We hadn’t given them much thought for several years, but then we saw one on a Troopy in Papua New Guinea and remembered just how great they were.

We are talking about windscreen sun visors. Remember them? They have graced the windscreens of many vehicles, including the Holden Kingswood, and you wouldn’t have been seen beyond the ‘black stump’ without one ‘back in the day’.

We were struck with nostalgia at the sight of one on a Land Cruiser Troopy negotiating the battlefields of Buna at the end of the Kokoda Track, and we knew we had to have one for the Hilux. But when we got back to Australia, we were surprised that Toyota only offered sun visors as an optional factory extra for the Land Cruiser 70 Series. And so the web search began.

Solid colour-matched models are available as an aftermarket accessory for the Hilux via a few manufacturers, but the price range varies from $600 to $800.

Searching on, we found Sunshade Products at Roof Rack World in Adelaide. It manufactures and supplies a lightweight aluminium mesh visor for medium and large trucks, as well most four-wheel drive vehicles.

For a Hilux, the standard visor costs $275 with a further $55 for fitment. With an additional cost, custom fits are available to accommodate snorkels. All visor models have stainless-steel mounts, aluminium mesh and piping.

After fitting, the utility of the visor was immediately evident. The instrumentation on the dashboard – and the various aftermarket LCD displays (GPS, tyre pressure gauge, reversing camera, etc.) were far easier to see. The sunlight striking the driver and passenger was dappled and diffused. The cabin temperature and glare were markedly reduced, too.

The only downside was a slight hum from the airflow, which would vary with each model and application.

Rated WE SAY: Australian-made, old-school and high-value. RRP: From $275 (make/model dependent) AVAILABLE FROM: www.roofrackworld.com.au

Most Australian boat fishers spend the bulk of their time on estuaries, rivers, bays and harbours.

A good number also regularly visit freshwater lakes or man-made dams. As a result, one of the most popular classes of fishing vessel sold in this country is the ‘semi-flat water’ or estuary rig.

Typically, the hulls of these vessels are between 3.7m and 5.2m in length, with their outboards producing between 15 and 50hp – although, in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift to more powerful donks, and it’s no longer rare to see pocket-rockets loosely based on the American ‘bass boat’ concept, sporting powerplants with ratings from 60 to 150hp.

My idea of the perfect estuary/freshwater rig is an open boat with a centre or side console, although there’s much to be said for tiller-steer set-ups, especially at the smaller end of the size range under discussion here. Tiller steering opens up a lot of additional workspace in a boat, and that’s important.

My dream estuary rig would have a reasonably modest V-hull up front, transitioning to a flat underside amidships. It should draw no more than 20 to 30cm of water and be stable at rest, even with two adult anglers (three or even four in larger vessels) moving about as they stand and cast.

Naturally, the trade-offs in such a fishing-friendly hull design include diminished sea-handling capabilities. I accept that my dream rig may bang a bit in a decent chop (especially if built from alloy) and it’d be rather wet in a quartering sea with any sort of breeze. But I’d carry a decent set of wet-weather gear for the latter scenario.

Without question, my dream rig would run a bow-mounted electric motor; ideally one that boasts a wireless remote control and has GPS-actuated ‘spot lock’ or ‘anchor’ capabilities. There would be a powerful sounder/GPS combo unit on the console or back by the tiller steer position, and there would be a smaller unit up in the bow, where it’s easily visible while casting.

As a dedicated lure and fly fisher, I place great store in having a generous casting deck located in the bow of my estuary/freshwater boat. Ideally, this flat deck would be set as high above the water as practical, taking into consideration stability and safety issues. Every extra centimetre of elevation here adds significantly to the effectiveness of such a platform, increasing an angler’s visibility and casting range.

Having a smaller but functional casting deck in the stern of the vessel is also extremely handy, both for a second or third angler and also on those occasions when it works best to fish over the transom (such as is often the case when using your bow-mounted electric motor’s ‘anchor’ or ‘spot lock’ function to hold the boat in position against tide, current or wind).

Something my dream boat won’t have is a permanent canopy or fixed Bimini top. Sure, these niceties can be great for escaping the weather (both rain and sun), but in any boat less than 5.5m in length, they’re also guaranteed to adversely affect your casting, inhibit your vision and reduce the vessel’s ability to navigate tight country. If you insist on having a canopy of some sort (this may be desirable if the rig is going to double as a family fun boat), make sure it’s easily removable, or able to be stowed without impacting the vessel’s fishing capacity.

Abundant under-deck storage is highly desirable, as is an enclosed or partly enclosed rod locker capable of stashing half-a-dozen spare rod and reel outfits up to at least 2.2m in length.

If you’re starting to get the idea that my dream estuary rig isn’t the average 4.5m runabout straight off the showroom floor, then you’re right. Rigs of this ilk are relatively rare. A year or two back at the Sydney International Boat Show, I scoured every hall from end to end and found only a handful of set-ups I’d have been happy to take as-is for this role. Incredibly, just two of them were made with my preferred hull material of fibreglass, and only one of those was Aussie-made.

When you consider the thousands of rigs and tens of millions of dollars’ worth of toys on display at a show of that size, it’s staggering so few tick all the boxes in such a popular style of fishing. Perhaps it’s time a few more local boat builders began talking to keen anglers and actually listening to their responses?

When it comes to bush adventure, there’s nothing quite like driving over untravelled country – not to ‘bush bash’ it, but to open up alternative routes for people who’ve already driven Australia’s major tracks.

The Hay River Track was once a set of tyre tracks running north from Poeppel Corner on the main Simpson Desert crossing to Jervois on the Plenty Highway. This track was blazed by Aboriginal elder, the late Lindsay Bookie, and Jol Fleming, and is now a popular trip with bush adventurers, and a source of income, via permits and camping fees, for the Aboriginal people at the Bookie Family’s property, Batton Hill.

This new track, which I think should be called Jol’s Track, will also contribute to the Bookie Family funds, because visitors will drive via the Hay River Track and Batton Hill to access it.

At this early stage of development the track is permit-only, sourced from Jol Fleming’s Direct 4WD Awareness business in Alice Springs. The permit covers transit through Aboriginal Lands and also includes through-travel access to the Bush Heritage-owned property of Ethabuka, located north-west of Bedourie.

Bush Heritage is an organisation dedicated to protecting the natural environment, by acquiring and preserving properties that have high conservation value or environmental significance.

Ethabuka is a haven for desert wildlife and is home to a wetland system of national significance, brimming with shrimp, fish and waterbirds (following good rains). It also has one of the richest lists of reptile species in Australia, including Australia’s largest goanna, the perentie.

At the request of the Bookie Family and the Bush Heritage organisation, the initial trips will be tag-alongs, run by Jol Fleming.

The Hay River to Bedourie Track runs east from the Hay River Track, close to the turnoff to Lake Caroline. The initial tag-along groups will meet up at Jervois, allowing access on the Plenty Highway via Alice Springs or Boulia. They’ll then head south-east, on the northern section of the Hay River Track, to Batton Hill.

Camping there is excellent, with flushing loos, donkey-fired hot showers, fire pits and even a wood-fired oven. From there, the convoy will head south and cross the Hay River’s sandy watercourse, before visiting the dry bed of Lake Caroline to camp the night on a firm claypan.

The starting point of Jol’s Track is on the eastern side of the Hay River, where the new adventure begins. As with the Madigan Line, there has been no official track construction, so drivers will follow our 2015 tyre tracks through low scrub and over spinifex humps. Another similarity with the Madigan Line is that the dunes have much steeper eastern faces than their western sides.

The track traverses vegetated dunes and swales that gradually increase in size as the track nears the Queensland border. The permit conditions specify no deviations from the track and no deviations from graded private property tracks, other than campsite access. On the inaugural trip, we found great Gidgee campsites close to our tyre tracks so there was no need to stray.

There are no significant landmarks on this trip, but the enjoyment comes from travelling through desert country that has probably never been traversed by anyone. Driving through such country is tough on vehicle suspensions, because much of the route is through spinifex country. Negotiating grass mounds is a lumpy business that uses full suspension travel. One of our vehicles had a spring breakage and a cracked bracket that required some bush-welding attention.

Key GPS points along the route are the national park marker post at the Northern Territory-Queensland border and the east-west fence line on Ethabuka Station.

The dunes on Ethabuka are high, but progress is eased by the fact that these fence line tracks are graded regularly.

Needless to say, this track is remote and there are no water sources or services between Jervois on the Plenty Highway and Bedourie.

Most diesel four-wheel drives should manage the Jervois-Bedourie trek on one and a half tanks of fuel, but extra capacity is wise. Petrol vehicles use much more fuel in sandy conditions, so double tank capacity is essential.

Jervois sells fuel and is also your last chance for an ice-cream until Bedourie some five to six days later.For more information on Jol’s Track or to book your permits, go to www.direct4wd.com.au or call Jol Fleming on (08) 8952 3359

Diamantina National Park

Diamantina NP covers 5000km² of Queensland’s channel country. The park encompasses weathered sandstone ranges, floodplains, expanses of Mitchell grass, claypans and sand dunes.

The land, a former grazing property called Diamantina Lakes, was sold to the Queensland Government in 1992. The property is well-sited alongside one of two permanent waterholes created by the ‘Diamantina Gates’ – two gaps at the junction of the Goyder and Hamilton ranges – that concentrate the Diamantina channels into narrow streams, running between the low limestone hills.

The narrowing is clearly visible from ‘Janet’s Leap’, a vantage spot above the river. It is so named because, at the handing over of the Diamantina Lakes Station, one of the onlookers said: “Janet Holmes à Court might as well jump off the cliff as sell the property to National Parks.” She didn’t jump and we all can appreciate the results of the transfer.

A visit to the park properly begins at the old homestead, at the Ranger’s Headquarters. Hunters Gorge campsite has a deep waterhole and sits on the Diamantina, and the other site at Gum Waterhole is on Whistling Duck Creek.

Shady campsites behind waterfront coolabahs let campers witness a display of birdlife unexpected in such a remote region. Kings of the waterhole are undoubtedly the pelicans that ‘sail’ up and down the water courses, taking time off to fish and to squabble with one another. Cormorants, ducks and swamphens take their chances, fishing beside the much larger pelicans. The waterhole trees are home to thousands of birds, with the noisiest being corellas and galahs.

Bedourie

Bedourie, meaning ‘dust storm’, is a small town with a population of 120 people and is situated between Birdsville and Boulia. There’s an artistic representation of a dust storm in Herbert Street.

Set on a sand ridge and surrounded by Eyre Creek, Bedourie is the administrative centre of the Diamantina Shire’s 95,000km².

In the 1880s, Bedourie was a major watering and rest stop for drovers moving cattle from the Northern Territory and north-west Queensland to the customs collection point in Birdsville, 200km south.

The town has an airport, hotel/motel, caravan park, hot spring baths, a restaurant and tavern, general store, wireless internet, fuel services, a police station and a medical clinic.

Attractions around Bedourie include the Vaughan Johnson Lookout, the wetland at Cuttaburra Crossing, Carcory Ruins and Diamantina National Park.

Cuttaburra Crossing, a permanent waterhole and wetland on Eyre Creek, is located between Lake Koolivoo and Lake Machattie and is home to many species of birds. This birdlife can be viewed from a roadside rest and viewing area.

When we first showed you the 4.2tdi-powered VW Amarok from German tuning haus MTM a few years ago, it was set up as more of an on-road performance car with low-profile tyres and stiffer suspension.

For the 2016 Geneva Auto Show, the company set things right with a cranked-up version of the rod that it calls Desert Passion.

Beneath that matte-orange skin lies the VW/Audi group’s sensational V8 diesel engine making a stonking 302kW of power and 930Nm of torque between 2,000 rpm and 3,000 rpm. With raised suspension and Cooper 305/50 ZR 20 under flared ’guards, the tyre choice still isn’t ideal, but at least it should offer some off-road performance.

But who cares with that snarling V8 diesel under the bonnet!

For many years the range of VRS winches have been sold in Australia and around the world with thousands of them proven in the field, providing users with safe and reliable recovery from those often found hazards when out exploring this great country of ours.

This is advertiser content.

Users of the VRS winch range have benefited from the IP68 water & dust rating amongst the highest available in the market. Combine the performance, compact size and the limited lifetime warranty, the VRS product range is great value and is supported by a manufacture with over 40 years 4wd industry.

So it’s no surprise the manufactures of the VRS winch range VRS have now released to market a great range of recovery gear to complement their winches.

VRS had the plan to produce a quality product with improvements to the normal recovery gear, but without high hi price point.

Developed by dedicated 4X4 industry people with decades of real life four wheel driving, the VRS team have taken their many years of 4X4 knowledge and experience to develop and test the new range of VRS recovery gear in the field and in real life situations. Many hundreds of hours were spent in the field to prove the reliability and performance of the range before going to market.

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The new blue range of VRS Recovery gear has many improvements over other brands in the market, like the new snatch strap that comes in a 10mt length and has neoprene sleeves as standard. The tree protector is now 5mt long with neoprene sleeves a standard and the winch extension strap is 5000kg rated.

Although the recovery items are sold individually, the VRS range can also be purchased as starter recovery kits through to complete recovery packages with pretty much everything you need to get you out of trouble should you find yourself in a sticky situation.

VRS have also made their starter recovery kit to include a full size recovery bag, this gives the customer room to grow and expand their recovery gear collection and still have somewhere to store it.

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Some other unique benefits to the VRS range are the recovery gloves. No need to take your gloves off when answering your phone, the VRS gloves are compatible with most touch screen phones and tablets.

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The VRS drag chain has a semi hard pressed clam shell pack that not only looks good but will also keep the things around it safe and clean.

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VRS Winches and Recovery gear is available from most 4wd stores with prices starting at $12.95.

VRS plan to increase their range of accessories and equipment. If you want further information or stay up-to-date via the VRS web site www.vrswinch.com.au or like them on their Facebook page.

The Amarok is the first vehicle in line for Volkswagen Australia’s diesel emissions recall program.

The voluntary recall program will start with the 8,694 Amaroks affected by the global emissions matter and will involve a software upgrade performed by a Volkswagen dealer technician at no cost to customers.

VW Australia says the upgrade will take about half an hour and will have no effect on vehicle performance, torque, fuel consumption, or engine acoustics.

“Volkswagen Group Australia assures its customers that the implementation of the measure does not lead to a deterioration of the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, engine performance, torque and vehicle acoustics and all vehicle values related to type approval remain unchanged; and continue to outperform the minimum emissions requirements of both Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards,” a statement says.

VW Australia emailed Amarok owners this morning, and will also send letters inviting them to make appointments with local Volkswagen dealers.

The company has advised that customers should wait until they receive a letter before booking a dealer appointment.

Recalls for other Volkswagen Group models with 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines will continue throughout the year, progressing model by model. A recall for affected 1.6-litre vehicles will start later this year.

For more info visit: www.volkswagen.com.au

Other models in the program will follow in the coming months.

Customers can also contact VW customer care on 1800 504 076.

By the time you read this, I’ll be back in Oz, looking for some desert country after experiencing the almost stifling verdancy of north-east North America, where we have been travelling for the past few months.

We’ll be preparing the Patrol for a latish trip up to the northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, the Corner Country of New South Wales, and south-west Queensland. I normally wouldn’t go up that way in October but, with the rain the region has had in the past few months, the countryside will be in great condition and the waterholes will be brimming and full of life. Such conditions only come about every couple of years, so I’m grabbing the opportunity to see it while it lasts.

There are some magical waterholes to visit when travelling that part of our outback. High on the list for this trip will be the waterholes in and around Arkaroola in the northern Flinders region (see: www.arkaroola.com.au). There are the Stubbs, Bolla Bollana, Echo Camp and Nooldoonooldoona waterholes (try pronouncing the last one after a few beers) to name a few, and all of them attract wildlife and birds, despite the normally arid climate that surrounds.

It’s best to get to such places early in the morning or in the early evening when animals and birds come in to have a drink. Park the truck and sit with a drink and a pair of binoculars under a tree and you will be surprised at what starts to move in and around the waterhole after about 10 or 15 minutes.

On the way north and slightly south, but still in the Flinders, I’ll take a wander out to Warren Gorge to see if the creek through the small gorge is flowing and the waterholes are brimming. It’s a place I’ve been going to since I was a kid and I used to catch tadpoles in and along the creek. Located just north of Quorn, Warren Gorge is a top spot to camp for a few days and the local council has set up a few toilets and rubbish bins for those staying for a day or two, or longer.

Warren Gorge is also a good spot to spy the shy and elusive yellow-footed rock-wallaby, one of our most delightful and magnificently marked native animals. Restricted to the Flinders Ranges and rocky hills to the east, as far as the Barrier Ranges north of Broken Hill, the yellow-footed wallaby has had a hard time dealing with foxes, cats and humans. This has resulted in wallaby numbers plummeting. The good news is that, with a lot of effort by numerous groups and government departments, the wallabies are bouncing back. The last time I was in Warren Gorge last year, one sat on a rock ledge no more than 10 metres from me.

Heading north, we’ll also check out the camping area and ruins at Farina, just north of Lyndhurst. The camping area here, set on Gum Creek, is one of our favourite camping spots when heading north of the Flinders or along the Strzelecki or Birdsville tracks (see: www.farinastation.com.au). There are a lot of birds along the shady creek and the old ruins of Farina (which are being renovated by the Farina Restoration Group) are well worth putting some time aside to investigate.

Cutting across the top of the Flinders Ranges on a remote track brings you to Hamilton Creek, and just up from the track crossing is Terrapinna Waterhole, which should be a lot bigger than it was the last time I saw it a couple of years ago. Even then, the 30-metre-long waterhole, confined by its low, rocky cliffs, played home to a group of 20 or so cormorants, while in the evening a heap of other birds came in to drink.

Further north along the Strzelecki Track, there’s a couple of waterholes. The best and certainly the most permanent is the man-made Montecollina Bore, with its overflow and cooling ponds nearby. You’ll be surprised at what birds you’ll find here; from mobs of corellas to banded stilts and other feathered wanderers.

We’ll poke through Sturt National Park to Tibooburra and Milparinka (a couple of good waterholes for humans are through there). Then we’ll go down the back way to the Barrier Ranges and Broken Hill, checking out a few waterholes along the way. It’ll be a great way to spend a week – you should do the same while the country is relatively green and the waterholes are full and brimming with life!

In the past few years, the Iveco Daily 4×4 has caused a stir for being an almost perfect outback travelling vehicle.

It is big but not too big, has a powerful intercooled turbo-diesel engine, a manual gearbox, not one but two low-range ratios, can be fitted with 37-inch rubber as standard, has huge towing and carrying capacities, can be down-rated to drive on a standard drivers licence and comes with offerings of single and double cabs that drive more like cars than trucks.

Enter Expedition Vehicles Australia (EVA), a Queensland-based mob that has devoted its expertise in kitting out remote area vehicles on the Daily.

Hands-on owner Justin Beall reckons that although there are other vehicles out there that can do part of the job, the Iveco Daily nails its category of vehicle, offering superior comfort and unrivalled off-road ability without needing aftermarket accessories; as if OE front and rear lockers, parabolic leaf springs, ultra-low range gearing and huge rubber need adding to!

While Justin has not spent an age in this section of the 4×4 industry, he is a step ahead because of his industrial chemistry background, ability to use CAD, solid works and finite element analysis skills to design and test his manufacturing even before it leaves the shed. Added to that, Justin has built Trophy Trucks for desert racing and competed in the odd Outback Challenge and nav-runs.

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Specifically for the Iveco Daily 4×4, he has developed both steel and aluminium 17×9-inch rims, which have been approved for use in Australia.These rims are a replacement for the original, narrower steel rims and can legally mount a range of 37×12.5R17 tyres to offer exceptional on- and offroad handling.

Not one for keeping things stock, regardless of how good they are to start with, Justin fits King Shocks to his EVAs, while retaining the ultra-flexible parabolic leaf springs.

His knowledge of all things plastic – he was an industrial chemist, remember – has allowed him to design and manufacture a 200-litre capacity water tank that can be slung underneath, via his own lasercut fitting brackets.

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His 158-litre fuel tank adds to the standard 90-litre job, while alloy bullbars, winches, custom tow bars with optional Air Safe units fitted, air adjustable seat modifications, solar panel arrays, headlight upgrades and even custom-made access handles for those that need help climbing up into the cab can all be supplied at EVA.

Surprisingly, given all the other standard off-road oriented inclusions, the Daily comes with no snorkel, but Justin is quick to bolt one of those on to be sure that clean air is delivered to the high-tech common rail intercooled turbo-diesel.

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For something just a bit different – or extravagant, depending on how you look at it – Justin was in the process of fitting an Alison six-speed auto ‘box to an EVA Daily. While it’s his first attempt at this, there is no mucking around with the process given the brand-new ’box sitting in a crate just waiting for final bracketry to be cut.

The only downside he mentioned was that the new gearbox tips the scales at about 150kg, compared with the standard six-speed manual at 50-60kg. While that’s a huge weight increase, you can betcha bottom dollar you won’t break an Alison ’box, plus you get a smooth-shifting auto six-speeder.

Justin can build pretty much whatever you want, from a custom alloy tray for work or play with associated under tray tool boxes to his own fibreglass mobile home module, complete with all the mod cons most expect while touring indefinitely.

One downside to the vehicle we plainly witnessed during our day out driving was that even though there are four seats in the rear bench of the dual cab, making it a six-seater, you really can’t expect to fit four healthy lads in comfort. While it’s easy to fit three, you have to sit where the seat belts are, so you still end a bit squashed.

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There are other trucks on the market that can more easily take four in the back seat without it being so squeezy. Other than that, the Daily features plenty of in-cab storage space and sits comfortably at any legal highway speeds you choose.

If you feel the hankering to drive what may well be one of Australia’s best longterm, off-road touring machines to tackle your jaunts around our great southern land, you can give Justin at Expedition Vehicles Australia a bell on 0402 337 734 or visit www.eva4x4.com.au/ for more information.

Personal Experiences I’ve been waiting for years for the Daily to reach our shores, having had a bit of first-hand experience with them in the Dakar Rally back in 2010. While they have been available in some countries for years, it took Iveco an age to bring them to us.

Having driven the Daily, I wanted one. Having witnessed its great offroad ability, I wanted one. Having pored over the inclusions that make it such a capable off-road vehicle – lockers, low range and suspension – I wanted one.

Then there’s the price; sure, it’s more than a new Cruiser, Patrol or any other serious off-roader available in Australia, but you don’t have to add much aftermarket gear to hit the tracks. So I still wanted one. The only problem I couldn’t get over was the size of the Daily.

It’s not as large as a Canter or Hino that I drive in my local Rural Fire Service and it’s not much longer, wider and higher than your average large recreational 4×4. But, having a Daily as my only vehicle would become a pain in the rear for the 95 per cent of time spent off the tracks.

Not being of retirement age yet, I couldn’t justify having a Daily-type vehicle to take the kids to school, double-park at the shopping centre or hustle around my local hardware store.

Perhaps in another 10 years when the kids have left home (fingers crossed) and we can enjoy the open road on a regular long-term basis, then, I reckon the dual-cab Daily with an alloy tray and removable camper module would be the perfect vehicle to see every square-inch of Australia, with way more on-board storage than anything else available.

Alas, I’ve just shelled out for a Land Cruiser Troopy, as a second choice. I still want one a Daily, though!

Daily verses 200 Series Cruiser To give you a fair idea on exactly how large the EVA Iveco Daily 4×4 really is, we dumped a 200 Series Land Cruiser next to it … I’ve never had cause to describe a 200 as small before!

Initially, the standout difference with this particular Daily was the rather tall, stark fibreglass shell of a motorhome unit perched on the back.

Aside from that, while the Daily is larger in all respects compared with the Cruiser, it’s not ridiculously huge like some other truck-based 4×4 motorhomes. Still, you won’t be driving into underground parking garages, and keeping an eye out for low branches on the tracks will quickly become second nature.

The pictures tell some of the story.

Whether you’re a boatie, a camper or just a bit afraid of the dark – you’re sure to find something useful in Pelican’s range of compact lights.

2780 LED HEADLIGHT This range-topping headlamp has far more options than the 2750 headlamp. But powered by four AA batteries housed in a remote battery pack, it is also more awkward than the 2750, though you do quickly get used to the pack balanced on the side of your head. You know it’s there, but it’s not inconvenient.

It also has far more options, including three-stages of light power plus four different position modes: there’s a main/downcast mode, which points straight ahead while a beam also points down in front of you; there’s a downcast-only mode, which is perfect when you are reading, or preparing/eating dinner; there’s a main beam mode that directs light straight ahead; and there is a flashing mode. In the first mode on the high setting the light produces 430 lumens. Each mode is controlled by a dial on the right side of the unit, with the brightness controlled by a push-button on the end of the dial.

It has three options for a cover – white, black and fluorescent – and it is waterproof to 1m. So for those out there wanting a powerful all-rounder, this one is for you.

RATED Available from: www.pelicanaustralia.com RRP: $79.95 We say: Simple, compact and easy to ease.

3310PL LED FLASHLIGHT For those looking for a new hand torch, I have found it. This one is a cracker. It’s light, small and it has beam that’s claimed to gleam for up to 240 metres, on the high setting (I didn’t measure the distance, but it does go a long way).

Its high-performance LED can produce up to 234 lumens, it is waterproof to a metre, and its casing is fluorescent! So you don’t have to guess where you have left the torch late at night – it’s so bright that you can’t miss it.

It comes with a handy wrist strap plus the three AA batteries it needs for operation. It also has a high/low beam control. At low beam it’s claimed to have a battery run time of 190 hours – amazing!

RATED Available from: www.pelicanaustralia.com RRP: $54.95 We say: Clever, handy and great for its size.

2750 LED (GEN 1) HEADLIGHT This headlamp is preferred for its simplicity. It doesn’t have a lot of options, but it is compact and easy to use. It comes with three AAA batteries and it was easy to get up and running in no time. I just slapped in the batteries, adjusted the head strap, and away we went.

It has a three light phases; high, 100 lumens; low, 40 lumens; and flashing. The high-power 100-lumen phase has a high-beam distance of 71 metres. At low beam it will run for 12 hours.

It can be tilted forward to suit, it’s perfect to light up your dinner plate in the dark, and it is waterproof to a metre. This little cracker has a permanent spot in my truck from here on.

RATED Available from: www.pelicanaustralia.com RRP: $69.95 We say: Multipurpose and convenient.

LIGHT CASE 9000 Aimed at the boatie and those hardcore kayak fishermen out there, this one could be for you. It’s waterproof, dust-proof and it floats. It is also the perfect home for your all-important personal items while you play.

The 9000 snaps shut and it comes with a handy hook and carabiner, so it could also be used as a tent or swag light, and its light has three stages – high, medium and low beam – with the low beam lasting an impressive 100-plus hours. It provides 200 lumens on the high setting and it’s powered by four AA batteries, which are included.

Protected from the elements, the 9000 has several uses, but it’s especially great for storing important possessions – for example, mobile phones and keys. They are worth protecting.

RATED Available from: www.pelicanaustralia.com RRP: $44.95 We say: A powerful all-rounder with plenty of uses.

I have been poking around the darkness with a set of 50W Narva Extreme HID driving lights for more than six months now. Having had the Narva 225s for many years, I can notice some advantages of owning the Extremes.

Don’t be put off by the extreme-looking external cage-like mounting bracketry and the 360-degree protective chromoly steel frame – these lights are suitable for touring and general night driving as well as ‘extreme’ off-roading.

Because the light housing is suspended from the outer framework via rubber grommets, vibration dampening reduces long-term internal damage, and the fastenings are less prone to loosen.

Regarding the actual light throw; one main difference is the driving light’s larger spot area, although the spread-light pattern is similarly wide. This equates to a more useable light projection than the sabre-like beam of the 225 spotty – both great lights but different!

Although I’ve not yet dunked my lights, they are said to be IP67-rated, meaning they are submersible and feature a Gore-Tex breather to ensure total sealing.

The Extremes are available in halogen bulbs as well, but I’ve not tested them, so I can only comment on the brightness of the HID bulbs, which are fitted with the latest Gen5 internal ballasts and waterproof connectors. The brackets and outer rings, however, are identical across the range.

The top-mounted knob means tools aren’t needed to adjust the light’s vertical range to align it on road after loading and unloading weight in to the Land Cruiser. Such adjustments are mainly needed for the concentrated spot light. Any further adjustments (which generally wouldn’t be needed) require the relevant tools. The lights have a very deep dish that, combined with the external rings, takes up plenty of real-estate on the bullbar, so be sure you have adequate room.

From corrugated tracks and rough low-range work to regular highway runs, the lights’ mounting brackets have proved sturdy enough to limit annoying vibrations. The actual light is ridiculously bright, so you need to be aware of oncoming motorists and of dipping your lights when approaching reflective road signs.

All up, these lights are well worth the side effects of having people think you’re a bit extreme!

Rated

Available from: www.narva.com.au RRP: $899 We say: Sturdy and ridiculously bright.

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