Hilux siblings splash, climb, and flex their way through rough trails alongside some capable not-for-the-U.S. vehicles.
The world is filled with different countries, various cultures, and a multitude of languages. What may seem appropriate to one group of people can be a vulgar offense to another. On the other hand, certain things transcend location or ethnic background, such as the desire for human connection or a delicious meal. As this video from Youtube channel TavaresAndres4x4 shows, love for off-roading has no boundaries, either.
It seems that Brazil has its share of 4X4 enthusiasts – and diesel-powered vehicles we don’t get in the US. We spotted two Jeep Wrangler-like Trollers, two actual Jeeps (JK Wrangler Unlimiteds), a Mitsubishi Pajero Dakar with a steel front bumper and winch, and a yellow TAC Stark. Of course, we’re most interested in the Toyota Hilux truck (aka Pickup) and Hilux SW4 (aka 4Runner) that are also part of the convoy.
The rolling green hills that go on for miles are a breathtaking sight, but they surround difficult trails that challenge both driver and vehicle. One particular water-filled dip in the terrain proves to be too much for some of the vehicles, which have to winch themselves or be pulled out. Once the rigs get past that, they have to flex and bounce up to the top of a difficult rocky pass.
It doesn’t get much easier after that. The meaty-tired Hilux huffs and puffs out thick clouds of dark smoke as it crawls through a stretch of scattered chunks of stone.
One uphill section off the trail is covered in loose dirt and makes it hard for the Hilux SW4 to keep its grip. It slips and it slides, but it ultimately has enough articulation and ground clearance (and body armor) to reach the summit. The driver of its pickup cousin decides after a few dramatic and violent attempts to reach the top via the center route to ride along one of the shoulders to get to the top.
It all goes to show that every vehicle occasionally gets stuck and that friends will help you out of a sticky situation – no matter which language you speak.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
