Drivelines Chatter
Christopher Wood, Western Sales Manager, ARB-USADrivelines: How is four-wheeling in Australia different from here in the States?
Christopher Wood: In my experience the difference is not as great as some believe. Many domestic 4WD magazines have focused heavily on competitive rockcrawling and extreme trail running, perhaps giving the impression that this represents the interests of the bulk of American off-roaders. However, in my domestic travels for ARB I have found that most off-roaders use their four-wheel-drive vehicles as tools for a variety of backcountry activities like camping, hunting, and general exploration. For the most part, the Australian off-roader is exactly the same. If there is a distinction, it is in the longer distances traveled by Australians while off-road, and perhaps in the elevated dangers they face from greater isolation.
DL: What are ARB's most popular products?
CW: Despite the amazing rise in the popularity of the ARB bull bar and Old Man Emu suspension, the Air Locker still continues to reign supreme. ARB-USA currently sells more than 1,000 Air Lockers per month into North, Central, and South America.
DL: What trends do you see in off-roading?
CW: In talking with colleagues around the industry, the consensus seems to be that more and more people are moving back toward simpler, less-aggressive four-wheel-drive vehicles. If it is a trend, it is one that leans toward camping and exploring with somewhat less extreme off-roading.
DL: Favorite place to go 'wheeling?
CW: Perhaps it's an indication that as an American I am spoiled with too may wonderful places to take my 4WD, but the truth is I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite place. Whether it is the Rocky Mountains, the Mojave Desert, or the Oregon Dunes, it is all wonderful. Regardless, at the moment I can't wait to lock my hubs a few more times in Mexico, Canada, Alaska and, if finances permit, Australia.
DL: Any new products you can tell us about?
CW: ARB has historically focused its attention on the SUV, which for the most part has been the "world's pickup truck." However, with the increased presence of American fullsize trucks in Australia, ARB has decided to begin focusing some of its attention on them. Air Lockers, bull bars, and snorkels have already been developed, and in the next year or so ARB will introduce its Old Man Emu tuned suspension systems for them.
This Just In
* If you thought 20-inch wheels were silly, did you know a company has made a set of 30s? Twenty Inches Strong has announced the start of a Thirty Inches Strong line, and has mounted the SUV wheels on a set of Pirelli Scorpions, size 315/30R30. Can't wait to see these.... Well, maybe we can.
* SEMA, the trade association that represents automotive aftermarket parts companies, recently polled pickup truck owners about which accessories they most often purchase. The results were surprising, at least to us: Topping the list are window tint and CD players in a two-way tie, followed by floor mats. Towing accessories were next, with air filters and drop-in bedliners rounding out the top five. New tires ranked 19th (tied with-gulp-mud flaps), and suspension pieces didn't make the top 20. Are we just weird?
* A similar poll of car owners, by the way, looked like this: CD players and floor mats were the top two accessories, but performance tires ranked third, about where we figured they'd be for truck owners.
* A Hummer less costly to own than a hybrid? It is according to a CNW Marketing Research study, forwarded to us by SEMA, that compared vehicle lifetime energy usage and the cost to society over the full lifetime of a car or truck. To make its data understandable to the average consumer, CNW translated its figures into a "dollars per mile" cost, or energy cost per mile driven. Its findings: When you factor in the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive, use, and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage, a Hummer H3 cost $1.95 per mile, while a Honda Accord Hybrid has an Energy Cost per mile of $3.29. Hybrids, in general, cost more than vehicles with conventional powerplants, according to CNW, because of the manufacture, replacement, and disposal of batteries, electric motors (in addition to the conventional engine), lighter- weight materials, and complexity of the power package. n The Jeep Compass-the more street oriented of Jeep's two new compact SUVs-is off to a strong sales start, according to WardsAuto.com. A month before the Compass went on sale, dealers had taken 10,000 orders, and another 58,000 people had made inquiries at their Jeep dealers. Maybe there is something to this nontraditional Jeep buying market after all.
* Would you buy a pickup truck from Suzuki? Automotive News reports Nissan will build a compact pickup for Suzuki to sell in North America in 2008. Both parties may want to examine how sales are going for the Mitsubishi Raider-a facelifted Dakota-before making too much of a commitment.
* Automotive News is also reporting that the rumored Ford Hurricane engine, a 6.2L "Hemi fighter," is back in Ford's plans again after being dropped by a previous management regime. The Hurricane is seen as key to keeping Ford atop the fullsize truck market, in the face of growing competition-and more powerful engines-from GM and Dodge.
Environmental & Political Watch
News from SEMA: Legislation that sought to dramatically increase fines for those who violate Hawaii's ban on the sale, installation, and use of aftermarket exhaust systems died with the close of the state's legislative session. Currently, Hawaii prohibits any exhaust system that increases "the noise emitted by a motor vehicle above that emitted by the vehicle as equipped from the factory." This law does not supply law enforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether or not a modified exhaust system is in violation. SEMA also killed an Illinois bill that threatened to ban vehicles equipped with a "muffler or exhaust system that clearly has been modified to amplify or increase the noise of the vehicle." Under this measure, vehicles determined to have been modified by virtue of a "visual observation" would have failed emissions inspection. How emissions inspectors would have determined that an exhaust system increases noise through a visual inspection was not explained in the bill.
Working with local and regional off-road vehicle groups, SEMA managed to kill amendments to a Minnesota bill that would have limited modified 4x4 trucks to minimally maintained roads and to the area in the state specifically designated for their use. The amendments sought to severely restrict 4x4 truck access to hobbyists by prohibiting use of "trails," and defined 4x4 trucks as four-wheeled motor vehicles manufactured to operate on public roads and subsequently modified with special tires, suspension, or other equipment. The amendments were passed on the House and Senate floors at the last minute. The amendments were removed at the request of the off-roading community by a conference committee of House and Senate legislators.
SEMA stalled consideration of a bill in Ohio that would further restrict the ability of state vehicle hobbyists to maintain inoperable vehicles on private property. The bill provides authority to townships to remove inoperable vehicles deemed to be "junk," including collector cars, from private property. Generally, SEMA supports legislation that permits the outdoor storage of motor vehicles if the vehicles are maintained in such a manner so as not to constitute a health hazard. These vehicles could be located away from public view, or screened by means of a suitable fence, trees, shrubbery, opaque covering, or other appropriate means. The Ohio bill, however, makes no concession for even properly maintained project cars.