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Tent reviewent rev ew xpert a v ce Camping accessories

MAGAZINE

www. x .com

AMMER A BARGAIN CLASSIC LAND ROVERS AT AUCTION

4x4

August2013

4.4

0

NOSTALGIA

Nissan Patrol memories

WORKSHOP

Fitting a split charge

UYERS CHOICE

Forester v X-Trail

August 2013 4.40e or g na -roa an ee r ve magaz ne

COOL RUNNING-roa a venture

y oyota an

ru ser n t ew s o ce an

CAMPING SPECIALGET OUT THERE!

ERS AT

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www.4x4i.com August 2013 5

OPENING TRACK

OFF-ROADING WITH US THIS MONTH

Badge

engineeringIn the end, sales figures mean little to the real enthusiast

We went to the experts to get the low down on

the very best camping accessories available.

Phil Bonds advice starts on page 50

Gisli Jonsson of Arctic Trucks is our guide

through the dramatic Icelandic wilderness.

Our Norse saga starts on page 18

Our Bob gets the hammer down at a special

auction for Land Rovers on page 92. He

came away empty handed, but it was close

Leaving your

Porsche, BMW

or even Audi key

ring casually

positioned, logo-

side up, on the

bar probably

says moreabout you than

the admittedly

somewhat retro

styled Jeep

option

Interesting piece of news this month was to hear that Jeep had produced its one millionth

Wrangler. The iconic 4x4 rolling off the Toledo production plant in Ohio looked great in shiny

black paintwork, loaded with extras and destined for a lucky owner in Florida. When it arrives at

its new home. You suspect it will spend little time off-road, and much more with the top down,

stereo up, cruising the beaches. Can you still drive on Daytona Beach? If so, thats probably the

most off-road the vehicle will manage, but so what? Its damp, grey and with a persistent drizzle

outside as I write this, and so to be honest, I am somewhat jealous and would much rather be

pottering about, getting a sun tan in a Jeep. Maybe thats what most owners do with them, and

explains why from that one million-vehicle pool, only a meagre 6987 Wranglers have made it to the

UK. Seems a particularly small number for what is such a great enthusiasts machine. And that got

me thinking.

We had our first drive of the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee in the last issue. Already an impressive

luxury off-roader, it seems to have got even better. Whats more amazing is the price. Its a real value

for money machine, and thats a comment from someone who knows that lucky lottery ticket apart

I will never be able to stump up the 35 grand needed for the new Jeep. But when you compare

that to the cost of top end BMWs, Audis and Porsches the VFM quota seems to rise significantly.

And thats before you start comparing it with the latest Range Rover; spec that up, and itll cost you

two and a half Grand Cherokees, maybe three! Add to that the fact that the Grand Cherokee will

knock spots off the German Euro SUVs when it comes to off-road ability, and its a bit of a head-

scratcher. Why so few Jeeps sold in the UK? The new Grand Cherokee deserves to be a big

success in the UK and indeed in Europe, but will it get those deserved sales figures?

Sadly, we doubt it. Is it just brand snobbery? Do consumers still think of the Jeep as a gas-

guzzling Yank tank? Or is it the fact that for many, leaving your Porsche, BMW or even Audi key ring

casually positioned, logo-side up, on the bar of your local probably says more about you than the

admittedly somewhat retro styled Jeep option. It probably says you are a dork, to be honest. One

thing is for sure, however, if you are one of the 6987 UK Wrangler owners, or you become one of

the lucky owners of the new Grand Cherokee, we know that driving it is probably a thoroughly

enjoyable experience every time you get behind the wheel. Numbers mean nothing really, its about

personal choice and choosing a Jeep seems a good move to us these days.

Heres hoping that you also feel choosing this magazine is a good move. This month weve been

on a fantastic drive across Iceland in the original Tonka Toy off-roader, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and

then crawl under canvas looking at whats available for the camping enthusiast this year. There are

some great new tents available, after all, who wouldnt want to sleep in a wigwam? Camping and

4x4 ownership go together perfectly, dont you think? Much like this magazine and the vehicle

parked outside your home whatever the badge on the bonnet.Nigel Fryatt, Editor

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YOUR 4X4 LIFE 90

6 August 2013 www.4x4i.com

18

CONTENTS AUGUST 2013

4x4 bycargoship

Classicauctionbargains

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Focus on 2008 Jeep Cherokee

Torque Talk BORDA newsOddball: Mitsubishi Jeep

Latest Club News

COVER STORYICELAND BY ARCTIC TRUCK 18

If you really enjoy wilderness of f-roading, with the experts, then

a trip to Iceland to join the team from Arctic Trucks is a must.

We sent Hils Everitt to find out more

WHY NOT SUBSCRIBE?SAVE MONEY, HAVE THE MAGAZINE

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR. WHATS

NOT TO LIKE? CHECK OUT PAGE 62


42

30

70

76

HUBB SHOW REPORT 14

One of the first adventure overlanding shows of the year is the

HUBB UK adventure travel show. Fully illustrated report

NOSTALGIA: LOST PATROL 30

What ever happened to Nissans Patrol? In the beginning it was a

worthy, if somewhat basic, off-roader and we loved em!

LAST PATROL 34

This is what has happened to the Patrol, and not everyone is happy

THE VISIT: ARBIL 36

Sarah Harrington-James visits the guys in the Midlands

CAMPING: TENT REVIEW 42

We went to Nene Overland to review the tent market

CAMPING: EXPERT CHOICE 50

Theres so much that you could take with you on a camping trip,

but what is the Expert Top Ten choice?

CAMPING: PERSONAL CHOICE 56

Contributor Robert Pepper gives his personal Top Ten choice

CAMPING: ACCESSORIES 60

A review of all the latest camping accessories on the market

ADVENTURE: KAPP2CAPE Part Two 68

Our intrepid duo have now made it to Africa. With mixed results

TECH: DOING THE SPLITS 70

How to fit a split charge system, when you need additional power

SPORT: SCOTIA WINCH CHALLENGE 76

Winch challenge competition at its very best. Alan Coutts reports

BUYERS CHOICE: SUBARU OR NISSAN? 98

Two medium-sized SUV favourites: the Forester and X-Trail

REGULARSOPENING TRACK 5

Jeep sales in the UK

NEWS & VIEWS10

Wranglers hit the 1,000,000 mark

LITTLE AT LARGE 17

Our Hils speaks out

OUR 4x4s 82

Its goodbye to our Toyota Hilux

COOKES COLUMN 114

Tanks for the memories

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News & ViewsINSIDE THE WORLD OF 4X4

1,000,000TH WRANGLERIconic Jeep hits signifcant milestone

GREAT TO SEE a vehicle that was conceived

back in 1941 continues to roll off the production

line, destined for another 4x4 enthusiast. This

month saw the production of the 1,000,000th

Jeep Wrangler JK, and as you would expect, itwas quite an occasion for the Chrysler Groups

executives and plant employees especially as

only a few years ago they were wondering if

anything would be rolling off the line ever again.

All one million Jeep Wranglers have been

built at the Toledo, Ohio plant, as Mauro Pino,

Chrysler Groups Vice President of Vehicle

Assembly Operations explained at the rollout:

Since this facility opened eight years ago, the

Toledo workforce has built every one of those

million vehicles with pride, passion and a focus

on quality. We all look forward to building the

next million.

The black 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th

Anniversary Edition, was bound for a customerin Sarasota, Florida. A special-order limited-

production vehicle, the Wrangler was loaded,

as they charmingly describe it in the States,

with hardcore off-road equipment for its

enthusiasts including the Rock-Trac 4x4 system

with 4:10 axle ratio and next-generation Dana

front axle.

The Toledo plant is located on the same site

of the Stickley Plant complex, built back in

1942, and which two decades later startedproduction of the original Jeep Wagoneer, a

model that can be reasonably argued to be the

first ever SUV. The new production line is now

gearing up to produce the 2014 Jeep

Cherokee, first details of which we revealed in

the June issue.

The Wrangler has always been a firm

favourite with this magazine, and were glad to

see production continues and that we will again

have a Wrangler at our 4x4 Of The Year group

test later this year. Sales in the UK have never

quite hit the heights, indeed we have only seen

6987 Wranglers here. Last months First Drive

of the latest Grand Cherokee confirmed that

this premium Jeep model will be verycompetitive in its market, and we have high

hopes that the 2014 Cherokee can make its

mark both in the UK and continental Europe.

These are new models, but its great that the

old timers like the Wrangler is still selling well.

Top: The one millionth Jeep Wrangler JK rolling off the

Toledo, Ohio, production line, fully loadedof course

Above: The production complex is built on the same

site as the original Stickley Plant, which started making

vehicles in 1942. It is here that arguably the worlds first

SUV, the Jeep Wagoneer (above), was first built

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VIRTUAL

REALITIES

PAGE 12

HUBB

SHOW

PAGE 14

CAMPING

PRODUCTS

PAGE 60

FOR MOTORSPORT ENTHUSIASTS, the

news that the new Range Rover Sport has just

beaten the record for the production SUV

class at the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado,

USA, is a cause for celebration. This has to be

the worlds most challenging hill climb, a 12.42

mile climb that includes 156 corners and rises

some 1440m to the summit, which is at

4300m. Its not for nothing that it is known as

the Race To The Clouds. This was a serious

record attempt, and JLR had Pikes Peak

expert Paul Dallenback behind the wheel of

the Sport. Dallenback has won the event three

times, and you should check out the You Tube

clips of the open wheel specials that these

guys use to compete when the official event is

run. Getting into the cossetted confines of a

Range Rover Sport must have been very

different for him, even if the model had the

5.0-litre supercharged engine delivering over

500bhp although whether the unit was

delivering that amount of power at the rarefied

heights towards the end of the course isunlikely! The Range Rover completed the

course in 12 minutes 35.61 seconds, which is

an average of 59.17mph. Remembering this is

a production 4x4, you can compare that with

the outright record of 9 minutes 46.16

RANGE ROVER STORMS PIKES PEAK

CENTENARY SCOTT EXPEDITIONBRITISH POLAR EXPLORER and Land

Rover brand ambassador, Ben Saunders,

along with teammate Tarka LHerpiniere will

be retracing Captain Robert Falcon Scotts

ill-fated Terra Nova Antarctica expedition,some 100 years after it was first attempted,

writes Sarah Harrington-James.

This is the latest challenge for Ben who

has been leading polar expeditions for more

than a decade and skied solo to the North

Pole in 2004, where he still holds the record

for the longest solo arctic journey by a

Briton. He has been a brand ambassador for

Land Rover since 2008 and the Scott

Expedition, which starts at the end of

October, is being sponsored and promoted

by the manufacturer along with technology

co-partner, Intel.

There is a common misconception that

everythings been done in Antarctica, butwhat fascinated me for years is that the

reality is very different, said Ben at the Scott

Expedition briefing at The Travellers Club,

London. In an age where Antarctica is

increasingly in the spotlight and increasingly

accessible to tourists, one of the most iconic

journeys in polar history remains unfinished.

The Scott Expedition will be the first time its

been attempted, let alone completed, sincethe Terra Nova expedition more than a

century ago. In terms of sheer human

endeavour, Captain Scott and his team set

the bar so high that their achievement has

never been surpassed.

As well as financial and logistical help,

Land Rover supplied Ben with two Discovery

4s. These were used during extensive

training exercises to remote bases on the

Isle of Skye and in Greenland, with the latter

being the final dress rehearsal and the last

chance for Ben and Tarka to make sure they

can tolerate each others company cooped

up in a tent! Mark Cameron, Brand

Extension Director for Land Rover said: Benwas given a choice and he chose the

Discovery due to its comfort and versatility to

carry the kit he requires and its capability to

go anywhere. Ben epitomises the values of

Land Rover, the spirit of adventure and

performing in all-terrain, so we always knew

wed support him for his next big idea.

Ben and Tarka will be sending back daily

updates, blogs and photos from their tentwhich can be seen on www.scottexpedition.

com. The expedition will also have its own

You Tube channel: www.youtube.com/

scottexpedition

Left to right: Explorer, Tarka LHerpiniere, Land Rover

Brand Extension Director, Mark Cameron, Captain

Scotts grandson, Falcon Scott and Land Rover brand

ambassador, Ben Saunders

seconds which is held by Rhys Millen (off-road

racing legend Rod Millens son) in a specially

built Hyundai Genesis Coupe race car with

900bhp and 800lb ft of torque. Coincidentally,

Paul Dallenback will be driving the 2013

version of the Hyundai at this years event,

which is held at the end of June. The

production record for the Range Rover will

certainly do much to underline the Sports

abilities to potential American customers.

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News & Views


JIMNYS IN MONGOLIATHE HEAVEN CAN Wait, Im Busy

fundraising tour of a bunch of retired 4x4

enthusiasts in two Suzuki Jimnys has now hit

Mongolia. This is one of the remotest sections

of the tour, and totals an impressive 2300

miles across Mongolia and back into Russia,aiming to reach Vladivostock by the end of the

month. At that point the drivers can take a

rest, as the Jimnys will be put aboard a

container ship for the 30-day trip from

Vladivostock to Vancouver, Canada.

The expedition is the idea of retired

businessman Leslie Carvall and the crew of

70-year olds are travelling alone with no frills,

luxuries or any support team. Mongolia has

meant a slower pace over some of the worst

roads in the world, yet the little Jimnys have

proved their reliability with a broken shock

absorber bolt being the only running repair

needed. The crew stopped at one of Suzukis

larger dealerships at Novosibirsk in Siberiawho quickly repaired the shock absorber, gave

both Suzukis a major service and a well-

needed valet. To date, the guys have crossed

16 countries and across three continents and

can be monitored on Google Earth. There are

regular updates to the website

www.heavencanwaitimbusy.com with

interviews and video clips of the challenge.

This is a charity project, raising money for

Save The Children and the Oakhaven Hospicein Lymington, Hampshire, and so all donations

are gratefully accepted via their JustGiving

page. We wish the guys well through

Mongolia. The roads in Vancouver are a lot

smoother

VIRTUAL DESIGN

NOW A REALITYWE HAVE SEEN Jaguar Land Rovers virtual

design facility first hand and were seriously

impressed with what it could do. Standing in

the cave you can appreciate the design of a

vehicle in a high quality 3D representation thatyou can move, or that you can move around

in. Its even possible to sit on a real not

virtual car seat and position yourself inside

the new design to check sight lines, head

room etc. Engineers can come down with a

design for a new part, slip the details into the

computer and see if it will fit in the space

designated. It allows for virtual prototypes tobe built in the computer, without the need for

any actual physical vehicle to be constructed.

At the time, we did ask whether JLR would be

prepared to rent out the facility. The question

was treated with some disdain at the time, but

it seems now that the company has

announced a massive five-year programme

with four leading UK universities alongside the

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research

Council. The extensive 10m academic

research project is aimed to advance the UKs

role in developing virtual simulation

technologies and was unveiled earlier this

month by the Secretary of State for Business,

Innovation and Skills, The Rt.Hon Dr Vince

Cable MP. This is apparently the first stage of

a 20-year programme that is aimed to put the

UK at the leading edge of vi rtual simulation.

Bob Joyce, Jaguar Land Rover Engineering

Director, explained to 4x4 Magazine: While

we already utilise a wide range of

sophisticated virtual engineering tools and

processes to design, engineer and test our

new vehicles, we are keen to enhance the

future capability of virtual simulation and tailor

them for automotive product development. We

want to make advances in the simulated driver

and passenger experience, including more

realistic imagery, sounds and even

smells. These projects will help us analyse

increasingly complex cars at whole vehicle,

system and component levels, as well as

enhancing the high performance computers

that industry will use in the future to mine

increasing amounts of more complex data. If

they need some extra finance to fund the

project, they could offer public

demonstrations. It was truly fascinating to

experience and is undoubtedly a major reasonwhy JLR has been producing its recent string

of market-leading vehicles over the last few

years.

MORE MINI 4X4

MODELS ARRIVETHE RANGE OF 4x4 MINI models has now

reached 10, with the ALL4 system now

available on both the MINI CooperCountryman and MINI Cooper Paceman.

The ALL4 system has an electromagnetic

centre differential and distributes drive force

at continuously variable levels between the

front and rear axle. Its electronic control

system is integrated directly in the DSC

control unit (Dynamic Stability Control), and

these models are available with either six-

speed manual, or automatic transmissions.

Prices for these new additions to the range

are 19,365 (OTR) for the ALL4 Countryman

and 20,175 (OTR) for the ALL4 Paceman.

This extended range probably means that

the MINI now has one of the most extensive

ranges of any small SUV on the market, butsomehow its hard to see potential SUV

owners, looking for the versatility of 4x4,

comfort and space for the family,

considering one of these models.

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Sponsored by

And finally...Profits continue to rise for Jaguar Land

Rover. Revenues for last years financial

year show revenues up 17 per cent.

Profit before tax increased by 11 per

cent to 1,675m for the fiscal year

(1,507m last year). The company

generated positive sales growth in all

regions: China up 48 per cent, Asia

Pacific up 27 per cent, UK up 20 per

cent, Europe up 18 per cent, North

America up nine per cent and other

overseas markets up 19 per cent.

Suzuki has a new dealer marketing

initiative based on fresh, friendly and

more informal style and use of language.

The new campaign adopts a more

relaxed tone in grabbing the attention

across a new range of point-of-sale,

direct mail and other marketing material.

Youll be seeing the results soon.

Chevrolets all-new small SUV, the Trax

has been awarded the top five-star rating

by the European New Car Assessment

Program (Euro NCAP). The Chevrolet

Trax is the seventh Chevrolet model to

receive Euro NCAPs top ratings.

Former international rugby player,

Lawrence Dallaglio was announced as

Land Rovers latest global ambassador

joining The British and Irish Lions team

on the 2013 Tour, of which Land Rover is

an Official Global Sponsor.

Volkswagen is the latest manufacturer

to enter into partnership to build avehicle plant in China. Shanghai-

Volkswagen is expected to produce four

million vehicles per year from the

Changsha plant by 2018.

Next month we take a look at the UK

4x4 tyre market. We are also looking at

Towing, and what 4x4s have won the

Caravan Clubs prestigious 4x4 Tow Car

of the Year award. All in the next issue,

on sale Friday 26th July.

Subscribing to 4x4 Magazine is the

easiest way of never missing an issue its

also the cheapest. Why pay more whenyou can have your regular fix of 4x4 stories

delivered direct to your door? Check out

the special offers available on page 62.

4X4 OFF-ROAD QUOTE OF THE MONTH

It doesnt matter if you get stuck in Iceland; there is alwayssomething bigger to get you out!

SOURCE: Gisli Jonsson of Arctic Trucks, explaining to Hils Everitt his off-roading philosophy.Hils story of driving across Iceland starts on page 18

D-MAX TOWING CAPACITY INCREASEQUITE SIGNIFICANTLY, ISUZU UK has

announced that the towing capacity of the new

D-Max has been increased by 500kg. This

means that the D-Max will be able to tow a

maximum braked load of 3.5 tonnes, with the

new certification applying to all Isuzu D-Max

pick-ups registered in the UK from 1st July.

This increase has been made, according to

Isuzu, due to customer demand. What is

important to realise here is that there is no

technical or practical changes to the pick-ups

specification, it is merely a change in the

certification. In the last few months, Toyota has

done the same with the Hilux, raising its

capacity from what was often criticised as a

meagre 2500kg to a more competitive 2800kg.

Isuzu it seems has raised the bar higher. In our

2013 Pick-up Of The Year test (January 2013

issue) the top pick-ups for towing were the VW

Amarok at 3200kg and the Ford Ranger

Wildtrak at 3350kg. This new certification puts

the Isuzu D-Max firmly at the top of the list

until, one can assume, either VW or Ford look

at a new certification. Supply of both these

excellent pick-ups remains a problem, and this

move from Isuzu will certainly not do sales of

the D-Max any harm. The Isuzu D-Max range

includes single, extended (with rear-hinged side

access panels) and double cab body

configurations.Double cab models are

available in four specifications: Isuzu D-Max,

Eiger, Yukon and Utah.Prices start at 14,499

(CVOTR) for the entry-level Isuzu D-Max 4x2

single cab and rise to 21,999 (CVOTR) for the

top-of-the-range Isuzu D-Max Utah 4x4 double

cab automatic.

BUDGET KORANDONOW AVAILABLE

A NEW LOW cost SsangYong Korando SE is

available. This highly competent SUV is now

available at 14,995 on the road. The model is

the 149bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel model. The SE

features Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)

with Hill Start Assist, Active Rollover Protection

(ARP) and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce

Distribution (EBD). It comes equipped with roof

rails, tinted glass and rear parking sensors,

while inside there are electric windows, aleather covered steering wheel and gear shift,

air conditioning, cruise control and a Kenwood

MP3 CD and RDS radio with iPod and

Bluetooth connectivity, remote audio controls

and six speakers.It is also available through a

special purchase scheme: In the current

economy, customers tell us they want an

affordable car, a competitive purchase plan and

the peace of mind of a long and quibble free

warranty - thats exactly what the new Korandodelivers, Steve Gray, marketing and

communications director of SsangYong told 4x4

Magazine. The result is a car that is not only

fantastic value at just 14,995, but also comes

with a level of standard equipment many of the

so called value brands dont even have on

their options list. For those looking for a family

SUV, this new price Korando will appeal.

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HUBB UK Show


TWO + TWO = FOUR

The emergence recently of 4x4 showsthat are catering for the true overland

adventurer as opposed to the usual

Land Rover shows for those wanting to bolt

bits on and renovate their vehicles has been

a welcome addition to the annual show

calendar.

And this year another such adventure event

appeared on the 4x4 map. HUBB UK, run by

Horizons Unlimited (www.horizonsunlimited.

com), is new to us, but has evolved from what

was once billed as the UK Summer Travellers

Meeting, for overland travellers on two wheels.

For 2013 organisers Sam Manicom and Iain

Harper opened up the event to 4x4s.

Traditionally, it was a meet for bikers to gettogether for several days and share

experiences over a campsite barbeque with

equipment stands featuring bikes and all the

accessories possible. Those stands were still

around, but this year were joined by the likes

of Nene Overland, Frogs Island, OverlandCruisers, Adventure Overland UK and 4x4

Overlander, plus Adventure Trucks who had

ventured to the UK with its overland trucks

and bikes all the way from The Netherlands.

The campsite was packed with small tents

and bikes, but in among the two-wheelers

was a fine array of 4x4s with various examples

of roof and ground tents and pop-up campers,

or towing caravans. In one shady corner, a

lovely Land Rover 101 Forward Control was

spotted in camouflage bodywork, blending in

perfectly with the surrounding trees.

The venue was new, set within the grounds

of the 17th century Donington Park

Farmhouse Hotel; a stones throw from thefamous Donington Park race circuit. Its an

attractive space with a pleasant flat and

beautifully grassed campsite with clean,

modern shower blocks and a superb barn

with the Overlanders bar and food hall.

An annual overland travel meet for two-wheelers has

now expanded to include adventurers on four wheels

to celebrate all that is best about adventure travelWords and photography: Hils Everitt

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Within the barn complex HUBB UK also

featured presentations from speakers under

the headings Get Inspired, Get Ready and

then Gear Up. Get Inspired included our

own correspondent Toby Savage, who gave a

talk on his Long Range Desert Group

adventure across the Sahara in WWII Jeeps,

as featured in4x4 Magazine (August, 2012). Inthe HUBB Zone the Frogs Island Team

demonstrated 4WD mechanics under Gear

Up and a debate on Land Rover versus Land

Cruiser always a hot topic...

According to Sam Manicom, this years

HUBB was a great success. The feedback

we are getting from expedition vehicle guys is

that they get the concept of the HUBB UK

event. Its a place where you get together with

like-minded people, regardless of their

numbers of wheels, to trade ideas,

suggestions and experiences and to have fun.

The fact that it is a four-day event with

four-day or weekend-only passes is what really

helps this all to happen. We have been

delighted with the way that expedition vehicle

travellers have opened their arms to those

who use fewer wheels, he said.

It was a bold move to invite the 4x4

fraternity to join the well established HUBBmotorcycle brigade, commented Toby

Savage, but HUBB UK organisers, Iain and

Sam, managed the job well. Most of us there

were able to relate to two- and four-wheel

activities. I thoroughly enjoyed the star

speakers, and the highly amusing Ed March

whose tales of riding a Honda C90 to the

Arctic Circle was one of the most amusing

talks I have ever heard! commented Toby.

Doesnt matter how many wheels youve

got, an entertaining overland adventure

appeals to all like-minded people. 4x4

Top: Cool retro first aid box from Frogs Island

Above: The luxury overland option comes in a Camperconversion on a Defender from German company

Bimobil; adaptable for all pick-ups. Right: Choosing the

right accessories for your trip is vital; Frogs Island has a

vast selection plus showed off the popular roof pop-ups

Above: Like-minded show organisers were in

attendance, forming a strong overland community.

Below: The old ways are still the best for some; the

well-travelled team from Classic Land Rover Campers

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THE NEW AGRICAN FROM N & JTHE NEW AGRICAN FROM N & J

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HILS EVERITT

breakaway from the norm and a nod to the

European market, where the Grand excelled.The Grand Cherokee has more European

customers than all the Jeep models and

therefore it needs to have the best on-road

manners we can provide, but be safe and hi

tech with an overall level of general refinement,

he added. Mixing excellent off-road ability with

refined on-road manners is something we

applaud and trust the Jeep, along with Toyota

and Land Rover, will continue to produce such

vehicles. The Middle East will always be a

strong market for such vehicles (the locals tend

to favour Toyota there), so that will keep them

ticking over on the production line.

But it looks as though the smaller, more

affordable examples will lose their 4WDexcellence along the way as the new

Cherokee demonstrates. I wonder how long

the Evoque will keep its off-road technology,

as it will never be required by 99 per cent of

owners? The emerging markets, which have

all the buying power, will probably dictate that

one. Jeeps Ellis quoted African sales of Jeep

growing by 100 per cent in 2012; EMEA in

general will be about 50 per cent; with

individual markets such as Russia at 124 per

cent and Middle East 40 per cent; these areas

obviously cannot be ignored, especially as he

says they do listen to customers views.

To that effect, the 2014 Grand has actually

now got a cloth option, as customers love theGC but asked for a more affordable entry level

model that wasnt quite so upmarket. Ellis

forecasts they will sell less than five per cent of

those, but even so, wanted it to be there to

appease loyal followers.

Even as a traditionalist, the future of the softer SUV from

Jeep makes perfect sense to me. Im even looking forward

to the launch of the new Cherokee

No need tocompromise

Having brought you a review of the

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee last

month, and extolled the virtues of

my beloved, albeit ageing, WJ

model, then read Bob Cookes less-than-

enthusiastic comments about the new

Cherokee due here later this year, I feel the

need to draw a line under the Jeepey theme

with a few comments about what is going on

in the minds of the Fiat Chrysler hierarchy.

Of course, at any press launch of a new/

revamped vehicle, the guys in charge are

abundantly enthusiastic about their new models

and the future prospects for their brand. Here

at4x4 Magazine, we are all fans of the iconic

Jeep and its heritage and so when we hear that

the future is bright, the future is auto-engaging

4WD, city-slick luxury and Evoque-esque

styling its bound to stick in our craw a little.

I really do sympathise with Bobs view, as

he has owned Cherokees for as long as I can

remember and used them in the best waypossible, both as a daily drive and on regular

weekend off-road forays with his mates. But I

really cant say I dislike the new Cherokee or

its lack of any obvious nod to previous

off-road prowess.

For a start, as much as we may rail against it,

the market for 4x4s en masse is for good-

looking, imposing vehicles that look safe to

transport the kids to school. I accept that and

have to live with it. Car companies are following

the Land Rover way; and I am a fan of the

Evoque, particularly the fact that it is actually a

very capable off-roader, although it will rarely get

the chance to demonstrate that outside the

confines of the off-road testing routes atEastnor Castle and the Heritage Centre in

Gaydon. It also looks great and we needed

something to get away from the bland styling

clichs that had begun to invade our market.

Jeep wont sell non-Wrangler or Grand

Cherokee models in any numbers unless it

bows to the modern trend. SUVs, in the

modern sense not the true traditional sense,

are the biggest-selling sector of the motoring

market and motorists want them. They want a

combination of tough yet stylish looks,

comfort and that indefinable cred factor.

Jeep has gone to great pains to make sure its

latest offerings have the best on-road

manners, as Chris Ellis head of the JeepBrand EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa),

announced at the press launch. The new

Grand has just that: the bow to all-round

independent suspension, way back at the

launch of the WK in 2005, was a major

The Compass has not done well and there

is every indication that it will discontinue herein the UK, going the way of the excellent

budget Patriot which we really did like and

mourn its passing. The hope is that the new

Cherokee will redress the balance and do

better here in the UK, and I cant criticise them

for this way of thinking; it is dead right. It is just

a shame that we actually dont have a superb,

mass-friendly, medium-sized Jeep off-roader

to match the likes of Freelander 2 and Evoque

even if the latter will never see decent

all-terrain service.

Before you scream, Erm... Hils... four-door

Wrangler at me, that represents a real niche

market, and styling and lack of true on-road

finesse puts the mighty Wrangler (along withthe Defender, of course) out of this bracket.

The Wrangler is here to stay in its excellent

form, as long as the Americans continue to

buy it in shed-loads, but we all know the

Defender is about to morph spectacularly...

So, I look forward to driving the new

Cherokee. The styling doesnt offend me, and

it does at least have a locking rear diff in the

4x4 Trailhawk version, so that is some way to

appeasing us. And I hope it sells better than

the very disappointing Compass. Ellis didnt

comment on forecasts for Cherokee, but

expects to shift 1500 new Grand Cherokees in

Limited Plus mode, as the most popular in the

UK. And we are assured that it wont lose itstrue heart: It will not be a new balance

between on/off-road performance; we are

increasing both; it will always be a no-

compromise solution. Well, theres a happy

thought. Hils

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Icelands interior is off-road adventure not to be missed, and if you can experienceits magnicent and mind-blowing scenery under the expert guiding and driving ofour good friends at Arctic Trucks you are in for the treat of a lifetimeWords and Photography: Hils Everitt

It wasnt quite what our guide Gisli

expected. We knew there was

some snow but not quite this

much, he laughed as he started to

rock the Toyota Land Cruiser 150 Series

60th Anniversary model, attempting to

get over the huge wall of snow.

Gisli Jonsson of Arctic Trucks, basedin Reykjavik, had bulldozed through the

deep snow and slush earlier in the

deserted region of Icelands

Blaskogaheioi valley with little

resistance. But as the snow became

more compacted, even the mighty

Arctic Trucks modded Toyota with its

38in AT405 Radial studded tyres

couldnt just rumble through the

seemingly impenetrable wall.

A few run-ups were needed, plussome gentle (increasing to rhythmic)

rocking, to get us through and we were

back on our way again. It was a grey

and wet day, but horrible weather in

Iceland doesnt make too much

difference. It is an island of such sheer

beauty and diverse landscapes that

even when the skies are grey and

overcast, and its intermittently drizzling

with rain, the sheer scale and majesty

of its features more than make up forthe lack of blue sky and sunshine.

This was my second tour with Arctic

Trucks into the interior of Iceland. Four

ADVENTURE

Arctic Trucks


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covered in snow, others streaked and

dotted with it, a pattern rather

reminiscent of the kind of chunky

sweater favoured by Scandinavian TV

detectives.

We also had the privilege of being

joined by Gislis partner Felicity Aston,

who, by sheer coincidence, comes from

just down the road from me in Kent.

Apart from the distinction of hailing froma great part of the UK, Felicity is an

amazing lady. Among her many

achievements, she is the first woman in

the world to ski across Antarctica alone,

has raced in the Canadian Arctic, led a

team of women across the inland ice of

Greenland, searched for meteorite

craters in Quebec, skied along a frozen

river in Siberia and spent three years

working in the Antarctic, where she met

Gisli. With these two on board there

was a feeling of total safety and

confidence, in that, if anything went

wrong, there were two of the most

experienced people in the world atextreme survival on hand. Gisli did,

however, have a radio so it was unlikely

wed be in big trouble. As Felicity put it:

It doesnt matter if you get stuck in

Iceland; there is always something

bigger to get you out!

Before we hit the deep snow that

proved a challenge for our highly

capable Land Cruiser, Gisli took us on

the highway from the capital to Icelands

largest natural lake, Thingvalla.Nowadays, it feels pretty remote,

with a snaking tributary leading from the

lake towards the mountains in the

distance weaving through grassland

sitting on volcanic rock. But, back in

Above: At six psi

the increased tyre

footprint makes light

of the deep snow

Above: Gisli

Jonsson; probably

the most experiened

Antarc tic dr iver in

the world

ADVENTURE

Arctic Trucks


years ago I was treated to a three-day

drive towards the Myrdalsjkull glacier

in the south, in the vicinity of the

infamous Eyfjallajkull, the offending

volcano that spectacularly erupted in

April 2010 and put paid to any air flight

over Europe for a week. That time we

were in two trucks: the Top Gear North

Pole Hilux and a Land Cruiser. We

encountered the most incrediblelandscapes, from lava fields to lush,

pastel-coloured grassland, geysers

aplenty, stunning mountains in every

available hue and vast, wind-blown

glaciers, taking in every conceivable

physical feature you might encounter in

an A-Level Geography lesson.

This latest trip was very different. For

a start we only had a day to explore

and, rather than venture south east

from Rekyjavik, we took the highway

north east towards the Langjkull

Icecap with the intention of

experiencing parts of the famous tourist

route, the Golden Circle. This tourdidnt take us through the varying

landscape of that first trip but, instead,

treated us to a drive through snow-

laden valleys lined by soaring rocky hills

and mountains, some completely

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930AD, this was the seat of Icelands

parliament (Althingi). It was considered

the most convenient place for all the

heads of the various regions to meet

and discuss politics and strategy. They

met on its shores at Thingvellir every

summer until the end of the Old

Commonwealth in the 13th Century;

but it continued to function as a court of

law until 1798.The area is considered one of

Icelands most important historical sites;

and its natural environment is unique in

the world. Thingvellir sits on the junction

of two tectonic plates on the Mid

Atlantic Ridge, and both are pulling

away from each other. As we took a

stroll to marvel in the splendour of the

place, we could see the junction clearly;

and it is more clearly visible here than

anywhere else in the world. Their

movement is causing new fissures and

gullies, creating a surreal landscape of

towering craggy rock lining a flat plain.

Its a thought-provoking place, andwe could have spent more time

wandering around, admiring the

geology and imaging its bustling past,

but time was ticking on and we needed

to head off towards the mountains on

Above centre: Heavy

duty winch wasn't

required on this tour;

skilful driving did

the trick

Above: New, studded

38in AT405 Radials

designed by the

team at Arctic Trucks

are impressive

Above right: Toyota

Land Cruisers are

specially modded for

interior tours

the road to the glacier.

We skirted the immense lake and

headed into the interior. The tarmac ran

out and we hit loose gravel that

crunched and popped under the

studded tyres. The road started to twist

and turn and we soon left any evidence

of civilisation behind. The road became

progressively narrower and began to

rise slightly in parts. Above the dense

clouds were a mix of menacing, darkest

grey and fluffy, white bilious puffs of

cotton wool as you would expect on a

summers day. It may have been the

middle of spring, but it certainly felt like

winter as the outside temperature

started to drop and tiny water droplets

gathered on the increasingly mucky

windscreen.

We knew we were not in for a

glorious day in which to revel in

Icelands splendour, but there was still

that feeling of immense wonder and

amazement at how beautiful this

incredible country is.

As we cruised along the tracks the

snow became more prevalent on the

flanks. And then we came to a barrier

blocking half the road with the sign in

Icelandic and English: Road blocked.

Gisli just shrugged his shoulders and

said: I have no idea what we will find,

but we will get through, no problem I

am sure, he smiled, with obvious great

trust in our silver Land Cruiser

bedecked in the new Arctic Trucks logo;

a map of the island that adorned both

doors and the bonnet.As we blasted along the gravel with

Gisli thoroughly enjoying himself, we

found out a little bit more about this

It feels pretty remote, with a snaking

tributary leading from the lake towards themountains in the distance weaving throughgrassland sitting on volcanic rock"


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amazing man. We had been toldbeforehand by our friends at Arctic

Trucks that he had Been to the South

Pole several times and been travelling in

the Icelandic highlands since he was

young. What they didnt tell us was

that he has driven more miles in

Antarctica than anyone else in the

world, while supporting expeditions and

helping to set up many fuel depots

there. Along with our guide from the

previous trip four years ago, he helped

Top Gear make its record-breaking

drive to the magnetic North Pole. He

also instructed the Walking with the

Wounded team (the one that includedPrince Harry) for their North Pole

expedition and, in 2012, assisted BBC

Blue Peters Helen Skelton on her Sport

Relief Polar Challenge that involved

travelling 500 miles across Antarctica.

These challenges prove immense forthose who undertake them but, for

Gisli, they are a walk in the park. Driving

across Antarctica with nothing but white

in front of you, however, is very tough,

he says. Its difficult to hold your

concentration when it is miles upon

miles of snow and nothing else for days

on end, he adds, smiling.

Gisli is also part of the Arctic Trucks

Research and Development team and

is heavily involved in designing new

systems to make these awesome

trucks even more capable. He also

works on various military trucks and

modifications for the United NationsLand Cruisers. As a former Iceland

off-road racing champion he loves

blasting along the tracks through the

sprawling mountains; you can tell by the

big grin on his face. As we drove further

inland, however, conditions started to

get tougher, the wet slush we had been

ploughing through morphed into deeper

snow, gradually becoming more solid

ahead. It was time to slow things downa little, jump out and lower the tyre

pressures.

Arctic Trucks uses its own brand of

tyres, designed by Gislis brother, that

are manufactured, along with much else

these days, in China. The AT405 38in is

very new to the market and proving

very popular among the Icelandic

off-road fraternity.

Gisli lowered the pressure from 22 to

16psi in the biting cold that had now

descended upon us and off we set

again, deeper into the Blaskogaheioi

Above: Stunning

view from the

Langjkull glacier

looking west. Off-

roaders' paradise

Left: Early slush

allowed Gisli to pick

up some speed

before it got serious

Below: The

spectacular

Barnafoss Falls

named after a

particularly tragic

legend


ADVENTURE

Arctic Trucks

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region. We had started our tour in

standard four high and, as the snow

was still only a few inches deep, Gisli

left it as it was. We had some great fun

blasting through the slush that lay over

the snow beneath, creating a vast and

spectacular spray. The landscape

became more and more dramatic as we

bounced and battled along the flat

valley floor, flanked by towering

mountains strewn with snow, but

punctuated by deep black rocky

outcrops jutting through the white.

Some of the cairns that Gisli pointed

out date back to the Vikings, marking

out horse trails through the mountains.

At one point in Icelands history, this

valley was believed to be the lair of

gangs of outlaws who camped out up

in the mountains. In the early 1800s a

group of farmers trekked out there but

found no evidence to support the myth.

They were probably a century too late,

laughed Gisli.

We ventured on, Gisli gripping the

wheel tightly as we hit some bigger

lumps of snow. As we got deeper, the

snow became more difficult. It was time

to drop the tyre pressure again to 6psi

and lock the Toyota into four low.

Were driving on about three to four

metres of snow, remarked Gisli, then

ferocity until the fat studded tyres lift

you over the top. Its all about feeling

and grip, shouted Gisli, above the

cacophony of engine revs and snow

spray.That didnt always work, however, as

conditions were far worse than Gisli had

expected and we ground to a complete

halt a few times. Time to untie the

shovel from the roof rack, dig a suitable

hole around each wheel, and then try

again. At one point this took several

attempts, but eventually we made it

through. Our route took us past signs

pointing towards Prestahnukur, a

sub-glacial (and currently pretty

dormant volcano) and OK, at 1198m,

which is a shield volcano, that means it

is made almost entirely of large,

low-profile fluid lava flows, resembling awarriors shield.

Its quite eerie, as I remembered from

my previous Icelandic trip, driving

through a huge remote landscape that

is filled with volcanoes. Icelanders are

used to them erupting periodically, in

varying degrees but, for us visitors, its a

little unnerving.

After the big one in 2010, another

bigger eruption occurred, but it was

never reported outside Iceland as the

dust cloud blew northwards, therefore

not affecting anybody apart from the

Icelanders. We have many, but they

dont always get reported, muses Gisli.But theres one that definitely will, if it

goes off; it is well overdue for a major

eruption and will cause utter chaos

throughout Europe, he predicts. That is

Katla on Myrdalsjkull in southern

With nothing but white in front of you is very tough. Itsdifficult to hold your concentration when it is miles uponmiles of snow and nothing else for days on end"

below that is 80 metres of ice. As we

climb higher towards the glacier the

snow is deeper and we could be on up

to 800 metres of ice.

Driving through this terrainsuccessfully, and meaning you dont

need to worry about the road blocked

signs, requires special mods for which

Arctic Trucks is renowned. Gisli reckons

38in is the smallest tyre you can get

away with in these conditions. Its trucks

for these interior tours are treated to a

variety of modification programmes.

Our 60th anniversary model features

the aforementioned brand new 38in

tyres, a 40mm suspension lift front and

back, body lifted 60mm from the frame.

Wheel arches are extended and there

are other body mods to make sure the

wheels are free and unrestricted.Dropping those tyres to 6psi

increased the footprint to the optimum

and the Toyota literally floated over the

snow. We could sense a boat-like

movement of the vehicle as we

ploughed along. It was getting tougher

and tougher to penetrate the deep,

crisp snow, so both front and rear air

lockers were introduced, but it still

required Gislis expertise, gently rocking

the Land Cruiser to get over the

obstacles.

We were ploughing ruts about two

feet deep, but at some point the

build-up of snow that was created infront of the Radial tyres brought our

progress to a halt. Engage reverse for

about 20 feet, back into Drive,

accelerate gently: then, as you hit the

wall, rock the Toyota with increasing

Above: Several

attempts were

required to grind

through the deep

snow

Top: Gorgeous Husky

poses on the glacier,

waiting for a fast and

furious ride

Left: Heading

west back towards

civilisation on more

friendly gravel


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There were no crevasses to worry

about as the terrain is still evolving, but

it was wise to take it steady and

carefully; you can never take a glacier

for granted. By now the weather had

really deteriorated, with a fierce wind

that blew a swathe of snow across the

top of the ice. I took a turn behind the

wheel and could feel those huge tyresfloating above the ice with the odd tiny

bump as we crept over the small ridges

created by the wind.

Unfortunately, visibility was becoming

a big issue. We were at 900m by now

Iceland, part of my previous tour. There

have been minor eruptions that didnt

break through the ice, plus a flash

glacial flood that burst from the glacier

thanks to increased seismicity in

recent years, so something could well

be brewing down there.

It was a sobering thought, but one

that didnt seem quite so immediatelythreatening as we ventured on further

north and were soon approaching our

Ice Cap at Langjkull. Still firmly in four

low with all axles locked up we inched

onto the glacier at a slow steady pace.

and the cloud was low and Gisli felt that

any further progress would not be

worth it, as it would just get more and

more difficult to see our route. With

great reluctance I turned right and

headed back down the glacier towards

the deserted valley below.

We thought we were still utterly

alone, until suddenly in the gloom

ahead a shiny turquoise Land Rover

Defender 110 clad in fat tyres came into

view. Ah, laughed Gisli, that will be

the husky rides. Sure enough, a pack

of huskies, all tied in a line, appearedthrough a break in the mist close to the

110, which had obviously brought some

clients up here for an exhilarating ride

across the glacier. We looked around

and, in the far distance to the west, we

could just make out two grey l ines of

dogs racing across the ice fighting the

wind. They are beautiful animals and it

was a pleasure to see them up close,

but we couldnt help a little tinge of

disappointment that we didnt have the

glacier to ourselves.

As we headed head down off the

glacier the weather improved slightly

and the track leading us off becamemore apparent, so an increase in speed

was fine. It was getting dim and we had

a fair way to go to get back to

civilisation, and Gisli wanted to show us

a few of the tourist spots on the popular

ADVENTURE

Arctic Trucks


Top: Snow and ice

just succumbs to

TLC in a perfect

setting for high-

speed action

Above: When

conditions get really

tough, even the TLC

needs extra muscle

power form Gisli

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Golden Circle trail. Although the snow

had been very deep and difficult earlier,the route northwest from the glacier

was strangely snow-light and we soon

found ourselves back on a gravel track.

We shifted the dash dial back to 4H,

disengaged both air lockers and

re-inflated the tyres to 16psi, just in

case we hit any more deep snow on the

way back to the tarmac.

We didnt, so the going was fun, fast

and furious on the gravel track,

interrupted occasionally by some slushy

snow, and loose sharp rocks, to be

avoided at all costs. The scenery

continued its magnificent theme of vast

valley floor lined with soaring mountainsand friendly volcanoes, as we headed

west towards the 518 route that would

take us to our first touristy spot at

Barnafoss, home to a beautiful waterfallthat stretches for just short of a mile.

We parked the 150 Series, which

looked totally cool, and from another

world, among the small smattering of

saloons and the odd mini bus. A short

stroll took us to the waterfall or, to be

more precise, a series of rapids formed

as the River Hvita forces its way through

a narrow rocky chute that once had a

natural bridge across it. Barnafoss

translates as children falls. Legend has

it that two children fell from the bridge

into the water and died. Their mother, it

seems, demolished the bridge by

casting a spell. However, naturalbridges do collapse due to their

supports being eroded by the force of

the water. A more likely explanation

perhaps but in Iceland, you can never

be sure...

Force of water is something you

experience a lot in Iceland. Infamous for

its geysers, there are natural thermal

springs that burst from the ground all

over the place. One particular spring on

our tourist route was the

Deildartunguhver spring. Here, 180

litres of water are produced per second,

which is the largest output of any

thermal spring in the world. And thewater temperature is pretty impressive

too at 100C (212F). Standing close to

the springs you can feel the intense

heat radiating from the earth beneath

the plumes of billowing steam. Water

GOING TOICELANDMany thanks to Arctic

Trucks and the amazing

Gisli and Felicity for

spending a superb day

with us. Visit www.

arctictrucks.is/www.

arctic-trucks.co.uk or

email info@arctictrucks.

com/experience@

arctictrucks.com for

details of their guided and

self-drive tours. There is a

photo gallery from Hilss

2009 trip on their

website. Visit www.

felicityaston.co.uk for

details of her books,

speaking gigs and

adventures.

from here has been used for central

heating since 1925 and is pumpedthrough 46 miles of pipes to the

surrounding villages of Akranes,

Borgarnes and Hvanneyri. On the way

to the springs we jumped out of the

Land Cruiser at Reykholt, where one of

the most important people in Icelandic

history lived in the Middle Ages. Snorri

Sturluson was a famous poet and

politician whose records of the Old

Norse language and of medieval

mythology are like the bible to modern

Icelandic scholars.

As the light faded further and heavy

rain lashed onto the Toyotas

windscreen, we ended our guided tourand headed south on the 518 to join

the main A1 highway towards Reykjavik

at Borgarnes. Despite the rain and low,

menacing dark clouds, it was a lovely

drive that skirted the Borgarfjrur

coastline then led to the long tunnel

under the Hvalfjrdur fjord.

We packed a lot into a one-day tour,

but it really doesnt take long to get into

Icelands interior from the capital to

discover one of the planets true

wonders of the world. If you can get

yourself to Iceland, get in touch with

Arctic Trucks and hire a guide to whisk

you off to some of the most magnificentscenery and mind-blowing geographical

features you will ever encounter. And its

all achieved in a truck that will equally

impress, piloted by off-road drivers who

are probably the best on earth. 4x4

ADVENTURE

Arctic Trucks


Above: The

magnificent

Blaskogaheioi valley,

rumoured to once be

the home of bandits

Below: TLC 150

Series 60th

anniversary specblends in perfectly in

so many ways

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Funny how these thingshappen. One day last month I

noticed a particularly well

looked after Nissan Patrol,

early 1990s vintage. Its light blue

bodywork looked surprisingly rust free,

and despite its age, it appeared

remarkably at home in traffic that

included all the latest jelly-mould

lookalike SUVs. It brought a smile and a

heh, look at that! comment to my

bemused passenger.

What followed a few days later was

an email from our exiled Brit contributor

based in Australia, Robert Pepper,

commenting on the fact that hed justdriven the very latest 2013 Nissan

Patrol. Since it was no longer available

in the UK, he didnt think that we would

be interested, but offered me a report

just the same. Amazingly, the new

model has a 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine,with a seven-speed auto box, theres no

diesel option. That sort of spec seems

completely anachronistic to us UK 4x4

enthusiasts (and you can read Roberts

thoughts on the new model at the end

of this feature), but it did get me

wondering; what really happened to the

Nissan Patrol?

Regular readers will know that we

bemoan the fact that modern SUVs all

seem to look the same these days.

Amusingly, whenever you delve into

Japanese 4x4 history you can have

similar thoughts. The Nissan Patrol, for

example was actually first built back in1951, it was a jeep and it looked like

all the other jeeps from other Japanese

manufacturers, notably the Suzuki

Jimny forefathers we featured in the

April issue. The first generation Patrols

Whatever happened to the Nissan Patrol? The big, boxy, no-nonsense off-roader with fewpretentions but a big heart and plenty of muscle. Editor Nigel Fryatt considers a forgotten master

PATROLLOST

lasted until 1960, when the designchanged (and in this writers opinion

started to look similar to Daihatsu

jeeps), continuing until the third

generation arrived in 1980. This was the

first proper Patrol that we all got to

know in the UK; square, slab-sided,

box design, with thumping great

straight six engine options.

The models that we got into the UK

were actually built in Spain by Motor

Iberia (then 84 per cent owned by

Nissan), and this magazine had to wait

until 1986 to do its first full off-road test.

We had the seven-seater version, rather

charmingly called the Estate, with its2.8-litre petrol engine offering a

reasonable 120bhp and perhaps

surprisingly, only 149lb ft of torque, and

was available with a four-speed

gearbox, with low range transfer box. If

Above:One of our

original test Patrols.

Boxy and very basic.

Those were the days?

NOSTALGIA

Nissan Patrol

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Top: Later models,

more rounded, but

still good off-roaders

Above right: While

Ewan McGregor and

Charley Boorman

took the limelight

on their motorbikes,

Nissan Patrols took

the supporting role in

the 'Long Way Down'

Expedition

Left: Nothing beats

cubic capacity? The

2.8-litre 120bhp

engine of our early

test Patrol


you had the diesel version you got an

overdrive fifth. The Patrol had a claimed

3500kg towing ability, which remains

very impressive nearly 30 years later. Its

age is more obvious, however, when

you are reminded that the suspension

was semi-elliptic leaf springs and live

axles front and rear. We described the

on road ability as quite acceptable,

which is indicative of what we

compared it with. Driven today, we

might feel differently. On road, the Patrol

remained as a two-wheel drive, gavereasonable fuel consumption and a top

speed of 90mph. Off-road, while we did

criticise the performance over very

rough ground, primarily because of its

long wheelbase, we did consider it

similar to a Land Rover when crawling

in low ratio through the mud, especially

if it was towing a trailer. Overall we were

very pleased with the model, declaring

it good value for money (our 1986 test

version was 10,750 on the road).

It was the start of our very positive

experience with the Patrol. Daft

adjective to use in many ways, but the

Patrol always appeared very honest to

us on the magazine. It had no

pretentions to be anything other than a

big, bold, somewhat brassy workhorse.

Its this reputation that over the years

has seen the model sold extensivelyacross the globe. It may surprise you to

know that under various guises, the

Patrol has actually been built in India,

Iran, Italy, Morocco, Pakistan,

Philippines, South Africa, Spain,

Washington (UK!) and, of course,

Japan. The model that Robert tested

later in this issue is actually the sixth

generation, but we are no longer

included in that target market.

Our prime Patrol time was probably

in the mid to late 1990s. The familiar

boxed design remained, but had at

least been softened a little with a new

front grille and round rather thanrectangular headlamps. We tested a

three-door version in April 1996, the

year that the UK got the new

turbodiesel version after some years

enjoying the 4.2-litre six-cylinder diesel.

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NOSTALGIA

Nissan Patrol

petrol, 4.2-litre diesel and 2.8, 3.0and

4.2-litre turbodiesel, one variant

including an intercooler. As an aside,the bigger capacity petrol engine has

become something of a favourite for

tuners in the Middle East. Some Patrols

have been tuned to produce a

phenomenal 2000bhp+ for the

awesome dune racers (see our feature

in the October 2011 issue).

One more significant change in the

Patrols history occurred in 2004 when

the model ceased to be made available

in Japan, due to poor sales. The

beginning of the end, perhaps? More

significant, in my view, actually occurred

at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010,

when the production version of the newNissan Juke was unveiled. The styling

was a quantum leap from the square

box 1980s style of the Patrol, and to

give the company credit, didnt then

and probably still doesnt, look like any

other SUV on the road. There are

stories that claim that when the Juke

was unveiled, initial orders in the first

month were actually 10 times what the

manufacturer had budgeted for. And, of

course, Juke production started in the

UK. To say the Juke has been a

success is something of an

understatement. Built with various two

and four-wheel drive versions, theintelligent 4WD system is indeed that,

and has impressed us as a drivers

vehicle in various 4x4 Of The Year

events. Expensive and clever TV

advertising is obviously having some

It seems that emissions were a problem

even then, and Nissan decided to drop

the big ol thumper that we were reallyrather fond of. The new engine

impressed, however, and we declared it

one of the best diesel engines currently

available in any 4x4.

Its interesting looking back at the

test in 1996, that we considered the

model a strong competitor to a Land

Rover Discovery. When fitted with

decent tyres (we were particularly

critical of the OE rubber fitted to our

test vehicle) off-road performance was

said to be good. The tester also

commented that the Nissan boasts a

higher level of trim and build quality

than the Discovery, and that the Patroledged the Land Rover for on road

performance. Praise indeed.

We got all worried when we went to

test the restyled version in 1998,

generation five, no less; as it looked as

though the Patrol had gone soft.

Thankfully we concluded that the

softening, the rounding of the front in

particular, was the only bit that had

gone soft. The changes were obvious

for Nissan to be able to challenge the

Toyota Land Cruiser Colorado/

Amazon a decision that ultimately

could be seen as a reason for its

demise, particularly in the UK. It neverreally matched the Toyota in terms of

comfort and equipment levels.

The fifth generation Patrols had a

long list of engine options, depending

on the market, from 4.5 and 4.8-litre

effect, and it is understandable that

Nissan should now concentrate on the

smaller SUV, rather than the great

lumbering Patrol. Indeed, the UK is

Nissans second European market, just

behind Russia, with the Juke and the

Qashqai dominating (with both two and

four-wheel drive models, obviously).

But the Patrol does still exist, now for

sale in Australia and the Middle East,

but for how long? Is the Nissan Patrol,in its simplistic big engine/big boxy

body format, something that us

traditionalists still value, now a 4x4 of

another age? Sadly that seems to be

the case. 4x4

Above:Nissan

ensured that as the

body design got

smoother and morerefined, so did the

interior. It was a

pretty good place

from which to go

off-roading

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NOSTALGIA

Nissan Patrol

The vehicle here is the Y62

Nissan Patrol, and it is not

popular with the Aussies who

own its immediate ancestor,

the Y61 GU Patrol that has long been a

highly popular and revered vehicle for

touring off-roaders. And the reason for

this displeasure is because the Patrol

has switched segments. Its changed.

The Y62 is built for the citizens of the

Middle East who buy more Patrols thananyone else. These guys like their cars

big, petrol and powerful, so the new

Patrol sports a 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine,

seven-speed automatic gearbox and

manages to make the Discovery 4,

Range Rover and even Toyotas Land

Cruiser look small by comparison.

Theres no diesel option, and for a car

that size that means hefty fuel bills and

short range. The traditionalists, and

theres plenty in the Patrol fraternity,

bemoan anything electronic and without

solid axles, so the Y62 disappoints on

both counts. On my Facebook page,

one commentator summarised itperfectly: It has lost the essence of

being a Patrol. It's not designed with an

attitude of off-road ability and toughness

first, other stuff second.

But is that true? Few of these people

have seen one let alone driven it. But I

have, and also done some pretty rough

off-roading in it. So heres the answer.

This car is quick in a straight line,

0-100 in under seven seconds. But it is

far from agile, as any form of spirited

driving starts to squeal the tyres and the

stability control light will quickly

illuminate. It also understeers more than

any car in my recent memory, and to

make things worse, the automatic isprone to unwarranted downchanges

out of corners, which given its seven

speeds and abundance of torque, is

disappointing. On the other hand, the

ride is excellent across all surfaces,

theres plenty of power, its quiet and

refined and the electronics keep the car

impressively flat while cornering.

Overall, the Patrol is a rather

unrewarding car to drive on-road it will

comfortably, but joylessly, cover the

overlanding miles.

Inside the vehicle there is nothing

done particularly well, and some thingsdone poorly. In general, the dash

controls are a little last minute with

related buttons in different places. The

While we no longer see the Patrol in the UK, it still lives in Australia andthe Middle East. But is the latest 5.7-litre version a real Patrol?

Words and photography: Robert Pepper

Below: Old meets

new, but has thelatest Patrol lost

something as it's

grown bigger?

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right-hand-drive conversion budget

didnt extend to moving the gearshift to

the right so its a little stretch to reach.

The seats should hold the passengers

more firmly, but are easily adjustable.

Our test model was the Ti, which didnt

have even have satnav. Nissan has, in

the Pathinder, designed a superbly

versatile second/third row system. In

the Patrol, the engineers have not

bothered and followed design

conventions last seen in the 80s. The

second row is a simple 40/60 split but

only two child restraints. The third row

seats three in the Ti spec, and it folds

down but doesnt latch down andwont fold flat. Thats really unforgivable,

and also poor is the massive D-pillar,

which intrudes on cargo space. But the

overall impression is of space, so if you

want your interior huge, the Patrol is

your wagon.

Off-road the Patrol is good, but not

superb. The traction control is a little

slow and ineffective compared to the

current state of the art, and the car

needs more clearance. The rear

cross-axle locker appears to disable

traction control on the front axle, but its

good that its there. The adaptive terrain

system makes little difference, althoughwed need more time in different terrains

to fully test it. As with any car of this size

your line is limited due to the size, but

thats not a Patrol criticism, just a

general issue. The Patrol is a good

off-roader and certainly can handle

rough terrain, but is not quite up there

with the likes of the Discovery 4 or

Toyota Land Cruiser.

So why the disappointment?

Because the Patrol has moved market

segments from rough off-roader to a

powerful tower, cruiser and big wagon.

Its not bad at its new job, but not a

classic, which will pick up awards andthe hearts of the buying public.

Perhaps thats why Nissan havent

pushed it any further than the Middle

East, so will this be the last of the

Patrol dynasty? 4x4

Above: Patrol has

selectable, electronic

off-road terrain mode

control

Above and right:

Driven carefully, the

latest Patrol still has

ability when things

get rough

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With a fresh and new marketing approach, Arbil, one of the UKs leadingmanufacturers and distributors of lifting, winching and jacking equipment,

is investing in the future of its 4x4 sector. We find out more...Words and photographs: Sarah Harrington-James

Its fair to say that industrial estates

arent glamorous places to hang

around and are there to serve apurpose. But looks can be

deceiving; often the really interesting

stuff goes on behind the unit shutters

and Arbil certainly ticks that box.

The firm has several sites in the West

Midlands and one in Bristol, with its

main 4x4 HQ based in Stourbridge.

From first impressions, this is a

non-descript red brick building that

contains offices and a work-in-progress

trade counter, until I was given the full

tour by Sales and Technical Manager,

Gareth Williams. Through a maze of

corridors, storage and despatch areas

and across vast warehouse floors, itwas then that the bigger picture

emerged. With 50 years of experience,

Arbil is one of the leading manufacturers

and distributors of lifting, winching and

jacking equipment in the UK, supplying

Premium partnersdiverse markets such as 4x4, rail,

defence, towing and recovery and all

of this became clear on my walkabout.The majority of these markets have a

distinct crossover with the 4x4 side of

the business; hooks, turnbuckles and

coupling links supplied to the marine

industry, building sites and MoD are

also useful to 4x4 owners, as well as

shackles, tree strops and webbing

slings used for recovery and lifting

purposes. Whats more, over in the

service department, customers

winches and jacking products are lined

up ready to be reconditioned and/or

serviced, proving that Arbil is just as

dedicated to the aftersales side too. Its

impressive stuff.Focusing on the 4x4 side, Arbil has

been the official long-term sole UK

importer and distributor of WARN

winches, Hi-Lift jacks, Safari snorkels

and most recently, ARB 4x4


THE 4X4 VISIT

Arbil 4x4

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Above right: Gareth

holds an example

webbing sling ideal as

a tree strop and for

recovery. The colour

of each indicates the

weight rating. Arbil

can sew in a hook/

master link

Left:A display area

shows a variety of

items useful for

manual handling

and lifting

accessories, which has now completed

the firms portfolio. All of these

companies offer international warranties

so that if, for example, your newly-

bought fridge develops a fault while

youre on safari in Africa, a quick call or

email to Arbil will tell you where to

source a replacement en route. We are

significantly investing in our 4x4 side

and have around 70 dealers including

Devon 4x4, Nene Overland and Flat

Dog, that support us and our

customers, comments Stephanie

Bergin, Arbils Corporate Marketing

Manager. What probably stands us out

from our competitors is that we dont

focus just on one type of 4x4 like Land

Rover we also stock products for

Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki and

Jeep.

American firm WARN has been in

partnership with Arbil for some 23 years

and sees itself as the premium brand

market leader for winches. Recently

WARN has launched what it calls the

next generation of winches the

all-new Zeon that is far different to any

other on the market. Its symmetrical for

a start and comes with a quieter motor,

steel or synthetic rope and satin black,

cast aluminium housing. The WARN

Zeon also has an IP68 rating, which

means its the toughest against dust,

water and crud and so shouldnt let you

down. Stephanie explains: WARN are

very good at listening to its customers

and took all comments on board to

create this totally re-engineered product

which has taken years of research and

development. When WARN build a new

Below left:Arbils

Ford Ranger demo

vehicle (left) is

equipped with a huge

array of products,

including drawer

systems


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winch they do it right and make it to

last. The company has also recently

relaunched its entry level Tabor range

with sub-500 pricing to appeal to

winching newbies.

Taking on ARB accessories was a

no-brainer for Arbil. The Australian firm

has been established for over 35 years

and was started by 4x4 enthusiast,

Tony Brown, who originally created

custom-fabricated products, such as

bull bars and roof racks, in his garage.

The brand is so well known and

respected Down Under that ARBproducts are often ordered by

customers at the same time as buying a

new 4x4 from a dealership. Perhaps

soon it will be no different to here in

Blighty; Gareth reveals that Arbil has

recently provided ARBs Old Man Emu

suspension for a Toyota dealers demo

vehicle. Indeed, the ARB underbody

protection that is on the Edotor's Hilux

was actually fitted by Toyota main

dealer, Jemca Croydon.

The ARB accessories brochure is

bursting with items to serve almost all

4x4 owners from recovery equipment,

underbody protection, fridge freezersand compressors to Safari snorkels and

Air Locker diffs. Arbil has a demo 2008

Ford Ranger pick-up that its dealers

can borrow (its been featured in4x4

Magazine in July 2012) which is

CONTACT

Arbil 4x4

Providence Street

Lye, Stourbridge

West Midlands DY9 8HS

Tel: 0845 600 4556

Web: www.arbil4x4.co.uk

equipped with an astonishing 75

products from the ARB range! TheRanger is literally ready to go anywhere,

do anything and sports essential stuff

such as an air compressor, tyre deflator

and a recovery kit. The load area has

been kitted out with an extensive

drawer system plus a fridge freezer and

up top, theres a Simpson III two-man

roof tent. But of course, this is only

scratching the surface...

Stephanie says: Pick-up sales in the

UK are ever increasing and were still

trying to understand why

Documents

4 x 4 Magazine 201308