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From bush tracks to beach camps its undeniable the roof top tent has taken over as the sleeping arrangement of choice for 4X4ers. There’s second hand $200 offerings ratchet strapped high above P-platers first cars, and high-end insulated offerings with LED lighting and charging points clamped firmly to the lightweight alloy rack of brand new 4X4s. They’re universal from hardcore weekend rigs to outback proven tourers, and there’s as much variety in the tents themselves as the rigs you can bolt them to. Sound great? Yeah, they kind of are. But before you dive in and slap one on your rig, there’s a bit to consider. The market’s packed with options, and while choice is a good thing, it can also leave you scratching your head. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a rooftop tent, so by the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision and hit the road with confidence. WHAT IS A ROOFTOP TENT? First off, let’s cover the basics. A rooftop tent is exactly what it sounds like, a tent that mounts to the roof of your 4X4, or beat up hatchback if you’re a backpacker “finding yourself” in the Aussie Outback. Unlike your standard ground tents that require flat, even…
Us Aussies have a deep-seated love affair with our utes. They’re part of our national identity, a cultural icon that’s been around for over 90 years. These vehicles have shaped who we are and how we live, becoming as ingrained in our daily lives as a meat pie or a cold beer on a hot day. But here’s the kicker, we might just be buying the wrong ones. That’s right, I’m about to drop a controversial opinion, but hear me out. I reckon a significant chunk of the utes parked in driveways across Australia, especially out in the bush, are simply the wrong size for what people actually need. Let me explain. THE CHANGING FACE OF 4X4ING A decade ago, the typical 4X4 setup was all about toughness. Solid axles, super flexible suspension, bulletproof barwork, and aggressive mud tyres were the norm. Folks would work all week, then push their rigs on the toughest local tracks over the weekend, only to spend Sunday night fixing them up for the Monday commute. A camping setup was as basic as it got—a swag under a simple awning, a hot plate for a few snags, and maybe a fridge running off a single AGM battery if you were serious about touring. Fast forward to today, and while 4X4ing has never been more popular,…
Dan Everett: Right. Ben, could you start by telling us a bit about who you are and what your role is at Engel? Ben Ranford: Sure, I’m currently the sales representative for Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula at Engel. It’s an interesting role that keeps me pretty engaged with a diverse range of tasks. I’ve been the sales rep for nearly three years now. But I actually started with Engel back in late 2016. Since then, I’ve been involved in quite a few different areas within the company, ranging from general office duties to managing aspects of our warehouse. It’s been a great journey. DE: That sounds quite comprehensive. How many people are on the team at Engel? BR: The team isn’t very large. We have one person based in New South Wales, a few in other states and around ten people in Queensland. So, it’s a tight-knit group where everyone has a significant role to play. DE: It seems like a setting where everyone needs to contribute quite a bit, right? BR: Absolutely, Dan. In fact, as a company policy, we generally promote from within. This means whenever there’s a vacancy, our first step is to assess internal candidates who might be interested and capable of filling the role. This approach has helped us build a strong, internally-driven…
There are a few hit list items that it seems like just about every 4X4 needs to have whether they’re gearing up for the Canning, or a summer of beach camping. Items like bull bars, driving lights, lift kits and mud terrain tyres are all obvious must haves. Things like awnings and roof top tents are other nice-to-haves, but a bit self-explanatory too. But when it comes to storage, most 4X4ers seem to be aware they should have it, but very few actually maximise them to their fullest potential. Packed right, and with the right checklist in them, a set of drawers in your 4X4 just might be the most essential upgrade you make. Here’s the kind of kit banging around in the Offroad Systems setup across the Mr 4X4 fleet. SPARE PARTS & TOOLS: BETTER TO HAVE THEM AND NOT NEED THEM This is one that’s changing over the years. The odds and ends required to keep the Leyland Brothers trundling through the Simpson Desert will look vastly different to the tools you need to keep a modern-day rig running. Sure, throw a spare belt and some hoses in the back if it makes you feel better. But silicone tape and a coke can will fix most issues no matter which hose blows. An OBD scanner is an absolute…
For the last 100 years or so the powertrains motoring us down the tracks haven’t changed a great deal. Sure, they’ve gotten more complex, but the same basic things are happening whether you’re cruising into camp in a Model T or a twin-turbo V6 Ranger Raptor. Fuel and air makes its way into a chamber, it’s combusted, pushes a piston down, spins a crank, goes through some sort of gearing arrangement to make the power usable, turns a diff, drives a wheel. You can look at a supercar and a flathead V8 and see the same basic principles. But things are rapidly changing. With the push for electric vehicles that paradigm has shifted so dramatically someone from 2004 could barely recognise the propulsion systems in an all-electric F-150 Lightning. But are hybrids much simpler? They promise to be the perfect middle ground between old and new, proven technology and the stuff of the future. But how do they actually work? We take a closer look at this often understood technology and do a deep dive to see its viability in a 4X4 landscape. WHERE’S THE MOTOR? When it comes to talking hybrid drivetrains the actual ‘how’ can be far more confusing than the ‘what’. Like any new technology there’s a whole host of different manufacturers trying to get a jump…
Ahhh the great outdoors. Home to some of the most spectacular sights you’ll ever lay eyes on. Stunning outback sunsets. Epic mountain vistas. Sub-tropical rain forests straight out of the Amazon. And most importantly, solitude far beyond the reaches of the daily grind. The only problem is, it’s just so darn far away. Unless you want to sleep in the front seat you’re going to need to bring some sort of camping setup, and if you’re looking to step things up a notch from the humble swag and awning, there’s three paths you’ve got laid out in front of you. Caravans, camper trailers, or a canopy setup of some description. So, what’s right for your needs? What are the pros and cons of each? And how much are you going to need to spend to make it happen? CAMPING CANOPIES If you’re on a budget, prefer quick overnight camps, or lust for the harder tracks in life then a canopy camping setup should undoubtedly be on your short list. Depending on the setup you’re going for these can be had as a DIY project from as little as $1500, right up to light weight high-tech materials with 90% of the mod cons of a camper trailer for a similar $30,000+ budget. They really are a choose your own adventure kind…
In an age dominated by digital navigation, the art of reading a paper map may seem like a relic of the past. Yet, for 4X4ers mastering this skill is not just about tradition but also about safety, independence, and the thrill of exploration. Topographic maps, or topo maps, offer a wealth of information, depicting the beauty and challenges of the terrain ahead in a way no GPS can. Topographic maps are distinct from ordinary maps. They don’t just show roads and trails; they enable you to visualize three-dimensional terrain on a flat piece of paper. This is accomplished through contour lines, scale, and a legend that deciphers symbols and colours. Map reading is an essential skill for safety and emergency planning. By understanding the terrain and features of your chosen area, you can identify potential hazards, such as steep cliffs, river crossings, or dense forests. This knowledge allows you to plan safer routes, avoid risks, and prepare for emergencies. Moreover, in situations where technology fails or GPS signals are lost, a paper map becomes an invaluable tool for finding your way back to safety. This guide aims to give you an intro to paper maps. How to read them, how to use them to work out where you are, and how to use them to plan a route understanding what…
There’s no shortage of odds and ends, doo dad’s and what’s its we fit to our rigs, all with their own unique story and purpose. But some bits of 4X4 kit are a little more special than that. In fact, the Engel range of fridges may as well be considered family heirlooms. For a comparable price as their competitors, the Engel range of fridges have a track record 60 years long, with many of those early fridges still bouncing around the tracks in the back of 4X4s to this day. To find out what gives Engel their staying power, we sat down with tech-guru Peter from Engel, here’s what he had to say. Dan: Righto Peter, let’s cut right to the chase, what do you do at Engel and how long have you been doing it? Peter: I’ve been with Engel for 29 years. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years, everything from helping set up the business to sales rep., State Manager for several states, looking after our national accounts like Kenworth, etc., I’ve worked in our customer service division and done a lot of staff training internally as well as external retail training. Yeah, just about everything. D: For those who have been living under a rock for the last 60 years, can you give us…
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