AUSTRALIA’S first cross-country desert rally, the 1971 BP Sunraysia, was held long before the evolution of the modern 4×4.

At that time the hot set-ups were SWB Series 1 Landies, VW-powered ‘dune buggies’, and one hopeful punter in a Steyr-Daimler-Puch 700AP Haflinger.

Fast forward almost half a decade – and three years since the unfortunate demise of the Australian Safari – and the Sunraysia has risen again. A four-day, sixteen-stage, 2400km rally based in the border city of Mildura where – despite low key pre-event publicity – all the usual suspects could be found.

Star of the show was Coconut Racing’s Century CR6, a South African-built, 7.0-litre, V8-powered, Dakar-spec racer driven by rookie Luke Olholm. Certainly the CR6 proved quickest over several stages once young Luke got control of it, but due to the rally being held under Confederation of Australian Motor Sport regulations (CAMS) – which specify a 6.0-litre limit – the CR6 wasn’t classified in the results.

Official winner was the John Purshouse/Toni Feaver Ford Ranger which, despite a flat tyre on the first leg, losing its clutch on the second, and suffering an intermittent misfire throughout the four days, came home strongly to secure the win over three-time Australian Safari Champion Steve Riley in the 6.0-litre Commodore ute.

The Purshouse Ranger, built by Neil Woodridge Motorsport in South Africa, is an FIA-homologated tubular chassis built around a 2017 Ford Mustang 5.0-litre Coyote V8. Of course, it’s standard and comes in a crate that says so; it’s also stamped 435hp Race Use Only. The Ranger carries 450 litres of premium to feed the beast.

Third outright was local orchardist John Hederics, a bloke who can claim a total of 10 Australian Safari victories that date back to the legendary Wynn’s Sydney to Darwin epics. Like most blokes who live off the land, Hedge is reluctant to throw out anything that might, one day, be useful. This is why the 2000 Safari-winning Nissan Patrol was still sitting in the shed.

“We threw a battery at it and changed the oil” Hederics said. “And she was ready to roll.”

John’s youngest son, Toby Hederics, was second in the bike division which was won by Dakar veteran Rod Faggotter.

With a course that’s equally suited to rally cars, soft-road racers (such as the Rob Herridge Subaru Forrester XT) and 4×4 racers, the Sunraysia Safari has certainly sparked the revival of cross-country racing down under.

A RECALL has been issued for a select number of Toyota Land Cruiser 100 and 200 Series models due to an airbag issue.

Model codes of affected vehicles are: HDJ100, HZJ105, UZJ100, VDJ200, UZJ200 and URJ202. For specific models, see the VIN list here.

The recall statement issued by Product Safety Australia explains it’s possible “that an incorrect specification airbag assembly was installed during the vehicle assembly process”.

This means there’s an increased risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash, due to the incorrect specification airbag.

Owners of affected Land Cruisers will receive a letter in the mail from Toyota Australia, advising them to take their vehicle to their preferred Toyota dealer for free reparation.

A recall notice due to an airbag concern was also issued for Ford’s Ranger and Everest last week.

This report said that the side airbag module of affected models – Ford Rangers built from October 29, 2016, through to February 24, 2017; and Ford Everest models built from October 29, 2016, through to January 27, 2017 – may contain an incorrect chemical mixture.

Owners of affected Rangers and Everests should also expect a letter in the post.

CONJURE an image in your mind of a hard-working outback station hand and chances are Jess Edwards, known to her 52,000-plus Facebook followers as Jillaroo Jess, would be as far from that image as your mind could get.

Spend a few minutes with this highly energetic 27-year-old, and you realise the international spotlight has shone on Jess due to her strength of character, hard-working attitude, and passion for the lifestyle. It is this life – and her passion for it – that Jess shares with her global audience, which has led to her becoming a social media icon.

Jess Edwards wasn’t always a country girl. Indeed, until age 16, when she and her family moved to Gympie, Jess called Brisbane home. A daunting prospect for a ‘city kid’ you would think, but Jess’s inherent passion for country life and her go-to attitude soon saw her find a way to fit right in – and one that hinted at future pursuits.

“It wasn’t difficult to adjust to the country life, as I’d always had a love of the country,” Jess said. “It was definitely weird moving from a 2000-kid school to one of only 200, though.

“Making new friends would’ve been the hardest part at that age,” she affirmed. “It became a lot easier when I got a horse, though, and could relate to some of the other kids.”

Working with her newly acquired equine companion soon led to other associated activities, including things like volunteering with the Riding for the Disabled charity, plus garnering early mustering skills and experience.

“I owned a massive two head of cattle,” she laughed. “And I was mustering on a few smaller properties. I ended up [later] doing a few small contract musters on cattle stations while I was also working full-time in town.”

Jess stayed in Gympie for a few years, gradually spending more and more time on the land with, initially, most weekends taken up working on stations and working full-time with jobs at places as varied as radio stations, a law firm and local government. It was also during this period, in 2012, when Jess started her first foray into the world of social media with a blog.

The blog was a hit and led to loads of interest from family, friends and strangers from Australia and the rest of the world, who followed her updates on country life religiously.

In 2014, Jess decided to chase a slightly different dream – she’d always wanted to drive mining trucks – and left Gympie to move to Karratha in WA’s Pilbara region. Unsurprisingly, it only took her a few days to gain her Heavy Rigid licence and Multi Combination permit, thanks to some super supportive instructors and her own go-for-it attitude.

She soon moved into (supervised) road train driving, but this was only on occasion; the lack of confidence on the part of employers to take ‘a chance’ on a young, relatively inexperienced female driver saw her mostly working an office job on-site. Not content to sit and wait for a rare opportunity, Jess headed south to Hopetoun for a harvesting job driving chaser bins.

During this busy period, Jess realised she didn’t have enough time to keep her blog ticking along, so she took the plunge into social media and created a Jillaroo Jess Facebook page and Instagram account.

This timed with her returning to the Pilbara and she soon found herself living her dream job behind the wheel of a mining truck. And of course, she loved it (and so did her always-growing social media audience). However, after a year, the often confined working environment of the mines outweighed its attractive monetary incentives and Jess returned once more to her beloved station life.

“From the outside looking in it is [mining work] a cushy job, but there’s a reason why the money is so good. With all the rules and regulations it’s not the easiest environment to be working in. Whilst I always ensure I’m working safely, it wasn’t for me.”

Of course, Jess kept all of her social media followers up to date, and her dedicated audience (at that stage, mostly female) continued to follow her. Jess’s audience was significantly boosted following the posting of her now-famous truck safety video on September 2016, which went viral. Jess was stoked.

“I think it [the audience] was mostly female until my truck video went viral. I believe it’s about 60/40 men-to-women now. There’s a lot of truckies following my adventures now,” she laughed.

The video’s popularity showed how people love a genuine character; although, Jess’s burgeoning media profile wasn’t an easy task to maintain. Balancing a tough working day with trying to progress her digital ‘brand’ was difficult, and there are always (thankfully rarely) people who aren’t afraid to spruik negative comments through the anonymity of the online world.

“Most of my feedback is positive,” Jess said. “I honestly haven’t had anything from anyone thinking a girl shouldn’t be out here. Unfortunately, social media has really fed ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’, which has been difficult to handle at times. It’s all a learning curve, though.”

Part of that learning curve has been dealing with everything from marriage proposals, “I’m not sure how many, but I suspect most are after citizenship,” Jess said, to Hollywood visits. It’s a world as far away from outback station life as you can get, but one that with Jess’ artistic bent, she has found fascinating.

“I was in Hollywood with Kader Boot Co, which is also based in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The owners of Kader Boot Co, Kara and Nathan, were showcasing their boots to the stars at an Academy Awards gifting suite and asked me to go along to help them. It was pretty exciting rubbing shoulders with the stars.

I got a real buzz seeing the filming, etc. that went on in the streets in LA. It definitely reignited my passion for the arts. I’m pretty lucky I get to work on the land and have a creative outlet via social media.”

Since Jess has returned to station life, things have got even busier. Jess, like her fellow workers, can always look forward to a different work day, every day, which ensures plenty of great (and often quirky) stories to relay to her online audience. “For the next couple of months I’ll be managing 170,000 acres,” Jess explained.

“Then I’ll be driving a road train for harvest season again. My duties on the station change every day. First priority is making sure the cattle have water, so I do a lot of bore runs. After that, there’s fencing, vehicle maintenance and, of course, mustering to be done. It’s often the little tasks in between that make for the adventure, such as snakes in cutlery drawers.”

As well as her busy station life and keeping her followers entertained, Jess is about to embark on another exciting project that, again, combines her love of social media and outback life. In November, 2017, Jess will team up with legendary 83-year-old mechanic, Allan Gray, and 4WD accessory brand, Terrain Tamer, to host a new mechanical video series.

Like everything this well-grounded outback personality has been involved in so far, there’s little doubt the series will be a success and Jess’s audience will continue to grow.

When I asked Jess where she’d like to be in 10 years’ time and whether she could ever see herself leaving the country life, I received the expected answer. “I will always be involved with the land somehow,” she affirmed. “I could never live in the city; I’d go crazy, or crazier. No way would I trade that for traffic lights.”

We can only hope she doesn’t leave. As long as Jess is out there posting her latest adventure online, her urban-based followers will continue to gain insight into what happens beyond the shiny lights and myriad overpriced pubs and cafes of urban Australia.

That has to be a bloody good thing.

For those who remember City View 4WD Park, which has since closed, half of the tracks that were City View have been taken over by Swan Gully.

There are more than 900 acres of camping and 4WD tracks on offer, while another good thing about this place is that pets are allowed as long as they are kept under control.

The park entrance is almost the same; you now continue straight to the office and, once signed in, go and find a campsite, set up, air down, lock in the hubs and go check the place out.

Swan Gully ticks all the boxes when it comes to off-road playgrounds, covering novice to competition-style rock crawling and offering driver training. The tracks are rated, so common sense prevails and smart decisions need to be made before the harder tracks are tried to prevent unnecessary damage to the vehicles – nobody wants to go home on the back of a tow truck!

Having your 4WD maintained is as important as the accessories on it. The tracks can be very steep, rocky, rutted and loose, so it helps to have a spotter calling you through, and this is where handheld UHFs pay for themselves.

The views at the top of the ridges are endless and breathtaking; it’s easy to pull up, have a few cold ones and just get lost looking at the spectacular scenery.

The campsites are cleared, maintained and scattered throughout the park; the choice is yours. There are also level sites for motorhomes, but check availability before you arrive. Families that don’t appreciate roughing it needn’t worry, as ‘glamping tents’ are on the plans.

They’ll have proper beds and timber floors, so keep an ear out for the announcement of this perfect addition.

Something else that’s coming soon to this awesome place are SXS (side-by-side) buggies. These will be available on guided tours of the park, and the owners are finalising details before getting the go-ahead.

So this is not just your normal 4WD park; there are other things on offer that will cater for everyone, and the owners are very accommodating and inviting and love repeat visitors. Swan Gully is the perfect day trip or weekender for Queenslanders, so get on down there and experience it for yourself.

TRAVEL PLANNER

Where Swan Gully is situated near Bromelton, not far from Beaudesert, with easy access from Brisbane and its surrounds. As mentioned, there are more than 900 acres of camping and 4WD tracks, so you’re bound to have a blast!

Camping Campsites are scattered throughout the park – the choice is yours!

What’s on offer Dogs allowed Driver training available Special level areas for caravans and motorhomes Bottled water and snacks available at the office Mobile reception Toilet and shower facilities

Trip standard There are 2WD and 4WD access, plus special level areas for motorhomes. The tracks range from easy to extreme (where lockers and winches are required).

How much? 4WD PARK Day pass: $40 Overnight: $50 Extra day & night: $30 Late checkout: $10

Camping Overnight: $20 Extra day & night: $20 Late checkout: $10

Contacts SWAN GULLY PARK 388 Swan Gully Road, Bromelton, QLD, 4285 PHONE: 0475 630 843 WEB: swangullypark.com.au

THE problem with coming up with a new product is that, unless you’re well protected with registered patents, before you can say “look at this new gear” other competitors in the market have produced “very similar” gear for a cheaper asking price.

It’s a big disincentive for those companies who put in the hard yards to design something innovative, as shown by the recent breach of patent win by MSA 4×4 Accessories.

Shane Miles, owner of MSA 4×4 Accessories, invented the first drop-down fridge slide in 2007 and was awarded a patent in Australia and internationally. This should have protected Shane’s hard work – and the resultant product – from being copied, but sadly this hasn’t been the case.

MSA 4×4 has had to continually invest both money and time to ensure the company’s unique drop-down fridge slide design isn’t copied, with a recent case against Australian Ute Trays and Bodies Pty Ltd an example.

In early 2016, Glynton Chislett of Australian Ute Trays and Bodies Pty Ltd, began to sell a copy of Mr Miles’ drop slide that was in breach of his patent. When challenged, Mr Chislett gave undertakings to stop selling the infringing product.

However, less than 12 months later, Mr Chislett was once again selling the product, this time under a different company name.

This led to court proceedings that saw the Federal Court of Australia, on August 21 this year, order that Mr Chislett and his companies, Isipingo Investments Pty Ltd and DC & GC Investments Pty Ltd, infringed on MSA 4×4’s drop slide patent by manufacturing and importing an imitation of Mr Miles’ product into Australia and thus were in breach of Mr Miles’ exclusive rights to the drop slide’s design.

It’s a shame a company that has put in many years of hard yakka to produce what is an excellent product then has to defend that hard work through the courts.

“It’s disgraceful to see the livelihood of small Aussie businesses being ripped off by patent infringers,” Mr Miles said. “It seems to be an industry trend now that these companies come along and think they can steal the hard-earned designs and ideas of other companies who have put in the extensive time and money to develop new and innovative products.”

This isn’t the first incident of design-copying that MSA 4×4 has copped; a number of its 14 original designs have been effectively “ripped off by other companies” due to Mr Miles and his team not understanding the complex patent application process when these products were first designed.

With what MSA 4×4 estimates can be up to three years or more to finalise a new product design, it is disheartening and discouraging when a company is trying to recoup that design investment through retail sales, only to see a cheaper copy-cat product hit the market and undercut the profit potential of the original design product.

“It would be hard to continue to spend money on innovating new products when companies who behave like vultures and scavenge on other people’s product ideas are waiting in the sidelines to send it to a cheap Chinese factory to have it copied with inferior materials”, Mr Miles said.

The ridiculous and unfortunate thing is that, even though the court decision came down on the side of MSA 4×4, it still cost the company money to gain that result – money that could be better spent investing in the thriving 4×4 accessories market (and lifestyle) that these companies live for.

Custom MSA 4×4 Mazda BT-50 review

Plus, the company has to go back to court – again – to ensure the copycat gear is removed and also claim potential earnings lost through competition from the imitation product.

As MSA 4×4 state, this is a big win for the true R&D companies in the Australian four-wheel drive and auto industry that register their intellectual property and have the right to enforce them. And it’s hard to argue with that.

The alternative is a local accessories market that eventually becomes ‘non-local’, to the detriment of all of those who buy 4×4 accessories. After all, if you want a tough piece of equipment that is up to the treatment dished out by the 4×4 touring lifestyle, what’s better than a locally designed and tested product? Nothing.

IF YOU thought Patriot Campers couldn’t one-up itself, you thought wrong.

Vote for the Patriot Campers’ 6×6 LC79 to win the 2017 Custom 4×4 of the Year

The high bar it set with its ‘Black Truck’ LC79 has skyrocketed with the revelation of the Patriot Camper 6×6 Land Cruiser 79 Series.

In conjunction with some of the leading businesses in the Australian 4×4 industry, Patriot Campers has turned a 2017 Land Cruiser 79 GXL into the ultimate 500hp tourer.

The 6×6 utilises a JMACX 6×6 kit designed and engineered to work with up to 35-inch tyres. However, like most aspects of the build, Justin took it to the next level and fitted 37-inch Mickey Thompson MTZs.

In fact, basically every part of the LC79 has been modified. “The only thing on this truck that is still Toyota is probably the cab,” Patriots owner, Justin Montesalvo, told us.

Key mods include: airbags supplied by Airbag Man, JMACX rear diff housings, Marks 4WD portal hubs, GSL Fabrication 100% kit, TJM intake snorkel, five-inch stainless steel exhaust stacks and an NPC clutch. Watch the video for a full list of custom work.

The insane 6×6 premiered at the Melbourne 4×4 Show back in August – and we were the first to drive it not long after the event, where it had just 400km on the odo.

To read all about the 6×6 LC79 in detail – and our thoughts after driving it – pick up a copy of 4X4 Australia’s November issue which will be in stores on October 5.

Until then, enjoy the video.

IT’S FUNNY how quickly things can change.

When Ben Khan first bought this sweet, satin, steel-grey Colorado Z71, the main aim was to ‘just’ use it as a tow vehicle for his heavily modified Commodore, with the rest of its time for daily runabout duties.

It didn’t take long (only a couple of months after purchase) for Ben to view the Colorado as more than just a tow rig, and he started to explore the modification potential of Holden’s popular off-road workhorse.

You don’t get much more loyal to Holden than working for it and modifying a number of its sedans, so Ben’s choice of Colorado Z71 ain’t that surprising. However, it wasn’t done blindly.

His research on vehicles took a while, with the release of the revised Colorado in late 2016 sealing the deal for this passionate General man. Ben chose the revised Colorado due to the increased input by local engineers to improve ride quality, NVH and suspension/handling.

This resulted in new engine, body and transmission mounts, a switch to electric steering, tweaks to the electronic traction aids, and an up-size of the front stabiliser bar.

“I work for Holden, obviously, so that was a good starting point, and I really like the Colorado. I think it’s [the MY16 update] a vast improvement. The pre-2016 models to the new ones – yeah, a massive difference,” Ben reckoned.

It’s hard to disagree. The latest incarnation of the Colorado (Ben’s is the auto variant) is indeed a noticeable all-round improvement. When combined with the proven 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine’s 147kW/500Nm output (in auto form), you have a solid base from which to build a tough tourer. This is just what Ben has done, with a few surprise choices.

THE LESS-TRODDEN PATH

MOST of us looking to modify vehicles for touring tend to go straight down the aftermarket route. The vehicle manufacturers offer factory accessories, but these are more often than not bypassed by owners in favour of specialist gear. This wasn’t the case with Ben’s Colorado.

Again showing his loyalty to Holden – and with an eye for what looks schmick – Ben rifled through the Colorado’s factory accessory catalogue and fitted what we reckon is one of the best-looking factory-supplied front bars. The steel Safari bar fitted to the Colorado offers an integrated factory look that is unobtrusive in appearance while offering increased frontal protection and an improved approach angle.

Ben’s also ticked the boxes on the factory LED light bar and the steel underbody protection, only stepping outside Holden’s accessory list for some rated recovery hooks up front. The result is a tough-looking, functional front-end.

The factory accessory theme continues at the rear, with Ben fitting a Holden rear step bar, as well as a snorkel, tow bar, brake controller and rear tub liner. The only itch he has left to scratch is whether to fit a winch, which will mean a change to the current front bar.

“The only thing I don’t like about the Safari bar is that it doesn’t have provision for fitment of a winch. That’s the only downside, otherwise I’m loving it,” he said, adding that he’s not in a huge rush to fit a winch at this point in time.

GETTING HIGH

BEN has modified a number of Commodores over the years, but this Colorado was his first attempt at modifying a 4×4 and, initially, he just had one thing on his mod must-do list: a lift, with big rubber to accompany it.

For the lifted suspension, Ben did a tonne of research to figure out just what he wanted and eventually settled on a complete King Off-Road Racing suspension kit. He then called on the team at Fourbys in Moorooka, Queensland, to do the fitment.

The Colorado’s front end copped a three-inch lift, with King Off-Road remote-reservoir shocks and springs. Yep, it’s pretty awesome, but it wasn’t without the need for additional tweaks due to the height increase. Further mods include adjustable ball joints and a diff drop kit.

“It’s just to keep the driveline ‘straight’ so it doesn’t put undue stress on the CVs,” Ben explained. “It just keeps everything straighter, rather than having the CVs on a massive angle.”

Ben reckoned the two-inch lift at the rear was more straightforward, but he still wasn’t quite satisfied with the clearance around the wheels – so two-inch body blocks were fitted.

Rolling stock is a set of Tuff T16 A/T 20×8-inch alloys wrapped in beefy Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 305/55R20 A/T hoops. And, before you look twice, they’re huge. The lift and big rubber combo looks impressive, but how does it perform on- and off-road? Brilliantly, according to Ben.

“I absolutely love it,” he said. “The only small downside with the big tyres is the hum on-road, but you expect that. Suspension-wise, it is fantastic; I cannot rave on enough about it. I have had a couple of guys that I work with here that have driven it and they were blown away by it as well.”

THE FAST AND THE FUTURE

BEN’S definitely a man who, once he decides to do something, does it quickly. Once he had decided to “do a bit more to it” it only took him a few weeks of intensive research before he dropped the Colorado off at Fourbys with his wishlist and instructions. Impressively, the team there only took a couple of weeks to finish the project.

“Yeah, the actual job only took them two weeks to do,” Ben said. “There was a bit of to-and-froing, and a couple of bits were added last minute, and it was done.”

Those “couple of bits” include a custom BOSS air compressor with the air tank under the tray and workshop-style quick-release fittings that make it easy to run air tools or re-inflate tyres.

The other “bit” was something Ben fitted himself: The custom sound system, which is a mix of brands and components (including a JL Audio HD900 amplifier, TW5 13-inch subwoofer and JL C3-650 rear speakers, combined with Rockford Fosgate Power T4652-S front speakers) from Ben’s past street machines. Finishing off the interior mods is additional sound-deadening in the front and rear doors and the rear of the cab, plus a Uniden UH8070S UHF radio.

For a first-timer, Ben’s done a cracking job of modifying his Colorado for touring. Now it gives him the perfect excuse to get out and make the most of it, beginning with a number of off-road weekend trips, before tackling a few bigger adventures. And then there’s always those “few more” mods he’d like to include in the future.

“I would love to go higher, but obviously in Queensland that’s not legal. I would also like to put a couple more light bars on it, and maybe a roof rack,” Ben said.

“I have got the next few weekends away planned and that means more 4WDing. I thought I would gradually increase my skill level and then get onto bigger things.”

With this tough modified Colorado to help boost those skills, and knowing Ben’s habit of accomplishing goals quickly, we reckon it won’t be long before Ben and his wife are tackling one of those “bigger things” and heading off on the first of no doubt many epic outback adventures.

GOOD GEAR ELECTRICAL JL Audio HD900 amplifier TW5 13-inch subwoofer JL C3-650 rear speakers Rockford Fosgate Power T4652-S front speakers Uniden UH8070S CB radio Custom BOSS air compressor

WHEELS AND TYRES Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 305/55R 20 A/T hoops Tuff T16 A/T 20x8in alloys

SUSPENSION King Off Road Racing suspension kit King Off Road remote-reservoir shocks and springs

Fitment by Fourbys in Moorooka, Queensland.

OUR camp just above the creek was a cracker.

Tall, spindly red gums, most sprouting new growth in defiance of the recent drought, lined the banks of the creek, while native pine trees dotted the nearby hillside. Reeds and bulrushes formed a dense green veil along the trickling creek, while flowering cassia bushes added a dash of yellow and green to the tangerine colour of raw rock and earth.

Overlooking all was a craggy, red and fulvous-coloured bluff, which marked the northern edge of the gorge we had passed through to find our camp. But concentrating all of our attention was the small group of yellow-footed rock wallabies that had come down from their precipitous home to feed on the grasses and bushes along the creek, just metres from our camp.

Occasionally, a bigger hairier euro or hill wallaroo bounded its way through, but it was the delightful rock wallabies that captivated us. These beautiful and strikingly marked animals, which are relatively uncommon and only found in the Flinders Ranges east to the Barrier Ranges in western NSW, have made a bit of a comeback in recent years after being decimated by foxes and cats.

Warren Gorge in the southern Flinders is home to a small and growing colony of them, while a bigger, more vibrant community is found a little further away in the fully protected (no public access) Buckaringa Gorge Sanctuary, which is operated by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Warren Gorge, with its spread-out camping area dotted along the creek, is one of our favourite spots in the southern Flinders. Nearby is Argadells Station, a 32km² property that takes in some of the finest mountain country in the immediate vicinity including the crest of Mt Arden, the highest point in this southern section of the ranges.

From the township of Quorn, access to this entire area is easy. Quorn was once the railway hub of the region – the Ghan train ran from Quorn to Alice Springs. The important and tangible railway heritage is preserved for all to enjoy in the form of the Pichi Richi Railway, where young and old alike can take a trip on a steam train through the pass that gives the railway its name.

Further south (but on the tourist track) lies Mount Remarkable National Park’s host of walking trails, while Port Germein offers seaside camping, fishing and crabbing from the historic jetty, as well as swimming in the shallow, protected waters of the Gulf.

The Bridle Track is an easy 4WD foray into the ranges from near Port Germein, which leads east to a gravel road that takes you north to Melrose, one of the most delightful little towns in the area.

Heading north from Warren Gorge, you can stay off the blacktop by heading past the turn-off into the gorge, past Buckaringa Gorge (no entry), and past the historic Proby’s Grave to the low stone ruins of Simmonston.

Veering left here will take you on little-used dirt roads to the once boisterous settlement of Hookina, now nothing more than a few piles of stones marking where buildings once stood, including the upright ruins of the old hotel, an old plough or two, and a forlorn cemetery. If you are into geocaching, you’ll find at least one around here.

If coming to the Flinders from the east, the flat saltbush plains give way to grassy rolling hills around Jamestown, Orroroo and Peterborough, all hinting at the more mountainous delights that lie ahead. North of Orroroo, the Bendleby Ranges’ assortment of range, hill and plain country offers four-wheel drivers, walkers and mountain bike riders some of the most pleasant and challenging routes in the region.

There’s also great camping in an array of spots, and you could easily spend three or four days here and not double up on any of the tracks.

Further north is the Worumba Experience, situated on the 220km² Worumba Station. A 36km self-drive 4WD route takes you through a diverse range of habitats to the crest of Mount Plantagenet, the highest peak in the area. There are low-key camping sites dotted along Willow Creek, while there’s also accommodation in the property’s shearer’s quarters.

Once at the town of Hawker, it’s a short black-top trip north into what some consider to be the best of the Flinders. Wilpena Pound makes up the centrepiece of the encompassing Flinders Ranges NP, while the nearby resort located at the entrance to the pound has accommodation and camping.

Just down the main road is Rawnsley Park, a very popular camping spot. If you stay at either of these places (which are on the tourist trail, but still worth it) take the time to visit the Old Wilpena Homestead with its magnificent red gums lining the nearby creek, and take the short walk to Wangara Lookout.

One of my favourite drives in all of Australia begins here. At first light, head from Wilpena up the bitumen a short distance and take the dirt road west to Yanyana Hut, where you’ll enter the hills again and climb to the iconic Bunyeroo Valley Lookout. The Heysen Range and the ABC Range dominate the view to the west, while the light show in the early morning is divine.

The road drops into the Bunyeroo Gorge before passing between the ABC and Heysen Ranges. Once at a major road junction, take the diversion to the spectacular Aroona Ruins and its great campground spread along the creek.

Return to the major road junction to continue the drive, and then turn west to pass through Brachina Gorge. Some small campsites are tucked in the ranges through here, and the impressive peaks of Hayward Bluff, The Guardian and The Armchair put on a great display whatever the light and season.

Then, once on the bitumen on the western side of the ranges, head south and take Moralana Scenic Drive back to Rawnsley or Wilpena, through the hills along the southern flank of Wilpena Pound. Just up the road from Wilpena is one of the most popular 4WD destinations in all of the Flinders Ranges: Willow Springs Station.

Blinman, just 30 minutes’ drive north, was once the most significant copper producer in the Flinders Ranges, and the mine is now open for tourists – if cramped, dark places don’t worry you.

However, it wasn’t the only copper mine in the region. Today, a Public Access Route (PAR) allows four-wheelers to travel the 18km from the Glass Gorge Road just north of Blinman through rugged hills to the site of the once prosperous Nuccaleena Mine. This mine, operational in the 1860s, is definitely worth exploring.

Also coming off Glass Gorge Road is a PAR that heads through Hannigan’s Gap to the ruins of the Old Artimore Station. This route passes through some marvellous mountain country, with the distinctive Patawarta Hill dominating much of the scenery.

The ruins of the near-completely deserted Beltana Township – north of Blinman – are faring a littlebetter, while further east and deeper among the ranges is the Warraweena Private Conservation Park. You’ll pass the ruins of the historic Sliding Rock mine, which are worth a walk around, before arriving at Warraweena Homestead. The homestead is the heart of this large property and provides an ideal base to explore the surrounding area’s tracks and walks.

West of the Beltana Township is the historic property of Beltana Station, once owned by Sir Thomas Elder who, in the 1860s, was responsible for bringing camels into Australia. For many years the station was the base for a camel transport network that, before the railway pushed north, stretched to Alice Springs and deep into South West Queensland.

In 1875, Ernest Giles left on his groundbreaking expedition from the property, and today many of the buildings from those early days still stand. The station also has some great 4WD tracks, including one to the top of Mount Deception (named by Eyre in 1840) and another to the ruins of the Copper King Mine.

The property offers camping along the nearby Warrioota Creek and accommodation in the historic overseer’s cottage and the shearer’s quarters.

As the long stretch of mountain country heads to its final climax before petering out in the desert country to the north, the Flinders puts on one last extravaganza in and around the Gammon Ranges NP and adjoining Arkaroola Wildlife Sanctuary.

On its southern flank is the Nantawarrina Indigenous Protected Area, which covers 580km² of Aboriginal land and was the first Indigenous Protected Area to be declared in the country. You’ll need a permit to camp at the few designated spots on this land (available from the Nepabunna Community office).

The Moro Gorge camp is the most well-known, but you’re still almost guaranteed to have the place to yourself. There are a number of other campsites within the park, but remember this is a hot, dry and very rugged region, so you’ll need plenty of drinking water, especially if you get out of the car and go for a walk.

There is no doubt that the Arkaroola Sanctuary is the best known destination in the northern Flinders Ranges … and so it should be. Established long before ‘eco-lodges’ and ‘conservation’ became bywords of the environmental movement, Arkaroola was established by Reg and Griselda Sprigg, and the sheep were moved off and the feral goats culled.

Today, the property is still run by the family and offers the adventurous traveller a range of accommodation, camping and tracks to enjoy. While the Echo Camp Backtrack is a beauty and is a self-drive affair, the route to Sillers Lookout and its great views can only be enjoyed on a tour; it is well worth it!

On the western side of Arkaroola – and reached by a somewhat rough and often eroded 4WD track – are the remains of the old Yudnamutana smelting and mining operation. Two old boilers that once powered the operation are a reminder of the mine’s 1860s heyday, while a graveyard near the creek has a number of refurbished headstones.

There’s some enjoyable camping to be had near here, and you’re almost assured to be on your own. The smelter and most of the surrounding mines are on Mount Freeling Station, which occasionally offers camping and access to its extensive network of trails (permission is needed).

Heading north-west from Yudnamutana will lead back to the station homestead via Tin Hut and MacDonnell Creek (probably the largest ephemeral stream in the northern Flinders). Heading north-east will lead along some tough 4WD trails and across some rugged ridges to Hamilton Creek, which can be followed to the ruins of Mt Fitton Homestead.

Once at Mt Fitton, you can head east along a rarely used ‘road’ to Terrapinna Waterhole, located in a break in the range on Hamilton Creek. Heading west will lead via the recently abandoned Mt Fitton talc mine to Mount Freeling Homestead.

Just north of Terrapinna Waterhole, the Flinders Ranges fizzle to a low, stunted end of rounded hills at Mount Hopeless. From here, a sterile view of desert country and shimmering salt lakes stretch away to the distant horizon; little changed from when Edward John Eyre was turned back by the same desolate scene.

South from here is some of the best 4WD territory in Australia; so go and discover it for yourself.

TRAVEL PLANNER

Two state forests, three national parks, one IPA, seven conservation parks and three PARs, as well as a host of private properties that offer four-wheel driving and camping (see below), make the Flinders Ranges an ideal and enjoyable destination for the adventurous 4×4 traveller.

MAPS The best map is Hema Maps’ The Flinders Ranges. The best guide is The Flinders Ranges an Adventurer’s Guide by Ron and Viv Moon.

PROPERTIES Camping and 4WD trails are available on the following properties: Almerta Station: www.almertastation.com.au Alpana Station: http://alpanastation.com Argadells & Mt Arden: www.argadells.com.au Arkapena 4WD Track: www.rawnsleypark.com.au Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary: www.arkaroola.com.au Bartagunyah: www.bartagunyah.com.au Beltana Station: www.beltanastation.com.au Bendleby Ranges: www.bendlebyranges.com.au Edeowie Station: www.frabs.com.au/edeowie.htm Farina Station: www.farinastation.com.au Horseshoe Rim: www.thehorseshoe.com.au Moolooloo Station: www.moolooloo.com.au Merna Mora Station: www.mernamora.com.au Mt Caernarvon Track: www.caernarvontrack.com Rawnsley Park: www.rawnsleypark.com.au Spear Creek: www.spearcreekcaravanpark.com.au Warraweena Private Conservation Park: www.warraweena.com Willangi Bush Escapes: www.willangibushescapes.com Willow Springs & Skytrek: www.skytrekwillowsprings.com.au Wilpena Pound: www.wilpenapound.com.au Wirrealpa Station: www.stationstayssa.com.au/station/wirrealpa-station Worumba Experience: www.worumba.com For info and camping fees in the national parks and reserves in the area, follow the links at: www.environment.sa.gov.au

WE’VE trawled the catalogues and selected some of the best bits of kit currently on the market. Start preparing for your next off-road adventure!

RHINO-RACK LADDER

Accessing gear from your roof rack is never easy, due to the higher roofline of many off-road rigs. It can mean using sidesteps that may or may not give you that extra reach, or climbing up on the wheels. Or, you can grab Rhino-Rack’s new aluminium folding ladder.

At an extended height of 2325mm, it offers excellent reach and it also – handily – folds down to an easily packed 1060mm. The ladder features adjustable feet that are extra wide (70mm) for enhanced stability and it weighs next-to-nothing at a paltry 5.4kg. Don’t let its light weight fool you, as the ladder is rated for a maximum load rating of 125kg. The aluminium frame is powdercoated black and built tough, with a mix of alloy construction and case-steel hinges. You can also mount it easily to your Rhino-Rack Pioneer Tray or Platform rack, thanks to the included locking pin, mounting brackets and all essential hardware. The ladder is available at all Rhino-Rack stockists. Website: www.rhinorack.com.au RRP: $329

TRACK TRAILER MK5 TVAN Track Trailer has released the latest incarnation of its popular Tvan: the Mk5. The big news is the Skyward Lift-Up Deck, which makes accessing the camper’s interior easier and faster. The Skyward Lift-Up Deck allows the Tvan’s deck to be lifted up with the rear hatch, which is a time-saver. The hatch/deck is operated by push-button, and Track Trailer has raised the roof height by 100mm. Track Trailer has also added the Quick Cover Awning, which fans out to cover the Tvan’s kitchen and is self-supporting and easily set up.

On top of these additions, there is the option of fitting lithium batteries (a 90Ah upgrade from the AGM battery) for prolonged power supply. Other power options include 40amp Redarc DC-DC charger upgrades, solar panels, Bluetooth battery management, and a grunty 300W inverter. Further upgrades include new upgraded LED interior lighting, magnetic tent latches, floor supports, and the option to customise to suit your needs. Website: www.tracktrailer.com.au/TVAN

LEATHERMAN SKELETOOL KB & KBx Leatherman is famous for its multi-tools but it also produces excellent knives, the new Skeletool KB and its KBx sibling prime examples. The knives are super light (a paltry 42.5g) thanks to the cut-out design in the blade and handle. This minimalist design follows the trend for ‘naked’ knives that are pared down to just blade(s) and handle. Both models include a 66mm blade, the KB featuring a straight blade and the ‘x’ including a serrated section.

When closed, the knives measure 89mm, ideal for your pocket, glovebox or as a camp box addition. The blades are 420 High Carbon stainless steel, offering strength and years of use. The blade lock is the same as the multi-tools and provides a rigid blade that won’t move or bend at the hinge joint. The handle also has a bottle clip for opening coldies. Yep, we’re sold. Available from camping and outdoor stores. Website: www.leatherman.com.au RRP: $62.95

MSA 4X4 DROP SLIDE Call us a tad desperate, but when it’s time to access food – okay … beer – from a fridge, the easier it is to reach these items the better. With most 4x4s, food/drinks access can be compromised slightly by height – more so if the fridge sits on a cargo drawer. MSA 4X4’s Drop Slide system eliminates the access issue by sliding the fridge out from the cargo area and lowering it 300mm. MSA 4X4 claims the slide design means that gas struts of 670N to 1200N are needed to assist lowering, which helps keep the overall weight of the unit down compared to others.

The Drop Slide has a 200kg slide-runner rating, lock-in/lock-out safety latches and all the extras (fixing and straps) needed to fit the fridge. There are even Side Drop Slide variants available, designed for when the best way to fit them is actually sideways. There are numerous models to choose from, governed by the capacity and brand of the fridge. Best of all, Drop Slide has MSA 4X4’s lifetime guarantee. Website: www.msa4x4.com.au RRP: $425-849

EFS RECON R13 WINCH The team at EFS has spent more than two years developing this big-bopper electric winch. The Recon winch has been tested off-road by the team at All 4 Adventure and came through with a big tick from Jase and Simon, so it’s definitely up for the rigours of extensive off-road touring. Impressively, the winch has a 13,000lb (5900kg) rated single-line pull, which puts it at the top of the market in terms of capacity. It also includes a full-load automatic brake and a 265:1 gear ratio.

The 6hp electric motor is waterproof (as is the gearbox) and the 25m, 18,000lb, 10mm-diameter, syntuff synthetic multistrand rope is abrasion-resistant and includes anti-bind technology. The full-load auto brake is designed specifically to work with synthetic rope and this, combined with the gearbox’s three-stage zinc-plated hardened planetary gears, ensures a virtually bombproof winch – exactly what you want for your main recovery aid. Operation is via a wired remote (with 3.6m lead) or a wireless unit. Website: www.efs4wd.com.au

HEMA MAPS’ THE HIGH COUNTRY VICTORIA ATLAS & GUIDE Hema Maps’ has teamed with 4X4 Australia’s Ron and Viv Moon for this all-new (3rd) edition of The High Country Victoria Atlas & Guide. Its bumper 208 pages (and 40 atlas pages) are produced at 1:150,000 scale in a new cartographic style. The guide details the 30 best High Country off-road adventures, all research done by Ron and Viv.

Each trip has an inset map and info on camping, fuel spots and rest areas. Chapters include trip planning, what to see and do, and extra info on areas like the Great Alpine Road, and the Snowy River, Baw Baw and Alpine national parks. Available online and from all good camping, 4×4 and map stores. Website: www.hemamaps.com.au RRP: $49.95

DESPITE the fact most of us would love to live by the mantra, ‘work hard, play harder’, the reality of our fast-paced modern society means we’re actually working longer and harder but relaxing less.

This was first published in 4X4 Australia’s April 2013 issue.

BJ Elliott spends weeks away at a time working as an instrument electrical technician. This makes time at home even more precious and, for BJ, there’s nothing better than chilling out with his partner, Laura, in a peaceful bush camp or catching up with mates for some serious playtime.

BJ’s introduction to four-wheel driving was in 2005 when a friend offered to take him and Laura for a drive off-road. For a first-timer, rock-crawling can be daunting. With everyone strapped in securely, BJ’s friend, Jarrad Blaquiere, negotiated a steep climb, straddling rocks and boulders and pushing his Maverick’s articulation to the limit.

Balancing momentum with engine power, Jarrad powered up a seemingly insurmountable hill. BJ and Laura found the experience so profound that just two days later, they bought their first 4C4 – a standard 1990 DX 4.2 diesel GQ Patrol wagon.

In no time at all, the words ‘standard’ and ‘GQ’ would never again be used together to describe BJ’s toy. BJ was serious about mastering his skills on increasingly challenging terrain and, once he’d gotten the hang of off-roading, it was time to upgrade.

“The reason for buying another Patrol was simple, it’s known for having a strong drivetrain and solid axles,” he says. “Yes, it’s a very basic 4X4 when considering offerings from the competitors. There’s no stability or traction control and it has basic mechanical four-wheel drive activation – the driver’s still in control of what the car does.” His one post-purchase regret is that the vehicle isn’t fitted with a manual transmission.

As we cruise along in the luxurious cowhide-covered seats, cocooned in chrome and wood-grain surrounds, it’s easy to assume he’s never taken this comfortable vehicle off-road. Looks can be deceiving. Despite the upmarket trim, BJ’s not averse to dropping off the blacktop and kicking up dust or splashing through mud.

BJ takes us to the Harvey/Brunswick Junction area, one of his favourite close-to-home getaways. He explains the appeal: “Just a couple of hours south of Perth, and you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere … surrounded by lush green bush, with plenty of interesting and diverse tracks, from the easy drive to take in great views across the valleys, or challenging yourself and machine on hill climbs encrusted with boulders, shale and loose rubble.

Best of all, on the warmer days you can take a cool plunge at the dam, grab some lunch at a great pub or set up camp and kick back with friends after a great day’s driving.”

BJ, an easy-going bloke who is always ready with a joke, is passionate about his fourbie and has a real respect for the bush. Beneath his warm friendly exterior is a cool operator. His ability to thread the big Nissan unscathed through a gap that would make a Hyundai Getz driver break into a sweat has us cringing as we wait for the grind of tortured body panels.

BJ’s mate, Sam Chapman, helps keep the Patrol on course and is not shy about sending BJ across challenging terrain. With Sam spotting and BJ behind the wheel the Patrol really starts to dance – balancing on two diagonally-opposite wheels, then negotiating boulders, ruts and washaways that would give a mountain goat vertigo.

One of BJ’s most memorable moments was when the GU was still fresh with that new car cologne of crisp plastic and tanned leather. Up in the Toodyay hills, east of Perth, BJ powered through a boghole to straddle the guts of a valley.

“I’m talking 40-degree slopes on each side. The hill had a couple of nasty door-punchers, big holes and some nice angles,” he says. “[I] was finally guided through by Sam, but it was gut-wrenching putting a brand-new, $70k-plus car to its limits.” At least it proved all the extra bits already bolted on the GU were fully operational.

However, BJ’s favourite trip was heading north for the 2011 Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash. In half a day, he finished his latest mods to the rig, shopped, packed and started chasing his mates north. BJ and Laura caught up in Carnarvon and the group headed east to Gascoyne Junction for WA’s high-energy answer to the Finke Desert Race.

After the madness of the Dash, they headed home via Coral Bay. After completing plenty of exploration trips through WA’s north- and south-west, BJ is looking forward to heading east this year, combining time helping out with Sam’s 2013 Tuff Truck campaign with visiting brilliant east-coast destinations. The biggest concern is whether the GU is ready for such a big trip.

To confidently manoeuvre a vehicle across tough conditions, you need excellent driving skills – and BJ ticks that box. Secondly, you need advice and experience of experts to properly set up your rig.

“I like to have reassurance and confidence in the vehicle that when the formed track turns feral trail, critical components which get worked hard in the rough aren’t going to let me down,” BJ says.

BJ feels some pain at the fuel bowser from the GU’s 4.8L petrol motor. So he’s switched to a 145-litre Outback Accessories main tank and added a 70-litre LRA sub tank to extend his range. Otherwise, he couldn’t see how he could embark on his next dream trip – a Simpson Desert odyssey. It’s his one gripe about the standard configuration of the GU.

Still busy tweaking the GU’s performance, BJ says he’s looking forward to completing the exhaust mods with aftermarket extractors, then tweaking the chip via a Unichip tuner.

BJ’s expert advisory team has worked extensively underneath the GU. After fitting 35-inch Mickey Thompson MTZs on 17 x 8 steel rims, BJ found gearing a little tall. It’s great for economy under light throttle at cruise but taxed the 4.8’s torque curve when off-road or needing crisp acceleration.

Swapping the standard 3.5 diff gears with OEM 4.375 replacement centres put the pep back into the GU’s response on the blacktop with plenty in reserve for low-speed work when negotiating demanding terrain.

BJ says running Eaton Elockers front and back in the GU is a great investment. There’s no delay building air pressure and the locker is (almost) immediately on/off, providing extra traction quickly when things get out of shape. A Snake Racing diff guard provides rugged good looks and solid protection to the GU’s front diff pumpkin. Swap OEM knuckle benders for robust Yuri CVs and you’ve got a solid front driveline.

A host of goodies beef up the suspension and steering, including Tough Dog five-inch XHD coils, TD 45mm adjustable shocks, Panhards and steering damper, Roadsafe drag link, Snake Racing tie rod, lower control arms and extended brake lines and Superior Super Flex radius arms.

Sam has helped out with some custom work, building a Slinky Customs brake bracket and recovery points specific to BJ’s requirements.

It’ll also be hard for BJ get lost with his gadgets including a Garmin GPS map 60CS, In-dash eclipse GPS, GME 40ch UHF with remote speaker plus a Uniden hand-held.

Comfort, workability and storage needs are packed in back with Outback roller drawers, 11W spread beam LED work light, 140AH deep-cycle AGM dual batteries charged via a Redarc 20A DC-DC. There’s a beaut 74L twin-door National Luna fridge on a drop-down slide for easy access after hard driving.

Outside, the GU has an Outback Accessories rear bar with twin jerry-can holder and spare tyre arm, a modified Nissan winch bar (to suit the Warn high-mount winch), Nissan tow bar, Superior Engineering rock-sliders, Safari snorkel and Lightforce 240 Blitz lights for bright eyes.

The Foxwing awning’s mounted to a Front Runner three-quarter roof-rack on Rhino adaptors for easy removal to polish the roof – a chore that BJ willingly undertakes after every trip. His pride in this vehicle is clear – he doesn’t neglect less obvious maintenance such as electronic rust protection.

For those clicking away on the mental calculator, yep, you’re right; BJ’s GU has cost him a fair whack. Starting with a new top-flight vehicle and adding a mountain of good-quality gear has him well in the six-figure bracket. But like we said – if you work hard, you can play harder.