WHEN Pedders Suspension & Brakes offered GoAuto the opportunity to appraise its off-road suspension kit, it did so with the full knowledge that our test vehicle was in for one hell of a road trip.
Leaving from Melbourne, we headed to what is arguably Australia’s four-wheel drive Mecca – the Cape York Peninsula – intent on putting Pedders Suspension through its paces across some of the most gruelling tracks on the planet.
Surprisingly, the Pedders crew didn’t bat an eyelid when confronted with the news…
Rather, they seemed enthused about the prospect, keenly working to understand how much load the vehicle would carry and the ride height desired to ensure the perfect balance between performance and comfort was achieved.
With the knowledge at hand, the Pedders Suspension & Brakes team selected the right combination of springs and damper to suit the task, fitting our 2023 Toyota HiLux Rogue with Pedders coil springs up front and Pedders Foam Cell dampers all round.
Given the weight carried, it was decided the Toyota leaf springs were best suited to rear-end duties – a choice that in hindsight we must agree with. But more on that in a moment.
Way up north
After a brief shake-down in a disused quarry north of Melbourne, we were convinced the setup Pedders Suspension & Brakes had fitted was right for the job.
With the vehicle loaded, we pointed the nose north for a four-day hike to Cairns, meeting with a group of mates for a month in the tropics.
Around 500kg of fuel, provisions, water, tools, recovery equipment, spare parts, and people were loaded in and on the Rogue with Tetris-like precision – and now the first challenge laid in wait.
The CREB (or Cairns Regional Electricity Board) Track originally served as an access trail for the poles and wires supplying the region north of Cairns with electricity.
Nowadays, the track is revered as one of Far North Queensland’s most challenging four-wheel drive trails, weaving through the spectacular World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest toward Cooktown (and the famous Lion’s Den Hotel).
The red clay of the CREB is Vaseline slick after rain, the rise and fall of the terrain paired with multiple creek crossings to challenge driver skill.
It is a route that can become impassable after heavy rain, with deep water crossings expected at regular intervals.
Adventurous four-wheel drivers have been known to become trapped on the CREB for days at a time, waiting patiently for the clay to dry out just enough to make it through to the other end.
For us, favourable conditions presented no such challenge, and with appropriate tyre pressure and well-tuned suspension, the HiLux Rogue cruised comfortably from end-to-end.
Just a warm-up
After a few well-earned ales and a restful night’s sleep at the Lion’s Den Hotel, our convoy trekked northward to take on the Frenchman’s Track.
Thought to retrace the steps of prospectors headed to Queensland’s Iron Range goldfields, this rugged 179km trail stretches from the Archer River Roadhouse to the Moreton Telegraph Station.
It crosses both the Pascoe and the Wenlock rivers – one with deep sand on approach and exit, the other jagged rock and submerged boulders.
If suspension travel and progressive compression damping is going to prove itself, it’s going to be here. The Frenchman’s Track throws just about everything a four-wheel driver could expect to encounter over a relatively short distance – including some of the most serious washouts of the journey.
The views along the early part of the Frenchman’s Track are quite spectacular, and can be quick to distract the unsuspecting tour leader… A bit of winching and a lot of sweat later, the crew continues its push through the red dust to find the door-handle-deep Pascoe River.
It’s a tricky crossing with fast-flowing water and a steep, gnarly exit. A couple of the heavier rigs struggled to make the grade, being towed and winched to higher ground. In the bush, the remains of a less fortunate Navara returns to the elements, graffitied with the names of those who’ve passed.
Fortunately for us, the HiLux and the Pedders Suspension setup performed without flaw, even managing to maintain its poise over the endless corrugations and dust holes of the Peninsula Development Road that connects the Frenchman’s Track with the iconic Old Telegraph Track (or OTT).
Onto the tip
The Old Telegraph Track is arguably Australia’s most iconic four-wheel drive destination.
It is an historic 82km stretch of clay and bulldust that cuts its way north from Bramwell Junction to the Jardine River beside the former Cape York Telegraph Line, a vital communication corridor that once connected Brisbane with the outside world.
A bucket-list experience for adventurous four-wheel drivers, it’s one that is punctuated by scenery only Cape York can offer: dense forests, towering termite nests, and crystal-clear streams all a captivating part of the Old Telegraph Track experience.
In parts, it’s also bloody tough going…
As if it was set up, we’d travelled just a handful of kilometres from the famous sign at the Bramwell Junction Roadhouse before we came across a fellow traveller with a blown shock absorber.
Removing the busted, dual-coloured tube and sending him on his way, finding the challenging Palm Creek crossing just ahead.
Given the time of year, the creek was little more than a serious of bog holes entered by a serious of precipitous drops. It was a taste of things to come – and like several of the crossings on the ‘Tele’ one nearly as treacherous as the infamous Gunshot.
In fact, we reckon Palm Creek, Sailors Creek, and Gunshot Creek were about as tricky as it gets.
Many of the obstacles encountered on the Old Telegraph Track require accurate wheel placement and all a dose of common sense. It is not the sort of place you can simply call for roadside assistance – the need to preserve your equipment weighed equally with the want for adventure.
For our little crew, the trip was fuss free – and the Pedders Suspension kit performed without flaw.
The baking hot sun, deep ruts, soft creeks, and as much talc-fine dust as your door seals can handle are as much a part of the OTT adventure as the stunning waterfalls, remarkable history, and postcard-perfect beaches.
Throw in some of the best four-wheel driving the country has to offer – and some of the friendliest locals you could ever want to meet – and it’s little wonder this stretch of paradise is rated as one of the best.
To end our trek, we drove the HiLux to the furthest point north we could manage before making our way on foot to that famous sign. The views over the Torres Strait toward Prince of Wales and Thursday Islands are stunning in the afternoon sun – and the perfect backdrop to the end of our journey.
Pedders Suspension Kits Explained
In fitting Pedders coil springs up front and Pedders Foam Cell dampers all round, we aimed to improve upon the factory setup, ensuring the HiLux would handle the 10,000km trek to the Tip and back without incident.
Having the setup tuned to requirement gave the vehicle a level stance, helping not only to shoulder the weight of the equipment in and on the car, but likewise that of the bullbar and winch.
Before fitting the Pedders Suspension setup, the HiLux had sagged in the nose, quickly finding the bump stops on even moderate obstacles. It had also impacted dynamics, dulling steering response and lightening the rear under heavy braking.
We were impressed by how quickly the Pedders Suspension setup changed the HiLux for the better, effectively compensating for the additional weight and the modifications we had made.
“Pedders Suspension is made for four-wheel drive owners who want to enhance the ride, comfort, control, off-road ability, and traction of their four-wheel drive,” said Pedders Suspension & Brakes senior executive of brand and marketing Adam Gillick.
“In this case, the setup was about re-energising the suspension capabilities of the HiLux Rogue through the addition of new Pedders Foam Cell shock absorbers and Pedders coil springs, while levelling the ride height to customer specifications.
“Matt wanted to slightly increase ground clearance and articulation while improving braking performance and reducing body control. The setup installed allowed this to happen while enhancing the safety of the vehicle, reducing wear on components, and prolonging the life of his tyres.”
Pedders Suspension & Brakes cover all its products, including those designed for off-road use, with a ‘No Fuss’ nation-wide two-year/40,000km warranty.
Word to the wise
The challenging tracks of the Cape York Peninsula are suited only to seasoned four-wheel drivers in high clearance vehicles and with low-range gearing.
The remoteness of the Cape York region means travellers must come prepared. A capable vehicle, sufficient fuel, drinking water, and a well-stocked Eski are vital, as is recovery- and first-aid equipment – and the ability to use it.
Depending on where you trek, it may also be necessary to obtain permission from local custodians. Detailed information can be found on the Queensland Parks and Forest website at parks.desi.qld.gov.au