GAPIS4WD

Land Rover Discovery pernah digunakan untuk acara lasak Camel Trophy menggantikan model Defender. Ketika itu model Discovery yang telah diubahsuai untuk acara itu memang nampak gah dan macho. Ditambah pula dengan dipasangkan winch dan lain-lain kelengkapan 4WD pada kenderaan itu memang nampak maskulin.

Tetapi apabila saya mendapat gambar model Discovery 2009 baru-baru ini, memang saya terkejut. Macho dan kejantanan model Discovery telah hilang. Dengan reka-bentuk berkotak begitu ia hanya sesuai sebagai kenderaan dalam bandar sahaja.

Apa pendapat anda?

Kalau selama ini kita hanya bercakap tentang kenderaan 4WD, rupanya sudah terdapat motosikal 2WD. Motosikal Yamaha berkuasa 450cc mula dikeluarkan pada tahun 2004 untuk acara lasak off-road. Saya akan masukkan ke sini apabila saya mendapat speksifikasi lengkap motosikal ini nanti.

If you're new into this 4WD activity, these are some advise what you should do and what should avoid. Should the vehicle immobile due to loss of traction, the following hints will be of value:-

a) Once the vehicles is stationary avoid prolonged wheel spin as this will only make matter worse.

b) Try to remove any obstacle i.e. rocks, tree stumps, etc. It will also help to remove any earth or sand that is supporting the weight of the vehicle via the chassis or axles.

c) If the ground is very soft, reduced tyre pressures may help. Remember that this will also reduce ground clearance.

d) Clogged tyre treads should be cleared.

e) Reverse as far as possible and the momentum gained by making a faster second approach may get the vehicle over the obstacles.

Brushwood, sacking or any similar materials places in front of the wheels will assist in obtaining traction.

If the vehicle has dug itself in, jack it up and build up the ground under the wheels to obtain ground clearance.

THE DON'T

a) The four wheel drive and differential lock controls should be engage before driving onto any surface where traction may be lost at one or more wheels. Do not operate either of these controls while individual wheels are spinning.

b) Do not engage low range while the vehicle is moving.

c) Do not allow the engine to labour in too high a gear.

d) Do not use the handbrake while the vehicle is moving except in an emergency.

e) Do not overload the vehicle for sustained cross country work.

f) Do not wrap your thumbs round the steering wheel as severe steering kick back over rough ground may result in broken thumb.

g) Do not use the clutch pedals as a foot rest. Keep the left foot well clear of the clutch pedal while the vehicle is in motion.

h) Do not rely on the handbrake to hold he vehicle if the brake linings have been subjected to immersion in mud and water.

i) Do not engage the differential lock of four wheel drive on the road except when the road surface provides insufficient traction.

So the rest will be happy off-road driving to you guys.

Halim Rahman, YB Dato' Wan Mohktar dan Nasa.


Nasa dan Halim Rahman sedang berseloroh dengan personnel Sime Tyre.


Nasa bertindak sebagai Ketua Ekspedisi sedang memberi amanat terakhir kepada peserta sebelum berlepas sambil diperhati oleh Halim Rahman.


YB Dato' Wan Mohktar dan Karim Sungai Buloh melepaskan penat sambil menghirup kopi.


Inilah amalan kami bila berada dalam hutan, yang ringan sama dijinjing dan yang berat sama dipikul. Terpaksa ada team work, tidak nanti tak sampai kita!

Kadang-kadang bila sedang memandu 4WD berseorangan, kenangan bersama member meredah hutan rimba dulu kerap muncul dalam ingatan. Seingat saya, rasa-rasanya dah lebih 10 tahun kami tak berjumpa. Dr. Zaini Sharani, Wan Mohktar, Halim Rahman, Nasa, Ghazi, Capt. Mohk Cini, Karim Sg. Buloh, Acik Tg. Malim dan ramai lagi semuanya dah putus hubungan.

Dengar khabar Wan Mohktar kini sudah bergelar YB Dato'. Alhamdulillah semakin teguhlah kedudukkan dia. Halim Rahman dulu kerap baca dalam akhbar bila dia menganjurkan ekspedisi Trans China, Trans Siberia dan macam-macam Trans lagi. Sekarang nampaknya Petronas dah ada lagi ekspedisi2 Trans tu...!

Kalau masuk hutan dulu, Dr. Zaini memang suka bertengkar dengan saya. Tapi apapun dia tetap mahu saya naik kenderaan 4WD dia. Tentang makan minum dalam hutan dia seorang yang cukup sempoi.

Masuk hutan 4 hari, dia beli 10 keping roti canai di kedai mamak. Setiap hari itulah makanan dia selama dalam hutan. Bila roti canai dah naik cendawan, dia hanya jentik-jentik pada bahagian yang ada cendawan tu dan terus makan.

Sifat dia selalu tenang dan sabar. Dalam kami merintasi apa-apa halangan, dia tidak pernah terburu-buru. Tapi sifat adventure dalam diri dia tu kadang2 buat kita seram juga. Apa tidaknya. Ketika sedang memandu di malam hari apabila dia ternampak ada apa-apa yang pelik dan ganjil, dia akan turun dari jip dan mula meninjau berseorangan. Kita yang tinggal sorang-sorang dalam jip mula rasa risau apabila lama baru dia datang balik.

Wan Mohktar (Dato') dan Halim Rahman pula suka memandu laju. Mereka berdua selalu berentap laju dalam hutan. Yalah, kedua mereka memang pernah sama-sama terlibat dalam rally kereta.

Entahlah...! Mungkin di suatu hari nanti kami akan berjumpa dan dapat berkumpul masuk hutan sama-sama lagi. Tapi buat masa ni yang masih menjadi teman saya masuk hanyalah Atan otai 4WD.

Low range should only be selected for extreme off-road condition where progress in high range could not be maintained, or in any situation where low speed manoeuvering is necessary i.e. reversing a trailer or negotiating a boulder strewn river bed.

In addition, when towing a heavy load it is often easier to move off in low range and then change into high range when reasonable road speed has been achived. Before driving through difficult ground conditions select low range, remember to engage diff lock on permanent 4WD vehicles and a suitable gear.

Only experience will tell the driver which is the correct gear for a given section of ground but generally with manual transmission the higher the gear the better. Obviously, if the gear selected is too high the engine will stall and then a lower gear must be selected for another attempt.

Do not change gear while negotiating difficult terrain as the drag at the wheels may cause the vehicle to stop when the clucth is depressed and difficulty may be in re starting.

Exercise care when using the accelerator as suden power surges may induce wheel spin.

As the ground conditions become less difficult high range should be re-selected remembering to remain in 4WD or keep the differential lock engaged where there is risk of losing traction.