4×4 Magazine

CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA 52 4x4Australia.com.au

AFTER AN INCIDENT WITH A SWAMP THAT KILLED HIS FIRST MODIFIED NAVARA, ROGUE 2.0 WAS SIMON TAYLOR’S CHANCE TO BUILD AN EVEN BETTER OFF-ROAD WEAPON 4x4Australia.com.au 53

CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA SOMETIMES there are positives as well as tackle rocky technical terrain. that arise from negative When asked what he likes about the situations. For martial arts gym owner Simon Taylor, creator NP300 Navara platform as a vehicle to of this wildly modified Nissan build up into his ideal daily driver and Navara, the positive outcome escape machine, Simon had this to say: “I’ve from an incident involving his first Navara always liked the shape of the NP300. It’s an called Rogue 1.0, and what he describes affordable base vehicle that ends up being as a car-killing swamp, is that he had the very capable with the coil-sprung rear end. opportunity to build a new Navara and The inspiration for this build comes from make it his ideal version of a modified four- American pre-runners, and I always wanted wheel drive. In saying that, it’s probably for to inject that style into the build.” the best if we don’t mention said swamp again … Job well done, mate, as this is certainly a striking custom Navara that looks to be Rogue 2.0 started life as a bog stock 2019 a hoot to drive on tough tracks. Let’s take Nissan Navara, which he chose to purchase a closer look at what makes Rogue 2.0 a again as he was chasing a vehicle that he special off-roader and see what Simon has could comfortably travel long distances in, learned about modifying an NP300 the second time around. \"THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS BUILD COMES FROM AMERICAN PRE-RUNNERS, AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO INJECT THAT STYLE INTO THE BUILD\" 54 4x4Australia.com.au

COOL BOOST Hidden behind the neat Shoreline front bar, is an upgraded intercooler, for cooler intake temps when on boost. ROGUE RUNNER Inspired by pre-runner- style 4x4s from the USA, Simon opted for this unique custom spare wheel carrier. 4x4Australia.com.au 55

CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA STRETCHABILITY The 11-inch Superior Engineering remote res shocks provide plenty of flex and a good ride, says Simon. IN CONTROL After lifting the front end 3.5 inches, Simon had to install a set of SPC upper control arms to get things back in order. SUSPENSION At the rear of the NP300, Simon has gone with a lower two-inch raised tapered AS Simon alluded to, one of the major coil spring, to give him the nose-up pre- benefits of the NP300 platform is the fact runner look that was the inspiration for it has a coil-sprung, live rear axle with his build. Superior Engineering remote res a traditional 5-link suspension design shocks were also installed in the rear – fun similar to what you’d see in a GQ or GU fact, they were originally designed for a Nissan Patrol. Not only does this ride Nissan Patrol and offer 11 inches of travel. better than most leaf-spring set-ups, the ability to customise and enhance the off- To get the best from the rear end road performance of the Navara is next flex-wise, Simon opted for Superior level. Engineering upper and lower trailing arms, which are much beefier than the Starting with the front, Simon had a pair stock units. Simon also had an adjustable of four-inch raised Superior Engineering Panhard rod installed, to keep the axle remote res 8-stage adjustable struts centred after the lift, as well as beef up with 3.5-inch taller King springs, to give another potential failure point. Coil drop- the big Nav some altitude.To make this out cones and retainers also make their amount of lift work as well as possible, way into the list of goodies, as do extended Simon also opted for SPC upper control braided brake lines to cope with the new- arms, SuperPro offset bushes in the lower found additional down travel. control arms, and an ATI diff drop.The diff drop is necessary to allow the CV While the NP300 isn’t a big ute, Simon joints to operate at a more suitable angle has managed to shoehorn a massive set after lifting the front end 3.5 inches; and of 315x70R17, or basically a 35-inch tyre, the upper control arms allow for correct under the guards. Simon’s tyre of choice suspension geometry, better wheel is the ever-popular Maxxis RAZR mud- alignment and more clearance between terrain, which he has mounted to a great- the coil springs and upper control arm. looking set of Dirty Life DT1 alloy wheels. 56 4x4Australia.com.au

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CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA MIGHTY FOUR It might only be a 2.3L engine, but after some key performance upgrades, this thing now has plenty of grunt. ENGINE UPGRADES aftermarket air-intake pipe and throttle body pipe have also been fitted, offering FROM the factory floor, the Navara improved reliability over the stock items. isn’t the most powerful ute in its class, powered by a 2.3L twin-turbo diesel Lastly, CGR Diesel Tuning worked engine that produces 140kW and 450Nm. its magic with a custom tune, which The good news is they respond well to saw figures of 182hp and 615Nm at the tuning and upgrades, and it’s safe to say wheels on the dyno. That’s a significant Simon hasn’t left his Navara stock in the jump in both power and torque, power department. especially when you consider it’s a little, old 2.3L engine. Starting with a three-inch exhaust system to expel gasses quicker than What does Simon think about this stock (and sound cool in the process), increase in power over stock? Simon also had the CRG Diesel Tuning team install a front-mount intercooler to “I’m happy with where it is at and how help keep intake temperatures down. An it performs. I wouldn’t change anything,” he tells us excitedly. CGR DIESEL TUNING WORKED ITS MAGIC WITH A CUSTOM TUNE, WHICH SAW FIGURES OF 182HP AND 615NM AT THE WHEELS 58 4x4Australia.com.au



CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA SLIDERS As you can see, the Southern Cross Fabworks rock sliders have copped a hammering, yet would look like new with a coat of paint. TYRES The 35-inch Maxxis mud-terrains mounted to Dirty Life wheels fit like a glove and offer a massive improvement in off-road performance. TOURING GEAR THIS vehicle needs to be functional, not just capable off-road – it needs to be decent to drive daily as well. Simon has cut no corners here, and had a bunch of quality touring gear fitted to make his dream package come to life. Starting with a Redarc Tow-Pro brake controller for safe braking when he hitches a trailer up. There’s also an Ultimate 9 throttle controller, ARB twin air-compressor mounted under the seat, and an anytime diff lock module that, as the name suggests, allows the factory rear diff lock to be activated in 2WD as well as 4WD.To push things even further off-road, Simon made the front differential lockable by installing a Harrop ELocker. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE FUNCTIONAL, NOT JUST CAPABLE OFF-ROAD – IT NEEDS TO BE DECENT TO DRIVE DAILY AS WELL 60 4x4Australia.com.au



CUSTOM 2019 NISSAN NAVARA SIMON TELLS US HE’S INVESTED ROUGHLY $30,000 IN TO THE BUILD RECOVERY BODY MODS Navara and is lighter than a traditional With no winch on the bullbar. He hasn’t fitted a winch yet, front, Simon fitted a pair ONE of the more noticeable additions to but that’s always on the cards. Roadsafe of heavy duty Roadsafe the rear of Simon’s Navara can’t really recovery points have been installed in recovery points. be called an addition – that’s because the event he does need to be recovered, he took to the rear of the factory tub or, as is more likely, if he needs to 62 4x4Australia.com.au with an angle grinder, and performed a recover someone else. Custom bash custom quarter-panel chop to provide a plates were fabricated to fit the Navara; better departure angle when off-road. after fitting the diff-drop kit, the stock You’ll probably notice the custom pre- bash plates were never going to fit right. runner-style tyre gate/carrier at the very back of the Navara’s tub, which is a neat All up, Simon tells us he’s invested touch that looks the part. Inside the tub, roughly $30,000 in to the build of Rogue a Rhino liner protects the paint from 2.0, and it’s taken about three years to scratches, as do the Southern Cross Fab get it to this point. In saying that, he has rock sliders which, as you can see by no future plans to change anything on the pictures, have copped an absolute his Navara, except for perhaps a custom flogging and keep coming back for more. rear bar. Otherwise, his only plan is to get out there and use the vehicle for For frontal protection, Simon decided what it was intended to do. on a Shoreline colour-coded front bumper which hugs the contours of the

AND IT’S TAKEN ABOUT THREE YEARS TO GET IT TO THIS POINT THANKS As always, it takes a team of people to build a custom 4WD. Simon would like to thank the people from Superior Engineering, CRG Diesel Tuning and Pushys Fabrication for their help. 4x4Australia.com.au 63

GEAR TESTED – ROLA TITAN PLATFORM & RIDGE MOUNT ROOF RACK NIRVANA THE ROLA TITAN TRAY ON OUR MU-X HAS PROVEN INVALUABLE FOR MOUNTING ACCESSORIES AND CARRYING GEAR IN THE BUSH WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS A QUALITY, solid roof rack is essentially a must-have for 4-wheel drivers include shovel/axe mounts, high-lift jack mounts, any 4x4 being used for outback touring. Be it a place jerry can brackets, gas bottle holders, awning and light mounts. to mount large items like a rooftop tent; to carry bikes, kayaks, a tinny or any other large sporting equipment; or Rola’s Titan Tray range of flat racks come in many sizes to suit to mount an awning; or simply to haul cargo that doesn’t a range of different vehicles, from large wagons to the relatively fit inside the car. The roof rack can fill all those roles. The rack small roofs on utes. They are made from black anodised on our Isuzu MU-X has been called on to carry, haul and mount aluminium to be both lightweight and durable, with the slats many of the items mentioned above and has proved a priceless running lengthwise down the rack. The slats and perimeter rail addition to the vehicle. have channels in them to secure eye bolts for lashing cargo down or any of the many different accessories. The hooks in ratchet The rack we chose is a Titan Tray flat rack from Rola, straps and tie downs easily slip in to thse slots or the edges of measuring 1800 x 1200mm. Flat racks have become the go-to the slats as well. Titan Trays are rated to carry up to 300kg, but product for 4x4s as they offer a lower overall height when there this is limited by the rated capacity of your vehicle’s roof itself. is nothing on them and a ton of versatility when combined with In the case of the MU-X, the capacity is 100kg when driving. the many accessories available for carrying all sorts of gear, luggage and equipment. While the Titan Trays have been around for many years, a new product for Rola when we were fitting out the MU-X was Some of those accessories that are of particular interest to the brand’s Ridge Mount system to hold the tray to the vehicle. 64 4x4Australia.com.au

ROLA ON It’s a neat, tight fit using the low-profile Rola rack system. MAX SECURITY The Titan tray is ideal to store and access a set of MaxTrax boards. 4x4Australia.com.au 65

TESTED – ROLA TITAN PLATFORM & RIDGE MOUNT IN THE The Ridge Mount is a long mount that bolts into the HAVING THE EXTRA WINGS vehicle’s factory roof channels and supports the full CARRYING CAPACITY length of the rack for more stability and to even load OF THE TITAN TRAY HAS The OZtrail 270° bearing. They also look great and help keep the overall BEEN INVALUABLE WHEN awning mounts height lower. HITTING THE TRACKS easily to the Since fitting the Ridge Mounts and Titan Tray to the compared to popular wagons like LandCruisers and MU-X, it has been in use the whole time. First up was Patrols, and with the fridge and storage system in the installing the Narva Ultima light bars to the front edge back of our car, the internal cargo space is further of the tray, which were fitted using Rola mounts made restricted. Because of this limitation, having the extra especially for LED light bars. carrying capacity of the Titan Tray up top has been invaluable when hitting the tracks. Next up was a rooftop tent from OZtrail which went on easily and was fully functional. As good as the RTT As this story heads to print, Rola is preparing to was, it didn’t really fit with our use of the car and limited release its third-generation Titan Tray in Australia, anything else we could carry up there due to both its size promising to be more versatile, functional and stylish. and weight. Keep an eye out for them online and in retailers and, dare I say it, on our new Ranger build. We replaced the tent with a 270° awning, also from OZtrail, which we get much more use from and has been an invaluable addition for bush touring. Again it mounted easily and securely using the channels in the tray and appropriate hardware. This also freed up space for us to carry our MaxTrax on the rack, as well as swags and storage cases when required. We’ve even strapped firewood up on the Titan Tray when needed. As the MU-X is a relatively small vehicle when RATED RRP Rola Ridge Mounts for MU-X: $551.55 (plus fitting) Rola Titan Tray (1800 x 1200mm) : $839 (online) AVAILABLE FROM: www.rola.com.au WE SAY: Rola’s Ridge Mounts look great and help keep the overall height of the attached platform lower. 66 4x4Australia.com.au

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GEAR FUEL RIPPER WHEELS – MAXXIS RAZR M/T 68 4x4Australia.com.au

WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS WE DITCH THE RANGER’S STANDARD WHEELS AND TYRES FOR BETTER LOOKING AND MORE SUITABLE REPLACEMENTS N OTHING sets off a car build like RIPPING RIMS RATEDhave a suggested RRP of $338 each from a new set of wheels and tyres. Wheel Pros. Not only is it an easy way to WHEN you’re looking at wheel choices personalise your car by replacing for your 4x4, no one has a more extensive As always, we had our new rims and the factory-fitted wheels with range of choices than Wheel Pros rubber fitted by the great team at something more to your liking, but also Australia. Wheel Pros handles all the Competition Tyres & More at the perfect time to equip the car with big brands of 4x4 alloy and steel rims, Murrumbeena. They always do a great tyres better suited to your intended in every size you could ever want and in job for us, and a bit of extra work on the driving. more styles you would think possible. Ranger involved stripping the factory tyres off the rims and removing the tyre Our 2022 Ranger Sport came with Choosing your new wheels on the pressure sensors to fit them to the new 18-inch alloy wheels wearing tame Wheel Pros website is like being the wheels, then refitting those tyres again. 255/65 Goodyear AT/S tyres; fine for kid in a candy store who is spoiled for This way, we retain the Ranger’s around town but less than ideal for choices and wants one of everything. standard tyre pressure monitors. any outback overlanding. We wanted So many choices make it hard but allow some more durable light truck (LT) you to personalise the look you want to FOR MORE construction tyres with a taller sidewall achieve. INFORMATION for both a bigger footprint at low pressures and a bit of added ride height. We had a couple of prerequisites for www.maxxistyres.com.au An aggressive mud-terrain tread pattern our new wheels in that we wanted to would also be handy for those muddy step down to a 17-inch rim from the 18s www.wheelpros.com High Country weekends. to again allow us a taller tyre sidewall; we wanted an open design without too www.tyresandmore.com.au/stores/ We’ve had a great run using Maxxis much detail or too many spokes to keep murrumbeena Tyres’ RAZR range of LT tyres and, for them easy to clean; and we wanted them the Ranger, we’ve gone with the more black. aggressive MT772 pattern. We had these on our PX Ranger and were more The wheel that ticked all those boxes than happy with their performance and for us was the Fuel ‘Ripper’ design durability. in a 17x9 size with a positive 20mm offset. This gives a deeper dish than For the RA Ranger we’ve gone with the factory offset wheel, but does mean an LT285/70R17 tyre that gives us the the 285 tyres poke outside the guard lip additional height and taller sidewalls. a tad – we’ll cover them up with a set They are an LT tyre with a 10-ply of EGR flares. More importantly, they construction and deep 14.3mm of are close enough to factory offset that aggressive tread design. the bigger tyres fit without any rubbing and requiring modification to the inner The MT RAZR 285/70R17 is 837mm guards. tall, so it’s pretty much smack on 33 inches in the old money, and it has a The Ripper is an older design from broad 305mm section width which sit in Fuel and I remember eyeing them off our Ranger’s wheel wells without fouling when we built the PX Ranger, but we at all on full steering lock and standard wanted a different look for that car. suspension. We’re glad Fuel still offers them and we could get them for the new Ford. The MT772 is available in 36 sizes all the way up to 40-inch monsters. The Fuel Ripper is available in a range of sizes and offsets, while our ones 4x4Australia.com.au 69

GEAR FORD RANGER SPORT V6 – TRIG POINT CANOPY WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS PHOTOS NATHAN JACOBS THE 4X4 AUSTRALIA RANGER BUILD PASSES A MAJOR MILESTONE, WITH THE FITMENT OF A SMART TRIG POINT CANOPY F ROM the outset of our Ranger Ranger came from Victorian business, is out on our photo shoots. Mick build, replacing the cargo tub with Trig Point. This was at the Melbourne couldn’t be happier with his Trig Point a full service body canopy was 4x4 show, just weeks after the launch of and, experiencing it first-hand, the always in the plans. We did the the then-new Ford. Adorned in stunning functionality and quality of the canopy same with our PX Ranger build a Sedona Orange, the Trig Point canopy further enforced our belief that this was few years ago and found the addition looked impressive and went straight on the product for our Ranger. of the canopy makes the vehicle much our project wish list. more usable and versatile for the sort of We also checked out the canopy on overlanding we do. We’d also seen Trig Point canopies on the neat extra-cab Patrol owned by other vehicles, none more so than the Trig Point’s managing director, Murray One of the very first full replacement Offroad Images 79 Series LandCruiser Brookes, when we featured it in the canopies we saw for the new-model when photographer Michael Ellem magazine recently. 70 4x4Australia.com.au

QUALITY A Trig Point canopy stack waiting for the next stage in the high-quality build process. STRENGTH Easy to see how sturdy and robust the base frames are. THE FUNCTIONALITY AND QUALITY OF THE CANOPY PAINT JOB FURTHER ENFORCED OUR BELIEF THAT THIS WAS Trig Point’s THE PRODUCT FOR OUR RANGER paint facility is well- equipped for a professional finish. 4x4Australia.com.au 71

FORD RANGER SPORT V6 – TRIG POINT CANOPY TECH SAVVY Sheet-metal fabrication utilises the latest in new technology. PRECISION AI takes over guiding the laser cutter to exacting specs. TRIG POINT CAN WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER TO RIGIDITY DESIGN AND BUILD A CANOPY TO THEIR NEEDS Welding together the well-trussed canopy base frame. FAST GROWING Point HQ and only came online in 2022 as the business brought all its sheet metal work in-house. Doing this TRIG Point is a relatively new player in the aluminium was a huge investment, not only in the premises but vehicle-canopy sector, but the booming popularity of also commissioning all new laser cutting, folding and 4x4 utes and a spike in interest of touring vehicles has bending machines, welding bays, storage racking and seen the business grow rapidly. Started by Murray office space. Brookes in 2015 after working on the design of the canopies while working at ARB, Trig Point now Murray told us that bringing the sheet metal employs 19 staff across two factories in Rowville, in fabrication in-house and buying the latest LVD Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs. machines has allowed the team to improve the quality of the products, reduce downtime from having to When that first canopy was built Murray was adjust parts that didn’t fit quite right, and allowed the renting the corner of the workshop at Uneek 4x4, designers and engineers to work with better designs. before he moved to his own factory in 2017 and then to the Rowville site in 2019. Even then there were only The improved production process now sees Trig eight staff members, so numbers have doubled in just Point turning out four canopies a week. Murray says three years. that, ideally, they will be looking to move to a bigger premises to bring all of the production under one roof. The second factory is across the road from Trig 72 4x4Australia.com.au

UNDER COVER vehicle’s parking sensors and other electronics are all reintegrated back in the new canopy. They come TRIG Point canopies are a full replacement body standard in white, grey or black powder-coat, but Trig – that is, they are mounted directly to the chassis, Point has its own paint booths where they can colour- replacing the tub and not sitting on a tray. This allows match the canopy, or just the canopy doors, to your for lighter overall weight, optimised interior space vehicle. and a lower canopy floor, as well as making it easier to tailor the design to the owner’s needs. Then there are myriad options available like water tanks, trundle drawer, internal dividers, upright The canopy bodies are made from aluminium sheet, fridge or fridge slides, water pumps, 12V systems, again for light weight, with the base being a steel lights, front toolboxes (LC79 only), shower and awning frame. Trig Point keeps the design simple with the mounts, vented side doors to allow pets to be carried basic doors on each side and a fixed back where the inside, compressor mounts and drawer systems. Trig owner can opt for wheel or jerry can mounts and/or a Point can work with the customer to design and build ladder to access the integrated roof rails. a canopy to their needs. The sizes of the canopies are also kept simple to The basic 1700mm-long canopy for a double-cab cover the popular vehicle models like the Ranger, Ranger with all the standard feature starts at $18,490 Hilux and LandCruiser 79, and Trig Point doesn’t do and rises from there depending on the options you full custom designs or builds. This allows the business choose. The fully Australian-made Trig Point canopies to keep the list of parts numbers to a minimum and are delivered with a three-year/100,000km warranty ensure it has what it needs in stock for builds and against defects in materials and workmanship. also repairs when the inevitable damage comes around. Even the canopy on Murray’s custom Patrol is basically a standard Hilux/Ranger double-cab unit. The canopy comes standard with LED tail-lights recessed in the body for protection, further protection from a rear steel bar, underslung rear toolboxes, roof rails, rear power distribution box with 12V outlet, internal touch-operated LED lights, full door seals, slam-shut door catches that are integrated in the car’s central locking system, rear wheel arches, and filtered vents that allow airflow into the canopy without letting dust in. The canopies meet all ADR requirements, and your ON SHE GOES Our Ranger gets its sparkling new Trig Point canopy. 4x4Australia.com.au 73

FORD RANGER SPORT V6 – TRIG POINT CANOPY HAVING THE TRIG CARGO POINT CANOPY ON HOLD OUR RANGER MARKS A HUGE STEP IN THE The cavernous Trig Point PROJECT canopy shows off its features, OUR CANOPY and there’s a bit WHEN it came to designing the canopy for our Ranger, HIGH TECH we poured over the standard and optional features before selecting to go with the side and toolbox doors The canopy colour-matched to the Ranger’s Meteor Grey, a water includes many tank with electric pump, a rear trundle drawer, black- electrical chrome LED tail-lights, spare wheel mount and rear functions, ladder. outlets and lights. It has been fitted to the car in this empty stage but there are still a few extras to go inside, some of which were still in development at the time we needed the canopy fitted. These include a full Projecta Intelli- Grid lithium power system, MSA power drop slide and Dometic CFX3 45L fridge, MSA drawer, and something new from Trig Point that you’ll just have to wait and see. Having the Trig Point canopy fitted to our Ranger marks a huge step in the project and one that will become a major feature of the car. 74 4x4Australia.com.au



EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 76 4x4Australia.com.au

WORDS AND PICS GLENN MARSHALL WILL GOOGS TRACK BE AS CHALLENGING IN THE WET AS IT IS IN THE DRY? LET’S FIND OUT T WAS the 1970s and people wasn’t long before we turned on were free to do much of what to the access road, stopping at the they wanted, so when a local information board to check for any farmer decided to cut a track tips on the track. There was a lot of great advice, not just on Googs from his property at Lone Oak, Track but also for the Yumbarra and 120km north to Mount Finke, Yellabinna parks. Once the bitumen through wild and untamed land, that’s runs out and the sand track begins, it’s what he did. With the help of his son recommended that you drop your tyre Martin (Dinger), Goog Denton jumped pressures to between 15 and 25psi, on his bulldozer and headed north depending on the amount of weight through the bush. Also with the help being carried. Now is also a good of family and friends, it only took time to fit your sand flag and change three years to complete the track that to UHF channel 18 whilst on Googs is now enjoyed by four-wheel drive Track. adventurers 12 months a year. Having fuelled up at Ceduna, it With so much recent rain, it was a 4x4Australia.com.au 77

EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This doesn’t look good, surprise to find the track in good to the MaxTrax recovery hitch. A but it was a quick condition; although, the corrugations couple of snatches and the Amarok recovery under the were still as bad as they’ve always and Patriot camper were thankfully circumstances. been. We’d driven through a couple freed from the watery grave and of shallow sections of water over Mick was able to get it back in 78 4x4Australia.com.au the track, but disaster struck when gear. We later learned that many we reached the third. Being first other vehicles got caught out by through, the depth caught me out the puddle, with one solo vehicle and then a step-up near the end spending a couple of hours winching was difficult to get up, but I had themselves out of the waterhole. just enough momentum to escape the hole. Mick wasn’t so lucky, with the Amarok unable to get over the step-up, getting stuck in the muddy water. He was unable to move into reverse gear, with the auto ’box getting stuck in neutral. Water was entering the cabin through the door seals, so Mick was quick to exit his vehicle to access the recovery gear. A snatch strap was attached to his recently installed front recovery points using a soft shackle, then attached

Who says money GOOGS doesn’t grow on trees. TRACK A quick roadside lunch was the order of the day. 4x4Australia.com.au 79

EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA We were thankful the SOLID DUNES as water continued to drip from the road had reopened Amarok for the next few hours. again. THE dunes soon started and they weren’t as challenging as the last time Settled by the fire for happy hour, I’d driven them, the rain tamping down the flies buzzed us now and then. We the sand so there was little chance of chatted about the recovery and rated its getting caught out and bogged. Chatting successes and failures; but given getting on the UHF, we picked up that a group stuck was unexpected, the time it took of four vehicles was following us. We to recover the 4WD was acceptable, stopped for lunch at a track junction, even if the water ingress wasn’t. Rain then followed the side track out to began to fall, ending the fire session and a rock hole once used regularly by it didn’t stop until well after bedtime. aborigines when they passed by. This is a culturally sensitive place, so take We awoke to brilliant sunshine and a nothing and leave only footprints. cloudless sky, a nice breeze helping to dry out the tents with the heat of our Back on the main track, it didn’t prized sun. Breakfast was our version of take long to reach the Denton Family bacon and egg McMuffins and, although Memorial to Goog, Dinger and Big Bird, biased, ours were much better with tasty and the coin trees. From here it’s only cheese, double-smoked free-range bacon 4km to Googs Lake and a plethora of and runny egg yolk. With everything dispersed campsites. For us, it was good packed up, we checked out a few of the to open up the rooftop tents to dry other campsites around the north of the them out and for Mick to try and dry lake before heading back to Googs Track out his floor mats, grab bag and clothes, 80 4x4Australia.com.au

Googs Track was significant to the Denton family, as shown by this memorial. The rockholes within the reserve are culturally sensitive, so please tread lightly. TTAHHTSHEECREDHMEUA,WNLTEALHSSEENSLRGOITAIONTINNLGETSAACTSMAHTRPAHTINNEECGDLE,ADOASONFTWDGTNEITMTTHEHTEIEYIN’DGSWADEBNRRODIEGVNSEGO’NETD 4x4Australia.com.au 81

EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA LAANTCIETKOSNTTOHEFTEPOVOPOEEIHKNRITCUF,LPEAECNTSTHADEPBULMAARNICIDNDEDGOLTNLEOEOODLCFAKMYTDAHSOLOEWLMETNERESFAEMOCGWAKGK,LS’AISNG Dropping tyre pressures on the via Childers Rockhole Track. of the track, a lack of vehicles during camper to 15psi is a Some of the dunes began to throw lockdowns making it the perfect place good starting point for to lay some eggs. There were several some challenges, being taller, very ‘unnamed’ camps along the track, where sand towing. scalloped and deep sand in places. people had either stopped for smoko The overnight rain made it easier, so or camped for the night, so finding an Mick was happy, only struggling on a open spot to have some lunch wasn’t couple of long, steep climbs. Backing difficult. up and booting the right foot a little bit more gave him the momentum to get One thing I enjoy about Googs Track the Amarok and Patriot up and over. I is the diversity of flora, but we hadn’t was impressed with his concern about seen much in the way of fauna. I was tearing up the dunes, so we dropped a keeping an eye out for my favourite little more air from all his tyres, making desert lizard, the thorny devil, without driving simpler. much luck, with only a couple of small lizards seen scurrying across the At one point, an abandoned track. malleefowl’s nest took up the middle It was nice to be able to laugh about the Amarok getting bogged. Having skirted our way around the salt lake, we finally reached the main track. 82 4x4Australia.com.au



EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA MOUNT FINKE of the lake. There were two options TOP 5 TIPS FOR in front of us, a sodden track across GOOGS FROM the top of one large dune, Mount the middle of the salt pan or a detour Finke appeared in the distance and, around its edge that looked a lot less 1. Use UHF Channel 18. as we closed in, the track changed to treacherous. 2. Reduce tyre pressures to between 15 a harder base with rocks and stones taking over from the sand. The mallee We slowly picked our way around the and 25psi. scrub opens up more here too, a flock of lake trying to stick to what appeared galahs warmed themselves in a couple to be the track most travelled; it was 3. Fit a sand flag. of gidgee trees between rain showers. sometimes difficult, with so many 4. BYO wood, collecting inside the reserve diversion tracks around the softest Reaching the turn-off, we soon made sections. There was plenty of evidence isn’t permitted. camp, lighting a fire to garner some of recent carnage, and it wouldn’t coals for tonight’s camp-oven lamb be a place I’d like to get stuck. We 5. Book campsites before you go. roast. We were hit heavily by a brief eventually reached the main track and rain shower that almost put the fire turned to head north again. The stands of desert out, but Mick pulled out his trusty oaks reminded me of blower to give the fire some air that After crossing several more dunes, we got it roaring. The resulting meal was exited the Yellabinna Regional Reserve, Sandy Blight Track. resplendent with a tasty leg of lamb, taking the opportunity to collect roasted potatoes, pumpkin and carrots, some firewood. The corrugations that and luscious gravy. suddenly appear are like a smack in the face, unexpected and painful. Channel Showers came and went during 18 crackled to life as a group of four the night, so it was nice to wake to vehicles approached us heading south. beaming sunshine. I was a little nervous Even after I’d radioed our position they about how the salt lake we’d have to were shocked when we finally met up, cross would hold up after all the rain so I’m not sure that they’d understood, over the last week. After a leisurely even after replying to us. breakfast, we followed the track past Mount Finke and soon reached the edge STSAHOLETDRPDELAEOWNNOEOTKRRREEADATCWADKEOLATOCOOTRPULOTREISOSASNSRTSOTHURIENNEMFDARCIIDOTHDSNELTREEODOOUGFFSEUTTSHH, EAAT 84 4x4Australia.com.au

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EXPLORE GOOGS TRACK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA THE GHAN ATLDHAOVENWCECDNANITOTLITGHMSUHH,RAPETAELFCSETWELOTTWEAIHOOASEKONRTFSOOSOUTVTFANHEASTERRSTHREEEYTD 86 4x4Australia.com.au

GHOST TOWN Taking a turn-off just past the old GOOGS TRACK, township, lunch was enjoyed before SOUTH AUSTRALIA IT seemed to take ages to reach the cracking on our way. We met up with The Transcontinental rail line, which is where Ghan at one of the rail crossings and TRAVEL PLANNER we added some air to our tyres before then spotted a fired-up sleepy lizard who jumping on the Trans Access Road and didn’t think itself to be photogenic, but I WHERE: Ceduna to Kingoonya via Googs Track is heading toward Kingoonya. Having beg to differ. Rolling in to Kingoonya, only reopened to 4WD vehicles after the fuel tanks were topped up before we some 268km and the longest distance between fuel stops. heavy rain a couple of days earlier, the checked in at the caravan park. A hot It is another 43km from Kingoonya to Glendambo on the going was smooth and fast. Passing the shower was enjoyed before the pub Stuart Highway. headframe of the abandoned Tarcoola started calling us, where a few bevvies Blocks Mine, we soon reached the ghost were enjoyed on the balcony before CAMPING: All campsites must be booked and paid town of Tarcoola. The sign on the Wilgena smashing a large chicken parmi. The Hotel suggested that the pub was going completion of the adventure was toasted for online before you go. There is dispersed camping to reopen again in 2014, having closed with a few of the locals as the sun set at Googs Lake and Mount Finke. www.parks.sa.gov.au/ years ago, but I think someone is taking and the clear starry night took over. We find-a-park the piss. are so spoiled in this country of ours. PERMITS: No permits are required. Unfortunately the Wilgena Hotel doesn’t FUEL: Ceduna and Kingoonya provide unleaded/Opal look like it’s going to open anytime soon. and diesel fuels. WILGENA HOTEL BEST TIME TO VISIT: From June to September, as the weather is generally cooler. Fires are not permitted from November 1 to April 15. MORE INFO: Paper maps, with the Hema Maps range providing excellent coverage. Some form of electronic navigation/mapping hardware/software such as the Hema HX-2 is also recommended. 4x4Australia.com.au 87

EXPLORE COOPER CREEK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA WORDS AND PHOTOS RON MOON WHEN RAIN AND FLOODS IMPACT A TRIP TO THE OUTBACK, IT’S TIME TO TAKE THE LESSER-KNOWN ROUTES TO NEW DISCOVERIES 88 4x4Australia.com.au

HE plan was easy enough, to Station in the far north-west of NSW was but there’s not much left here, just a follow the Darling River from thwarted. While much of the surrounding scattering of chips of glass and rusty its junction with the Murray. country was damp from recent rain, the nails. The pub that once stood here That didn’t happen and somehow real issue here was that slow-moving burnt down in the 1890s, having been we found our way to Cooper waters coming down from Queensland built in the early 1870s just 10 years Creek by a little known route, had sent the Bulloo River Overflow into after Burke and Wills had passed which was a new one for us. flood mood and the swamp that park through on their disastrous journey to We changed plans again as the takes its name from was damn near full. the Gulf and back. ranger told us the park was closed and That was great news for the bird and the track was cut with floodwaters just animal life, but not good news for us. We headed to Tibooburra, but with a short distance farther ahead. Our plan roads closed all over and a number of to stay in the newly proclaimed national We turned around and stopped at the travellers and freight carriers stuck park that takes in the Caryapundy old Whittabrinnah Hotel site – which in town, we opted to head down the Swamp and the original Narriearra Parks NSW has called an ‘historic blacktop to nearby Milparinka and prop precinct’ and put up an info sign, there until some roads opened. 4x4Australia.com.au 89

EXPLORE COOPER CREEK, SA MILPARINKA MILPARINKA GOLD CHARLES Sturt had come this way Two days later we were behind region looking for the yellow metal; not in 1844, camping at nearby Depot the wheel heading north on rarely used all survived! Glen where he and his men (my GG roads that at one stage took us between Grandfather amongst them) were trapped the sheds and garages and right beside Next day saw us in Tibooburra taking for nine months because of a major the back door of the homestead of the on fuel, before heading north on the main drought. When gold was discovered near local sheep station. We stopped and road and striking westward into the Sturt here in 1882, Milparinka was established, yarned to the owner, while his friendly NP. Earlier, on our way from our aborted but the gold didn’t last long – although, working dogs vied for our attention. The trip to the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp the pub managed to survive. country was looking good, the recent NP, we had stopped and checked out the rain just the latest addition to the above- Mt Wood shearing shed complex on the With the main Silver City Highway average yearly falls, and while the tracks eastern edge of the park and the nearby bypassing what remained of the town, the were dry, little dust was being raised by historic displays of old equipment and pub closed down in the late 1990s and I the wheels and the occasional creek was whims used for pumping water in this thought that’d be the end of the place, still flowing muddy water. arid region. Now we were heading into but happily I was wrong. The pub is back the far north-west section of the park, and, with a good mob of volunteers, the We took a detour and went to check on camping along the way near the old Olive history of the town and its beautiful old the old Waratah Gold Mine site, where Downs Homestead, which was sadly in stone buildings have been restored to an old stamper and processing plant a state of disrepair, with no sign of any their former glory. A small, well-set-up dates back to the heady days of the late historic display. camping area has also been established, 1880s and the gold rush. That era saw along with a museum detailing the history hardy pioneer gold seekers enter this dry of the area, making a visit even more worthwhile and informative. 90 4x4Australia.com.au

The pub at Milparinka is EnC-aroruyateputondthyeSNwaarmriepaNrrPa. friendly and has cold beer Fvryiienngdflyorsohuerepatstetanttiioonn.dogs and warm meals. FIVE POIS NOT TO MISS 01 MILPARINKA HERITAGE PRECINCT A $5 Precinct Pass is required for visitors to access the heritage trail sites, starting with the restored 1896 Milparinka Courthouse which includes a visitor centre and history of the local Malyangapa people and European settlement. Moving along, visit the Barracks’ Museum, the Sturt-Kidman Centre, the Old Post/ Telegraph Office, Milparinka Community Art sculpture, Harry Blore Park, Albert Goldfields Mining Heritage Centre, Station Sheds, Milparinka Heritage Mural, the Heritage Walking Trail, and, of course, the historic Milparinka Hotel. WLAHTTIHLEEESTCTOHAUEDNDTTIRTRAIYOCNWKSTAOSWLTEOHROEEKADIBNROGY,VGLEIO-TAOTVLDEE.RTDAHUGESETRYEWECAAERSNLBTYERFIAANLIGNLSRT,AHAIESNEDD 4x4Australia.com.au 91

EXPLORE COOPER CREEK, SA ON OUR OWN low sand dunes and dodged In tohueraeivr,ewryatmchoivneg. around ephemeral dry lakes and THE lack of traffic and other crossed low sandy creeks, some of FIVE POIS NOT TO MISS travellers was surprising. We guessed which had recently been flowing. word had got out that many of the 02 roads had been closed in the area and Stopping at one creek crossing, a we saw no one once we had entered wedge-tailed eagle took to the sky DEPOT GLEN the park and for the next two days. from a tall dead tree nearby that The other surprising feature of our was also graced with a large nest. Following explorer Charles Sturt’s 1844 drive was the lack of kangaroos, with Checking it with the binoculars we ‘inland sea’ expedition route to the north- the park often being overrun by them. always carry, we spied the white fluffy west of Milparinka is Preservation Creek, The long drought, which the recent head of a young eagle chick, but as I upon which he set up Depot Glen where rains had broken, was probably the walked closer to get a pic he, or he and his team were forced to camp out main cause, and knowing how quickly she, slowly lowered itself down, the the summer. There’s a walking track to ’roos can breed when the good seasons movement hardly discernible but nearby Mount Poole, where Sturt had a return, the population is sure to still effective in getting the young cairn erected as a survey point and later rebound. bird out of sight. as monument to his second-in-command James Poole who died from scurvy. The Stopping at Toona Gatehouse on We struck a more major dirt expedition would go on to name Strzelecki the northern edge of the park where passageway, its name Moomba Road, Creek and Desert (including Fort Grey the famous Dog Fence marks the giving away its destination and its Depot at Lake Pinaroo), Cooper Creek and border between New South Wales and sense of importance. We were now Sturt Stony Desert, before the sandhills Queensland, we had a quick wander entering the eastern edge of the of the Simpson Desert blocked their path. before opening the tall gate and Cooper Basin oil and gas fields, and The expedition covered more than 3000km entering the Sunshine State. And, it tracks branching off this way and over 17 months. was sunny, which was a bit of a change that became ever more common as from the last few days, but it still we proceeded. The basin covers some wasn’t particularly warm. We flicked 35,000km² of north-east SA and south- a coin and decided to continue north, west Qld, and there’s been more than bypassing the Cameron Corner Store 1970 wells drilled in the region, all road and the more used access route to with a road or track leading to them. Innamincka and Cooper Creek. As we headed towards Omicron and Epsilon stations, we passed the heavy machinery of a road gang working on this remote section of outback road, but there was still nobody else in sight. While the sandy road improved for a short while as we passed Omicron Homestead, it became more of a two- track station route as it wound over NORTH OF MILPARINKA 92 4x4Australia.com.au

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EXPLORE COOPER CREEK, SA OLD TICKALARA along with lesser tracks all signposted Clouds gather above ROAD to wells with names such as Kerna us once more. North, Moon 1 and Sarah 1. Near a JUST north of Epsilon Homestead and dam and solar-powered bore, just off pulled off the road to find an the nearby gas workings (we still hadn’t the track north, was a huge piece of overnight camp tucked in amongst some seen anyone), and being sick of the seemingly abandoned machinery that scrub close to a sandy transient creek. major dirt road, we turned on to a lesser would have taken an even bigger track signposted ‘Old Tickalara Rd’. We piece of gear to haul it to this lonely The surrounding country was as green dawdled our way over low red dunes spot. None of us had any idea what it as a metropolitan park, the recent rain revelling in the isolation and the little was actually used for, apart from the bringing a rich verdancy to the whole used two-track. Taking an even lesser- fact that it was something to do with country – it was magical. That evening a used route south, we ended up at a gas drilling for gas or oil. murder of crows circled above our camp, well, but the only sign of life – or use none of us sure why they were taking so around it – were a few groups of cattle Striking Moomba Road once more, much interest in us – hopefully it wasn’t that watched us from the sparse shade of we turned west towards the Dullingari a bad omen. a few spindly trees. Oil and Gas Fields and then, just over the border in SA, turned north on to Backtracking to the Old Tickalara the Bore Road, gas- and oil-well tracks Road, we headed west over more small off to the left and right becoming even dunes, before the track turned sharply more common and confusing. As we north to run between the low sandy crested a low stony rise, the country crests and parallel to the SA-Qld border suddenly changed from sandy country which was, by the Hema navigator on interspersed with low scrub-covered the dash, just two or three kilometres to dunes to gibber plains without a tree our west. We crossed a major gas road or bush in sight. We backtracked and FIVE POIS NOT TO MISS OLD TICKALARA ROAD 03 MOUNT WOOD Within NSW’s Sturt National Park in Corner Country, and east of Tibooburra is Mount Wood Homestead, a time capsule of outback life offering self-catered accommodation. This historic 1890 stone homestead, its Shearers Quarters and outdoor Pastoral Museum exhibit bygone days and the hardships of attempting to tame this desert region. Mount Wood is a great base from which to explore Sturt NP, with its red dunes, sandstone escarpments and desert wildlife. 94 4x4Australia.com.au

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EXPLORE COOPER CREEK, SA RIGHT: Ron points out the name of his Great, Great Grandfather who was a part of Sturt’s 1844 expedition. It seems adventure travel is in the blood. SOUTH OF INNAMINCKA COOPER CREEK  COOPER CREEK inland sea and, while he pushed on FIVE POIs NOT TO MISS along the edge of the Simpson Desert, AS we rolled into Innamincka the he didn’t find any great expanse 04 next morning, we were surprised to of water. Burke and Wills and their find a relative lack of visitors as we grandiose but ill-fated expedition were INNAMINCKA’S HISTORIC wandered down to the gum-lined banks next on the scene in 1860, dying along SITES of the Cooper Creek, within the town’s the bank of the stream on their return common area, and set up camp. You from the Gulf of Carpentaria in late Innamincka township sits on Cooper Creek don’t need an SA Desert Parks pass to June, 1861. Eleven years later, a police and is the gateway to the Innamincka camp along here, but you need to pay post was established on the banks of Regional Reserve and adjacent Coongie the small fee up at the pub – it was a the Cooper and a store, hotel and the Lakes National Park. Along the Cooper good excuse to grab a counter meal at Elizabeth Symon Nursing Home quickly are Aboriginal stone engravings, middens, the same time. followed. However, by the 1950s, the tool-making sites, quarries and more. people had moved on and the place European heritage includes markers Again, most of the tracks to points fell in to disrepair. The pub and store to the ill-fated 1860 Burke and Wills of interest around here were closed we see and rely on today to deliver a expedition to the Gulf denoting were Wills because of rain and flooding along cold beer, fuel and succour to all of us died, Burke’s body was discovered and the creek, so we stayed an extra passing travellers was established in where King was found. The famous Dig night, revelling in the solitude and the early 1970s, led by outback legend Tree is some 72km east of the town at the peacefulness the creek and its tall red and tour operator, Mike Steel. His book, expedition’s base camp. gums have to offer. Red Rover, tells of those early days. Sturt had crossed the creek, naming it in 1844, on his way to a supposed 96 4x4Australia.com.au

Old Strzelecki trees dotted across the areas where the FIVE POIs NOT TO MISS Track occasional floodwaters reach. 05 IT was a leisurely start next day as We stopped in the shade of some we grabbed a few supplies from the taller, healthier coolabahs at the BACKROADS TO COOPER Trading Post and then headed off, Strzelecki Crossing, where the main CREEK this time choosing the Old Strzelecki channel of the creek is distinct and the Track to take us south, instead of the trees taller and shadier. Nearby and With floodwaters and recent wet weather more major road and commonly used reached by a sandy track that climbs impacting Corner Country with road access route most people use. This over a steepish dune is Yaningurie closures, it was an opportune time to try track follows the almost imperceptible Waterhole, but this time it was just out some of the lesser-used backroads in Strzelecki Creek, which rarely flows a shallow, dying pool surrounded by our quest to reach Innamincka and Cooper between the low dunes (the last time scrub-covered dunes, most of the scrub Creek. The detours took us to Milparinka, was in 2010 after a 20-year hiatus). In being prickly, spiny and unpleasant to through sheep stations, and gas and oil places, its braided channels spread walk through. fields. Backroads of note include Moomba out to take in two or three interdunal Rd, Old Tickalara Rd, and the Old Strzelecki valleys on each side of the main Pushing south, that evening we Track on the return leg. channel. You can easily see the effect camped on a flat plain beside Yerila of these life-giving waters as they give Creek, the peaks of the northern rise to the scattered, spindly coolabah Finders Ranges our beacon and our destination … but that’s a story for another time! More creeks were flowing as we headed north. WWEEWWAENRDEESRCUERRDEPDEROKISW,EWNDITTTHOOINTFHITNEHDGEAUTRMOEW-LLNIANTCEIVDOEMBLMAANOCKNKSAOORFFEVATIHSIETOCROSOPAESR 4x4Australia.com.au 97

ADVICE HOW TO – NIGHT DRIVING NIGHT LIFE IN A COUNTRY AS BIG AS AUSTRALIA, SOMETIMES FORGING ON THROUGH THE NIGHT IN YOUR 4WD IS UNAVOIDABLE. IN THIS INSTALMENT OF ‘HOW TO’ WE EXAMINE THE BEST WAYS TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT WORDS DEAN MELLOR PHOTOS OFFROAD IMAGES M Y FIRST terrifying taste became much more active … and far more Rocky’s windscreen, the wiper motor of night driving in the numerous. I started counting how many struggling to clear the bloody mess. It was outback took place back I could spot and, at their peak, I reckon like a horror movie. Eventually I made in 1995 just after I waved there could have been as many as 20 or it to my hotel in Cobar near midnight, goodbye to a few mates at Broken Hill more ’roos between each guide post on relieved but tired. Lesson learned: if airport. It was late in the afternoon as I each side of the road … and several of possible, avoid driving at night in the pointed the Daihatsu Rocky I was driving them thought the shafts of golden light outback. towards Cobar, only 470km to the east, coming from the Rocky’s spotties were and I wondered why then 4X4 Australia an invitation to hop across the road and However, Australia is a big country Editor Ron Moon, and then Tri-State reach nirvana. with vast distances that can’t always be Safari owner Mick McCulkin had both covered between sunrise and sunset, strongly advised me to spend the night in To avoid an impact with Skip, I had especially in the shorter daylight months town and head off in the morning. I soon to drop my speed significantly, first which coincide with the 4WD touring found out why … from 100km/h down to 90 then 80 … season. As a result, sooner or later we all and eventually as low as 60 clicks. The find ourselves driving at night on country As I watched the sun dip below the problem now was that the countless and outback road, roads often swarming horizon in the Rocky’s rear-view mirror, semis shifting freight throughout the with wildlife and wandering stock that I had no idea of the terror that lay ahead. night would come thundering past me at can be difficult to spot until it’s too late, Sure, I had seen a few kangaroos in the a dollar-ten. I tried to drop in behind one especially if you’re relying on a vehicle’s first 50 clicks or so out of Broken Hill, of these semis, thinking it would protect standard lighting system to pierce but they mostly seemed content to sit me from the kangaroo onslaught, but the through the dark. And if you don’t have on either side of the road. But as the remains of one ’roo were simply flicked decent frontal protection on your vehicle, deepening red sky darkened, the ’roos up by its wheels and smeared over the you could end up stranded in the middle 98 4x4Australia.com.au

TRIP PLANNING trip, or it may take several hours to conduct a successful vehicle recovery if you become THE best way to avoid night driving stuck off-road, so make sure you build some altogether is through proper and thorough flexibility into your schedule for unplanned trip planning. When you’re planning a events. Of course, depending on the length of journey, check out the distances involved the delay, there may be no way you can make between stops, look at the conditions you are it to your intended overnight stop before likely to encounter and how they will affect nightfall, so you must either be willing to your average speed, and calculate what time drive at night or set up camp somewhere until you will need to depart point A to reach point morning. B before nightfall, or preferably before dusk when the wildlife becomes more active and Of course, on day trips you might not be equipped to spend the night on the side of difficult to spot. the road, but you should always carry at least On any 4WD trip, you should some food and water in your vehicle, as well expect the unexpected. A flat as a blanket or sleeping bag. As Lord Baden tyre, for example, can add Powell used to say, be prepared. at least 30 minutes to a If you don’t have decent frontal protection on your vehicle, you could end up stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night 4x4Australia.com.au 99

HOW TO – NIGHT DRIVING LIGHTING UPGRADES RIGHT LIGHT MIX ON those occasions when you The ideal lighting set-up have no choice but to drive at for off-roading and touring night, you’ll want to make sure is a light bar and spotlight you can see where you are going. Even in this day and combination. age of modern LED lighting, the standard headlights on depend on many vehicles are woefully the type of night-time driving you’re inadequate for driving on likely to be doing. Spot beams are best country and outback roads suited to the kind of open country once the sun has dropped encountered in the outback, where you below the horizon. want to see as far down the road as possible, whereas spread beams are more There are several options to suited to closed-in country, with twisty improving the lighting on your roads and lots of vegetation, for example, vehicle, including replacement where lighting up the distance is not as wiring looms, upgraded headlight important as lighting up the middle- and bulbs/LEDs and, of course, the fitment near-distance, and to the sides. of driving lights and light bars. Most 4WDers will encounter varying For those who drive an older vehicle, terrain depending on where they are, replacement of the standard 55W which is when a spot/spread beam combo halogen globes with 100W globes comes in handy. With driving lights, you can significantly improve lighting could fit one spot beam and one spread performance, especially when combined beam, while some light bars have spot with a better aftermarket wiring loom beams down in the centre and spread such as a Super Loom from Piranha beams off to the sides. Another option is Off Road Products, manufactured with to fit a couple of spot-beam driving lights thicker wiring and better components and a spread-beam light bar. to minimise voltage drop. Some modern vehicles run crap halogen lights, too; the Most LED driving lights and light bars standard headlights on my 2020 Ford are built pretty well these days, with Ranger XLS Sport, for example, are strong housings and tough polycarbonate simply terrible, so a bulb upgrade is a lenses, and they need to be to handle simple fix. Swapping out the standard the tough conditions they are likely to bulbs with LED replacements is another encounter hanging out the front of your alternative, but overall light output will 4WD, with stones and rocks flicked up still be limited by the reflectors and lens by other vehicles, the occasional knock optics of the standard headlights. from bird strikes, whacks from branches when off-road, and constant vibrations Another alternative, and available from rough and corrugated roads. Also for several vehicle models whether old look for lights with strong and adjustable or new, is to replace the OE halogen mounting systems, and always mount headlights altogether with LED units. them to a sturdy point on your vehicle But make sure the lights are ADR such as the flat upper surface of a approved and are preferably from a bullbar, so they don’t vibrate and get known, reputable brand; there are knocked out of alignment. many cheap units on the market with poor optics that could result in less light output than the original headlights. When it comes to driving lights and light bars, these days it’s LED all the way thanks to low power consumption combined with good light output. Once again, not all driving lights and light bars are created equal, so make sure you do your homework and opt for quality items that will stand the test of time. Most driving lights and light bars are available with either spot beams or spread beams, or a combination of both, and which light pattern you opt for will 100 4x4Australia.com.au