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4X4

Should offroad trailers be banned?

18 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Every time we head off into the outback the percentage of 4WDs towing something has increased. There are good reasons for the trailer-mania; modern vehicles have power to spare and make excellent towcars, people need (want) to take more stuff on holiday and there’s a thriving trailer manufacturer industry which has spawned an equally active […]

4X4

Mitsubishi Pajero, Triton and Challenger Flex

17 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Which has the longest suspension travel? Pajero – fully-independent, coils Triton – independent coil front, live axle leaf rear Challenger – independent coil front, live axle coil rear These photos always stir up a bit of debate so to pre-empt some of it — yes this is not a scientific test so make of it […]

4X4

Keystarting on hills – but what if you can’t?

15 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Hills are one of the most dangerous techniques you can encounter when you’re offroading, and you’re not always going to successfully climb every hill you attempt. So it’s very important to have a good, safe technique for the times when things don’t quite go according to plan. There’s lots of detail in the Handbook on […]

4X4

Snatch block loads

14 August 2020 Robert Pepper

If the force required to move the tree is X, and a snatch block is used on another tree to reverse the pull (not shown), then what is the approximate force the winch will produce (Y) and what is the force on the tree with the snatch block (Z) ? a) Y = 0.5 X, […]

4X4

What’s the load on twin recovery points with a bridle?

13 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Here’s a question recently posed on the Facebook page: This vehicle is stuck and needs a 1500kg pull to move. A bridle has been used as part of the recovery system. What is the total load on each of the recovery points? a) 3000kg b) 1500kg c) somewhere between 750 and 1500kg d) 750kg e) […]

4X4

Australian 4X4ing for non-Aussies

10 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Every country has its own, identifiable landscapes and I believe each has its own “carscapes” as well. In the case of offroad tourers the former is a direct influence on the latter, so Australia’s vast distances and open tracks mean the average 4WD is quite different to most other places. It is always dangerous to […]

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Snakes and 4X4s

9 August 2020 Robert Pepper

When you go bush you enter the territory of our native animals, and for a harmonious relationship it’s best to understand your environment. Are snakes feared because they are misunderstood, or misunderstood because they are feared? The fact is that most of Australia’s 500 snakebites per year happen to professionals or people being silly, and […]

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Types of north

8 August 2020 Robert Pepper

The three main types of north are: • Magnetic North – is north as defined by a compass or the magnetic pole of the world. Magnetic north is currently somewhere in the Hudson Bay in northern Canada and is moving northwest at about 40km per year. However, do not expect it to end up in […]

4X4

Amarok or Range Rover Sport? Or Discovery 4 or Landcruiser 200 Series?

7 August 2020 Robert Pepper

I am now considering the eight speed Amarok auto due out in July I believe. Possible issue: no transfer case/low range. Any thoughts please? Do you think that it could be as bush capable if compensated by an ultra low first and associated traction controls? I believe that you may have intimated in your latest book that low range […]

4X4

Why softroaders have to travel more slowly

5 August 2020 Robert Pepper

The Freelander 2 has a respectable ground clearance of 220mm, very good for its class. Some bigger 4WDs such as the Patrol and LandCruiser 100 only make 210mm, the LandCruiser Prado is 207. So surely they can travel at the same speed on rough roads? Not the case. Firstly by rough roads I mean a […]

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