#145 - Ronny Leaves, AI Seatbelt fines & Missing Waves
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Brand
Terrain Tamer
Terrain Tamer makes aftermarket parts for off-road and 4x4 vehicles. The hosts are saying they like the brand because the replacement parts they sell—like filters and brake pads—are good quality.
Part
fuel filters
A fuel filter cleans the fuel before it gets to the engine. If it gets clogged, the engine can run poorly, so it’s a normal maintenance item.
Part
oil filters
An oil filter helps keep the engine oil clean by trapping gunk. It’s part of regular maintenance to help the engine last longer.
Part
brake pads
Brake pads are the parts that squeeze against the brake rotors to slow the car down. They wear out over time and usually need replacement eventually.
Brand
Tough Dog
Tough Dog is a company that makes aftermarket parts for off-road and 4x4 vehicles. Here, the hosts mention it as one of the brands they trust for the parts they need.
Term
wheel bearing kits
Wheel bearing kits are sets of parts used to fix or replace the bearings that help your wheels spin smoothly. If a bearing wears out, it can cause noise and vibration, so the kit helps you do the job correctly.
Term
differential kits
A differential kit is a set of parts for the differential—part of the drivetrain that helps the wheels turn at different speeds, especially when turning. Rebuilding it can restore smooth operation and reduce wear.
Term
gearbox rebuild kits
A gearbox rebuild kit is a set of parts used to take a transmission apart and fix worn components. It’s meant to help you rebuild the gearbox instead of replacing it outright.
Term
swivel housing kits
A swivel housing kit is for a part of some 4WD front axles that helps the wheel steer. It usually includes the worn bearings and seals so the steering can move smoothly again.
Term
seatbelt fines
Seatbelt fines are tickets for not wearing your seatbelt properly. The goal is to encourage safer driving and reduce injuries in crashes.
Term
AI cameras
These are cameras that use smart software to spot when people aren’t wearing their seatbelts. The system can then help authorities fine the driver.
Concept
camera-based traffic enforcement
This is when cameras on the road watch for traffic rule breaking and then trigger fines. In this segment, they’re talking about cameras that can see whether seatbelts are being used properly.
Term
front windscreen
The front windscreen is the windshield you look through from the driver’s seat. The cameras can use the view through it to check what’s happening inside the car.
Term
mobile phone offences
Mobile phone offences are tickets for using your phone while driving. The episode suggests the cameras can spot those violations too.
Term
demerit points
Demerit points are extra penalties added to your driving record when you get a ticket. They usually last for a while, and too many can lead to your license being restricted or suspended.
Concept
AI seatbelt enforcement
This is when cameras and computer software check if people are buckled up and automatically issue tickets. The worry is that the system can make mistakes and fine people who weren’t actually doing anything wrong.
Term
formal review process
A formal review process is the official way to challenge a ticket after you’ve been fined. You usually have to submit an appeal and wait for a decision.
Term
reflective window coverings
These are like special sunshades for your windows. They reflect heat and help keep the inside cooler, especially when you’re stopped or traveling in strong sun.
Brand
Bush optics
Bush optics is the name of a small business the hosts are talking about. They make window screens/sunshades for vehicles, and the hosts think they look really cool.
Term
Soul screens
“Soul screens” sounds like a branded type of window shade/screen. The idea is to help with sun and glare so the inside is more comfortable.
Term
rooftop tent
A rooftop tent is a tent that sits on top of the car. When you stop, it opens up so you can sleep without using the ground.
Term
clam shell
Here, “clam shell” means the tent opens like a lid that swings up. The point is that this tent opens in a way that can give you more room than just lifting the top.
LIVE
All right, the four-wheel drive podcast Power Bites High Power, recording in the back chat,
back chat. Back chat studio is built by Grounded. Oh, it's been a bit of a, been a bit of a
rough start.
Do you want me to keep that in?
Or do you want me to keep that one?
Back chat, I don't mind that.
Back chat.
Kind of works.
No, well.
Kind of works for, like.
What does it work as?
Well, if you, if you have a backman come in on the normal platform, and this back chat,
back chat might be a new segment.
Anyway, a new show.
Some royalties will be coming my way.
Hopefully.
Well, Southern Reuben would let it ride.
Bring it to scene as always.
Follow us on the socials.
And if you want to get into some of that merch over there, which I don't know if that looks
like I'm pointing at that t-shirt, probably doesn't.
This one here.
That one there.
Where are we?
Hello.
That one there.
Or the other one.
The other one's still available.
Yeah, they're both still available.
The four-wheel drive podcast.com.
Kind of couple sales on them, actually.
Have you?
Yeah.
They're nice.
They are very nice.
They are good.
You got one on the way for me.
I do.
Thank you.
I do.
You're welcome.
It's nice.
No, it's what I do.
It's what is actually one behind you.
Just there.
Yeah, I like that jumper.
Yeah, it's coming.
I like that jumper.
Hopefully it's the right size because you have been working out going to the gym.
I do work out a little bit and it's starting to get a little bit colder outside.
It is.
So, you're going to be putting...
Well, I mean, we're both in t-shirts at the moment.
Yeah, it's quite nice.
It's quite warm.
But actually, a terrible day.
Tie power.
Love them.
Love them.
Love Rain Tamer.
To Rain Tamer.
Talk to me.
Love them.
Love them.
To Rain Tamer.
Our new best friends.
Yeah, straight away.
Our new best friends.
Our new best friends.
We're friends already.
We were quite close friends.
We were already friends.
We were best friends.
And then we kind of lost touch a little bit.
We were best friends.
No, I was best friends with them.
We were good friends.
And then we lost touch with them a little bit, but not really, you know, just kind of still
on the radar, seeing them pop up here and there.
Yeah.
And now we're working with them.
We're working.
Which I couldn't be more excited about, to be honest with you, because I really like
to Rain Tamer.
I think...
I think they're elite.
Well, just because everything that they do is shit that we need on our cars, like spare
parts, all that kind of stuff, selfishly it's stuff that we need and it's good quality
stuff.
Like I've got Terrain Tamer, fuel filters, oil filters, brake pads, actually.
And yeah, they're good.
I feel like it's genuinely four driving, like, as is Type R and as is Type R and Tough Dog.
Terrain Tamer, it's in the name.
Yeah.
Like helping you tame the terrain that you're tackling, you know.
You just love taming the terrain.
No, I love it.
I'm actually quite excited about this.
I think Terrain Tamer are really good.
It lines quite well with us, I think.
Yeah.
So obviously Terrain Tamer on board.
So Terrain Tamer will now have the tip of the week segment.
Yes.
Terrain Tamer, tip of the week, which...
We're saying goodbye to Tough Dog.
We're saying goodbye to Tough Dog, which was a great...
It was very good.
It was a tough dog.
Unbelievable.
We were best friends with Tough Dog.
Stop talking about this best friends thing.
No, we have so many best friends.
So many best friends.
So yeah, Tough Dog, thank you.
But as business goes, this is how it works and Terrain Tamer are now on board for tip
of the week.
Yep.
For over 50 years, they've been making forward drive parts and accessories that have been
designed, manufactured and tested to withstand some of the harshest conditions Australia has
to offer.
We've used them.
I think everyone knows Terrain Tamer and what they do.
Yeah.
Exciting going forward that we get to work.
Yeah, with these guys.
It's awesome.
Yeah, I am quite excited.
And to kick off the Terrain Tamer tip of the week, I thought, what aligns with us and
Terrain Tamer spare parts.
So I thought, here's a tip.
Make sure that you're always carrying the correct spare parts for the trip that you're
going on.
So you don't want to be carrying the same spare parts every single trip that you go on.
Every single trip is different.
Obviously, there's going to be spare parts that are the same that you'll constantly kind
of have with you.
But make sure that you're grabbing spare parts that are going to work with you on the trip
that you're going on.
You don't want to add an unnecessary weight to your car and you don't want to take up
space that could be used better for other things.
So I just thought, little tip, make sure you're carrying the right spare parts for your trip,
for your journey, depending on where you're going, beach, bush, desert.
Anyway.
Yeah.
Love it.
Now, I've just jumped on Terrain Tamer's website quickly, which I've done multiple times
before.
As you open the website, it's got a photo of a 76 with a bit of it.
It kind of looks like you're 76 on the gun barrel as a storm behind it.
And it just says parts that will get you home.
Which is just good.
Isn't it?
There's safety in that.
There is safety.
There's safety in there.
So I do want to mention on the Terrain Tamer stuff.
Great tip.
Thank you, mate.
Great tip.
I think it was an OK tip.
Well, it's a good one to start because it's exactly what they do.
But so part that without knowing exactly how to navigate the website like a professional
in using it before and having a look over the last few weeks, as I've heard the Terrain
Tamer name being floated.
Very, very simple to use this.
This website.
So online, there are stockists around the world, which they provide on here as well.
But say bearing kits, you want to go and have a look at bearing kits you're in need
of those comes up with all these different options, swivel housing kits, differential
kits, gearbox, rebuild kits.
Once you click on one of those, let's go to heavy duty wheel bearing kits, gives you
a rundown.
It's got videos on the heavy duty bit bearing kits because they've got their own YouTube
Terrain Tamer 4WD.
Once you go down, it gives you the PDFs.
You can get a quote, but it also gives you the suitable parts for each vehicle.
So you can just scroll down, find your vehicle.
It's got the model, the year, the part numbers.
It's all there.
Hit buy now and away you go.
And it is that simple.
It's bloody.
It's cool.
It's even for me who's got no idea, I'd be able to order exactly what I need off this.
No, I spent a fair bit of time on this before we went on our trip looking at parts just
to make sure that we were taking the right spare parts.
Obviously worked closely with Ronnie and yourself on that.
And then, yeah, sending them off to Terrain Tamer at least, but I was actually quite impressed
or at least happy with their website, just making sure I could select the exact model
of cruiser I've got, the exact model of cruiser you've got, same for Ronnie.
And then it had like a whole bunch of other cars as well.
So it's just a massive list of vehicles that they do, they do parts for.
But yeah, Terrain Tamer, go check them out, check them out on the website.
Go visit them in store if you can.
They are elite, love it, and quite happy to have them on board.
So absolutely, yeah, big up, big up to tire power.
Moving on.
Big up to tire power.
Yeah, big.
I sorry, big up to Terrain Tamer.
No, sorry, I was just looking at.
I was just wondering why you were just going back to time.
Yeah, no, we love Terrain Tamer, but also, yeah, just let's give a shout out
to tire power and I'm on it.
No, really like Terrain Tamer.
Good tip.
Terrain Tamer, can't wait.
Yeah, on the radar.
You got some good ones here.
I've got some interesting ones.
Start with one that is just just a little just as you walk through the door.
Yeah, you walk through the door and I thought, wow.
Hey, mate, you smell good.
Yeah, didn't say anything.
Sorry, mate.
And then Dan came out, said hello to you and said, you smell incredible.
What's going on?
No, just a couple of sprays, pumps of the Latafa.
It's actually called a Latafa Liam.
That's why I bought it.
Ah, tough Liam.
Yeah, the tough Liam.
Latafa, I think in French.
I don't know how to say it.
I think it's from the Middle East.
Ah, Middle Eastern.
Yeah, for the tough Liam Middle East.
So you know what's going on.
Oh, right.
Yeah, I mean, no, I do smell good.
Um, as opposed to normal, Dan asked me about
all that kind of quiet into his football for Collingwood,
providing to his smells.
Didn't know that sense.
I didn't realize either.
I'm not that into it.
I just enjoy enjoying.
OK, yeah, I did notice on the weekend that we played Melbourne.
Yeah, and you did notice that you played Melbourne.
I noticed that. OK, I hope you would hope so.
Good. I definitely noticed in the first quarter.
I'll tell you that.
Harry Sharp.
Yeah, from around where I'm from back home.
Is two years in a row now, I've walked out there
and noticed how good he smells.
Really? Yeah.
Smelling good on the football field. Yeah.
And I said it to him again.
I said, you smell buddy.
Unreality.
And he's like, yeah, I was.
So it was the same scent as the year before, I believe.
Oh, so hopefully.
Because I remember Jake Bowie once.
Mentioned that he listened to the podcast.
He said something about Tough Dog Tip of the Week
or something like that at the time.
Did it rattle you on the field?
I was shocked.
Yeah, I didn't think anyone listened to us.
So that was cool.
But if he's still listening,
if he could just pass on to Sharpie that, yeah.
He smells good.
I appreciate the way that he smells out there.
Yeah, OK. It's quite nice.
Anyway, moving on on the radar properly.
So the AIC belt finds this is a WA thing more so.
And it wasn't that I was looking for Western Australian news.
It was just that it popped up on my searches.
So WA, a little bit late to the party in all fairness,
have started to issue road safety finds in WA
with the use of AI cameras for not wearing a seatbelt properly.
Yeah, those are the cameras that stretch up across all the lanes of traffic.
Yeah, so I'm not all over it.
So what they're getting people with is it's a it's a front on view
basically through the front windscreen.
Are they not wearing it or under the arm
or just incorrect use of a seatbelt?
So they're finding and I've heard of this.
I know people that are being fined. Yeah.
Rightly or wrongly, if they are doing the wrong thing,
probably shouldn't be.
But every now and then there's, you know,
I might be reaching into the back to throw a dummy back in.
Oh, yeah, it could be anything.
There's timing that it could be done.
Yeah. So basically.
They've been introduced only in 2025 late.
Yeah.
And they I think they detect mobile phone offences too.
They detect everything.
OK, everything.
They're pretty. They've gone hard at seatbelts.
Very hard at seatbelts.
Very hard at seatbelts.
If you're wearing it under your armpit, gone.
Yeah.
So if it's like not even clicked in properly,
I've heard that that gets you as well.
Tell me how.
Yeah, there's 3000 seatbelt infringements have been issued
since the system launched and more than 1000000 dollars
in fines have been canceled.
That is an insane number.
So a lot of people over 2025
So what's that seven months ago, eight months ago?
Yeah, seven months ago.
Yeah, 53000
Huge. That is insane.
So the thing is that there's a massive.
So there's a really high appeal success rate.
So people are just appealing it and.
They're basically getting off it.
Mate, that is.
So that's about 200 and twenty to 200 and thirty days.
And they've got 53000 people with it.
So that kind of says to me that the system isn't working properly,
especially with all these people getting off.
Yeah, a million dollars in fines canceled.
Nah, it's there.
There's something wrong there.
There's something wrong there.
And then there's people who obviously won't challenge them.
There's people who will challenge them and the ones who will challenge them
probably have a high chance of getting off if it's if the systems like this.
And the people who don't challenge them are just accepting that they're
paying a couple hundred dollars and demerit points as well.
By the way, demerit points that stick around for a few years.
Yeah, it's.
Bit garbage, to be honest.
Well, I just if there's.
I don't know that they're saying there's issues with the technology as well.
So people potentially being wrongly.
Oh, of course they have of this as well.
But it's funny, like the the things that are coming out.
Like they're they're getting children and all that, like.
Children in real estate, which is which is not that it, you know,
everyone should be wearing their seatbelt properly.
But yeah, that's not the issue.
3000 come out in that.
I don't think the issue is about not wearing your seatbelt properly.
Like everyone understands that you should be wearing your seatbelt properly.
And if you're not doing the right thing, then yes, you get fined.
And that's the way it works.
I think the problem is that the the amount of fines that people are getting.
Yeah, you know, the amount of mistakes that this AI system is making.
I surely there's a way, right, where you can implement this system
without actually making it public or anything yet.
Like you don't actually have to.
You could just test it.
You can roll the cameras out and just test the system, make the AI up to speed.
AI doesn't just click its fingers and it works properly the first time.
Yeah, so it takes a bit of trial and error and a bit of testing.
So you need to constantly refine it on a deeper level.
I wonder how much time and resource this is taking up in through the court systems.
Or yeah, like because 53000 coming in over.
What was it, eight months, seven months, eight months, not 200 and twenty
days, basically, up a bit of the.
Oh, yeah, which I don't know anything about.
But that just seems that seems like a very, very large number.
Yeah, so of the 53000 infringements, 3300
and 81 of those formally challenged their fines and sixty percent of them
were overturned. So that's 2000 and 43
So out of 53000
Like about 49000 didn't appeal.
Yeah, so what didn't hear the rest for that?
It's like, well, I don't think they get a slap on the wrist.
I think they get the full fine and the demerit point.
What's a fine?
It's a couple hundred dollars.
OK, but it's the demerit points that are the the big one, I think.
Well, the fines are fine, but you can't get rid of those demerit points.
There's nothing you can do about it.
And if you don't appeal it, because like obviously if you get a speeding
fine or anything like that, you just kind of go, yeah, that's I was speeding.
I was doing it. You get a you get a.
What is it? A I see belt fine or anything like that.
You just go, oh, well, there's no point appealing it.
Like, I'm not going to win this systems got me.
It's got this like, yeah, that.
So I just think that that is a bit garbage from.
Yeah, well, it's just it's not not garbage to go after not wearing seat belts.
Like no, it's more just and there's no.
We don't have like an opinion on this at all, really.
It's more just the fact that it is being targeted,
but there's a big flaw in the system.
And it was more just a news article that it's like,
which four by four Australia have written, so we've used their stuff.
So thank you. But they yeah, it's just.
I found it very interesting that there's been so many and also
so many have been revoked. Yes.
Well, OK, so here's here's a little bit more information.
W.A.C. belt fine start at 500 and fifty dollars.
So not a couple hundred dollars.
Half a gram, fair work. 500
And that's just the base point.
Queensland start at 1200 dollars with four demerit points
and Victoria's a 395 with three demerit points.
Yeah, right.
That is insane.
And then the other thing.
No, go. No, I was just going to say, I think the thing to remember is
it's not just yours.
You know, I'm done for the passengers as well, the real passengers.
Yes. So it's not up to them to pay the final copy demerits.
If you know, that's one really.
Yeah, you're the driver of the car.
You're deemed to be in.
Yeah, yeah, in control and a responsible person.
You're the captain. You're the leader now.
Yeah, so the burden is falling on the drivers to dispute the fines
after they've already got the after they've already got the fine, obviously.
Yeah.
And they only will win after a formal review process, which.
That just feels wrong to me.
It feels wrong that like they've got these this AI system and it's just automatically
and it doesn't seem like they've got any real person actually checking over everything.
I'm sure that they do, right?
Like I'm sure they do.
They'd have to to have
unless they've literally just gone.
Yeah, no, you're in this AI system is is what it is.
And anything that it sends out is a fine.
And it's up to you, the person, the individual to dispute it if you think it's wrong.
Which I guess is the way it works normally.
But like there's just so many.
That's what I'm it feels a bit like cheap revenue raising, to be honest with you.
Oh, got an easy time.
Yeah, no, I will.
We won't spend too long on it because.
Yeah, I do want to move on because we've got a big.
We've got this show is actually quite massive in terms of what's going on.
But we've got a couple of things to get through quickly.
Let's go. Big Red Bash, cancelled.
Really? Yeah.
So that's a big music festival.
Get together out near Birdsville in the in the desert, basically.
Cancel. Yeah.
So it's it's it's actually not until July, but they've already canceled it due to weather.
That's so they don't think they are.
Yeah. So the so unprecedented flooding
and the grounds being saturated at the event site and the organizers
don't think that it will be dry in time for July 26.
So they must have caught some genuine weather out there for that to be, you know,
that's still two months away. Yeah.
Just I'm sure everyone that's going knows this,
but I think it's quite cool that they've offered to transfer the 2026 tickets
straight to 2027 back.
A lot of the artists are returning
to the next season.
They've sort of were so that was just a little one on the news.
The other thing that I didn't have on there that reminded me
as I was reading the article on four by four Australia.
Is the reflective window coverings.
Oh, yeah. Where are we going back to that?
Well, we are going back to that because friends of the show,
Sarah and Keelan, have you seen their new business?
I have. Yes. Bush optics.
Yeah. Go and check that out.
Sarah and Keelan are doing their own.
Yeah, like. Soul screens. Basically. Yeah.
Yeah. Interesting.
Yeah. I did see that.
That's just a reminder. It looks very cool.
I wanted to talk about it.
It did look cool.
I think the cool thing about it is Sarah and Keelan are out on the road.
2047 basically testing it out.
They know. So they obviously that's where they've channeled this business.
I think it's really cool.
I agree that they've gone that way.
When I saw that they were launching something, I was like, what could that be?
Yeah, I wasn't sure what it was going to be.
I did not expect that.
But I like it.
You could have given me a list of 10 and I wouldn't have guessed that.
I like it. Yeah, I do.
So I don't use them anymore.
Since I got the windows tinted, I don't use the solar screens.
But probably if I go on a trip again, yeah, well, somewhere a bit warmer,
I'll put the solar screens on.
So I think that, well, that was a topic of conversation for us
for a week or two there a while back.
So the optics is a new I like the name.
I do like the name.
I like the name.
I wonder if they're going to keep sort of branching.
Yeah, to more.
What's next to your reckon?
I don't know. Interesting.
Maybe like maybe like snorkel socks.
Just just a little nation.
Yeah, OK, I'm after one.
If there's a snorkel sock on it or something, I'll be happy to.
Anyway, cool.
Hey, let's get to the main topic while we're here.
Well.
It's a sad, main topic.
Yeah, it's.
Sad.
It's it's that's the end.
It's sad, sad, I'm so sad.
It's it is sad.
But it's also I think I've been looking at it recently as a positive
for for the big man, for the great man.
I don't want to look at it.
I'm not going to go.
You kick it off.
You know, so you go.
This is so thank you for bearing with us.
We should have probably told you at the start
that there was some big news coming in the show, but we didn't.
We forgot.
That's what happens.
But so Jane and I are sitting across from each other.
We've been doing this a little bit over the last probably 40 to 50 episodes.
Ronnie's been sort of hard pressed to be in here.
Yeah.
As much as he would have liked.
And basically, he's come to the decision that he can no longer be
a permanent host on the four drive podcast.
So basically, we we have lost Ronnie.
Not not we we've lost him to the show.
Yeah, so we've Ronnie.
And I think as friends, Jaden and I could not be more behind
Ronnie in his decision to step aside from being a permanent host on this podcast
because the amount of time that he needs to put into his own stuff
to deliver on that was just too great.
And he he was struggling to balance all of these things.
And he needed to make a call for himself and his own work and his family.
And and I think rightly so, he's removed himself from this.
And that is completely understandable.
So Jaden and I were sort of sitting here, not, you know, extremely sad to lose him
because he's a massive part of this show and a great friend now as well.
But as friends, we thought he did need to make a call.
And I think he's he's made the right one for himself.
So what it means is he's we have lost him, but he's not he's not promised.
But he's he's going to be a friend of the show, basically.
So we're going to lean on him a little bit because he's actually
he's going to be doing more trips, more videos now or just more time
to do all those things on his own channels.
But we're still going to use him as a point of call.
And it's especially when he's probably out on the tracks with his
styling and stuff, we'll be able to connect to him and get some really
good updates from him.
And he will still be a part of the show, but not in these chairs.
So Jaden and I are your hosts now.
So unfortunate to have a deal with it.
We're going to give it a crack.
But we've also we've also been thinking as well.
Like we're going to have to we're going to have to pivot a little bit
and think about some new ideas.
We're going to keep doing what we're doing, but we understand that
Ronnie was a big part of it.
A lot of what Ronnie did was our conversations on this show.
And he brought a lot of, I suppose, knowledge plus.
Yeah, he was out there doing it more than Jaden and I could.
So that was nice to be able to lean on.
But 100 percent at the moment.
Yeah, we're working on what Jaden and I can now make this show.
We'll use Ronnie every now and then.
We'll chat to him.
We'll chat to other experts, content creators, whatever it might be.
We're all we're all the easy.
We're pretty excited about now what we do with it, because it does
force us to pivot a little bit, like I said.
So Ronnie no longer a host on the four drive podcast.
You're stuck with Jaden and I, but I think the big man has made a move
that is positive for him in the long run.
I agree.
And that's why I say like it's not I'm not completely sad about the whole thing.
I think it's a really good thing for Ronnie as an individual.
It's a it sucks for us because we obviously enjoy doing the podcast with him.
And he is such a quality bloke that to just sit down and have a
yarn with him about things that you really enjoy and are passionate about.
And you can see in him that he loves doing and he loves talking about
was such a privilege.
Yeah, I think Anna Anna, yeah, it was it was a privilege, actually.
Like it really was like I think I spoke about maybe our patrons last week,
but the fact that I mean, we grew up on Ronnie.
Yeah, I know he's all right.
Like we grew up on his on watching his YouTube videos as like so many people did.
Yeah. And that's why I thought three years ago, there was no chance
that I would be sitting on a podcast with him talking about
the stuff that he does so well and stuff that I just love as a hobby.
Yeah. So I think it was almost like the whole way through
it was a bit of a pinch myself moment.
I remember going to the the first four drive shows that we did
when we did Sydney Adelaide Perth.
Yeah. And you were up all three up on stage at a full drive show.
I'm the biggest imposter here.
But like Ronnie just brought us along for all that stuff
and made it made us feel comfortable and welcome.
And I mean, he's given us.
Yeah, so much he's generosity in all of that with his with his time through all
that just bringing us on a trip or two here or there and just involving us
in so many of his activities and yeah, getting involved with some of his
like sponsors to a degree and all of that.
Like he was so generous with everything there.
So it's genuinely been the last.
This is a bit of a Ronnie tribute.
A little bit. We will do another episode with Ronnie.
We're going to do a little sit down guest chat with him
and we'll get to know him a little bit more.
But I think it's worth reflecting on like a hundred percent that
it's been a pretty good, like it's been the best part of three years now.
145 episodes today.
This one, this episode now and right here.
It's it has been a seriously big part of our lives for three years.
Massive. You, myself and Ronnie.
Yeah. And to to have that experience, I'll never forget it.
And it's something that I'll cherish for a long time.
And yeah, I'm going to miss him.
I miss him coming in and having a yarn with him and just sitting down and chatting.
But it'll be I'm actually really excited about the next part of our journey
as a podcast, you know, depending on what on what happens.
And, you know, how I guess like everything for us, right,
depends on the listener, the audience.
Like if we have an audience for stuff, then we'll continue to do stuff.
But yeah, I'm just really excited to see see what we do next.
I've already started with some cool little trip ideas
that I think will be a fair bit of fun.
Yeah. And I know it's kind of right up your alley.
It's a bit different to what we normally do.
Bit different. What do you mean?
It'll still be camping.
We're not Vespa camping.
No, we're not Vespa camping,
but there's some things in the pipeline that I'm working on.
I don't know.
No, and we'll yeah, I'm really excited to see see what comes next.
I'm I think us doing some more trip videos.
Some more travel content, that kind of stuff along with the podcast
is going to help push us into a new a new world.
And having Ronnie do correspondence with us is.
Yeah, correspondence.
I like that word. Really exciting.
So I think it's it's cool.
We're going to have to diversify a little bit now.
Yeah, because we understand the probably large portion
of people love to hear what Ronnie's got.
Yeah. And I think what we do is we just talk shit and banter.
We do. So hopefully people enjoy being a part of that.
But anyway, we're going to have to diversify.
Like Jaden said, privilege to to do what we've done with Ronnie over
the best part of three years.
And yeah, we've still got him as a great mate, which is cool.
So yeah.
And we're still going to force him to bring us on all these trips and stuff as well.
So yeah, we're not missing out.
Yeah, we'll be there. So.
But yeah, anyway, that that is that's the crux of it, really.
We're we're a two man band right now.
Yeah, it is literally just you and me in this room.
Yeah, doing everything.
There's not even a producer anymore.
There's no to take on take on that role as well.
But if you want to come and produce the four drive podcasts, hit me up.
You've got to be you've ready to banter.
You've got to be ready to banter.
I think it's it's very mild and calm now.
But I think is if this show goes on for a lot longer,
we might be scraping the barrel on some banter and just might start to get pretty fruity.
Yeah, well, fruity is an interesting term.
OK, I mean, no, no, you're probably right.
Yeah, I reckon fruity is a great term for how it could get. OK, great.
All right, let's get around the fire because we've actually we've got to
we've got to talk all things to rain time.
We do after this, yes.
OK, well, this one from Tom Dixon, Tommy, the Grenadier Wave has caught on
past two, Tom's on a on a trip in Morocco.
Yep. Uploading on YouTube, by the way, so you can go check that out.
Looks unreal. He passed to Grenadiers in Morocco, both waved.
It's awesome. Haven't reached a desert yet, but loving the trip so far.
Yeah. So let's have a question, more of a statement. Love it.
But I think that's just the waves taken off a little bit.
I think people have connected with the wave.
OK, so yeah, because I think it's something that our like our community
on here can go and do. Yeah, like it's like it, you know.
Yep. And and we're getting some stickers and some patches
for for the wave for the four drive podcast.
I say this every single time you do a podcast, we're getting them.
We're working on them. It's such a slow process.
Back to Tom as well.
Tom does have some cool stuff on his YouTube.
So the he's actually putting the Grenadier through.
Yeah, yeah, some good tribulations. Plus, there's
the rooftop tent that he's rolling now.
Yes, very cool rooftop tent because it pops not.
It's not just a clam shell.
Yeah, the clam shell pops, but then the it hinges up as well.
So you get a little bit more space where your feet usually would be.
Yeah, I've seen them around here as well.
I know that they're not that exact model, but that design
has been around for a little bit.
So it's not it's not new, but it is a very cool design.
And I think getting that little extra bit of space at your feet
so you can like flip your head around to whatever that is.
Yeah, that's great.
And a lot better than your solo rooftop tents.
But oh, yeah, I'm just going to come clean on something.
I missed a wave last week.
I had someone wave at me and I didn't wave back.
I know.
Sorry. Sorry to whoever that was.
I don't even know what to say to that.
I know. What do you mean?
What's your excuse?
I think I was like helping Solly.
OK, I was distracted a little bit.
Yeah. And this is the worst thing I was out like
out in the bush.
Like I wasn't in the bush passing one car in the trees.
I was like on a road. Yeah.
But I've outside of the city.
I've missed the Lauren told me he waved and I was like, oh, no.
Did Lauren wave?
No, I don't think she did.
That's what I need. I need Lauren to help me out.
The passenger to pick up the slack.
Yeah, because she's I felt bad.
Yeah. And I don't think I was like fully like distracted either.
That's the thing.
Yeah. So like you should have seen it. Yeah.
Was it another 70 series? It was.
Wasn't it? Oh, boy.
I think it might have even been a sandy. Oh, boy.
I know you can't have brought that up.
And I don't want to.
I just want to make you feel worse.
I want to make you feel worse.
Need to get off my chest.
But I need you to do better.
I don't want you to.
Mate, you're telling me I was I've been waving around in the city
and getting some some waves back and it pumps me up.
I did get I did try a wave the other day to a sandy
troopie and didn't get one back.
So I thought maybe that was what I deserved.
And now I feel like I'm on an even ledger and I can go again.
Yeah. So sorry about that.
I missed I missed what I have been.
There's probably group chats going around.
Liam Duggan didn't wave at me.
Sorry. Maybe didn't wave.
But he talks about the wave all the time.
Maybe. All right.
Next one. Get off that topic.
All right. No, it's OK, mate.
Hey, you can make it off that topic next.
You can make up for it.
Turquoise Bay is good.
Sweet. But I take Coral Bay beaches any day.
Ah, West is best.
I kind of agree. I reckon I kind of agree.
I actually do. I feel like Coral Bay.
Gets skipped over in those competitions
because there's basically a little town right on the beach.
Yeah, like I feel like because it's not
there's not that like remoteness feeling.
They're like you call it was the criteria that was in place for Turquoise Bay
and that 100 beaches that probably would have left Coral Bay and Xmouth out.
Well, well, no, Xmouth was actually in because they had that on the other side.
There's nothing around Turquoise Bay.
Coral Bay is unbelievable.
The actual Bay of Coral.
Yeah, the Bay of Coral is is really good.
But even just south of Coral Bay, like along the coast when you can
forward drive down far out, there are some amazing beaches there.
Even yeah, either side of Coral Bay, that whole coast.
But Coral Bay itself is like those even those little
forward drive tracks just north.
Yep. Sorry, just south of Coral Bay.
Yeah, like five fingers reef and all that sort of thing.
Like they are just magic.
I do think Coral Bay itself like the actual like I'm speaking about Coral Bay.
You walk out of the shallay of the caravan park of the campground.
You walk into that beach there.
It is hard to beat.
Oh, no, it is.
But I think it would get looked over
because there's two pubs right behind it, bakery, caravan parks.
Yeah, it's actually an interesting discussion.
The beaches in WA that would get looked over for it's for being
some of the best beaches because that's a yeah, it is kind of weird, isn't it?
But there's so many beaches that we are so lucky to be.
Yeah, and Victoria is like Australia is like we are lucky
in Australia because Australia has some unreal beaches.
I'm just going to Victoria because I love Victoria, but yeah, Victoria is all right.
Anyway, it's all right. It's no WA.
I do think that yeah, Coral Bay would get looked over because of the.
Yeah, it probably doesn't fit the criteria like we spoke about last week,
but it's it's magic. No, well, there's a lot up there.
I'm trying to think of the
as real good surf spot just underneath Coral Bay down Nalu Nalu.
Nalu is unreal as well.
Pretty good spots.
Yeah, it wouldn't go.
You know, you're probably not taking the family swimming.
No, you're not.
The family swimming.
But like, you know, like depending on the criteria, there's some wicked beaches.
Next one arrived in Australia in 2006 as a backpacker.
Did my big lap then the only place that I made a promise to myself
to come back and visit was Esperance.
I loved Brune, Port Douglas, Fraser Island, Ningaloo, Alpine region, Red Centre,
et cetera, but only Esperance made me make a promise.
Took me until 2023 to get back to it as I settled in Melbourne.
So it's a massive trek.
But what a place.
Love that.
That is a big gap.
Port Douglas, Fraser Island, Ningaloo, Alpine region, Red Centre,
all the other places in W.A.
And Esperance is the one that made him go, no, I'm coming back.
I love that.
I love that it took I love that he held on to it for so long.
Is there a place that you've you've held on to like that, that you're like,
oh, I've been there once.
I really want to go back even though it's a little bit out of the way.
Back of the way.
OK, you're from there, buddy.
I do get that, though, because I have the same with Newman.
Oh, yeah, I haven't done a lap.
So haven't seen it all.
That's so for me at the moment on on on the list is like he's Kimberley
or Flinders Ranges, right up like North Flinders Ranges or.
So I haven't seen.
I don't think I've seen enough yet.
Yeah.
Of those places that I've been.
I think the Pilbara is the one that I'll keep going back to.
Or what I'll try to get back to Xmouth for me.
Well, I can all duck.
I would go there every single year.
I'll duck over to Xmouth after I'm finished in.
Yeah, the Pilbara.
I've done that trip a few times where you go up to the Pilbara, Kimberley,
across from Newman through Karajini to Tom Price, across to Cobb,
up to Xmouth and then down or vice versa.
But that is serious.
It's so good going from the desert
to the beach to the coast.
So good.
I do think Esperanto is a very, very special place.
It's it is.
And I think it's because it's so different to a lot of other places in WA.
It has a completely different vibe, feeling about it.
Yeah.
And everything looks just unbelievable.
It's just and there's so many nice beaches.
It's just for me.
It's the Men in Gray suits, mate, that worry me a little bit going down there
that keep me away. The same thing in Xmouth.
No, not to the same extent.
Yeah, more different, different sort of type of sharks, different type of shark.
Yeah, you know what?
We went to the aquarium the other day.
You know what Xmouth has that?
Like not all the way down south.
I don't think down south haven't turtles, stonefish.
Oh, they scare.
They they frighten me.
Yeah, always worried about in the in the aquarium, like you.
If you would think it's an empty tank just for the Hapocoral in there.
Oh, yeah, the two of them just looking at me like.
That's my stonefish look like it's a good stonefish look.
It's not bad.
That's even better.
But anyway, aspirins, I can say that.
But I think for me, it would be of places I've been.
Pilbara. Yeah, OK.
But I've been there a couple of times, a few times now.
So it's like, but it is so good.
It's so good.
It's so good to discover and we'll go to.
OK, here we go this one.
Sean Christie says, you can't teach common sense is not always common
because what is common sense for me is not common sense for everyone else,
as it's based on people's life experiences.
Fair enough, Sean. Interesting.
It's a good point. It's a great point. Yeah.
I would like to know I'd like to have Sean's.
In a great friend of the show, Sean, by the way, great friend of the show.
I'd like to know what Sean thinks should be common sense for all people.
Yeah, like it in the full arriving space.
No, no, no, no. Yeah, I like that.
Yeah, what are what are some non-negotiables?
What? Well, that's just not.
Let's not put it just to Sean.
Let's put it to everyone.
What are your non-negotiables?
Give us give us comment below in the YouTube section.
We'll read them out next podcast.
What are your three non-negotiables for forward driving
that are just common sense things that you think everyone needs to have?
And elaborate if you want or just keep him as short and sweet as you want.
As broad as you like, because it encompasses camping,
full driving, all the right, like put him in YouTube,
put him in the Spotify, comments, message, messages on Instagram, driving, whatever it is.
Just let us know, because I'd actually be really interested in that.
What? Because I think Sean's point is exactly spot on.
Yeah. What do you think yours would be?
Not to put you on the spot. I know it's quite a.
I actually, I think you wave is a thank you wave.
I know that's maybe not even a common sense.
That's probably common courtesy, courtesy, but I think that's that's good.
UHF. OK.
UHF, I think is a fairly common sense.
I feel like you should have that when you're going out there.
You're listening. I'm on. No, sorry. Oh, sorry.
No, sorry. No, I'm joking.
I needed it. No, no, you go.
No, you go. No, no, I actually don't know.
I'd have to have some time to think.
I'd need some time to think.
Honking the horn when you go around a blind corner.
See, I reckon you go on.
I reckon they're getting like quite specific.
Yeah, well, I think you're going to have to go broader.
OK. Common sense for all people.
Common sense for all people. This isn't your common sense.
Is it? Yeah, OK. No, it's not true.
It should encompass all of us.
Get get back to us on that.
Not not what's common sense to you.
What you think common sense is to all people.
Because I think Sean's right.
Everyone's different.
But what are the three main, like?
Big ticket items that should just be common sense for everyone.
Leave it there. OK.
Last one. Are you boys juicing your sound systems
for the road trip playlist? What have you done?
Can you repair that?
Are you boys juicing your sound systems for the road trip playlist?
Juicing. What have you done?
I might have been producing something.
Oh, sorry. I said it to my mum.
No, no, no, no, you don't.
I've had some thoughts around this.
Like, you know how I was very skeptical on the sound?
Obviously, the sound system is non-existent in the 79 or 70 series,
basically, until you go after market.
Yeah. So I got was I thought straight away,
I would have had to change. I went and got a quote straight away.
Because I was like, I just cannot deal with this.
I love my music, especially coming out of the range.
Yeah, I was like, even sound editing, it's quite loud.
I want to be able to hear myself think, talk or listen to some good tunes.
I've gotten so used to it.
Yeah, you do. I've gotten so used to little tweakers.
Like, it's almost now I'm like, there's some there is some music
that like it doesn't handle well.
No, and it's just like the the weird little bass.
It's just it's just like it's sort of like almost it's almost deafening sometimes.
Like, if you get like a some higher pitch stuff or I don't know,
yeah, I'm following you have to hear it.
But it. So there's I'm starting to now think about it again.
But I'm also not really wanting to go and spend a whole heap of money on it
because it's not a big issue. Yeah. So I'm the same.
I almost desperately need a new sound system,
but not to the point where I'm actually desperate.
I think I'm close to being. Yeah.
Yeah, I need a new sound system because it's third of sound in the car.
Before doing that.
But if I was going to do them, I'd probably do them at the same time.
Yeah, you know, sound sound deadening for me is going to do anything.
So I'd rip stuff out.
Not that you need to rip much out to put a new system in speakers,
like sound system.
But I'd if I was doing that, it would probably be because I'm
I'm throwing in some sound. Yeah.
Yeah, cool. I like that. No, no, no, good.
Yeah.
Anyway, that's it for around the fire pit.
And I think that's it for our episode today, because we've got to run
on to we do a little meeting and short and sharper, which is probably a good thing.
We've been going long, we have been going long.
So yeah, hopefully you guys enjoyed that episode.
Comment your comments and comments and three comments below.
Non-negotiables for all of us.
Comment your thoughts on the AIC belt finds as well.
Be keen to hear what you guys are thinking about.
Have you been done? Yeah. Have you been done?
Did you fight it?
And what do you think of the whole system overall?
Let us know. I'll slide into our DM, send us a voice message and email
or comment on the YouTube. Love it.
Thank you to Terrain Tamer.
Yeah, I can't wait to see where this goes.
Thank you to Typer, obviously.
Southern River Band, we'd let it ride.
We'll see.
It's yeah, jump on.
Grab some merch for drivepodcast.com.au.
Ronnie is gone, but not forgotten.
He will be a friend of the shows.
He's not forgotten.
He will be a friend of the show as we move forward.
So we're looking forward to seeing how we can make him a correspondent.
Roaming correspondent for our podcast, Powerbots High Power.
Back to our studios built by Graham.
Usually by the Southern River Band. See you next week.
About this episode
Ronnie’s stepping down as a permanent host, but the crew says they’ll still lean on him for more trips, videos, and track updates. The show’s sponsor shift brings Terrain Tamer into the “tip of the week,” with practical advice on carrying the right spare parts and using their site to match bearing and rebuild kits to your vehicle. The big news segment tackles WA’s AI seatbelt enforcement—cameras, strict rules, and lots of overturned fines—then wraps with listener updates, including the “Grenadier Wave” and rooftop-tent details.
Original notes
Big news this week. Our beloved co-host, adventurer and all-round good human Ronny Dahl has called time as co-host of The 4WD Podcast. We have so much love and respect for the great man and to be completely honest, this is the right decision for him. He's an incredibly busy man and it has been our privilege to have been able to sit down with him on a weekly basis to talk life, adventuring and 4WDing.
In other news; an interesting update on the AI seatbelt fines in Western Australia, Duggo smells incredible and we have a brand new sponsor on board in Terrain Tamer!
The 4WD Podcast powered by Tyrepower. Recorded at BackChat Studios built by grounded.
Music by The Southern River Band.
Tough Dog Making Tracks Across the World!
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