Ever been annoyed by the way synthetic winch rope bunches at one end of the drum when you’re pulling to one side? If so, the Goodwinch Sliding Hawse is the answer to your prayers. It’s basically two fairleads, which fit over the payout for your winch: the bottom one is static, but the top one shifts from side-to-side, meaning you can control the way the rope pulls back into place.

The Sliding Hawse can be locked in a variety of positions, and is very easy to use. It’s made out of aluminium, which means it will be durable. Better still, by ensuring an even distribution of rope on the winch drum, it maintains an even pulling power, regardless of the direction in which your recovery takes you.

www.goodwinch.co.uk

Available from all good motoring outlets, this is a complete timing belt kit for the current Mitsubishi

L200 range, made by Blueprint. For those who like to know these things, the part number is

ADC47335C, and the kit consists of seven essential components.

Suitable for all L200s that are fited with the 2.5-litre Di-D engine, the timing belt kit includes the balance shaft belt and the balance shaft tensioner – giving the technician everything needed to effect a complete replacement. The kit comes with three-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Check out Hella’s new range of LED lights, aimed specifically at the agricultural and construction industries. LEDs last significantly longer than Xenon or halogen bulbs, and these new lights are suitable for 12- and 24-volt electrics. That makes them suitable for use on caravans, buses, traction vehicles, trailers… and 4x4s, of course.

A precision lens ensures crystal clear delivery of light and the LEDs use 80 per cent less energy than conventional bulb-type lights. They are available with a range of coloured surrounds, including white, orange, grey and black. What’s more, they can be integrated into any vehicle design.

www.hella.com

These new dampers have just been launched by Koni for the UK 4×4 market. The Heavy Track adjustable shock absorbers are suitable for on- and off-road use, and are made out of high quality materials so as to maximise their life cycle. They are suitable for use on Range Rovers and cost £86.95 in standard form, and £96.95 in +2in configuration.

For drivers with less sophisticated needs, the Raid dampers have apposite nomenclature: they are designed for people who compete in off-road rally raids. The retail price is £149.95 for a shock that is ready to fit a two-inch lifted Range Rover.

www.camberleyautofactors.com

Rustbuster has launched a new Epoxy primer that is suitable for use on steel, aluminium or GRP. Unlike other primers available to DIY mechanics, Rustbuster Custom Epoxy 421 is non-porous, which means that it can be left unprotected without any further risk of rust setting in.

The epoxy is easy to paint, and it has high levels of adhesion – making it very easy to use. It costs £29.96 including VAT.

www.rust.co.uk

Snap-on Tools has just launched this MICROSCAN low-cost diagnostic tool for use in the workshop. The scan is being sold under Snap-on’s Blue Point brand and is designed to display a vehicle’s diagnostic codes on its screen immediately it is plugged in.

As well as identifying current faults, the tool identifies likely problems in the future, as well as routine codes for servicing and emissions monitoring. With a multi-function viewing format, the MICROSCAN is simple to use and cheap to buy. With the increasing complexity of modern vehicles, it might just be a must-have item for the well-equipped home workshop.

www.snapon.com

We like Result gear at 4×4, and this women’s urban fell jacket looks to offer the brand’s hallmark characteristics of quality and value. Priced at £39.95, the R111 jacket is lightweight and versatile. It is made out of waterproof and breathable HydraDri fabric and has an integrated hood in the collar.

www.resultperformance.com

Little Book of Land Rover, foreword by Stephen Vokins (ISBN 978-1-907803-01-7), is a cute little book, full of colourful photographs and interesting snippets of information about the iconic vehicle. It covers every model from the iconic Series I up to the current Freelander 2, giving a potted history as well as descriptions of key design features and range line-ups.

While there won’t be much in this book that is new to diehard Solihull enthusiasts, it’s a nice thing to have on the coffee table, or beside the loo, for when a moment of green oval indulgence seems appropriate. The section about specialist vehicles is disappointingly brief, but the discussion of expeditions is good and contains lots of decent G4 images.

With a retail price of just £7.99, we daresay this book would make a very good present for any Land Rover fanatic. It’ll no doubt find its way into a stocking or two once Christmas comes.

Want your 4×4 to go faster? Keen to maximise mpg? A tuning upgrade can be a cost-effective and reliable way of getting the best from your truck – and as we found out, there is pretty much something out there for everybody

FOCUS ON… TUNIT

The Tunit enables vehicle owners to enhance performance without any need to alter the original equipment or programming. An aftermarket fitment, it can be adjusted for optimum efficiency and is portable – meaning that if you change your 4×4, you can take the box with you.

Described as a ‘plug and play’ chip, the Tunit is designed to adjust the settings of a vehicle’s ECU. It means that the delivery of fuel to the injectors can be altered, thereby enhancing effi ciency while delivering a more exhilarating performance.

An example price is £422, including VAT, for a component designed for a Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2 DID. This would bring a 20bhp increase in power as well as greater torque and lower fuel consumption. www.tunit.co.uk