Can't help a good stir

[DirtyDawg]

4wd Monthly has that Journalist John Rooth who thinks he is Ned Kelly incarnate, drives a green old Tojo which has been rebuilt by every man and his dog who wants free publicity, Have a look at the stickers on the rear bumper

one is the southern cross flag (BLF icon) and the other is
"Convict Blood and proud of it"

I couldn't help myself to send in an email to "Roothy" asking him what the diggers at Kokoda would think of that Convict blood being chauffeured around in a Jap car... Need a few more needles to get a reply..lol
Maybe suggest he chop it in for a HQ WGN with a 4wd Modification:D:D:D
Wasnt he a Motorcycle Journo? for Two Wheels

Anyway he seems to have a sense of humor..try to put it to the test;)

[lokka]

Yep your rite dawg i rekon hes just a showpony beer drinkin yobbo and i thought he was a good jurno till i saw him on a 4wd monthly dvd what a ****ing tool typical qld'er :p:p:p:p

[Reads90]

All he does is go one about his truck in the Vids
But i am only to only one that thinks its a shed:)

[DiscoTDI]

For crying out loud, he drives a tojo by choice, nuf said:p:D

[p38arover]

For crying out loud, he drives a tojo by choice, nuf said:p:D

.... and bags Land Rover whenever possible.

Ron

[p38arover]

one is the southern cross flag (BLF icon)

Doesn't Redback on this forum also fly one?


Wasnt he a Motorcycle Journo? for Two Wheels

Yes, as Rooth and as John West. He also writes in a caravan magazine. He's a freelance journo.

Ron

[Vern]

4wd Monthly has that Journalist John Rooth who thinks he is Ned Kelly incarnate, drives a green old Tojo which has been rebuilt by every man and his dog who wants free publicity, Have a look at the stickers on the rear bumper

one is the southern cross flag (BLF icon) and the other is
"Convict Blood and proud of it"

I couldn't help myself to send in an email to "Roothy" asking him what the diggers at Kokoda would think of that Convict blood being chauffeured around in a Jap car... Need a few more needles to get a reply..lol
Maybe suggest he chop it in for a HQ WGN with a 4wd Modification:D:D:D
Wasnt he a Motorcycle Journo? for Two Wheels

Anyway he seems to have a sense of humor..try to put it to the test;)
Didn't he write for Live to Ride

[p38arover]

Didn't he write for Live to Ride

He was the editor - he may still be. I think he was also editor of Two Wheels at one time.

Ron

[1103.9TDI]

His truck is an old dark green leaf sprung Toyo, 40 Series or something, with most of the rust cut out. He takes every opportunity to knock Landrovers in print, but I reckon he only drives the old Cruiser because Toyota sponsor the magazine he works for, and he's really a frustrated Landy owner. He should 'come out' and admit, a Landy is a far superior vehicle in every respect, but he knows he'll loose his job.

I try and limit my use of Jap products where possible, guess I should get a Perkins!.

[disco_thrasher]

Yep your rite dawg i rekon hes just a showpony beer drinkin yobbo and i thought he was a good jurno till i saw him on a 4wd monthly dvd what a ****ing tool typical qld'er :p:p:p:p


well we all have our opinions

i reckon Roothy quite a character, so us been LR owners are gonna hate everyone how doesn't agree with LR **** we better be careful we gonna have about 85% of the world after us;););)

[Mick-Kelly]

Roothy is mainly into bikes. He is also a patch wearing bikie. Ive give him a sting once before about his tojo. I asked him if he was going to keep modifiying it till it became a landrover or if he would just simplify life and buy one. :D

[Slunnie]

well we all have our opinions

i reckon Roothy quite a character, so us been LR owners are gonna hate everyone how doesn't agree with LR sh#t we better be careful we gonna have about 85% of the world after us;););)
I agree. I think Roothy is a great character and always good for a laugh and brings a lot of life to 4WD media/journalism - you can just about guarantee and entertining read from Roothy. I'm impressed also with how he gets in, gets grubby and isn't shy with his truck when it comes time to modify and repair it. Yeah, he talks about his truck a lot, clearly he loves it and this is all about 4WDing isnt it. Dare I say it, but you will be amazed at how many similarities there are between the old's 40's and our own series Landys.

[p38arover]

I read his articles in A4WDM but I don't find them amusing. I'm put off by the writing style he uses in Bush Mechanic - it's always the same darts, beer, and the Handbrake (an insulting term in my book). In other mags, his style is adapted to suit and is easier (for me) to read.

I guess he is writing for his audience. If you've ever read Hot Fours, etc., or Street Machine, you'll see what I mean. They appear to be written for the adolescent.

Ron

[barney]

i have never met the man, but know someone who has. he said he was at a dinner for something or other and the a4wdm team were there. he was talking to roothy and offered to buy him a beer...first surprise, he didn't want one. he doesn't drink that much at all. all the beer talk in the articles and videos is all about the yobbo image. (why you would want that is anyone's guess).
the second surprise was when they were talking about 4wds, roothy asked what he had, he told him he had an old landy and roothy was quite knowledgable about the particular model and full of praise for it. (again, all part of the image)
it's possible that the public profile for a4wdm of john rooth is a character rather than a real person. like alice cooper is a character portrayed by vincent fournier.
but this all sounds a little deep and too well thought out for an australian journo of roothy's standing.

[p38arover]

Yes, he has owned Landies in the past.

The man is no fool. I think he's an ex-schoolteacher. He grew up on a sheep property, has been a miner. He's had a varied life.

People who haven't met us see us by our writings. Some think I'm a DH, others think I'm OK. My posts don't always agree with theirs so they may form an opinion based on those.

Ron

[Mick-Kelly]

I dont think your a DH Ron :D although you do have a strange choice in millinery :cool:

[p38arover]

I dont think your a DH Ron :D although you do have a strange choice in millinery :cool:

Well, I bought a new Akubra and left it on the bus in Broome (or Roebuck Roadhouse) - so I guess that pic has to stay up even longer! :(

Ron

[CraigE]

I think Roothy is OK. Good to see someone passionate about their cars and especially older models. I think he has done a great job with Milo. As per all Toyota drivers they need an attitude adjustment. I think there are currently 4 Rovers in the magazines stable and they do seem to give them a fair run. Us as Landy owners pay out on their shortcomings so other brand owners will have a field day.
Having spent a lot of time in early 80s PC's and 70 series utes, they are about equivalent to a Series Landy from 2 decades previous.:p

[JDNSW]

........ Dare I say it, but you will be amazed at how many similarities there are between the old's 40's and our own series Landys.

I used both extensively in the 1960s (and to some extent 70s), and while there are a few similarities, I think the differences are much more significant. What similarities there are are mostly because of their common heritage from the original Bantam Jeep or simply because they were built in the same era.
To give a couple of examples:-

They both have the fuel tank under the driver's seat - but the Landrover one is outside the body, the Toyota one is inside.

Landrover uses a unique box section welded chassis - Toyota used a conventional rivetted U-section chassis.

Both used live axles front and rear - but Landrover used full floating axles from 1958, Toyota used semifloating rear axle until about 1970. Landrover has always had detachable balls on the front axle - Toyota never has.

Landrover offered a diesel from 1958, Toyota did not have one until about 1975.

Series Landrovers always had detachable door tops on at least the front doors. Toyota never did - they had either windup windows or canvas doors with fixed windows.

Landrovers had four speed gearboxes with two speed transfer case from 1948 - Toyota initially had a four speed gearbox but no low range then adopted a three speed gearbox with two speed transfer case, not going to the four speed box until about 1975.

Toyotas came as standard with detachable side rims, split wheels were a rare option for Landrovers.

All the Toyotas sold in Australia in the era we are talking about had a six cylinder petrol engine - Landrover gave the choice of four cylinder petrol, four cylinder diesel or six cylinder petrol (from 1967) - and the Toyota engine was more powerful than all of them.

Toyota established the Landcruiser as the "standard" Australian four wheel drive initially using a shortage of Landrovers, then predominantly using their higher power/weight ratio, and, as Leyland threw away their conventional car business, maintained it by widening their dealer network as their sales of conventional cars expanded.

John

[jik22]

Landrover gave the choice of four cylinder petrol, four cylinder diesel or six cylinder petrol (from 1967)

That's interesting - what was the straight 6? Never saw that in the UK as far as I know....just the 2.25l in the series and the V8s for petrol.

Even now, the 4.0l V6 in our D3 isn't a UK option either (Which is probably just as well with petrol prices there!)

[Slunnie]

John can you list the similarities also?

[barney]

they both came in shades of white, green and baby-poo brown?
they both had 4 wheels and a spare?

[djam1]

That's interesting - what was the straight 6? Never saw that in the UK as far as I know....just the 2.25l in the series and the V8s for petrol.

The straight six was the 2.6 litre inlet over exhaust valve version of the Rover Saloon engine. To my knowledge they were available in the UK the general consensus of opinion seems to be that the 2.25 litre 4 was the better engine.

[Slunnie]

they both came in shades of white, green and baby-poo brown?
they both had 4 wheels and a spare?
See. They are the same. Same steering, same pinion lengths, same chassis width, same seat covering, same offset diffs including full float, same windscreen material, same same suspension, same body modular body build. I can even bolt a LC40, LC60 or Hilux axle under series with a couple of tricks to connect it up. Heck, even half of the name is the same. :wasntme:

[dobbo]

See. They are the same. Same steering, same pinion lengths, same chassis width, same seat covering, same offset diffs including full float, same windscreen material, same same suspension, same body modular body build. I can even bolt a LC40, LC60 or Hilux axle under series with a couple of tricks to connect it up. Heck, even half of the name is the same. :wasntme:


So in the famous words of the wog boy. "they're different, but same"

[DirtyDawg]

Yes, he has owned Landies in the past.

The man is no fool. I think he's an ex-schoolteacher. He grew up on a sheep property, has been a miner. He's had a varied life.

People who haven't met us see us by our writings. Some think I'm a DH, others think I'm OK. My posts don't always agree with theirs so they may form an opinion based on those.

Ron
Ron would I be covered if I thought you were an Ok DH :D:D:D

[JDNSW]

See. They are the same. Same steering, same pinion lengths, same chassis width, same seat covering, same offset diffs including full float, same windscreen material, same same suspension, same body modular body build. I can even bolt a LC40, LC60 or Hilux axle under series with a couple of tricks to connect it up. Heck, even half of the name is the same. :wasntme:

The steering in the Landcruiser was significantly different (and worse) than the Series Landrover steering - for instance, the drag link went onto the track rod, not the steering arm, so the first bit of movement on it rotated the track rod rather than moving the steering. In addition the bearing separation on the relay was about two inches rather than eight inches, with the vertical separation coming from up and down bends on the arms - this meant that as soon as the bearings wore the slightest, there was a lot more steering slop.

Can't comment on pinion length, never compared them.

Landcruisers had a tapered chassis, unlike the Landrover with a parallel chassis.

Both had vinyl seat coverings - the difference was the Landrover material by the sixties lasted a couple of years in Australian conditions - the Landcruiser material you were lucky if it lasted a couple of months.

Both diffs were offset to the right, so there was similarity there - copied from the Jeep! Full floating rear axles were a late development on the Landcruiser.

Both used the same windscreen material - toughened glass, like almost every other car on the road at the time - but Landrover had a two piece screen where Toyota was single piece, more like their common ancestor the Jeep.

Both had, in fact very similar suspension, with long leaf springs and live axles front and rear - again, both copied form Jeep, although normal for utility vehicles at the time.

Although there were some similarities in the body build, there were also differences. Series Landrovers, like the Defender had the body built from a large number of smallish pieces, bolted together. the Landcruiser had a basic welded body, designed for a soft top, with clip or bolt on assemblies to convert to a hard top. The utilities had a different lower body for the cab, and a separate rear tub, longer than the hard top. Landcruiser bodies were steel with some hardtops having fibreglass roofs, and Landrover bodies were aluminium with some steel.

You can put Landcruiser axles on a Series Landrover - but they are wider track, although the steering arrangement and the fact they are designed for leaf springs makes it easier than putting Rangerover (or other coil spring ones) ones on.

The name Landcruiser was adopted by Toyota after Willys threatened to take legal action over their use of the word "Jeep". The use of the word Landcruiser was an obvious copy of "Landrover", but different enough to avoid any possibility of legal action. (Rover" as most know, but some may not, was the name of the independent car company that first produced the Landrover, "Land" being added to the name as an allusion to their intended market as farm vehicles. Rover was introduced as the name of their new model safety bicycle by Starley and Sutton in 1885; this is generally considered the first modern bicycle. The company changed its name to Rover as a result of the success of the new bike in the late 1890s, before they produced their first car in the early 1900s.)

The similarities?

Both are conventional layout four wheel drives following the layout of the enormously successful Bantam Jeep of WW2 (most made by Willys and Ford).
This includes the offset of diffs to the right, transfer case bolted to the back of the main gearbox, transmission handbrake (but Landrover used a lever coming out of the seatbox, Toyota used an umbrella handle under the dash like the Jeep).

Like the Jeep, both provided for a folding windscreen, but rather than the Jeep setup with hinges below bonnet level, Toyota used a setup similar to Rover, with the hinges just below the glazed section. Both had flat windscreens.

Both had pendent pedals, with hydraulic clutch operation - but then so did probably 75% of cars and utilities at the time.

The overall design philosophy was quite similar, although it should be noted that the Landcruiser started as a military vehicle, where the Landrover started as a farm vehicle. This shows for example in the lack of provision for PTOs on the Landcruiser compared to the Landrover. In Australia they competed for exactly the same market, which was NOT the current market for four wheel drives. It was almost entirely farmers, miners, and government departments, the market now shared pretty much by Toyota and Nissan, which Landrover have largely withdrawn from.

Other Differences
While Landrover had three separate seats across the front, Toyota had a 60/40 split, still seating three people but with the driver's seat adjustable.

Landrovers have always had flat, parallel sides, with a slight taper above the waistline from 1958 on. The Toyotas in question had the cab tapering to the front, with separate mudguards and running boards or steps. This allowed them to have a vent at foot level, somewhat protected by the mudguard, which allowed large quantities of bulldust to enter if you unwarily left them open.

At this time Landrovers came with central instruments with open shelves each side. Toyota had the instruments in front of the driver, with the space on the other side being a small glovebox with a steel lid. (both had the entire cab furnishings in painted metal except for the seat cushions)

Standard colours for Landrover were green, grey or a yellow ochre. Landcruisers commonly came in a somewhat paler green, pale brown (stone) or a blue (other colours existed for both, but were rare)

I could go on indefinitely, but there is not a lot of point.
John

[vnx205]

I could go on indefinitely, but there is not a lot of point.
John
I think there is a point.
I don't mind reading other people's recollections and impressions.
My small offering to this comparison is in two parts.

In the 1960's, the University of New England had as part of its vehicle fleet a Series IIa LWB which was used by researchers on field trips. As a student I took part in several trips with the prehistory lecturer to survey aboriginal sites and to excavate a number of occupation sites. A couple of us students were the drivers on these trips and really enjoyed driving the LR offroad and were prepared to accept its shortcomings on the highway.
For some reason in the late 60s, the University bought a LWB Tojo. We hated it. It had a three speed box, on rough dirt roads the wheels felt as if they were only loosely connected to the sloppy suspension and when we drove through a steep gully each day near our excavation site, the carby obviously couldn't handle the angle and the engine surged and carried on as if it wasn't designed for that sort of work. Compared with the LR, it felt like driving a truck. At that time the LR was much better sorted for offroad work.
We used to name the Landrovers after gods from Greek and Roman mythology. We named the Landcruiser "Tokyo Rose". Anyone who knows WWII history will have an idea of how much that meant we disliked it.

On another trip down the Paroo Channel, we stayed at Paroo Station. The owner or manager there had some interesting observations about 4WDs.
His personal impression after having tried a number of different makes was that the LRs were a great vehicle, but they used to wear the engine out dragging the body around; the International Scout just shook to pieces as did the Landcruiser. He reckoned the best 4Wd for his purposes was the Nissan Patrol. His philosophy was that when he was travelling around the property, if he got out of the vehicle and walked, he then had to walk all the way back to the vehicle, so he preferred to drive if the vehicle would take him there, so he loved his Haflinger but it was just too slow for the distances out there. He also made the observation that property owners had converted to Toyotas because the LRs wore out and broke down. They then found that the Toyotas wore out and broke down just as the LRs had, but they couldn't see much point in changing back again.

[blitz]

A point I would like to raise here is lets not get to hung up on what other brands people drive. Yes I am very landy orientated and love taking the **** out of jap 4wds but a bit like harley riders and jap crap, so long as we are using our vehicles to get off the tarmac then who really cares what we drive (or ride)

Roothy writes in such a manner so as not to be taken to seriously, some times I think he goes overboard particularly when he goes close to advising workman ship that I personally think is bordering on dangerous.

Ultimately owning a 4wd of any brand marks all of us as different so we are all brothers and sisters regardless of brand.

Blythe

[vnx205]

Roothy, just like the rest of us is free to drive whatever he wants to and is pretty much free to express whatever opinion he might have about 4WDs or anything else.
What I find hard to take is the writing style he has adopted for that particular magazine. I find it very repetitive and can't help feeling slightly insulted that he thinks the sort of person who reads that magazine likes that overdone yobbo style. Consequently I very rarely buy the magazine, in fact usually only when it looks as if there might be useful information about Landrovers or a destination I am interested in. However I almost always find that trip reports (especially ones involving Roothy) contain little useful information but a lot of useless comments in the same sort of style that annoys me so much.
So I have voted with my wallet, as we can all do. I don't like the way he writes, so I generally don't buy the magazine.

[crump]

dunno, he looks pretty normal to me.

[Slunnie]

JDNSW that is just an awsome read, and a testimony to your outstanding depth and breadth of knowledge, not only of LandRovers but other vehicles also. Thanks for this!

[amtravic1]

Roothy is a journalist and writes to entertain the masses that buy the mags he writes for.
I have read his motorcycle tests (and saw him as chief tester on the Bike Show that was on some years ago and have admired his knowledge and frankness about the products he tests.
As far as Landcruisers are concerned, I owned a chev powered FJ40 for many years and consider it the best 4wd I have owned in the bush. It was just the right size for the Alpine driving I do with minimal overhangs, good suspension travel helped by good chassis flex. The Rangies I have owned are far more comfortable but dont do the job any easier than the Cruiser. That may be the wrong thing to say on a Landrover site but then sometimes you need to accept that other makes of vehicles do the job just as well as Landrovers. By the way, I dont think any Toyota since the FJ40 has been as capable in the bush.

Ian

[Blknight.aus]

all that is all well and good however you forgot the one major difference..

Where you would see the 2 different types of 4x4s on different sides of the one snatch strap the one at the front doing the pulling would typically be the Landrover.

[blitz]

all that is all well and good however you forgot the one major difference..

Where you would see the 2 different types of 4x4s on different sides of the one snatch strap the one at the front doing the pulling would typically be the Landrover.

At the risk of sounding like a big head I can drive a 2wd hilux further than the average city owning 4wd owner. simply because all I drive are 4wd's and I drive really off road and have for close to 30 years.

I only pull out more toyota coz there is so bloody many of them BUT if it was the other way around and landys were the most common I think I would be pulling out plenty of landies.

All I can say is in the hands of a competent driver arguably a landrover in standard form will go further than any other. But once modifications come in then no rules at all

What I am trying to say without being argumentative is most of the time it is the driver not the vehicle, and from my observations landy owners are some what better then others due to their wanting to get out and try out their vehicle, but I stress that is a generalisation.

Blythe

[Slunnie]

Aloa and I had a tug-of-war last year. Aloa Vs Slunnie, Defender Vs Discovery, Goodyear MTR Vs BFG MT, TDi Vs TD5, Manual Vs Auto, 110" Vs 100" and a gruelling test of the 8000lb snatch strap. Mate, people we booking seats for this with crowds coming from all over paddock, it was HUGE! :D

The winner was:
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Well, really we both just sunk. :lol2:

[wardy1]

For goodness sakes guys (and ladies), Roothy is paid to entertain and he does it pretty well for the most part.
Yep, he has a go at Landies....but by reading this thread you all seem to read his diatribe..... so what?
If you don't like his writing style, either don't buy the mag, or skip his articles!
Sometimes..... just sometimes..... I think we all get just a little precious about the LR brand and any criticism (tongue in cheek or not) that goes to print.

[Quiggers]

Writers can create fantasy or reality, it's an occupation close to my life:D

Here on AULRO, it's only reality, but as I'm paid to write for others, fiction is entirely plausible.... or Harry Potter and Ron Weasley do have a flying Ford Anglia.....:twisted:

However, as a paid writer, I do get rather annoyed when fantasy is passed off as reality...

GQ

[Slunnie]

Sometimes..... just sometimes..... I think we all get just a little precious about the LR brand and any criticism (tongue in cheek or not) that goes to print.
Absolutely. Its all just a bit of fun, you've gotta have thicker skin.

[disco_thrasher]

For goodness sakes guys (and ladies), Roothy is paid to entertain and he does it pretty well for the most part.
Yep, he has a go at Landies....but by reading this thread you all seem to read his diatribe..... so what?
If you don't like his writing style, either don't buy the mag, or skip his articles!
Sometimes..... just sometimes..... I think we all get just a little precious about the LR brand and any criticism (tongue in cheek or not) that goes to print.

Well said Wardy,,,,,,Roothy is liked by some and disliked by others we really are sounding like a bunch pregnant women at a tea party ,bitch bitch bitch......how can you judge somebody when 95% of you have not even met the bloke:confused::confused:;)

[mcrover]

I recon Roothy is a cack up, you always get a laugh out of his scribblings and his comments on Landrovers are more tounge in cheek than to be insulting to their owners.

I believe that he hangs it on Landy drivers as he probably has met more of us that have a good sense of humor and can get a joke but some of you seem like you dont have a sense of humor or you dont understand his.

Why be insulted by what he said, I would only worry about it if he published "mcrovers disco is a POS" in his magazine as that is a personal sler toward me but these mags are not written for one person specifically so there is no need to get offended as some people (most people) would enjoy reading his stuff and not taking it to seriously.

If the Handbreak would loosen the strings to the purse he would probably flog old Milo for a G4 110 defa and most likely call it Ovaltine as it's not quite the same as Milo.

By the way, his tech stuff on basic mechanics is normally pretty spot on and the back to basics aproach has reminded me from time to time to go back to basics my self as being a mechanic and trying to find short cuts all the time I have pulled out the old vac guage and blown off the dust instead of just replacing things until the problem goes away.

[DRanged]

Dont know the guy so I wont comment on him personally.

But at least he actually goes off road, and explores areas that some of us have then done.

At least he drives a 4wd and uses it for what it was intended for.

The people that knock guys like him are the ones that have never actually been down more than a fire trail.

Good to see people that have a bit of passion in whatever they do or whatever they drive.

Justin

[vnx205]

He may be a wonderful human being, an ace driver and a genius mechanic, but I don't like his writing style. I have no problem with what he says; I simply don't like the way he says it
Those of you who like his style will no doubt continue to buy his magazine and I will continue not to buy it. That way we will all be happy. No problem.

[JamesH]

That was a fantastic couple of posts JDNSW, thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts down. Very informative and interesting.

A mate of mine inherited a 1972 Troopy in original condition back in 1996 from his Godfather and very low miles (23 thou at the time, that's one thousand a year.) and it is still in wonderful condition to this day; must have a whopping 33thou on it by now. Anyway it was a 72/73 model and has a 4 speed box. Nice box and clutch too.

What I admire about this vehicle is, that it has more comprehensive engine gauges than my 96 Defender. It has fuel, temp, oil pressure and amp gauges 1972!. My 96 Defender has two of those and the rest warning lights and I don't trust lights. I wanna see things rise and fall before I need a warning.

My other Toyota experiences come from driving (and being driven mostly) in 70 series utes on and off rough station tracks up in the territory and I have to say they motor along faster and smoother than my Defender. My Defender would have got there no worries and used less fuel to BUT not as fast or in as much comfort.

I could never own a troopy, I just couldn't, but I'm happy to call it what it is, prejudice, a happy prejudice.

[LandyAndy]

My first 4x4 was a 1970ish Tojo shorty 40 softop,still like looking at them!!!!It had a 350 Chev and a 4 speed from a later model,it could stand up on its backwheels!!!!!
My brother borrowed it whilst the Americas cup was on,he dropped the clutch outside Papa Luigis in Freo,it stood up and he lost 2 mates out the back!!!
Had to sell it,cost a fortune in petrol and transfercases!!!!
Andrew

[mcrover]

Everyone cant drive Landrovers as then we would have nobody to whinge about other than ather landy drivers.

4wd monthly has brought out 2 Xtra magazines that had just Landrovers in them as far as I know as I have both of them, there might be more but I think that is great.

I must be a yobbo 4wder as I find his rantings funny, I dont think everything has to read like a workshop manual or a novel and a magazine is for entertainment and thats what he writes for.

Sure if you dont like his writing dont read it but no need to make a big thing of it, he has the right to do it and he gets paid for it.

If nobody liked it then he wouldnt be making money out of it.

[ellard]

Hi there

McRover - I would like to suport your comment.

I am currently flicking through one of the Extra 4wheeler mags on the Land Rovers - some very nice vehicles within - my favorite the modified 100" with cruiser running gear (military look-like).

I think there will always be people out there knocking others - at time there seems to be more knocking land rovers, but something to consider just imagine if all humans were the same - how booring.

All the best

Wayne

[Jamo]

I've found that they can be reasonably fair to Land Rovers.

I generally don't buy the mag, though, because personally I find the general writing style to be too ocker. I don't mind the style per se, but I think that A4WDM overdoes it a bit. It becomes tiresome for me to read. I think Roothy's articles have potential (he seems quite knowledgable), but perhaps spend too much time with appealing to the yobbo crowd and not enough time providing proper info. But then, their mag sells a lot, so there must be plenty of underendowed dudes out there who prefer it!

I suppose each mag caters to a different part of the market.

A4WDM generally appears to appeal to those who like to see themselves as ockers;
4x4Australia to the middle-of-the-road crowd; and
Overlander to the grey nomads.

Each has a definite style and I'm the first to admit that I've gleaned very useful information out of all three.

I ingore the anti-Land Rover comments. After all, 'but for the grace of God, there go I". If some folks didn't buy lesser 4WD, what we we have to practice recovery techniques on??;)

Each to his own!

[mcrover]

A4WDM generally appears to appeal to those who like to see themselves as ockers;
4x4Australia to the middle-of-the-road crowd; and
Overlander to the grey nomads.


Each has a definite style and I'm the first to admit that I've gleaned very useful information out of all three.

I ingore the anti-Land Rover comments. After all, 'but for the grace of God, there go I". If some folks didn't buy lesser 4WD, what we we have to practice recovery techniques on??;)

Each to his own!

I find 4x4 aust to be more for the Newer 4wders and not so much on the older touring types like a Defa or D1

And as far as recovery ppractice goes I 100% agree : )

[disco_thrasher]

guess i must be a underendowed yobbo dude ,at least i know who i am and i am not a WANNABIE:p
Keep up the good work Roothy us YOBBO'S must stick together;)

[cookiesa]

I would buy most editions of Australian 4x4 Monthly and have quite a collection of 4x4 mags now..... That's after I gave them all to a small town library a few years back. I also buy the other 4x4 mags but usually only if something catches my interest.

All in all I think A4x4Monthly is the least biased, especially against LR. I would like Roothy to drop some of the dribble as I too get tired of wading through it, particularly in the bush mechanic section. But all in all I enjoy it and think Landrovers are given a fair run.... even though we like to pretend Landrovers are as well built as the jap stuff we know the reality is a bit different...

And now to REALLY upset the die hard nuts........ If only Landrover had of provided the designs and concepts and let Toyota or Nissan build the Disco!

[TerrorFirma]

Roothy is not that bad, bit of a loose goose and a questionable owner of a constsntly modifed tojo but he gets out and about, trys his hardest to get up most tracks, has a different writing style and as a bonus likes jeeps and has the old Willys so that ok in my book! My mate at work eats, lives and ****s Tojo, worked for them for years, his dad was a senior guy for them for over 20 years as well and I pointed out to him that all of the current 4x4 houses all had there first post war 4x4 based on the Willys MB chassis and platform so at the end of the day we are all driving Jeeps!!!!!

Plus I am biased as i drive one and the rangie!!

JTO

[100I]

Liked his spot on the bike show on bris31. I generally liked his columns in 2wheels, but then they tend to be written in a fashion touching on the A4WDM style, so can get tedious. Kev Wilson & Rodney Rude are funny once.
I'll bet his wife is a glam 20yrs his junior too;).

BUT is it just me or does his driving appear to others as mechanically unsymathetic? Hard to tell on film but in the DVDs I have seen he always appears a bit agressive for the situtation & hits things harder than other drivers/vehicles. Seems ironic given the way that 40 is set up it should walk over most stuff with ease. Then maybe it isn't that great and what you see on the vid is his second or third attempt.

Anyway like everyone else I'm green that he drives 4WDs & bikes for a living.

[Jamo]

guess i must be a underendowed yobbo dude ,at least i know who i am and i am not a WANNABIE:p
Keep up the good work Roothy us YOBBO'S must stick together;)

Good to see!:DAlthough there's nothing wrong with wannabees. We have to be wannabees before we can be! I spent about 35 years as a 'wannabe' off roader.

(BTW: To anybody reading my last post, just incase it's misconstrued, the 'underendowed' comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek!...maybe;))

[mcrover]

JTO, saying a Jeep is any good on a LR forum...... Geez your game :wasntme:

After about $10000 of mods to suspension, body work and drivetrain, a Wrangler/XJ Cherokee can go where a Disco 1 goes from the factory.

Enough Jeep bagging for 1 night, Ive owned 2 and never again.

[maggsie]

Well said Wardy,,,,,,Roothy is liked by some and disliked by others we really are sounding like a bunch pregnant women at a tea party ,bitch bitch bitch......how can you judge somebody when 95% of you have not even met the bloke:confused::confused:;)

I couldn't agree more!

[Ken]

JTO, saying a Jeep is any good on a LR forum...... Geez your game :wasntme:

After about $10000 of mods to suspension, body work and drivetrain, a Wrangler/XJ Cherokee can go where a Disco 1 goes from the factory.

Enough Jeep bagging for 1 night, Ive owned 2 and never again.

JEEP SUCKS

[Sailfin]

Hi all, interesting reading about John Rooth.

I am almost certain that i knew his kids in the mid to late 90s when i was growing up in QLD, he had a 40 series open top Landcruiser back then, and was mad as a cut snake, literally, from memory he was a very scary guy, had a full on crim vibe about him.

I remember him madly painting the soft top 40 in Army camo colours, quite funny now looking back i would swear he was on something lol.

I cant be sure that it was Roothy, but id put it at about 80%, his family lived across the road from me for a few months and then moved on.

I would be a shame if Roothy is mixed in with outlaw bikers, i do enjoy his style of journalism just as i enjoy a funny movie but bikies are such losers.

[El Duderino]

JEEP SUCKS

I have one of the last TJ's and owned since new. They're awesome, can do an incredible amount of random things...and is the only vehicle (out of 8 that I've owned, thashed, had fun, cared for or whatever) to never once give me grief. 3.5yrs of owning it and nothing has happened, nothing! Check your bias yeah?! ;)

As for Roothy, he writes regularly for bike mags (bike are my main passion btw), and his adventures and stories are entertaining. With the newer breeds of bikes, which is the bulk of his reader audience, he will need to update his tastes or style, or else he's not got long in these mags. Upgrade or walk away imo. :P

[ramblingboy42]

was roothy one of the originals of Picture magazine? I seem to recall something there....not that I ever looked at home girls....or whatever its called....

[Hymie]

I don't like the way he writes, so I generally don't buy the magazine.

Yup, that's the way I feel too.

[Vern]

I would be a shame if Roothy is mixed in with outlaw bikers
Pretty sure i remember seeing a 'Rebels' tattoo on his arm in an older live to ride magazine, so that would be a yes

[Disco44]

Yep your rite dawg i rekon hes just a showpony beer drinkin yobbo and i thought he was a good jurno till i saw him on a 4wd monthly dvd what a ****ing tool typical qld'er :p:p:p:p

Now what do you mean "typical Queenslander"???????????

[Slunnie]

Jeez Lokka, you'll need to dumb it down some more. :p

[Disco44]

What got into my craw was the blantant lies Tojo told in their advertisements about their involvement in the Snowy River Scheme.They came straight out in the media and said Toyotas built the Snowy Scheme.Fact is that Theiss bought 3 out for a trial all the rest were landrovers ( over 400 ).
To give you all a laugh I attach two pics from one of my trips to Cape York.
Be free to form your own opinion on just how good they are off road.
Cheers,
disco44

[Disco44]

That's interesting - what was the straight 6? Never saw that in the UK as far as I know....just the 2.25l in the series and the V8s for petrol.

Even now, the 4.0l V6 in our D3 isn't a UK option either (Which is probably just as well with petrol prices there!)

My mate had an old Tojo with the straight in.It was a replica of the chevy 6.We had to take it out and it was so heavy it nearly pulled his house down.
Running it got 12MPG .Typical Jap crap they have never invented anything just copied..like a recent post in the UK and Europe about their latest...all toyota is doing is playing catchup..so bloody true.Yet so many fall over here for their their hype..the mind boggles,and yes I'm a 4th generation Aussie.
Disco44

[V8Ian]

Typical Queenslander:

A blow in from elswhere in Australia, usually NSW or Vic. They arrive and settle close to the coastline, rarely far from their beloved milk-bars and shopping precincts, bringing with them below par skills and common sense. Typical Queenslanders should not be confused with Real Queenslanders, or their close cousins from WA or NT.

:p:p

[korg20000bc]

In one 4WD Monthly DVD I was loaned he went back somewhere in Sth Aust and looked at some old Land Rovers on a property. He said that they were mostly used as a farm vehicle and the family used to have another vehicle to go to town in. He was full of praise for their ruggedness and ability but said "Jeeze they were rough!"
He reckoned that when the Toyotas came round people felt comfortable using the same vehicle for the farm work AND going into town.

[RobHay]

Yep your rite dawg i rekon hes just a showpony beer drinkin yobbo and i thought he was a good jurno till i saw him on a 4wd monthly dvd what a ****ing tool typical qld'er :p:p:p:p

Hey! Hey Hey!......Thems not nice words :mad:......just for that we gonna thrash you at footy, :o and stop the supply of XXXX from ever reaching ya shores:D

[RobHay]

Yes, he has owned Landies in the past.

The man is no fool. I think he's an ex-schoolteacher. He grew up on a sheep property, has been a miner. He's had a varied life.

People who haven't met us see us by our writings. Some think I'm a DH, others think I'm OK. My posts don't always agree with theirs so they may form an opinion based on those.

Ron

Oh No! Ron. Ronny, Maaate.....We all loves ya!!!:eek:

[Shonky]

I wrote in to 4WD monthly many many years ago when I first got Gus. I submitted a photo to their "readers rides" (or whatever it is called) section.

Roothy picked me as the winner because he got all nostalgic about young blokes and Landies. Apparently it was how he got into 4WDs. I won a small compressor, but at the time (I was about 15 and a 4WDM subscriber of many years) the biggest prize was getting a phone call from Roothy! :lol2:

I was so excited it wasn't funny! :D

[Rangier Rover]

Interesting some of the opinions that have formed with this 4WD Action lot in general. I to used to think they were a bunch of biased bashers. But really, its all about marketing and sponsors at a given level of readers. The majority would be?
I think we may find all of them a bit different in real life somehow.

I'm lucky as drive Landys and Toyota's of similar vintage here so can form my own unbiased opinion:D
Lets say one does some things better than the other and the other does some things better than one:p

Tony

[RobHay]

I wrote in to 4WD monthly many many years ago when I first got Gus. I submitted a photo to their "readers rides" (or whatever it is called) section.

Roothy picked me as the winner because he got all nostalgic about young blokes and Landies. Apparently it was how he got into 4WDs. I won a small compressor, but at the time (I was about 15 and a 4WDM subscriber of many years) the biggest prize was getting a phone call from Roothy! :lol2:

I was so excited it wasn't funny! :D

Sooooo! Who was it that had to do the clean-up? :twisted:

[p38arover]

I don't think the 4WD Action writers are anti-LR per se. A number of them have owned/do own LR products.

My main complaint about the mag is the writing style.

[V8Ian]

That makes me a typical Qlnder then ;)

Phew.......see......told you I wasn't really a Qlnder!! :D
:lol2::lol2: I wondered how long it would take. :confused::p

[V8Ian]

I don't think the 4WD Action writers are anti-LR per se. A number of them have owned/do own LR products.

My main complaint about the mag is the writing style.
I agree wholeheartedly Ron, but instead of complaining or getting my face in a twist, I save ten bucks a month.

[p38arover]

I agree wholeheartedly Ron, but instead of complaining or getting my face in a twist, I save ten bucks a month.


Same here. I didn't renew my sub after it expired a few years back.

[Shonky]

Ditto. ;)

[Rangier Rover]

Same with me.

Then some nice member of our family gave me a years subscription:) I don't mind it at all now. Just have to filter it out a bit thats all;)
They have shown interest in my 120" and only reason its gone no further is me at this stage.

Tony

[abaddonxi]

And I thought you just bought it for the pictures.:D

[Scallops]

And I thought you just bought it for the pictures.:D

No - that's another magazine altogether. :D

[jacknz]

I have been a reader of that magazine untill recently, I mean I could buy a mag and get a DVD for $10, what a deal!!, but it's the same thing most months, what really p--ed me off was on one of the DVD's, heres Roothy going on about the rebuilt engine (that I guess the sponsor paid for) after going on about how careful you must be with a fresh engine, then he's charging around a dirt yard with no airfilter on it, What does that tell you?

Jack

[mrapocalypse]

I know Roothy pretty well. I would say he has many layers, I know he's a very smart freelancer. He gets paid to rebuild old trucks in his shed for goodness sake. He grew up driving land Rovers. His dad had one. I am pretty sure he bags them because he knows what a sensitive bunch LR owners really are!

He drives his 4x4 the way he wants to, where he wants to and gets paid for it. He has a good sense of humour and he no doubt has a chequered past! The "Hand Brake" Stuff is all a smoke screen. He's a very dedicated Husband and father, but that's none of our business.

How many other journos are out there driving leaf sprung, un-airconditioned home built trucks to 1/100th the places Roothy goes! How many of them could or would change a busted CV in the Tassie swamp. We need more like him.

And like all things media related, I support your right not to buy that Magazine.

And Land Rovers are better than Toyotas!

I

[maggsie]

Well said Wardy,,,,,,Roothy is liked by some and disliked by others we really are sounding like a bunch pregnant women at a tea party ,bitch bitch bitch......how can you judge somebody when 95% of you have not even met the bloke:confused::confused:;)
I second that, I think a lot of people would like the opportunity to get paid to travel around australia 4wdriving. Who cares what make of car he drives, his style of writing is light hearted and meant for entertaining the readers, what is wrong with that!

Maggsie
04 V8 Disco
85 V8 County

[stevo68]

Quote:
Originally Posted by disco_thrasher https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/768.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/38780-cant-help-good-stir-post548354.html#post548354)
Well said Wardy,,,,,,Roothy is liked by some and disliked by others we really are sounding like a bunch pregnant women at a tea party ,bitch bitch bitch......how can you judge somebody when 95% of you have not even met the bloke:confused::confused:;)

I second that, I think a lot of people would like the opportunity to get paid to travel around australia 4wdriving. Who cares what make of car he drives, his style of writing is light hearted and meant for entertaining the readers, what is wrong with that!

Maggsie
04 V8 Disco
85 V8 County Here, here......I like the magazine and I like the DVD's and I'd happily have a brew or 10 with Roothy.....but then again I could be considered a bit colourful at times as well. Besides who wouldnt swap a right leg to get to do what he does......bloody good on him.

Also I spend a fair whack of time reading and posting on the forum over at 4WD Action...and you know what.....in the main....they are no different to anyone here......just brothers and sisters who drive a different beast,

Regards

Stevo

[p38arover]

Pretty sure i remember seeing a 'Rebels' tattoo on his arm in an older live to ride magazine, so that would be a yes

I asked Boris Mihailovic (Boris from AMCN) yesterday and he confirmed Roothy is a member of the Rebels MC.

[westaussie89]

3 years on and Roothy's still driving Milo, though these days it's covered in TJM gear from head to toe. Nissan drivers bag out Toyota drivers, Toyota drivers bag out Nissan drivers, EVERYONE bags out Jeep drivers :D It's all in good fun.

Roothy inspired me to get out there 4WDing and not be afraid to do some longer and harder trips. He's also taught me to be prepared when out bush. How many people do you see stuck on the beach with full tyre pressures and no recovery gear?? I've never been that person because from day one I took Roothy's advice.

These days Graham Cahill from Perth is the second major journalist for 4WD Action in his shorty Nissan GQ, he does some great DVDs and I reckon he's a much better writer than Roothy.

[Bushie]

And the 4WD Action mob now apparently own Overlander Mag as well

Overlander 4WD :: View topic - Overlander Magazine sold to 4WD Action Publisher (http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=70273)

Martyn

[bob10]

3 years on and Roothy's still driving Milo, though these days it's covered in TJM gear from head to toe. Nissan drivers bag out Toyota drivers, Toyota drivers bag out Nissan drivers, EVERYONE bags out Jeep drivers :D It's all in good fun.

Roothy inspired me to get out there 4WDing and not be afraid to do some longer and harder trips. He's also taught me to be prepared when out bush. How many people do you see stuck on the beach with full tyre pressures and no recovery gear?? I've never been that person because from day one I took Roothy's advice.

These days Graham Cahill from Perth is the second major journalist for 4WD Action in his shorty Nissan GQ, he does some great DVDs and I reckon he's a much better writer than Roothy.
Have to agree WA89, but I think John Rooth is a smart operator, he's making money out of what most people on this forum are spending heaps to do.Don't know him, never met him, and I make no judgement on him as a person, but I have picked up a lot of good tips from the magazine he is but a small part of.Reading some of the threads here, just a little bit of jealously, perhaps? Bob

[bob10]

3 years on and Roothy's still driving Milo, though these days it's covered in TJM gear from head to toe. Nissan drivers bag out Toyota drivers, Toyota drivers bag out Nissan drivers, EVERYONE bags out Jeep drivers :D It's all in good fun.

Roothy inspired me to get out there 4WDing and not be afraid to do some longer and harder trips. He's also taught me to be prepared when out bush. How many people do you see stuck on the beach with full tyre pressures and no recovery gear?? I've never been that person because from day one I took Roothy's advice.

These days Graham Cahill from Perth is the second major journalist for 4WD Action in his shorty Nissan GQ, he does some great DVDs and I reckon he's a much better writer than Roothy.
Have to agree WA89, but I think John Rooth is a smart operator, he's making money out of what most people on this forum are spending heaps to do.Don't know him, never met him, and I make no judgement on him as a person, but I have picked up a lot of good tips from the magazine he is but a small part of.Reading some of the threads here, just a little bit of jealousy, perhaps? Bob

[zuno555]

Lol, nice thread resurrection for a first post haha :)

Sponser switch from ARB to TJM is amusing but they tested out tons of ARB equipment over the years so its actually good to compare and test out TJM for a few years.

Personally I find his writing very annoying and difficult to read (full of mindless and repetitive chit chat) but under the filler the articles are ok.

On the DVD's he has a easy going and enthusiastic personality, he explains things simply and his general message "Get out there" is great.

Ribbing between brands?? Get over it who cares? I find it funny, just give some back, it is not like a personal attack on your wife!! Happens in every sport/activity - photography, bikes, suburbs/states you live in etc etc God imagine if you lived in Moe, Victoria, you are the butt of every location joke around haha

eg

Definition of confusion?

Fathers day in Moe.

[bob10]

Lol, nice thread resurrection for a first post haha :)

Sponser switch from ARB to TJM is amusing but they tested out tons of ARB equipment over the years so its actually good to compare and test out TJM for a few years.

Personally I find his writing very annoying and difficult to read (full of mindless and repetitive chit chat) but under the filler the articles are ok.

On the DVD's he has a easy going and enthusiastic personality, he explains things simply and his general message "Get out there" is great.

Ribbing between brands?? Get over it who cares? I find it funny, just give some back, it is not like a personal attack on your wife!! Happens in every sport/activity - photography, bikes, suburbs/states you live in etc etc God imagine if you lived in Moe, Victoria, you are the butt of every location joke around haha

eg

Definition of confusion?

Fathers day in Moe.
Never heard of logan, Brisbane?

[bob10]

Yep your rite dawg i rekon hes just a showpony beer drinkin yobbo and i thought he was a good jurno till i saw him on a 4wd monthly dvd what a ****ing tool typical qld'er :p:p:p:p
Good point, Lokka, we up here have been concerned about the dilution of our gene pool by southern blowins for some time now, one solution offered is to send them all to Peel island to be processed, but I have a better idea-- stop them all at the tickgates, and bring over Kiwis, at least they can play Rugby! [ Thought... Kiwis in State of Origin hmmmmm, could provide some competition. :D ] Bob
[btw. John Rooth was born @ bred in NSW.]

[jerryd]

I would think he's a very shrewd business man who gets paid lots to do what he enjoys doing.At the Brisbane 4wd show people were queuing up in the hundreds to have a chat with him and he seemed to thrive on it.

My favorite "Roothy Moments" are when he cooks on the dvd's :D

[MickS]

There would not be anyone on here who, if driving down a track, they saw Milo and Roothy at the side of the road, would not stop and say hello and get a pic taken with him.

[p38arover]

There would not be anyone on here who, if driving down a track, they saw Milo and Roothy at the side of the road, would not stop and say hello and get a pic taken with him.

I'm not sure about getting a pic taken but I'd certainly stop. After all, he may have broken down. :p

[stevo68]

There would not be anyone on here who, if driving down a track, they saw Milo and Roothy at the side of the road, would not stop and say hello and get a pic taken with him. Well it wasnt exactly driving down the road...but.....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/04/1462.jpg

and even better ;)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/777.jpg

Regards

Stevo

[V8Ian]

I personally find Roothy pads out good advice with uncouth and demeaning rhetoric, at the rate of one to three.