It's Giftmas Season at ARB
Christmas is a time for celebration and what’s more exciting than a SALE! ARB has bundled up some of the most popular packs for you to spoil a special person in your life.
The Camping Essentials Bundle features a Single ARB SkyDome Single Swag SII, Deluxe Sleeping Bag, Camping Table and Camping Chair with Table for just $676!
The Ultimate Weekender Bundle features a Recovery Damper, Weekender Recovery Kit, Tred Pro (Monument Grey/Orange) and Recovery Gloves for only $430!
The Air Up Bundle has an Inflation Case, Digital Tyre Inflator, E-Z Tyre Deflator and Single Portable Compressor for $435!
The Intensity Combo Bundle features two Intensity V2 32 driving lights (flood/spot combo, flood combo or spot combo) and Wiring Loom for just $1,289! You can have these fully fitted from only $1,499!
The Ultimate Air Bundle has a Speedy Seal SII Repair Kit, Inflation Case, E-Z Tyre Deflator, Digital Tyre Inflator and Twin Portable Compressor for only $897!
If you’re looking for something smaller to gift, there’s a range of other single items on sale too. Get in store from 25th November to 24th December 2019 and grab yourself a bargain in time for Giftmas!
Roof Racks & Overloading: What are your limits offroad?
Getting out on the road requires some forethought and some basic knowledge. This includes load-carrying, especially as it pertains to roof racks and overloading.
When you carry a load on roof racks, you need to understand some technical aspects of doing so – including installation, load rating, load size, and the distribution of the weight of your load.
Many people don’t understand how going off-road impacts your load rating. It’s crucial for your safety and the security of your load that you do...
Load Rating Explained
When you select and purchase roof racks for your vehicle, the first thing you need to consider is the load rating of your 4WD. This is the amount of weight your vehicle’s manufacturer determines that your roof can handle. It will, in many cases, be lower than your vehicle’s actual load-carrying capacity, but it should not be exceeded so as to maintain safety and avoid damage.
The load rating is broken down into different types:
- Static – determined when your vehicle is stationary
- On-road – determined when driving on sealed roads
- Off-road – determined for unsealed, dirt, or uneven roads
- Cargo – stipulates the weight of gear your roof and roof racks can accommodate
Your overall load capacity is impacted by the weight of your roof racks. To determine how much weight you can carry, you need to subtract the weight of your roof racks and accessories from the overall load rating of your vehicle – the result is the cargo load rating of your vehicle.
Weight Distribution Explained
When you load your roof racks, you also need to understand the implications of weight distribution. Large loads need to be evenly distributed over your roof racks, even between front to rear and left to right. Your load must also comply with restrictions on its height, length, and width, and without exceeding your load rating. Your load must be secured.
When driving with a load, you need to modify your driving to suit – driving with greater caution. Loads can alter your handling, steering, and the time taken to slow down when travelling at speed.
What if I Need to Carry a Long Load?
If you have a long load, you need to take extra care.
- Wind that is directed under the load in transit (especially at speed) can direct upward force on your load.
- Long loads must be flagged with a bright flag fixed at both ends of the load item.
- Long loads must be lit at either end for night-time driving.
- Straps and anchor points must be used to secure your load
- Install and use carriers for bicycles, canoes, kayaks, skis, etc as per manufacturer instructions.
- Be aware of local laws relating to load limits. These may vary between states.
- Check all bolts and other attachments on a regular basis.
Choose ARB Maroochydore for Roof Rack Installation
Don’t overload your vehicle! You also need to understand that if you plan to go off-road, your cargo load rating will be considerably less than it is for on-road travel.
If you overload your roof racks, not only will your vehicle potentially be unsafe and your load insecure; you may also render your warranty on your vehicle and your roof racks null and void. Your racks and accessories should be professionally-installed and fitted to your vehicle by an authorised dealer.
ARB Maroochydore is a professional supplier and installer of roof racks including Rhino Racks. We understand the intricacies associated with roof rack selection, fitting and installation, and mitigating the risks of roof racks and overloading through education and providing simple guidelines for you to follow.
Let ARB Maroochydore Get You Set!
ARB Maroochydore is your best supplier and fitter of 4WD accessories on the Sunshine Coast. This includes (but is not limited to) roof racks. We also provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of 4WD-ing and off-roading – so don't hesitate to call or visit us today! Nick and Lara and their friendly team have the know-how and the real-life experience to get you on the road, all set for adventures wherever it may lead you.
Contact us now via our contact form or call us on (07) 5475 4011. Better still, visit ARB Maroochydore at 1/127A Sugar Road, Maroochydore Qld. We’re here to help and will be delighted to meet you.
In case you missed it... Expanded product range
At ARB, we are consistently working on expanding the models available in our product range based on newcomers to the market. With the recent updates and releases to the following models, please find more information about products to suit:
Summit Sahara Bar – Ford Everest
Engineered and manufactured to maintain maximum functionality whilst complementing the look of the vehicle. Featuring ARB’s five-fold upswept and tapered wing profile and available with or without the polished centre tube, owners of this bar are granted a different look from a traditional Summit Bar without sacrificing practicality. Provisions for adding other accessories such as winches, driving lights, CB antennas and fog lights all come on the Summit Sahara Bar. Choose from powder-coated or colour-coded to suit your preferences.
Commercial Bar – MR Triton
Commercial bull bars are a cost-effective alternative to Summit bull bars with a comparable level of vehicle protection. By simplifying the manufacturing process, these bars incorporate the strength but achieve cost savings by going without some of the more aesthetic characteristics.
Summit Side Rails – MR Triton
Featuring large steel tubing and moulding to the lines of the vehicle, the Summit Side Rails are a strong and stylish addition to your vehicle. Connecting the bull bar and side steps, the side rail has a tough nylon cover sleeve to provide an integrated look while adding protection to your quarter panels whilst off road.
Tailgate Assist – MR Triton
The perfect solution to struggling to lower and raise a heavy tailgate. Using two struts, they work independently to ease the lowering of the tailgate and reduce the effort required to lift the tailgate. Installed easily and quickly and available now for the MR Triton.
Summit Raw RSTB – MR Triton
Protect your rear with the stripped back Summit Raw Rear Step Tow Bar for MR Triton GLX and GLX+. Designed with 60.3mm tube finished with a textured black powder coat and engineered to tow 3.1t (as per manufacturer’s specifications) with provisions for all the necessities such as trailer plug wiring, compressor outlet, trailer camera wiring, parking sensors and a 50-amp Anderson plug. The Summit Raw RSTB is the perfect addition for dual-cab owners travelling further than just the work site.
Cargo Straps and Tie Downs
Secure your load with ARB’s updated range of Cargo Straps and Tie Down System. ARB Cargo Straps now feature rubber moulded handles, reflective printed lashing capacity on the strap and improved hooks to accommodate ARB roof racks. Coming complete with a nylon mesh storage bag to keep your straps tidy and, importantly, fully compliant with AS/NZS requirements.
ARB’s Tie Down System has an anodised, powder-coat black finish to protect from the elements when mounting externally and chamfered ends to protect the vehicle if mounting internally.
The Future of 4WD
Newtracs, a new-age mapping software that gives you real-time information on 4WD tracks, has just launched an iOS app allowing users to research and log track information in real-time. The app gathers information from a host of 4WDers to allow other users to better understand the difficulty and performance accessory recommendations of different 4WD tracks.
When a user first logs a track on Newtracs, they are asked to provide their performance-based mods such as suspension upgrades, tyres and diff locks along with their vehicle make. Newtracs then uses this information to process trip logs and make an assessment of the track as easy, medium, difficult or very difficult.
To celebrate the launch of the iOS app, ARB has partnered with Newtracs and for a period of six months will offer the user who logs the most amount of kilometres of 4WD tracks via the app each month an opportunity to win an ARB single portable compressor (valued at $405) or an ARB SkyDome single swag (valued at $469).
To be a part of a project that assists the whole 4WD community and have the opportunity to win a prize, download the free app from the App Store now and get logging!
4x4 Culture Live - New Event
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re interested in the 4×4 lifestyle; whether it be camping, fishing, touring or 4WDing, ARB is right there with you.
On the 21st and 22nd March 2020, ARB is hosting a national off road event open to all ARB customers and friends. 4×4 Culture LIVE will be based around all the diverse aspects of 4WDing covered in the pages of the 4×4 Culture magazine: family travel, new products, vehicle set-ups, education, camping and everything that goes along with it.
Hosted at Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park in South Australia, attendees will be spoilt with a weekend full of adventure including tag-along tours of the 8,000-acre park, scavenger hunts, prize giveaways, camp cooking, fishing classes, special guests, product experiences and industry experts.
As night falls, the park’s licensed tavern will come to life with live music, catering and hours of socialising with other campers. For those with young tackers, a grassed yard adjoining the tavern will keep the youngsters entertained with a host of kids’ activities and entertainment.
Tickets for the event will go on sale on 3rd of September 2019 and will be available in Adult, Teen and Child passes.
Your ticket to adventure will include:
> Park access and camping fees
> Saturday night tapas and dinner (kid-specific meals available)
> Sunday night tapas and dinner (kid-specific meals available)
> Access all areas (classes, demonstrations, tours, etc)
> Evening entertainment
> Kids’ entertainment
Attendees will be responsible for their own camping equipment, fuel and meals (outside of included meals).
Things to note:
> There will be an on-site cafeteria and chef where meals can be purchased
> There are on-site amenities
> No dogs are allowed during this event
> No unregistered vehicles are allowed during this event
To register your interest in attending the event, please click the link below
ARB Releases Products for New MR Triton
Upon release, the new-look MR Triton received mixed reviews across a number of social channels and media outlets. The updated front end design was different to anything else on the market with unique lines, fog light and parking sensor placement. Designing an ARB Summit bull bar was going to present some challenges for ARB’s team of engineers.
A prototype Summit bull bar has now been created and fitted to the MR Triton. ARB’s design team worked hard on reconfiguring elements of the bull bar to suit the new vehicle shape, without compromising the functionality of the vehicle’s safety features and still maintaining the overall style of the Summit bull bar.
“The redesign of the front end instantly posed some challenges with distinctive lines and varying parking sensor placement on some models. We are pleased to have released a Summit bull bar that integrates into the MR Triton while offering increased protection to the vehicle and passengers” says Brand Marketing Manager, Mark Berger. Production for the Summit bull bar will begin in July 2019.
Carry-over products from the previous model include Old Man Emu suspension, front and rear Air Lockers, Classic, Classic Plus and Ascent canopies, drawers, ute liner, UVP, RHS recovery point and side steps.
Development continues on rear step tow bars, side rails and Tailgate Assist to complete the range of accessories offered for the MR Triton.
R&D Testing ARB Products and Zone RV Caravans in the Outback
Safety is of the utmost importance when you travel. You need to understand safe towing practices as well as the importance of having lightweight towing know-how.
Zone RV is one of the best Australian manufacturers of premium off-road and semi-off-road caravans. Their caravans are second to none both in terms of technicality and luxury. Research and development, or R&D testing, is a huge part of what they do before their vans make it to you, and their process for this is what makes their final product so superior to others on the market.
The Triple Crown Tour Zone RV Trip
The most recent ZONE RV trip for R&D testing was called the “Triple Crown Tour”, and saw the ZONE RV Directors David Biggar and Matt Johns travel with an entourage of ARB personnel in their rigs and caravans travel for an epic adventure over two weeks. They traversed the country from Australia’s west coast to their Coolum headquarters in Queensland, via the Gibb River Road, Tanami Highway, and Plenty Highway.
The trip was sponsored by ARB, Cooper Tire, Cel-Fi, Hema Maps, Dometic, and Cruisemaster.
These roads can be challenging for even the most experienced caravanner, and the purpose of this expedition was to test and identify any issues relating to towing caravans across these three roads. These caravans were specifically the:
- Z-16.6 Off-Road
- ZV-20.6 Venture
- Z-21.6 Off-Road (only for part of the trip)
The team also ventured into areas where caravan-towing isn’t usually attempted, namely Mitchell Falls in The Kimberly WA and the top of the Big Red Sand Dune in NSW’s Birdsville.
The Australian Outback has a reputation for being relentless, thanks to challenges including thick dust, deep-water crossings, natural obstacles, and relentless corrugation of tracks and roads. Add to this the scarcity of supplies available and the distance from the nearest facilities.
The ZONE RV trip, however, found these roads to be the perfect ground for testing their caravans and rigs to their limits. Thanks to the trip, the team was able to personally experience the unforgiving conditions and unpredictable obstacles along the way, and as such, common issues with lightweight towing and more were identified and were able to be rectified with the assistance of the expertise of the expedition’s sponsors.
The ZONE RV Directors are delighted to know that all caravanners and off-road enthusiasts will benefit from their experience on this trip, and they can share this themselves - the ZONE RV Trip had been made into a short YouTube documentary and it is full of exclusive tips and advice. The documentary offers not only a wealth of technical know-how and guidance but also the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way and the entertaining and at times funny banter amongst the team members.
Visit ARB Maroochydore
Nick & the team are very proud to welcome you to ARB Maroochydore. They have many years of practical experience 4wding, camping, and touring Australia’s wide brown land, and they are delighted to share their expertise with their clients. With the real-world experience they have of road-tripping and getting off-road in Australia and overseas, they have the right inside knowledge that could be of enormous benefit to you. When it comes to customer service, the sales team at ARB Maroochydore is second to none.
Be inspired! Call or visit ARB Maroochydore today.
Options for the van: Navigator Accessories
Given the land mass of Australia, embarking on a trip could mean thousands of kilometres and many weeks away from home. Travelling with a caravan allows you to take your home on the road, wherever you may go.
Navigator’s Mark Sedran has been travelling Australia for many years, creating makeshift mods out of velcro and stubby holders. He saw a gap in the market and knew exactly what products caravanners needed.
Navigator has now released a stylish range of products suitable for caravanners, campers and adventurers.
The Navigator Awning Buddy is designed to fit into the sail track on caravan awnings and most 4WD awnings. It features magnets to hold the Navigator Bottle Opener and has reflector tape at the base to avoid any nasty spills. It’s also fitted with two female buckles to allow for the attachment of the Kitchen Buddy and Outdoor Storage Buddy.
The Navigator Kitchen Buddy is a large utensil organiser built to make your meals easier to prepare. There are eight sleeve pockets for utensils, four mesh pockets for spices and a large lower pocket with zip closure. The Kitchen Buddy also features two male buckles to attach to the Awning Buddy and corner eyelets to fasten to camping ridge poles. The Kitchen Buddy has a handy magnet in the middle to hold the Bottle Opener too.
The Navigator Outdoor Storage Buddy is made to attach to the Navigator Awning Buddy or Kitchen Buddy, keeping your essentials in a convenient, all-in-one location. It features three handy mesh pockets, a large zip storage compartment that has ten sectioned shelves and seven large sleeve pockets on the back. The Outdoor Storage Buddy can be used to store shoes, toys or light but bulky pantry items.
Other items in the range include the Collapsible Bin Buddy, Collapsible Laundry Buddy, Utility Buddy, Sullage Buddy, Microwave Dish Buddy, Pantry Wine Buddy, Pantry Jar Buddy, Quick Fix Seat Buddy, Visor Buddy and Carabiner Keyring.
Contact us at ARB Maroochydore for pricing and availability.
Grey Nomads – Tips as we enter the cooler months
Among the greatest joys of retirement is joining the ranks of grey nomads who explore our beautiful country every year. There’s nothing quite like hitting the road for far-flung places, exploring new vistas and revisiting old favourite destinations.
Travelling in autumn and winter can be a busy time for grey nomads – particularly since the weather is more forgiving than in the heat of summer, especially away from Australia’s coastline.
Yet heading out to explore Australia is not as simple as it might seem on the surface and, particularly if you intend on travelling remotely in the Outback or off-road, you need to know where you’re going, what to expect regarding the conditions, and ultimately, be prepared.
Be Prepared!
First and foremost, you need to have a plan. Even though aspects of your trip can be a magical mystery tour (and isn’t this sometimes the best way to travel?), you need to have a general plan.
- You need to understand the sheer size of Australia – and this is something that trips up a lot of travellers, especially those grey nomads who have come from overseas. Australia is a vast land and distances between places on a map can be deceiving. For someone who is used to Europe, for example, Australia’s size comes as a shock. Similarly, few Americans understand that Australia is just as big as the continental USA. Particularly if you’re travelling in more remote areas, you need to be prepared, know the distance you need to travel each day, and ensure you have enough fuel, water, and food (snacks) to get you to the next stop.
- Know what to expect regarding road conditions. Few sedans can handle conditions in the Outback, which is why 4WD vehicles are so popular among grey nomads in Australia. Many of our main highways are just single lane, dual-carriageway roads. Many roads in more remote areas are not paved. Wet weather can make dirt roads impassable. Know where you’re going and what to expect.
- It’s important to let someone at home know at least the basics of where you expect to be going when you expect to arrive, and that you keep in touch on a regular basis – even if it’s just an email or text message, check in once a week at a minimum.
- In any circumstance, always stay with your vehicle. Too many travellers in the Outback have experienced disaster because they’ve left their vehicle and walked off in unforgiving conditions such as heat.
What to Take
When you’re heading Outback or anywhere even a little off the beaten track, make sure you take these essentials:
- Plenty of fresh water
- Food – enough for each person for two days
- Current and detailed area maps
- Radio – to get weather forecasts
- Emergency beacon such as EPIRB or SPOT
- Clothing for both hot and cold conditions
- Matches, firelighter blocks, and compass
- Loud Whistle
- Toolset – including jack, globes, fuses, fan belt, torch, shovel
- Spare Tyre (two is better)
- First Aid kit including medicines you need
- If travelling to a remote area, take a 2-Way HF Radio. Make sure it has Telstra and Flying Doctor frequency capability
Your Vehicle
- Know your 4WD. If you’re not an experienced 4WDer, get some practice in before you leave on your trip. Know when and how to engage the 4WD function.
- Check your tyre pressure daily. If crossing sandy tracks, you may need to deflate tyres somewhat.
- Before you travel, get advice regarding your suspension. Old Man Emu offers the best 4WD suspension products in Australia. This is crucial for your comfort and the wellbeing of your vehicle.
- A bull bar is an important safety addition to your 4WD if you are travelling in the country, bush, or Outback. It will save your vehicle and even your life if you collide with a kangaroo, wombat, or another animal.
Other Basic Tips
- Know and adhere to total fire bans
- Extinguish all campfires completely
- Respect state quarantine laws
- Know where it is safe to swim – if unsure, don’t. This includes ocean, rivers, waterholes and lakes – where risks can include rips, currents, crocodiles, etc.
- Respect Indigenous Communities
- Respect Native wildlife and ecosystem
- Carry extra fuel
Why Choose ARB Maroochydore?
When you come to ARB Maroochydore, you know you’re getting the very best in products and advice. We are the Sunshine Coast’s largest 4wd accessories store. Our owners Nick & Lara have more than 20 years of experience 4wding, camping, and touring Australia’s most beautiful and remote places. Their real-world experience and the knowledge and service that the sales team at ARB Maroochydore has to offer makes them stand out from the rest.
Planning a trip? Come in and say hi, check out what we offer, and get set for your next grey nomads adventure today!
CLASSIC FRIDGE FREEZER SERIES II
APP-SOLUTE REVAMP
No off road trip is complete without a place to keep the food fresh and, more importantly, the beers cold. With continually advancing technology, ARB has given its current Classic fridge an update. ARB’s Classic Fridge Freezer Series II has had a physical refresh with a new modern colour scheme and a bunch of functional new features.
The Classic Fridge Freezer Series II has a dimmable, backlit touchpad for easy night time operation and 12V power input readout for simple voltage monitoring on the display. A transmitter allows remote display and control via a new app, which is available for download to smart devices or the LINX unit.
The ARB Fridge Freezer app allows full control of the Series II fridge via a mobile device. The user is able to turn the fridge on/off and manually adjust (or set via presets) the target temperature. The app will display the target temp, the power input voltage and the fridge compressor status, and alert the user if the lid is left open.
To individualise the app to suit, the display unit (Celsius or Fahrenheit), battery protection (high, medium or low) and fridge display brightness (high or low) can all be altered via the app settings. On top of this, the user can allocate set temperature names, such as food, ice cream or beer, and assign fridge names if connected to multiple fridges.
To complement the fridge, a new transit bag has been designed with a modern and stylish look, capturing the dark monochrome tones of the fridge, and includes a bonus branded bottle opener.
For owners of current ARB fridges (post-2014 models), the new transmitter and app can be used to display the temperature, input voltage and compressor status. Learn more here.