Bob Cooke – contributor
I did say, didn’t I, that I wasn’t going to let Ivor loose in the Hotchkiss again, on account of his somewhat over-enthusiastic manner with the gearstick and the accelerator? Still, I’m a soft touch, so when he turned up at Boxgrove Pit again looking apologetic and promising not to do anything daft I relented, especially as he’d brought his nine-year old son Hayden along.
Nigel Fryatt – contributor
Bring it on, we’re ready! That was the (slightly exaggerated) thought that crossed my mind driving away from Kwik Fit in Caterham with our new Continental ContiCrossContact winter tyres fitted. As you can read in the Winter Driving feature on p74, we have decided to test out ‘winter tyres’ on our RAV4 and so went along to our nearest Kwik Fit to get the job done.
The reason for deciding to fit winter tyres to your 4×4 is covered in detail in the feature, but you only have to compare the tread patterns on the tyres to see that there is a significant difference; the grooves are significantly wider and the sipes (the tread on the edges of the tyres) are more numerous. It all bodes well for a winter of getting the maximum benefit from owning a 4×4.
Shion Scudamore – contributor
The autumn house restoration work, a fine trip down to Portugal to do a week’s Enduro riding, and unprecedented surf conditions here on Anglesey have done little to move the TM project for the fast approaching MoT.
The light welding on my Discovery also proved to be a bit more than anticipated as once the needle gun was wielded increasingly larger holes appeared. Getting on with the long overdue rot treatment revealed most brake pipes were beyond saving, not great on an ABS Discovery, and the rear callipers were due an overhaul. The bottom line was I got a few lower cab panels welded on the Bedford, but have hardly started the cab floor where most of the tin worm damage resides. The pressure water system is slowly coming together; I have fitted an accumulator to give a nice even flow as the main use will be on an external shower head for post-surf trip washdowns. The Propex heater should keep the shivers at bay while changing as well. The lack of recent use has taken its toll on the alternator – the warning light is glowing so that will need a fix before too long. I have a 140amp replacement in the wings but it depends if I can physically fit it in the chassis.
Extreme 4×4 has introduced a range of Yaletrac hand winches. They are lightweight, compact and feature high strength aluminium housing for maximum durability in the rough stuff. The winches also have a flat bottom surface which enhances stability when being used horizontally or vertically.
A shearing pin in the forward lever prevents overload, and spare shear pins are stored in the carrying handle or operating lever. Even better, a broken pin can be replaced without removing the load… although you’ll obviously want to reduce it before winching again.
Yaletrac winches feature 20 metres of special flexible six- strand rope, which has a steel core and is tapered at one end for easy threading. They are available in three sizes – 800kg, 1600kg and 3200kg. Prices start at £346.98 including VAT.
Log onto www.extreme4x4.co.uk for details.
Take your Freelander 1 to the next level of off-road extremity with this Pro-Trac light pod, available from MM 4×4. The unit sits above the front grille of the Freelander and features four 55-watt spotlights. It’s straightforward to fit and brings a significant enhancement to the vehicle’s ability to see in the dark.
Priced at £217.50 including VAT, the light pod is a valuable addition to any off-road Freelander’s armoury of hardcore equipment. Go to www.mm-4×4.com for info.
This new QR recirculating blow off valve has been added to Owen Developments’s high performance TIAL Sport® range. The valve is suitable for use on any turbocharged or supercharged engine and has a range of distinctive features.
The QR recirculating valve is manufactured from aluminium alloy, which means it can be finished in a variety of attractive colours – whatever your choice. More importantly, the valve brings a significant improvement in the turbocharger’s performance, by virtue of a 50.5mm opening that makes it the highest recirculating blow off valve on the market.
Prices start at £202.35 including VAT; visit www.owendevelopments.co.uk for info.
Why put up with bare metal and drips of condensation in the rear of your Land Rover Defender 90 hardtop when these MUD-UK interior panels offer the chance of a bit of refinement? The tough plastic panels feature integrated storage solutions which help you make use of what has traditionally been dead space.
A choice of black or grey finishes is available and full fitting instructions are provided. Four self-adhesive closed cell foam pads slot behind the panels, thereby reducing sound intrusion and providing additional insulation. Two plain trim panels cost £200 including VAT, and storage nets will cost an additional £50. An LED lamp and switch is available for £25 and you can get speaker spacer rings for £6 a pair.
Visit www.mudstuff.co.uk for extra details.
Following its successful launch of a range of alloy wheels for SUVs earlier in the year, Oxigin has unveiled a new pair of rims for the winter. The VTwo and VTwo Black ‘Nightrider’ are manufactured in Germany and feature a special ‘Physical Vapour Deposition’ coating. This is designed to resist the grit and grime that assaults alloy wheels during the chillier months.
A range of sizes is available from 7.5×17 to 8×19 and the wheels are suitable for most types of 4×4. A special discount is being offered on the wheels at present, which means a set of the smallest rims can be secured for £556 including VAT.
Visit www.oxigin.co.uk for details.
Nothing beats a trailer when it comes to enhancing the practicality of your 4×4. Whatever your needs, there is bound to be a trailer that suits. We check out the variety of shapes and sizes on the market today and provide a reminder of regulations governing towing weights.
FOCUS ON… BRIAN JAMES TRAILERS
Warwickshire-based Brian James Trailers is another well-reputed operation, which offers a good selection of trailers to suit almost any need. The company sells specialist trailers for transporting items like classic cars and heavy plant. It also has a range of general purpose trailers that is aimed principally at domestic users.
A simple trailer such as the Brian James CarGO Shifter will set you back around £1245. For this you get a well-constructed and solid piece of kit, which should deliver many years of faithful service. Larger trailers, such as the CarGO Flatbed, start at around £1695 and offer greater fl exibility and the capability of carrying heavier loads. Even higher up the scale are items like the CarGO Tipper, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Prices for these trailers start at £2195. www.brianjames.co.uk
November 2010 Issue of 4×4 Magazine
This month’s cover is rather a sad one. Yes, it does show off our beloved long-term Jeep Wrangler doing what it does best, demonstrating its prowess off-road, taking on the experts in the world of off-road club trialing. As you’ll read on page 56, our regular correspondent, and relative trials novice, Toby Savage had a great time and marvelled at the abilities of our lifted Jeep with its fat mud terrains but, sadly, this is the last time you will see the much-loved Wrangler ‘XUH4’ that has been with the magazine for over two years.
All good vehicle loans have to come to an end, but, in this case, it was rather unexpected as Chrysler decommissioned the Wrangler from the fleet, so it was suddenly called back. All the mods that 4×4 Magazine had fitted have probably now been removed and our highly capable Jeep is now in the hands of a dealer who may have no idea of its previous triumphs abroad and in the UK.
The reason the Wrangler went back so suddenly was the takeover of Chrysler by Fiat. As of 1st September, Jeep no longer had control over or access to press vehicles and the fleet was put under review with the new bosses.
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