Competition shocks from Bilstein
Top suspension company Bilstein has joined forces with Bowler to create a new shock absorber for the new Land Rover Defender Challenge Series (see details, News, page 10). As this is a ‘one make’ championship series, it is important that the shock absorbers for the Challenge are of a particularly tough standard, but not prohibitively expensive for competitors. The new dampers feature an active compression valve as well as a uniball supporting bearing to eliminate the slop and movement often found in standard fittings. A large 46mm diameter piston has been employed to ensure maximum damping force. Each damper uses Bilstein’s proven gas pressure technology and is of an inverted monotube design for maximum performance and rates have been factory pre-set to ensure a level playing field for all competitors across the championship. The units each have a remote reservoir, offering an increased oil capacity for improved heat dissipation and damping sensitivity. The units were unveiled with the new Championship at the recent Autosport International Show at the NEC.
Website: www.bilstein.com
The Mountain Top cover is a superb loadbed top (we fitted one to our Toyota Hilux last year), but it does have its limitations. Should you want to carry something that is higher or bigger than the height of the pick-ups sides, you have to remove the Top completely. Now, that’s not difficult, but it is bulky and it’s certainly a two-person job. The news that the company has produced a new roll top version will surely increase the market enormously. If you are looking for one of these new Mountain Top Roll covers then a call to the guys at Up Country would be a good place to start. The Tops are available to fit with genuine factory supplied sports bars or the Mountain Top Sports Bar as well as Cross bars for carrying bikes. Double Cab and Extra Cab fitments are available for Ford Ranger T6 2012+, Isuzu D-Max 2012+ and Toyota Hilux Pick-up 2009+. Call 01986 875171 or check out the website.
Any vehicle that has a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine under the bonnet deserves a decent exhaust, and this new stainless steel system from Quicksilver looks exactly that. And of course the design has been made to ensure what the company claims is a ‘civilised tone’ when at idle, but that the exhaust has been ‘tuned for the enthusiast’ when on full revs, a full 18 per cent louder than the original. It also weighs less than the original system, a claimed 50 per cent less in fact, comes with a 25 year guarantee and can be ordered and delivered within three days. The cost is £1480 for the Sport and £1160 for the Super Sport. Your nearest distributor can be found on the website.
It’s worth making sure you have a good emergency travel kit in your 4×4 at this time of the year. Ring Automotive has a good winter emergency kit available that consists of a warning triangle, high visibilty jacket, universal bulb kit, rubber torch, pair of cotton gloves, set of jump leads, First Aid kit and foil blanket, all packed together in a compact carrying bag. Available at many motor factor outlets for a RRP of £29.99. You can, of course, ‘build your own’ and this is certainly a good list!
Not a tyre manufacturer that we have had any experience of, but we have heard from the guys at 4x4tyres.co.uk who are particularly enthusiastic about the new Nankang N889 Mud Terrain tyre. Very popular in America, these tyres are available at what is described as ‘seriously cheap prices’, have white wall lettering (always looks good), a high shoulder to help eliminate shake when driven on the road, and are pre-drilled to accept snow studs. Go online to find out more and if there’s a size to suit your 4×4.
A vehicle’s diff can be exposed to some very harsh situations, especially if that vehicle is involved in some serious off-roading or in particular if it’s a competition vehicle. Protection, therefore, is the sensible option. ARB has now extended its range of extra strong diff casings to over 20 vehicles. These iron diff covers can be easily fitted in around an hour, and besides protecting locking diffs and ring and pinion gears, it is claimed that they also help strengthen the axle, since they provide increased structural rigidity. The covers are available in black, but also in the more familiar bright red. They are clear coated offering a very professional and long lasting finish. Prices start at around £129.89 (plus VAT) and come complete with all fitments, including tensile cap screws (which are recessed into the cover to protect against damage). As ever when you are looking for ARB products in the UK, your first point of call has to be Arbil. You can find your nearest ARB stockist by going to the website.
For those working and travelling in rural areas that might get caught in bad winter weather, Cardiff-based survival gear specialists, BCB International Ltd, has developed this winter emergency kit. Included is a solid fire lighting and cooking fuel made from ethanol, called FireDragon, which can be lit in wet and extreme weather conditions. The kit is claimed to enable individuals to stay warm, hydrated, as well as be seen and heard when the conditions really turn nasty. 
Also from Gigglepin this month is this replacement circlip for a Warn 8274 winch. The standard Warn 8274 brake is held on by a circlip on the end of the mainshaft, and it’s one that is famous for breaking – normally at the worst possible moment. Gigglepin tells us that this circlip has previously only been available as part of the Warn Brake Service Kit. Gigglepin 4×4 can now supply both the early and late types of mainshaft circlip – individually – at the bargain price of only £6.50 (plus VAT). An essential part of any winch spares kit. 
Gigglepin has just launched this special offer for the kit required to service and rebuild the brake assembly on a Warn 8274 or GP80 Series winch. This includes a pair of HD brake shoes, spring, spacer, 21 stainless steel ball bearings, three Belleville spring washers (not required on the early Warn 8274) and two square woodruff keys. Gigglepin claims that bought direct from Warn all these parts would add up to over £115, buy direct from them for only £60 (plus VAT).
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