The Ford Ranger is the most popular vehicle in this country because it has grunt, great towing ability, a capable drive system, and a host of clever design features. But there are a couple of negatives to consider before dropping your cash on one.
Read MoreThe BYD Shark 6 is the third Chinese ute trying to compete with Ranger, Hilux and Triton. It promises affordability and more power than a Ranger Raptor. But can the Shark 6 really be a better dual-cab ute?
Read MoreThe D-Max promises reliability and grunt for towing, touring and off-road adventures. But here are the definitive, balanced reasons an Isuzu D-Max is a paradoxically good idea and also a potentially regrettable one…
Read MoreThere’s an abundance of choice when buying a new 4X4, filling it with recovery gear and attaching as many accessories as possible. But the tsunami of information is also overwhelming if you’re new or simply learned bad driving habits. This is your ultimate deep-dive into off-roading…
Read MoreTowing a trailer is one of Australia’s favourite driving pastimes. Whether you’re experienced or an amateur, this is your ultimate in-depth and technical guide to towing heavy caravans, campers, boats and horse floats. Let’s do this dangerous task properly and safely.
Read MoreIs it wise to buy a big Ford Everest 4WD for heavy towing? There’s plenty to like about Ford’s chunky Ranger-based 7-seat off-road wagon. But what are the risks dropping up to $70K on this V6-engined brute?
Read MoreThe Nissan Patrol is a proven, rugged 4X4 wagon with pedigree, seven seats and a grunty, reliable engine. Buying a V8 Patrol will save you more than 20 grand compared with a LandCruiser.
Read MoreShould you buy a LandCruiser 4X4 wagon or a Nissan Patrol? Here’s why you might consider the big bruiser for heavy towing and serious off-road driving assignments, or possibly its closest rival…
Read MoreIt’s very tempting to throw everything in the back of your ute without a care. But here’s why loading your ute the wrong way can lead to disastrous consequences out there on the road, and how you can load up safely…
Read MoreIf your family loves to hit the road at every opportunity, these five vehicles will help you quickly whittle down your shortlist and get packed for your long weekends, Christmas/New Year break and Easter holidays…
Read MoreIf you’re in the market for a new dual-cab ute, there’s probably a small part of your brain that is telling you all the good reasons for buying a big, brash pick-up truck born in the USA, but re-made here in Australia. But there is a dark side to these load-lugging leviathans…
Read MoreIt’s rare that such an example of bad engineering comes along in the car industry. Here’s what you should know before buying this cheap but decent-looking SUV for you or your family…
Read MoreIf your 4X4 gets stuck halfway up some off-road goat track and you need recovery, is it okay to improvise and use the OEM tie-down point or even the towbar? Or should you absolutely be fitting a rated aftermarket recovery point up front or to the tow hitch? Let’s find out…
Read MoreJust because you bought a dual-cab ute and enormous caravan doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. This report is further proof that Australia’s vehicle licensing system needs to evolve.
Read MoreTow capacity limits specified by car manufacturers are ridiculous. Case in point with the new 2.4-litre turbocharged Outback, which Subaru has bravely upped the towing limit on. But here’s what they got wrong and why…
Read MoreIf you’ve ever wondered why your caravan or box trailer is built so differently from a heavy haulage truck, this report will reveal why extreme towing is not a task for your light-duty passenger ute or 4WD.
Read MoreIf you’re bigger than the average bear, you need a ute that fits around you. Why bother with the lightweight, pretend pick-up when a genuine truck is more capable than any of the toy utes can imagine?
Read MoreThe beer garden physics you need to know about off-road, high-tensile drag chain. If you use this in four-wheel drive recovery, is it likely to break, recoil and kill someone?
Read MoreJust because you buy the wildest, toughest Ford Ranger, is it better than the slightly less exciting Wildtrak, when it comes to towing? Let’s figure that out now…
Read MoreIf you’re dreaming about an off-road towing expedition in a 4X4 battery electric ute, the facts are about to ruin the fantasy. It’s time to confront the harsh reality of battery tech in electric utes...
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