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Performance in our Highlander was touch – no need for door socks.quite acceptable, the diesel and auto There are plenty of cup holders andcombining well to provide a no fuss storage throughout the vehicle as welldrive around town and on the open as USB ports both up front and in theroad. When required, a dose of right rear for charging plus a USB port in theboot had the trans quickly down- front console for connectivity to the 8”shifting and bringing the little engine to multimedia screen. Speaking of whichlife making for strong acceleration the Multimedia comes with Applefor overtaking.According to Hyundai thesuspension has been dialled in toAustralian conditions thanks toan extensive program of testingand tuning on our roads andtracks and I would say they havegot it pretty right. The interioris luxurious and sophisticated.Beautiful leather seats combinewith fabric hood and pillar linings,multilevel dash and a panoramicsunroof that extends back over the Apart from cup holders, drink bottlessecond row seating set the tone. Both fit into a specially moulded space inpassenger and driver’s seats provide the door pocket.the option to be heated or cooled andeven the steering wheel can be warmed Head-up display shows speed andup for those chilly winter mornings. limits where they apply.There is plenty of leg room in thesecond row and even the third row CarPlay and Android Auto, Satseating is not too squeezy. The third Nav, reversing camera and in therow is accessed from the passenger Highlander, surround view camera.side with the touch of a button on the In addition, there is climate control,second row seat base which slides paddle shifters on the steering wheel,the seat forward. Both second row power tailgate and electric foldingseats can be adjusted forward and mirrors – fair dinkum this vehicle is justback which will provide a bit more leg loaded with features.room for passengers in the 3rd row if One thing that I really found worthwhileneeded. Built in shade blinds on the was the head-up display which isrear passenger door windows is a nice reflected onto the windscreen just below the driver’s line of vision. With the vehicle’s speed and speed limit displayed it made for avoiding the long arm of the law much easier. The head- up display also shows cruise control settings and can be customised to provide other information if desired. And if all this isn’t enough, Hyundai offer a smart phone app, which when Western 4W Driver #109 49

activated allows, among a host 12 PSI was needed to get a goodof other benefits, the ability to footprint length.remotely start the engine, adjustthe climate control, turn on the off the traction control we made asteering wheel and seat heaters. tentative start. To my surprise, apartPlus it will log private and from dragging the undercarriage morebusiness trips for tax purposes, than I would have liked, this familyit will track driving and refuelling wagon was doing a half decent job ofhistory and will send emergency getting along the beach. At one pointalerts messages if involved in a however, after trying to turn around,crash. Cargo area is substantial, the Santa Fe started to struggle, soeven with the third row seats in before I buried it completely and endedplace. According to the Product up sitting on the chassis we decidedGuide there is 547 litres with that the shovel and Maxtrax might be3rd row seats up and 1625 litres the best option. But not wanting towith the seats folded down flat. get too hot and sweaty wielding theOK so let’s get down the nitty-gritty. Is shovel and the Maxtrax I gave it onethe Santa Fe a vehicle that is suited to more try and with a very light throttle4wd touring? Short answer – no, but and the auto doing its thing, the Santathat’s not to say it isn’t good for gravel Fe somehow got a bit of traction androads, the tamer 4wd track and a bit of within seconds we were on our waybeach work. We took the Santa Fe down again. Back home after a long day Ito White Hills Beach south of Mandurahwhere the beach was pretty churned upfrom a fair bit of use by 4w drivers overthe week end. I was more than a littleapprehensive as to how far we wouldget along the beach before we mightneed the shovel and the Maxtrax.We let the decidedly road-oriented tyresdown to 15psi without much noticeabledifference in the length of the footprint,12psi seemed to do the trick.Ground clearance isn’t too flash onthe Santa Fe and letting the tyresdown wasn’t going to help but afterlocking the centre diff and turning50 Western 4W Driver #109

What makes an exceptional 4WD experience? 30OYverears All 4WD Servicing and RepairsKNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND PREPARATION.4WD Servicing and 4WD All Custom Work 4WD Tyres and Rims 2” & All CompetitionRepairs Power Chips Diff Locks Suspension Upgrades3” Exhaust Systems Competition Bars Nudge Bars AirbagsBullbars Side Steps Cargo Barriers Scrub BarsRock Sliders Canopies Lights Long Range Fuel TanksTow Bars Drawer Systems Awnings Dual Battery SystemsUHF Communication Winches Compressors Roof Top Tents & SwagsAll Recovery Gear Roof Racks “healthcare for your 4wd”



put the vehicle up on the ramps to see Santa Fe’s skirts smoothed outwhat was hiding underneath. Not a lot the track.was the answer. A large plastic splashguard covers the transverse engine and tunnel in the middle of the floorauto. Behind that a substantial cross pan. All in all, there is not a lotmember supports the suspension and solid protection on offer understeering rack. Further back soft, fibrous the vehicle and the need forguards cover the wiring and plumbing careful driving on anything butand behind that, on the passenger good gravel roads wouldside a plastic fuel tank without a bash be imperative.plate. Behind that again is the rear Hyundai backs up the vehiclemulti-link suspension and differential with a 5 year unlimitedfollowed by a full size spare wheel kilometre warranty. Servicingwhich hangs down a tad below the rest is scheduled at 15,000km or 12of the undercarriage. The exhaust and months intervals under normaltail-shaft are tucked up into a shallow driving conditions. We Reckon: As their flag ship the Santa Fe demonstrates just how far Hyundai have come since their early days. It is a sophisticated, luxurious and high tech SUV with limited off road prowess. Without a transfer case and some extra ground clearance it is never going to cut the mustard as a 4wd but I doubt that it was ever designed with that in mind. As a family wagon with the ability to get off the bitumen, it would have few peers. Nuts ‘n’ bolts 4th Generation Santa Fe HighlanderPrice: $60500 plus on road cost; Steering: Motor driven power steeringBuilt: Korea; - rack & pinion; Wheels: 19” alloy;Body: Monocoque; Track: Front - 1635mm / Rear -Safety: To be determined but will be 5 star; 1644mm; Approach Angle: 18.5 degrees;Engine: 2.2ltr, 4-cylinder turbo diesel; Departure Angle: 21.2 degrees;Power: 147kW @ 3800rpm;Torque: 440Nm @ 1,750 to 2,750rpm; Clearance: 185mm; Turning Circle: 11.6m;Fuel Economy: 7.5L/100km (stated); GVM: 2630kg;Fuel Tank: 71 litres;Transmission: 8-speed auto; Weight: 1995kg; Payload: 635kg;Drive: All wheel drive; Towing: Capacity: 2000kg;Suspension: Front – MacPherson Strut / Rear – Multi-link; Warranty: 5 years/Unlimited kms;Brakes: Front & Rear - Discs; Service Interval: 12 months/15,000km. Western 4W Driver #109 53

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A LOAD OF HOT AIR Emission Control Systems - Part 3 - What are the risks? With Ben BroederSo far, in our in-depth three part series looking intoEmissions Control Systems, we have explored some ofthe emissions control devices that are used on our trustyfour wheel drives and looked more closely at how they goabout doing their job. In this, our last instalment, we arediscussing what risks there are both to your wallet andto your vehicle by removing or tampering with emissionscontrol devices on your vehicle.Current laws The finer particulates out of a modern diesel are high on the& regulations carcinogenic scale.In Australia, the lawsand regulations relating Environmental Protection Act 1986.to emissions control We spoke with the Department ofsystems for light vehicles Water and Envrionmental Regulationare contained within (DWER)’s Senior Environmental Office,Australian Design Rule Scott Bainbridge, to find out a little79/04 Otherwise known more regarding emissions controlas ‘ADR79/04’ and the systems and what penalties those whoRoad Traffic (Vehicles) interfere with them could face;Regulations 2014.ADR79/04 is the Western 4W Driver #109 55vehicle standard,which prescribes theexhaust and evaporativeemissions requirementsfor vehicles to belicensed for use on Australian roads.The Australian Design Rules lay out therequirements, specifications and testingprocedures for emissions controlsystems used in Light Vehicles, towhich the manufacturers must adhere.If any of the various emissions controlsystems that are fitted to your vehicleare removed, or tampered with, thisconstitutes as an offence under the

“Sections 77 and 78 of the “The EP Act provides for a fine of upEnvironmental Protection Act 1986 to $5,000 for these offences, which(EP Act) provide that it is an offence to would include removing or impairingremove, disconnect or interfere with anti-pollution devices (such as dieselanti-pollution devices on vehicles and particulate filters) on vehicles,”vessels…” Mr. Bainbridge continues, Bainbridge said.“… or for a vehicle or vessel owner or Seeking further information regardingdriver to fail to maintain antipollution these regulations, we also spoke withdevice(s) fitted to their vehicle or the Department of Transport’s Drivervessel” We were also interested and Vehicle Services Manger, Stevein what the negative effects on the Mitchinson. “DoT advises it is anenvironment could be from removal offence to perform illegal modificationsof these systems. “One of the main to any vehicle’s emission controlissues with the removal of emission system and that removal of the dieselcontrol systems is the potential impact particulate filter would make the vehicleon human health, particularly in urban non-compliant with the Australianenvironments. The Department of Design Rules (ADR) – either ADR 79/04Water and Environmental Regulation’s or ADR 80. The DoT fine for non-Perth Air Emissions Study found on- compliance is currently $100 underroad vehicle emissions to be the third- regulation 235. If detected, the vehiclemost significant source of air emissions may also be subject to a defect notice.”in Perth,” Bainbridge said. Mr Mitchinson directed us to the RoadSo, for those who feel compelled to Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014,remove their DPF or emissions control Part 10 provides the standards andequipment, what fines can they face? requirements for vehicle emissions. ONE ONEWEBSITE QUOTE FOR A GREAT NOTE WWW.PERFORMANCE-EXHAUSTS.COM.AU56 Western 4W Driver #109

Subdivision 3 states; “Each Environmental regulations stipulateemission control system of a big fines for removal of anti-pollutionvehicle must remain fitted to equipment from your vehicle.the vehicle.” And that “Eachemission control system applications. Where vehicles are speedfitted to a vehicle must be in a restricted and in the case of DPF’s,condition that ensures that the unable to perform filter regenerations.system continues operatingessentially in accordance with What can go wrong?the system’s original design. As these systems are an integral part of the vehicle, modifying orSo, why remove removing them will have an effect on multiple systems across the vehicle.these systems? Predominately the engine ECU, inAs with many subjects that aren’t relation to fuel mapping and enginecompletely understood by the timing. But they can also impact uponmasses, the lack of comprehensive other electronic systems and softwareknowledge leaves the door wide open within your vehicle.to speculation and hearsay. Especially Manufacturers spend hundreds ofwhen some of these systems aren’t thousands of dollars engineering,popular in the first place, this only adds developing and testing these systems on their vehicles. They have little “The reality is that interest in selling a vehicle that will be prone to trouble or failure. for the majority of the In general, these systems are well engineered and perform their job well. public’s concerns and When you, or ‘Bob’s Backyard Autos’ start messing around under the bonnet, fears, there is little to trying to bypass and alter things this is the scenario where there is much support the case against greater potential of failure or reduction in performance and reliability. emissions control Why are there so many systems.” horror stories out there?fuel to the emissions control fire. Many times, I have made commentMany are under the belief that the regarding engine faults that are blamedvarious emissions control systems that on the emission control systems. Inwe’ve discussed, lead to poor engine the vast majority of cases that we haveperformance, higher fuel consumptionand lower engine reliability. Whilst Western 4W Driver #109 57there can be only very minor pointsmade supporting some of these claims.The reality is that for the majority ofthe public’s concerns and fears, thereis little to support the case againstemissions control systems. In part twoof the series, we highlighted what manyof the root causes of the issues were.The reality is, it’s not worth removingor tampering with emission controlsystems. The only exception being insome rare, non-conventional off roadonly uses – such as in some mining



seen, the root cause can be attributed service as recommended by theto one or more of the following: manufacturer, use of incorrect• Infrequent servicing – even though oil grades for the operating environment and even cases the sticker on the window or where inadequate checks and the text in the log book may monitoring are carried out on state a ’10,000km’ or ’15,000km’ the vehicle. service interval, this is only Even when a ‘log book service’ is for ideal operating conditions. performed, some less reputable Many manufacturers halve this outlets will only do and check items interval and class the operation as that are in the manufacturer’s service ‘Adverse Conditions’ based on schedule. Generally speaking a four criteria such as ‘operating the wheel drive specialist knows what your vehicle above 40 degrees C’ or vehicle goes through and will check ‘operating the vehicle on un-sealed and inspect much more than the bare roads. Naturally this varies vehicle minimum to vehicle.• Improper servicing – Not Summing Up: carrying out a full log book There are many compelling, financial and environmental, reasons to not 4WD specialist service agents mess with any emissions control know what your vehicle goes equipment on your vehicle. However, through and what’s needed to keep many motorists are paying hard earned it operating smoothly. money to remove them. Whilst they are being told this will cure their problems, it’s putting them at financial and legal risk by doing so. Not to mention helping to expedite the demise of the internal combustion engine for the rest of us. We may not like these systems, but if we are to have any hope of continuing to be able to own, operate and enjoy four wheel drive vehicles, particularly diesel ones, we all need to be better educated on the emissions control systems and learn to embrace them. Links: https://www.der.wa.gov.au/our-work/ programs/460-perth-air-emissions- study-2011-2012 https://www.legislation.wa.gov. au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/ FileURL/mrdoc_41147.pdf/$FILE/ Road%20Traffic%20(Vehicles)%20 Regulations%202014%20-%20%5B01- c0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement Western 4W Driver #109 59

EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER EDITION APPY DAYZ Send us a happy snap Simply email us a happy snap* with no more than 50 words telling us where you were and what you were up to and you’re in the running to win one of ten Hema HX-1 Navigators. YWOIUN’RNEERA! Ted Lord One of highlights of our recent Pilbara trip was fishing at a creek mouth just South of the Ashburton River. Jennie caught this little shovel nose, which we put back, and the sand flies were biting as well, but we had a fun afternoon!60 Western 4W Driver #109

EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER EDITION WITHand you couldWIN!One more HEMA Navigator to win or a 2 year subscription:Laurie Shine Explore a new frontierMy wife and I had a 2 Year Sub!holiday in Namibiawhere we hired aLandcruiser and spentthree weeks having alook around some ofthe more remote spots.Unfortunately, wedidn’t get many photosof the 4WD, but wethought maybe wecould enter this onein the competition.You have to have yourglasses on to see it inthis pic.*email your entries to: [email protected] Western 4W Driver #109 61

2 Year Sub! Bart Schwagermann 2 Year Sub! Hi, my name is Bart. Your excellent magazine always encourages responsible 4wd use especially on our beaches. Recent storms have unleashed the wrath of mother nature on Myalup Beach near the Harvey Diversion Drain. 2 Year Sub!Kendra nunweek-Hanlon Stephen HopeRelaxing after a big day climbing Burringurrah (Mount This is my partner, Melissa enjoying an extraAugustus), reported to be the world’s largest single rock. large marshmallow at Running Waters.The 360 views from the summit are definitely worth theclimb and viewing it from a distance in the late afternoonfrom Emu lookout is equally as impressive.1 MORE KEEP ‘EM COMING HEMA FOLKS TO WIN! 62 Western 4W Driver #109

New Santa Fe.The backseat battle is over. Peace at last.7 Seat luxury: Safety first: Cleverly connected:• Smart one-touch walk-in • Rear cross-traffic • Two USB ports in 2nd row• Rear seat split folding avoidance assist • 3rd row air conditioning• One-touch flat folding • Apple Carplay™1 and Android™ • Smart cruise control seats – 2nd row • Bind-spot collision Auto2 compatibility avoidance assisthyundai.com.au/santafe1. Apple CarPlay™ functionality requires software update. Apple CarPlay™ requires iPhone® 5 or subsequent model (lightning cable)in order to operate. Apple® and iPhone® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. 2. Android™ Auto requires a device with Android 5.0operating system or subsequent version, and USB cable in order to operate. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

4TH GENSUZUKI Australia is fighting back and the steering system adds a damper enthusiasts who want to buy the to minimise vibration and kickback. next-generation Jimny. There are live axles - with coils and links - both front and rear because The new model, here in the Suzuki believes this is the best set upfirst half of next year, is the fourth for maximum wheel travel.generation of the baby 4WD but only The 1.5-litre engine delivers a modestthe second time it has been redesigned 75kW/130Nm mated to either a five-in about 20 years. speed manual or four-speed automatic,It goes a bit retro with styling based then through a transfer case with lowon its first LJ50 export model (there range to rear or all wheels.was a domestic LJ360) and keeping the This engine is smaller and lighter thanoverall package city-friendly. the 1.3-litre engine it replaces.But it’s no wimp with a three-link It has a 37-degree approach angle andlive-axle rear suspension, full ladder a 49-degree departure angle, with achassis, small-bore four-cylinder petrol 28-degree breakover angle.engine and a low-range transfer case. But it also picks up on creatureSuzuki said the Jimny is “designed comforts by inheriting in-cabinfor professionals” with its technology from its siblings such as theoff-road capability. Swift, Baleno and Grand Vitara.The chassis is more rigid than before The boot has been greatly increasedthanks to additional cross members64 Western 4W Driver #109

JIMNY From NEIL DOWLING over the previous Jimny, with an additional 53 litres of volume to make it 377 litres. The cargo area is flat and the rear of the seats is finished in a special plastic for easy dirt and stain removal. There are also five utility screw holes and four luggage hook screws to tie down the load. Suzuki Australia said global demand for the new Jimny may slow Australiansupply. It said that it could get as little the outgoing model which stoppedas 500 for the first four months. production in November last year.The company has already pushed the There are still some current modelslaunch date to next year and waiting on sale at about $21,990 but demandlists for the new car are expected to for this model is also high - so muchbe about six months until production that there are reports that some buyersmeets demand. The price is unknown are paying extra for delivery of thisthough it will be more expensive than outgoing car. The reports are that the new Jimny will be under $30,000 and could start at about $26,000. But we’ll have to wait until next year. Western 4W Driver #109 65



e-CRUISERALL ELECTRIC WHAT’S NEW?MOST people have switched on to the fact that the world is growing more electric by the day. Elon Musk is in the process of giving South Australia anadvanced form of it and every car maker on the planet has anall-electric project or product.Now an enlightened Australian company is poised to bring an advanced vehicle tothe nation’s underground mines via its all-electric Land Cruiser.Called the Voltra eCruiser, it’s a 4×4 purpose-built to produce zero emissions andsave on maintenance costs, while still providing the toughness of a 70 SeriesLand Cruiser. The World Health Organisation found that diesel particulate matteris carcinogenic to the same degree as cigarette smoke and asbestos, and diesel-powered machinery in underground mines present some of the most severeexposures to this hazard.And don’t think diesel particulate filters (DPF) are the answer.While they can trap ‘heavy’ solid particulates such as carbon, they can beineffective in controlling the extremely small or gaseous portions of emissions,known as ‘fine’ particulates - which include toxics such as sulphur and are a morelikely cause of death than the solid matter collected in the DPF. Western 4W Driver #109 67

It’s a problem that cannot be Smartphone, tablet and PC compatiblesolved with existing diesel- - no pollution issues.fuelled vehicles, but one that Single speed transmission.was tackled by Autoline, a WA-based supplier of automotivereplacement parts.Company representativesTravis Seeley and AndrewDraffin went to AutomechanikaFrankfurt, the world’s toptrade show for the autoservice industry where theyresearched exhibits related tothe development of electricvehicles and ended up indiscussions with expertsfrom New Zealand, Canada,Germany and the Netherlands.Travis put forward the idea ofconverting the Land Cruiser 79 Seriesute to a fully electric, emission-free vehicle, and the concept ofVoltra was born.That concept has, after a greatdeal of hard work, study andtravel, translated to the productionof Voltra eCruisers and the firsthas been delivered to BHP’sOlympic Dam site, where it hasbecome the first fully electric lightvehicles in Australia, purpose built for Is this the future for 4WDs?underground mining.The conversion kit was fitted to a new benefits include less maintenance79 Series, transforming a fuel-guzzling due to less moving/wearing parts,V8 into an efficient EV, complete with saving on diesel use and storage,fully-sealed lithium-ion batteries, a less heat and noise, greatercustom gearbox and electric motor operator comfort, an improved work– all while retaining four-wheel-drive environment for miners and a reductioncapabilities. Some of the expected in BHP Olympic Dam’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. News of68 Western 4W Driver #109 the Volta has spread fast. “We are getting international interest and we’re currently working with large global companies,” project manager Andrew Draffin said.

BLACK DUCK, COLOURFUL COVERSIF you value the interior of your 4WD, especially the seats, you probably Never heard of him? have seat covers on them. That’s probably because he’s a camouflage expert, therefore hard toThe standard gear is OK for city and see. But the army’s tanks and othersuburban warriors, but the seats can angry bits wear a lot of his work andtake an awful battering if subjected to Black Duck got him involved in its newa lot of offroad use, when backsides Black Duck Bush Print range. There arebearing sand, grit, deceased insects two colours to choose from, eucalyptusand suchlike end up merging with and red desert. Eucalyptus is in soft,the velour. You can, of course, get natural hues of greys and blues, whilestrong aftermarket covers, but they’re Red Desert has bright and bold redsusually in brown or grey or some other and golds to reflect the iconic outbackmonotonous shade. Now Black Duck desert landscapes. Look closely andthinks it’s time for something different, you’ll see the occasional black duck inso it came up with the idea of a cover there too. That alone should keep theto celebrate the beauty of Australia. kids occupied for a minute or two. AllSo did they go to Ben Quilty, Erin Black Duck seat covers are water, tear,Nicholls or one of the other hot painters and scratch resistant and red dirt, dogdu jour? No. They went to Ric Skilton. hairs, spills and mud wipe off easily.UNDERBODY ARMOURWAREIF you go down to the woods today, you could be in for a big - and nasty didn’t wear all that metal clobber to - surprise. For hidden in that stream get into a fashion magazine. They wereyou’re about to cross, or jutting out for protection from the axe, arrow orfrom hell in a dip after the rain, could sword of someone keen to take theirbe a sharp rock or any number of other heads off.unidentified objects (UO) that could Latest in armourware from Ironmanput a hole in your fourbie’s radiator, or 4x4 is its expanded range of UBP Seriessump. So think ahead and give your Underbody Protection, which is nowmachine some armour. available to suit the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.Those knights of the Round Table The UBP will protect the radiator Western 4W Driver #109 69

against damage that could otherwise hot side and end up reducing it to amake your Cruiser run a bit on the spectacular steam fountain. Both of those components, radiator and sump, are vital to your journey, and sans coolant and/or lubricant, they will stop working and leave you stranded in a place no man has ever been before. Or woman, for that matter. The UBP is made of 4mm steel, it has a extured powder coat finish and a coat of anti corrosion stuff, and apart from neat looks and armour plating, it might also give you slightly better fuel economy. How so? Well, Alastair, it gives the brick-styled vehicle a hint of aerodynamics, dunnit?BIG BEEFY BATTERIES born in 1928. Some time ago it married YuasaDANIEL Ricciardo could well have (born 1915) and a global benchmark finished on the podium at the for quality and technology, so its full US Grand Prix,alongside teammate Max name these daysVerstappen. is Century YuasaBut our racing star had Batteries.to park his Red Bull after Anyway, thejust 10 laps, when he Overlander 4x4swas in fourth place and come in two sizes,well ahead of Mad Max. DIN65 and 75, withWhy? Well, his car’s respective CCAs ofbattery simply went 650 and 730.belly-up. So stone dead But be careful.he couldn’t even get a High CCA cansqueak out of the team be generated inradio. Which shows how important a a battery with elstrong, reliable battery is. And while cheapo thin lead plates and cheap andour Dan was in a place with 260,000 strong electrolyte, but it will have apeople nearby, you might not be so very short life since the mix of thinlucky if your fourbie’s battery decides plates and strong acid will make itto die while you’re 510km away from conk out rather quickly. So you shouldWoop-Woop and the only living thing really be concerned about the brandin sight is a bull ant. Just out from and build quality. CCA got you puzzled?Century Batteries is its Overlander 4x4 Well, Edgar, it stands for Cold Crankingmodel, built especially for today’s 4WDs Amperes, and is very important,and for chaps who work out yonder or especially if you live in Scandiwegia, orlike to traverse the remote parts of our any cold country. The numbers relate(very) big island. Century, Australia’s to the power the battery can produceoldest and biggest battery maker, was for 30 seconds at zero C before it falls below 7.2 volts. Do the maths and you’ll70 Western 4W Driver #109

TOYOTA ACCESSA SMARTER WAY TO BUY

FOR SMOOTHER,QUIETER & CLEANER BRAKING.Bendix General CT delivers superior stopping power that’s whisperquiet with less dust.HOT BRAKES COLD BRAKES STOPPING DISTANCE AT 100KM/H, 5MPA LINE PRESSURE Bendix General CT Competitor 20 60 100 140 180 BETTER WORSE Relative stopping distances (Metres)BENDIX GENERAL CT DELIVERS: Whisper quiet braking Noise and vibration virtually eliminated Noticeably less dust Improved stopping performance No bedding in Instant pedal feel from the first stop Noise absorbing shimsFind solutions for every brake job at www.bendix.com.auOr freecall the Bendix Brake Advice Centre on 1800 819 666Bendix is a trademark of Honeywell International Inc.

see the Century is a real powerhouse. To in bits and they’re dual purpose in thathandle our less than gentle offroad and they have starting and semi-cyclingtemperature conditions, the Overlander capabilities. They’re engineered and4x4s have thicker battery plates to deal built tough with robust componentswith vibration, impact and demand and cutting edge technology to deliverof accessories like CB radios, driving superior cranking performance,lights, fridges, heaters and other plug- corrosion resistance and heat tolerance.AT 3 PROFILES hear’ involves a sound barrier of the non-jet fighter type. It’s a feature thatASK any offroad driver in the US keeps most of the road noise inside the about driving across any of that tyre and cuts the racket by 20 per cent. country’s rough terrain (there’s a The LT and XLT variants also haveheck of a lot of it), and you might findhis choice of tyre to be Cooper. ‘Rugged Shoulders’ which ‘not only provide an assertive look but deliverThe brand’s Discoverer series functional traction in ruts and other softhas been around for some 40 terrain while providing extra traction inyears and has been constantly the upper sidewall and shoulders.’upgraded with ongoing gains in The compound used in the sealed roadtechnology, so it’s no Johnny- AT34S uses lots of silica for the bestcome-lately outfit. possible traction in wet weather and isCooper Tires (that’s how guaranteed to last up 70,000km.they spell tyres in the US) is In Australian Outback trials the AT3LT anddescribed as ‘America’s most XLT™ were put through a 3500km torturetrusted 4x4 tire’ and the latest test against other leading brands and,one has just been launched. according to the distributors the CoopersThey also make tyres for set a new, all-terrain standard for ontarmac, and all the brand’s and off road durability. So, come tyreoffroad products are replacement time, who y’ gonna call?guaranteed to last at least80,000km. Australian agent Western 4W Driver #109 73Exclusive Tyre Distributorssays the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 all-terrain tyre is now better than ever andavailable in three new profiles, eachwith its own benefits.There’s the on-road AT34S and twowith off-road profiles, the AT3L and thebigger AT3XLT.New features include ledges designedto eject stones from the tread voids,scalloped tyre shoulders for extratraction in soft surfaces, ‘aqua vac’channels for improved clearance ofwater and resistance to aquaplaningand trademarked Whisper GrooveShields. The latter, described as ‘themost exciting advancement you’ll never

HIGHLY ILLUMINATINGNIGHT driving is a bit more complex than doing so by daylight, mainly and faster switching. They’re used in because most of us can see aviation lighting, automotive lights,better in sun, rather than moonlight. advertising, general lighting, trafficEspecially so when there’s no moon. signals, camera flashes, lighted wallpaper and medical devices. TheyNarva is of the same persuasion, so are also significantly more energythe renowned maker of driving lights efficient. Narva says its new release ishas just released its big and powerful ideal for fitment to commercial vehicles or fourbies with big bull bars and provides the driver with a powerful and controlled beam that shines a bright white light way down the road. The Ultima 225s use a combination of new ‘Optic Drive’ free form reflectors and the latest ‘Cree’ XHP LEDs, ‘to capture and harness the light output and precisely focus it for maximum volume and penetration.’ As well as outright performance, they have a high colour rendering index, which might be of interest to lightologists. They’re available in combination, broad and pencil beam patterns and they’e fully sealed againstUltima 225 LED lights, which will turn water and dust. Tough as hell too, withnight into day for at least 730m ahead. a virtually unbreakable hard coatedLEDs? polycarbonate lens and lens protectorThe letters stand for light emitting designed to resist stone impacts, UVdiode and in case your brain is of exposure and chemicals. Mounting andthe analytical kind, be assured it has adjusting the lights is made simple viaabsolutely nothing to do with funeral the easily-accessible vertical adjustmentservices. In reality, it’s a vacuum bolts concealed by snap-fit bracket caps for a professional and secure finish.tube with two electrodes. Anyhow, Finally, despite their impressive lightingLEDS have many advantages over qualities, the Ultima 225s only draw aincandescent lights, including lower modest 4.6A at 12V, so there’s no strainenergy consumption, longer lifetime, on the vehicle’s electrical system - andimproved robustness, smaller size, they come with a five-year warranty.STEP UP TO PAJERO the sidesteps are, surprisingly, not made of iron. No. They use SPHC oilIF you have a Mitsubishi Pajero built and pickled steel for maximum strength in or after 2016, you can now get a and highest resistance to rust with 360° set of sidesteps for it, which apart robotic welds.from looking pretty spiffy, help protect Does the ‘pickled steel’ bit have youthe vehicle’s sexy sills - and help take scratching your noggin?the mud or whatever from under yourHush Puppies. Made by Ironman 4x4,74 Western 4W Driver #109

Here’s a definition: Pickling is a metal engineered to ensuresurface treatment used to remove airbag compatibility andimpurities, such as stains, inorganic ADR compliance andcontaminants, rust or scale from their finish is in blackferrous metals, copper, precious metals powdercoat. But notand aluminium alloys. A solution called ordinary powdercoat.pickle liquor, which usually contains The Ironman product usesacid, is used to remove the surface AkzoNobel’s powder.impurities. So now you know. The Dutch-based globalThe steps were also designed and company, established in 1792 - yes, you read that right, 1792, just four years after Australia was founded, operates in 81 countries, employs 35,000 people and is the world’s largest manufacturer of powder coatings. Its coatings protect and decorate all sorts of things from world landmarks like the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing to the gas pipelines running under the ground in Siberia - and now also the sidesteps of your Mitsubishi. You’ll find the finish thicker, smoother and more durable than any other.IT STARTED WITH A WHEEL ar tt 912 ar vn501 fuel coupler atx blade xd rockstar2 COMPETITION PERFORMANCE TYRE MUSCLE CARS / CLASSIC CARS / HOTRODS OFFROAD / 4WD58 King Edward RdOsborne Park WAMon-Fri: 7.30-5.00Sat: 7.30-midday e: [email protected] www.associatedtyreandwheel.com.auALL BRANDS TYRES & WHEELS NEW & SECONDHAND 4WD & TRUCK TYRES EFTPOS-LAYBY-TRADE IN Western 4W Driver #109 75

EARS IN current Clearview Towing Mirrors, but with the electric folding capability.DON’T you envy those smartass All the dimensions and ADR folks with their VW Arteons and certification stay the same for other fancy upmarket sedans with every model.mirrors that fold inwards when they In vehicles that have existing auto-lock their cars? folding mirrors, the Powerfold MirrorsActually, those mirrors are on a lot of will work as a plug and play product.smaller cars too these days. Those without need electrics andAnd on SUVs. wiring which allow the mirrors toThey make a lot of sense, saving the fold via a switch.mirrors or the vehicles themselves Clearview will be releasing the Toyotafrom damage in Landcruiser 200 Series (plug and playshopping centrecar parks, where models the VX and Sahara) in Octobersome people seem and other Toyota Landcruiser 200to think it’s OK to Series (GX and GXL) in Novembershove shopping since they need an additional wiring kittrolleys between to fit the mirrors.parked vehicles. They will be followed in the next fewAlso, folding months for Holden Colorado 2012/Isuzumirrors effectively D-Max and MU-X, Ford Ranger andmake a vehicle Everest, Landcruiser 70 Series, Amarok,narrower, so it can Pajero, HiLux, Prado and Jeep GC.park in a confined You can also get functions likespace, such as a indicator, heated, blind spot monitoringdouble garage or cameras fitted. Jump onto thedesigned for little Clearview website for a clearer view ofcars of yesteryear. their folding mirror attributes.Like people, cars www.clearviewaccessories.com.auare also gettingtubbier nowadaysand while youmight well be able to park two modernones in a small garage, you can’t openthe doors to get out - because theyhave these huge mirrors, which are anecessity because of all the morons onthe road you need to look out for.Here’s the thing: Most of the vehiclesthat need folding mirrors the most, justdon’t have them.LandCruisers, Colorados, D-Maxes,Rangers and suchlike.But help is on the way (there’s a songabout that) in the form of Clearview’snew Powerfold Mirrors, which are justabout to launch onto the market.They retain the same function as the76 Western 4W Driver #109

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Pic: National Library of Australia. FRANCIS BIRTLESHe is arguably Australia’sgreatest motoringadventurer, an acclaimedhero of his time and the firstperson to drive from the UKto Australia. Ron and VivMoon relate his story.78 Western 4W Driver #109

AUSTRALIA’S GREATESTOVERLANDER Birtle’s Oldsmobile in Cooper Creek near Burke and Wills Depot. Pic: National Library of Australia. Western 4W Driver #109 79

n July the 26th, 1928, the streets the Nullarbor, when tracks of any sort, of Melbourne were crowded for the most part, were non-existent. with thousands of people Almost immediately with the little fame he had gained from that first trip, heO(mostly men actually, going bythe photographs of the day) – as they set out on a new bike to ride aroundwaited patiently for their hero to arrive. the eastern half of the continent andWhen Francis Birtles drove his battered to write a book on his exploits; Lonelyand tired 1925 Bean 14 car, that he Lands was published in 1909.affectionately called the ‘Sundowner’ With a book behind him and numerousbecause of his knack of arriving at newspaper articles written on himsundown at some remote station and magazine stories by him, Birtleshomestead for dinner, the crowd was the most known cyclist of hiswent wild. Feted at a civil reception day. In that same year he set a newsoon afterwards, he and his travelling record for a west-east crossing, andcompanion succumbed, next day, in 1910-1911 he set off on a completeto the rigors of their trip, notto mention malaria, and “Just after Christmas Day inspent the next two weeks inhospital. For Birtles though 1906 he peddled out of Perth on athe nine month trip from theUK across Europe, the Middle pushbike to become the first personEast and Asia to Australia, to bicycle the country from west toand then through the outback east across the Nullarbor”that he knew so well, was thecrowning achievement of hisillustrious career. circumnavigation of the continent.Born in 1881, Francis Birtles went In 1912, with Syd Ferguson, a mechanicreluctantly to sea at for the Australian15, but enlisted in the importers of theCape Colonial Forces Brush motorcar, heat the outbreak of set out to becomethe Anglo-Boer War the first to drive ain South Africa in car from Perth to1899. Contracting Sydney. By nowblack water fever he Dunlop Tyres wasreturned to Australia a near permanentin 1904 and a couple sponsor of hisof years later set expeditions, butout on what was to Birtles’ wasn’tbecome his life putting all hislong career. faith in these newJust after Christmas fangled mechanicalDay in 1906 he contraptions; hispeddled out of Perth trusty bike, shod,on a pushbike to of course, withbecome the first Dunlop tyres, wasperson to bicyclethe country from Birtles and bicycle - note the rifle.west to east across Pic: National Library of Australia.80 Western 4W Driver #109

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Birtles camped beside his Oldsmobile somewhere in the NT. Pic: National Library of Australia.strapped to the back of the heavily he headed south to Melbourneloaded vehicle. Arriving in Sydney, 28 across outback Queensland. The film,days after their departure from the WA Across Australia in theTracks of Burkecapital (and just 3 days faster than his and Wills, opened to audiences onbicycle ride), the pair were hailed as Christmas day 1915.heroes. In 1913 he set off again from For the next few years Birtles wanderedSydney, this time in a Ford Model T and the outback, more at home in thedrove the vehicle from Burketown on desert country than in the cities. Withthe Gulf of Carpentaria through outback his brother Clive and an MH Ellis, aQueensland and south to Melbourne. well-known journalist of the day, theyHis next adventure set a new record for thein 1914 was with “...the vehicle hit Brisbane to Sydneythe acclaimed a stump, spilling fuel, run, and in 1919 heAustralian film which immediately burst made another film,maker, Frank Hurley. Through AustralianThey set off in a into flames and the car Wilds. Sadly this andModel T and drove exploded.” his other movie epicsfrom Melbourne to no longer exist, or atSydney, onto Darwin, down the west least, haven’t been found.coast of Australia to Perth, across In 1921 the Australian governmentthe Nullarbor, which by then Birtles’ sent him out on a trip through theknew pretty well, to Adelaide and onto heart of Australia to find a route forMelbourne. The result of this trip was the railway line which was planned tothe film, Into Australia’s Unknown. The be built to Alice Springs and placesfollowing year he set off on a seven further north. The trip ended in disastermonth filming trip from Sydney to north of Tennant Creek as the vehicleBroken Hill, onto Quorn in the Flinders hit a stump, spilling fuel, whichRanges, before turning north to Cooper immediately burst into flames and theCreek. Reaching the Gulf at Normanton, car exploded. He finished his survey Western 4W Driver #109 83

by an extensive air foray across the strapped on, and two spare tyres werecountry – probably the first ‘official’ mounted at the rear.aerial survey in Australia. In 1924, with The route Birtles would take south fromtwo companions, Birtles set off to drive Darwin was to Katherine and onto Dalynon-stop from Sydney to Darwin and Waters, Newcastle Waters, east to Lakeback as a promotional trip for a British Nash and Djajarra then south to Boulia,vehicle, the Bean 14 car. It was Birtles’ Winton and Bourke to Sydney. Fromfirst experience with a Bean and the there they’d race to Melbourne on a halfheavily loaded machine, while it broke reasonable road.down a number of times, survived the With Alec Barlow as the mechanic,harrowing trip which saw them at one Birtles drove the 5540km from Darwinstage while crossing the Gulf country, to Melbourne via a menagerie of trackstravel just 300km in five days. and cattle pads in just 205 hours. They had just four punctures, and Barlow, it was said, didn’t even have to lift a spanner for any repairs. The Bean car company was so impressed they took the car and Birtles to England to put Birtles repairs an axle in Central Queensland. Pic: National Library of Australia.He followed that up a few months laterby setting a new record from Darwin toAdelaide in an Oldsmobile 30 car. Twoyears later in a sporty 2-seater versionof the Bean 14 Tourer – the car that wasto become the Sundowner – Birtles setout to break the record for the Darwinto Melbourne run. Sponsored by thelocal distributor, Barlows of Melbourne,the Bean 14 had been rebuilt to Birtles’own plans. That included drilling holesin the longitudinal chassis rails toreduce weight, and a second fuel tankand heavier springs were fitted. The twoheadlights were kept as standard, whilethe mudguards were replaced withlighter simpler units. Brackets werewelded onto the outside for gear to be84 Western 4W Driver #109

Birtles liked the ‘genuine’Aussie photo.Pic: National Library of Australia.the car on show. Birtles leaked like a sieve requiring dailywas then asked to drive repairs. Arrested as spies in easternthe latest Bean car from Turkey, they were held for a few daysEngland to Australia with before being allowed to continue ontoMH Ellis and another Beirut, where they replaced the thirdcompanion. The new car diff in the Imperial before pushing onwas the heavier Bean to Damascus. In Persia (today’s Iran)Imperial Six, soon to be one of the party was forced to leavedubbed by Birtles,‘Scrap Iron’. Birtles and Stollery in the SundownerLeaving London later at Blackall, Queensland, July 1928.than originally planned,the party got away in early February Pic: National Library of Australia.1927 and raced across Europe, climbedthe snow filled passes of Yugoslaviaand Bulgaria then got bogged downin the muddy fields of western Turkey,and all the time amongst a host ofother mechanic problems, the radiator Western 4W Driver #109 85

Birtles and the imperial six in Baluchistan (now in Pakistan). Pic: National Library of Australia. Winching the Bean somewhere in the Naga Hills between India and Burma. Pic: National Museum of Australia.because of dysentery, and to Palestine and then into Syria. Fromby the time Birtles and Ellis Damascus, he headed east to Baghdad,got to India they were well where he was delayed by Britishbehind time, the car was imposed quarantine regulations beforebroken and the monsoon travelling across the border. Once inhad begun. The trip was Iran he turned off the main road toabandoned and Birtles Tehran, then blocked by snowdrifts, andreturned to London. cut across on a more direct, but nearBut already Birtles was trackless route, to Isfahan in central Iranplanning another attempt where he turned north to Tehran. Fromon his own in a vehicle he there he tracked east towards Meshedknew well – the Sundowner. before paralleling the AfghanistanHe hurriedly rebuilt the car from the border south into what is now Pakistan.ground up, procured some limited He was bogged on numerous occasionshelp from Bean and sponsorship from in sand, near frozen in snowdrifts atDunlop, Shell and Castrol. On the least twice, washed downstream in a19th October 1927 he left Australia snow melt flooded river and pursuedHouse in London, while a small group by bandits. But worst of all he wasof well wishers, including the famed now suffering from malaria. At Sibi, inaviator Bert Hinkler, and the 1927 MissAustralia, Phyliss von Alwyn,waved him off.He raced through France then slowedas the roads got worse throughYugoslavia and into northern Greece,but he was still ahead of his plannedschedule when he arrived at the Shelloffices in Athens.With his experiences of Turkey behindhim he shipped the Sundowner andhimself to Alexandria in Egypt, crossedthe soft sands of the Sinai Peninsula86 Western 4W Driver #109

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modern day Pakistan, he was forced They dug, sweated, and dug someto rest for a couple of weeks before more, as they built a road for mostcrossing the desert to the Indus River of the way up and over the highand pushing on to Delhi, where the mountains, while local native tribesmenlocal Shell agent had given him up for carried the extra fuel and oil butlost. In Calcutta he met a Canadian, downright refused to dig or do anythingPercy Stollery, who was peddling a bike else. Birtles reversed the gearing onaround the world. Teaming up, and after the Bean so the former reverse gearrebuilding the Sundowner once more, became their only forward, albeit lowthe two intrepid adventurers set off for gear and built windlasses to winch thetheir crossing of the Bean up impossiblemany channels “Here there were no slopes. On oneof the mighty roads and no vehicle had steep section,Ganges River, after removing thewhich back then ever dared to try and cross tyres and rims, hehad no bridges grooved the brakeacross it at all. The (the Naga Hills).” drums of the drivingman-powered punt wheels so he could fitthey chose at one point almost sank, chains to them for more traction on theleaving both Stollery and Birtles soaked slippery slopes. Harassed by the mud,and the Bean half submerged. But that the thick jungle and steep countryside,was nothing compared to what lay as well as marauding elephants, tigersahead – the Naga Hills – that straddle and rogue water buffalo, the crossingthe border between modern day India of the mountains – a distance of someand Burma. Here there were no roads 60km, took them 30 days!and no vehicle had ever dared to try They crossed the Irrawaddy River onand cross them. a raft and then pressed onto Rangoon, Making a road through the Naga Hills for the Bean. Stollery doing the hard work. Pic: National Museum of Australia. Western 4W Driver #109 89

where they arrived well Birtles and Stollery with the Sundownerbehind time and already in Sydney before the final leg of theirgiven up for lost or dead, 25000 km Journey to Melbourne.as well as penniless andexhausted. Dunlop and the Pic: Australian National Maritime Museum.Bean Company cabled themmoney and their exploits continued their drive southsouth continued. to Singapore.Timing was everything In Singapore, courtesy of theirnow and they rushed sponsors, they loaded themselves andsouth towards Singapore,a relatively easy drive afterwhat they had been through,but now their luck ran out.The flooding rains of themonsoon arrived inundatingrivers, wiping away longsections of tracks and washingaway bridges. Then, in an exhaustedstate, both men began to suffer againfrom malaria. Needing rest they founda ferry and shipped their vehicle andthemselves from Mergui in southernBurma to Penang in Malaya, a distanceof less than 300 miles, where they90 Western 4W Driver #109

The Sundowner is now often on display at the National Museum in Canberra. Pic: National Museum of Australia.the vehicle onto an oil tanker and sailed Australia, crossed it fromfor Darwin where they arrived still both north to south and east to westsuffering from malaria. At this point somewhere between 50 and 88a Customs official impounded the car times. His crossing from the UKuntil duty was paid, but again Birtles to Singapore and onto Australiaand his travelling companion were was the forerunner to every otherbroke. A telegram to the Australian attempt. It was a remarkablePrime Minister released the car and two series of achievements bydays later Birtles and his companion anyone’s standard.headed to Brisbane, Sydney and then The Sundowner, which heMelbourne. It was an anticlimax to the donated to the Australian Nationaladventures they had already had but Museum in 1929, and about 50 yearsthey were feted at every town and city before a national museum even camealong the way. The 25,000km journey into existence in Canberra, often takesfrom London had taken them nine pride of place in the rambling displaymonths and five days. halls there. And, in the last few years,After that historic trip, Birtles never a couple of books have been writtenagain attempted such a hard journey, about him, while his early publicationsbut he still kept travelling. His fame are reprinted (poorly) and are availablethough, hadn’t brought him fortune, via the internet; so his name andso it was a stroke of luck that in the his achievements will not be soearly 1930s he found, in Arnhem Land, easily forgotten!what was to become a fairly lucrativegold mine. Financially secure with Booksmore money than he really needed, in1935, the same year as he published Lonely Lands: Through the Heart of‘Battlefronts of the Outback’, he married Australia, by F Birtles, 1909.his second wife, Nea. For the next Battlefronts of the Outbackcouple of years the couple travelled by F Birtles, 1935.extensively though the outback in Grit - an Epic Journey across the World,Birtles’ self designed Ford Caravan. by Peter Wherrett, 2005.Birtles passed away in July 1941, Francis Birtles - Australian Adventurer,his place in Australia and motoring by Warren Brown, 2012history assured, but sadly today, littleknown. Depending on which record More Infoyou believe, he had travelled around Numerous articles and references to Francis Birtles can be found on the web – just Google his name. The National Library and National Museum in Canberra have extensive collections on Birtles, while the State Library of NSW and the National Maritime Museum in Sydney have smaller collections. Western 4W Driver #109 91

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Travelling vast distances in the outback and TESTINGthe need to sometimes drive at night has beenlifted to a whole new level of safety with theadvent of LED driving lights. And while many four-wheel drivers choose to be tucked up in their campwell before dusk and the influx of nocturnal animals,if you do need to do a bit of night driving, having somedecent lights can help ease driver fatigue and identifychanging road conditions well before it’s too late.THE9100 DT LIGHTSHOW by Lyn and Ron MitchellWestern 4W Driver #109 93

One of the newest driving lights from a safety point of view, a driveravailable on the Western Australian should be looking at the road up to 12market is the AFN 9100 DT Driving seconds ahead, which at 90km/hourLight, produced by AFN 4x4 equates to about 300 metres ahead.Accessories are available in WA Our 2004 Nissan Patrol cab chassisthrough Ultimate 4WD Equipment Pty vehicle’s low and high beam lights leftLtd, based in Bibra Lake. The 9 inch, quite a bit to be desired but the AFN100 Watt, LED lights cost $485 for one lights were in a league of their own.or $960 a pair. They provide a soft, They lit up the road, verge and bushwhite but intense light that according extremely well for 300m and the beamto their brochure can illuminate a of white light stretched even furtherdistance of 1 LUX at 1,100 metres. down the road lighting it up to theAFN undertook extensive research 700m reflector with the light beam’sand design to develop the new lights. intensity starting to diminish theTheir aim was to ensure that the light further out it went. There is no doubtpattern provided a good combination that overall, the output of the AFNof spot and wide beams,and incorporated DRLs Blind man’s bluff, low beam on the old(daylight running lights) to Patrol ups the odds of animal strike.make the vehicle easier tosee in daylight. The result isan impressive-looking pairof lights that feature 28 spotbeam and 8 wide beam OsramLED chip sets, as well asfour Samsung LED DRLs, all spread lights was outstanding and would beevenly across each light. To test the a major benefit to a driver. The onlyeffectiveness of the lights, we set our downside we found was that whenvehicle up on an isolated, long stretch driving, the lights were so bright atof gravel road just east of the Perth close range that they caused reflectivehills. We measured out 300 metres road signs to flare, momentarilyto a set of red and white reflectors on blinding us. The lights are well madeeither side of the road and then placed and feature a breather vent at the backanother two reflectors at 500m and and serious, heavy duty vertical fins700m respectively further up the road to dissipate the heat efficiently. Gavinfrom our vehicle. We were aware that Duffield from AFN 4x4 Australia said AFN designed inbuilt technology that94 Western 4W Driver #109 allows the output to be managed to maintain the optimum performance levels of the light. If a light exceeds the working parameters, it will reduce the light output until the light falls back to within the working range. The AFN lights have the highest IP (ingress protection) rating possible,

IP69K, meaning they meet all of thecurrent industry standards regardingdust, accidental contact and wateringress, and are also protectedagainst close-range, high pressure,high temperature wash downs. The Heat sink dominateslights have a die cast aluminium the back of the light.housing, come with a clear, hardenedpolycarbonate cover and have On a pitch black back100% polyester UV and abrasion- road, working distanceresistant powder coating to provide is 300m, personhigh resistance against scratching standing at 150m withand shattering. A full mounting kit road markers at 300m,is included with the lights, making reflector behind at 500mfitment simple to do yourself, and fluoro jacket atproviding you have a good quality bull 700m.The 9100s presentbar and a wiring harness already on a strong white light in the working area. your off-roader. Four Torx bolts allow adjustment of each light. And to cope with the endless sand, bull dust holes and corrugations you might encounter out in the bush, the lights have a 30G vibration rating and carry a five year warranty. The lights are well designed, easy on the eye and up there in the rare air of top end brands dollar-wise, but they will help you to continuously monitor the track or road conditions at night to identify hazards long before they become a problem.Nuts ‘n’ boltsAFN 9100 DT Driving Lights technical specifications:100 Watts Actual lumens 9000lmOsram LED (LUW CEUPCE/36ea) chip sets Operating temperature -40 degreesSamsung LED (LM581B_Plus/4ea) chip sets Celsius -+80 degrees CelsiusInput voltage DC 9-36V IP rating IP69KCurrent draw 9.17A (@12V) Vibration rating 30GBeam angle 5 degrees Lifespan 50,000 hoursRaw lumens 10080lm Dimensions 225.2mm x 99mm deep Western 4W Driver #109 95

COME WITH US IN 20194WD Canoe SafariTake to the water on this brand new adventure for Campfire Escapes. Imaginefloating serenely down the middle of one of our great southern waterways maybecasting for bream or simply watching the tall timber forest slide silently by.Unlike the rough riverside tracks we traverse to get there, on the water you candrift along with your eyes closed and feel no movement at all, such is the sublimeexperience of river travel. In a radical departure from the norm, we combine4W driving, camping and canoeing for a summer weekend of adventure in theSouthwest. Canoe, life jacket and tow boat supplied BYO fishing gear. Let CampfireEscapes ‘float your boat’.Back up the Creek. (Remote Upper Gascoyne.)It’s a matter of fact - we can’t keep away from this place. If remote, disused stationtracks that twist and turn through creek crossings and wandering along wide gravelriverbeds under the shade of river red gums to camp next to cool, deep waterholes,stirs your adventurous spirit, then ‘Back up the Creek’ is the trip for you. For 11days over Easter (with only 5 work days lost) you can lose yourself in the timelesslandscape of the Upper Gascoyne. Indigenous rock art, towering gorge walls andamazing birdlife await but be warned, this is not on any tourist route and you willneed to be completely self-sufficient. Take the challenge and book today.Not suitable for camper trailers. Very suitable for tents and swags.A Flinders FossickCan you conceive a mountain range in Australia as high as Mount Everest? Wellthat was a few million years ago and now you can scale its heights in your own4WD and look in wonder over a very ancient landscape.That range is the Flinders and it beckons like a jewel on the Eastern horizon. Here isa place rich in geological history where the earth has heaved and squeezed to formgorges, bluffs and abutments loaded with myriad mineral deposits, where fossilscan be found imprinted in the clays of time, where rugged tracks wind to greatheights and peaceful campsites nestle in valleys and lowlands. The Flinders is verymuch on the bucket list and in July next year we’re pulling it out of the bucket alongwith Coober Pedy, the Gawler Ranges and the Old Eyre Highway. Departing Perthon the 28th June 2019 this is 17 days of pure adventure complete with the insightsand knowledge of an enthusiastic geologist who will be joining the tour Perth toPerth. Camper trailers welcome so jump in early as spaces will be limited. For moredetail call Nick on 08 9291 8303 or Andrew on 08 93172344. www.campfireescapes.com.au

FROM THE SHADEOF ACOOLABAH TREE A big old river red gum at George Gorge in the Pilbara.Early explorers and some botanists working inthe late 18th and early 19th century predictedthat there was what became known as the Mulga-Eucalypt Line indicating a boundary betweenwoodlands dominated by gum trees or eucalyptsand the shrublands and grasslands in which theprincipal tree species are acacia – many of thembeing the group known as ‘Mulgas.’ Western 4W Driver #109 97

Although it doesn’t appear as such As we know, these trees range fromon many maps, the mulga-eucalypt the majestic forest giants of the south-boundary more-or-less follows the west to the small delicate specimens,isohyet marking out the 250 mm or 10 usually with stunning flowers andinch annual rainfall zone. The eucalypts strange but delightful ‘gum nuts’ thatare on the coastal side where this populate the drier parts of the staterainfall is mostly reliable, while inland and our off-shore islands. I find it ain the more arid regions you travel delight when travelling to see Westthrough acacias that are scattered Australian eucalypts planted as streetor in thickets growing in suitable trees and as feature specimens insoil pockets. private and public gardens – and notSandgropers are fortunate in that they only in Australia mind you. They arehave growing naturally within their state popular garden subjects in many partsa huge proportion of the more than 700 of the world. It’s a real buzz whenrecognised species of eucalypts. overseas to be reminded of enjoyable trips though WA looking at landscapes filled with eucalypts and other fascinating plants and thinking about how each one fits into its ecological niche so well. When you stand at the base of one of the South- West’s forest giants and look upwards, the crown seems so far up that it can’t be seen clearly. People have measured them to prove that the tallest flowering plant we know is a eucalypt almost 100 m tall and is the tree that foresters call the ‘Mountain Ash.’ Only the Coastal Redwoods of North America are taller and as they are conifers and not flowering plants in the sense that we are talking about, they don’t count this time. Our South West’s forest giants - the ubiquitous karri.