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PRODUCTS / NEWS / TRAVEL / INFORMATION / ADVICE / APRIL 20124X4ACTIONFEATURE ARTICLE ON2012 FORDRANGER GEARFEATURES > NEW UNDER VEHICLE PROTECTION FOR JEEP,TOYOTA AND VOLKSWAGEN MODELS> ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT BIG OFF ROAD ADVENTURE> HEAD TO CAPE YORK AND WILPENA POUNDMOTORSPORT > RESULTS FROM THE EPIC US KING OFTHE HAMMERS AND RAINFOREST CHALLENGE IN MALAYSIAWINA 60LFRIDGEFREEZER

HIGHLIGHTSARBSNAPSHOTCAPE YORK FISHING SAFARI 4ASK ARB 8FORD RANGER PRODUCTS 12NEW ARB TRAILER CAMERA KIT 26CORRECT SUSPENSIONSELECTION 2810 VICTORIAN HIGHCOUNTRY HUTS 32KEN DUNCAN COMPETITIONWINNERS 40HOW TO PROTECT YOURCAMERA 46KING OF THE HAMMERS 56WIN A 60L FRIDGE FREEZER 61ARB KIDS 62RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 72RECOVERY COMPETITIONRESULTS 80EDITOR: Kelly TeitzelCONTRIBUTORS: Mark Allen,Jess Bailey, Sam Boden,Michael Ellem, Dick Eussen,Chris Fowler, Matt Frost, AdamHennessy, Shane Langley,Greg Milton, Rob Puts, Markde Prinse, Mike & Anita Pavey,Luke Watson, Luis J.A.WeeGRAPHIC DESIGN:Vanzella Graphic DesignMAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY:Offroad ImagesPRE-PRESS: Splitting ImagePRINTING: Offset Alpine02 4X4ACTIONGrowing up in the UK inthe 1970s, one of myfavourite TV shows wasthe long-running BBC series,Tomorrow’s World. I believe therewas something similar in Australiacalled Beyond 2000. The showused to speculate as to what thefuture would be like and, basedon their reckoning, we shouldall be wearing silver jumpsuits,driving flying cars and eating foodcapsules by about now.In reality, many things haven’tchanged that much over the years.Whilst some of our more spiritedcustomers may have tried to gettheir fourbies airborne at somestage, the basic form and functionof the 4WD hasn’t changed thatmuch… and flying cars don’tappear to be on the horizonanytime soon. Just look at theSeries 1 Land Rover, conceived in1947, and then check out a 2012model Defender and you shouldn’thave too much trouble spotting afew similarities.What has accelerated beyondeveryone’s imagination iscommunication. Individuals andcompanies have a vast array oftools available to them to instantlyspread their message to thousandsand, in some cases, millions ofpeople using a device that fits intothe palm of your hand.Here at ARB, we are verykeen to take advantage of anyopportunity which facilitates bettercommunication with our customers,which is why in this edition of ARB4x4 Action, we are delighted toannounce three new initiatives.Firstly, this magazine you’rereading is now available as a freedownload for the Apple iPad. Notonly can you hop onto the Appstore and download this latestissue, you will automatically beinvited to download all futureissues at absolutely no charge. Ifthat wasn’t enough reason to goand buy an iPad, HEMA has justreleased their on and off road mapcollection as an App, which worksbeautifully on the device.Many of our customers and staffhave been hanging out for an ARBFacebook page, and we’ve recentlylaunched this as well. We didn’tjust want to create a Facebookpage for the sake of it, but insteadwanted to make it a really usefulresource. Consequently, we’verecruited Sam to manage it. He’sone of those 4WD tragics whospends his weekends 4WDing,evenings surfing 4WD forums, anddaytime trying to finance his next4WD accessory purchase. Ask usa question or share some of yourexperiences, and between Samand Bec (our other Social Medianut), you can expect a responsewithin minutes.ARB is also now on Twitter. I amstill not convinced about the meritsof this one, but hey, if it’s goodenough for the likes of Lady Gaga,Barack Obama and Pat Callinan,we should probably be there.For those who would still preferto walk into a store and speakto a 4x4 accessories specialist,we have never been in a betterposition to assist our customerswith preparing for their off roadadventures, particularly withseveral new ARB stores openingin 2011/12 and an ever-increasingnumber of open days.Finally, many of the staff at ARBoften discuss building the ultimate4WD. Well, the marketing teamhas done exactly this and theyare in store now (see page 61). Itmight not be quite what some ofour more technically-orientatedstaff had in mind, but this newproduct is proving to be hugelypopular with some of the youngerfolks out there. And rest assured,like any ARB product, this item hasundergone an extensive durabilitytesting program, albeit a littleunconventional.Matt Frost, Marketing Manager,ARB 4x4 Accessories

PRODUCT INFORMATIONFOR ARB’S ENGINEERS,THE JK WRANGLER ANDAMAROK IN PARTICULARPRESENTED SOME UNIQUECHALLENGESUNDER GUARDARB’S UNDER VEHICLE PROTECTION RANGE HAS EXPANDED TOINCLUDE PRODUCTS FOR THE TOYOTA PRADO 120 & 150 SERIES, TOYOTAFJ CRUISER, JEEP JK WRANGLER AND VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK.Providing an unrivalledsafeguard for the undersideof your vehicle, ARB’s undervehicle protection plates keep vitalcomponents, including steering,engine sump, transmission andtransfer case, safe from damagecaused by off road debris.The new additions to the range– for JK Wrangler (3.8L petrolvariant), Prado 120 and 150 Series,FJ Cruiser and Amarok – employ avehicle specific design to ensureoptimal fit and functionality.For ARB’s engineers, designingthe plates for each vehiclemodel presented some uniquechallenges. This included limitedmounting points on the Amarok,which required a special mountingbracket system, and a vulnerablecharcoal canister as part of the JKWrangler’s fuel system that meantthe development of a separateprotection panel specifically forthis component.The comprehensive design processprovides not only a perfect fit foreach vehicle but ensures the underbody plates are fully compatiblewith all ARB products, includingbull bars, roof racks, Air Lockersand OME suspension.When designing the under vehicleprotection range, ARB’s engineersanalysed the benefits of steel overalloy and discovered that even at5mm thickness, the alloy platesimmediately fatigued when foldedand also gouged more easily inrocky terrain. The steel prototypes,however, could be folded to 90°without fatiguing and did notgouge easily, allowing the plates to‘slide’ over rocks and other terrain.Manufactured from laser cut,pressed and folded 3mm steel,the plates are stronger thanfolded steel alone, allowing foran optimum strength-to-weightratio. With all steel componentszinc plated and powder coated,the plates are securely bolted tothe vehicle’s chassis to provideoutstanding structural integrity.Coming with a two year warrantyand finished in a silver texturedpowder coat, the protection platesare available now from your localARB store or stockist.// Contact ARB for part numbersand pricing4X4ACTION 03

TRAVELCAPE YORK, QLDFISHING FORADVENTUREWords & photography by Dick EussenIT’S TIME TOHEAD TO THELOWER WESTCOAST OFCAPE YORKPENINSULA FORTHE ULTIMATEFISHING TRIP.04 4X4ACTION

06 4X4ACTIONThe Coleman River has a rangerstation on the billabong en route.There is a water pump here forwashing and showering, so bringcontainers. Don’t swim in thebillabong, however, as a big croccalls it home.The tracks hereabout zigzagacross tidal flats, parts of whichare inundated by monthly springtides – the reason that anglersmostly pick tides that don’t floodthe flats. Extreme high tides doflood some campsites.Camping here is no fun, as you aretotally exposed to blustery windsand under continuous attack bysandflies and mosquitoes. Sobring plenty of insect repellent– wipe-on gel is best. Burningmosquito coils is also helpful. Incase you run out, there is plenty ofbovine dung on the flats to burnand thwart the biting nuisances.Also bring an awning for shade, asthere is none here.As there are no boat ramps, youmust launch off the slipperybanks into a crocodile-infestedtidal stream… so make sure thehandbrake works! It is best tolaunch and retrieve the boat onthe top of the tide. If you don’thave a boat, forget about fishinghere unless you want to catchpesky catfish. The nights can bebitterly cold with temperaturesplummeting down to 5°C andlower with the wind chill factor. Isaid this place is fun!So why do people subjectthemselves to this torture instead ofthe comfortable and generally shadycamps back at the community? Forthe fishing, old mate!The Coleman is part of the MitchellRiver delta, arguably the largestdelta in Australia. It’s an amazingsystem – large tidal reaches,narrow creeks and rock bars thatattract the previously mentionedfish and then some. The Colemanhas a 15km tidal reach and a fewnavigable creeks. There are severalsmall islands upstream with morefishable water beyond them. Butwork the tide when fishing beyondthe islands, as the water is veryshallow at low tide hereabouts.From the Coleman River campsitesyou can boat into the MitchellRiver for some 40km and fish theMitchell’s north arm, the mainMitchell River and a myriad oftidal creeks en route. No fishingis allowed in the south arm ofthe river as it is set aside forIndigenous use only.KOWANYAMA AND THEEASTERN LINKMost people who visit theremote Indigenous communityof Kowanyama do so for thefishing. You can continue on southfrom the Coleman River Track tothis community.The Coleman and Mitchell Rivercrossings are dicey early in the dryseason due to sand and mud. Thereare four campsites at Kowanyama;three on the Mitchell and one onTopsy Creek to the southwest. Allrequire permits.The Wonya Creek campgroundon Surprise Creek is favoured byvisiting anglers to fish the MitchellRiver delta via Surprise Creek. TheBull Crossing campsite is 2kmupstream. Shady and bright, it israted as the best natural campsitein the Mitchell River country. Usedas an overflow when Wonya isbrimming, Bull Crossing is alsopopular with travellers and peoplevisiting the nearby Mitchell-AliceRiver NP. Shelfo Camp is a trendyovernight spot for travellers, beingon the Mitchell Crossing on thePormpuraaw Track.The Topsy Creek campsites are onthe creek’s sandy estuary and verypopular, with sites generally bookedout. The large creek has excellentfishing and access to the shallowshores of the Gulf. Some keenboaties even travel south to theNassau River if the weather is kind.THE BOATYou truly need a boat to fish thewest coast. The most popular areestuary rigs like my own Quintrex420 Dory, which is powered bya 30hp Evinrude ETEC outboard.This trailer-drawn outfit is verytypical of estuary-friendly boatsused across the tropics. Largeoutfits up to 5.5m are also towedoff road, but a purpose-built traileris a must for the job. Car toppers

AS THERE ARE NO BOATRAMPS, YOU MUSTLAUNCH OFF THE SLIPPERYBANKS INTO A CROCODILE-INFESTED TIDAL STREAM…SO MAKE SURE THEHANDBRAKE WORKS!CAMPINGBoth Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw havecampsites set aside for casual travellersand visiting anglers and these sites cost$50AUD per night per vehicle at time ofwriting. Sites must be pre-booked witha deposit required to secure a site. Fewfacilities are available but improvementsare ongoing when funds allow.reign supreme and they are usedextensively by anglers acrossthe north due to their low cost,mobility and ease of carrying.Pub talk has it that crocodilesattack small tinnies but they havebeen known to attack much largerboats also. In all reported cases,the reptiles were harassed byanglers. Many southern travellers,especially grey nomads, neverdrop their tinnies in the water afterhearing horrid and lurid tales ofcrocodile attacks from local pub‘experts’ and the local press whoget their information from thesame pub yobbos.My advice is to take the taleswith a grain of salt, as attacksare rare and generally caused bythe victim, either from a lack ofcaution and commonsense or fromalcohol-related stupidity.Canoes and kayaks are a differentmatter. Never canoe in crocodilewaters if you value your life. Yes,many people do, and I did it when Iwas much younger, but after havinghad three bad turns with crocodileswhile canoeing in Kakadu, I got ridof it. For the record, several peoplehave been badly injured or killedwhile canoeing in both Kakadu andLakefield NPs and elsewhere. It’syour call…TIDESIn winter, the Gulf of Carpentariatides rise at night and run out inthe morning, so you need to bein deep water in the afternoon tomake it back to camp. Only onehigh and one low tide occurs in a24 hour period, unlike elsewherewhere there are 12 hour tides.However, there are also periodswhere the tide comes in for twohours, runs out for four and thenreturns. This pattern occurs overa four day period several times ayear. These tides are favoured byanglers because they don’t haveextreme highs and lows or bigruns, thus the water stays clearer.There are also times when notide comes in at all. This happenswhen the southeast winds arefull-on and keep the floodtide fromflooding across the shallow Gulfflats and into the estuaries. Localsknow this and put up with it.Not all days are good days forfishing, but on a normal five-daystay we all catch our bag limitof five barramundi per person totake home and always eat fish inthe camp. There are also plentyof other fish beside barra to catchand take home. That’s why wekeep coming back – dry seasonafter dry season.The West Peninsula Loop isan isolated area that may notsee traffic for days, especiallythe section between the twoIndigenous communities. But it isa road to high adventure that willtake you to what remains a largelyunspoiled part of the Cape.PERMITSCamping permits are obtainable fromthe Pormpuraaw Wild Rivers Rangers.Contact Ranger Robbie Morris duringworking hours. Tel: 0419 028 267For Mitchell River camping, contact theKowanyama Land and Sea Centre. Tel:(07) 4060 4155. No permits are requiredfor day visits to QLD’s Aboriginalcommunities.PREPARATIONYou need a good reliable 4WD, fittedwith reliable accessories – bull bar,driving lights, radio and more… anddon’t forget the portable fridge to coolthe fish and the rest of the food.Boat trailers have special needs like astrong chassis coupled to at least 13"or larger wheels.Carry a toolkit, two spare tyres for boththe trailer and the vehicle, repair kits andspare parts – bearings, seals, hoses, beltsand shock rubber kit. Also take plenty ofdrinking water and an HF radio or satphone,especially when travelling alone.USEFUL WEBSITESPormpuraaw WildRivers Rangers:www.pormpuraaw.qld.gov.auKowanyama Landand Sea Centre:www.kowanyama.qld.gov.auTide Tables: www.msq.qld.gov.auFishing: www.fisheries.qld.gov.auWeather: www.bom.gov.au4X4ACTION 07

Q&ALETTERS TO ARBLETTERS TO ARBCONGRATULATIONSTO ANNE, WHOIS OUR PORTABLEAIR COMPRESSORKIT WINNER FORTHIS ISSUE.EVERYONE ELSE WHOAPPEARS ON THESEPAGES WILL RECEIVEAN ARB SPEEDY SEALPUNCTURE REPAIR KIT TOREWARD THEIR EFFORTS.Hi ARB,I have recently started working asa Remote Area Nurse in centralAustralia. My new job involvesa fair bit of night driving on dirtroads. I’d love some advice onwhat type of driving lights toget as everyone seems to have adifferent opinion!I own a Toyota HiLux, which isgreat, but I’d feel a lot safer withsome brighter lights on theseremote and unpredictable roads.Thanks,- AnneDear Anne,Night driving on remote dirt roadsin Australia, eh? This is certainlyan environment where you needeverything going for you and, yes, likea lot of subject matter in the accessoryarea, you are right that everyoneseems to have a different opinion.I’ve done hundreds of thousands ofkilometres at night on all surfacesand have been evaluating and usingauxiliary lighting since 1974. Here iswhat I would recommend.Let’s start with the factory headlights.Driving lights that punch a great dealof light up the road are all very welland necessary, but unless your lowbeam is improved over standard,when you have to dip the high beamsand driving lights for oncoming traffic,you momentarily lack visibility whileyour eyes adjust. This is an importantfactor in rural and remote areaswithout street lighting.Your HiLux standard headlights willbenefit from an upgrade to the IPFFatBoy H4 Bulbs. The FatBoy energyconsumption is only slightly higherthan the stock factory bulbs but isbiased toward the low beam.Factory high beam and FatBoy highbeam are both the same at 60W,but the low beam on the FatBoy is80W compared to the factory bulb’s55W. In addition, these clever bulbsuse an exotic internal gas at a veryhigh pressure and, as a result, thelight they output is at a higher colourtemperature – the equivalent to amuch higher wattage bulb.The name FatBoy comes from thefact that the quartz tube in whichthe filament is lit on these bulbs isquite a lot larger than normal andhence can contain a higher volumeof the special gas. These Japanesemade, quality replacement bulbs arealso specially designed for vehiclesoperating in harsh conditions andincorporate filament stabilisationposts to support the filament andhelp it survive vibrations. They willwork reliably in modern vehicleswith plastic headlight bodies andstandard factory wiring looms butthe addition of our ARB modularheadlight loom, which channelspower through large section wiredirect to the bulb from the battery,will maximise their performance.Moving onto the driving lights, Ihave to say I’m a great believer instrong steel bodies and mountingsystems, along with hardened glasslenses for this country. The IPF 800and 900 Series ranges have proventhemselves over a 30 year period tobe more than capable of standing upto the rigours of our Outback roads.800 is a rectangular light, whereasthe 900 is round. Both have almostidentical performance and the choiceis more about space available andstyle preference.If you were doing regular rivercrossings, I would be recommendingthe XS Series of either the 800 or900 as they have a sealed bulb andbreather system that allows temporarysubmersion. However, assumingthat’s not a concern, the regular 800or 900 Series with their 130W H3bulbs will not disappoint you.Finally, there’s the controversialchoice of spot or driving beam.These lights are available with either.Kits come with two spots, twodrivers or one of each. This is wheremost of the arguments start.As a man, I think I am qualified tocomment that a lot of this argumentcomes down to ‘mine’s bigger thanyours’ and that is why a lot of spot08 4X4ACTION

PRIZE FOR LETTER OF THE MONTHThis issue, we’re giving away another portableair compressor kit, so here’s your chance to win one!Simply write to us and ask us anything you’d like toknow about ARB and our products. The letter of themonth will be published in the next edition of ARB 4x4Action, along with our reply. The winner will need topick up the compressor from their nearest ARB store.Send your letters (250 words or less) including youraddress and daytime phone number to:> Email: marketing@arb.com.au> Post: ARB 4x4 AccessoriesMarketing DepartmentPO Box 105Kilsyth VIC 3137While we will endeavour to reply to all letters, due to thevolume received, it may not always be possible. Please note thatall entries for this section are only reviewed on a quarterly basis.Should you have a question that requires a more immediateresponse, please direct it to sales@arb.com.au. We reserve theright to edit all letters for clarity.lights with incredibly narrow longthrow beams are sold every year.Sorry, guys, it’s true – blokes judgethings on size, so the guy whoselights penetrate the furthest alwaysthinks he is the winner.With my first spot light, therecommended dipping range was animpressive 2,500 metres. Now, unlessyou are travelling at 200km/h, yousimply do not need that length of beam.Even at that speed, objects illuminatedat the end of that beam will not beunder your vehicle for 45 seconds.Such a focussed beam is also apain when you approach reflectivesurfaces like signs, as the brightspot of light gets thrown back atyou. What I believe is important isthe spread of light, and that meansa driving beam. The wider drivingbeam allows you to see around thebends and out into the roadsideedges to pick up approaching hazardslike wildlife and stray livestock. Spotbeams should also be dipped soonerthan driving beams as the oncomingtraffic is dazzled a lot earlier.If you want to have the best of bothworlds, by all means go with one spoton the driver’s side and a driving beamon the passenger side, otherwise twodriving beams is my advice.I hope this has helped clear up thequestion for you, Anne.- Greg Milton, ManagerNational Products & ServicesHi ARB,I’ve just purchased a 2009King Cab D40 Navara. I’m veryhappy with it and am in theprocess of preparing it for abit of 4WDing and camping.Firstly, I need to get her bellyout of the sand and am alittle overwhelmed with thechoices. I have been told thatlifting more than a couple ofinches will void my insuranceand get me into more troublethan it’s worth. What do yourecommend to give me moreclearance whilst keeping orenhancing the factory ride,without the worry that I won’tbe covered in the event of abingle? I’ll carry about 300kgof gear and will usually takeon just light to moderate traildifficulty.- RyanHello Ryan,Glad to hear your D40 Navara isgoing well and you are finding thetime to get off the beaten track.A suspension upgrade willcertainly help you get the bellyout of the sand and will alsoincrease your approach anddeparture angles. Other benefitsyou will get out of fitting an OldMan Emu suspension systemis an improvement in ridequality, control and load carryingcapabilities, and all supported bythe largest network of over 125outlets in Australia.The amount of lift or ride heightincrease is always an interestingdebate topic and not one tobe taken lightly. Not only forinsurance reasons but you alsoneed to understand what your...Answer continued on page 104X4ACTION 09

Q&ALETTERS TO ARBlocal road traffic and registrationauthority will allow in regards toride height increase as they dovary from state to state.Old Man Emu suspensionsystems are developed tomaximise the amount of lift thatthe vehicle will allow withoutcostly modifications but alsoensures it is in line with theNational Code of Practice forvehicle modifications that iscurrently being implemented byeach state. I would recommendyou contact both your insurancecompany and road trafficauthority to ascertain whatrestrictions you may encounter.As we have several suspensionoptions for the Navara D40, itis important to think about yourvehicle and factors that canaffect your suspension, especiallyregarding what accessoriesare fitted and what accessoriesyou are planning to have. Forexample, fitting a bull bar canreally determine which frontspring option is most suitable.The same criteria is applied to therear spring selection, in whicha canopy or drawer system oreven a rear step helps determinethe recommended components.How much weight is carriedin the back and whether it isa constant or occasionalload also helps to determinespring selection.When all the information isknown then the correct springcan be selected with thematching shock absorber. Thecorrect selection will ensure youreceive the ride height increase,plus improved ride and handlingand the comfort that an Old ManEmu suspension system hasbeen engineered for.- Mark de Prinse, ManagerOld Man EmuHi ARB,I gotta tell you that you’ve got meworried, or at least you’ve got mywife worried! I’ve just been downto your Wangara stockist in WAand have developed a very longwish list for my 2010 2 Door JKWrangler! First up will be a 2" OMElift and ARB diff covers, followed byfront and rear bar work and lights,snorkel, rear Air Lockers, 33" tyresand the list goes on. Gotta stopsalivating and start saving! I’m fairlynew to the 4WDing scene andpretty impressed with the Jeep sofar – can’t wait to see and drive itfully kitted out.Keep up the good work. Justdon’t tell the wife!Cheers,- SteveHi Steve,Sounds like you have some big plansto go with the big shopping list!Many 4WD aftermarket accessoriesare promoted as vital for safeOutback travel and you’re clearlyeyeing off plenty of them. But themost vital requirement for any4WD adventure is to be prepared.As Mark Lowry, our ProductDevelopment and Evaluation honcho,says, “The point of fitting accessoriesto your vehicle is to make it as safeas possible for your next adventure.”This means figuring out where youplan to go and what you want todo. This naturally has a big affecton what gets put on your wish listand what reaches the top of thelist. If you’re planning weekendtrips to your local national park, forexample, then your list would readsomething like: bull bar, driving lights,suspension, lockers, snorkel, mudtyres and maybe a portable fridgeor esky to keep the food and drinkscold. A big Australian tour, however,asks for additional ‘must have’ gear,including heavy duty suspension,roof rack/bars, sat phone or radio,comprehensive tool and first aid kits,all terrain tyres, auxiliary batteries andso on. Figuring out what you’re goingto be using your Jeep for is the key.Join a local 4WDing club, too. Notonly will you meet like-minded folkwith a passion for 4WDing, therewill also be opportunities to improveyour off road skills through courseswhere you learn to drive and campresponsibly. 4WD clubs are also greatways to get advice on the ‘must-do’4WDing adventures both in yourlocal area and across Australia.The JK Wrangler is a very capableoff road vehicle and certainly looksimpressive when fully kitted out. Ifyou really want to start salivating,hop onto the video page of the ARBwebsite and check out the ARBcatalogue photoshoot – it shows offARB’s JK Wrangler with pretty muchall of the gear on your wish list. Enjoy!- Kelly Teitzel, Editor10 4X4ACTION

Hey ARB,I’m 17 years old and have justpurchased a 1998 Toyota HiLuxExtra Cab. It has some handyaccessories like a 2" OMEsuspension lift, Safari Snorkel, dualbatteries and bull bar. I do a fairbit of off roading and would like toimprove my vehicle to help me findfurther adventures.My question is basically what doyou recommend I purchase next? Iknow of all the great ARB productsbut am unsure on what I need first.I’m tossing up between things likea Warn winch and ARB Air Lockersor even a canopy or long rangefuel tank. Being only young, I don’thave a huge budget or experienceactually driving but I plan onequipping my vehicle with all theuseful accessories in the long runbecause I love the outdoors and4WDing. If it was you that ownedmy car, what would be next onyour list and why?So, please ARB, give me somerecommendations on what Ishould aim to get next to improvemy vehicle and help me find somegreater adventures.- BenG’day Ben,It’s great to see you getting into4WDing at such a young age. It’s alifestyle that’ll allow you to see someof the magical and remote placesthis country has to offer!It sounds like you managed to pickup a great first vehicle with a lot ofthe necessary accessories alreadyfitted. That’ll certainly save yousome money and allow you to startexploring some tracks straight away.As you’re pretty new to 4WDing,I would recommend holding offon the winch and Air Lockers fora little while. This will force you toconcentrate more on practicingthe 4WDing basics and pickingthe right line, while allowing youto get to know your vehicle and itslimitations without getting yourselfinto too much trouble. As your 4WDexperience grows, you can then startlooking at things like winches andAir Lockers to enable you to exploresome more difficult tracks.In the meantime, I’d recommendgetting yourself a canopy. Theaddition of a canopy will allow youto safely and securely pack all ofyour camping gear in the tray, awayfrom the elements and reduce therisk of loose items being thrownaround in the cabin when off road.Down the track, you could look atmounting a roof rack to the canopyto further extend your load space orfor securing an awning for additionalweather protection.For your vehicle, you can selecteither a standard roof height canopy,which is the same height as the roofof the cab, or a raised height canopywhich will give you increasedhead room and load space. Bothcanopies are made from lightweightbut strong ABS materials, are fullylockable and can be colour coded toyour vehicle.Good luck with it.- Sam Boden, Marketing4X4ACTION 11

PRODUCT INFORMATIONOPENRANGETHE NEW FORD RANGER GETS THE FULLWORKOUT WITH GEAR FROM ARB.Released in October 2011,the all-new Ford Rangertouts a host of features anddriver safety aids that promise tomake this new model an extremelycapable off road vehicle.ARB’s engineers rapidly set towork on developing a sizeablerange of products, from bull barsand canopies to Old Man Emususpension and Air Lockers.The powerful turbo inter-cooledengines of the new Ranger requirea deluxe bull bar design withoptimum airflow in mind, andso large 70mm apertures werebuilt into the bull bar’s centralunder bar protection panel forenhanced airflow. The split panfurther facilitates airflow while alsodelivering exceptional structuralstrength to the bar.Suitable for winch and nonwinchapplications, the deluxebar features steel constructionfor maximum protection anda superbly engineered, air bagcompatible mounting system.Additional features such as robustunder bar protection panels, twinHi-Lift jacking points, retention ofthe original equipment tow point,and provision for IPF lights andaerials make the bar even moreversatile for off road travel.For Ranger owners seeking allof the functionality of the deluxewinch bar but are willing to forgosome of the aesthetic features,ARB has also engineered acommercial bar. Manufacturedfrom durable steel, the commercialbar features ARB’s renowned multifold, upswept and tapered wingdesign for excellent strength andapproach angle. Extensive underbar protection panels give theunder body of the Ranger addedprotection from off road debrissuch as rocks and fallen branches.ARB’s engineers also designedstandard roof canopies to suit thedual cab XLT 4x4 and 4x2 Hi Rider12 4X4ACTION

variants of the Ranger. In keepingwith a vehicle-specific style, theengineers focussed on producingcanopies with maximum door andwindow entry into the cargo areafor easy access, as well as a lowroof line to keep in line with theheight of the cabin roof. Offeringa secure place for valuables andequipment such as tools andcamping gear, the canopies featurelockable rear and side windowsand tinted ‘safety’ glass. Ownersof the new Ford Ranger also havethe option of selecting betweena textured finish or the stronger,smooth variant of the canopy.Other products for the Rangerinclude Old Man Emu suspension,which required an extensivedevelopment program, roof racksand ARB Air Lockers. For the fullrange of products available now,visit the ARB website.// Contact ARB for part numbersand pricing4X4ACTION 13

INSIDEARBDEVELOPINGTHE RANGEOLD MAN EMU’SSTUART FOOKS ANDMICHAEL DRAKE SHARETHE DEVELOPMENTPROCESS BEHINDSUSPENSION SYSTEMSFOR THE FORD RANGERAND MAZDA BT-50.Old Man Emu has been at the forefront of aftermarket 4WDsuspension for over 25 years, developing new suspension systemscustomised for specific vehicles. Each new suspension system is theresult of an extensive development program involving laboratory, diagnosticand on and off road testing to ensure it responds brilliantly in any terrain.For the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50, OME launched a new programwhich not only produced suspension systems with 50mm lift but alsoresulted in an Australian GVM upgrade to 3330kg (for local legislationabroad, contact your ARB dealer).We asked OME engineers Stuart Fooks and Michael Drake for the inside story.14 4X4ACTION

How did you start thedevelopment program for theFord Ranger?Fooks: Even though the newRanger utilises a rear suspensionsystem similar to the older model,we started from a clean sheet.This meant developing prototypeshocks for both the front and rearof the vehicle.This involved CADs and valvingwork. The Nitrocharger Sport rangeof shock absorbers use a complexset of deflective discs that can bealtered in size and thickness, givingus infinite tuning options. Gettingthe right valve code for the Rangertook some time.You achieved 50mm liftwith this suspension. This isabove the norm, isn’t it?Drake: The existing geometry ofthe Ranger allowed a 50mm lifton both the front and rear of thevehicle. Many new vehicles onlyallow between 20-30mm due tothe location of the vehicle’s underbody components – excessivelengthening of the shocks interferewith these components, causingmetal on metal contact andinterference with the vehicle’sdown travel and wheel alignment.This, however, wasn’t the case withthe Ranger and BT-50, and, throughlab work and various test drives, wewere satisfied that a 50mm lift wasboth achievable and safe.You’ve released a GVMupgrade as well.Fooks: It’s the first time we havereleased both suspension systemsand a GVM upgrade at the sametime. Normally, we focus on GVMupgrades after the suspensionsystems have been released,but we’ve increasingly seen fleetand mining companies load theirvehicles toward the limits of theirGVM. This has meant growingdemand for GVM upgrades inorder to ensure these vehicles arelegal and safe to drive.Drake: Once the shock absorberprototypes were approved, wemoved on to formalising the GVMupgrade. The prototypes were sentto a consultant engineer who doesindependent brake testing in orderto meet ADR requirements for safeload carrying.What testing did youundertake?Fooks: The suspension systemsunderwent a development andtesting program typical of OME –meaning it involved numerous springrates and heights, plus extensivevalve work, to cater for the full rangeof aftermarket accessories.We undertook multiple city,regional and off road test driveswith various load bearing scenarios.This included carrying sandbagsand having bull bars fitted andremoved to simulate various loads.Drake: It’s very time consuming.But a key goal of aftermarketsuspension is to produce springand shock combinations that feelsafe; if control is reduced in anyway, we return to the developmentstage and start again.You did ESC (ElectronicStability Control) testing too.Fooks: Yes, we did this in order toprove that the ESC works with OMEsuspension. For the Ranger, weset up a series of witches hats ona designated area of bitumen andtested the factory-fitted suspensionby swerving between the hatsat various speeds. This naturallyactivated the Ranger’s ESC system.We then fitted OME suspension tothe vehicle and repeated the testsmultiple times – again, the ESCactivated and we could find noadverse effects to the system.Electronic Stability Control isa complicated system but theconcept is not so different fromthe driving force behind OMEsuspension – that improvementsin vehicle control are achievedin all terrain. Because of this, wehaven’t had to make large-scaleadjustments to our developmentprogram in order to cater forvehicles fitted with ESC.We are always looking for waysto improve Old Man Emu, andensuring our suspension systemsare compatible with ESC is justone of these.4X4ACTION 15

DRIVINGTIPS & TECHNIQUESTRIPPREPARATIONHEADING BUSH OR OUTBACK SOON? RESIST THE URGE TOTHROW CAUTION TO THE WIND AND ENSURE YOU CONSIDERTHESE ESSENTIAL PREPARATION TIPS.As 4WDers, challenge is partof the adventure – manand machine against theelements, testing the limits of ourvehicles to find that magic spot inthe middle of nowhere.That’s all well and good, but noone wants to be stuck on the sideof an isolated track, out of rangeand out of luck, contemplating anexpensive rescue or worse whenyou should be wetting a line in abeautiful river or relaxing with acold one at an epic campsite.RESEARCHBefore you head off, research yourintended area of travel. Check thelocal road conditions, purchaseor download the latest maps androughly plan each day’s travel. Andif you have a GPS, make sure youknow how to use it.VEHICLE PREPTake some time to get to know yourvehicle. Speak with your mechanic,get them to perform a pre-tripinspection and show you how torectify some of the common issuesspecific to your vehicle. Key areasto pay attention to are suspension,cooling, steering components andwheel bearings.You should also ask yourselfif your insurance and roadsideassistance are up to date, andwhether you are covered for theareas you’re intending to travel.Make sure you can answer yes toboth before hitting the track.PACKINGPack only the gear you really need.Camping and touring is aboutescaping the rat race, not takingit with you. A good rule to followwhen trying to reduce your amountof gear is ‘if it doesn’t have at leasttwo uses, leave it at home’.Aside from the obvious items likeclothing, food, water and shelter,other non-negotiables for remotearea travel include a well-stockedfirst aid kit (and the knowledgeto use it), basic tools, commonvehicle spares and reliablecommunication equipment.COMMUNICATIONThe ability to contact the outsideworld when travelling in remoteareas is paramount. Most Outbacklocations don’t have reliablemobile reception, so considertaking a satellite phone and EPIRBfor emergencies and have a goodquality UHF and HF radio fitted toyour vehicle for short and mediumrange communication.With this knowledge on board, getout there and explore the amazingplaces this country has to offer.For a more detailed list ofrecommended spares and toolsto carry, driving techniques andrecovery procedures, visitwww.arb.com.au/getting-started.16 4X4ACTION

ONLINEWITH ARBKEEPING IT SOCIALIF YOU CAN LIKE IT, SHARE IT, POKE IT, TWEET IT,WATCH IT OR FAVOURITE IT, WE HAVE IT COVERED!That’s right, ARB has nowjumped on the social mediabandwagon and we wantyou to get on board as well andjoin in the conversation.Our official Facebook Fan Page(www.facebook.com/ARB4x4) hasbeen up and running for a coupleof months now and has receiveda great response. Our initialcompetition, Finish My Fourby, hasjust wrapped up and proved to beextremely popular, with the winnerhaving the opportunity to pick anyaccessory they wanted from ourcatalogue as well as star in theirown photo shoot with Mike Ellemfrom Offroad Images.Log on and become a fan todayto make sure you don’t miss ournext big competition! You’ll alsobe able to keep up to date withnew products, 4WDing advice, tripphotos, videos and plenty of goodhumouredbanter.We’ve also launched an officialTwitter account (www.twitter.com/ARB4x4), where we’ll be stagingregular giveaways and postingplenty of interesting ARB news.Follow us to stay up to date.Last but not least, we’ve given ourYouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/ARB4wd) a bit of a makeover.We’ll be adding plenty of freshnew videos in the coming months,too. More than enough to keepyou entertained for hours.So next time you’ve got a bit of sparetime up your sleeve, jump online andhave a look at all things ARB.www.facebook.com/ARB4x4www.twitter.com/ARB4x4www.youtube.com/ARB4wd4X4ACTION 17

ONLINEWITH ARBTHERE’SAN APPFOR THAT!ARB’S OFFICIAL MAGAZINEIS NOW AVAILABLE AS A FREEIPAD AND ANDROID APP.To meet growing customerdemand, ARB 4x4 Action isnow available on iPad andandroid tablets as a free app.Launched in early 2012, theapp features the Summer 2012edition of ARB 4x4 Action, withthis edition of the magazine to beavailable late April.Showcasing all of the trips, tips,features and advice from theprinted and online versions of themagazine, the apps also allow youto view exceptional imagery closeup and in stunning detail.The magazine required a completeredesign in order to suit the appformat, and incorporates textscrolling, active hyperlinks anddrop-away layers so that readerscan view photos from OffroadImages without any text sittingover the top.ARB Marketing Manager, MattFrost, has this to say aboutthe magazine app: “This is thenext step for ARB 4x4 Actionand serves to highlight that ourcustomers are always seekingthe best in technology, whetherit involves the manufacturingprocesses behind ARB’s productsor the quarterly magazine thatreaches over 300,000 fourwheelers throughout the world.”To download the apps, visit the‘What’s Hot Right Now’ section ofwww.arb.com.au or alternatively,visit the Apple or Google Appsstores and search for ‘ARB 4x4’.WIN!To celebrate the release of theARB and Hema apps, we’re givingaway an iPad 3 and a Hema 4WDAustralia app. Simply write 25words or less about how youwould use the iPad 3 and Hemaapp on your next 4WDing trip foryour chance to win. Entries willbe judged by ARB’s marketingdepartment, with extra pointsawarded for creativity and humour.To enter, email your 25 wordsplus your name and state tomarketing@arb.com.au with‘Win iPad 3’ in the subject line.Competition closes 31st May 2012.HEMA 4WD AUSTRALIA APPTurn your iPhone and iPad into a digital 4WD atlaswith Hema’s 4WD Australia app. Featuring over 70 ofHema’s award winning 4WD maps, including CapeYork, the Kimberley, and Victorian High Country, theapp also features a seamless TOPO 250K Australiamap and Hema’s new state and Australia maps.Giving you national coverage of tracksand terrain as well as campsites,roadhouses and caravan parks, theHema 4WD Australia map is available for downloadfrom iTunes now. Search for ‘Hema 4WD’ on theApple store for more details.18 4X4ACTION

CALENDARFor the latest up to date information, head tothe Calendar of Events link on the ARB website.APRILKapunda Farm FairApril 20-21Kapunda SAwww.kapundafarmfair.com/2012NSW Caravan, Camping, 4WD &Holiday SupershowApril 21-29Rosehill Racecourse, Rosehillwww.caravan-camping.com.auCommercial Vehicle ShowApril 24-26Stand 1B60, Birmingham UKwww.cvshow.comMAYAgFest TasmaniaMay 3-5Quercus Rural Youth Park, Bracknellwww.agfest.com.auLandCruiser Mountain Park ExpoMay 5-7LandCruiser Mountain Park, Jimnawww.landcruisermountainpark.com.auARB Morphett Vale Open DayMay 19181 Main South Road,Morphett ValePh: (08) 8186 6101Automechanika Middle EastMay 22-24Booth 8AM506, Dubai UAEwww.automechanikame.comHunter Valley Caravan, Camping,4WD, Fish & Boat ShowMay 25-27Maitland Showground, Maitlandwww.campingshow.com.au/RS2012/2012hunterValley.phpJUNECairns Home Show & Caravan,Camping & Boating ExpoJune 1-3Cairns Showgrounds, Cairnswww.homeshowinfo.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=152Queensland Caravan, Camping& Touring Holiday ShowJune 6-12RNA Showgrounds, Bowen Hillswww.caravanqld.com.auEurostory ExhibitionJune 11-15Paris, Francewww.eurostory.comCoffs Coast 4WD, Caravan,Camping & Boat ShowJune 16-17Coffs Harbour Racing Club,Coffs Harbourwww.grimmopromotions.com.au/4wd/index.htmJULYFarm FantasticJuly 20-22530 Rutters Road, Caboolturewww.farmfantastic.comIN THE HOODHave your kids looking theirbest in the new Fourbyzip-up hoodie! Made from100% cotton brushed fleece, thisadorable hoodie has a double feltappliqué ‘FOURBY’ logo across thechest and a woven badge featuringARB’s lovable kids’ mascot. Comingin bright green, the hoodie has aprinted Fourby text lining withinthe hood and YKK zip designed tostand up to general wear and tear.Available in sizes 3 to 12, the Fourbyzip-up hoodie is available now fromARB stores and stockists.// Part no: 217403-2174104X4ACTION 19

PRODUCT REVIEWYOU’RE BARREDWords & photography by Mark Allen20 4X4ACTIONIT’S A BIG DECISIONADDING A BULLBAR AND REARWHEEL CARRIER TOYOUR 4WD… ORIS IT? MARK ALLENASSESSES THE ARBBULL BAR ANDREAR BAR WITHWHEEL CARRIER ONHIS 100 SERIES.There are some hugeadvantages to fitting a steelbull bar and rear bumpercome wheel carrier… providedyou use your 4WD for what it wasintended for and not just pickingup the kids from school.IN FRONTA bull bar doesn’t just provide aspot to mount your electric winch,driving lights, antennas and sandflags; it also gives you and yourmates something solid to lean onwhile perusing all those maps ofOutback Australia that are oftenlaid out on the bonnet… youwouldn’t want to lean on the ducoand scratch it, would you?In all seriousness, that same bullbar will also provide your 4WDwith unparalleled protection froman animal strike as well as minordriving incidents (no, not touchparking at the school pickup area),which is the number one reasonfor fitting it.While upgrading our electric winchto a Warn XDC 9500, we installed acommercial ARB bull bar to protectthe front of the Cruiser. With today’smodern vehicle design and hightech inclusions of air bags and thelike, it’s extremely important toensure your chosen bull bar hasbeen specifically designed anddeveloped to suit your vehicle. Ifyou choose a bull bar that is not airbag compatible, you’re basicallykissing your insurance goodbye– yep, it’ll be totally void once theinspectors find your bar contributedto the lack of air bag activation,which of course added to theoccupant’s injuries.The commercial bar is not only airbag compatible, it is also designedto fit the 100 Series LandCruiserto allow for maximum approachangles, has Hi-Lift jacking points,two aerial tabs and two drivinglight tabs – and of course itprovides that all important bar toperch on while chin-wagging overthe maps. The only thing we domiss out on as compared to thedeluxe ARB bar is fog lights anda few cosmetic extras which doprovide a superior finish.

FROM BEHINDWhile out 4WDing, those standardweak plastic bumper bars at theback end of your 4WD alwaysseem to hook up on terra firma andend up costing a bomb to fix (eventhough they’re only plastic). Butthey can easily be replaced with asteel version. A well-engineered,sturdy steel bar can be a veryuseful accessory, especially when itcomes with a few extra swing-outcarriers to take on either one or twospare wheels or even a jerry can.To rid the Cruiser’s plastic bumper,we chose to fit the ARB rear barwith twin wheel carriers. Neatlyshaped, it doesn’t look like ahunk of rail track tacked onto therear end. It utilises gas struts tohelp open and hold each wheel,although when parked on steeperangles there are locking pins tohelp hold them in place – a goodsecurity measure to prevent thewheels from slamming closed whileyou’re unloading gear. One wheelcarrier also incorporates the numberplate and a reversing light... onemuch more usable than the patheticoriginal reversing candles.Opening the wheel carriers issimply done by pulling a lever,while shutting is akin to slammingthe car door – no other latches,hooks or levers to contend with andit can all be done single-handedly.This bar has allowed us to move thelow-mounted, gravel-rash-provoking,underslung spare wheel up to a saferand more easily accessible position,plus of course now we have twospares (33" tyres which each fiteasily) instead of one. With theunderslung spare removed, we canalso opt for an extra fuel tank or evena water tank to fill the void.The rear bar also incorporates aheavy duty 3,500kg rated towbar, which means we scrappedthe factory tow bar to save someweight. There are two laminated(double layered) towing points, plusthere’s provision for an optionalantenna bracket and camp light,although we didn’t opt for these.We’ve given the rear bar a goodworkout over about twelvemonths, including towing ourcamper trailer from Sydney toFraser Island and return via afew coastal destinations, plus atruckload of work-related towingjobs with camper trailers andcaravans – all without fault.The only blemish is on one of theside wings where some clownnudged it in a car park and slightlyscuffed the powder coating – betterthan having a dented or creasedplastic bumper! A bit of polish andelbow grease (if I get around to it)would almost certainly remove themark. At least if that damaged wingwas severe, it could be removedand replaced independently.THANKS... ANDA LITTLE IMPROVWe had our ARB bar workfitted at ARB Wentworthville inSydney, which can be found at355 Great Western Highway,South Wentworthville or call(02) 9631 7889.It must be noted that the ARBstaff did advise us that their rearbar with swing away carrierswas designed specifically forthe GXL model with upper andlower tailgates, not the standardHZJ105R with barn doors thatwe have. We insisted it be fittedwith the necessary modificationscarried out to ‘make’ it fit, whichinvolved removing the rearplastic cowl off the door handleand not having the barn doorsopening as far as the OE design– we were happy with that.4X4ACTION 21

TRAVELSOUTH EAST COAST, WATHE GREATAUSTRALIANBITEWords by Mike Pavey. Photography by Anita Pavey & Shane LangleyWHETHER IT’S A REMOTE FISHING SAFARI ORSOMETHING A LITTLE MORE FAMILY ORIENTED, THESOUTH EAST COASTLINE OF WA IS A BITE-SIZED DELIGHT!22 4X4ACTIONThe Topaz lurched to oneside as we crested anotheruneven mound of dirt,courtesy of the local road worksgang. With little traffic foragingdown these remote tracks, theroad crew had left quite a mess.Piles of dirt littered the roadsurface like a 4x4 obstacle course.Anita’s body language said itall – her white-knuckled grip onthe grab rails and that steelyglare indicating a fast decliningthreshold of pain. Probably not thebest time to request a snapshot ofthat enviable Patrol flex!The Balladonia Track in WesternAustralia’s south east is 4x4only, stretching 200km or sosouth to the coastline at CapeArid and linking up with remotecoastal tracks to Israelite Bay andfurther east into the NuytslandNature Reserve. It’s rugged andremote yet offers a rare glimpseof pioneering history and someof the best beaches and fishingopportunities in the area.A three tonne road limit sign greetsyou on entry to Balladonia Road,south of the roadhouse bearing thesame name; a good place to top upon fuel and grab any last minutesupplies. According to the ranger,the three tonne sign is to deterlarge trucks using the adjoiningParmango Road as a shortcut toCondingup and Esperance. Whileyou may safely guide a trailer downto Cape Arid, beyond Israelite Bayis best explored unencumbereddue to the inhospitable conditions– tight bush tracks (expectscratching), boggy ground andlimestone outcropping.Heading south, the track passesthrough the Cundeelee AboriginalReserve, an unsealed road litteredwith potholes. Conditions improveas the track crosses into theEsperance Shire; the track opensup onto a firebreak which is muchwider and smoother… at least fora while. At around 70km from thehighway, proceed past the junctionto Parmango Road (32 58.086’S

IT’S RUGGED ANDREMOTE YET OFFERSA RARE GLIMPSEOF PIONEERINGHISTORY ANDSOME OF THEBEST BEACHESAND FISHINGOPPORTUNITIESIN THE AREA123 28.921’E), which heads westto the blacktop at Fisheries Road,Condingup and Esperance. Fromhere the road narrows to a bushtrack with plenty of surroundingscrub encroaching on the trackand eager to play a tune on yourduco. The park rangers in theseparts punt around in Ford Rangers,so anything the width of a Patrolor ’Cruiser is bound to cause somelevel of bush pinstripe anxiety.There’s plenty of pioneering ruinsalong this route – the substantialBalbinya ruin (33 05.301’S 12334.032’E), the graves at PineHill (33 18.235’S 123 22.738’E),and the Old Telegraph Station atIsraelite Bay that operated between1877-1917 and provided directcommunication with the EasternStates. The history of the ruinsbetween Balladonia and IsraeliteBay are revealed in the bookChallenge in Isolation by JohnBridges, which tells the hardship ofthe early pioneers who struggled insuch an isolated location.There are numerous clearingsalong the track to prop a swag,tent or camper. We spent our firstnight at the Juranda Rockhole(33 13.060’S 123 27.148’E), afurther 30km from the Parmangojunction. It’s outside the Cape AridNational Park and offers little morethan a clearing with a number ofsurrounding rock holes, which mayor may not be holding water.A better place to camp is MtRagged (33 27.932’S 12327.692’E), 130km from theroadhouse and only a fewkilometres off the main track. Thecampsite offers basic facilitiesincluding a picnic table, pit toilet(no water) and a walking track toadmire views of the surroundinglandscape. Then there’s PointMalcolm about 25km south ofIsraelite Bay but again no facilities.The junction of the Balladoniaand Gora Tracks (33 27.218’S123 26.281’E) serves as the maintouring hub from the north. Theleft fork follows the Gora Trackon a south-easterly bearing toIsraelite Bay (49km), home to theruins of the Telegraph Station.This is a narrow, slow, sandy andcorrugated track with encroachingscrub on either side. BilbunyaDunes are a further 76km east.The track continues over sandridges varying in height from4-12m to the Baxter Cliffs andbeyond with options to exit viaCaiguna or Cocklebiddy. TheEyre Bird Observatory, southof Cocklebiddy, is managed byvolunteers and marks a worthypoint of interest. Formerly the EyreTelegraph Station, the buildingnow hosts a library and smallmuseum, information and displayson the coastal environments andoffers limited accommodationfor staff and visitors. Visitorsare encouraged to participate inornithological studies conductedat the observatory, including birdbanding and a weekly count ofshorebirds and seabirds along a4X4ACTION 23

13km track. Day visits are possible,but the caretakers appreciate aphone call in advance. A returnjourney from the Eyre Highwaytakes about three hours.The beaches beyond IsraeliteBay should be avoided duringwinter, where seaweed maskssand blowholes. The inland OldTelegraph Track is the safer option,with poles, insulators and wire stillfound along the route. Salt lakesparallel the coast all the way toBilbunya Dunes, making passageslippery when wet. With preciouslittle to winch off, a second vehiclewith ARB snatch straps or a pairof Maxtrax should be consideredessential recovery equipment.On some maps, a private campis shown at Israelite Bay. This isnothing more than a big tin shedused by professional salmonfisherman in season. There areplenty of places to make camp,with plentiful shade and, best ofall, camping is free. However, likeany of the 4x4 destinations aroundhere, you will need to be selfsufficientas there are no facilities.Fishing-wise, salmon are themainstay species all year around,although herring, garfish, snook,flathead and whiting will succumbto a tasty bait of squid or typicalspecies lures. Further west at PointMalcolm, mulloway, skippy andbronze whaler sharks are availableoff the beach.From the west, the Fisheriesand the Old Telegraph trackslink Esperance to Israelite. Thesandy Old Telegraph Track beginsoff Poison Creek Road, north ofThomas Fishery and runs east.It only gets a bit sticky aroundthe salt lake at the eastern endafter rain. The Fisheries Trackwas closed when we visited dueto boggy ground, but cautionis advised for any tracks in thearea, which are all subject toboggy ground after rain, Diebackquarantine or wildfire. Bestto check with Dundas ShireRoads and the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation(DEC) at Esperance or the CapeArid Ranger before you travel.For something a little less remoteand more family oriented, take theright fork at the Gora Track junction,maintaining a south-westerlybearing along the Balladonia Trackto Cape Arid. Passage is still achallenge in parts with soft sand,grey clay, bog holes, corrugationsand limestone outcrops providing asmorgasbord of terrain challenges.Keep an eye on the track surface asthere are a number of sinkholes thatcould easily swallow a wheel wherethe ground has just given way. Mostare marked with sticks and it serveswell to slow trip times. It’s not toomuch of a challenge for experienced4WDers and we made it throughokay with a fully loaded touringvehicle and the Topaz in tow.One of the last straight stretchesruns between two rows of banksiasin soft sand. The slim passagewas evident by the regular thudof banksia bows against the scrubbars and doors, with the occasionalPASSAGE CAN BE A CHALLENGE IN PARTS WITH SOFTSAND, GREY CLAY, BOG HOLES, CORRUGATIONS ANDLIMESTONE OUTCROPS PROVIDING A SMORGASBORDOF TERRAIN CHALLENGESscreech along the duco. Still, witha reasonable level of momentum,progress was good. We did getmomentarily bogged after stoppingto remove a banksia limb fromthe track. The tyres furrowedholes on the first gear change,not helped by our heavy load.With a couple of pairs of Maxtraxon board, an unassisted recoverywas delightfully easy. With a few24 4X4ACTION

less pounds of air in all six tyres,we were once again maintainingsteady forward progress.Cape Arid NP has plenty ofexcellent family camping options,covering everything from thebigger and better serviced sitesat Thomas River to the smallersites capable of hosting a coupleof tents. We opted to camp atthe newer campground on thehill at Thomas River overlookingCape Arid and Yokinup Bay.Central facilities are modern andattractive, courtesy of the firethat swept through a few yearsago. The camp kitchen offers a5-star view across the bay withgas BBQs, picnic tables, sink andwater, while compost pit toiletsand gravelled level sites take careof other requirements. The onlydetracting factor is the sea breezethat bellows up in the afternoonacross the hillside.A Shire campground is locateddown at beach level, behind thedunes, offering a more shelteredoption. Facilities are similar butwithout the attractive ambienceor view. Smaller campgroundsare located at Jorndee Creek,Seal Creek and Thomas Fishery.We found Seal Creek the best ofthe smaller campsites for biggerrigs, with more open sites, whileJorndee Creek is for compactcamper trailers with its sitescutting into the scrub. ThomasFishery is for die-hard fishos, withthe goat track dropping downthe mountain to the beach over anumber of rock steps. Needless tosay, tents and swags only.Beach access is available atThomas River by crossing themouth of the river. At low tide,you can drive up the beach asfar as Cape Arid, crossing overthe headlands to reach the nextsection of beach. The shelteredbeaches of Jorndee beach arequite spectacular for swimmingand fishing; the crystal clear watermakes it exceptionally inviting.If all this adventuring sounds alittle beyond your comfort level, restassured you can always access theCape Arid area via Norseman andEsperance. Coming from the east,that imposes an additional 400kmof … yawn … blacktop, withoutthe added adventure of discoveringpioneer ruins and exploring partsof the Great Australian Bight wherefew others go.With so many options, you caneither base camp at a centrallocation and take a couple of daytrips to explore the area, or go thewhole hog and explore the areaend to end.FAST FACTSROAD CONDITIONSGet details from:Dundas Shire:http://www.dundas.wa.gov.au/roadconditions/roadconditionsCape Arid Senior Ranger:Tel: (08) 9075 0055DEC Esperance: (08) 9083 2100MAPSHema iPad 4WD AustraliaPERMITSPark entry is a one-off $11AUDper vehicle. Camping costs$7AUD per adult and $2AUDper child per night. No campingfees are payable at the 4WDaccessible camps such asIsraelite Bay, Mt Ragged and inthe Nuytsland Nature Reserve.OTHEREyre Bird Observatory:Tel: (08) 9039 34504X4ACTION 25

PRODUCTINFORMATIONNEW TRAILER CAMERAKIT & AUXILIARYINFRARED CAMERA26 4X4ACTIONCHECK OUTTHE LATESTADDITIONS TOARB’S POPULARREVERSINGCAMERA RANGE.Improved visibility at the rearof your vehicle and trailer isparamount when reversing intight urban locations, residentialdriveways and if you regularly travelwith a trailer, camper or caravan.Having a reversing camera systemfitted to your vehicle increasessafety and will help take the stressout of reversing.To add to the existing range –which includes a reversing cameraand monitor system, plus auxiliarycamera – ARB has just releaseda trailer camera kit and auxiliaryinfrared camera.The perfect solution for tourerswho tow a camper, boat orcaravan, the trailer camera kit isdesigned to work in conjunctionwith ARB’s reversing camera andmonitor system and provides userswith rear vision from the trailer.Designed for easy installation,the kit incorporates plug-n-playconnections and heavy dutysockets, plugs and flexible cord.The kit is designed to integrateseamlessly with the reversingcamera and monitor system andwill automatically activate wheneverreverse gear is selected. With anIP68 water resistant rating, the kitalso features 15m of cable extensionto cater for a vast array of campertrailers, caravans and boats.The camera included in thetrailer camera kit is also availableseparately as an auxiliary camera,providing additional viewingcoverage to an existing reversingsystem or as a spare part for thekit. Fully compatible with ARB’s

THE KIT ISDESIGNED TOINTEGRATESEAMLESSLY WITHTHE REVERSINGCAMERA ANDMONITOR SYSTEMAND WILLAUTOMATICALLYACTIVATEWHENEVERREVERSE GEAR ISSELECTEDreversing camera and monitorsystem, the high quality cameraincorporates a Sony CCD imagerwith an inbuilt microphone –perfect for anyone directing thedriver from outside the vehicle.The camera also features infraredcapabilities for night time visionup to 10m and an adjustablealuminium visor to reduce sunglare. Featuring silver powdercoated aluminium housing andIP68 immersion protection, thecamera has a 135° wide angle lens.The mounting bracket ensuresflexible fitment location on thetrailer and allows 120° cameraadjustment range. Operating on12/24V DC, the camera includes6.5m of cable and has an operatingtemperature range of -10°C to80°C, making it suitable for use inextreme off road conditions.Both the trailer camera kit andauxiliary infrared camera areavailable now from your local ARBstore or stockist.Trailer Camera Kit// Part no: 10600030Auxiliary Infrared Camera// Part no: 10600021THE COMPLETE RANGEReleased in early 2011,ARB’s reverse camera andmonitor system incorporates areplacement rear view mirrorwith an inbuilt 3.5" OLEDmonitor and a licence platemounted CMOS wide anglecamera. Both the new trailercamera kit and auxiliary infraredcamera are designed to workcohesively with this system.The reverse camera andmonitor system is designedto specifically complementthe vehicle interior, reducedashboard clutter, utilisecurrent mounting points andwork with people’s existingdriving habits. The systemincorporates two camerainputs, allowing an auxiliarycamera, such as the newinfrared model, to be mountedas a second camera.Visit ARB for more details onthe complete range.4X4ACTION 27

DRIVINGTIPS & TECHNIQUESLOADEDADVICEWITH MANY FOLK GEARING UP FOR THAT GREATOUTBACK TRIP, IT’S TIME TO LOAD UP ON SOMEHANDY ADVICE REGARDING YOUR SUSPENSION.28 4X4ACTION

There’s a reason why somany people throughoutthe world load up the 4WDand disappear for a few weekson the tracks – it’s great fun. Butover the years, ARB stalwarts likeAndrew ‘Stretch’ McBride fromARB Darwin and Mike Elliott fromARB Rockhampton have collecteda myriad of stories regarding keen4WDers who’ve had a rough timebecause of poor suspension set ups.From adventurers who have beenfined for exceeding their GVM tofour wheelers who limp into theworkshop with sagging springsand aching spines, the biggestfactor to consider with regard to4WD suspension performance isload carrying ability.AFTERMARKETSUSPENSIONEveryone knows that 4WDsuspension is complex. OldMan Emu has four full timeengineers who focus solelyon developing fully integratedsuspension systems that deliverthe maximum benefit in ridequality, handling and load carryingability. Lab testing, scientific datalogging and extensive real worldtesting, encompassing multipleload scenarios, are undertakento ensure optimal suspensionperformance in any terrain.SPRING SELECTIONWhen travelling in remote areas, theneed to carry sufficient fuel, water,vehicle spares, safety equipmentand general supplies invariablymeans that your 4WD will be fullyloaded, placing significant strain onsuspension components.With multiple kit options availablefor most vehicles, it’s extremelyimportant that the appropriatesprings are chosen to matchyour individual load carryingrequirements, as even the bestaftermarket springs will producea poor ride if loaded above (or toofar below) their designed rating.Incorrectly selected springs thatare not rated to carry heavier loadswill typically exhibit problemsexperienced every time you drive,including poor ride height, reducedvehicle stability and spring sagover time.An overloaded vehicle often has tobe driven at a much slower speedin order to prevent ‘bottoming out’on the bump stops. This occurswhen the suspension systemcannot adjust rapidly enough tohandle both the excessive weightand the terrain. Bottoming outmakes for an uncomfortableand unpleasant drive and placesextra load on other suspensionand structural components ofthe vehicle, which increases the4X4ACTION 29

A TOP-HEAVY VEHICLEBECOMES DANGEROUSLYDESTABILISED,PARTICULARLY ATHIGH SPEEDSchances of a breakdown furtherdown the road.Too much weight will also makethe shock absorbers work harderthan necessary, resulting in fatigueand reduced comfort, handling andcontrol. Continued overworkingof the shocks also reduces theirworking life, resulting in increasedcosts through the need for moreregular replacements.Loss of ride height is anotherconsequence of an overladenvehicle. Off road travel regularlyrequires good approach anddeparture angles in order tosuccessfully overcome obstacles,and the reduction of ride heightcan mean the difference betweenclimbing a steep rise and turningback the way you came.If you rarely travel off road but arenow planning a big adventure,consider upgrading your springs tothose with a heavier rating. Havingthe right springs fitted to your vehiclewill ensure your suspension systemexhibits better towing and loadcarrying characteristics, improvedwheel articulation and increased rideheight. It will simply ride and handlebetter over any road surface.CORRECT LOADING OFYOUR VEHICLERoof racks are great for carryinglight and bulky items such asswags, firewood, campingequipment and gear that hasstarted to get on the nose, like lastweek’s socks and jocks. Still, it’simportant to spread the load evenlyacross the roof rack and to secureall items tightly, as a shifting loadcan cause your vehicle to suddenlyveer out of control.Heavy items should be avoidedon roof racks. A top-heavy vehiclebecomes dangerously destabilised,particularly at high speeds, andtypically takes on a disconcertingswaying motion that makes drivingalong corrugations and even theblacktop a hairy experience.EVEN THE BEST AFTERMARKET SPRINGS WILLPRODUCE A POOR RIDE IF LOADED ABOVE (ORTOO FAR BELOW) THEIR DESIGNED RATINGAim to keep heavy items downlow, either in a trailer or, if you’retransporting them within yourvehicle, over the axle, towardsthe centre of the vehicle or evenlydistributed on both sides whereverpossible. Avoid heavy loadingtoward the front of the vehicle, asthis will cause the vehicle to ‘dive’every time you hit the brakes.Likewise, concentrating too muchweight in the rear of your vehiclewill make the steering feel lightand vague and can also result inmisaligned headlights. So, keep thecentre of gravity within your vehicleas low and as wide as possible toensure a safe drive in any terrain.GROSS VEHICLE MASS(GVM) UPGRADESYour GVM is the total weight ofyour vehicle plus any accessoriesyou have fitted and the load yourvehicle is carrying (includingpassengers and fuel). Keepingwithin the GVM limit ensuresyou can safely and legally carryall the gear needed for your offroad adventures without voidingyour insurance in the event of anaccident. Knowing the GVM ofyour vehicle and how much weightyou have both on and in yourvehicle is paramount.Fitment of accessories such as bullbars, winches, canopies, roof racksand auxiliary tanks permanentlyaffect a vehicle’s gross mass, andwhen you head off road, additionalitems such as camping equipment,sufficient food and water andpassengers all increase thechances of exceeding your GVM.A GVM upgrade allows youto legally carry extra load andusually requires modificationof the vehicle by means of a30 4X4ACTION

suspension upgrade. Contactyour local ARB or road transportauthority for information on thelegality of GVM upgrades in yourcountry. In Australia, vehicles arerequired to meet Australian DesignRules (ADR) for vehicle safety,GVM upgrades are applicableto unregistered new vehicles,or registered vehicles whereengineering certification to proveroadworthiness after the upgradehas been obtained.GVM UPGRADES AND GROSSCOMBINED MASS (GCM)Your vehicle’s Gross CombinedMass is calculated by combiningthe GVM with the vehicle’smaximum towing capacity – inother words, the total mass of yourvehicle, the load it’s carrying andthe weight it’s towing.When a vehicle is modified witha GVM upgrade, it’s common toassume the GCM also increases.This, however, is not the case.Regardless of a GVM upgrade, yourGCM does not change. And so thequestion must be asked – if yourgross vehicle mass has increasedbut your combined vehicle/towingcapacity has not, how is the loadcapacity dispersed?An increase in your gross vehiclemass means an equivalentdecrease in your maximumallowable towing capacity. Thismeans that while you can carry anincreased load both on and in yourvehicle, your towing capacity isreduced. While for many 4WDersthe benefits of a GVM upgradeoutweigh the reduced towingcapacity, four wheelers who towa trailer at close to the vehicle’smaximum towing capacity mayfind themselves exceeding theGCM, which is not only illegal butdangerous as well.WEIGHT DISTRIBUTIONSYSTEMSTravelling with a camper trailergives you the convenience of acomfy bed, ready-made kitchenand a place to stow some gear, butensuring the load is balanced bothin the trailer and on the towingvehicle is critical to ensure youstay safe on the road.When a trailer is coupled to avehicle, the trailer’s total ballweight is concentrated directlyonto the rear section of thevehicle. This naturally lifts theweight away from the frontof your 4WD and reduces theeffectiveness of your frontsuspension. This weight imbalancenoticeably reduces steering andbraking responsiveness andcreates lost grip on the road aswell as that highly disconcertingtrailer sway.A suitably selected weightdistribution system restores yoursuspension and steering geometry,providing positive towing controlby spreading the weight evenlyover the vehicle chassis to allfour wheels. Weight distributionsystems are for on-road use only,which really is no big deal asthe weight displacement issuescaused by towing are mostprevalent at highway speeds.Many 4WDers utilise a weightdistribution system for travellingsafely upon the blacktop and thendisconnect the system when theyhit the dirt.Knowing how to safely tow thetrailer will also make your tripmuch more enjoyable. Leavethe trailer at a campsite if you’reheading into rougher territory,as towing can turn into a majorhindrance on many tracks. Alsoremember to drive more slowlyand be aware of speed restrictions,as state and territory road rulescan differ according to yourtrailer’s weight and length.The key to any great off road tripis to be prepared. Don’t wait untilyou’ve already hit the road to startthinking about your load carryingrequirements. An appropriatelyselected, integrated suspensionsystem delivers tremendousimprovements in ride, comfort,handling and load carrying abilitythat are felt every time you drive.4X4ACTION 31

TRAVELVICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRYHIGHCOUNTRYHUTSWords by Sam Boden. Photography by Sam Boden & Adam HennessyWANT TO VISITTEN VIC HIGHCOUNTRY HUTSIN A SINGLEWEEKEND? SAMBODEN SHOWSHOW IT’S DONE.32 4X4ACTION

THE TREAD ONEVEN THE MOSTAGGRESSIVE MUDTERRAIN TYRESFILLED VERYQUICKLY WITHMUD, MAKINGNEGOTIATINGTHE WINDINGTRACK QUITECHALLENGING.WERE WE HAVINGFUN? YOU BET!It was late in 2011 when the callto action was first published onMySwag.org, Australia’s largestoff road camper trailer forum. Aweekend High Country trip for theuninitiated. A chance to exploresome of the best tracks andlocations that the area has to offer,including 10 of the majestic HighCountry huts.Ironically, given the nature of theforum, this would be a tents andswags only trip in order to take fulladvantage of the area without theadded challenge of managing afleet of camper trailers along thesteep, narrow and winding tracksthat are synonymous with this partof Victoria.Interest in the trip was strong fromthe outset, and by the time theofficial weekend rolled around in midFebruary, there were 15 confirmedvehicles, including a few ring-insfrom our northern neighbours inNSW. A great result, consideringthe forecast for the area warned ofheavy rain, wind and thunderstormsover the entire weekend.Those lucky enough to sneak outearly from work on the Fridayarrived at the designated meetingpoint (Buttercup Camp Area 3) inthe early hours of the afternoon.Nestled in the foothills of the HighCountry and only 20 minutes fromthe busy and well-stocked town ofMansfield, the Buttercup campingareas are easily accessed via a goodquality gravel road and provide anexcellent base for exploring theMansfield State Forest and AlpineNational Park. Over the remainderof the afternoon and evening, aconstant trickle of vehicles arrivedat camp, concluding with the lastremaining forum members whorolled in after dark to the welcomesight of a roaring campfire andplenty of banter amongst the troopsdiscussing the adventures that layahead. The trip had officially begun.Saturday morning broughtwith it clearing skies and mildtemperatures – perfect for 4WDing.The heavy rain of the previousfew days had done a great job ofsettling the dust without creatinga quagmire, and after a quickbreakfast and an overview of theday’s travel, the group left camp ingood spirits.With a large number of vehicles inattendance, the decision was madeto split into two groups separatedby around 20 minutes and usingdifferent UHF channels to minimiseconfusion. Not only did this meanthat vehicles coming in the oppositedirection had fewer vehicles tonegotiate their way past, it alsoreduced the risk of losing someonedown the wrong track.The short drive from camp downto Tomahawk Hut, originallybuilt in the 1960s by the ForestCommission as a road buildingbase, provided a good chanceto warm up the vehicles beforeheading on to some of the morechallenging tracks. As luck wouldhave it, one fellow in our group hada long family and working historyin the area and after everyonehad assembled outside the hut,he proceeded to tell one of manyinteresting and insightful storiesabout the history of the huts and4X4ACTION 33

the characters who’d lived andworked in the area over the years.A short backtrack and a left handturn saw the two groups climbingskywards along No 3 Track amidthe magnificent High CountrySnow Gums. A quick stop nearthe summit, with the morningsun now gently washing over therugged landscape, provided a greatopportunity to capture the endlessviews of the surrounding area andtake in the awe inspiring scenery.Not long afterwards, we arrivedat the recently rebuilt Refuge Hut.This hut was originally built toprovide protection for skiers duringwinter, and with a long drop toilet,Coonara heater and a purposebuiltstretcher, it’s a great place tospend a night or two.About 7km further along No 3Track, just past the intersectionwith the main Circuit Road, lies34 4X4ACTION

the turnoff to Razorback Hut.Razorback is actually made up oftwo buildings, one containing alounge and kitchen area completewith lighting, running water,oven and an open fire. The otherbuilding contains sleeping facilitiesfor up to 46 people. Being closeto a few of the local cross countryski trails and riding tracks, the hutis well-used by skiers and horseriding groups alike. It’s certainlynot hard to see why.The High Country is not all abouttall mountains and breathtakingviews. Some of the best areas lielow in the valleys where crystalclear rivers run through sceniccamping areas like arteriesproviding life to the harshwilderness. King Basin Road,which is accessed via Circuit Roadat its western end, winds its waydown to one of the most popularof these areas, Pineapple Flat.King Basin Track had recentlybeen graded, which in most caseswould make for easy driving.Given the amount of rain that hadfallen during the preceding days,however, and the fact that wewere the first group through afterthe grading, we were presentedwith a very muddy and slipperydrive down to Pineapple Flat. Thetread on even the most aggressivemud terrain tyres filled very quicklywith mud, making negotiating thewinding track quite challenging.Were we having fun? You bet!To access Pineapple Flat, you needto cross the King River. On mostoccasions this is an easy crossing,with most vehicles able to crosswithout wetting the bottom oftheir doors. It can get deep afterperiods of heavy rain, though,so if you’re unsure it’s always agood idea to get out and walk thecrossing first before ploughingin. Pay particular attention to theplacement of rocks on the bottomthat have the potential to causedamage to lower-slung vehicles.If you’re not overly comfortablewith river crossings, then KingBasin Road is probably not for you.After leaving Pineapple Flat, thereare a further five water crossingsrequired before arriving at KingHut, some with steep entries andexits. This is definitely low range,high clearance country.King Hut provided the perfectopportunity to stretch the legs andfuel up with food and drink afterthe long morning in the driver’sseat. There is plenty of spacearound the hut to accommodatelarge groups of campers, but, likePineapple Flat, it’s a very popularspot during peak periods.With the hours slipping away, andwith the notoriously slippery (in4X4ACTION 35

the wet) 16 Mile Jeep Track still onthe agenda for the afternoon, wemade our way along SpeculationTrack and up to Craig’s Hut, madefamous by the Man From SnowyRiver movie. The views fromCraig’s Hut are simply spectacularand it really is hard to take a badphoto of the place. The track upcan sometimes be slippery andrutted and although we found itto be in very good condition onthe day, we were surprised tosee a couple in a small Subaruhatchback at the top of Clear HillsTrack admiring the view. A suresign of the times...From Craig’s Hut, the convoymade its way down Clear HillsTrack towards Mt Stirling andthen onto The Monument Trackfor our first challenging sectionof the weekend. The MonumentTrack has some steep downhillsections and would be particularlyslippery in the wet as most of thetough parts consist of smoothrock. With low range, first gearselected, we wound our way downwithout issue and continued onto Bindaree Road, stopping at thespectacular Bindaree Falls for afew photos on our way to BindareeHut and the beginning of 16 MileJeep Track.Bindaree Hut is located on thebanks of the Howqua River and36 4X4ACTION

WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE A COUPLE IN ASMALL SUBARU HATCHBACK AT THE TOP OF CLEARHILLS TRACK. A SURE SIGN OF THE TIMES...is relatively small compared tosome of the other huts – watchyour head on the way in. It wasoriginally built in the 1930s by JimWarne for cattle grazing.16 Mile Jeep Track is knownfor its slippery clay base andcan be impassable in the wet.From Bindaree Hut, it’s a longsteep uphill drive incorporatingnumerous switchbacks to the startof Bluff Track.As we cautiously made our wayto the top, several menacingcracks of thunder echoed aroundus and the first few drops of rainbegan to fall. Once both groupshad ascended to Bluff Track,we continued on, racing theimpending storm past Bluff Hutand on to Lovick’s Hut whichwould be our base for the night.We arrived at Lovick’s hut to finda crisp layer of hail covering thegrassy camping area. With blackclouds and thunder still rollingoverhead, a mad hustle to set upcamp ensued.Ironically, once we settled intothe campsite and had the fireroaring, the clouds parted and weenjoyed a very entertaining nightaround the campfire, reliving theday’s adventures. Many storieswere told that night including theinfamous story of Barclay’s ghostand the unsolved Wonnangattamurders of 1917. If you haven’theard the story, I suggest you findsomeone to fill you in next timeyou’re in the High Country. You’llnever listen to the howl of a dingothe same way again.After a solid nine hours in thesaddle (so to speak) on Saturday,the mood was far more relaxedon Sunday morning as we awoketo perfectly clear skies. Followingthe obligatory fry up over thecampfire for breakfast, the groupsheaded further up the increasinglydifficult track to Picture Point.Views from Picture Point stretchuninterrupted across to Mt Buller,Mt Sterling and Craig’s Hut andwere unmatched over the courseof the weekend.As the saying goes, ‘it’s all downhillfrom here’, so from Picture Point,we made our way back past BluffHut and eventually onto Brock’sRoad, heading down towardsSheepyard Flat. We made a quickpit stop to check out TunnelBend, where a 200m long tunnel,originally constructed to divert theriver during the gold mining boom,pierces through a section of rockface on a delightful bend of theGoulburn River. The tunnel itselfis large enough to walk through ifyou’re game and you don’t mindgetting your feet wet. The riveritself at Tunnel Bend is also a greatspot to take a dip, so make sureyou take a towel with you.A few km further down the trackand we arrived at our final meetingplace, Fry’s Hut, which is justover the hill from the ever-popularSheepyard Flat camping area. Theend to a wonderful weekend inthe High Country had fallen uponus. Over the course of the twodays, many old friends had beenreacquainted and just as manynew friendships had been formed.If you’re a member of an onlineenthusiast forum, I’d encourageyou to tag along on one of themany trips they organise. Notonly do you get the opportunityto meet like-minded people instunning surroundings, but youdo so with a sense of security thatis acquired through travelling in agroup, under the watchful eye ofexperienced trip leaders who’vebeen there and done that before.4X4ACTION 37

COMPETITIONWINNERSKEN DUNCANCOMPETITION WINNERSWITH HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES AND MANYAMAZING PHOTOS, IT WAS A DIFFICULTTASK SELECTING THE TOP 20 IMAGES INOUR KEN DUNCAN COMPETITION.All entries you see on the followingpages have won a copy of KenDuncan’s new book, Australia – OurIsland Paradise. Big congratulationsgo to William Richardson, whoseimage was selected by MichaelEllem from Offroad Images to alsowin the 47L ARB Fridge Freezer.Michael explains how he came tochoose this epic shot:The leading lines of the desert trackdo well to guide you into the lightof the setting sun. This in turn hasprovided great contrast in the sanddune’s ripples as the sun buildsheavy highlights and shadows inthe beautiful dunes.This image takes me on a journeyand I feel like I am part of thephotographer’s travels. This kindof photography is difficult toachieve, as the sun can be harshon the front lens element, causingall sorts of refractions. I love it!There are some fabulous entrieshere, and congratulations toall involved for sharing theirawesome work.- Michael Ellem38 4X4ACTION

WILLIAM RICHARDSON, SA4X4ACTION 39

ANDY HURCOMBE, NSWDAVE CHARLTON, VICTOM CORRA, ACTALEX MEI, NSWMATTHEW WATKINS, VIC40 4X4ACTION

SANDIE HARTLEY, WASUSAN VERNON, NSWSTEVE COX, NSW4X4ACTION 41

KIRI SCHULTZ, NSWDAVID POWLES, VICLISA CRAFT, NSWANDREW HISCOCK, SAPAUL FARRELLY, SAPHIL LIBBIS, VIC42 4X4ACTION

CHRIS FOWLER, QLDKELLY PEACOCK, NSWSTEVEN MERRIFIELD, VICSTEPHEN LASHLY, NSWROBERT ANDREWS, VIC4X4ACTION 43

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS & TECHNIQUESPROTECTINGYOUR CAMERAWords & photography by Michael EllemTAKING THAT EPIC OFF ROADIMAGE CAN BE A BLAST, BUT WHATHAPPENS WHEN THE ELEMENTSMAKE A MESS OF YOUR CAMERA?44 4X4ACTION

Some 4x4s are allowed toget a little dirty on the trackand some just have to becovered in that ‘trophy-mud’ lookfrom the big trip to display to themates back home.But what about your camera gear?If you want your gear to serve youwell for a number of years, you willneed to look after it. So here are afew tips to help you get the mostout of your gear.Off road 4WD photography willbring your camera gear in contactwith dust, sand, water and evenmud. You could simply leave thegear in a well designed camerabag or protect it whilst you shoot,and there are some fantasticcamera covers available for yourgear which will do a great job, butfor this discussion, we will ignorethem and focus on the moreeconomical versions.My camera kit will alwaysinclude the following:• Good quality camera bag. Thisis a soft version like Lowerpro orhard case like a Pelican case• Three or four microfibrecloths (the same ones that youwill find with automotive carcleaning products)• A good quality lens cleaning cloth• Lens cleaning solution or a bottleof clean water• A blower or puffer. This needsto be a big one as the smallerversions are pretty much useless.If you have a DSLR, carry twoof these – one for the outsidecomponents of the lenses andthe other for the internals of thecamera (i.e. the image sensor)• A shower cap or a spare hatPHOTOGRAPHY ONA DUSTY TRAILThe way I see it, most people willassume that their camera gearwill only get damaged when theyare using it. So the scenario goessomething like this…You’re on a dusty track and hitsome bulldust; your vehicle slowsbut you keep the pedal down asthe dust churns around the cabin,slipping through the gaps in thebonnet panels and sticking to theoutside of the windows. Naturally,you think, ‘Wow, we had betterget some shots of that!’Your camera comes out and youhave someone drive through thesame spot, capturing the action and,as they drive past you on the track,you place your camera in your shirtaway from the dust to protect it.You have a smile on your facefrom the excitement of it all,thinking, ‘How great was that...’Everyone will enjoy seeing whatyou have captured. You thenplace your camera into its bag,hop back into the 4WD and driveon down the road to the next greatphoto location.The problem is, even though youwere careful, the dust always seemsto attach itself to the camera. Sowhen you place the camera into thebag, the dust is now in there too,travelling over the corrugations,working its way behind buttonsand switches and, like sand paper,gradually scratching the qualityfinish which looked so good in thestore during purchase.After you take your shots, drag outa microfibre cloth and gently wipethe dust from your gear prior toplacing it back into its protectivecovering. The best way to seeif this cloth does the job is toobserve that it is actually removingthe dust straight away and notsimply smearing it. The good onestend to stick or grab at dry skin onyour hands and will do the same toany dust on your camera.Just one other thing to keep inmind – once dusty, these clothscan be slightly abrasive to lenses,so after you have given the cameraa clean with the microfibre cloth,avoiding the lens, get your lensblower and blow away the dust offyour lens or filter, and then placethe clean lens cap back onto thelens. You are now ready for thenext shot down the track.4X4ACTION 45

46 4X4ACTIONOnce you get yourself organised,you will find that this doesn’t actuallytake that long and it will definitelypay off by ensuring additional yearsfrom your investment.PHOTOGRAPHINGIN THE RAINI was on a photo shoot recentlyand, as usual, woke before dawnto get out there and create somemagical images of a 4WD lookingpretty at sunrise, only to find itraining. In the end, I decided tophotograph the scenery anyway.After all, sleep’s overrated.So I set out to shoot some oldboats at the local fish co-op in therain over a long exposure.Now, you could ruin a camera inthe process of shooting duringrain. Alternatively, you could followthese basic steps and capturethe image without any dramas ofgetting your camera wet.Using a tripod for long exposuresis obviously necessary and you willneed to keep everything clear ofmovement. An umbrella is ideal toassist you in keeping the cameradry, and if there is no wind, youmight think to attach it to thetripod so that you have two handsfree to set up the camera.I prefer to use a hat – you simplyplace the hat over the camera bodywith the brim facing out over thelens and the cap part covering thecamera body. Sure, the hat will getwet, but the camera is safe underthe hat’s cover.Another way is to use a showercap from the motel bathroom.Nobody really uses these anyway,and personally, I’m sure that this iswhat they were actually made for.The benefit of the shower cap isthat the elastic will lock around thecamera body and you will be ableto look straight through the plasticto compose your image. This samemethod works really well in thesnow also, as the snow might bedry when it lands on your cameragear, but when it melts, of course,it’s wet as!Importantly, after you shoot in anydamp situation, you will need todry the camera. You could simplywipe the camera dry, but to ensurethat there is no moisture attachedto the camera, get the enginerunning on your 4x4 and turnthe air conditioning to cool withheaps of airflow. Ensure that theair is not flowing directly on thecamera body. The air conditionerevaporates moisture quite quicklyfrom your camera and the rest ofthe vehicle’s cabin. Now you canplace it back in its camera bag orpelican case.SHOOTING IN MUDDYCONDITIONSMud would have to be considereda camera’s worst enemy. I have asaying, ’mud is for millionaires’,and I think this is true with both4WDs and cameras.Have you ever noticed that most ofthe damage or wear and tear to a4WD is caused after playing in themud? I am sure that everyone hashad a play in that bog hole or muddytrack and ended up with some sort ofdrama either straight away or shortlyafter. That sight of the alternator lightcoming on or the grinding brakeswhich makes you cringe.So you are on the track and, asa dedicated photographer, youposition yourself near the exit ofthe bog hole to capture the actionof your mates trying their bestto break through the suction andweight of the mud.This will always make for greatFacebook photos and we alllove seeing these shots, but oneguy usually has a bigger rightfoot and you end up covered ina muddy spray. Now you have aproblem as you look at yourmud-covered camera trying towork out what to do.Most point and shoots, even thewaterproof cameras, will be ruinedby this mud as it gets in behind the

MY TIP FORSHOOTINGIN MUDDYCONDITIONS –KEEP AWAY FROMTHE STUFF!buttons and dials and, like sandpaper, will eventually cut awayat the waterproof seals. If yourcamera is a waterproof model, youwould do well to wash the cameraunder slow running fresh waterto remove any grit from the mud.Most DSLRs will share the samedrama and most will be ruined bythe mud contact.The very high-end cameras,like the Canon 1D series, haveawesome seals that allow you toshoot in the rain, but if you let muddry on the camera, it will affect theworkings and will gradually breakdown the seals, allowing moistureand dust to get in.My tip for shooting in muddyconditions – keep away fromthe stuff!You either need to use a longerlens or zoom in on the action.Your shots can take on a wholenew look, as you will find that thelonger lens will naturally shortenthe depth of field, encouragingpeople to look at the subject ratherthan the complete scene. Andwhen your mate with the big footgives it that little bit extra, you cankeep shooting instead of running.One thing is for certain… mud isfor millionaires.4X4ACTION 47

PRODUCTINFORMATIONTHE OLD MANEMU ENGINEERSGET BUSY WITHNEW PRODUCTSFOR LANDCRUISER200 SERIES.With the goal of continuousimprovment and meeting customerdemands, the Old Man Emu engineershave been busy in their lab and offroad in order to get new products andsuspension systems on the market for4WDers across the world.NEW NITROCHARGER SPORT FOR TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 200 SERIESDesigned by a dedicated teamof OME ride control engineersthrough an exhaustive vehiclespecific development program,the Nitrocharger Sport range forthe LandCruiser 200 Series hasundergone a series of refinementsfor light to medium loadapplications.Because Nitrocharger Sport allowsfor precise tuning, the OME teamhave been able to upgrade existingapplications to suit lighter loadrequirements and owners whoprefer a shock absorber tuned withcomfort in mind.Fully compatible with OME’sextensive range of springs,bushes and hardware, the newNitrocharger Sport shock absorbersfor the 200 Series are backed by a 3year, 60,000km warranty and aftersales support from more than 120authorised outlets Australia wide.// Contact ARB for part numbersand pricingOME INTENSITY TEEMade from 100% cotton, this shirt offers acasual yet comfortable fit for fans of Old ManEmu suspension. Available in sizes small to3XL, the dark green shirt features a ‘grunge’ graphicacross the chest, with the vehicle designed to sit up onthe shoulder for a different look. It can be found now,along with a range of other OME apparel items, in ARBstores and stockists nationwide.// Part no: 217417-21742248 4X4ACTION

PRODUCTINFORMATIONX MARKS THE SPOTVersatile and designed to beeasily fitted to any vehicle,the X-Bar range fromBushranger offers a sturdy platformfor 4WDers seeking to mountBushranger’s Night Hawk lights andan aerial to their vehicle.Manufactured from 3.2mmpolished, anodised aluminium alloytube, the X-Bar is designed witheasy installation in mind and willmount via existing license platemounts on your vehicle. Suitable forall license plate sizes, the X-Bar is airbag compatible and comes with afive year warranty.// Contact ARB for part numbersand pricingACCESSORIES FORYOUR AIR COMPRESSORAIR TANKS AND MANIFOLD KITS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO MAKEYOUR ARB ON-BOARD COMPRESSOR EVEN MORE VERSATILE.The award winning rangeof air compressors by ARBhas been given an extraboost with two new accessoriesthat increase the number ofapplications both on road and off.4L ALUMINIUMAIR TANKRated to a maximum workingpressure of 150PSI (1030kPa),the 4L aluminium air tank delivershigh volume air output suitable forrapid tyre inflation and most airpowered tools.Ideal for use with ARB’s twinmotor and high output on-boardcompressors, the tank alsocomes standard in the portabletwin motor version. The tankincorporates two 1/4NPT portswith JIC-4 male fittings andcomes with mounting hardwarefor easy installation. 50% lighterthan equivalent steel tanks, thealuminium air tank is available nowfrom your ARB outlet.// Part no: 171501AIR LOCKERMANIFOLD KITDesigned to work seamlesslywith ARB’s twin motor onboardcompressors, the AirLocker manifold kit enableseasy installation of Air Lockersolenoids to an air source such as acompressor or regulated gas bottle.With a working pressureof 150PSI, the manifold kitincorporates multiple ports to alsoallow the use of ARB’s pump upair kit. Incorporating mountingbrackets and a Teflon stainlesssteel braided hose designed tocool air supply for tyre inflation,the manifold kit can be found atyour local ARB distributor now.// Part no: 1715034X4ACTION 49

PRODUCT REVIEWDOUBLEPUNCHWords by Mike & Anita Pavey. Photography by Mike & Anita Pavey & Offroad ImagesTHE PAVEYSPUT ARB’SNEW TWINMOTOR AIRCOMPRESSORTO THE TEST.In the 4x4 12V compressorworld where bigger is better,the ARB twin motor aircompressor is king, punching out174.4LPM at 0kPa or 131.8LPM at200kPa (29psi).Released to the market in mid2011, the compressor owesits existence to a US militarydevelopment program whichdemanded a high performancecompressor able to withstandthe environmental challengesof military use. Available as anon-board or portable unit, thelatter is packaged in a hard carrycase, complete with a 4L air tank,6 metre durable high temp airhose, inflation accessory kit andan air blow gun – all tucked neatlyinto the lid. Full technical detailswere detailed in the Winter 2011magazine, so visit www.arb.com.aufor the full specs.On paper, the twin motorcompressor features the sameclass-leading build as the majorityof the ARB compressor range,with lightweight, engineeringgradematerials complementedwith an over-pressure safety valve,thermal protection and heavy dutycircuit protection, ensuring yourinvestment won’t pop itself underserious load.The compressor is sealed formoisture and dust resistance,making it suitable for externalmounting. Splash resistant airfilters with washable high-flow filtercartridges, tested for bulldust, keepeven the finest dust particles at bay,ensuring a long service life in theAussie Outback.A key feature of this compressoris that it offers a 100% dutycycle, courtesy of twin coolingfans, that will have you inflatingyour tyres and that of your matescontinuously, improving yourpopularity come reinflation timeoff road. Most other compressorsrequire a time-out period. Currentdraw is also respectable for itsoutput, drawing a maximumof 68.6 amps at 150psi or 50.4amps at 29psi – well below mostalternator outputs.As far as tyre inflation duties go,the portable compressor can beused immediately without fillingthe air tank, which simply acts asan online reservoir. However whenfull, it gives a higher burst of air forfaster inflation and the necessaryvolume for some air tools. Wetested the portable compressorwith the air gun supplied to blowout the hot water service onour Topaz off road van. With orwithout priming the small tank, thecompressor had plenty of pressureto clear out the dust.Side by side testing of the ARBtwin motor compressor against ourexisting ARB compressor yieldedunsurprising results, with the twin50 4X4ACTION

WHEN FULL, THE PORTABLE UNIT’S AIRTANK GIVES A HIGHER BURST OF AIR FORFASTER INFLATION AND THE NECESSARYVOLUME FOR SOME AIR TOOLSmotor unit halving the inflation timeon our Cooper STT tyres. We liketo run up to 48psi on the blacktop,courtesy of our full touring load,so it was a joy to be using the twinmotor compressor which made lightwork of any inflation requirements.With the addition of the secondcompressor motor, dimensions areup accordingly, with the on-boardunit measuring 278L x 190W x105mmH, so finding a suitablemounting location might pose abit of a challenge. At least if allelse fails, you can buy the equallycapable portable compressor.Designed and manufacturedin Australia to suit local andinternational conditions, eachunit has been individually leaktested, current draw tested andflow tested under load at thefactory before packaging. A twoyear warranty is offered with fullreplacement parts available.Thanks to Mark Lowry from ARB’sProduct Development and Evaluationdepartment for his input.4X4ACTION 51

PHOTOGRAPHY BEHIND THE SHOTRIGHT ON TIMEWe were on an Outback trip forARB to obtain new images of threevehicles – the HiLux, Disco and theToyota Tacoma, which is sold in theUS. The Tacoma was a very importantvehicle as these new images wouldfeature heavily in ARB’s internationaladvertising campaigns.We had photographed everythingon the brief but were still lookingfor that iconic image that said‘ARB’. I suggested we arrive earlyat the nearby sand dunes to ensureplenty of time to plan the shot,carefully working out the angle ofthe dune, the wind direction andthe bearing of the sun at that timeof the year. These shots don’t justhappen like people probably think.We had spent time walking thedunes to work out the shots when,almost out of nowhere, a windstorm came moving towards usat incredible speed. We soughtrefuge inside the vehicles and satlow as wind and blasting sandrocked the vehicles.As it eased a little, ARB’s marketingmanager, Matt Frost, suggestedthat we just get out of there andretreat to a location for a quietcoffee. But I could see a smallwindow of opportunity on thehorizon for the sun to poke throughand light up this scene. If the windwas still working for me, I was surewe could create some magic.I jumped out of the HiLux whileMatt and Mark Lowry preparedto drive like rally drivers throughthe scene I was trying to create,turning exactly where I hadrequested as the sun piercedthrough that small gap on thehorizon, lighting up the vehicleagainst the deep colour of thestorm in the background.When you create a good shotunder these crazy conditions,you do get a real sense ofachievement. This image was oneof a small sequence resulting fromthe only run we managed with theToyota Tacoma, as it ripped a tyreoff the bead a couple of secondslater. Mark then drove the HiLuxand Matt drove the Disco throughthe scene. Our shooting timewould have been a total of twominutes as that’s how small thatgap on the horizon actually was.Sometimes, things in photographyrequire the right timing and youhave to be patient with what isprovided to you by the elements.I think that this shot was worthwaiting for.- Michael EllemPHOTOGRAPH SPECIFICATIONSCamera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IILens: Canon EF 70-200mm IS USM at 165mmExposure: 1/200 second at f 2.8ISO: 20052 4X4ACTION

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AMERICA’S WILDESTOFF ROAD RACE54 4X4ACTION

KINGOF THEHAMMERSIn the world of motorsports,there are but a dozen eventsthat have risen to the apex oftheir genre. Narrow that query tooff road competitions and the fielddrops to a handful; the Dakar Rallyand the Baja 1000 come to mind,both of which have had decades toattain the esteemed status of ‘Topof the Class’.Back in the mid 1990s, Americaplanted the seed of extreme rockracing by hosting a first-of-itskindrock crawling event in thenow-famous town of Farmington,New Mexico. After fifteen years,the sport has moved solidly intomaturity and has had numerouscontenders for Class Valedictorian– many of which have lost tractionand been permanently benched.Six years ago, we witnessed a newcontender stepping onto the arena– and this one appeared to carrythe DNA, the genetic code, of achampion. The first event was small,with just a few teams, sponsors, anda handful of spectators.But over the past five years, it hasgained an impressive following,tripling the number of competitorsand sending attendance throughthe roof.As February 2012 approached,Hammerking Productions, thesanctioning body, has taken theevent to new levels. What startedas a one-day get-together ofhardcore 4x4 enthusiasts hasevolved into a weeklong slugfestof the country’s, and the world’s,most competitive racers. As forspectator attendance, this numberhas climbed to 25,000.Enter the 2012 Griffin King of theHammers (KOH).We joined ARB’s EngineeringSupervisor Daniel Bongard andARB USA Marketing Manager LisaWood in Johnson Valley, California,for this wildest and newest crazein dirt sports. Historically, morethan half of KOH competitorshave trusted ARB for their tractionneeds, and 2012 was no exception.In the past, ARB has had a vendortent set up as a shop for any ARBrelatedissues. This year Lisa andDaniel brought their expertise tothe pit area with personal techsupport visits to any team runningARB Air Lockers.KOH SUCCESS STORYOne of the keys to KOH’s explosivegrowth is that it combines the bestof high speed Dakar-style racingwith extreme rock crawling. It is acombination that no other eventoffers, and it has drawn some ofthe best competitors from bothgenres. In past years, several verysuccessful desert racers haveplaced their names in the hat forthe chequered flag. However, theyhad no idea how difficult the rockysections would be for man andmachine; many experienced gameendingmechanical failures in thefirst few miles. The result has beenthe creation of ‘dual-sport’ racecars – fast in the desert and nimbleand tough as nails in the rocks.4X4ACTION 55

SEVEN DAYS OF RACINGAs the event gained popularity, itadded a UTV competition and twodays of ‘Last Chance Qualifiers’(LCQ). For 2012, two new races wereadded – ‘King of the Motos’ runningthe same brutal route combinationbut for motorcycles, and theSmittybilt ‘Every Man’s Challenge’ formodified stock vehicles.KOH has also come to the limelightin the world of competitiveinternational auto sports. This year,teams from ten countries and fivecontinents were on hand to maketheir move to be crowned ‘King’.Among the nations representedwere Italy, Iceland, Japan, Australia,Mexico and Belgium. WhileGriffin Radiators has been theleading corporate sponsor fromthe beginning, other companiessuch as Raceline and ATX Wheels,4Wheel Parts, Goodyear and FalkenTire, King Shocks, Warn, MasterPull and Lucas Oil have all becomemajor supporters.When the eighth vehicle through ChocolateThunder rolled over in the middle of thetrack, utter chaos broke out. Drivers began totake any line available, including where thephotographers were standing and over the topof other vehicles.With the Sledgehammer Trail eliminated fromthe 2011 roster, Chocolate Thunder becamethe funnel, or equaliser, where the slowercars caught up to the leaders. When the firstvehicle broke, everyone took the bypass.When the second rig went down, a franticsense of urgency among the waiting driverscould not be contained, resulting in a threehourdog pile and winch fest.RULES OF ENGAGEMENTKOH has a full book of regulationsthe vehicles must pass for technicalinspection, but the main event rulesare very simple – go fast and stayon course. There are 110 teams inthe main event and eighty spacesare reserved for pre-qualifieddrivers and international teams.The other spots are determinedin a Last Chance Qualifier, a typeof Wild West Shootout where‘anyone’ can enter.Of the 85 LCQ teams vying for aspot in the main event, only 30qualified. This year, in an effortto raise money to keep JohnsonValley open to the public, 26additional LCQ teams were addedto the roster, and all registrationfees were donated to support landuseissues.RACE TRACKThis year’s track consisted of twolaps on a 125km loop. The first90km was mostly high-speeddesert two-tracks, followedby a zigzag route through theearthquake prone, boulder-strewncanyons of Johnson Valley. Teamswere given 14 hours to reach thechequered flag (less than 20km/haverage), but to be competitiveyou needed be able to finish in lessthan seven. When the green flagdropped, teams were allowed toassist each other on the track buttheir pit crews were restricted todesignated pit areas.HAMMERTOWN, USAAs the event gained popularity,the organiser stepped up its gameexponentially. Hammertownnow has city streets completewith street signage, a fullpower grid and stadium lightingilluminating the entire area.Two massive circus-style tentshouse indoor displays, a separatetent is dedicated for meetings,seminars and workshops, andboth are flanked by almosta hundred manufacturers.Beyond Hammertown Citylimits, thousands of toy haulers,motorhomes and fifth wheelersstretched across miles of desert.RACE DAY, CARNAGEAND THE PODIUMKing of the Hammers is truly one ofthe craziest races on the planet andranks right up there with Dakar…only shorter. It is a world whereninety percent of your time isspent on ten percent of the course– the rocks! Start with a 150km/hadrenalin rush of wild whoop-dedoosand haul-butt desert twotracks.Then you are tossed into anendless barrage of a dozen of thegnarliest boulder-strewn sluiceswith a dozen other vehicles. Runclean and you’re living the dream;have a bad day and you’ll findyourself in a perpetual nightmare.The key is to get in front of thepack in the desert sections. If not,you’ll find yourself in a snarledtraffic jam in the rocky and narrowHammer trails. To give you an ideaof just how tough this race is, lookat the technical level of these rigs,then consider the fact that only 49of the original 136 teams made it tothe chequered flag. Yep, sixty-fourpercent crashed, broke, or did notfinish within the 14-hour time limit.When the dust settled, America’sErik Miller, Rick Mooneyham,and two-time champion ShannonCampbell were standing on thepodium. If you don’t mind ustooting our own horn, four of thesix winning differentials wereequipped with ARB Air Lockers.Australians Ben Napier and NickFinch ranked 15th and 25th, ItalianFabio Manno finished 37th, andCanadians Mat Noualy, RobbKaufman and Curtis Warner landed33rd, 41st and 44th respectively.One thing we really like about thiswildest of desert races is the LCQrule that anyone with a 4WD canenter. If you have the guts and thecar and don’t mind trashing yourequipment, bring it on!Put it on your bucket list. The Kingof the Hammers will be waiting.56 4X4ACTION

MEET THE RACERSTo get the inside scoop on what it is like to compete in one of the mostbrutal off road competitions in the world, we interviewed a professionalracer, 4WD shop owner/enthusiast, and an old school technology first-timer.SHANNON CAMPBELL THE PROWhen did you first implementARB lockers into your race cars?I started using ARB Air Lockersin the first 4WD I built. I realisedthere were several advantages andhave never felt the need to change.You’ve been crowned King ofthe Hammers twice and placed3rd this year. How has yourrelationship with ARB and theirAir Lockers played a part in this?The relationship I have with ARBis very important. Their productand support plays a huge role inmy success.Your racing program has beenvery successful and you’vebecome one of the most wellknown names in the off roadscene. What is your secret?No secrets here! It’s all aboutgetting to the finish line, hard work,staying humble and rememberingwhere you come from.What is in the future for CampbellRacing and will ARB be part of it?I always like to try new things.This year we will be doing someshort course racing in the LucasOil Series in my new Ford Pro Litetruck, and both the east and westcoast Ultra4 Series. No matterwhat, ARB will always be a part ofmy race program.BRANDON AND STEPHEN WATSON THE MID-FIELD CONTENDERSWe came to Ultra4 racing fromthe recreational 4WD world butfrom a different track – we owna shop, Offroad Designs, whichspecialises in full-size trucks anddrivetrain applications.We had always run Air Lockersin front because you can retainturning performance at slowspeeds and in the rocks, whichis a huge advantage. Once theAir Locker became available forour beloved 14-bolt, we added itto the rear and things have beengreat! The first thing we noticedwas the consistency in high-speedtracking. Couple this with theknown durability of the system andthat they don’t require a lot of prepwork, and it is a big confidencebuilder on the track. If an axle shaftbreaks, the other side is still goingto keep us moving.All these little advantages add upover the course of a race in ‘timeto the finish line’. We posted asolid qualifying time that put us in36th starting position. Working ourway through the crowd and a fewmechanical issues, which is normalfor KOH, we managed to gettoward the front of the pack. Thiswas our 4th KOH, and our 4th andbest finish, at 12th place overall.It’s definitely a testament to thequality of the parts we use andpeople around us; everything fromthe meticulous prep detail fromthe Offroad Design team to thelate night tech help from the crewat ARB. The ARB stickers on ourcar are there because we’re proudto be part of ARB’s dedication todoing the job right.CODY ADDINGTON THE RUN-WHAT-YA-BRUNG ROOKIEThe race went really well for us.We tried to keep the truck togetherand within its limits so we couldfinish the 165-mile race. Aboutforty miles into the race, we lost alluse of our power steering.The front ARB locker really savedour butts because we could engageand disengage it at our discretion. Itis nearly impossible to steer with iton (without power steering), so wehad to turn it on and off a lot!If we didn’t have a selectable locker,our day would have ended there.The locker worked flawlessly. Otherthan that, about 140 miles intothe race we had a small fire in theengine compartment that we quicklyextinguished. Luckily nothing wasdamaged and we made our way tothe finish line. The whole experiencewas a dream come true.4X4ACTION 57

What began as a one-day event with afew competitors and a small number ofspectators has evolved into a weeklong racingextravaganza with over 25,000 spectators. Theschedule begins on Sunday with Every Man’sChallenge (modified-stock rigs), pre-runningon Monday; Tuesday and Wednesday is the4Wheel Parts Last Chance Qualifier; Thursdayis a UTV and King of the Motos race, and Fridayis the main event. In the process, Hammertownhas become a literal city in the desert.Extreme 4x4 and Mythbuster host JessieCombs not only works on 4x4s, she racesthem, too. Jessie joined Kristin Carter tomake the only ‘all girls’ team in the race.More than 25,000 spectators lined the 125kmtrack to watch teams jockey for position overVW-sized boulders.KOH draws competitors from around theglobe. Fabio Manno, from Roma, Italy, wasvery popular for television interviews. Withvery little seat time he managed to finish in arespectable 37th position.This year’s course was set up with 150km offull-on desert racing before hitting the insanerock trails of Johnson Valley. The key towinning was to get ahead of the pack beforethe rocks, and avoid the traffic jams in theHammer Trails.Dustin Sexton ran the only vintage FordBronco on the track. Unfortunately the oldpony did not make it to the finish line.King of the Hammers can be brutal onequipment. Less than half the competitors inany year will finish the race.Lance Clifford of Pirate 4x4 fame was RobbyGordon’s navigator. Clifford spent several dayshelping Gordon with the technical aspect ofdriving on rocks.The combination of Johnson Valley’sboulderouse mountain ranges, and that it sitssquarely in the middle of an active seismiczone, has rendered its numerous arroyos andcanyons a rock crawler’s playground.Contingency day is where the fans get toschmooze with the racers and racers get toschmooze with the manufacturers.Master Pull is a big sponsor of KOH andprovided recovery vehicles and staff for theentire week. With dozens of rollovers eachday, the Master Pull crew had a big job.Mike Klensin was a strong contender, runningin the top 10 for most of the race. Aftersuccessfully navigating 250km of the mostextreme terrain available, he wanted to puton a show at the finish line (where he ranout of talent). Klensin hit the jump a little toofast and performed a nose-over triple snaproll. Ultimately landing on four wheels, andwith everything intact, Klensin drove the final100m to victory row.Eric Miller makes his second pass throughChocolate Thunder on his way to victory.58 4X4ACTION

KOH rules state that vehicles must remainwithin 16 metres of the centreline of the track.But other than that, all bets are off. If someonebreaks down in the front, their vehicles may beused for traction for the next guy.Australian Ben Napier arrived for his third KOH.He left with his first finish, at 15th position.He said, “This doesn’t compare to anything wehave in Australia... it’s an amazing race and wehad a really good time.” Being an Aussie mate,he naturally runs ARB lockers.KOH is a true-grit desert race and uses thewinning race cars as the ‘podium’. When thedust settled, Eric Miller, Rick Mooneyhamand Shannon Campbell took 1st, 2nd, and 3rdplace respectively. ARB is proud to know thatfour of the six axles on the podium vehicleswere fitted with ARB Air Lockers.Most teams are out pre-running the coursethe week before the race. When they are noton the track, they are in the pits fixing or finetuningtheir cars.Kristen Carter and Jessi Combs, the onlyall-girl team in the race, also ran an ARBlocker and showed the boys how to drivewith a clean run through Chocolate Thunder.Unfortunately, mechanical issues put themout of the race early.Eric Miller, who qualified in the 4th startingposition, was one of the younger drivers in theevent. When the dust settled he was crowned‘King’ of the Hammers.The obstacle at the bottom of the ChocolateThunder Trail became a nemesis for manydrivers. If they rolled over and could not selfrightthemselves and needed assistance fromthe recovery team, their race was over. Withthe help of locking differentials, this teamwas able to back out of their predicament andmake another attempt.If teams survived the first 125km loop, theyfaced one of the most difficult obstacles inthe race, the ‘Outer Limits Trail’. MonsterEnergy’s hard-driving Shannon Campbell hadworked his way from 50th position to 8th(after five flats and a broken control arm).Campbell is also the only driver to run frontand rear independent suspension.Not to toot our own horns…okay, here wego. When guys like GenRight owner TonyPellegrino and 4Wheel Parts CEO Greg Adler(who could choose any locker available),select an ARB Air Locker for their tractionmanagement, it is an honour and vote ofconfidence in the quality of our product.Robby Gordon is one of America’s biggestnames in auto racing. From NASCAR to theBaja 1000, Gordon’s motto is, “It doesn’tmatter what kind of car it is… get behind thewheel and drive it to the ragged edge.” Withzero experience in rocks, Gordon qualified 5thin the LCQ. Unfortunately his motor’s ‘raggededge’ was shorter than his throttle cable andthrew a rod at the 25km mark.Hammertown included a massive vendortent, a media tent, driver’s lounge, andfull-length semi trucks from several dozenmanufacturers. It was a carnival-likeatmosphere in the middle of the desert.ARB’s Engineering Supervisor Daniel Bongardand ARB USA Marketing Manager Lisa Woodvisited with competitors and assisted withany ARB related questions. Bongard is themastermind behind many of ARB’s productsand was the lead engineer on the Air Lockerredesign to the two-piece system.4X4ACTION 59

PRODUCT INFORMATIONA WEIGHTY ISSUEUNEVEN WEIGHTDISTRIBUTIONWHILST TOWINGIS A COMMONAND UNNERVINGPROBLEM, BUTHAYMAN REESE HASTHE SOLUTION.Taking a camper trailer onyour next big trip offersconvenience and a comfyplace to sleep for the night, butit also presents 4WDers withsome challenges. When a trailer iscoupled to a vehicle, the trailer’stotal ball weight is applied directlyonto the rear section of the vehicleand, like a seesaw, it lifts yourfront suspension and transfersweight away from the front ofyour 4WD. When driving, thiscreates unsettling trailer sway,reduced steering and brakingresponsiveness, decreased tractionand misaligned headlamps.A suitably selected weightdistribution system restoresyour suspension and steeringgeometry, providing positivetowing control. The HaymanReese range of weight distributionsystems is designed to spread theadded weight evenly through thevehicle’s chassis to all four wheels,alleviating imbalanced weightdispersion caused by towing.Assisting in load stability, theHayman Reese range restoresyour vehicle’s original brakingefficiency and headlight alignmentwhilst reducing excessive tyrewear and the amount of swayyou encounter whilst towing.Backed by a lifetime warranty,the Hayman Reese range ofweight distribution systems isextensive enough to suit anytowing scenario – from themini weight distribution systemsuitable for lighter ball weightsbetween 0-80kg, to the superheavy weight system capable oftowing trailers with a ball weightup to 545kg. All systems aredesigned to be easily set up andremoved and are backed by theHayman Reese lifetime warranty.Many Hayman Reese weightdistribution systems also offerthe option of further swaycontrol through the use of eitherfriction or dual cam sway controlsystems. Additional sway controloffers greater safety and a morepleasant towing experience tomake your travels more enjoyable.A number of weight distributionaccessories are also availablefrom Hayman Reese, includingdrop shanks, hitch parks,safety chain extenders andboat trailer adaptors.// Contact ARB for part numbersand pricing60 4X4ACTION

PRODUCT INFORMATION & COMPETITIONGET UP CLOSEAND CUDDLYWITH THE FOURBYPLUSH TOYTOYING AROUNDARB’s much-loved kidsmascot, Fourby, is nowavailable as a soft plushtoy. Measuring 35cm wide x 20cmhigh, the large plush toy comes inFourby’s distinctive red, black andgrey colours and features plentyof gear needed for off road travel,including bull bar, winch, auxiliarylights, snorkel, side rails and steps,rear bar, and even a removablerear tyre.Detailed stitching shows offFourby’s trademark grin and largeeyes whilst highlighting otherdetails such as door handles,winch and windows. Reflectivemirrors, ARB logos and a Fourbysignature on the undersidecomplete the super soft toy.Manufactured from 100%polyester, the Fourby plush is fullymachine washable and suitable forall ages.Fourby is available now from ARBstores and stockists nationwide.// Part no: 217423WIN A 60L FRIDGE FREEZER!HE’S SOFT AND CUDDLY AND A GREATTRAVELLING MATE, AND NOW FOURBY CANHELP YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON A PORTABLE FRIDGE!To win your very own 60LARB Fridge Freezer, simplygrab a Fourby plush toy andphotograph him on your nextoff road adventure.Entries will be judged by ARBmarketing on their cleverness,humour and originality. So getcreative with your camera andsend in your best off road Fourbyimage. We’ll print a selection of ourfavourites in the next issue of 4x4Action and on ARB’s facebook page,and the winner will be contacteddirectly. Entries close 30th June 2012.Post:ARB 4x4 AccessoriesMarketing DepartmentPO Box 105,Kilsyth VIC 3137Email: marketing@arb.com.au(with ‘Fourby plush’ in thesubject line)Please include your full name,address and email address ortelephone number with your entry.Include an SSAE if you want yourphotos returned.4X4ACTION 61

FOURBY K I D SHEY, KIDS,FOURBY HEREI’ve just come back from a great trip in the FlindersRanges where I got to cook my favourite recipe –damper! I hope you’ve had a great few months andenjoyed Easter as well! And take a look at all of the cooldrawings on these pages. Aren’t they fantastic? Keep upthe awesome work, everyone!< G’day Fourby, my name is Shane. I am11. This is a picture of a 1996 Toyota80 Series LandCruiser.< This is my dad’s red ToyotaLandCruiser. We like to go on longdrives around Australia. Guilia (age 9)< 12 year old Jaiden sent in this drawingof an F100 climbing up a hill.< 11 year old Kysent in this verybright drawing ofa 4WD out in thedesert.< I love my dad’sToyota. FromJoshua (age 6)< 10 year old Lachlan drew this greatdrawing of him ‘living the dream’ with ahuge 4WD.< My name is Joel and I am 5 years old.I have done a drawing of an Army 4WDout in the bush. I love to go 4WDing withmy family in the bush or on the beach andspotting different animals along the way.< This drawing is about the time when ourfamily went fishing and it was so fun. Ourcar is not that cool but I wished it was!Riley (age 13)62 4X4ACTION

WINNER!Austyn sent in this great drawing,and we think it looks a bit like Ariel!Great work, Austyn!< Hello ARB, my name isAustyn. This is a picture ofa 4x4 ute going over themountains and playing in themud! From Austyn (age 5)You could WINan awesomeARBKids’ Pack< Hello, my name is Cameron and I am 9 years old. My drawing is of my grandpa’s4WD. I have been to Deep Creek Conservation National Park in Grandpa’s 4WD.< My name isFinn and I am 7years old. I drewthis picture of aToyota LandCruiser70 Series becausethey are myfavourite 4x4.< Hi, my name isZach and I am 8years old. I havedone a drawing of a4x4 Top Fuel ArmyDragster speedingalong the highway.When I go 4WDingI love to collect allsorts of rocks fromall the differentplaces we visit.Every issue we’ll give our favouriteentry a Toys R Us voucher and SpeedySeal Tyre Repair Kit, and all otherentries that are printed will receive anARB Kids’ Pack.Please include your details on theback, or attached to your drawing orletter, as sometimes the envelopesgo missing! If you want your letter ordrawing returned, please enclose astamped, self addressed envelope.Send your letters, drawings andphotos, including name, age, address,telephone number and t-shirt size to:Post: ARB 4x4 AccessoriesMarketing DepartmentPO Box 105, KilsythVIC 3137Email: fourby@arb.com.au4X4ACTION 63

64 4X4ACTIONFOURBY’S CARTOON #11

FOURBY’S RECIPECOOKING WITH FOURBY AND ARIELFOURBY AND ARIEL COOK PLENTY OF AWESOME MEALS WHENTHEY GO CAMPING. HERE IS ONE OF FOURBY’S FAVOURITE RECIPES!BANANA & SULTANA DAMPERIngredients2 cups self raising flour2 teaspoons baking powderPinch saltBananaSultanasMilk1. Combine flour, baking powder,salt, chopped banana andsultanas in a bowl. Mix enoughmilk to make a soft dough. Forminto a round shape.2. Grease a camp oven and dust itwith flour. Add the dough andcover. Place camp oven in thecampfire and cover with hotashes and coal.3. Cook for 30 minutes. Enjoy!Note: to test if the damper is ready,tap on the loaf – it will sound hollowwhen it’s ready.WIN FOURBY!GET CREATIVE WITH YOURBEST FOURBY DRAWING TOWIN A SOFT FOURBY TOY!We already know there are some very talented kids outthere, and here’s an opportunity for them to get reallyartistic! Send in your drawing of Fourby out on the tracksto win your very own Fourby plush toy! The more creativeand colourful your drawing, the better! The five bestentries, as selected by ARB Marketing, will each win asuper soft Fourby toy. So get your colouring pencils andpens out and have fun! Entries close 30th June 2012.Post:ARB 4x4 AccessoriesMarketing DepartmentPO Box 105,Kilsyth VIC 3137Email: fourby@arb.com.au(with ‘Draw Fourby’ in thesubject line)Please include your full name, address and email addressor telephone number with your entry. Include an SSAE ifyou want your drawings returned.4X4ACTION 65

TRAVELINLAND AUSTRALIAINLANDIN SIGHTPART 2Words & photography by Jess BaileyTHE JOURNEYCONTINUES ASARB’S VICTORIANSTOCKIST REP,JESS BAILEY,EXPLORESWILPENA POUNDAND BEYOND.Driving into Wilpena,you can’t help but stopand admire the poundwalls. The force that created thisbeautiful, natural amphitheatre ofmountains is unimaginable.Aside from the scenery, one ofthe more noticeable attributes ofthis area is the wildlife. There arekangaroos, wallabies and emuseverywhere you turn. The wildlifehave no real fear of humans andit was disappointing to see sometourists attempting to feed them,clearly not realising the damage theywere actually doing. They mightthink twice if the ferocious Aussie‘drop bears’ existed in the area!You need to register on the touristboard and pay a park fee whenyou pull into the Wilpena Poundarea. Within the pound, you havethe option of unpowered sites,powered sites or the permanenttents. At $21 per double pernight, the unpowered sites haveeverything you need, includingfire pits, barbecues and very cleanamenities blocks.The campground is quite large andit’s very easy to find a secludedarea. We were in the pound duringfire ban season but they do allowgas barbeques. As the afternooncame to a close and we founda suitable area, the snags cameout, the ARB fridge got a workoutand the camping chairs werecomfortably ready for us to enjoya beautiful sunset lighting up thepound walls.The next day promised to be anadventurous one, and as I talkedabout all the great hikes and66 4X4ACTION

walking trails within the pound, Icould see Adam sinking lower intohis chair… excited and lookingforward to it all, no doubt.My hot tip when staying in thecampground is to not leave asingle thing within ‘roo’ reach.One of us had carelessly left theleftover snags wrapped in foilon a plate up on the table. Afterwaking to the sounds of chaos at3am, we found ourselves lookingstraight at a local roo, who waschewing contentedly with a lamband rosemary snag held tightlybetween its front paws. It feelsvery wrong to watch a kangarooeat lamb – so much for notfeeding the wildlife!With sunrise on the horizon, thebacon and eggs consumed and allreachable items securely put away,we headed down to the touristinformation centre, which is just ashort walk from the campground.This building fits in beautifully withthe environment and is a great placefor a glass of wine or a light snack.Inside the information section youcan find all the wonderful detailsof your surroundings and pickup one of the brochures aboutbushwalking in the Flinders RangesNational Park. This brochure givesyou the details, time, distancesand difficulty of the walks withinthe pound and surrounding areas.You can also venture into thegift store where you’ll find allyour basic grocery requirements,R.M. Williams clothing, local art,artefacts and gifts.We decided to start the day offwith an easy walk to the HillsFamily homestead. To reachthe homestead, you need to4X4ACTION 67

pass through The Gap, the onlyentrance into the pound, andfollow the path originally built bythe Hills family. The path once hadbullock and drays carrying timberand equipment for the Hills familyand required constant upkeep. Aswe started walking, we could seewe weren’t the only occupants onthe path, with Miss Emu havingtaken her pupils out for a dailylesson. In total, we counted twentystriped emu chicks all wanderingalong and exploring with thelack of fear and curiosity of smallchildren. They weren’t too worriedabout us trailing behind but Iguarantee she didn’t let us out ofher sight the entire time.Arriving at the homestead, ourattention was immediately drawnto the information boards titled‘If only these walls could talk’.The Hills’ family story is told bydaughter Jessie, the youngest offour girls and five boys, who hadmoved to the pound to tend to thehouse for her father and brothers atthe tender age of twelve.The Gap was discovered around1851 and within a very shortperiod of time, pastoralistsbegan running sheep and sowing68 4X4ACTION

crops within the pound. As wascommon in those days, theyoverstocked the virgin area due tothe government charging rent onwhat they believed should be runin a set area.I couldn’t imagine what lifemust have been like farming thisland, let alone for a twelve yearold girl. Looking around therestored homestead and oncekempt garden and yards,everything you read from youngJessie Hill comes to life.We continued up the WangaraTrail to the first lookout and thenonto the second. The view uphere is amazing, and although youcan see just how big the pound is,you can also see how small it wasfor the amount of stock and cropsthe pastoralists had crammed intothe area. It’s a steep climb up hereand we passed several touristswho hadn’t quite made it to thetop lookout.Wilpena Pound contains someof the most amazing geologicalformations in Australia, and aswe were standing looking outover them, we found it difficult tocontinue any conversation whilsttaking it all in.We headed on to the Malloga FallsTrail before returning via St Mary’sPeak. Both trails are described ashard hikes, so good footwear is amust and plenty of water must betaken with you. We found that the20km walk went fairly quickly, withAdam and I chatting about all wewere seeing and the circumstanceswith which they came about.Arriving back into camp that night,we managed to rustle togethersome crackers and dip for dinnerbefore we hit our swag for somewell-deserved sleep.Unfortunately, we had to moveon. As we pulled out of the poundthe next day, we paused at theold Wilpena Station for a lookaround. We both knew we couldspend months here just exploring.The details of the homestead,how it was discovered and thedealings back and forth betweenthe gentlemen involved are allinteresting details you can discoverat the station. The craftsmanshipused to construct these buildingsis like nothing you will see inanything built today.We doubled back and made ourway down into Sacred Canyon;here you can view some of thebest Aboriginal art in the FlindersRanges. Sacred Canyon continuesto be an important location for theAdnyamathanha people, who don’tknow the age of the engravingsat the site but believe they werecreated by ancestral beings duringthe Dreamtime. The gum-linedcreek has smooth sandstone wallslining various sections. It’s a short200m light hike up the creek bedand over various dry waterfalls toview the engravings.As we walked along the creek bed,we almost didn’t notice the cirlcesand lines on the walls around us –when we did finally take note, westopped in amazement. At variousheights and on many surfaces,there are circles, kangaroo paws,windbreaks and several otherdistinctive markings.It’s an amazing feeling to bestanding at the site. Who werethe messages meant for? Andwhat was the inspiration for thecircles in the first place? The besttime to take photographs of theart is in low sunlight, preferablymorning or late afternoon, butvisitors are asked not to touch theartwork as it is both damaging tothe site and highly offensive to theAdnyamathanha people.4X4ACTION 69

AS I TALKED ABOUT ALL THE GREAT HIKES ANDWALKING TRAILS WITHIN THE POUND, I COULD SEEADAM SINKING LOWER INTO HIS CHAIR... EXCITEDAND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT ALL, NO DOUBT!We left Sacred Canyon andheaded north, eyeing off theoption of turning right and headingthrough Oraparinna or turning leftand going through the Bunyerooand Brachina gorges. Along thisroad, you pass Hucks Lookout –the view back over the pound isworth stopping for. We decidedto go left and continue throughBunyeroog Gorge before followingthe Brachina Creek and continuingon to the town of Blinman.Blinman was a mining town thatcame into existence soon afterthe discovery of copper in 1859.Between 1862 and 1907, over10,000 tonnes of metal wereproduced at the mine. Today, themine is a great tourist attraction,with underground tours occurringtwice daily. Make sure you checkwith the local general store toconfirm tour times. Unfortunately,we missed the tour but vowedwe’d make it next time.At its peak, this tiny town had apopulation of around 1,500. Today,22 people reside here permanentlyalong with the surroundingproperty owners and employees.Despite its size, Blinman hosts anumber of services including theBlinman Post Office, general store,Wild Lime Café and Gallery, theRural Centre with internet accessand the North Blinman Hotel,with accommodation andmeals available.The last few times I’ve been toBlinman, I’ve taken an unwantedliking to a little white dog thatresides at the hotel. I’ve decidedwe have a love-hate relationship, astwice now he has terrified me withferocious barking and snarling, andtwice he has smooched up to melike we were old mates.We called into the hotel, where Imanaged a friendly pat this timebefore the dog ran off, barkingmadly at me. Inside the hotelare various business cards fromvisitors; I found several of minetucked high up on the walls asreminders of past ventures thisway. We had a laugh as we foundmany friends and acquaintanceshaving also been here. After afriendly chat to the barman, wemade a move for the Wild LimeCafé to grab a bite to eat. Thecafé has a magnificent menu totantalise any visitor’s taste budsand is filled with many beautifulgifts, art and relics from the area.We explored the town for a fewhours, chatting to locals and takingin the sights, knowing that wewanted to travel a short 30km toParachilna for the night. Once we’dspent enough time strolling aroundin the sun, we jumped back inthe ute to head east through theParachilna Gorge.The gorge was carved byParachilna Creek over manyhundreds of thousands of70 4X4ACTION

years. Although it’s only a shortdistance from the township ofParachilna, we spent much ofthe afternoon exploring the creekbed, where you can find severallarge waterholes and beautiful clifffaces. Exploration complete, wecontinued into Parachilna.I’d mentioned rather excitedlyto Adam that the Prairie Hotelin Parachilna is well knownfor its fantastic menu whichincludes emu, kangaroo, cameland goat. Adam gave me a lookthat resembled ‘happy wife,happy life’, so I knew I’d get toreally enjoy this one. With thetemperature still quite warm, weparked at the hotel and took thetime to take a look around.Staking a claim on an outsidetable, we found ourselves chattingaway to a lovely lady called Gladys.She was particularly fond of thenew Camps 6 book and was nowtravelling after the passing of herhusband. We also invited to ourtable Kiwis Sam and Trish, whowere travelling and working acrossAustralia. ‘Bro’, ‘fush’ and ‘chups’just had to be brought into theconversation – yes, it was simpleentertainment for two Aussietourists.As the sun set over the railwayline, the last train from the northheaded south with its load ofcoal. The galahs set into thetrees, making more noise thanCollingwood supporters after aloss, and we grabbed the menusand set about ordering dinner. Ilove kangaroo and Adam wasn’ttoo keen, but the lovely ladyserving us did a wonderful jobof gently persuading him to stepoutside his comfort zone. What wedidn’t know yet was that this lovelylady was to soon become our tourguide and good friend.Our great inland journeycontinues in the Winter 2012edition of ARB 4x4 Action.4X4ACTION 71

EVENTRAINFOREST CHALLENGE2011 MALAYSIANRAINFOREST CHALLENGEFLOODS, TOPPLED VEHICLES AND EVACUATIONS – THE2011 RAINFOREST CHALLENGE IN MALAYSIA HIGHLIGHTSWHY THE ANNUAL 4X4 EVENT IS ONE OF THE TOUGHESTAND MOST UNPREDICTABLE IN THE WORLD.Since 1997, the MalaysianRainforest Challenge hasepitomised the extremesof off road 4x4 racing. The denseMalaysian jungle, a combination ofdeep mud, thick foliage and oftenflooding rivers, has tested even themost experienced 4x4 competitorsbut has built a level of camaraderieamongst competitors that is hardto match at any off road event.December 2011 saw thirty-fiveteams from across the globearrive in Kuala Terengganu forthe 14th edition of the RainforestChallenge (RFC). The first wave ofmonsoonal activity had struck theregion only a week before, withextensive flooding in many areasnorth of the competition zone. Theteams, including competitors fromAustralia, Russia, the Philippines,China, Austria and the US, were totake a route towards the highlandsto avoid the chance of floodscutting off all escape tracks – ashad occurred in 2007 wherebycompetitors, crew and media hadto abandon their vehicles and beevacuated by boat.Opening with a three-day carnivalweekend involving twelve specialstages at a local sports complex,the competition soon began inearnest on December 4 as theconvoy moved into the jungle atHulu Sg (river) Berang. The rainswere quick to set in, however, andthe next day revealed brutal tracksthat tested man and machine.The many obstacles of Day Sixincluded manoeuvring throughnarrow tracks leading down to astream before winching over hugerocks and ascending steep slopes.Other locations demanded absoluteprecision, with a 180 degree turnon a 55 degree slope needing tobe negotiated before competitorsdescended onto wet clay andtraversed down to a fast flowingand deep river. The end of the daypromised a well-earned rest at ameticulously organised campsite.The following day focused ontravel to the second base camp,with the main route through thejungle not used for competition.But the track from FeldaMengkawang to Hulu Sg Loh stilldemanded skilled driving andteamwork, with a river crossing,V-shaped gullies, muddy streamsand recovery exercises requiringwinches and snatch straps.Special stages during the daynecessitated strategy ratherthan the power and speed of thewinch. Even local teams withhard-earned experience discoveredhow a super fast winch could becounter-productive, as it createduncontrollable momentum whichtipped over even the leadingvehicles. Where to drive, when to72 4X4ACTION

THE TRACK FROM FELDA MENGKAWANG TO HULU SGLOH DEMANDED SKILLED DRIVING AND TEAMWORK,WITH A RIVER CROSSING, V-SHAPED GULLIES, MUDDYSTREAMS AND RECOVERY EXERCISESpress on the accelerator and codriveralertness to guide the driverproved more important. As Luis J.A.Wee, founder of the RFC points out,“In the RFC, it’s prudent to not pushman and machine to the maximumin all special stages.” Those whodid not follow these rules ofengagement paid the ultimate priceof a DNF (Did Not Finish), losingpoints to their competitors.Day Eight dawned with the startof the renowned and incrediblydifficult Twilight Zone. Presentingthree days of extreme terrain via50km of disused logging tracks,only vehicles with fully workingengines and winches were allowedto progress. Split into five groups,competitors, officials and medicsmoved in close convoy through theaffectionately termed ‘dark side’,which consists of rich forest, densetree canopies and extremely toughtopography. Combined with a freshdownpour that continued until dawnof the second day, competitorsfaced steep and long hill climbsmeasuring over 300 metres andequally difficult descents, plusslipping, sliding and winching overa hundred times to reach the finalbase camp on day three.The base camp faced its ownproblems, with the secondmonsoon wave hitting the sitewith heavy rain and wind. Floodinghad begun and the Sg Nipahriver, where the campsite waslocated, had risen furiously withsome areas along its banks risingby a metre within thirty minutes.With torrents of rushing watereverywhere, the campsite hadturned soggy, muddy and watery.By midday on the 10th, the firstgroup of competitors emergedfrom the Twilight Zone amidcheers and jubilation, while thefinal group came out by 5pmunder heavy rainfall. Celebrationsfor having survived the TwilightZone were confined to thecompetitors’ respective tents asthe torrential downpour continuedunabated until dawn.So severe was the rain andimpending flooding that anemergency meeting betweenthe event’s HQ and the Fireand Rescue Department basedin Chukai town was held thefollowing morning, resulting in anevacuation order for everyone atthe base camp. The final specialstages were cancelled and teamsinstead concentrated on exitingthe soaked jungle.Forced to finish a day early, theresults of the 2011 RainforestChallenge were the closest in theevent’s history, with a mere 16points separating first and secondplace. Despite the early finish, thecompetition stands as one of thebest ever.Luis J.A. Wee says, “Everyone is awinner – for completing the event,for living out their 4x4 dreams,for facing their fears and sharingcamaraderie with their peers fromaround the 4x4 off road world.”Visit www.rainforest-challenge.comfor further details of the 2011Rainforest Challenge andinformation on the 2012 event.1st Place:(Malaysia) Mervin Lim Wei Shiong/Hamizan Abdul Hamid (2,353 points)2nd Place:(Australia) Markus Oszwald/MattMacnamara (2,337 points)3rd Place:(the Philippines) Larry HilarioMendiola/Hiryan Mendiola (2,302)4X4ACTION 73

FEATURETRIP PREPARATIONMURPHY’SLAWWords by Mark Allen. Photography by Mark Allen & Offroad ImagesBEING PREPARED WHILE TRAVELLING IN REMOTEAREAS IS ALL GOOD AND WELL… BUT WHAT ARE WESUPPOSED TO BE PREPARED FOR?Almost everyone has heardof Murphy’s Law. For thosethat haven’t, it’s prettysimple – if anything can go wrong,it will.To make it worse, things generallygo wrong at the most inopportunetime and place, and if there ismore than one thing that could gowrong, they will. While that maysound a little pessimistic, that’show it seems to pan out mostof the time.That’s not to say that things willgo wrong, but the more remotewe 4WDers travel, the betterthe backup plan should be forwhen something goes sour. Ourproblem, however, is that themore precautions we take, and themore spares and tools we carry,the more weight our 4WD carries,which in itself causes manyproblems for intrepid tourers. Themore weight we lug about, themore likely that we’ll need thosespare parts we are carrying. Catch22 if ever there was one!That doesn’t mean we should strayoff into the bush with no tools,no spares and no way of gettingourselves mobile if Murphy’s Lawshould strike – that’s just plainold stupid. But at what stage dowe say enough is enough withthe heavy tools, spare parts andrecovery gear?No definitive answer from me,I’m afraid – it’s dependent onyour type of vehicle, its condition,where you’re travelling and yourability to do makeshift repairswith minimal equipment. Noteveryone can wrangle a piece offencing wire to hold an enginemount together or whittle agumtree branch to help supporta suspension component… butit sure helps to be creative andresourceful with what is at hand.Have I ever been caught out milesaway from anyone? Yep, you betI have. Regardless of how muchI may have preached to othersabout being prepared and howmuch I’ve tried to do the rightthing – too much preparation (attimes) is never enough!Way back in 1992, we’d leftLongreach and were heading forBirdsville via Stonehenge, Windorahand Betoota. The sun was blastingits usual savage rays down onour gutless 2.4 litre diesel HiLux,which was towing our well-loadedcamper-come-home-on-wheelsfor our two year trip around theblock. We soon noticed the skiesdarkening – big trouble around thatarea for sure, as the DiamantinaRiver and its millions of tributariesswell to become impassable if itstarts bucketing down.Having planned to be on theroad fulltime for about two years(give or take a year or so), I waspretty confident about gettingthrough pretty much any incident.I’d done a diesel mechanics course,worked as a remote area and citysurveyor for many years, grew upand lived in the scrub for yonks andhad watched my old man repair allmanner of breakages with nothingmore than a pair of pliers, wire,hammer and shovel. What couldgo wrong?Remember the bit earlier aboutif something terrible does gowrong, it’ll always happen in the74 4X4ACTION

NOT EVERYONE CAN WRANGLE A PIECE OFFENCING WIRE TO HOLD AN ENGINE MOUNTTOGETHER... BUT IT SURE HELPS TO BECREATIVE AND RESOURCEFULworst possible place at the mostinconvenient time? Well, I couldhave thrown a shifter at Murphy andburied him six foot under.Of course, all my cursing andkicking the ground was to no avail.No sooner had the sky appeareda little dark that it soon morphedinto a deadly black sky completewith bolts of lightning and huge,deafening raindrops that threatenedto dent my poor HiLux’s roof andbonnet. In hindsight, I wish thatwas all we suffered!Having ploughed through hundredsof metres of water that seemed toinstantly appear on the tracks, I hitsomething submerged that sent notjust the HiLux and trailer skywards,but my head into the HiLux’sroof. My dear female companionalso suffered the indignant anddownright painful experienceof having all body parts thrustupwards, sideways and beltedaround a few times on the roof anddoor only to return to rest once I’drecaptured the steering wheel andstomped on the brakes. Yes, wehad our seatbelts on, but that didn’tprevent the savage leaf-sprung-HiLux-beating our bodies took.After having stared at each other forwhat seemed like an age, I fumbleda few words out to ask if she wasokay, followed by, “I wonder whatwe’ve broken on the truck.”While I was extremely concernedfor my partner’s wellbeing,my mind immediately startedsearching for telltale signs of whatmay have happened to our touringrig. Was our trusty HiLux leaningto one side, was its nose pointingdown, was the rear end draggingitself along like a lame dog andwas the steering wheel still turningthe road wheels? Was the trailerstill hitched up, the boat on therack, the heavy tool boxes in place,the fridge still working, the radioand antennae still transmitting?Did we have enough food andwater to last by ourselves shouldsomething severe have happened,had I double checked the contentsof the first aid kit lately…The questions that ran through mymind just didn’t stop. And I hadn’teven got out of the cabin yet!We sat, held our heads andthanked our lucky stars we werenot belly-up in the mud and water;we were faced with some awfulanswers to our questions. If wecould only coax ourselves out ofthe ute to inspect the scene.We were used to long stintswithout seeing another soul. I knewwe were well prepared with tools,food and water, plus fencing wireto fix most things, but I must admitI was more than a little worriedabout the damage I might findunder the ‘unbreakable’ HiLux.I couldn’t believe our luck; afterspending over an hour in the middleof the muddy waterway that wasonce a dusty dirt track, laying in themud inspecting everything frombull bar to rear of trailer, I couldn’tfind anything wrong nor any reasonnot to keep ploughing our way toBirdsville – I was a happy and veryrelieved camper… until you-knowwhathit the fan a few hours later– how did Murphy know which waywe were travelling?With the sun now shining, ournerves rekindled and singing out4X4ACTION 75

ONLY ONE WHEEL WAS IN PLACE AND BRAKE LINESDANGLED IN THE DIRT... BUGGER!loud to a few groovy tunes, therear end of the HiLux suddenlytugged to one side and then theother, fishtailing along the trackwith me hanging off the steeringwheel trying to settle the wildswaying. Our trailer seemed tohave a mind of its own and on thewrong side of the track, trying toovertake its prime mover.Then it was out in the field on theother side, followed by anothersavage jerk to which the mighty,gutless HiLux was pinned backwith a one tonne anchor that wasmy broken trailer. That huge hitwe all took a couple of hundredkilometres back had seeminglydamaged the trailer’s stub axle,with the later smaller potholes andcorrugations sealing its fate andshearing it and the brakes cleanoff the trailer.We had at least driven clear of therain and back into sunny conditions,but now we were faced with a hugesnaking furrow that ploughed up thetrack, ending at the busted trailer.Its axle now pointed ninety degreesto where it should have been, onlyone wheel was in place, brake linesdangled in the dirt and there werenow a few dented panels on thetrailer – bugger!Now, this is where we get back totalking about being prepared andwhat tools and spares you shouldtake on an Outback trip. No, Ididn’t carry a spare trailer axle.Although I’ve seen other 4WDerswho do, I think that’s just toomuch weight to be burdened with.What I did have, though, werereplacement bearings, tools to dothe job and the food and waterto camp on the side of the roadfor ages if needed. What I didn’thave was the means to weld thestub axle back on – so, should Ihave carried welding equipment?There’s no right or wrong answer,but gee it would have been greatto have it out there at the time.Always knowing where you are ispretty important in my books. Weknew we had a couple of hundredkilometres to Birdsville, where Iknew there was a mechanic thatcould (at worst) temporarily fix the76 4X4ACTION

axle and I knew I had the meansand ability to disassemble and refitthe whole show by myself. The onehuge problem we were faced withwas how the bloody hell do wesuspend the trailer while I removethe axle, spring and brakes?Looking around revealed not asingle, and I mean not one, treeor stump to rest the trailer on,not even a twig to start a campfire – we were in gibber country!So, after hours of searching forlarge enough rocks, I used the Hi-Lift jack to lower the trailer bodyonto the four non-OH&S-certifiedrock columns that stood proudin the dish-drain alongside theremote gravel road. The trailer’sunderbody could now be strippedof parts.Safety to all concerned should bethe first consideration at all times.Although I was faced with a longand difficult job, I took my time. Ithought about the whole processand made sure I wouldn’t becomea casualty during the repair. I wasfully aware my piles of rocks maytumble, I was abundantly mindfulof how dangerous a Hi-Lift jackcan be, and so took as manyprecautions as I could to ensure notjust my safety, but the safe returnof both myself and my partner. Thejockey wheel, both trailer wheels,the standard HiLux jack and otherrocks were all used to ensure thetrailer didn’t come crashing downon me while underneath.Having removed the axle and tiedit to the bull bar, we transferred asmuch gear as possible from thetrailer to the HiLux and stuck a ‘DONOT SHOOT’ sign on the trailer.After driving in and out of Birdsvillefor the welding job, we replacedthe axle and springs, camped onthe side of the road for two nightsand spent the best part of two dayson the tools before setting backoff to Birdsville to continue ourrelaxing trip.In hindsight, do I think I wasadequately prepared?Well, yes and no. Yes, becauseI survived the whole ordeal withthe tools, food and water andmechanical know-how to completethe job, but no because… if onlyI had the gear to weld by theside of the road. That would havesaved me about a day in the dirt,but then again ol’ mate Murphyprobably would have foundsomething else to go wrong – youcan never be totally prepared!4X4ACTION 77

PRODUCTINFORMATION & EVENTS2013 VARIETY4WD EXPLORERWANT TO BE PART OF AN EXCITING CAPE YORKADVENTURE WHILST RAISING MONEY FORDISADVANTAGED KIDS? THEN READ ON.Variety Queensland provideschildren in need withopportunities to increasetheir quality of life via three coreprograms – Freedom, Future Kidsand Caring for Kids. Throughthese worthy programs, VarietyQueensland delivers a uniquerange of goods and services tosupport the specific needs ofindividual children across a diversespectrum of physical, emotionaland financial needs.For 4WDers who crave an adventurewhile also helping disadvantagedchildren of Queensland, the 2013‘To the Top’ Variety 4WD Explorer isa must-do trip.This classic 10 day 4WDingjourney, slated for June 2013,will have you travelling alongthe Old Telegraph Track, whereyou will get to experience thebreathtaking beauty of theBloomfield Waterfalls, stand on thenorthernmost tip of Australia andembrace the quaint seaside localeof Cooktown with the CooktownDiscovery Festival in full swing.Entry costs $550AUD forparticipants and every vehicle isrequired to raise a donation of atleast $5000AUD prior to the event.An additional provisions levy,usually between $1500-$2000AUDper person, covers meals,accommodation and special events.A driver training weekend hasbeen scheduled on the 6th and7th October 2012 for anyone whowants to hone their 4WDing skillsprior to the Cape York trip.Visit www.variety.org.au/QLD/Events/Motoring-Events/2013-Variety-4WD-Explorer for more details and updateson the 2013 event.ARB PRODUCTS FOR MAZDA BT-5078 4X4ACTIONARB’s engineers have hada hectic couple of monthswith the development of anumber of products for the newMazda BT-50. Products availablenow include a range of bull bars,canopies/truck tops, Old Man Emususpension and Hayman Reesetow bars, with Air Lockers, siderails and steps and roof rackscurrently under development. VisitARB’s website (www.arb.com.au)to keep up to date with the latestreleases for this vehicle.

DONATEFOR A CAUSEDRIVE FOR LIFETHE 2012 VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY TOUR KICKS OFFON SUNDAY, 22ND APRIL.Drive 4 Life, a not for profitorganisation, is back for 2012to raise funds for the NorthcottEquipment Loan Pool via a greatnew tour of the VictorianHigh Country.Running from the 22nd to27th April 2012, the tour startsin Harrietville and covers 450-550km of travel and explorationthrough the High Country. Eachgroup of up to 10 vehicles willhave experienced 4WDers inleading and tail-end supportvehicles to provide assistance.Although some off roadexperience is recommendedfor drivers, the tour is aimed atpeople who either have not hadthe opportunity to be expertlyguided when driving off road orwho do not have the experienceto navigate the Victorian HighCountry on their own.Participants of the 2012 VictorianHigh Country tour are asked tomake a $1000AUD donationper vehicle to the Northcottorganisation, with every centof the donation going to theEquipment Loan Pool. TheNorthcott Equipment Loan Poolhelps increase independence andopportunities for individuals with adisability by supplying wheelchairsand other mobility equipment.Check out www.drive4life.com.aufor full details on the VictorianHigh Country tour.HAYMAN REESE CARGO BARRIERHayman Reese has justreleased a new cargobarrier for the ToyotaLandCruiser 76 Series wagon.Designed for non side curtain airbag models, the cargo barrierallows installation either behindthe first or second row of seatsfor affordable peace of mind andsafety for vehicle occupants.The cargo barrier joins agrowing range of Hayman Reeseproducts available at ARB stores,including tow bars and weightdistribution systems.// Part no: T412524X4ACTION 79

RECOVERYCOMPETITIONIN RECOVERYWITH HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES TO THIS COMPETITION, IT’S OBVIOUSSOME FOLK ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF AN ARB RECOVERY KIT! THEWINNING ENTRY COMES FROM DAVE CHARLTON, WHO FLOATEDHIS NEW NISSAN GU PATROL DOWN THE MITCHELL RIVER BEFORE ITBECAME TRAPPED ON THE RIVERBANK. THIRTY-SIX HOURS LATER, THEVEHICLE WAS RECOVERED… AND SUBSEQUENTLY WRITTEN OFF.WINNER!DAVE CHARLTON, VIC80 4X4ACTION

GILBERT RANDALL, NSWAARON ROUSE, NTKEN WOOD, QLDSIMON GENTLE, VICTIM HELM, WAMARK CRAVEN, QLD4X4ACTION 81

IN RECOVERY CONTINUED...BARRY WELLS, VICREBECCA PURVIS, AUSBEN WESTPHAL, WAGARY JENNINGS, SAKLAUS WEISS, QLDLEN MCCREATH, QLD82 4X4ACTION

NORBERTO BAMBOZZI DA SILVEIRA, BRAZILMICHAEL WOODWARD, SASTEPHEN BUSHELL, TASMAX FEDCESEN, VICCOLIN TRIFFITT, TASNICOLE VINALL, QLD4X4ACTION 83

INSIDEARBOPENSEASONARB OPEN DAYS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET ADVICE, BARGAINS ANDFREEBIES. VICTORIAN STOCKIST REP, JESS BAILEY, SHARES THE GOSSON THE RECENT ARB BALLARAT EVENT.84 4X4ACTIONThroughout Australia, ARBopen days give 4WDersthe opportunity to meetindustry experts, take advantageof special deals and enjoy a day ofentertainment, advice and giveaways.For a number of years now, TonyHendy from ARB Ballarat has heldhis annual Open Day on the firstweekend in February. The Open DayWeekend has historically been a hitand 2012 proved to be no different.Both Jason Fear and I from ARBKilsyth attended to give Tony andhis crew a hand at his HumffrayStreet location, and it was great tosee so many locals turn out to getinvolved and ask us questions abouteverything 4WD.With experienced staff from RedArcand Rhino Rack on hand, thewonderful team from local radiostation Power FM broadcasting live,the ARB Traction Travel Bed in actionand the Ballarat 4WD Club servingup great-tasting snags, the weekendturned out to be another greatevent. Hourly door prizes, ARB triviaquestions and lots of radio interviewsadded to the fun of the weekend.One of ARB Ballarat’s regular eventson the weekend is the Dirtiest 4WDCompetition. I’ve been lucky enoughto be present for this competitionfor a number of years now and thisyear’s turnout was dirtier than ever.With men and women of all agesattending in dusty, muddy, wetand very dirty vehicles, judgingreally proved to be a task for Jasonand myself. After working our waythrough the vehicles and hearingwhere they had been put throughtheir paces, we settled on the 2ndplace winner being Chris Donnellyand his 1996 single cab HiLux. Chrishad been out four wheeling thatmorning and knew he had to be ashoe-in for a Dirtiest 4WD prize.I noted in the crowd that 2011’s2nd place winner, Richard Wilson,had returned in his 1994 dual cabHiLux. I didn’t think it could havebeen covered in any more muck butwas proved wrong by the amount ofmud and dirt he had managed to geton his 4WD this year. Richard hadproved his point and it was clear tous that we had found our 1st placewinner. Richard happily received hisARB air compressor and talked usthrough his pride and joy.As Sunday came to a close andthe heavens over Ballarat openedup, the last helium balloon waspopped and ARB Ballarat’s open dayweekend for 2012 was finished.With 43 stores around Australia, weknow it won’t be long before thenext ARB store open day ramps up.To get in on the fun of an ARB openday, visit the Calendar of Eventspage on the ARB website for detailsof the store open day nearest you.

4X4SAND YOURSWINNER!BRAGGING RIGHTS- YOUR 4X4READER VEHICLE OWNER:Chris FowlerVEHICLE MAKE: ToyotaVEHICLE MODEL:120 Series PradoVEHICLE YEAR: 2004ENGINE: 4 litre V6 petrolACCESSORIES FITTED: ARBSahara bar, Warn winch, 6 x IPF900XS spot lights, engine andtransmission protection, UnidenUHF, Safari snorkel, dual batterysystem, electronic rust protection,Old Man Emu suspension, fullheadlight and insect screen, Waecoinverter, full roof rack, side canvasawning, Hi-Lift jack and shovel, highmount reverse/work light, Kickerand Alpine amplifiers with Kenwoodspeakers, touch screen DVD headunit, ARB front and rear Air Lockers,ARB air compressor, rear cargobarrier, rear fold down campingtable, reverse camera, Cooper AT3rubber and a full recovery kit.FAVOURITE ARB ACCESSORY:Front and rear lockers!FAVOURITE 4WD SPOT: Westernbeach on Fraser Island – clearwater and hardly anyone around!WHY I LOVE 4WDING:It gives you the opportunity to seeplaces that few get to experience.There is nothing better than havingthe camp chairs out next to aroaring fire and just unwinding.MEMORABLE 4WDINGMOMENT: Getting recovered bya Hyundai Terracan. I don’t thinkI will ever live it down or forget it!But in my defence, it was beforeI had my lockers in, it had beenraining heavily and I was driving onslippery black soil at Janowen Hills.ADVICE FOR 4WDERS: Knowyour recovery gear. Get it out andpractice with it! Know how a Hi-Lift jack works, inspect all snatchstraps and if you have a winch,read the manual twice!OFF ROAD WITH ARBVEHICLE OWNER: Rob Puts,ARB Canopy and Fridge FreezerProduct ManagerVEHICLE MAKE: NissanVEHICLE MODEL: Patrol WagonVEHICLE YEAR: Late 2003ENGINE: Notorious 3.0 litre diesel.160,000 km’s later, it has performedadmirably without any modificationsand very little towing.ACCESSORIES FITTED:ARB deluxe bull bar, IPF 900 Seriesdriving lights, Bushranger 12,000lbwinch, Long Ranger fuel tank,ARB on-board air compressor,OME suspension with Nitrochargersports shocks, RedArc electricbrake controller, HEMA HN5inavigator, Black Widow cargobarrier and tourer drawers, UnidenUHF radio, ARB reverse cameraand monitor, 60L ARB FridgeFreezer, ARB fridge slide, ARB sideand rear awnings, ARB aluminiumroof rack and ARB recovery point.FAVOURITE ARB ACCESSORY:This is a tough question as I usethe reverse camera every daywhilst other accessories are morefor touring time. With a familyof four, I could not head awaywithout the ARB roof rack for theadditional storage it provides.FAVOURITE 4WD SPOT: DaviesPlain in the Victorian High Country.WHY I LOVE 4WDING:It enables the whole family toexperience a natural and remoteenvironment where the nightsky houses thousands morevisible stars than the city or’burbs. And there’s nothing betterthan drinking a clean crisp beeraround a warm fire whilst solvingthe problems of the world anddeciding on the next fantasticdestination to visit and explore.MEMORABLE 4WDINGMOMENT: The most bizarremoment occurred when we werecamping at the Poplars (Victoria)in a small clearing at the end ofthe track near the creek. The sunwas hot that afternoon and whilstwe were enjoying time aroundcamp preparing the damper, astranger walked up through thecreek and into camp with very littleprotection from the elements andno supplies. A hit of sugar in theform of ‘snakes’ confectionery anda can of Coke and she continuedwalking on her way – a fact whichastounded us as we pleaded forher to stay for safety precautions.ADVICE FOR 4WDERS: Whenheading into remote countryside,you need to be prepared for achange in conditions. This isparticularly evident in mountainousregions where inclement weatheris only the next valley away.Keeping dry and warm withsufficient food supplies creates amore comfortable environment.Understand your vehicle and yourdriving ability and especially do notexceed either’s capabilities. Mostof all, have fun enjoying this greatland of ours.Readers, send us in your own vehicle profiles and you could be featured in an upcomingmagazine and win an ARB Adventure Light. Email: marketing@arb.com.au4X4ACTION 85

INSIDEARBSAMEUTHIS ISSUE WEMEET SAM EU,MANAGER OFARB’S EXPORTDEPARTMENT ANDREGULAR OVERSEASTRAVELLER.86 4X4ACTIONHOW LONG HAVE YOU BEENWITH ARB?It’s been 19 years. I started as asalesperson when ARB’s headoffice was located in Croydon,Melbourne, and really enjoyedselling products and workingwith customers.After around four years, RogerBrown asked me to join him inour international dealings, and sothe export department was born.We now have seven people in thedepartment and will be expandingagain very soon in order to handleour ever-increasing workload.WHAT IS THE AIM OF THEEXPORT DEPARTMENT?Basically, our aim is to establishdistribution networks in foreignmarkets and replicate ARB’sAustralian successes in thosecountries.It involves many hours of research,speaking to customers andfiguring out their requirements,risk analysis, understanding foreignbanking systems and exchangerates, and a significant amountof travel because there is onlyso much you can learn about acountry from Google.ARB HAS DISTRIBUTORSIN OVER 100 COUNTRIES…YOU MUST HAVE TRAVELLEDA LOT.When the department wassmaller, I used to spend aroundfive months of the year out of thecountry. This involved visiting ourestablished distributors, preparingothers to become ARB distributorsand researching new markets.I’ve travelled throughout Asia, theMiddle East, Europe, former Sovietcountries, Africa and the US for ARB.Because the department is nowbigger, the travel workload ismore spread out – I don’t travelquite as much but there is a teammember overseas pretty muchevery month or so.YOU DRIVE A 2010 TOYOTAPRADO. HOW OFTEN DO YOUGO 4WDING?As often as work allows! My lastmemorable trip was a few monthsago when I spent some reallygreat days fly fishing at KosciuszkoNational Park. The fishing in thatregion is a definite highlight.I’d love to head into desert countryone day, too, but I haven’t quitemanaged to get that into action.Not yet, anyway.HOW DID YOU GET INTO4WDING?My older brother, Ben, had aToyota LandCruiser Bundera andwe would go off roading wheneverwe could. It had ARB productsfitted to it (even back then I knewall about ARB).My first 4WDing trip was with NeilCocks and we went out to MungoStation. I was young and had neverdriven off the bitumen before butI got to drive on the dirt roads andthought ‘This is pretty great!’ Afterthat, I was hooked.FAVOURITE 4WDINGLOCATION?Probably the Victorian HighCountry. Beautiful scenery and agreat mix of easy to challengingtracks. Plus it’s relatively closeto Melbourne, so it’s hugelyconvenient as well.ANY ADVICE FOR 4WDERS?Whether it’s for your vehicle, yourequipment or yourself, preparationfor any trip is vital. Always have aplan and contingencies if anythinggoes awry.

HEAD OFFICE: ARB 4X4 ACCESSORIES42-44 Garden Street, Kilsyth, Victoria 3137 Australia Tel: +61 3 9761 6622 Fax: +61 3 9761 6807Email: exports@arb.com.au Web: www.arb.com.auwww.facebook.com/ARB4X4www.twitter.com/ARB4x4