Summer 2018 issue: 4X4 Australia magazine preview

THE rock-crawling Ford Ranger you see planted on the cover packs Ultimate Dana 60 axles – some of the strongest axles on the planet – and is the result of an open chequebook and a complete disregard for rules.

A trip State-side brought us face-to-face with a custom 1988 Land Rover 110 with a Cummins R2.8-litre turbo-diesel residing beneath the hood; Sin City was also on the cards on our American adventure for the annual SEMA Show, and we list all the best four-wheelers and products to line the massive halls in 2018.

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We carve through off-road terrain in Thailand with the upcoming 2019 Mitsubishi Triton; the budget-priced Great Wall Steed dual-cab impresses with its underrated ability; and Matt takes a V8-powered RAM 1500 Laramie for a spurt to Melbourne’s outskirts.

Ford now offers the Everest wagon with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel introduced with the Ranger Raptor, so we decided to run it side-by-side with Holden’s 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel-powered Trailblazer. Is the Everest’s 2.0-litre the ‘little’ engine that could?

In this issue we also venture to the world’s largest parallel sand-dune desert, the Simpson; and we discover a new NT gem not yet open to the public.

We also chat to the experts to unravel why a recovery strap is an essential off-road recovery tool. Enjoy!

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WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

- Bonus 4x4 Adventure Series DVD: SE Qld (part 1)
- 4X4 Shed: Nissan Patrol GU
- Explore: Litchfield NP, NSW
- Product Test: UEV-490 camper trailer
- Terrain Tamer’s BJ40 Bull Buggy
- Ground Grabba tested
- 70 Series clutch and regear
- 1HZ engine gets boosted
- Regular columns, new gear and plenty more.