Words & photos: Glenn Marshall

Mr4x4 freelancer Gary Tischer reckons Brisbane is ‘the best place to live if your passion is heading bush in your 4WD’. Well, I beg to differ. In fact, I believe that Melbourne is the mecca for the best four-wheel driving tracks, so here are the Top 5 4X4 Trips less than 100km from the metropolis they call Melbourne, where the bureaucrats sip their lattés and close our tracks with their poison pens. We have tracks that are scarily steep, covered in sticky black mud, slippery red clay and diff-cracking rocks, and water crossings that can turn your fan blades into radiator-slashing weapons. If you haven’t discovered what’s in your own backyard, it’s time you did before all the tracks are closed.

MOUNT DISAPPOINTMENT (@ 54km as the crow flies)

When Hume and Hovell arrived at Mount Disappointment, they expected to see Port Phillip Bay. They couldn’t (due to tall trees), so they named the landmark after how they felt. The State Forest is disappointing in name only and is home to some great off-road driving on numerous 4X4 and forest tracks. The best access is from Heathcote Junction via the Hume Freeway – get off at the Wandong-Kilmore exit (C279). North Mountain Road will take you into the heart of the State Park.

Mount Disappointment is ideal for a day trip, or even better, a weekend getaway. The best tracks are seasonally closed and good rains improve the look of Strath Creek Falls. There’s still plenty of evidence of the 2009 Black Saturday fires (especially along Board Road, where old growth trees have faded grey, killed by the heat of the fire). It’s a challenging drive up the rocky Phone Track from the junction with Phosphate Track; and Quarry Road isn’t for the faint-hearted.

There are a couple of campsites – Regular Camp and No.1 Camp (with pit toilets and tables) – but No.1 Camp is better suited to groups, caravans and camper trailers. Whilst you can’t drive to the summit, you can tackle the 3.5km return walk from the Blairs Hut picnic area.

YARRA STATE FOREST (@ 76km as the crow flies)

I learnt the demands of driving a 4X4 on the tracks of the Yarra State Forest near Warburton. A lot has changed since then, but there are still some awesome tracks just waiting to test you. The area is still used to harvest Mountain Ash, so be aware that you may meet log trucks along any of the forest roads and they have right-of-way.

To get there, take the Warburton Highway to Yarra Junction and then continue to Warburton or take a right and visit the old timber settlement of Powelltown. From here you can take several tracks back to Warburton. From this side you may also chance upon logging equipment from days gone by, and view the Ada Tree – a giant Mountain Ash estimated to be over 300-years old.

The challenge is to tackle Mississippi Track – an extremely steep track that leads from Starling Gap down to Big Pats Creek in East Warburton. In the dry it is a great drive. In the wet, the clay becomes slippery and dangerous. Having driven it in the wet, I can confirm it is a real butt-clencher. But the biggest danger would have to be the Drop Bears! I guarantee you, they are here!

WOMBAT STATE FOREST/LERDERDERG STATE PARK (@ 70km as the crow flies)

Gold lured people into the region before logging took over, with Blackwood a favourite for furniture makers. Now, Wombat State Forest and Lerderderg State Park are popular with four-wheel drivers. The tracks rate from easy to downright ludicrous. When it’s wet, the stakes are raised even higher.

There are several access points to Wombat – either via the Calder Highway to Woodend or the Western Highway to Blackwood. A lot of the tracks are old forest tracks from the logging days but what may start as a gravel road could turn into a tyre-spinning goat track.

A track that offers an amazing challenge is Ratcliffe Track that climbs from Firth Road up to Blue Gum Track. You will be tested, but then the reward is the magnificent views. Blue Gum Track is my favourite ‘finishing’ track, recommended to be driven north to south although you will come across vehicles heading in the opposite direction. Again, it’s the views that will take your breath away as you drive the ridgeline.

O’Briens Crossing has bugger-all camping, but Firth Park is larger and more suitable for camper trailers. Base yourself here and explore the region over a weekend. This’ll give you heaps of time to challenge your 4X4 skills. It will also give you time to enjoy a picnic at O’Briens or a top lunch at the Cosmopolitan in nearby Trentham.

TOOLANGI STATE FOREST (@ 65km as the crow flies)

Another of my old stomping grounds, Toolangi is close to being my favourite 4X4 region. With towering Mountain Ash, bog holes big enough to swallow your fourby and steep, off-camber tracks that will make your nose bleed, there is something for everyone at Toolangi.

The best jump-off point is off the Melba Highway 23km from Yarra Glen. You can turn right onto Rocky Track and drop your tyre pressures as you decide which line to take in climbing this epic route. Or the second option is to turn right onto Marginal Road 50m further along. The number of tracks that lead either from or to Marginal Road is more than I can count, so it is a good place to start.

Murrindini Reserve has a number of campgrounds ($7 per vehicle) and is a great place to base yourself. The weather can change quickly, so make sure you have recovery gear; you will need it.

BUNYIP STATE PARK (@ 66km as the crow flies)

Haven’t I had some fun at Bunyip State Park over the years? It has the stickiest orange clay, the deepest black mud and some places to really have some fun. This is my Number 1 4X4 destination close to Melbourne. Aboriginals believe that the ‘buneep’ or bunyip spirit lives in the waterways in the park, hence many Aboriginals and white settlers have avoided the area. Unfortunately, it hasn’t kept the poison pens away!

Access to Bunyip is from Gembrook in the east or Tynong North in the south. Once there, head to Black Snake Creek Road and find a track north to the powerlines. You can have hours of fun along some of the clay and rock sections here. Anderson Track will push you in the wet and Gentle Annie, Western and Bullock Link Tracks will have you reaching for the diff-locker switch.

While all 4X4 tracks are closed between mid-June and November, it still leaves heaps of time to really test out your vehicle, your driving skills and your recovery techniques.

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For those who don’t want fancy stuff like carpet in their 4X4 ute, the new Ford Ranger Tradie is based on the vinyl-floored Ranger XL 4X4 Double Cab Pick-Up, powered by Ford’s 3.2L five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine mated to a six-speed auto with part-time 4X4 system, two-speed transfer case and standard locking rear diff.

“Our 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel is proven in the marketplace and customers love the engine’s refinement, combined with its durable, workhorse nature,” Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia and New Zealand said., adding that Ranger had proved itself to be the right mix of capability, quality and value for many Australian customers.

In addition to the features found on the Ranger XL, the Tradie comes standard with extra gear including a genuine Ford black nudge bar, a Lumen 20.5-inch slimline LED light bar, unique 16-inch black alloy wheels, black side steps, a drop-in bed liner and a tow bar.

Other standard equipment on the Ranger Tradie includes Ford’s SYNC 3 with 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, bluetooth phone connectivity, FordPass Connect (for remote vehicle locking/unlocking/start via a smartphone) and autonomous emergency braking.

The Ranger Tradie is available in Arctic White or True Red, or for an additional $650 it’s available in the prestige colours Meteor Grey, Aluminium Silver, Blue Lightning or Shadow Black.

Like all Rangers, the Tradie is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and it has long service intervals of  15,000km/12-months. A and B logbook services for the first four years/60,000km are set at a maximum of $299 per service.

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The vehicles being recalled include 242 Nissan D23 Navara models, that were built between June and July 2020.

According to the Safety Recall notice: “The steering knuckle bolts may not be sufficiently tightened, which can cause the steering knuckle, hub and the bearing assemblies to become detached. If the front knuckle bolts gradually loosen, vehicle occupants may experience noise and vibration. If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the four knuckle bolts may completely loosen, resulting in wheel detachment.”

The notice goes on to further point out the fairly obvious hazard that if the wheel detaches, “there is an increased risk of an accident that may result in injury or death of vehicle occupants and/or other road users”.

The vehicles in question were sold in Australia between 21 July 2020, and 11 December 2020. A full list of the affected VINs and further details can be found on the Product Safety Australia website here.

Owners of the impacted vehicles will be contacted by Nissan, however owners are able to contact Nissan Customer Service on 1800 035 035 between 8:30am and 6pm AEST Monday to Friday. Nissan has confirmed that replacement nuckle, hub and bearing assemblies are available for those vehicles impacted by the recall.

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Now before you get on your high horse about ‘camping is for putting devices away’, there are plenty of parents who still allow the kids a bit of internet access while they’re away to check in with their friends and the social-insta-book-media-gram-face thing. Alternatively, if you’re like me, I still need to be able to get online to send in my stories to Deano and Pat back in the office for you awesome folks to read. So I do it with one of these things.

The device in question is the W-Link R200 Wireless Router. The team over at Performance Tuning Australia sell these little fellas and have loaned me one (though I reckon I’ll be stumping up the cash to purchase it off them – I wanna keep it!) to run a few tests on. Now to be fair, I wasn’t just gonna use it over a weekend and write a review on it. I’ve had this little thing for just shy of 6 months now, so these are my thoughts on it.

First off, it’s easy to setup. All you need to do is install your sim-card into the sim-card slot (I’ve gone with Telstra simply due to their increased reception range compared to the others) and power it up. You can power it with the supplied 240-volt adaptor if you’ve got an inverter in your rig (or caravan!), alternatively, it will accept anything from 7.2-volts through to 32-volts. To do this, you’ll just need to head to your local Jaycar with the included power supply, and they’ll sort you out a power plug with lead to hardwire to your battery or connect to a ciggy socket if you prefer. Insofar as data speeds are concerned, it happily runs on the 4G network, so it will see speeds of up to 150Mbps download, and 50Mbps upload, depending on how far from the tower you are.

Once you’ve got the sim-card in and the R200 4g Wireless Router powered up, you set it up through any web browser. So on your device first, connect to the wireless access point in your Wifi list (if you’re in the middle of nowhere it should be the only one you can choose), then go to your web browser, and type 192.168.1.1 into your browser address bar. This should get you connected to the router locally. From there, you’ll need to sign in to it, and then through the menus, you’ll just need to set the APN to your provider – for Telstra, it’s Telstra.Internet. The other providers should be able to give you the information you need if you’re with someone else.

Then from there, you can set up accessibility to the router, passwords and the name (or SSID) that it shows up as. As you’ll see in the images, I’ve got mine called ‘HiLux Router’, and I’m not telling you the password. If you happen to see me out in the scrub and want to borrow the wifi, it’ll cost you a chinwag and a beer – so come say g’day and bring a beer!

Using the little R200 really is as simple as it gets. It’s always on, so it will automatically connect to your device (whether phone, tablet or laptop) and you’ve also got the ability to add external aerials. In the box, you’ll get a set of 4G aerials, as well as a wifi jobbie, which work better than my internal iPhone antenna did, however not quite as good as a big full-blown antenna hanging off your bull bar. That said, John and the team at Performance Tuning Australia are currently doing some testing on full-sized antennas at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled for them too.

If you’re after something you can permanently connect up to your four-wheel drive, camper or caravan, that’s always on, gives you an access point, and you can put a proper big antenna on, this may well be the thing you’re looking for. It’s robust enough to take the corrugations we all seem to love, and you can mount it well out of the way – and just let it do its thing. I’m also told that it will work with a Cel-Fi Go, as it works just like a phone; so the Cel-Fi will boost its reception just like you would expect.

Feel free to leave us a comment below on what you think of it, and if you want me to do a quick video showing how I’ve set mine up – It’s all pretty straight forward, especially with the included instructions, but if it’ll help I’m more than happy to do one for you lot. Anyway, that’s the review of the little W-Link R200 Wireless 4G Router out of the way, and it’s a little pearler!

Tech Specs:

• Industrial robust design and compact metal housing
• Strong electromagnetic interference resistance, heat endurance and radiation ability
• High data speed via 4G or 3G network
• Always online, reboot automatically if disconnected to ensure continual connection
• High reliability: Hardware link self-recovery
• A built-in watchdog, with multi-link detection
• LCP/ICMP/flow/heartbeat check to ensure network usability
• Web/CLI/SSH/Management platform support so it’s easy to configure
• SMA antenna connector allows for high gain antenna connectivity to boost extremely low signals
• DIN-Rail mounting option included
• RRP: $349

For more info, head to Performance Tuning Australia’s website here.

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According to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, three people were injured and the much loved Two Storey Tibooburra Hotel at Tibooburra in the far north-west of New South Wales, in Corner Country, has been destroyed in an overnight fire. At the time of writing, emergency services were still on the scene, with hopefully more information to come soon.

The fire appears to have broken out at around 11:30 pm last night (Wednesday 10 February 2021), with reports that the hotel was well alight. Fire crews from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service attended (and remain on scene at 10:30 am this morning) however it is now being reported by the Barrier Police District that the hotel has been completely destroyed.

Two men, aged 27 and 51, have been lost to Adelaide by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in a serious but stable condition with burns to their face, body and hands. A third man, aged 74 has been flown to Broken Hill Hospital for treatment to serious lacerations and burns – he remains in a serious condition. Police officers from the Barrier Police District have attended the scene and established a crime scene with a Post Blast Investigator set to examine the scene later today. At this stage, the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

The hotel, which rests on the Silver City Highway between Broken Hill and Queensland has been a stop-off point for many a weary traveller over the past decades, offering a feed, refreshment and a warm bed if needed. Our thoughts are with Tracey and Craig, the staff and their families, and of course, the entire community.

As this is a developing story, we’ll bring more information to this article as more information comes to hand – Stay tuned.

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The closure of vehicular access to McBrides Beach is effective as of today, 9 February 2021, and involves the construction of a walking trail that has been in place since December 2020.

Initially, the McBrides Beach access track was ‘temporarily’ closed to vehicular traffic by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) in November of 2020. This was done under the guise of work needing to be done to the track for safety reasons. At the time, many four-wheel drivers who had visited and enjoyed the area questioned the reasoning behind the track closure, and whether it would become a permanent closure, despite NPWS advising that this was only going to be a temporary closure, and that the access to McBrides Beach would be reopened as soon as possible.

In fact, the 4WD Association of NSW and ACT has confirmed that vehicular/four-wheel drive access was in the Plan of Management and as far as it was aware, access to the beach by four-wheel drives was to be maintained. It has now emerged, however, that the temporary-closure claims made by the NSW NPWS were false.

The attached screen grabs (above) outline the NSW NPWS plan for the area, and it now appears to us that vehicular access to McBrides Beach was never a part of that plan, even as far back as when the access track was first closed in November 2020.

Hit this link for an article on Environment NSW’s website where Kylie Yeend (the NSW NPWS Hunter Central Coast Director) stated as far back as 5 November 2020, “The new 560-metre walking track will maximise accessibility to McBrides Beach for day visitors wishing to swim, fish or picnic at this gorgeous spot.”  This statement suggests that, despite claiming to be in consultation with various four-wheel drive groups regarding maintaining vehicular access to the beach, the decision to close that access was made well before the consultation period.

For those wishing to have their voices heard regarding yet another stunning area being closed off to four-wheel drivers, feel free to get in contact with the NPWS here:

NPWS Manning Great Lakes office on (02) 6591 0300.

We reckon a phone call and a conversation as to why McBrides Beach has been closed off to four-wheel drivers would be a good start. Especially as the NPWS claims to be making the area more accessible and more inclusive for everyone; except, it seems, for those who are genuinely not able to walk the 560-metres down to the beach (think anyone who is not a fit bushwalker with a backpack). Bureaucracy at its finest!

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Despite plenty of misinformation and downright clickbait articles being published over the last year or more, these photos clearly show a heavily disguised 300 Series LandCruiser (LC300), which we’ve been told is due to be revealed to Toyota dealers in the next month or so, and should be on sale before the end of the year.

Appearing on www.autospot.ru the images of the 300 Series LandCruiser reveal some interesting gear including an updated interior with a large infotainment screen, new climate control switchgear and a suite of new buttons and configurations. The new Cruiser appears to maintain its current high- and low-range functionality, with DAC (Downhill Assist Control), CRAWL mode, as well as different mode-selection buttons to suit different terrain types. It also has a centre differential lock and Turn Assist, which assists cornering performance in accordance with steering operation when driving through a tight corner.

There are no visible switches for front or rear differential locks, and on the vehicle photographed there’s a large blank panel beneath the CD slot. The JBL logo next to the CD player suggests that this particular vehicle is a high-grade example, such as a VX or Sahara. Also of note is the Qi logo to the right of the shifter assembly, which shows that the vehicle will come standard with wireless charging capability for mobile devices.

Autospot.ru added that the vehicle was equipped with a driver’s fingerprint identification system for vehicle lock/unlock functions, starting and to remember vehicle settings like seat position and HVAC setting. The vehicle is also fitted with an electronic park brake.

Exterior styling is still somewhat of a mystery as the vehicle was completely covered with opaque fabric, nevertheless, new LED optics are visible for the headlights and there’s an obviously large radiator grille.

The Russian website said the vehicle photographed was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 with twin-turbocharging. Other than that, we refer you to the story we published on Unsealed 4X4 yesterday on the LC300; we’re just going to have to wait a bit longer for concrete details.

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Words and Images by Scott Mason

A campfire can be one of the greatest experiences in our travels. Sitting around one at the end of the day, staring into the mesmerising licking of flames and up at the stars… it just does not get any better.

But sadly, as recently evidenced on Fraser Island, some people do it wrong, and it really grates on all of us when that happens. And then there are bad campers who ruin the ambience with loud music, pluming dense smoke, rubbish and sheer disregard for the real dangers sour the experience. There is nothing worse than returning to a favourite campsite to see multiple fire-scars, littered rubbish or even evidence of a campfire gone out of control.

Well let’s help put an end to that. These 19 reminder tips are your guide to becoming a doyen of campfires, a seasoned expert who does the right thing every time; and ensuring our camps stay pristine for years to come.

1. Fire Ban = No Fires!

Simple, right? Yet some still get it wrong. Don’t be that idiot. Check local conditions before heading out on your trip (call the local Parks office) and if in doubt do not light fires… and dob in the fools who do.

2. Gathering Timber

Generally our National Parks are no-go zones when it comes to collecting firewood. Unless specifically stated, you can bet the kids on it being outlawed. That means you need to plan beforehand and bring your own wood. Heavy fines apply in most Parks, and in some cases you can even be fined for carrying a chainsaw.

3. Fire-Scars

Most campsites have established fire pits so there is no need to create a new one. If everyone created a new fire-scar we would very soon be visiting pockmarked barren wastelands with no grass whatsoever. Just don’t do it.

4. Huts

No rules carved in stone here, but generally the hut associations and Parks do not approve people staying in any hut unless it is an emergency. It is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you see somebody else doing it; but be the bigger person. An unspoken agreement here is at play, for sure. Respect the wishes of the people who donate their time and money toward maintaining our high country huts – they are legends. If you have to use one, then make sure you leave timber and tinned food when you depart (for those who may need it in an emergency).

5. Coal Management and Fire Size

You only need a fire that is big enough to keep warm, not a raging KKK-spec inferno that spits coals and ash into the neighbouring states. Nobody likes to walk around a blackened and scarred landscape except volcanologists – so keep it reasonable and occasionally clean up the fire surrounds during your stay. When you leave ensure the area is clean and tidy for the next visitor.

6. Kids and Fire

Kids and fire means rules. Talk with them beforehand; make rules and create non-negotiable boundaries. Nothing will ruin your trip and their life quicker than a medivac flight to the burns unit. Set it out, right from the start. Make them understand the dangers and make things as safe as you possibly can around the campfire.

7. Use the Noggin

If the wind has just started howling and your fire is throwing embers into the bush, then take measures. Move a car to use as a wind-block (if minor); dial the fire right down; or simply extinguish it. Your night will get a whole lot worse if you have just triggered a bushfire… nobody will thank you for that and you may even die. Use your discretion and make the right decisions.

8. Keep the Area Clear

Mother Nature will throw dried leaves, grass and bark around the campfire. Before you start it – sweep all the debris away to keep the fire contained. Flying embers can easily ignite the fire surrounds and get out of hand very quickly. Not only that, but you will also be reducing trip hazards and the likelihood of falling accidentally into the fire. This includes protruding rocks and even your own timber stack (which can become difficult to see in the dark).

9. A Fire means you need Appropriate First-Aid

Bandaids and Savlon are not going to cut the mustard when dealing with a burn. Nope, you need to get properly provisioned for burns and have what you need on-hand. Cold flushing water, bandages and an evacuation plan are needed for serious stuff. As a bare minimum you should use a Jelonet dressing (available at pharmacies), then a non-stick dressing, followed by a crepe bandage to reduce the chance of infection and further damage until treated by a professional. If you are not prepared, then a clean tea-towel doused in constant flowing clean cold water is essential. Cold treatment is a must to mitigate the burning.

10. Fire Blanket and Extinguisher

A fire blanket can be used to safely smother a small unwanted outbreak around the fire or on the stove. Likewise extinguishers can not only save your car, but can also be used to douse a fire… they’re pretty damn handy, so why not pack ’em?

11. Rubbish Tip

The campfire is not this. Paper and cardboard? Yes, sure. But anything other than that does not have a place in the campfire. The $20 ALDI camp chair that just broke should not see its demise in the flames, nor should that beer stubby or empty braised beef tin. Even if you reach above 1200°C, that stuff will only melt into the pit. It will never disappear. It will just morph into one crappy hard lump. Put rubbish into your rubbish bag and take it away with you.

12. Bottle Lids

The outdoor equivalent of stepping on a LEGO brick is stepping on a twist-top cap. It hurts. Apparently, for some people, they are so small they cannot be carried back home and hence need to pepper the campsite? Nope; take them home with you.

13. Aerosol Cans

These just do not have a place anywhere near a fire… ever. They are more evil than both of The Conjuring movies combined, but for real.

14. Fire and Music

Just because you are having an awesome time around the fire does not mean you can turn the volume dial up to 10. Celine Dion, Pan Pipes Unleashed, Dire Straits, Billy Ray Cyrus or Acca-Dacca; it does not matter, your music taste really sucks to everyone else around you.

15. Know your Wood

The best burning timbers are the properly dried hardwoods. If it’s wet, green or throwing a heap of smoke, then your fire is inefficient and possibly smoking out the campground. Buy or select good timber for the fire. Soft woods are also a common mistake; they are great for starting a fire but will burn out quickly and will only throw quick bursts of heat. Hardwood is popular for a reason – just like Ron Jeremy, learn to buy it or recognise it. You will love the difference.

16. Fires in the Sand

Woe betide the fool who covers a fire with sand!

It just keeps on cooking. Yep, sand is a great insulator of heat, and just because the flames and hot timbers have gone below the surface that does not mean much with sand – it is like an underground oven. Maoris call it a Hangi and it is how they cook some foods (very well, too).

Many adults, and children in particular, have been hospitalised due to stepping on an apparently clean part of beach which has concealed a previous fire. Beach fires need solid dousing to take away the heat, just like any other fires.

17. Hot Bums

Placing hot coals from the fire under your camp chair may feel great on a cold night, but it does nothing for the campsite. All it does is kill the underlying grass and leave a large blackened mess… a great way to ruin the fire surrounds.

18. Tending the Fire

If you plan on leaving the fire, say for a walk or a drive, then see point 19 below. Conditions can change at any moment and so can that fire.

19. Put that Fire Out

Use water. Lots of it.

The heat generated in the bottom of the fire-pit (known as the hearth) is the dangerous factor here. Three elements are needed for fire: heat, fuel and oxygen. The oxygen is still there, as is the fuel (in the form unspent coals), but many assume that the heat is gone because there is no flame. Wrong. The heat is still there – and all it takes is a bit more breeze or a random flicker of flame and the fire is well and truly alive again. Even a random leaf blowing down onto the hearth can re-ignite the system.

It is essential to get rid of the HEAT. Douse that fire in lots of water and if it no longer hisses and throws up steam, then it is safe. Only then is it safe.

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Dual-cab ute owners wanting ARB BASE Rack Cab Racks for their vehicles will be happy to know there are now options available to suit the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-MAX and Mazda BT-50.

The ARB BASE Rack features a fully welded extruded aluminium design with beams that run the width of the vehicle. ARB claims the design of the aluminium BASE Rack provides the strength of steel racks at a fraction of the weight. In addition, due to the strength in the cross beams, ARB says there is no requirement for a sub-frame, which allows the rack to be mounted as low as possible to the roof of the vehicle, providing a sleek and integrated appearance that suits the vehicle.

The BASE Rack features a clever dovetail accessory mounting system; this is essentially a groove that can be found on both sides of each lateral cross beam, as well around the external perimeter beams, and it accommodates a wide range of clamp mounts designed specifically to attach to the dovetail for easy fitment of various accessories.

The dovetail system allows for quick and easy attachment of the clamp mounts without having to relocate other cargo that might already be mounted to the BASE Rack. The side mounting profile also provides full use of the beams’ top surface and allows the beams to support cargo without worrying about protruding tie-down points.

ARB adds that its wide range of accessories makes fitting cargo to the BASE Rack more efficient, saving time and effort during the packing process, as each accessory can be placed wherever you need in the moment. Accessories include awning brackets, light bar, wind deflector, Hi-Lift jack holder, recovery board holder, roller kit, jerry can holders, tie-downs, T-slot adaptors and more.

The BASE Rack Cab Racks measure 1255mm long x 1255mm wide and they weigh approximately 14.3kg. The new mounting kits are available to suit HiLux (2005-2015 and 2015+); Ranger (2011+); D-MAX (2020+); and BT-50 (2020+).

The BASE Rack can now also be fitted to the ARB Sportlid V (see below). Check out the ARB website for more details.

RRP: From $1125

Website: ARB BASE Rack

Photos: ARB

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General Motors (GM) has become the first big U.S. vehicle manufacturer to effectively scrap fossil-fuelled vehicles such as the Silverado 1500, confirming earlier in the week that it is making the move to electric vehicles only, in its car, SUV and truck (light-duty) markets. According to a report in the Washington Post, GM has confirmed this will happen before 2035, making the company the next major auto manufacturer to join the likes of Toyota with a carbon-neutral standpoint by putting an end to fossil-fuelled vehicles by that year.

A GM executive, who asked for anonymity to describe details of the GM shift, said that the company would spend $US27 billion on electric vehicles and associated products between 2020 and 2025, outstripping spending on conventional gasoline and diesel cars. That figure includes refurbishing factories and investing in battery production in conjunction with LG Chem, a South Korean battery maker.

It’s worth noting, at this stage there hasn’t been an official statement surrounding GM’s larger ‘trucks’, such as the Silverado HD, however with the setting of its ‘carbon neutral’ target of 2040, it will be interesting to see how GM manages that target. It should be noted that GM has allowed itself some ‘wiggle room’ in continuing with internal combustion engines (especially its diesel ‘heavy-duty’ options such as the Silverado HD), as the company has not ruled out using carbon offsets or credits “if absolutely necessary” to reach its carbon-neutral goal. What this means is that GM could invest in tree planting and the like, and still sell diesel and petrol-powered vehicles while remaining carbon neutral.

As this is a developing story, we will continue to keep it updated as more information comes to hand. We can, however, confirm that the Silverado (Light-Duty) will no longer be petrol- or diesel-powered beyond 2035, with an electric-only version set to replace it in coming years.

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