causes worse damage than pressures too
high. Don’t do it on farm or DOC tracks
or anywhere that skidmarks will be seen
– they often remain visible for decades
and result in loss of access.
• Similarly – driving slow tracks in high
range is hard on transmissions. Low
range is there for those times. Use it.
• On rocky trails assess stone shapes.
Riverbed rocks are usually rounded from
wear so are easy on tyres though they
sometimes split from damage or frost,
leaving razor sharp edges.
• Hill tracks often have sharp stones that
will slice tyre side-walls for an instant
flatty. Low profile semi-offroad tyres
suffer badly from this. Avoid running
wheels over or against them.
• On or off-highway use the two-second
rule when following another. Two
seconds is not ‘One, two’. It’s (as spoken
slowly) ‘One thousand and one, one
thousand and two’.
• If the sun is to your left or right, the road
shadows of vehicles ahead may show
their spacing and size.
• On wet roads the brake lights of the
vehicle two ahead may reflect beneath
the one you are following.
• At night – if you can’t see a pair of bright
white dots on the car ahead, your
headlights may not be on! If an
approaching vehicle has no lights flash
yours.
• Fences and power pole lines may
indicate road direction – but not always.
• Windows of roadside buildings may
reflect the vehicle ahead or behind.
• Beware ‘left-hand-drive’ tourists. We are
taught to keep left – they to ‘keep right’
so on our roads they hug the centreline
and we can’t see past them. Be alert for
them pulling out onto the wrong side
and I’ve seen them U-turn on our roads
– pulling across to the right-hand verge,
do a left-hand U-turn then continue on
the side they began from, poised for a
head-on with one of us. Seen it twice,
luckily without crashes.
• If you are new to 4WDing and wish to
get serious – join a 4WD club. Not just
an unknown social media group of
random people with random or zero
experience. Join a well-known club
that’s been around for a long time and
has serious depth of experience.

Back in December, a posting on the New
Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association
(NZFWDA) Facebook page drew a few
comments, it read, “Please use your public
land responsibly and enjoy your access
while it lasts”.
It was actually a copy of a posting from
Arizona that was borrowed but is equally
relevant here too. Several comments
suggested that the NZFWDA is not doing
enough to prevent closures of 4WD routes
on public land.
A reality is that our recreation has
become so popular and unfortunately
regarded by some participants as ‘anti-
establishment’, in a similar vein as the ‘boy
racer’ image. As long as we have drivers
with that attitude, we will all continue to be
seen in the same light.
The NZFWDA is doing, and has done, a
great amount of advocacy to maintain the
public land access that we have in New
Zealand, however as a member funded,
volunteer administered organisation, that
effort will probably never be enough to
counter the increasingly negative
perception of four wheeling.
Maybe in this new year, there will be a
recognition that the concept of
sustainability is something to be
acknowledged by that rebel element, or
maybe I’m just fantasising?
I know that the NZFWDA has put
considerable effort into projects around the
Auckland region with its continued
population growth. There’s the Maratoto
4WD track on the lower Coromandel
Department of Conservation land, where
the NZFWDA takes responsibility for the
sustainable maintenance at an annual cost
of around $4000, and that’s without
accounting for the volunteer time of the
crew doing the work!
If things have gone to plan, about now
there will be a NZFWDA supported effort to
cut back vegetation on Thompsons Track
in the Kaimai Range to improve sight lines
VAHRYOUS THOUGHTS BY PETER VAHRY
Getting it right
for a Matamata Piako District Council
digger contractor who will be doing work
to repair vehicle and water created damage
to that popular route. The NZFWDA and the
Council are working towards a
memorandum of understanding (MOU)
that will allow the NZFWDA to be directly
involved in efforts to maintain the future
sustainability of Thompsons Track. There
are precedents around NZ, such as a MOU
between the Cross Country Vehicle Club
and the Wellington City Council since 2016.
It is however highly likely that it will no
longer be an option to drive Thompsons
Track across the Kaimai Range to the
Katikati side, as from the summit the
management shifts to the Western Bays
District Council, who have advanced plans
to ban motorised vehicles from their side
and create a walking and cycle route only.
There are an increasing number of
‘clean-up’ type events being organised by
the informal internet groups and some 4x4
accessory suppliers, which are attracting
interest. This is welcomed, however the
chance of duplication is growing, when
public land and beaches are having vehicle
access restricted. Some scheduling may
need to be managed to spread out such
activities.
Interest is also growing in the fund
raising 4x4 ‘safaris’ that are proliferating
around the country. Some have a
recognised 4WD club involved in the
running of the event, while others are
semi-commercial ventures. While these
safaris offer great opportunities to get to
COLUMN
see some wonderful landscapes beyond
the realm of most four wheelers, they do
have some inherent risks.
Vehicle insurance is an obvious one, as
not all vehicle insurers provide cover when
a vehicle is off a formed road. It is vital to
check that you have suitable insurance
before taking part in a safari or tour, even if
it is just third party liability cover. You may
not consider your 4WD is worth insuring,
but consider the potential cost to you if
your vehicle damages something with
value? Visit a panel beater these days and it
becomes painfully obvious how much
some 4WD vehicles cost to repair! A driving
error on a farm track could result in
damage to fencing that would need to be
paid for, and that third party cover might be
useful.
4WD clubs involved in activities raising
money need to be aware that any liability
insurance they think they have may be
voided by the fund-raising/ commercial
aspect, and must check to see if their
insurance still applies. An incident that
results in environmental damage could
well end up in the Environment Court at a
very significant cost to all involved!
It is all about managing risk these days,
whether it’s personal, organisation or
environmental and can’t be ignored.
Common sense it used to be called.
Whatever it is now called, we need to try to
encourage the whole 4WD community to
think about what the eventual outcomes of
our behaviours will be. If we can get it right,
we might not lose all access to public land.
61
TECH TALK

Maximising grip with a locker

Which diff is best for what use?
With a bewildering range of diff lock
options available the question often
arises: which one works best and where?
Distinct from a conventional open diff
and different from a limited slip diff,
lockers tie a wheel with low or no grip to
its opposite partner, meaning a vehicle
can maintain forward motion.
Many 4WDs can now be specced from
factory with locking diffs – rear, front-
rear and centre. Electric lockers are
generally ball-race type, activated by an
electromagnet. They do generate heat in
operation, which makes them best
suited to recreational use. Many top end
4WDs have info screens that include a
page of temperature displays for
components, enabling users to keep
heat within an acceptable range.
Stock locking diffs are gentle in
operation, with an eye to limiting
stresses on other driveline components.
Aftermarket options can be quite the diff or its oil. locker can be engaged while on the
assertive in their engagement. Air The air locker does require a move.
lockers, beloved of the trials fraternity, compressor to be carried on the vehicle. Air lockers are used by almost all of
simply use compressed air to activate The locking force of an air locker is the competitors in Ultra 4 events and the
the locking function, adding no heat to between 300 and 400kg and the air King of the Hammers in the USA.

62 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024

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63
COLUMN
TORQUE TALK BY ASHLEY LUCAS
Taking the long way home
Recently I got to return the favour of
travelling in Australia’s outback with David
Metcalfe of Xtreme 4x4 Sport in Australia.
David was flying into New Zealand for a
national pistol shooting competition and
I was his driver, gofer, and tour guide for
the week.
The competition was in Wanganui and
it would be a quick trip down there but
we would have a day for sightseeing on
the trip back north. To show David a bit
of ‘outback’ or rural NZ we would go
through Fordell and then north through
Mangamahu, the Upper Whangaehu
Valley Road and the Burma Hill route
eventually coming out at Karioi. The
original ‘track’ back in the 1890s was over
the Ridge Road, known back then as
Hales Track. I first drove this road in 1999
and there wasn’t much of a road back
then. The second time was 2007 about
three months after the Lahar from Mt
Ruapehu which totally opened up the
river.
The Mangamahu area was a busy
farming area in the 1900’s but when the
Main Trunk railway line was completed its
importance as a transport hub shrunk
greatly and the Ridge Road was closed in
1922 when a new River Road was put in
under the bluffs following the Whangaehu
River. By 1945 Mangamahu village had a
school, general store, bus and taxi service,
a general carrier and timber mill.
Mangamahu is roughly 40km from Fordell
and the first significant building you come
64 NZ4WD FEBRUARY 2024
to is the Mangamahu Church. A short
distance on is the old Mangamahu Hotel,
a wooden building built in 1893
containing twenty rooms, twelve well-
furnished bedrooms, four sitting-rooms, a
large dining-room, a billiard-room and of
course the bar.
Stopping for yet another photo from
the entrance the owner was sitting
outside enjoying the sunshine and came
over to chat. Mere Keating owns the
place, having purchased the hotel in 1974,
two years after it served its last beer. She
talked about some of the history of the
place and how during her ownership it
has been used as a retreat for artists to
stay and work. She showed us the mile
marker from the old coach days which is
out the front and offered to let us have a
look inside.
Being Australian David can’t pass a pub
without going in, even a pub with no
beer, and jumped at this are opportunity
and it was like stepping back in time. The
bar is still as it was all those years ago and
still has a ‘yard glass’ on the wall behind
the bar. A visitor’s book also sits on the
bar top. Just inside the door is the
infamous ‘Possum painting’ done by Philip
Clairmont who supposedly then shot it.
The building is in need of roof repairs
and Mere Keating is going to set up a
donation page to help raise funds for the
historic building’s repairs.
The 1989 comedy Came a Hot Friday
starring Billy-T James is about two 1940s
con-men, and had some woolshed and
river scenes filmed at Mangamahu. A
suspension bridge was specially built over
the Whangaehu River at Tokorangi farm
for a car crash at the end of the film.
Moving on we travelled north through
the Whangaehu Valley and the old
suspension bridges built across the river
to allow access to the few farming
stations still operating in the area. The
bridges were built around 1953-54 and
the huge supporting steel cables go over
the road into the steep cliffs on the other
side of the road. The road is constantly
been repaired due to slips and rock falls
onto the road and it is somewhat wider
now than the first time I went through.
The 2007 Lahar certainly did some
damage to access, as it swept clear the
river banks.
All along the drive we had sightings of
pheasants, peacocks and peahens plus a
few wild goats. At the top of the Burma
Hill Road you have to be aware of the
farmer’s gates that can be closed when he
moves stock. Exiting Burma Hill Road onto
the Whangaehu Valley Road, it was such a
nice day we got glimpses of Mount
Ruapehu and once back onto Highway 49
at Karioi we headed towards Waiouru but
we weren’t done with the Whangaehu
River just yet. A compulsory stop at the
Tangiwhai Memorial site to take in the
history of the Tangiwai Disaster on 24
December 1953 when a Lahar from
Mount Ruapehu took out the railway
bridge and the train fell into the raging
waters at night claiming the lives of 151
people. Mangamahu local settlers
recovered the bodies of about sixty
victims from out of the river gorges near
Mangamahu over the following four
weeks.
A nice drive through a beautifully
remote and almost forgotten part of New
Zealand taking in some history along the
way.
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65
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