4X4

4X4

Coil suspension or air suspension?

22 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Air or coil suspension? Deciding which new vehicle to buy can be hard enough, and then you have to make a call on the fundamentals such as the engine and transmission before the detailed decisions like trim levels and options. Now there’s another decision to be made and that’s coil or height-adjustable air suspension, this […]

4X4

Should you lock your centre diff for offroading?

20 August 2020 Robert Pepper

It’s always interesting to learn new driving techniques and understand different thinking. Any group of people will naturally become a little insular and some techniques may just be accepted unquestioningly as “the way things are done”, with nobody wanting to rock the boat or consider alternatives, and one of the best ways to explore new […]

4X4

Quick look at the new Defender

19 August 2020 Robert Pepper

-1

Several readers have been talking about the new Defender, and some have sent photos and video, so I thought I’d share some with the readers. I haven’t yet driven or even seen a Defender so this isn’t a review, but nevertheless should be helpful for prospective owners. Here’s the Defender showings its variable height air-suspension […]

4X4

Should offroad trailers be banned?

18 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Every time we head off into the outback the percentage of 4WDs towing something has increased. There are good reasons for the trailer-mania; modern vehicles have power to spare and make excellent towcars, people need (want) to take more stuff on holiday and there’s a thriving trailer manufacturer industry which has spawned an equally active […]

4X4

Mitsubishi Pajero, Triton and Challenger Flex

17 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Which has the longest suspension travel? Pajero – fully-independent, coils Triton – independent coil front, live axle leaf rear Challenger – independent coil front, live axle coil rear These photos always stir up a bit of debate so to pre-empt some of it — yes this is not a scientific test so make of it […]

4X4

Keystarting on hills – but what if you can’t?

15 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Hills are one of the most dangerous techniques you can encounter when you’re offroading, and you’re not always going to successfully climb every hill you attempt. So it’s very important to have a good, safe technique for the times when things don’t quite go according to plan. There’s lots of detail in the Handbook on […]

4X4

Snatch block loads

14 August 2020 Robert Pepper

If the force required to move the tree is X, and a snatch block is used on another tree to reverse the pull (not shown), then what is the approximate force the winch will produce (Y) and what is the force on the tree with the snatch block (Z) ? a) Y = 0.5 X, […]

4X4

What’s the load on twin recovery points with a bridle?

13 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Here’s a question recently posed on the Facebook page: This vehicle is stuck and needs a 1500kg pull to move. A bridle has been used as part of the recovery system. What is the total load on each of the recovery points? a) 3000kg b) 1500kg c) somewhere between 750 and 1500kg d) 750kg e) […]

4X4

Australian 4X4ing for non-Aussies

10 August 2020 Robert Pepper

Every country has its own, identifiable landscapes and I believe each has its own “carscapes” as well. In the case of offroad tourers the former is a direct influence on the latter, so Australia’s vast distances and open tracks mean the average 4WD is quite different to most other places. It is always dangerous to […]

4X4

Amarok or Range Rover Sport? Or Discovery 4 or Landcruiser 200 Series?

7 August 2020 Robert Pepper

I am now considering the eight speed Amarok auto due out in July I believe. Possible issue: no transfer case/low range. Any thoughts please? Do you think that it could be as bush capable if compensated by an ultra low first and associated traction controls? I believe that you may have intimated in your latest book that low range […]

4X4

Share this video