The majority of 4x4s on Australian roads have diesel engines largely because of their ability to deliver high torque, which has made them the workhorse of all internal combustion engine variants. Simply put, diesel engines are great at hard work. Diesel-powered vehicles can tow a heavy caravan or any load at all, more comfortably and efficiently than the same vehicle with a petrol engine.

That said, many Australian 4×4 owners want even better performance from their modern diesel vehicles, especially when towing. The good news is that with technology has come the ability to improve the performance by optimising tuning through the electronic control system. This can be done safely if you choose a quality tuning system with a sound history, like Steinbauer.

What is Steinbauer?

Austrian Engineer, Herbert Steinbauer, began making products to improve engine performance in 1995. It was at a time when electronics had only just begun to infiltrate diesel engine design. The common rail fuel systems that we see everywhere these days were only a concept at the time. In the 24 years that followed, Herbert’s company and products evolved along with engine design and the systems that control them. His focus has always been to produce high quality products that provide a responsible performance increase and does not compromise engine longevity. Steinbauer says the result is that his system is the safest power for your diesel.

Steinbauer claims that with a Steinbauer chip, a 20% increase in power and torque is a realistic expectation for most modern 4x4s and SUVs, in some cases more. The brand says this will provide a noticeable improvement that you can feel every time you drive the vehicle, and will not only improve the vehicle’s ability to tow but may even result in an improvement in fuel economy when towing.

Key features of the Steinbauer Performance Modules:

• Safety cutback programming that slowly reduces the performance enhancement under sustained high output situations to protect your engine
• Vehicle safety parameters and diagnostic codes remain in place
• Fully programmable with dedicated software
• Trimming adjustment is possible by the vehicle owner
• Plug-in installation using original connectors
• Robust module design – moisture, dust, vibration resistant
• ECU programming is not changed; all adjustments are made “downstream”.
• On / off switch can be fitted
• Steinbauer chip can be easily disconnected and removed from the engine to revert to standard
• Module can be removed when the vehicle is sold so the module itself can be resold
• Three-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Diesel Care Australia is the distributor of Steinbauer products in Australia and New Zealand and has been for 15 years. With more than 70 years’ experience working with diesel engines, it’s reassuring to know that if you have a Steinbauer module installed on your vehicle, you have the solid technical backup of Diesel Care behind it.

Click here for more information.

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Each year, the Bash attempts to break its own world record for the number of concurrent Nutbushers, or Nutters, if you will, and 2019 was no exception. The air was thick with dust and tomfoolery as the Nutters jived in unison to the 1973 Tina Turner classic, which commonly fills wedding dance floors somewhere in that brief window after the speeches but before Aunt Gloria frees her swollen ankles from her strappy heels.

It’s touted as the outback’s best party, and for good reason; the Big Red Bash lights up Birdsville on the edge of the Simpson Desert every year, with almost 10,000 4×4 travellers covering a combined 41 million kilometres to get to the remote event in order to kick back and let loose for a weekend of camping and live music beneath the majestic Big Red sand dune.

This year Midnight Oil headlined, with performances also from Kasey Chambers, Richard Clapton and crowd-pleasing ABBA cover band, Bjorn Again, plus loads more.

In addition to the killer tunes, there was dune surfing, doggos in tutus, kids in face paint, sunsets atop Big Red, misty campground mornings and even a wedding.

Bash organisers said the 2019 event was a huge success, reporting zero security issues, zero DUI readings, zero clouds and 1.2 tonnes of ribs sold by the Birdsville Hotel. We’d take those odds any day.

If you’ve got a major case of FOMO just reading this, firstly, you’re only human, and secondly, it’s time to start planning a trip to Birdsville in 2020.

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The show will be bursting at the seams with products and entertainment to delight lovers of the great outdoors, with over 200 leading brands and retailers showcasing their wares. That means literally thousands of products including new vehicles, the latest 4×4 gear and aftermarket accessories, camping gear, camper trailers, caravans, boats, fishing gear and more.

There’ll be bucketloads of family-friendly entertainment across the weekend, too, with the

Waeco CFX Outback Stage returning by popular demand to host talks from some of the biggest names in the industry. Our own Pat Callinan will be sharing stories and tips from his adventures on the road, along with Jase Andrews from All 4 Adventure, Shaun Whale and Graham Cahill of 4WD Action and Jamie Hazeldine, Alicia Blythe, Michael Borg and Jillaroo Jess from The Offroad Adventure Show. There will be sessions scheduled daily across the three days.

And if all that conversation gets you itching for some action, the VW Amarok Proving Ground provides the opportunity to hone your 4×4 skills. It’s a purpose-built track where punters can jump behind the wheel to test a variety of off-road surfaces including a sand trap, water crossing, compact rock segment and steep incline.

For even more of an adrenalin kick head over to the Action Arena, where stunt man Matt Mingay and his 11-year-old son, Madzy Evel, will headline the entertainment with their Hot Wheels Stunt show. The father-son rivalry will see trucks and bikes fly through the air in incredible stunts that will delight audiences of all ages.

For a fun filled day celebrating everything that’s awesome about the outdoor adventure lifestyle, get down to the 2019 National 4×4 Outdoors Show, Boating & Fishing Expo in Melbourne, August 16-18.

Buy your tickets here to get a discounted rate and a free magazine subscription.

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With its clever design and excellent heat variability, it can be used for slow cooking, smoking, baking and even wood-fired pizzas. While weighing 20kg making it a bit harder to take camping, the Ozpig Oven Smoker looks to make cooking in the great outdoors even tastier. And best of all, it’ll be just as home on your back deck as it would be at camp.

Priced from $299. Click here for more information.

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The latest version is the DOT 6 WUHT, or Walk Up Hard Top, and it is a step away from the traditional canvas top. Constant innovation and evolution combined with a quality mantra and value on practicality mean it is one smart and capable trailer.

OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE

From a quick glance, you can see this is a trailer built to tackle tough terrain. The Cruisemaster XT Outback independent suspension system underpins a sturdy Supagal chassis. And it works well too; we took the trailer for a three-day off-road adventure, and it held its composure well.

Tight twisty tracks and steep slippery climbs presented no problems, mainly thanks to its low kerb weight, good entry and departure angles, and it was easy to forget we had a camper in convoy. That was until we rocked up at camp, where within 10 minutes, we had ourselves plenty of shelter, amenities and a kitchen.

AT CAMP

The 270° awning is fantastic, made even more so by the fact that is easily height adjustable (handy to suit your terrain). The rear quickly transforms into a fully featured kitchen, the unique Drifta pull-out of course, along with drawers with everything including power close at hand. Unloading additional camp gear is easy, thanks to the large storage area which is easily accessed on both sides below the hard-top tent.

Everything has been well thought-out. Twin 80-litre water tanks are protected underneath, with well-placed outlets, fillers and hot water system. There is also a long mud flap located forward which prevents potential stone damage to the underbody. The front storage box is spacious and well laid-out; a nice touch is a single-latch opening system, which means you can open the box without walking around the drawbar to open another latch. This is also home to the Joolca hot water system, above which is the swing-out shower recess. The recess is a cracker of a design and easy to operate. Just behind the shower panel is the air-suspension control panel which allows you to adjust for the load you are carrying – it also doubles as a trailer levelling system.

The sides of the trailer feature additional storage boxes, jerry and gas bottle holders as well as a timber (or coal) storage box. Up front are brackets for mounting the traction boards and interestingly, the ‘steps’ and raiseable handrail to the massive rooftop tent. A 190mm thick queen-size foam mattress is the crowning jewel atop this trailer; it is luxurious. Lights, charging ports, storage pockets, a fan and plenty of pelmet-protected ventilation round out what is the most comfortable (and certainly spacious) roof-topper around.

ELECTRICAL SET-UP

The comprehensive electrical system is controlled by a Redarc Redvision TVMS (Total Vehicle Management System). It includes 300 watts of rooftop solar panels, Redarc BMS, 120Ah lithium battery, external and internal lighting, multiple charging ports and sockets and a Fusion Bluetooth speaker.

While on paper, the DOT 6 merely seems to tick the spec boxes, it does that and more. Things like the PVC rubbish bag on the drawbar really set this apart as a legitimate turnkey solution. The real difference is in the little things and the unique design. The devil is in the detail, and Drifta has nailed down those little details well.

THE VERDICT

The overall quality and practical usability is what makes this trailer shine, that and the massive WUHT! Take the adjustable tie-down rails at the rear, for example – it a classic example of finding the best product for the solution, one that will last forever. And that philosophy can be clearly seen in the finished product. The Drifta DOT 6 WUHT is a solid off-road touring trailer.

TARE: 1,150kg
GTM: 1,700kg
RRP: $45,850

Click here for more information.

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The XTRAK 40’s compact design allows it to fit into most vehicles, while the dual speakers in both the heavy-duty speaker microphone and the CB radio case allow the user to hear communications clearly, even in loud environments or while operating noisy equipment. But if the message is missed, the instant replay function records up to three minutes of transmission allowing the user to replay the conversation.

And if radio communication is interrupted within a group of users, the Master Scan function automatically transfers all radios within the group to another available channel for seamless communication. Users can monitor more than one channel via the triple watch function, which allows up to two channels plus the standby channel to be monitored every 1.5 seconds.

For anyone seeking a hardy, compact UHF designed for open vehicle use, the Uniden XTRAK 40 is one to consider.

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This year’s event is a fully guided adventure through the Gulf Country. It takes punters from the Southern Great Barrier Reef at Bundaberg, through the heart of Outback Queensland to Julia Creek, to the coastal town of Karumba where the barramundi run thick and fast, to the otherworldly lava caves of Undara, and finally back to the coast at Townsville. With on- and off-road routes mapped out, you’ll get the 4×4 as dirty as you like. The route takes in public and private roads, offering participants the chance to see a side of the Gulf Country they’ve never seen before.

We caught up with Nathan Woolhouse from Endeavour to get the low down on why we should join this year’s trek to the Gulf.

Mr4x4: What makes the Great Endeavour Rally a unique travel experience?

NW: A few entrants have described the rally as ‘the adventure holiday you could never plan’. We get to see parts of Australia you could only dream of seeing. This is due to the rally being fully supported with mechanical support provided by the Australian Army. You get to see places that aren’t even on the map; little hidden gems you would even know were there. A lot of people wouldn’t take on a 3500km trip alone or maybe don’t have friends available to travel with them in support. This is what makes the rally what it is; you get to see places off the beaten track access private property.

Mr4x4: What keeps people coming back to do the Great Endeavour Rally?

NW: People keep coming back for both the experience and the mates they have met throughout their rally experience. You may enter as a novice not knowing anyone, but you will finish your first rally with 100-plus new friends that you have shared an adventure of a lifetime with.

Mr4x4: What do people say is their favourite thing about the Rally?

NW: The places they see and the people they get to do it with. The feeling that you are never doing it on your own. The practical jokes and comradery throughout the trip. Seeing what the money can do for people with disability, as we have three people with disability travel with us through the entirety of the trip.

Mr4x4: Where do profits from the Rally go?

NW: All profits go to Endeavour Foundation in order give people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to realise their dreams and live an independent, fulfilling life through learning life skills, living independently and finding a job they love, and to being actively involved in their local communities.

The Great Endeavour Rally Gulf Trek goes from July 26 until August 3, 2019. Click here for more information.

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That’s right, YOU get the birthday presents! Well, you could, simply by heading over to REDARC to enter.

So what’s in the box, you ask? Each prize pack includes more than $1,700 worth of REDARC gear, including a slick, limited edition RED version of the brand’s award-winning 40amp in-vehicle battery charger, the BCDC1240D-LE (there’s also an exclusive handful of these available to purchase). The prize pack also includes a Tow-Pro Elite V3 brake controller, a 10amp AC SmartCharge Battery Charger, and more.

Click here to enter.

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The lucky winners will score some awesome gear from Darche including a heavy-duty swag, a Cold Mountain sleeping bag rated to a snug -12 degrees and a rechargeable lantern to light those long winter nights at camp, plus some sweet Club 4×4 merch.

Visit Club 4×4 to enter, and for 50 bonus entries simply get a quote for insurance on your vehicle during the competition period. Too easy!

There are five Winter Survival Packs to be won between June 3 and July 5. Click here to enter.

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Where it becomes so much more, is that it has multiple removable slats that work with other modular items such as a BBQ box, chopping boards and more. The IGT framing means you can attach other frames and tables such as the front sliding rail shelf.

The Snow Peak Entry IGT frame comes with two one-unit infill panels, and two half-unit infill panels, so you can fit multiple add ons to the frame.

The Entry IGT frame starts from $269. Click here for more information.

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