Nissan plans to cut 2.8 billion USD in annual fixed costs as part of its restructuring plan, as it braces for a drop in sales that could complicate its recovery from years of poor profitability.
Following a three-year spell of tumbling profits, Nissan will announce its restructuring plan on May 28, its latest attempt to slash costs after a strategy of aggressive selling to chase market share has pummelled its bottom line.
The Japanese automaker plans to slash fixed costs in areas that include marketing and research, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources. It added that the company’s board has not yet reviewed the plans.
Phasing out Nissan’s lower-cost Datsun brand, which has been struggling in Asian and Russian markets, and closing down an additional vehicle production line are also among measures being considered, the report said.
The plan seems to be in contradiction with another news about the car manufacturer which said it would switch focus to US, China, Japan and Australia. This will probably be the start of a new trend in the auto industry, with cutting costs from areas that are considered no so important.
There are also a number of accessories you should carry with you at all times, unless you want to risk getting stranded out in the wilderness.
This is the stuff you’ll need should we get stuck, break down, or run into any other common problems:
1. Recovery Kit
You should take vehicle recovery seriously. Not just because the items pictured here will save the day, but because the massive forces involved also make it dangerous. Only use quality recovery equipment from a recognized off-road brand, and inspect it regularly for wear and damage.
Not only are tires the most important component on your car, they’re also the most frequently damaged. Everyone should carry a complete tire repair kit in their vehicle, whether they’re going off-road or staying on it.
The easiest way to add traction off-road is to drop the air pressure in your tires. Twenty PSI is a good all-round figure for any vehicle. On standard equipment, you can go as low as eight PSI in soft sand, snow, or mud. Just watch out around rocks and other obstacles; the lower your pressure, the more you risk damaging your wheels.
Of course, if you drop air pressure, you need to be able to bring it back up to drive on the road. A quality air compressor will be able to do this relatively quickly, without over heating.
While we wouldn’t necessarily call these a necessity, fixing up your pickup truck or SUV while out on the trails can be tough work and can be very rough on your hands. That goes double if you have to dig up some mud, clear gravel and/or sand, or do any kind of maintenance on the undercarriage.
Any seasoned off-road veteran can tell you that the necessary tire pressure for on-road driving is significantly greater than what’s best for off-roading. But a lot of folks use their off-roader to get them away from civilization and onto the trails. In that case, you’ll have to change your tire pressure on-the-go. You could do it manually, but it will take an awful long time. This simple tool will not only speed things up, but it will also give you the most accurate pressure reading on the spot, ensuring that everything is correct and ready for adventure.
It might seem contradictory, but sometimes getting your tires out of a hole requires you to dig that hole a little bit bigger. And doing that by hand can be a nigh-impossible task. Instead, keep handy the Rhino USA Folding Survival Shovel and you can be ready for just such a contingency.
Whether compact or full-size, an ax can and will come in handy for most of us off-roaders or overlanders out there. First, decide on how you intend on using the ax. Are you looking to split logs at camp or clear branches on the trail? Take a look at the list below and determine which style and material you relate with. Then check out our reviews below and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
This is a great tool made by united cutlery. It’s perfect for making your way into the forest or cut the branches that lean over the trail and could scratch the car.
Another equipment you should always have in your car when going off the roads. Weather can change really fast and it’s better to have some spare shoes and, of course some spare clothes in case you have to get under the car or do some repairing in the rain.
Deciding on the type of winch depends on your car and the sort of driving you want to do. If its fairly capable and you arn’t going too extreme, I would’nt bother for an electric one. But if it’s pretty stock and you want to go where the moded trucks are going I would get the winch and some bash plates.
Off course, there are many more accesories and equipment that should be in any offroad car in event of a problem. But that is the subject for another article. Cheers!
Whether you’re overlanding for a few days or a few months, a tent is more than necessary.
In this article I made a list with the best roof top tents. These tents are more expensive than the simple ones, that can be installed on the ground and it’s more harder to find a suitable one for you vehicle.
1. Smittybilt Overlander Tent
Compared to other rooftop tents in the market, this simple shelter gives you a lot of features for a decent price. The Smittybilt Overland Rooftop Tent folds out in seconds and doesn’t require any additional tent pegs or ropes — it’s even easy enough to set up by yourself. The tan 600D ripstop polyester fabric is heavy-duty and fully waterproof, with mosquito screens and twin panels on both sides of the rain fly that allow for easy access or strapping the tent down.
It includes a telescoping aluminum ladder, a 60-mm high-density foam mattress, a strip of LED lights, a maximum height of 120 cm, and a footprint of 240 x 140 cm— ample room for two to three campers.
Overland Vehicle Systems’ Nomadic 3 features a wide footprint and many add-ons, which include a three-inch, high-density foam mattress, an insulated base, a telescoping ladder, loads of internal storage pockets, a hand-held LED light, and more. The tent is constructed of waterproof 600D ripstop poly/cotton canvas, with a huge footprint of 160 x 240 cm, a length of 310 cm, and a roomy height of 130 cm.
Inside the main tent, you’ll find a 2.5-inch, high-density foam mattress (with a removable cover) and aluminum poles. It takes a bit of work to pitch the main tent, but a bungee cord system makes breaking camp pretty quick and includes an anodized aluminum retractable ladder. The Anex then attaches to the platform of the tent, creating three walls that align against the side of your pick-up so you can store things outside of your sleeping compartment. A huge panel door makes it easy to access the tent system, while see-through panels on both sides of the Anex allow light in. Its 160 x 240 cm footprint easily accommodates three campers, with an overall height of 130 cm.
Though Raptor Series rates the Voyager large enough to accommodate up to three campers, it’s ideal for two people with its 210 x 135 cm footprint — though the easy set-up means solo campers can also take it out for a spin. Unlike most models, the canvas and mosquito net doors on the Voyager roll down from the top. The tent also includes an awning that serves as a sun-blocker, as well as small windows on both sides of the walls that double as air vents with quick-adjustment control.
A foam mattress is included, along with integrated storage pockets, gear-hang loops, and two shoe pockets that you can hang off the rack to keep grime out of the tent. The aerodynamic design of the pitched tent helps fend off harsh wind, while it also boasts waterproof fabric. That said, a lack of a mesh opening means stargazing is a neck-craning experience.
With car camping becoming more popular in the last decade we at Pittman Outdoors made it our trade to design truck and SUV airbeds and accessories that were dependable, comfortable and at a price that didn’t break the bank either. We go to great lengths to listen to our customer’s needs when designing new products and your wants have been clear: Rooftop Camping. We heard and now Pittman Outdoors is proud to offer a high quality, waterproof and an extremely comfortable option for the outdoor enthusiast who loves the tranquility of sleeping under the stars but appreciates the comforts of the car. Our rooftop tents feature Soft or Hard tops that are both easy to assemble and sport large sky lights on select models. Each tent comes with premium telescopic ladder and a High-Density, Non-Deforming foam mattress for a comfortable night’s sleep. All of our rooftop tents are made with durable waterproof material that will last year after year of continuous rough country use.
The idea of overlanding is simple. Take an SUV or pickup that you can turn into an overlander and build it into a capable vehicle to be a basecamp for other outdoor adventures, hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, exploring, and more in hopes of getting away from it all. Here is the top 5 vehicles for that:
1. 2008-2010 Toyota 200 Series Land Cruiser
Souce: https://expeditionportal.com/
The 200 series is the strongest Land Cruiser ever produced by Toyota, a statement I heard straight from the mouth of the product engineer in Nagoya, Japan. Despite the bland styling, the newest Land Cruiser is highly suitable for long-distance adventures and moderate terrain. The model is also well supported by the aftermarket and is a global platform that can be serviced in nearly every country around the world.
2. Jeep Gladiator
Source: https://www.drivingline.com/
Where the Wrangler is great for off-roading, it has less storage capacity than the new Gladiator. It’s got all the great overland qualities of the Jeep Wrangler JL Unlimited, but with a good-sized bed, it may be better suited for overland duties than its Wrangler sibling. Here, you can see how EVO Industries imagined the ultimate overlanding machine based on the Gladiator. That’s a tough act to follow.
Land Rover offers the widest variety of car modifications and configurations in the world. No other car company can offer this variety, and it’s all thanks to the range of size and space of their automobiles. There is a thrill in having something original and one of a kind. The exterior design of the Defender takes the form of a practical arrangement of squares and rectangles which caters to almost any customization the owner may desire.
4. 1995-2008 Mercedes G-Class
Source: https://expeditionportal.com/
The Mercedes G is included on this list because it is one of the pinnacle overland platforms, despite its Gucci reputation. It boasts coil-sprung solid axles front and rear, a ladder frame, three locking differentials, and excellent approach/departure angles. Aftermarket support is good, although these vehicles require minimal modification for serious travel use. The global dealership network for Mercedes is excellent, but these vehicles are expensive to purchase and maintain.
This one fares better as an overlander in the four-door Unlimited version because of the extra gear holding capacity and additional ingress/egress options. But there’s no doubt as to how reliable the stock motor is, and no one is questioning its ability to off-road. The more modern versions are probably better suited for long-distance excursions because of their better fuel economy.
The off-roader and the overland traveler are often thought to be the same, but there are important distinctions. An off-roader uses his vehicle, usually highly modified and not his daily driver, for recreational purposes and perhaps the odd holiday, where he will venture into the realm of the overlander for a brief time.
Priorities for the off-roader are to test the limit of his 4×4 vehicle in an off-road course or round-trip adventure.
The overlander’s objective is adventure travel over vastly changing terrain while testing his own courage and resourcefulness, and the vehicle’s endurance and reliability, all while maintaining some degree of comfort, usually over an extended period of time. Not all overlanders like to drive far from the beaten track and many will never exploit the off road capabilities of their vehicles.
The overlander boasts an objective of extended adventure travel into the backcountry.
There are a few important differences between overlanding and off-roading:
1. The vehicles are built-out and designed to accommodate specific purposes.
Overland vehicles are typically set-up not only for travel but also for living in from anywhere from a long weekend to years on the road, including equipment for camping, cooking, and other adventure needs and supplies. So, while it can be important that your overland rig (Jeep Wrangler/Jeep Gladiator) has 4WD and is capable of handling some rugged terrain, due to their general set-up, overland vehicles are not best-suited specifically for extreme off-roading, four-wheeling, or rock-crawling.
Likewise, serious rock-crawlers do not have a tent on their roof for the same weight and balance considerations. Extreme off-roading and rock-crawling vehicles are modified with special equipment and features to handle moderate to difficult terrain, but pared down in terms of what amenities they are carrying (typically very few to none).
2. What type of experience are you looking for?
While off-roading and its extreme variants are more focused on the technical aspects of driving/traveling over challenging varied terrain, the overlanding experience is focused more on the journey and exploration. As you will quickly find traveling through Colorado and the surrounding states, you do not need to do any form of off-roading to have an amazing adventure in the mountains, desert, or beyond. While dirt and gravel backroads are certainly an element to overland travel, they don’t need to be technical to enjoy your time off the beaten path.
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