4WD Adventure Forum

It has been a long time since I have posted here.
Been busy with building a house etc, but I have just come across something that has made me think a little bit more about what impact I am having on this planet.


Maybe I will need to think even more about the eco-friendly "things" I have put into our new home and think of even more.

We had a good weekend recently just seeing what the new car will do and I was quite impresssed.
I am sure the photos will do the situation no justice at all, but here goes.

Labels: Landcruiser Park, Nissan Patrol

I had noticed recently in a 4wd magazine a photo of an FJ Cruiser in the background of a photo. I had heard that these "SUV"'s were coming to OZ but then the rumour vanished.
But today I came across an entry in FJCruiserForum.com showing photos of the latest release FJ in the states.
I hope that we can see this funky looking machine some time soon.

FJCruiserForums.com

Labels: FJ Cruiser

I have put this video on here before but I just came across it on the front page of Digg and thought I would put it in again.
I wish I could get hold of an old 4wd to have this much fun with.

My wife and I were having 4wd withdrawals so we went looking for a Nissan Patrol on the weekend to replace the unreliable and troublesome Land Rover Discovery.
Well, we found one. A 2002 GU III PAtrol that has been only driven to church on sundays by an elderly couple. I am not only partially kidding about that point. It was indeed owned by an elderly couple who only drove it to town twice a week to go shopping etc.

So with this lovely car we are already booked in to get it "worked on".

2 inch lift, steering dampner, snorkel, dual batteries, back seat removal, and a draw system. Then welcome back the beast!!!

So while it is in stock trim we are going to take it a 4wd park and see what a big truck with LSD can do.

Will post pictures when we get back.

Labels: Nissan, Patrol

I know this blog is usually a place to discuss all things 4wd, but today I have read about a problem that will eventually spell the end to serious four wheel driving and camping in the great outdoors. I know that sounds a little drmatic but read on....

In Queensland Australia there is a SERIOUS water shortage. So serious the government is discussing invoking the Armageddon solution. That solution involves relocating residents of various towns to places that have a steady water supply. That's right there are towns out there that are dying of thirst. They actually have their water trucked in each week.

How does this effect the great outdoor adventure. Well if you go camping you need to camp near a water supply. What if the river has run dry? you need to bring water with you. If the nearest town has been evacuated you are without a means of restocking your water and fule for that matter. You run the risk of being stranded in a ghost town with no hope of getting out. I am talking towns that are hundreds of kilometres/miles from anywhere.

Labels: camping, drought, four wheel drive, great outdoors

It has been quite a while between posts here but there are a few reasons for this.

One is that my wife and I are discovering the wonders of planning and building your own home. Very exciting but so time consuming. There is a probably an opportunity for someone out there to take this hassle off of someones hands ;)

Then there is the most painful part. I have had to sell my four wheel drive!!! (insert dramatic music)
The old thing decided about 6 weeks ago that it wanted to strip a few cogs in the gearbox in the middle of the main highway. So we had to be towed to a safe point (Tow 1). When the roadside assistance got there it seemed like there was nothing much that could be done. So then the car was towed back home. (Tow 2) The next day, after many phonecalls, it was decided to town the car to my local Land Rover expert. (Tow 3) The "export" took a quick look at the car and in one minute decided that the car needed to be on the back of tow truck again. So it was off to the the automatic transmission mechanic. (Tow 4)
So 5 days later I get the call, "It's all fixed". At a price of course!! So I pick it up and drive it home but notice that it seems to be a little louder than normal, even for a 10 year old diesel. I think nothing of it because it was over a week since I had heard the car working. The next day the wife took the car and noticed it getting louder.
I got to the car to find the most terminal sound I had ever heard.
Guess what happened??? That's right it was towed (Tow 5) back the expert.
After much investigating the problem was pin pointed to a drive plate destroying itself. So another large chunk of my money had evaporated.
But the car was now running better than it had ever run. I had had the car for 7 months but it had been on a tow truck 5 times so my level of trust was waining.

So I decided to put it up for sale at a large price and see what happened. Well I couldn't keep up with the calls.
I sold the car within 4 days of advertising without haggling on price and with full disclosure of my previous problems. There are some people out there who jsut love these things.

So now we are on the lookout for another 4wd because I need to get back into the bush. I am sooooooooo hooked now.

Labels: disaster, Land Rover, Tow Truck

I remember when there was no such thing as GPS and you were really reliant upon your own sense of direction and some maps. Of course if you had no idea where you were then the map was next to useless.
Then came along the "wunderbar" GPS!!

"According to independent research presented today, personal navigation devices have another important benefit: a positive influence on traffic safety. Part of the research focused on data collected on 115,197 drivers of lease cars. Those without PNDs had a 12% higher rate of damage incidents, and damage costs were on average 5% higher."

So now insurance companies are going to reward you for having a GPS and a crappy sense of direction. But then again us guys shouldn't get lost anymore because we REFUSE to ask for directions. Now it will be the GPS's fault when we get to our destination only find it is the wrong destination.

I didn't quite get up to this much fun over the weekend, but it was still fun seeing what my car could do.

Labels: destruction, fun, Jeep

Once again the legislation of an unfriendly government is moving an Aussie icon offshore. Blundstone Shoes is moving their business to India in an effort to combat the massive overhead associated with operating within Australia.

If you didn't know Blundstone's are the hardest most reliable shoe ever made in the land. If you have ever owned a pair I will bet that no matter how ald they are, they are still going. you cannot kill these boots!!

The ultimate in outback apparel.

So it is with a sad heart that I bid a fond farewell to a great Australian Icon!!

(Along with Vegemite, Tim Tams, Aeroplane Jelly and countless others.)

A quick history:
The Story

- 1853 Brothers, James and Thomas Cuthbertson set sail from England on the ‘Corramandel’ bound for Melbourne

- Landed in Hobart Town, blown off course in the roaring forties

- James Cuthbertson commenced his own business, making and importing shoes

- James married, had two sons, and bequeathed the now flourishing business to his first-born, James II

- John and Eliza Blundstone arrived in Hobart around this time on the 'Conway' from Derbyshire. Like James Cuthbertson, John was also experienced in the footwear manufacture, and he soon set up business in Liverpool Street

- By 1892 John had established a factory and expanded to premises on either side of Collins Street, and had taken his son into the business

- 1902 John Blundstone and Son was formed and soon after a purpose built 2 storey site was erected in Campbell Street

- 1932 James and Thomas Cuthbertson purchased Blundstone Pty Ltd. They amalgamated the manufacturing operations under the Blundstone name, and retained the family name for the tannery in South Hobart

- 1979 Blundstone became the first Australian footwear manufacturer to receive a Design Award from the Industrial Design Council of Australia

- 1986 recipient of an Australian Export Award

- 1989 commenced manufacture of waterproof injection moulded footwear (gumboots)

After a recent trip into the bush it became very apparent that would be a need for a winch on the truck due to the precarious positions I have managed to get myself into.
So it was a happy coincident when I came across this little product.

It is a dual function unit. I strong winch with a built in compressor. I already have a compressor but this puppy has some serious balls.