This week we talk 2021 4WD utes with Robert Pepper, Australia's best 4WD journalist.  This is part 2 of our 4WD interview with Robert.

We talk:

• Toyota HiLux Rugged X - the up speced HiLux
• Nissan N-Trek Warrior - upspeced Navara
• Isuzu D-Max - the 2021 model
• Mazda BT-50 - 2021 model

What's hot and what's not.  Have a listen and let us know what you think.  Are you planning on buying a 2021 4WD Ute?  Which of these utes does Robert think was not designed by someone who has actually been out bush?

The concept of the upspeced 4WD has been around for a while and Nissan and Toyaota are trying to capture some of the glory of the Ford Raptor Ranger, a great 4WD with a tight niche, those looking for a bit of speed out in the dust.  How has Toyota and Nissan done with their engineering and design work.

Which 2021 4WD Ute would Robert buy?

Robert gives us his thoughts on which 4WD Ute he will buy and why.

We discuss the figures for the 2020 4WD ute sales in Australia - what's hot and what's not.

Why is it that we can't buy a Tundra in Australia?  They are a pretty sweet 4x4 Ute, and I reckon they would be a really popular 4WD here.

Have a listen to the podcast and let us know what you think of Robert's opinion.  You can listen on Spotify, your favourite podcast player on Android, (I use podcast addict), or Apple's podcast player, or you can listen by hitting the green arrow down below.

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The post Track 56 - 2021 4WD Ute comparison with Robert Pepper appeared first on 4x4Earth.

This week we talk new 4WDs with Robert Pepper, Australia's best 4WD journalist.

We talk:

• Land Rover Defender - what is it like, why does it look like that?
• Jeep Gladiator - we discuss the good and bad points of one of the best looking 4WDs new to the market this year.
• Ineos Grenadier - for those who don't like the Defender, what exactly is an Ineos Grenadier?

We cover off on the good and bad points on each of the vehicles.  Have a listen and let us know what you think.

You can listen to the play below or download on your iPhone Podcast player or your favourite Android player.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 55 - New Land Rover Defender vs Jeep Gladiators vs Ineos Grenadier Reviews- We get the good oil. appeared first on 4x4Earth.

My first time out 4 wheel driving  we ended up on the back of truck!  So have a listen to this podcast and get some ideas on what to do so you get out safely, have a great time, and get back safe as well, ready for your next trip out.  A few years ago, I ended up in a creek crossing that wasn't that deep, but ended in tears.

Common mistakes the 4WD newbie makes.

There are a lot of mistakes that newbies make going offroad.  Here are some of the most common mistakes that newbies make heading out offroad.

• Going out alone.  If you get stuck there is no one to help.
• Not having some basic recovery equipment.  At least a shovel.
• Picking tracks that are too difficult for their experience and/or vehicle.
• Have a communications plan.  (Mobiles may not work where you are going)
• Getting caught out by the weather.  A track that is easy in the dry can quickly become a nightmare in the wet.
• Not being prepared in case the trip takes longer.  People sometimes get lost, or get stuck, and having clothes, food and water can make it a lot safer and comfortable.
• Not having a map.  Paper is great, especially if your phone doesn't have reception.

Have a listen to the podcast and your 4wd newbie trip should go a lot smoother.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 54 - Tips for a 4WD newbie heading out on their first 4x4 trip appeared first on 4x4Earth.

4WD Victoria and  access to MVO tracks.

Management Vehicle Tracks are often available to 4WD Club members.  Wayne Hevey discusses why they are only available to club members and whether track access should be available to all 4WDers or just club members.

We discuss the 4WD Victoria insurance for trip leaders scheme.  The big question is whether a trip leader is responsible for the people on the trip and what their duty of care is?  Are they responsible?  Is this something that 4WD Victoria has instigated in an attempt to drive people to become members of a club, or is there a duty of care of any trip leader running any trip?  This is a big question for the 4WD industry in general and it stops a lot of people from asking newbies along on their trips.

We finish up with what we can do to create more track openings, especially around 4WD tourism.

Join the discussion on the 4x4earth forum about track access.

If you're interested in more information about 4WD clubs, contact 4WD Victoria.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 53 - 4WD Access with Wayne Hevey from 4WD Victoria. appeared first on 4x4Earth.

This is a continuation of our interviews with Shane Rose from 4WD Australia, and Bill Schultz from the Bush Users Group United.  We thought it would be a great to get Wayne Hevey along to discuss an alternative view on 4WDing organisations and approaches to track access.

Wayne Hevey and track access

Wayne Hevey is the CEO of 4WD Victoria, the peak body for 4WD clubs in Victoria.  It represents 90 clubs and 14,000 members.

4WD Victoria has developed a MOU with the Victorian Government for Track Access, and we discuss what this means for 4 wheel drivers.

We also discuss track maintenance and what this important process means.  4WD Victoria put in 14,300 hours of volunteer work, including 2,000 hours of track clearance.

What is the relationship between the Victorian Government and 4WD Victoria?  We discuss why there wasn't someone from 4WD Victoria talk at the BUGU rally.

What is the process to get access to MVO tracks?  (Management Vehicles Only).  They are currently underutilised.  Is it fair that they are only open to 4WD club members?  How is the relationship working between the clubs, the land managers, like Parks Victoria and 4 wheel drivers?

Are you a 4x4 club member?  How have you found the experience?

Join the 4WD Victoria and Wayne Hevey conversion on 4x4earth.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 52 - Wayne Hevey discusses 4WD Victoria and Track Access appeared first on 4x4Earth.

This is the second part of our Interview with BUGU Organiser - Bill Schulz.

4x4 Access - United we Stand, Divided we Fall.

There are a lot of users of the Bush and a United Front could help us to maintain access for everyone who wants to use the bush.  We discuss the Bendigo State Forest and the impact that the conversion to National Parks.  The economic impact can mean that the facilities we need, like fuel will become scarce as businesses close as tracks close.

Here is Roothy at the BUGU Rally.

Bill talks about how 4WD Victoria wasn't represented at the Rally.  The issue of Government funding to 4WD Victoria creates the appearance of a conflict of interest.  Have a look at the Press Release that 4WD Victoria released about the proposed changes and their lack of action around it.

We look at what we can do to maintain land access for all.

Ensure that you are talking to your politicians about land management, bush fire reduction, land access and track openings.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

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The post 51 - What we can do to maintain land access with Bill Schulz appeared first on 4x4Earth.

We talk to Bill Schulz from the Bush User Group United about some proposed changes to land in Victoria and why it is important that all of the Bush Users come together.  We also talk about the recent Bush Users Group United rally in Melbourne.

The are a lot of Bush Users and the Bush User Group United is trying to get all of the groups together to discuss and lobby about the issue of land access.  Recent proposed changes for large tracts of land in Victoria from State Forest to National Parks will see many Bush Users locked out of land that they have had access for in some instances for generations.

We discuss the recent attempted changes for 70,000 hectares of land from State Forest to National Park and what that means for all bush users.

Join the conversation about  this 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  We want to hear what you think about Land Access and the best way we can acheive Land Access for All.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

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The post 50 - The Bush User Group United fighting for Land Access for All appeared first on 4x4Earth.

How should 4WD Victoria handle the VEAC report

We look at the current VEAC report and what the changes from State Forest to National Parks would mean for all 4 wheel drivers.  4WD Victoria released a press release that created a bit of controversy about track access with no support for other bush users because they see that there SHOULDN’T be any decrease in the change for 4 wheel drivers. Should 4WD Victoria take a united we stand, divided we fall approach to land access?

The loss of access for prospectors and potentially hunters and horse riders will not only deny them access to the land, but I reckon most of those horse riders will be pulling their horse floats with a big 4WD.  Same for the prospectors.  How many of them need a 4WD to get access that they want to fossick in?

What can 4WDers do to maintain track access?

There are a range of options to help track access, including working with land managers, like what Grumpy and the Gippy Crew did with O'Tooles campground.

The other large thing to do is to speak to every politician.  Email them, call them.  Let them know that you vote and you 4WD and that land access is really important to you.  If we don't make it a hot topic, it won't get the attention that it deserves.

Talk to your local associations as well, whether it is 4 Wheel Drive Victoria, Queensland, NSW or the others and make sure that your views are heard and understood.

The Time to Align Campaign

We discuss the Time to Align campaign.  How has 4WD Australia been getting results as far as harmonisation of vehicle laws?  This has been a big issue because a vehicle that is road legal in Victoria or NSW could go into QLD and be defected as been unroadworthy.

Believe it or not there was an issue with license plate heights on caravans!

Join the conversation on the 4x4earth forum.  Let us know what you think about this podcast.

  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 49 - 4WD Victoria and VEAC - should we worry about National Parks and Time to Align appeared first on 4x4Earth.

4WD Australia and track access

We discuss his journey that lead him to 4WD Australia and why he is working there.

We discuss the recent attempted changes for 70,000 hectares of land from State Forest to National Park and what that means for all bush users.

Who is VEAC - The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council

VEAC is the Vic Government organisation that provides independant and strategic advice for the protection and sustainable management of Victoria's natural and environmental resources.

The current VEAC (Victorian Environmental Assessment Council) report on the Western Forest has recommended change from State Forests to National Parks.  This means that many bush users will no longer be able to use the land for what they have been used for.

Here are the details on the BUGU Rally.

Access for all

The access for all principle is that all users of the land, including 4WDers, fishers, shooters, horse riders, prospectors, and bike riders (both kinds).  The change to national parks will mean that there will be no dogs, no horses and a range of other users will be locked out.

One of the reasons is that Horses poo may have beetles in it, but horse have been in the State Forests for decades (centuries?) and yet there isn't any proof of any damage.

Economic Impact Statements for 4WD closures

We discuss the economic benefit that 4WDing creates in the rural community and why an economic impact statement should be created whenever a track is closed.

How can we maintain access?

The big thing is to mention this to each and every politician that we see.  Email them, write them, talk to them - make them understand that it is an issue that will sway your vote.  The Greens do this very well, but there are more of us who are passionate about the responsible usage of the bush and the towns that it supports.

The beneficial psychological effects of the bush

We also chatted about the great work that the Blue Green crew do.  Many 4WDers know instinctively how good it is to get out offroad and camp out by yourself or with some mates.  I think this is really important and the work that the Blue Green Crew really highlight that.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth.forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 48 - Track access and track closures in National Parks with Shane Rose from 4WD Australia appeared first on 4x4Earth.

4WD industry news

Suzuki Jimny

We talk about the new Suzuki Jimny - what does Robert Pepper think of it and why would someone think about a Jimny?

4WD ANCAP Ratings

ANCAP Ratings for 4WDs.  How does the ANCAP rating fit in with the 4x4 design process?  How important is it and why do some vehicles have such a low rating?  The Wrangler and Jimny struggle with the ANCAP rating system and we look at why.

Land Rover

We discuss the new Discovery and Defender and the future of the Land Rover.  As a company that ha lead 4WD innovation will they be able to get back the lead in 4WDs.  How is their design process been driven recently and why do they have some designs that aren't really very exciting?

Jaunt Motors

Continuing on with our Land Rover discussion, we talk abut Jaunt, a company that is creating electric Land Rovers.

Haval 4WDs

We discuss the Haval 4WDs and what they have going on.  Are these the future of the 4WD market in Australia?

With increasing costs of vehicle design, we are seeing less models coming to market and more joint ventures between manufacturers.  Haval's petrol only decision is looking to be a good decision, given where diesel is going in Australia.

Sign up to 4x4earth to be notified about more 4WD industry news.

Join the conversation about  the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum.  www.4x4earth.com is Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel driving website with over 200,000 visits per month.

If you are loving 4x4earth.com, check out the 4x4earth Merch.  The sales help to keep Australia's largest free and independent 4 wheel drive website and the largest Australian 4x4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

Download this episode!

The post 47 - 4WD industry news with Robert Pepper appeared first on 4x4Earth.