why choose saber offroad

Ben Bartlett’s 4×4 journey tells a different story to most, while he learned how to drive a stick in a 60 series Landcruiser, and loved getting offroad with his Dad, his 4×4 enthusiasm also showcases a different angle.

Ben was involved in the original set up of the Australian 4WD Industry Council and has sat on numerous Australian standards committees over the years, helping to shape the 4×4 industry in Australia.

His deep product knowledge of 4×4 accessories comes from a lifetime career in the parts and accessories industry working with highly reputable and well-known 4WD brands.

In his first job developing accessories for Jeep, Chrysler and Mercedes, Ben forged strong relationships with Australian brands to develop accessories and product lines, including tow bars, bullbars and so on, for those particular vehicles. Much of his work was four-wheel-drive focused.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) was his next career move, which meant he started dealing with brands, from retailers such as Repco and Burson Auto Parts, though to large manufacturers including ARB, TJM, East Coast Bullbars (ECB) and Pedders. In the 10 years Ben worked with the association, he took key Australian 4WD brands to trade shows all over the world – from Germany to the US and across Asia and even Russia.

It was his knowledge, experience and key relationships that helped form MercuryPM, which predominantly sells and distributes Australian 4WD products around the world.

During this time, Ben discovered there wasn’t an Australian brand creating high-quality recovery gear – and so Saber Offroad was born.

Ben’s unique background and approach to product development was the cornerstone of Saber Offroad’s ethos of safety first. From the very beginning, he was adamant that all Saber Offroad products had to be safe, compliant and NATA tested – and today, it’s still the same.

As Saber Offroad Founder and Director, Ben manages the day-to-day running of the business, exporting and international partnerships.

And he still enjoys getting offroad, now in his Y62 Patrol, just to challenge Steve in the long-standing battle of Nissan Vs Toyota.

Fun fact: Before he bought into Saber Offroad as a partner and Director – Product Development, Steve Handbury was a grazier and owner of one of Victoria’s most renowned Angus studs.

Better known now as @79Skooby by his 40,000+ Instagram followers, four wheeling ran though Steve’s veins well before he was born.

In fact, you could say he was born on a 4×4 track (he came pretty close to it, but that’s a story for another time!).

He’s been living and breathing four wheeling ever since.

Growing up in a Landcruiser family, Steve’s dad drove a Toyota BJ40 and “we lived in that car we went everywhere in it. I actually went with Dad to the dealership when he bought it.”
Naturally, his first car was a Toyota FJ45 Landcruiser.

“My Dad’s idea of recovery gear was an axe and high-lift jack. There was no winch on the 40 series. I remember being a kid and watching two 40 series Landcruisers recover a panel van from a creek – there I was right in the danger zone on the side of the creek watching this recovery.”
Image of the 40 series pulling Sandman out of creek

It was a different time back then.

Born and bred in Darwin, NT, one of his favourite camping spots was Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park, which back then was a serious adventure and took a full day of four wheel driving to get there, and according to Steve, where you’d normally get bogged on the black soil plains.
His thirst for four wheel driving has seen him explore the country’s most talked about tracks, places and rich cultural heritage. But it was during a gap year that the former “retiree” saw an investment opportunity in Saber Offroad.

As Director – Product Development, Steve’s job is to design and create new products, review and improve the current products, and test everything to destruction.

At Saber Offroad, we create all of our products with a view to reduce the metal and weight in a recovery. Our products are our own and have been created by our specialist team.

The combination of Ben’s product and testing expertise together with Steve’s farming and 4×4 experience makes for a powerful duo and a robust product offering and brand in Saber Offroad.