In this episode, we continue our discussion with Matt from MadMatt 4WD, wherein we discuss a few tips and strategies on what to do when your vehicle gets bogged. But before talking about those, it is crucial to first understand the dangers of the improper use of recovery tools such as the snatch strap.
 

One of the notable negative effects of a recovery effort that has gone wrong took place during the recovery effort for Ryan Woods, which resulted in his tragic death. Listen in to the podcast to understand what went wrong.  

Best Off-Roading Equipment for your 4WD Hobbyists
 

There are a lot of equipment choices for new 4WD hobbyists out there. Listen to the podcast to know why these equipment can help you.

1. Shovel 

2. Traction Boards
3. Recovery Rope
4. Winch Device
5. Tire Pressure Gauge and Air Compressor

Understanding the Dangers of using a Snatch Strap 

A snatch strap is a common tool that is used to try and get bogged vehicles out using a nearly explosive force. It is essentially a giant rubber band that stretches for a while and suddenly retracts with explosive force, pulling the bogged vehicle out.
 

Best Tips for Off-Road Vehicle Recovery with the Snatch Strap Method 

1. Understand that every single recovery is unique 

It is generally a bad idea to be so arrogant to claim that you know everything when it comes to recovery. The correct approach is to absorb as much knowledge as you can, have the right tools, and properly apply it to the given situation if and where it fits.   

2. Take a step back. Take your time 

An important quality to have especially during stressful situations like this is to know when to stop and think. Calming down and giving yourself time to breathe in order to rethink strategies is essential. Sometimes taking a step back would allow you to think of way better methods than the ones you previously planned.
 

Join the conversation about the 4x4earth podcast on the 4x4earth forum. The website 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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open. 

The post 62 – Tips for safe snatch strap recoveries appeared first on 4x4Earth.

Ryan Woods died in tragic circumstances while 4 wheel driving in Arizona last week, when he was hit the head buy a tow ball and drop hitch following a snatch recovery attempt..  This podcast looks are the what happened and where it all went wrong.

This is a tragedy that I think could have happened to many of us.  A vehicle stuck, keen to get home, not having the correct recovery gear, a little lack of knowledge and a bit of bad luck and it ends in tragedy.  Particularly horrific as his family were in the car when it happened.  I think this is the nightname scenario, so please share this, and Matt and Robert’s videos so we can get the word out about how dangerous snatch recoveries are.

Here is the link to the original post on 4x4earth.  WARNING – graphic images.

Check out MaddMatt’s video.

Robert Pepper’s video looking at forces generated by these kinds of dynamic rescues.

We talk to Matt from MadMatt 4WD about what happened and what lessons we can all learn.

Thoughts and condolences with Ryan’s family and his mate who was trying to help and the emergency responders who attended.  

Thanks to Matt from MadMatt 4WD for sharing his wisdom on this.

The recent tow ball death of Ryan Woods highlights the risks involved when conducting a snatch recovery. This photo illustrates a couple of things – the mud hole doesn’t look that bad, something that most people what try out, I think. However, the Ford Super Duty gets pretty stuck. Secondly, the violent force generated by the tow ball and drop hitch once it broke.

Please spread the word so we can decrease the number of tow ball deaths that occur when people go offroad. 

The post 61 – A tow ball 4WD death in Arizona – Lessons for all 4WD drivers appeared first on 4x4Earth.

We talk to Jason Lock, one of the Judges for the 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year competition.

Which vehicles won and why?

What vehicles should be in the running next year.  There are some pretty exciting vehicles coming out that will make the competition very interesting.

Check out the show notes on 4x4earth.com for more details and links to the sites we’ve mentioned in the podcast.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

The post Track 60 – 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year and what we want to see next year appeared first on 4x4Earth.

We talk to Jason Lock, one of the Judges for the 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year competition.

Jason scored a dream job, heading out with the 4×4 Australia team to judge the 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year.

What vehicles where on the long list and how did they narrow the field done to the short list?  Jason talks about the entrants and the judging process.  All of the vehicles were stock, so there were no after market mods, including tyres! This obviously makes a big difference because some of the vehicles would really struggle with roadies on.

Which 4x4s where on the long list?
Which 4WDs made it to the short list?

How did they run their tests?  A really interesting story about determining the best 4WDs in Australia.

The 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year is a major milestone for vehicle manufacturers, so it is great to get an insiders view of the judging process and what makes the grade and what doesn’t.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

The post Track 59 – 4×4 Australia 4×4 of the year judging with Jason Lock appeared first on 4x4Earth.

What will EV 4WDs be like in 5 or 10 years time?

Whether climate change is real or not (it is!), there is an undeniable trend away from fossil fuel vehicles, so what will EV 4WDs look like?  We talk to Robert Pepper about the EV 4WD myths and possibilities.

Obviously range is going to be an issue.  How will long-range trips be managed where there is nowhere to recharge? Can a 4WD recharge with panels on the roof?  Will improvements in efficiency and battery power to create vehicles with 1000km range?

What about hydrogen fuel cells for 4x4s?  Will the technology enable this cheap, but dangerous, fuel to provide the kind of range and power required to go offroad?  Hydrogen’s energy density. Diesel has an energy density of 45.5 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg), slightly lower than gasoline, which has an energy density of 45.8 MJ/kg. Hydrogen has an energy density of approximately 120 MJ/kg, almost three times more than diesel or gasoline.  Will Hydrogen be the answer for everyone heading offroad?  This is a big opportunity as we look for a solution that provides the range we need before filling up / refuelling.

I’ve still got an oiler, which every time I see what comes out the exhaust when I hit the accelerator, I think there has to be a better long term solution.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

For more information on Robert Pepper, check out L2SFBC.

The post Track 58 – 4WD Electric Myths – What kind of EV 4WDs will we be driving in 5 years time? appeared first on 4x4Earth.

Robert Pepper gives a detailed report on his Toyota LandCruiser 300 Test Drive and a test ride with the Ineos Grenadier.

What does he think of both of these vehicles?  These are 2 great examples of some of the new 4WDs that are coming out to cater for the needs of real 4 wheel drivers.  How are the manufacturers going in developing vehicles for the Australian bush and how do they point they way ahead as far as 4×4 vehicle trends?

What will the Ineos Grenadier be like offroad, how much will it cost and is it something we should be thinking about?  Who is it aimed at?

Robert Pepper gets a test ride in the Ineos Grenadier. How does he think it will perform offroad?

How does the new LandCruiser 300 improve on the previous LandCruiser?  How does the new engine and transmission perform?

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

If you want to learn more about Robert’s great 4WD journalism, check out L2SFBC.

The post 57 – New Landcruiser 300 test drive and Ineos Grenadier test ride – What are they like? appeared first on 4x4Earth.

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 4×4 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.

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

Our previous podcast, 4WD tips for Newbies, has been one of our most popular.  If you’re new or have newby mates, have a listen.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

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

If you are are 4WD newbie heading offroad for your first trip, then you will definely what to listen to our 4×4 newbie podcast.  Definitely have a listen to our newbies podcast edition.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

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

This is the 2nd in our 2 part interview with Wayne Hevey, the CEO of 4WD Victoria.  We discuss how 4WD Victoria is working for clubs to maintain track access.

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 4×4 Podcast!  It helps us to keep on doing the work to keep tracks open.

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