WHY ROADVISION’S LATEST RELEASE IS A GAME CHANGER
You get what you get and you don’t get upset. Anyone who has been within ear shot of a primary school aged kid has no doubt heard that phrase about…
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March 2022
23 posts
What’s involved in a Mapping Expedition (and how I scored the gig)
Ever wondered what it’s like to get onto a mapping expedition with the team from HEMA? Ben Carceller got the chance to find out. Hema Maps cover hundreds of thousands of kilometres of tracks all over Australia, and travellers rely on their maps to make real-time navigation decisions when they’re in the Outback or on their favourite local track, so having up to date track data is very important. The challenge for Hema maps is how to keep track data up to date, given the rate of tracks closures, changes of ownership, changes in track condition and difficulty, and the addition and removal of points of interest. One of the ways Hema does this is with regular Map Patrol trips, conducted by their full-time staff in one of the purpose-built vehicles they have for this sort of work. Another method more recently employed, is to engage a limited number of experienced contract operators to assist in the collection of some types of data. This is where we come into the mix. Since late 2020, when we were approached by Hema Maps, we’ve been working with them yet another set of eyes and wheels on the ground, collecting map data which makes its way into software updates for Hema devices and apps, as well as printed map products. Sometimes the two…
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Simpson with a Trailer: Would I do it again?
If you’re considering crossing the Simpson Desert with a trailer, you might want to read this first…! It might save you a lot of trouble. So, you’re wanting to cross the Simpson Desert and you may be wondering if you can bring your camper trailer or some other type of trailer you have for a particular purpose. There could be many reasons you’re considering towing across the Simpson. You might not have enough space to bring the equipment and supplies for you and your family, you might want the comfort and convenience of a trailer, or you might already be travelling somewhere with a trailer and want to include a Simpson crossing in your journey. There’s a good chance that if you turn to many of the online platforms for advice on the subject, you’ll be met with sternly worded replies about how you can’t tow in the Simpson, or that it should be illegal, how you’ll be stuck and destroy your gear, or that you’re an environmental vandal. Most people will tell you flat out no that you can’t tow across the desert, whether they’ve done it themselves or not. Some of these statements may be true, or partially true, but it all depends on the circumstances. The main reason behind the general suggestion not to tow in the…
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Gear News
iKamper Skycamp 3.0 RTT The age of the dumb roof top tent is over, and a new dawn of intelligent design is here. At least that’s iKampers goal with their 2022 launch of innovative roof top tents. There’s a host of new models but the iKamper Skycamp 3.0 is the one that’s caught our attention. The unique folding design aims to provide the rugged exterior and quick setup times of typical hard-shell roof top tents with the huge space available in the old-school soft-shell roof top tents. What makes it so impressive? In short, it’s a king size bed and takes just one minute to set up. It’s robust enough you could park a Jeep in there. You can leave your sleeping bags in fully packed up. The mattress is 25% thicker than their competitors. And it’s even insulated so will be cooler in summer and warmer in winter. In a word. It’s brilliant. Prices for the top tier Skycamp 3.0 start from $5,895 and there’s a mini version available from $4,995. To see the full specs and the rest of the line-up head over to https://ikamperau.com.au/ Ultimate 9 Codebreaker Modern 4X4s are getting more and more complicated, and it’s something that turns off a lot of potential owners with fears of outback reliability. Ultimate 9 are aiming to demystify…
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History: Bold Ben Hall Bushranger
From humble farmer to the most brutal takedown in Australia’s history WORDS BY AUSTRALIA REDISCOVERED WITH RICKO Legend has it that Hall’s share of the Eugowra Gold Escort Robbery is still buried somewhere up in the mountains of the Weddin Ranges The notion of a good man turned bad through the harassment by law enforcement agencies is nothing new in early Australian history, but in most cases, it is a notion based on romanticised fiction, rather than fact. Perhaps the most famous tale along these lines is that of old Ned Kelly, however the harsh truth is that Ned was always a bad apple, right from the start. Enter Bold Ben Hall, who fell in with the wrong crowd and was targeted by the local Police Chief until the bitter, and brutal end! Ben Hall was said to be born in 1837 in either Breeza, or Maitland in NSW to convict parents, Ben Snr and Eliza. They settled in the northern NSW town of Murrurundi and Ben Snr even opened a store selling freshly butchered meat, alongside fruit and vegetables. However, it was around the end of 1850 that Ben Snr packed up the kids and headed off for a fresh start on the Lachlan River, where young Ben would spend his formative years developing his skills as a stockman and bushman…
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Species Spotlight: Meet the Deadliest Bird on the Planet
Words by Naomi Stephens Which bird would be at home on the set of Jurassic Park, packs 120mm long daggers and has been known to kill humans? Meet the Southern Cassowary, one of the world’s largest breeds of bird with a fearsome reputation. Their sheer size and distinctive horn or “casque” are reminiscent of dinosaurs, so it’s no wonder that they are considered to be more like their prehistoric ancestors than most other bird species. Cassowaries are flightless, which is probably a good thing given they weigh between 50-76kgs and can grow up to 1.8m in height. They are the third tallest bird on the planet behind close relatives, the emu, and their more distant cousin, the ostrich. Where you’ll find them Southern Cassowaries are typically found in tropical rainforests and wetlands in north-eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and neighbouring islands, and may also be found in mangrove areas or savannahs in these regions. Solitary by nature, outside breeding season cassowaries generally keep out of each other’s way. Their diet consists mostly of fruit, but when in need of a protein hit they are not above chowing down on the odd small reptile or mammal, or carrion. And their poo is something to behold (metaphorically, obviously). Unsurprisingly, given their size and diet, cassowaries produce large mounds of dung so…
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Tasmania: North-East Explore
By Kevin Smith Tasmania is full of stunning scenery, has an array of history and some bloody great 4WDing to boot. I wanted to try and get to the North-East corner on this trip from Hobart totally off-road, and with a few snippets of local info, I did just that. My main starting point was Sorell just out of Hobart where there are plenty of decent supply shops for food and fuel. I was given a tip that if I headed 20 km up the Tasman Highway and found Woodsdale Road that’s where I could hit the dirt and stay there to the cape. An easy and scenic run up to the bitumen to the turning point and this got me into the groove for the trip. Woodsdale Rd is a well-used dirt road to farms, a few wineries and into the forest, nether the less I was on the dirt for the journey. Passing alongside Prossers Ridgeline and turning across towards Mount Hobbs it was typical bush I was used to on the mainland with great views and the anticipation of what was in store for the next few days. A local told me about the Swanston Track and where it followed the northern side of the Buckland Military training area. It’s an easy track to find at the…
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Touring 4X4: 80 Series
Some things just get better with age WORDS BY DAN EVERETT IMAGES BY WARREN PILTON Do enough laps around the sun and it starts becoming painfully obvious our slow descent into a throwaway society. The march for more is never-ending. Each year new models of everything vie for our attention. More bells. More whistles. More finance. The ad campaigns trying to convince us we couldn’t possibly do something without the latest and greatest technology, even if we’ve been doing just fine without it for the last 20 years. Some things don’t need to be updated though. Some things are built to stand the test of time. Some things are worth keeping for life. For West Australian native Warren Pilton, his 80 Series LandCruiser is a forever kind of deal. He’s owned it most of his life, and no amount of gadgets or gizmos could ever catch his attention. Three decades ago, Warren was learning his trade down in Perth. An apprentice Master Tech and Auto Electrician in a Toyota dealership he spent his days doing pre-delivery inspections for lucky new 80 Series LandCruiser owners. Daydreaming on his smoko breaks with the other apprentices, promising them one day he’d own one. A few years later, working in the Kalgoorlie mines he’d saved his pennies and bought himself a 3-year-old 1994 LandCruiser.…
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Litchfield: Waterholes, Big Buffs & New Camps
Pat hooks into the tracks and surrounds of Litchfield National Park – and comes up trumps ADELAIDE RIVER – COOMALIE AIR STRIP – SNAKE CREEK – TIN MINE – THE LOST CITY – LITCHFIELD – REYNOLDS RIVER TRACK – CENTRAL VALLEY – PINE CREEK – BUFFALO CATCHING Story by Pat Callinan Images by Tommy Salmon Cities on the remote extremities of our nation are oft outward-looking. I’m talking about places like Perth and Darwin. They masquerade as cities but walk through their city streets on a Sunday, and the streets are dead, save for a few touristy pubs. The good people are doing what good people do. Either going to church or exploring god’s church – the Australian bush. Now with a city like Darwin, 4X4s are some type of religion; so when you plant an extraordinary national park just a few hours south, with incomparable swimming holes, then it’s bound to get busy. Some might say too busy. So, the attempt with this adventure is to show you where to go, what to do, and how to avoid the crowds. Sound good? Well let’s get started, shall we?! ADELAIDE RIVER & SURROUNDS Moment captured – the final plane prepares to land at Coomalie airstrip after the war is declared as won An almighty big buffalo called ‘Charlie’ presides over…
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Engel’s Outback Gourmet: One-Pot Spaghetti Recipe
Recipe by Pat Callinan Images by Tommy Salmon Minimisation of washing dishes should be one of your highest priorities when it comes to camp cooking. So that’s why I’ve resurrected this tasty ninety-year-old recipe – in an attempt to wash one less dish… Don’t worry, it goes alright too… INGREDIENTS 200g bacon (diced) 2 medium onions (diced) 1 capsicum Worcestershire Sauce 2 tins crushed tomatoes 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup red wine (Greenskin Cab Merlot) 2 red chillies 1 bag spaghetti Basil Leaves Fresh Parmesan STEPS 1. Brown the onion and the bacon in some olive oil. 2. Once cooked add the liquids along with the capsicum and chilli. 3. Heat it up to a boil and then add the spaghetti. 4. Put on a slow boil for 15 minutes. 5. Top with fresh basil leaves and parmesan to serve.
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The National 4×4 Outdoors Show kicks off this Friday!
The National 4×4 Outdoors Show kicks off in Brisbane this Friday and will deliver loads of awesome 4×4 vehicles, gear, demonstrations, guest speakers and entertainment across the weekend. And guess…
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Tasmania – Be Tempted
That was the slogan for promoting travel to the Apple Isle back in 1987. 35 years on and Tasmania is still a top 4WD destination. Tasmania is full of stunning scenery, has an array of history and some bloody great 4WDing to boot. I wanted to try and get to the North-East corner on this trip from Hobart totally off-road, and with a few snippets of local info, I did just that. My main starting point was Sorell just out of Hobart where there are plenty of decent supply shops for food and fuel. I was given a tip that if I headed 20 km up the Tasman Highway and found Woodsdale Road that’s where I could hit the dirt and stay there to the cape. An easy and scenic run-up to the bitumen to the turning point got me into the groove for the trip. Woodsdale Rd is a well-used dirt road to farms, a few wineries and into the forest, nether the less I was on the dirt for the journey. Passing alongside Prossers Ridgeline and turning across towards Mount Hobbs it was typical bush I was used to on the mainland with great views and the anticipation of what was in store for the next few days. A local told me about the Swanston Track and where…
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Back to the Future with Cub’s Drifter
50 years later and Cub’s iconic Drifter is back and better than ever. We take a close up look. You don’t need to go far back in Australian history to find a different kind of family holiday. Instead of picture-perfect overseas beaches and 5-star hotels, generations of young Aussies were crisscrossing the country sliding around on the scalding hot vinyl bench seats in an old Holden station wagon. An Australian made camper hooked on the back, a year’s worth of board games and pushbikes strapped to the roof, and little more than an outback campfire for a destination. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more Australian memory. It’s fitting then, that as Aussie families look back to our shores for some hard-earned downtime, the iconic Cub Drifter is back for a whole new generation of young explorers. 50 years on and the Drifter is better than ever, and we recently had an opportunity to get an in-depth look at why Cub think it’s so special. THE SETUP Let’s get one thing straight. If you’re eyeing off a Cub Camper it’s because first and foremost you want something that’s easy to set up, and spacious when you’re done. To that end, the Drifter is perfect. If you can forgo the awning, one person can go from arriving at camp to fully…
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More Power…!
Need more power? Check out the six engine conversions you can expect to see more of – and four on their way out the door. Zed’s dead baby. Of course, by Zed, we mean the ZD30 common rail power-disaster known for leaving more 4X4s stranded on the side of the track than busted CVs and knee-deep bog holes could ever hope to. It’s not the only 4X4 engine people are throwing in the bin at rapid rates either. All across the country, there are TD42s boiling for the last time, 1HZs struggling up their last hill, 3.2 Duratorqs holing their last pistons, 1KZs cracking their last heads, and 1VD-FTVs slapping their last thong. The days of yanking out one boat anchor to replace it with another and the age of intelligent engine conversions are here. We’re taking a closer look at some of the up-and-coming engine conversions you’ll see in 2022, and why so many older engines are on their way out the door. WHAT’S HOT? ISUZU 4JJ WHAT MAKES THEM GOOD: If there’s one thing that draws D-MAX buyers towards Isuzu it’s the 4JJ engine. A commercial-grade 3.0L common-rail turbo-diesel four-pot putting out no more torque or horsepower than any of their competitors. So, what makes it such a popular conversion 4X4 owners are lining up down the street…
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FIRST LOOK – BFGOODRICH TRAIL TERRAIN
There’s never been a time to head off on adventure. Down tools. Tune out. Turn off the pager. And escape from reality. A big lap around the country for 12…
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FIRST LOOK – ARB DVR REVERSE CAMERA
Like it or not dash cam’s have never been more important to have. Whether you’re protecting your pride and joy from insurance scammers, using it to identify thief’s in the…
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5 tips for buying a camper trailer
Buying a camper trailer is one of the most freeing purchases you can make in the modern world. Knock off work on a Friday arvo, fridge is loaded, water in…
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Bollinger Electric 4x4s dead in the water
With a huge influx of up-start companies like Tesla, Rivian, Nikola, and Lucid dominating the news there’s never been a more exciting time for new vehicle development. The wild shift…
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Secrets of the Kimberley
Pat heads up to WA’s iconic Kimberley region and discovers there’s more to it than the Gibb River Road. Read on to find out. The Kimberley township of Kununurra can get quite warm. Just ask our cameraman Bernie Kavanagh, who, at 9 am in October, was ferried off to hospital in an ambulance with heatstroke. Yes, you read that right, at nine o’clock in the morning. It was 42 degrees Celcius and Bernie was lugging a big video camera and bigger sticks (code for tripod) in the sweltering heat. I’m sure it had little to do with the eleventeen poolside ales he had consumed the day before… You wouldn’t typically plan to be travelling around the Kimberley in October during the build-up to the wet season, but Covid restrictions had pushed our run late. Was it worth it? Well, you tell me after dialling your focus into these Tommy Salmon images within. Your regular Kimberley 4X4 journey starts at Kununurra and finishes at Broome, running north to Mitchell Falls. But this time around would be different. Producer Paul Waterhouse had sniffed out promising-sounding locations that would keep us within a 100-mile radius of Kununurra. It was a gamble, but one that paid off handsomely. OLD KURUNJIE TRACK The most photographed part of the Kimberley, is undoubtedly the Pentecost River crossing,…
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The Triumph and Tragedy of William John Wills
William John Wills was the man behind the success of the epic Burke & Wills story. He is an unsung Aussie hero, but you have heard of him? He is an unsung hero, but you have heard of him. Seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? You mention the name William John Wills in any outback pub, and there will be a bit of head-scratching, but mention Burke & Wills, and you’ll be met with knowing nods and maybe even a deprecating monologue on how foolish they were. But to focus on the few bad choices they made is to do the whole story, and in particular, William John Wills, a massive injustice. Wills was born in Devon, England in 1834 to Dr William Wills, and his wife Sarah. Will’s early life in England saw him attend St Andrews Grammar, and he was also tutored by his father. After school, he worked with his father while undertaking courses at a couple of local hospitals. Like a lot of folks in the UK at the time, Dr Wills had a keen interest in Australia, in particular, the gold mining that was taking the world by storm. An 18-year-old Wills and his brother Thomas both boarded the Janet Mitchell in Dartmouth and set sail for Australia, arriving in Port Phillip in January…
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Redarc Goes Mobile with GoBlock
Dual battery systems have become an absolute must-have over the last few years. They’re an essential bit of kit for everyone from big lap tourers to weekend campers. And for…
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The National 4X4 Outdoors Show is set to take place from 18-20 March 2022 at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Queensland’s largest and most popular outdoors lifestyle, recreational and adventure event, the Brisbane National 4X4 Outdoors Show is back again taking over the Brisbane Showgrounds for a jam packed 3…
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Ford Bronco: Pony up
Ford didn’t invent the 4WD but they certainly took it to a new level with the introduction of the Bronco. Its history is facinating. Over 100 years ago Henry Ford revolutionised the automobile, forever changing the world as we know it. While some may argue it wasn’t exactly a positive thing, it’s hard to argue his introduction of the production line directly led to affordable cars for the masses but there’s one quote from the man who revolutionized the world that we can’t help but find ironic so many years later. “If I had asked the public what they wanted, they’d have told me faster horses.” A century later and two of the blue oval’s most successful cars of all time are directly named after horses. The Mustang, and more interestingly for four-wheel-drivers, the Bronco. Of course, there was the Pinto as well, but we did say only two were successful. With the Bronco recently re-released after a huge 25-year hiatus we thought it was high time to have a look at where the bucking bronco originated, and how it got to where it is today. The Path to Glory While Jeep has built a brand around the WW2 Willy’s GPs the reality is far more complicated. Willys-Overland and the American Bantam Car Company were first to tender for the…
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