Taking the top honours on its first outing (the 2007 Outback Challenge of Morocco) was even more of an achievement considering that the entire project build was less than 10 weeks. 

A full outline of the build can be found in the workshop section of this website but below are just a few of the key features of the vehicle :

Wheels & Tyres
Mach 5 beadlock wheels offer incredible strength and reliability and allow the tyres to be run at low pressures.    Tyres are 35 x 13.50 R 15 BF Goodrich Krawler T/A.  These are unbeatable on sand and rock, providing incredible damage resistance.  – The Devon 4x4 team was one of the only vehicles not to suffer punctures on the OBC.  Tyre pressures are managed with an ARB tyre deflator, and the on-board ARB air compressor and pump up kit.

Suspension
Old Man Emu provides suspension for the vehicle, with standard, off-the-shelf components.  D44F and D44R springs support the vehicle, whilst N174 dampers and twin N175 dampers on the rear keep everything under control.   This setup provides around 2” of lift on the vehicle and keeps it exceptionally stable in all conditions.   The general suspension hardware includes D44 heavy duty turrets, front and rear relocation cones, rear heavy duty radius arms and D44 swivel shock mounts.  Bushes are a mixture of Polybush and standard rubber, selected for reliability and performance.

Protection
Protection for the vehicle comes from a D44 steering guard, and a custom-made transmission guard under the auto box.   Axles were built up with heavy duty diff pans, along with our signature brake line protection.

A full external roll cage keeps the occupants safe against roll-over whilst 3 point harnesses and Trip-Net window nets provide personal safety.

The front bumper is a standard D44 competition variant with looped recovery eyes, the side sills were made on the vehicle to accommodate the unusual length.   The rear tray is a tubular design with fitted panels.

Recovery
As would be expected, the 110 trayback sports Warn 8274 winches front and rear.  These are both upgraded with Warn contactor packs and Warn XP winch motors.  Both winches carry 11mm Plasma rope and are fitted with D44 stainless fairleads.  The truck carries a pair of 38mm waffles for soft terrain and Maxtrax for sand use, along with the a D44 ground anchor (complete with special sand & bog blade).  A small selection of shackles and straps complete the kit.

Electrical
Battery charging comes from the standard 120 amp alternator on the vehicle, and all electrical systems including the winches and lighting are powered from a set of 3 Odyssey PC1200 batteries.  The batteries are simply connected in parallel to provide maximum performance and simplicity.

Storage
Storage is kept to a minimum to reduce weight.  A shallow rear compartment at the back of the tray houses the recovery gear, whilst a larger compartment in the middle of the tray holds personal equipment, camping gear, food, etc.   The spare wheel sits as low as possible just behind the cab to maintain rearward visibility and keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.  In the cab, a cubby box is built into the bespoke tunnel cover for small items.

Navigation
Navigation in the vehicle is provided by a Garmin 2106c.  This unit provides superb visibility with a large colour screen and rapid data entry with an on-board keypad.   The unit is fitted with an external antenna for perfect reception.

Lighting
To complement the standard vehicle lighting, Lightforce lights are fitted front and rear.   At the front, four Lightforce 140 lights provide close-range coverage, whilst a set of Lightforce 240 XGT lights provide ‘daylight’ in the dark.  The 240s are fitted to a movable lighting arm which allows them to be stowed when not in use. Two rear-facing Lightforce 140s complete the set and provide extra light when reversing and useful work lights for night-camping.

Water Protection
To keep the engine safe from water and dust ingress, the vehicle is fitted with a bespoke raised air intake, fitted with a Greens air filter.  Breathers from the axles, gearbox and transfer box run up behind the cab, along with breathers from the winch gearboxes.  Vehicle electrics are all coated to reduce the risk of water problems.

Engine
The engine is a 4.6 Rover V8 with a remapped GEMS management system.  Fully rebuilt before the first event, the heads were ported and the engine is fitted with a performance camshaft and Rhodes lifters.   Power output is estimated at between 260 and 270 bhp.

Exhaust
Wrapped, tubular manifolds carry exhaust gas away from the engine into a bespoke stainless steel system.  The main silencer is an adapted Td5 sports unit, with the rest of the system being made on the vehicle.

Please see the workshop section of the site for in-depth build information, and the gallery area for photos of the vehicle build and competition coverage.