February 02, 2006
Practical 4x4 Off Roads Information
Subscribers: 3398Hi
Welcome to this edition of the 4x4 Newsletter!
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TOPICS:
- A Note From The Editor
- On The Drawing Board
- Readers Rigs Are On!
- New Stories
- Article - Safety in Numbers
- Your Single Biggest Wish?
- Submit Your 4x4 Article!
- Tip - Backing a Trailer
- Do You Have A Passion?
4x4OffRoads.com
While the rest of Europe is under thick snow it has been warm here and raining with no snow to be seen except for the highest mountain peaks.
New year is starting out nicely. Me and Einar took our rigs for a short daytrip using what little light is available at this time of the year. After the trip the transmission broke down and is currently being repaired. Seems like a seal has broken consequently loosing pressure. Not sure if this has anything to do with more strain on the transmission due to the larger tires or if this is normal considering almost 100k miles on the meter. Perhaps this indicates that modern transmissions are getting less durable by design. I had my old F-150 for more than 12 years without any problems in the transmission.
Days are getting longer now and longer tours will be on schedule for February. Got me a better digital camera, this time an Olympus SLR E-500. Hopefully this will bring even better pictures.
eBook about 4 wheeling
Forum for 4x4s
Let me know what your biggest wish is by taking part in the SURVEY.
If you have a 4x4 you feel proud of and want to show others - please don't hesitate to submit pictures and descriptions.
Already there are a number of nice trucks up. My plan is to make these pages high-quality and accessible and I need your help in doing so. Almost all 4x4's are unique and I am sure yours is in some way. Share your experience and allow the rest of the 4 wheeling world to see your truck and how it is used...
Take some time in describing your 4x4 and how you enjoy it. Use as many words as needed. As more rigs are added I get more picky - choosing only interesting rigs with lots of information.
Here is the page for submitting your 4x4 and looking at other readers trucks.
South Pole Expedition
Making new world record by overland travel to the South Pole is a huge
and expensive task. Getting stuff to the South Pole is difficult. Most
things are brought in by air. Read the whole story with pictures.
4x4 Indonesia
In 2004, I decided to rebuild my car, since it had almost become scrap.
It's difficult to rebuild, since we are in Batam and do not have a
workshop to do that.
4x4 Hekla
Route
Going wheeling at this time of year in Iceland means you have to seize
the day. Daylight is limited to a few hours and the weather is
constantly changing.
Jeep Hurricane
- Concept
"Jeep Hurricane is simply the most maneuverable, most capable and most
powerful 4x4 ever built," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President -
Chrysler Group Design.
ARTICLE
When it comes to safety on road and off road you tend to trust the big companies to make all the right decisions. Will they? According to some resent research this can be dangerous. It seems that big manufacturers use some deep rooted psychology and marketing to make us FEEL more secure even if statistics show more danger of death or injury. Car makers make big trucks and SUVs that give us the feeling of being high above other cars with lots of steel and rubber to isolate us as well as air bags to take the direct hit. Some buyers even subconsciously measure vehicle safety by the number of cup holders it has!
Comparing what happens when a F-150 and a Mini Cooper hit a brick wall at 40 mph (64 km/h) is an eye opener. Driver in the F-150 would obviously be seriously injured where as the Mini Cooper driver seems to get out OK. This is particularly alarming since the F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in the USA for years and years. Ford has since improved the safety in the 2004 model and newer.
Is it true that BIG equals SAFE? There are two sides to that question. True, you have a better chance in a direct hit against a small car but the fact is most accidents involve only one vehicle. Bigger also means slower reaction both in steering as well as breaking. A sports car is much easier to handle in tight situations on the pavement, same goes for the smaller family car.
Off the road the biggest fear is probably rolling down a steep slope. Air bags will not go off in that case. Your only defense is the strength of the "cage" you have around you. A few days ago a well know Icelandic parliamentarian was in an accident where his Land Cruiser 100 rolled down a couple of turns. The roof fell in and he was lucky to stay alive. Obviously stronger protection is needed. If your 4x4 is not able to withstand the forces of rollover you may as well take matters into your own hands. Get a proper roll cage. It may make the truck look worse but your real physical safety of you and your passengers is greatly improved.
Remember - the more off road capable your rig is the worse it handles on the road and the less safe it is there. Keep that in mind and also take responsibility for your own security off road. You may later be thankful!
See also:
- Bridger.us - Crash Testing: MINI Cooper vs Ford F150
- The New Yorker - Big and Bad
Thrandur Arnthorsson is a 4 wheeling enthusiast and the webmaster of 4x4OffRoads.com.
I am adding more and more content and value to 4x4OffRoads.com.
Please... if there's anything IMPORTANT that you wish I would do, anything that will make your life easier and/or bring you better knowledge...
Reply to this e-mail with your biggest wish for the site!
Another option for you is to take part in a simple survey I set up. It should only take a couple of minutes to fill out. Also you get to voice your preferences regarding further development of the 4x4OffRoads.com web site.
I review all wishes and use to build a list for the most wanted, which I then prioritize according to demand.
Backing up a trailer can be scary if you haven't done it before. Everything seems to go the opposite to what you expect. Practice, practice and practice are the three keywords to remember! Find a quiet place to practice, something like a parking lot that is not in use. Drive SLOWLY and be prepared to take your rig forward in case of the trailer going too much in either direction. You will have to keep an eye on the trailer at all times. With hands on the bottom half of the steering wheel move it in the direction you want the trailer to go. Be prepared for the trailer may suddenly make sharp turns and that can lead you into trouble and even damage. Also watch out for the front of your vehicle when you are in a tight spot.
If you are in a hurry you may consider unhooking the trailer and push it by hand!
Off-roaders like you usually have their own strong opinion on how, why and where to wheel. Share the joy with other readers!
You can write on any topic related to 4x4 off road you feel you have a message to your fellow off-roader. Stories about 4 wheeling trips are especially popular. It can also be a review on new trucks, accessories, suspension, lift kits, wheels and tires, helpful tips and tricks, innovative solutions to problems, car care tips, etc. Anything that will help your fellow 4 wheeler get their truck ready and able to perform off roads!
By all means if you know a good joke that would fit in the newsletter PLEASE let me know :)
If you have issues with grammar and spelling, don't worry. I can make small corrections. Your story or article is still yours and you keep the full copyright.
Submit your 4x4 article!
P.S. If you want you can also reply to this Newsletter with your story along with the pictures you want to share.
I am sure you do!
Are you interested in knowing more about the internet and how to be a part of the fastest growing marketplace in the world?
I have put up a special section for downloading high quality e-books. These e-books have changed the way I look at the internet and the possibilities it represents! I suggest you download the ones that interest you and I would love to hear your thoughts on them.
If you like you can send me questions about how you can go about starting your own site. The space of ideas is without limits. Your experience and knowledge is something you can and should share with the world. It will make the world richer in so many ways.
Best wishes and keep on wheeling,
Thrandur Arnthorsson
4x4OffRoads.com
