Equipment Tests > 2007 4WD COTY contenders

After lunch we packed the swags and fridges and hit the road from Braidwood through Araluen and into Deua National Park. We took the Dry Creek Trail to cross the river and then followed the undulating Merricumbene Fire Trail into Bendethera Valley for our overnight camp. The Merricumbene gave the drivers a great opportunity to sample the climbing and descending characteristics of the vehicles as well as the ride and comfort on less than perfect tracks. Rain and sleet added a slippery element to the terrain.

Day two saw the convoy climbing out of the valley and through the plantation forests back to Braidwood. The limited fuel capacity of some of the petrol vehicles on test meant we had to return to town to top up before an afternoon loop through Monga National Park. More steep terrain in low range before we broke from the hills for the flat country.

The plan was to finish up on the sands of Stockton Beach so a roundabout way of heading north took us through Guineacor Gorge and the Blue Mountains N.P. towards the state's mid-west and our overnight accommodation at Chesleigh Homestead (www.sofala.net.au) near the historic gold mining town of Sofala. The mix of open and winding dirt roads plus quicker sealed back roads gave a perfect opportunity to gauge the touring 'feel' of each of the vehicles.

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The Turon River winds its way from Sofala through country built on the back of the gold rush. We followed it along twisting gravel roads through to the blacktop and took the highway through Kandos, Rylstone, Bylong and into the upper Hunter before edging our way across to the coast near Tea Gardens and our overnight lodgings.

Here we had a vehicle hoist allowing us to have a look at the underside of the vehicles, how suitable they are to offroad use and how well they coped with our test drive so far.

From here it was an easy drive down to the dunes of Stockton Beach for the final day of testing, the final fuel fill and odometer check. A hot day ensured the vehicles copped a work out on the sand, even having to tow a punter's overheating rental car off the beach.

Thankfully we had no such problems and at the end of the test we were glad to have minimal vehicle damage. The passenger-side rear door on the VX Cruiser had a ding in it after a 'roo tried to get in without opening the door; a brake pad wear indicator sensor pulled out of the rear brakes on the Rangie; the Jeep's front indicators weren't working (water in wiring) but we hadn't even had a tyre puncture.

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