We Should Have Turned Back!

By far the hardest track we've ever done.
Lots of panel damage
Lots of digging
Lots of track repairs
Red Series 1 with Dan and Rachelle / rachelle.chch
Green Series 2a with Cam
White Defender with Ben / the_series_shed
And my Series 2a / hayden_jones_series2a
Please consider subscribing (it's free !!!) and hit that Like button if you enjoyed the video.
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[@hayden_jones]

For anyone interested in following us on Instagram. Mine is - hayden_jones_series2a Ben's is - the_series_shed Dan's is - landy_dan Rachelle's is - rachelle.chch Cam doesn't use Instagram.

[@ALL_4_WHEELS]

Westwaleslaners for us!! 👌🏼👌🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

I have no idea why KZbin recommended this video to me - but I am so glad it did. What an amazing adventure, what amazing old vehicles and what amazing skill of the drivers. Really enjoyed it. All the best from the UK.

[@hayden_jones]

KZbin got it right !! Glad you enjoyed the video and stick around for more to come.

[@TheRDMagee]

Here’s a video in a slightly different vein, but it was the reason this video was recommended to me today: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIiUnH6OgrCtnKM

[@georgejarry3964]

Awesome video, Series I, Series IIA and Defender, a tip always wadding with lights off the water shutter the hot glass.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks George 👍🏽 glad you enjoyed it.

[@AndreBrunner-u9d]

Holy shite, this was awesome. What a massive day

[@turbo4x4buggy]

greetings from the north island, great video, great track and I have a soft spot for an old landy, a well deserved like, cheers

[@hayden_jones]

Cheers man. Glad you enjoyed it. It was definitely our hardest trip ever.

[@jacobskinner9700]

Great video

[@johnveal9425]

Looks like great fun!

[@lucangrooby2498]

I've always wondered what that track was like.

[@alwynvanwyk1851]

Lucan, you know about the track, any info or history?

[@petisahgitu]

NO, You should not. This video make us happy. :))

[@hayden_jones]

Haha, thanks Tedi. 😊

[@calsurflance5598]

I’m new to your channel and just subbed. This looked like such fun! Where is this NZ?

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks for the sub. Yeah this is in NZ, near a place called reefton.

[@calsurflance5598]

@@hayden_jones Beautiful area. That trail is crazy! Well done. 👌

[@woofhound]

When you go somewhere and the bog holes have clear water in them....

[@hayden_jones]

Yeah, exactly..... 😬🤣

[@MitGibs]

Fantastic to see Landies doing what they are meant to do (and maybe a little beyond that!). Some stunning scenery there too. Great video.

[@hayden_jones]

Appreciate the comment Mitch 🙏🏽 Glad you enjoyed it

[@porcobene_media]

I was about to write the same! Absolutely cool to use this cars like this!

[@engr.anthonymwangi1219]

Very nice ride,, I wish I was there with you guys.. I love this stunning

[@mohandhanoa4797]

I thought they were made to go to malls in .

[@hayden_jones]

@@mohandhanoa4797 🤣🤣

[@maxmeranda]

Way better content than a lot of aussie 4wd videos--shilling boring rubbish that includes obsessive spending or rubbish reviews on new junk. Ah, the Tirfor, yes, I was wondering if someone had one, and wondering when it would show up. 😅Enjoyed this very much! Loved the old stuff--hope you can get it all fixed up again--they are just brilliant! Glad no one rolled! Subbed. G'day from Australia!

[@badfinger61]

Bloody hell ladies and gents, that filming was epic. What a diff bashing, half shaft snapping, panel bender that track was! I wonder what's been using that track previously? Farm tractor? Logging skidder? It's a beaut. Never mind Camel Trophy - how about Kiwi Trophy!!

[@hayden_jones]

Hahaha thanks Geoff. I think the track was originally used for logging. Pretty crazy.

[@badfinger61]

@@hayden_jones Best off roading Landy video I've seen in a long time. Good work all you drivers and camera people. Looks like everyone made it home!

[@joemcgee2918]

I'll tell you what. I am a Canadian guy that likes Jeep TJ's, Boy would I have loved to have drove that track with you guys. Absolutely wonderful vehicles you guys have. I love the old defenders. I ran into a guy with a 92 he had imported, It was in incredible shape, We talked for a while. They are almost majestic in person. Great video.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks for the amazing comment Joe. I'd love to get a defender one day

[@jeanfabre7840]

I used crossed steel wires to protect the windshield, I don't know the technical name for it but they were very useful LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 // 1996

[@agentx4315]

I give you all down under alot of credit for getting as far as you do in essentially stock rigs. In America we put lifts, giant mudders, winches and lockers on our trucks.

[@samrodian919]

That's the thing about them. Landies always did it straight out of the showroom!

[@samrodian919]

@Clovis Point you only snap axles if you are driving them wrongly. I trialled a series2 and a Range Rover special with a Range Rover 86" chassis and only ever broke a tooth from a diff pinion once and that was when the front end slammed down after a failed 60 degree to the vertical climb. And also the Mercedes' Unimog is an awesome vehicle no question about it, but compare the price of a brand new Unimog, with a brand new series 2a Land Rover in the late 1960's. You get what you pay for my friend.

[@ianwallett7438]

The landys got a good beating on that one. Good video though. Next video will be a repair one I reckon. 🙂👍

[@waterbuoy9121]

Great to see the old Series 1 just bumbing along and taking it in its stride!

[@danielfoster1956]

Thanks (-:

[@pilot_xoan]

Really beautiful place and vehicles!!! What a cool trip!!!

[@nickybeazley4727]

Wow what a trip, good thing you guys all made it out. Great to ride along in Ben’s quiet defender!

[@hayden_jones]

Haha yeah it's crazy how quiet his defender is compared to my noisy old thing. Haha. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@juancarlostufinoyanez8027]

Unos autos pura sangre nobles y fiables. Exelente! Land Rover, un gran compañero de aventura.

[@caravaggiosaccomplice7841]

Fantastic video work! Showing Landies in all their coolness and brilliance. I love it!

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks so much. 🙂🙂

[@oilstovesandmore]

Nice trip. A lightweight Land rover would have been ideal for these narrow tracks as they are not that wide and prone to body damage with their flat sides. Do you have Lightweights in New Zeeland?

[@danielfoster1956]

We have very few lightweights here. One or two that have been imported. A series 1 is the same width as a lightweight (-:

[@raymondallo9947]

What an enjoyable video. A small Camel Trophy. And this is why we love our Landies so much. But also a great community! I am so happy to be part of it. Did you guys have a winch?

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Ray. We had a tirfor (hand winch) which we needed on one part of the track. Yeah it's a great little community 😀

[@STYLEHUAHINONAIR]

very nice I Love Landrover.

[@manofausagain]

Nice. This is my style. No bullshit wide mud tyres, massive lifts etc etc. I have a defer Td5 130, 2a 88, 2a 109, 2 109 and a 3 109. Of course in all different states of repair!!

[@euanhowden4193]

Looks like some of the tracks up in Wgtn with the high sides. I’m looking for some front and back bar work at the moment to help with panel protection. Wicked video bro

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks mate. We were all exhausted at the end of the day. The video doesn't capture how much digging we had to do.

[@alistairshanks5099]

That was an absolute shocker of a track. You would have to think that no authority uses it at all for it to be like that but those wheel ruts show that many vehicles have used it. Most modern 4x4 vehicles would have been to wide for it in many places. Could you imagine Dad taking Mum and the three kids down it for a sunday drive in the Landcruiser Prado with the side steps and chrome tow mirrors and the sun glinting off of the pearl iridescent white duco? The old Landies are incredible really but the first 8mm news reels shot at the start of the Snowy River Hydro scheme show them in situations just like this. I was told of situations where single operators would get through flat bog holes using the PTO driven capstan winch and heavy hemp rope with them being outside the vehicle altering the tension on the rope drum. What a very hard trip you had.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Have been on the same trip on this track 22 years ago (it wasn't as wet as this at that time)... with a 4wd club also from Christchurch that had an 80 Series Landcruiser driven by a husband and wife team as one of the participant vehicles. They said they bought their vehicle to do these trips and panel damage or paint damage didn't worry them...... They had good fun... but we always made sure they were in the middle of the pack so they could be tandem-towed forwards or backwards...come what may....

[@frankshizzlemin8809]

Holy sh*t ! That was epic. Looked like a massive day. Keep up the videos, they're amazing.

[@bushmanPMRR]

Christ, when that drone went up I thought "Well this ain't bleedin Kansas, Toto!" That is one hell of a track and its good to see the old Land Rovers being used for what they were built for.

[@hayden_jones]

Hahaha yeah it was a big day !!!

[@shaunepegrum]

Awesome channel guys 🤙😎. Chur

[@glennbaard9305]

I have a 1970 hardtop petrol 4 cyl 109 very original. 3rd owner. The landy is a tractor and I swear it will climb a wall.

[@davesherry5384]

WHAT! Landrovedrs DO NOT TURN BACK. Repeat after me, "LANDROVERS DO NOT TURN BACK"!

[@GTsparky]

The green Landy is identical to one I had. Ex British Army 11A, 88'. FFR (fitted for radio) override bumpers, double fan belts, dual fuel tanks. I fitted a capstan winch to mine that came in very handy

[@quazar912]

during 80s were "The Olympics of 4x4" with Land rovers called Camel Thophy...

[@samjoentess9168]

Well dunno how I started watching this???????hooked and subscribed 😉You loons 👍

[@hayden_jones]

Hahaha AWESOME. 😆

[@smiles_per_hr6408]

Epic guys. Love seeing what old landies are capable of. Stellar effort.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks so much 🙏🏽

[@oliverrugg3732]

I'm glad KZbin recommended me ur channel mate, instant subscribe - also glad to see you guys still appreciate Landies as much as we do, as unreliable as they are. Much love from the UK!

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Oliver, appreciate it. My channel was made to show how much fun you can have in these old vehicles, and show off some of the south islands scenery. 😊

[@James28R]

speak for yourself.

[@neburruben1]

Just one comment from Spain... WOW!

[@kenjohnson6338]

Had a 109 s2a with perking 4236 , raised air intake , loads of batteries 3 tanks , 4 inch lift on 900 x 16s... and front capstan, on crashbars with 3k watta of light... Was the dogs bollox.. should never of swapped it for a v8 90...

[@huskyneusify]

`Had the exact same S11a ! 1969 ex AOR . Same headlights, bumperettes front and rear, softtop, no heater or demisters. Bought it in 1983, sold in 1996. Still miss my first car :)

[@D3Sshooter]

so cool . where is this fellows ? That is what defenders are build for...

[@hayden_jones]

Reefton, New Zealand 😊

[@janstafford1490]

Wow that takes me back a bit, such trusty vehicles I’d like to some the latest models try, really impressed guys

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Jan 🙂

[@Aquarium-Downunder]

Old Rovers and Land Rovers kick Toyota arse That would be a easy road for the Camel Trophy. Had a mark II ex australian army land rover till my wife made me sell it. she made a big deal about no back seat and our first child been due .......... not the first time or last time sex messed things up on me

[@engr.anthonymwangi1219]

I wish I could get a visa to come there,, all my life I have been using Randlover 109 series 3. Here in Kenya. Very tough roads

[@willyd-adv]

I don't currently have a Landy but used to in the UK. What are the chances of coming out with you guys as a passenger and camera man? I'm based in Chch

[@mrdrains2088]

Great fun guys. Takes me back to when I use to own a Land Rover FC 2A a while back - Fantastic beast, I think its now floating around down there on the Mainland.

[@malcelwell7209]

Man I love this video all want a old Land Rover but you can’t buy them skill You boys have I would have sh-t my pants brilliant 💪

[@Darklightbeam]

Fancy doing that to your precious. But well done, I will stick to mommy’s way. Ha ha Gpx

[@jasondaley6723]

Those old Landys are beasts who needs to spend a $100k on a 4wd when these old girls just keep on going. FYI maybe a winch will help.

[@hayden_jones]

Hey yeah one of us needs to get an electric winch.

[@jaywhite2759]

Absolutely belting video fellas, loved it. You have a new sub from me, time for coffee and a delve into your back catalogue 👍

[@hayden_jones]

Awesome, thanks Jay 😊 🙏🏽

[@daftpunk1285]

What a great reminder of just how capable a landie in fine fettle can be, even without lockers and big knobblers on, they'll get you where you're going eventually. Great vid mate, algorithm finally turned up a stonker.

[@hayden_jones]

Appreciate it mate. Yeah the video has been pumping out the views 🙂

[@roderickbowes2482]

So good to see these old Landy's still having such fun and proving their worth in such nasty 4 x 4 conditions -- well done

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Roderick. 🙏🏽

[@ron7202]

When I heard the accents, I knew we were in for some good fun.

[@hayden_jones]

😁😁😁 🥝 🇳🇿

[@Dmaelstrom]

This landed on my homepage and boy did I enjoy that!!

[@babulexplorer]

Offroad track i really like, amazing video, I watched this video on an overlanding trip, finally I found a place with the same track Hahahaha.

[@hayden_jones]

Awesome. Thanks 🙏🏽

[@Nor_Aviator]

This is very fun to watch! I was at a track, or a meeting for Norwegian or other country's but it is set in Norway, and there, we camp, with our military vehicles. And we can offroad there, in muddy and sandy terrain. We have a Volvo C304, from the Swedish Army, but then the Swedish people then, sold it to Estonia and then to Norway to a used military truck shop, but today we took the 1986 Mercedes Geändewagen for a spin, its such fun to drive, crawls slowely up nearly every obsticale. The terrain is like the terrain in the video. Although beside from that, great video.

[@monkeymansean2]

Makes me almost want a classic Land Rover again. Almost.

[@hayden_jones]

Do it !!!!

[@tombulli1236]

ICH LIEBE ALTE LANDY🤩 I love the old Landy! My dad drove his first 1988 Series 3 Land Rover. I have a huge photo (like a poster) of my late dad's 1981 Land Rover hanging in my living room. Those were the days. Unfortunately I only have a converted Suzuki Jimny FJ. I'd rather have a Land Rover but I couldn't afford it and I'm not that good at mechanics...it would be a shame if I ruined it. MY HEART beats Land Rover :) The English have always built beautiful cars... I find today's modern Land Rover so ugly. Sad what Tata did... Greetings from Germany :)

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Tom. I love old Land Rovers aswell.

[@wvideoyahoodk]

Makes me feel so proud of my Series 3. But - I’ve never tried anything like this. Great to watch 👍🔥😊🐺

[@davidrobinson6353]

What do you guys think of Willie jeeps .🇬🇧👍🤟✌️

[@JohnBuschJW]

Just awesome, you definately shouldn't haved turned back.

[@roadlaw]

Wow great stuff Hayden. All your Series LRs sure enjoyed a good beating out there, gotta love ‘em. Can I ask who would have made those tracks originally, and for what purpose? Would they be old logging access tracks, or used in the early deer recovery days? PS Cam’s tyres look a little road biased…. he did well considering!

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks ! I don't know exactly what that track was made for, could be forestry, could be mineral exploration, or a combination of both.

[@lukebusch2211]

@@hayden_jones logging used to drive trucks up them :)

[@hayden_jones]

@@lukebusch2211 thanks mate.

[@tushugars]

Real Landies - in the wet!!!! Now show me a Lancruiser to deal with that!!! Not a shit show!

[@zanegracie39]

Enjoying this, the only 4 wheel driving i ever did when i was with the army and we traversed tank tracks in Waiouru in V8 Landrovers for our cross country familiarisation courses, nothing as extreme as this, great to see like minded people having an adventure and some fun.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

I'm sorry for the damage, but as a viewer I'm glad you didn't turn back. 😉 Great video!

[@andywithers592]

Really enjoying your channel. You have some really great Series Land Rover action. These old trucks prove you don't need massive tyres, waffle boards, jerry cans on the roof, bead lockers and LSDs... just some technique. I have a Series 2a 88 but here in Switzerland, anything like this is absolutely forbidden. There's many other nice things to do here but a bit of green laning is not on the menu. Looking forwards to the next adventure. Littel Green Landy

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks for the comment Andy 👍🏽 😀 Yeah we're very lucky here in NZ

[@egiltilao315]

I subscribed because i saw these legendary machines .Thank you

[@joebob7344]

The whole purpose of going down that Trac was to experience all of those difficulties . Great fun, thanks for the video.I wish I could have followed on my motorcycle .

[@joanhendrice]

Hi Hayden, great video👍😍. A little work and cleaning on the Land and all should be ok 😊. I like the différent countryside of your country👌. Joan

[@hayden_jones]

Appreciate that Joan. Yeah NZ has some beautiful scenes

[@jeremyatkinson4976]

Well you wouldn't have got up it. Heavily used track.

[@TikitourOverland]

Was gonna attempt this myself a few weeks ago i walked some of the track and thought bugger doing this solo lol awesome video though mate!

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks mate 👍🏽

[@edwardharrington678]

From what I have read these series Land Rovers are more reliable than the new Land Rovers.

[@neil9274]

Hey guys those tracks are really awesome in those little landies l couldn’t drive down anything like that l have a H1 hummer 6 litre turbo diesel slightly modified xtra high lift specially made rims, a winch front and rear. I travel in Victoria high country and also desert driving in the mallee north western Victoria. It’s road registered,but we put it on a tandem trailer and tow to where we are base camp. There is 4 of us that do extreme 4x4 ing . Guys liked your vid and to go down tracks like that with no winch well done .

[@hayden_jones]

Cheers Neil. Appreciate it. An H1 hummer would get destroyed on a track like that. Some parts are very narrow. It was a bit stressful at the time,but now we look back and think, "Sh*t that was awesome" 😁

[@JohnAshworth2023]

Thanks for this video. I have a forty year old Series III and a 23 year old Defender. I'm interested in how you got the Landie with no lights home afterwards. Driving off road with no lights is not the end of the world, especially if you have a powerful torch - I've done it myself here in Africa. In convoy with three other Landies with lights is even better. But what did you do when you reached the tarmac? Surely driving with no lights on a main road is both dangerous and illegal?

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks. He had spares back where he was staying. (10min drive from the end of the track)

[@NakuruMotorClub]

well Hayden your suspension doesnt look to be that stiff. nice

[@thornwarbler]

Old landrovers. As good today as they always were

[@unhippy1]

Why is there landrover porn in my recommended list?.......Doesn't youtube know that i swore the only way i would have anything to do with another landrover involves petrol and a lighter?

[@hayden_jones]

😳😳😳😳 yikes. "Landrover porn" 🤣 nice 👌 👍🏽

[@craigward6052]

Takes me back 30 years ago when I had a series 3 - bit of a bucket but great fun exploring off road around Wales at a time when places weren't so closed off as they are today... Recently bought an old Disco 2, so looking to find some new adventures.

[@ilonawildauer6227]

Oh oh ! Disco2 mnnn! Some depending on traction control there, a disco 1 can just do it !

[@ilonawildauer6227]

Oh oh ! Disco2 mnnn! Some depending on traction control there, a disco 1 can just do it !

[@evang9708]

The tick of the 2 1/4 reminds me of my dad's old series 3, just curious is the series 1's engine the original or has it been updated?

[@danielfoster1956]

For the majority of its life Red's been powered with an old Holden 161. Not the most powerful but a lovely wee motor so I've never bothered to change it (-:

[@olamabambi4193]

Ah I get it now crazy Kiwis now it makes sense. We are on NZ third island trying to learn a thing or two from you guys. Love your work great effort from you all on the old trucks showing us that they still can handle the track as good as any new truck.

[@hayden_jones]

👍🏼😁😁😁😁

[@dynamadnessadventures205]

The old Land Rover ya can’t beat them best ever great video

[@hayden_jones]

I think so. Cheers 🍻

[@johnphillips519]

Older 4x4's were more practical than what is made now, You just would not take a very expensive new one down a track like that, I used to have an old BJ40 Landcruiser and it got me to lots of crazy places, (Possibly some that i shouldn't have), But it got me there and home and what an achievement it felt like afterwards, SWB 4x4's are the best, Wish i could have been there with ya👍

[@hayden_jones]

Cheers John

[@CrAwLLBLACK]

Sweet video. Thanks for sharing. I might hit that track up next time I'm over there. Looks a bit more fun than the drive into Big River.

[@hayden_jones]

Definitely more of a challenge

[@ross999]

Absolutely awesome. One of my favourite videos on KZbin. Very authentic.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks Ross. It was an incredible day.

[@garthlundquist3623]

Lots of body damage when the wheels are narrower than the sheet metal. The Jeeps are a better design in that regard. How come none of the Land Rovers are fitted with rock rails?

[@hayden_jones]

Typically we don't do tracks this rough, so rock rails (we call them rock sliders) aren't necessary. Would be nice to have every now and then though. The red series 1 has the narrowest wheels, and the defender has the widest.

[@ThomasFromHome]

Oh, landies in their natural habitate. 👍 Doing this with my Discovery 4 may end in a nightmare.😱

[@hayden_jones]

Yeah, it was a very tough day.

[@matthewcadle7200]

Out of all them Land Rovers, I bet the old series 1 would out do all of them!. Very cool.....

[@henryghisolfo6439]

Amazing trip, where it was? I use to have a Jeep, I love to made this trip!

[@hayden_jones]

Reefton, New Zealand 🇳🇿 😍

[@AH-wn6dw]

Amazing where you guys took these vehicles

[@michaelnugara1]

Is this new Zealand fellas? Love the adventure

[@hayden_jones]

Yes it is New Zealand 🇳🇿 😁

[@suecharnock9369]

I used to own a series one - actually reliable and a slow but steady beast. I didnt go off-roading in it, but I loved it! Had to sell it in the end and was gutted.

[@demRucks]

Is that the Stig on your hood? 😊

[@hayden_jones]

It is !!

[@lukebusch2211]

Wankel hill sawpit road - should never had they bypass cut around it - can almost drive a car thru there these days

[@ben_orchard]

Is that the bit where a second track goes around the massive valley?

[@goodsonjd]

Brilliant video Hayden. I'll have to see if I can find that track next time I am in the Big River area.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks 👍

[@TheErwinrommel1941]

Could have saved your snorkel if you have protection wire that is connected from front hood corner to top of your roof.They are meant to keep branches away from car.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Do they deflect 100mm manuka tree trunks?

[@TheErwinrommel1941]

@@JohnSmith-yv6eq to deflect tree trunks, you need dozer blade, in addition to wires

[@charlesrobert9527]

Brilliant. What a great bunch you are helping each other out and finding a way through. Awesome track. Great video.

[@hayden_jones]

Thanks so much 🙏🏼

[@AdamGetliff]

Could you borrow one of those new shiny "Defenders" and film that please? 🙂

[@hayden_jones]

I'd love to !! Maybe one day when this KZbin channel gets a bigger audience they'll loan me one 🙂 Until then, it's old Series and defenders 😁

[@dawitkassa3131]

Landover defeats tough African roads.