Hils Everitt – Editor at Large

It’s always good to have a pick-up truck on the 4×4 fleet. The pick-up is a classic example of the 4×4 genre, with all the current models still offering us our beloved four-wheel-drive low range and good quality off-roading ability combined with wonderful practicality for anyone who needs a vehicle to earn its keep.

Our previous long-term truck was the double cab Isuzu Rodeo. At the lower end of the truck price range, the Rodeo offers good, solid, honest, no-nonsense performance, even if it is a little rough around the edges with its somewhat uninspiring interior and rather bulky exterior looks. But now, our new long-term, double cab pick-up has taken us from that boxy Isuzu at one end of the range to the brashy, chrome-adorned L200, a vehicle that caused a real stir when it first appeared on the market in 2006.

Bob Cooke – contributor

It’ll never get up there,” said Derek, as he looked up at the steep climb up to the high plateau on the eastern side of the Boxgrove site. “Of course it will,” I said.

“But Eugene’s misfiring,” Derek replied. “No it isn’t, those old side-valve engines do idle in a funny off-beat way.” I’d sorted the misfire just weeks before, by the simple expedient of cleaning the plugs, and Eugene was running like a train again – not in the sense that it was blowing steam, but it was making its usual irregular ‘chuff chuff’ noises. “Just put it in second and boot it,” I said.

Garry Stuart – contributor

This June marked the eighth anniversary of ownership of my Nissan Terrano. I reflected upon all the past cars that I have owned and realised that the Terrano is the one that I have owned the longest. As a roaming freelance car/motorcycle photographer for the past 26 years I have clocked up huge mileage travelling from job to job in a whole range of cars (and a few bikes).

My first car was a Mk3 Ford Cortina which was the first car I drove in France way back in the early ’80s when I shot the Le Mans 24hr Bike Race. Little did I know back then that this was to be the first in a long line of cars that I would sleep in; a practice that continues to this day. Other cars included a Matra Rancho (great car), Peugeot 309, Citroen BX, Astra Van, Ford Sierra, Ford Mondeo and even a classic 1970 Porsche 911.

Ann Lockley – contributor

Whether you are a mountain biker, climber, kayaker or off-roader, Moab, Utah should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list’. The spectacular scenery, the incredible slickrock trails, and the funky little town all make it a unique place to visit. That being said, unless you like overcrowded trails with Jeeps as far as the eye can see, don’t visit over the Easter holidays.

Jeep Easter Safari is the largest off-road event in North America with two thousand registered vehicles in attendance and normally double that of ‘hanger-on’, unregistered vehicles. The place is a zoo with up to 50 vehicles per trail at any time and every campsite and hotel room booked up sometimes a year in advance.

Louise Limb – contributor

As the year leaps optimistically forward from spring to summer, the weather taking alarmingly retrograde steps as it does so, I note that my amazing rear tyres are still not ready for renewal; after three months of testing they cling on to their 4mm of tread depth like little ones to their mother’s apron strings. I’m not complaining; the cleverly designed Bridgestone Duelers have rolled on for well over 54,000 miles. I have a sneaking suspicion that the front tyres were replaced too soon, wasting me nigh on £250, even if I did fret at the time that the winter ice might get the better of my attempts at road holding if there was less than a chasm between the channels of rubber.