EDITOR’S COLUMN: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STUBBY LEVER?

By Evan Spence 4 Min Read

I’ve been out and about driving a whole bunch of new 4X4s lately, and I’ve been struck by how modern inclusions like traction control and hill descent control have made huge positive impacts on the off-road ability of these computer-controlled vehicles. But I reckon all this electrickery comes at a price.

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Yeah, we have more power, better economy, and more things available to us at the press of a button than ever before (thanks to computers); but what happens when it all goes pear-shaped? I mean, most new 4X4s don’t even have a stubby lever to engage low-range these days. You push a button or turn a knob to enable four wheel drive – which is fine when it’s all working properly – but what happens when you’ve just passed Geosurveys Hill and find you can no longer get your transfer case into gear thanks to a cactus actuator solenoid? Unless you hold a degree in electrical engineering and have a host of diagnostic tools on-board, chances are you’d be in real strife.

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Let’s compare that to a good old-fashioned stubby lever. If you find that you can no longer go into four wheel drive it’s a fairly intuitive process to follow the shift linkages, identify the problem, and (even if it can’t be fixed) you can still get your vehicle into the correct gear with a little elbow grease and some vice-grips. Twenty minutes later you’re back on your way.

 

This begs the question: Are we sacrificing reliability in the name of useability?

 

 

It’s not so much a question of whether these gadgets work – they do. I’ve taken plenty of modern vehicles out into the bush and come away mightily impressed with their stock off-road abilities. Case in point: Our Deputy Editor Ev followed a modified 80 Series LandCruiser up a particularly gnarly hill in a factory-spec Mazda BT-50 recently. Where the 80 was spinning tyres and generally struggling to make forward momentum, the BT-50 simply walked up the slope with the standard rear diff-locker engaged and traction control sending drive to the wheels when needed. No lift, no mud tyres, no aftermarket gearing; just a little technology and driving ability will see you get almost everywhere these days.

 

However the 800 pound gorilla in the room is whether or not this stuff can handle an extended life out in the Aussie bush; or worse, will it leave you stranded 300km out of Karratha without any means of ‘bush fixing’ and a very expensive tow bill?

 

There’s no doubt that technology is the way of the future; but do we really need to scroll through 13 different menus on our touchscreen multi-media systems to turn on the air-con? Call me a Luddite if you like, but I think there’s still a lot to be said for the mantra of keeping things simple.

 

Dex.



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