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4x4 Gear The Ultimate Travelling Companion? Published: 12th Mar 2007 Original article: http://www.difflock.com/magazine/4x4_Gear/Ultimate_Travelling_Companion.shtml

 Venture Overland  info@ventureoverland.com  www.ventureoverland.com/DuoTouch.html

Satellite Navigation is now common in most vehicles, whether it be a fully integrated system from the manufacturer or one of the many off-the shelf systems that can be seen rubber-suckered to windscreens the world over. For most drivers this provides all the functionality they require and is durable enough for a few hours on the motorway. However for those that prefer their terrain to be a little more challenging there is now a more extensive and robust alternative.

VentureOverland in partnership with specialist computer supplier, Rugged Systems, have developed a range of onboard computer systems that do a lot more than just navigate.



The system is centred around a rugged Tablet PC that is securely mounted to the vehicle. Being a full functioning PC it is more than capable of providing navigation, this is just the beginning of it’s powers. For instance, it is possible to have all your OS maps stored electronically, available at the touch of a button. Similarly why leave bulky reference manuals behind or worse still, try to stow them with the rest of your luggage, when once again they could be stored on the computer.

In the event of a breakdown this could once again prove to be an invaluable tool, giving you the ability to connect to the ECU and diagnose faults and if the worst comes to the worst you can always send an email while you wait for assistance or surf the web for inspiration.

The tablet PC’s used are built to Military Standards ensuring it is tough as well as functional. The shock mounted components, including hard disk drive, ensure that it copes with the same jolts and vibrations that everything else in the vehicle has to. If you remove it from the vehicle dock the fact that it has been tested to survive a three foot drop onto concrete should do more than offer reassurance in the case of a mishap.

Of course it’s not just the knocks and drops that a truly rugged computer needs to survive, there’s the dust, dirt, water and of course weather. This was another reason for VentureOverland selecting to use the Duo-Touch and xPlore Tablet PC’s from Rugged Systems.  The Duo-Touch is sealed to an IP54 rating and the xPlore to an almost indistructable IP65. This ensures that when in use on heavily corrugated roads or in the rain or with grubby hands on the touch-screen the computer will carry on without a glitch.

Here at last is the overlander’s / off-roader’s ideal in-vehicle companion. More than just a sat-nav system, it is like having a desktop PC on the dashboard. The key being these are built to survive.