Toyota Landcruiser make North Americans drool

OK, not all North Americans drool at the sight of a Toyota Landcruiser, but a certain subset of the 4X4 driving public certainly does. And to think that right now, in lands far from these shores, brand new Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series Turbo Diesel 4x4s can still be purchased for about $35,000 dollars, well, it makes some of us drool. 

But down in Australia, you can still buy classic Landcruiser 70 series--albeit powered by an earth shaking V8 turbo diesel engine--that are about as trail and expedition ready as any 4x4 needs to be. 

While I don't expect to get to Australia anytime soon, nor would I have that kind of change to spend if I did, it's nice to know that somewhere Toyota Landcruiser 70-Series are still being manufactured and sold. 

Four Wheelers Managing Dust

Dust. For four wheelers, it's as nasty as mud, only drier. Worse when it comes to visibility. Worse still when it comes to the environment. 

So to reduce the environmental impact of heavy dust, and the erosion that comes with it, Tread Lightly! has partnered with Hummer to create a Dust Abatement Project in Arizona (Good choice: is there anywhere dustier than Arizona?)

The goal of the Tread Lightly! project is to research the effectiveness of dust 'suppressants' to help ensure popular-but-dusty 4X4 trails remain open and to help protect the environment from all that dust and erosion. It's a great idea. 

The study is being funded by HUMMER's Restoration Rescue fund, which was created in 2008 as part of Tread Lightly!'s Restoration for Recreation program.

2009 4X4 of the Year: How's that?

As a new year gets underway, a slew of shiny new 4x4 trucks and 4WD SUVs has also hit the roads and trails around the world, and the "4X4 of the Year" awards are already flying.

But what really makes a 4X4 of the Year? That depends on where you live, what magazine you read, what 'class' you're interested in, and how rich you are--because there are many different 4x4s of the Year, it turns out.

Down under in Australia, the Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 diesel has been named 4X4 of the Year by the Australian 4X4 Magazine. In the UK, the 2009 Fiat Panda scooped up the same award from Britain's 4x4 and MPV Driver magazine--but the 2009 Land Rover Discovery 3 is the 4X4 of the Year according to the UK's 4X4 Magazine.

Over in the United States, Peterson's 4Wheel and Off Road magazine has chosen the 'new' Suzuki Equator pick up truck as 4X4 of the Year, and up in Canada top 4X4 of the Year honours go to the Dodge Ram pickup truck.

But let's stop here, because the more you search, the more 4X4s of the Year you find. Depending on which publication or automotive journalist association you believe, there can even be more than one 4x4 of the Year in a given country.

Which just goes to show that no one else can or should tell you what's your 4x4 of the Year. Because the only 4x4 of the year that matters is whatever rig gets you where you need to go and back, and doesn't break the bank in the process.

And with 4x4's, a good rule of thumb that any four wheeler will tell you is: the older, the better. Bells, whistles, traction controls, and heaters are all well and good, but a simple and proven 4x4 wins every time. Tough to break, simple to fix, cheap to buy, and plenty of parts.

In that sense, the 2009 4X4 of the Year could be a 1983 Toyota Landcruiser. Or a 1979 Ford Bronco. Or perhaps a 1991 Isuzu Trooper. Or maybe a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder. In other words, whatever 4x4 you can afford, whatever 4x4 you enjoy driving, and whatever 4x4 works for you--that's the only 4X4 of the Year that matters.

Now is the time to drive, to four wheel, to explore

Cabin Fever: Pining for 4WD Adventure
At this time of year (mid winter up north) the simple fact that most 4x4s spend about 95% of their lives parked drives me a little nuts. All that metal, glass, and rubber sculpted, dented, bolted and welded together to serve a 4x4 purpose, sitting there doing nothing. Maybe it's a bit of cabin fever after months in the relative northern winter darkness, but it doesn't seem right.

(Photo: my Isuzu Bighorn Tdi on Sakhalin Island, Russia in 2005)

4x4s are meant to be out there, hubs locked, low range engaged, on the trails, exploring off road parks, traveling across continents, carrying their wide eyed and adventurous passengers to destinations undiscovered; literally expanding our horizons.

It's usually about this point in the North American winter that I look back on the previous year and count the number of times I've explored new off road 4x4 horizons. Inevitably, it's always less than I expected, less than I planned. Life--daily life, the grind--always seems to take over and push out the more profound, nobler pursuits.

Yes, I considering time well wasted on 4x4 back road--with no destination in mind, just enjoying the scenery and wondering what 4WD challenge lies around the next corner--a very noble pursuit and a very fitting metaphor for life.

Yet somehow, many of the great trips I hope to take keep getting deferred; epic journeys replaced by trips to the grocery store and days in the office. Alaska. The Yukon. The Northwest Territories. The Outback. Chile. Tierra Del Fuego. Vladivostok to St. Petersburg.

These places drift in and out of the periphery of my thoughts endlessly; in my mind I equip and reequip various 4x4 vehicles for each journey, planning for that day in the future when we set out again. Virtual preparedness.

It's been said that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, and this is certainly true. But when it comes to 4WD travel and adventure, it's important to keep making those plans and keeping the exploration dreams alive--otherwise, like the waste deep snow blowing outside the door, they too will drift away.

Oh well, spring is right around the corner. Better start organizing my kit, getting my recovery gear ready for another season on the trails, and prepping my truck. Wouldn't want to see another season drift by without a few more significant 4x4 trips under my belt and in my memories...

Nissan Pathfinder 4x4: Long Term Test Rig

In our never ending quest to drive, test, and 'wheel as many 4x4 trucks and SUVs as we can get our hands on, we've recently added another long term test rig to the 4WDTraveller stable.

This time, our goal was to find a vehicle that can be used as a comfortable daily driver and a capable trail and travel rig.

It would have to be able to tackle trail obstacles, tow at least 3500kgs (5000 lbs), travel easily on highways, and fit at least four adults and their gear comfortably.

It would also have to be reliable and proven, widely available (in our area, at least) and somewhat fuel efficient.

Based on these requirements, we chose a previous generation Nissan Pathfinder. The Pathfinder has plenty of trail cred, one of the best V6 engines ever bolted into a 4WD, standard limited-slip rear differential, and great road manners.

The Nissan Pathfinder isn't the most hard-core trail rig by any means--no solid axle up front, no diesel option in North America, and not a lot of aftermarket 4x4 accessories--but it has been one of the best all-around 4x4s for many years.

We'll be testing the Pathfinder on road and off over the next year or so, and will provide plenty of long term test updates as we progress.

2009 Suzuki Equator Pick up

As we previously wrote about, the all new Suzuki Equator 4x4 pick up truck is here, arriving in dealer showrooms from coast to coast.

The Suzuki Equator is essentially a dolled up 2009 Nissan Frontier with Suzuki badging, but this is good news.

The Made-in-Tennessee Frontier has proven itself a worthy trail rig and a rock solid work truck, as well as a practical daily driver, and it looks as though Suzuki will continue the trend. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the chrome grille--it's a departure for Suzuki 4x4s--but it might grow on me.

We're big fans of Suzuki and Nissan 4x4s overall, so look for a test drive and trail review of the 2009 Suzuki Equator 4x4 as soon as we can get our hands on one.