Table of contents for July 2017 in SA4x4

Amid all the turmoil and political uncertainty, the scary tales of crime, state capture and endemic corruption, the options are still open. When you are gatvol, you can still jump into your 4x4 and escape to the bush. In this country – and indeed most of southern Africa – the bush is never that far away. This was the sage advice from Deon Belsher of Caprivi Safari Gear, late on a Friday after another tough week in the world of business. And he’s right. So, plan your escape, carve out some time, and, as Nike says, ‘Just do it’. Escapes we have aplenty in this issue. We have Andrew Stone reporting back on a fishing trip he and his family enjoyed at Dwesa on the Wild Coast, Kerry Fraser reliving…

ALL NEW MAZDA CX-5 Mazda’s all-new compact SUV spearheads a whole new generation of Mazda design. The new CX-5 is sleeker, safer, and also better-looking, thanks to new colours and styling. With options between three engines, auto/manual transmissions, and FWD/AWD, the new CX-5 covers all its bases. The Only AWD model in the line-up, the CX-5 2.2L DE Akera AWD Auto, starts at R557 500, which puts it in line with top-end models from VW’s Tiguan to the Hyundai Tucson. AWD CX-5s all get the potent 129kW, 420Nm turbodiesel mill, mated to a six-speed automatic box. The Mazda CX-5 comes with a 3-year unlimited-kilometre service plan, a 3-year factory warranty, 3-year roadside assistance and a 5-year corrosion warranty. MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WINS TOP VALUE ACCOLADE According to the Kelly Blue Book…

Scientific name Tricholaema leucomelas Afrikaans name Bonthoutkapper If there is one bird that most bird lovers should try and attract to their garden it is the Acacia Pied Barbet. It doesn’t matter where you live as they occur almost all over the country with very few exceptions. And it doesn’t take much to persuade them to move in. You can start by placing an apple on you bird feeder every day, and when they start visiting, take the next step which is to buy a sisal tree trunk from your local nursery and attach it to a branch of a tree somewhere in your garden. These sisal trunks normally have a round hole of one or two centimetres deep drilled through the hard outer part, and the barbets will do…

It is not a tiny cabin in the forest, or a red dot on a topographic map, or the hoary summit of a windswept peak, or a Bedouin tent in the lee of a desert dune. Moer & Gone may be a wooden shack on a faraway ridge, an eco-resort on an archipelago beach, a camp site in a private nature reserve – even a Big 5 lodge in the middle of the vast African bush. To me, it is all about a feeling; that sense of headspace you get when you realise you have – against all the odds in our crowded and contemporary world –managed to somehow get away from it all. Granted, these Moer & Gone places more often than not equate to an off-the-beaten track destination,…

A recent survey revealed that most dual-battery users believe that a few hours’ drive will effectively restore power to their 4x4’s auxiliary battery. The belief, it seemed, was that the drive home (on the last day of their holiday) would be more than enough to top up their dual-battery system. It’s a common misconception and one that points to several more dual-battery facts… FACT: All batteries need time to recharge; there are no shortcuts or special dual-battery systems that can “make” the recharge process any faster than the battery can handle. FACT: In most cases, a DC-DC dual-battery system tends to slow down the recharge rate within the first few hours of driving. FACT: If left unattended, a partially discharged battery will start to degrade, thereby reducing its lifespan. FACT:…

CUSTOM LEISURE TECH UNI AWN The Uni-Awn has been developed as a cost-effective awning. It can be fitted quickly to almost any vehicle, canopy or trailer with or without a roof rack. The Uni-Awn bag either slides into the supplied aluminium channel, or it can be secured by straps that are stitched to the bag. When closed, it is the ideal size for a double-cab canopy. Five telescopic aluminium poles are supplied with the awning, all of which fit into the bag. www.customleisuretech.co.za HANNIBAL Unlike most of its competitors, the Hannibal awning is self-supported, thanks to a sturdy alloy frame, which means that you can easily reposition your vehicle once the awning is set up – there’s no need to remove guy ropes and additional poles. Special attention has been…

The guys at RSI have been on a roll lately with their quality products, having expanded their factory with special painting facilities and perfected an innovative flat-pack process. They are now going full steam with an export programme to Europe and the US. While having the Smart canopy fitted at the Paarden Eiland branch of 4x4 Megaworld, we spoke to RSI area sales manager Andre de Villiers (Jnr), and it turns out that our version benefits from a few of the latest innovations: there is no lip to the side edges that previously hid the load-body/rubber moulding join, the rear window is in a hardened safety glass and not Perspex, and the body panels are no longer held together with aviation-style Huck fasteners. Instead, they are all smooth surfaces –…

BUDGET BOLLOCKS On receiving my latest 4x4 mag (thanks for the subscription, Dad!) for June 2017, my eyes were drawn to the article featured on the front cover – Budget Build. Yay, I thought, finally an article on how to put together an affordable, reliable overlander. All the key words in the first paragraph of the article were there: tough times, innovative ideas, budget-beater. “A practical, sensible choice”, to quote. Then I fell off my proverbial chair, muttering expletives in disappointment and horror. Anybody who considers a base price tag of R462k ‘affordable’ either has too much money, too much debt, or doesn’t actually understand what money is. And the article further disappoints. (I’m just beginning.) There’s absolutely no innovation here. It’s just about somebody who bought a car and…

HARD HEADED Rhino 4x4 Evolution bumper The Argentinian designed and made Evolution 3D bikini-style wraparound bumper from Rhino 4x4 is now available for the new Fortuner. These bumpers undergo OE specification dynamic crash tests and are airbag compatible. Manufactured from 3mm and 6mm steel, they provide a class-leading approach angle. Evolution bumpers are winch compatible, have two snatch-rated recovery points, and the fitment deal includes not only two 60W LED fog lights, but also a properly strong form-punched bash plate. A white or matt black powder-coated finish is standard, and the centre insert above the winch plate is available in either a chrome or matt black finish. Extras include a winch, spotlight bar, spotlights and a front removable tow hitch. R31 995 010 595 0229 www.rhino4x4.co.za SHINE ON Ironman 4x4…

0.5Bar. Pfah! – a normal and essential tyre pressure, anything higher and our heavily laden Land Cruiser would be going nowhere. We could literally read the writing on the wall; the wall of the tyre that is, because it was lying flat on the ground and a quick glance out the window read: Cooper Discoverer STT. We were also carefully monitoring our rear suspension airbags because the dangerous rolling we were feeling in the cab was threatening an overturn. The atmosphere was tense as we watched the vehicle before us drop its nose over the slip face, the shorter and steeper side of a dune. The Hilux bared its belly to us as the back end slipped skywards – exposing the chassis, exhaust and rear axle. This was going to…

As much as I align myself with the meaning of the word renegade as an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behaviour; and that I can honestly attest, under oath, your honour, that my current official address for the Receiver of Revenue is 149 Rice Crispy Lane, Elsewhereville, it was a freeing experience to drive a swanky little Jeep that could not be traced back to me. (As we all know, the Receiver will go to extreme lengths to track down non-disclosers and non-payers.) After being offered the Jeep 1.4L MultiAir (TJET) Limited AWD, I was quick to charge my camera battery and take the chunky beast out for a test on some technically easy terrain. After one look in the rear-view mirror, three trips around the same traffic circle…

The yearly institution known as the Toyota Rust de Winter Jamboree is scheduled for April each year. That’s when 4x4 enthusiasts from around the country flock to this peaceful bird sanctuary on the Elandsrivier (some 80km from Pretoria) to test their skills and compete for top honours on both a gymkhana course and a two-part mountain outride which takes in a few tough sections on the 27-hectare property. This year was no different, and with ample rain early in the year to break the drought, some of the old favourites where back – including the mud pool though which one has to drag your co-driver. As part of the media team, I was surprised to see Fortuners lined up and waiting for us. Competing in stock-standard Hiluxes last year was…

NEW RECORD FROM DAKAR TO MOSCOW Completing well over 8000km in just 3 days, 4 hours and 54 minutes, Rainer Zietlow drove his Amarok V6 TDI from Dakar to Moscow, earning the world record for this attempt. The Amarok was standard apart from a set of Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure tyres, which apparently helped him set this record without incident. As he did with previous challenges, Zietlow donated the 1500 Euro he raised to the SOS Children’s Village in Senegal, which he visited just before the run. CAPRIVI’S NEW HOME Caprivi Luxury Safari Gear, a renowned manufacturer of premium safari gear and seat covers in SA, has moved to a new production facility in Hermanus, near the Whale Coast Mall. They are also currently developing a line of awnings and…

The terrible drought in the Western Cape has left Theewaterskloof Dam looking like a desert wilderness. The dry, cracking mud and dwindling pools of water are shocking to see. But in the midst of this devastation is a wonderful, unique opportunity for 4x4 drivers. The receding waters have exposed a landscape last seen before it was opened in 1980. The old farms, with vineyards still in neat rows and irrigation pipes exposed, are very interesting to see. You can drive the old farm roads and explore the strange landscape. Some areas are hard gravel, but watch out for the deep soft mud! One sight I found particularly interesting is an old tar road that had emerged, going through the dam. Parts of the road are still in pretty good condition…

Verdant coastal forests that extend almost to the water’s edge. Thunderous breakers that pound jagged rocks. Golden sands. Impossibly beautiful night skies. Mischievous monkeys, slithering snakes and graceful antelope. All coupled with a remoteness that brings on a sense of peace which can’t really be put into words. But I’ll try. Asked to describe Dwesa Nature Reserve in a paragraph, that’s my take on it. You see, visiting this pristine 3900-hectare Wild Coast reserve is like stepping back into the age of the dinosaurs. Standing on the wide expanse of beach in front of the cottages with no one else around can make you feel like the last person on Earth. It’s a completely primordial yet intoxicating feeling that will keep you going back for more. Fortunately, you won’t have…

World Ranger Day is celebrated all over the world on July 31, commemorating those rangers killed or injured in the line of duty, and celebrating the work rangers do to protect the world’s natural and cultural treasures. Protected areas worldwide are managed and looked after by rangers, who put themselves on the frontline of the battle for biodiversity conservation. Despite all sorts of modern technological advances, we are still dependent on these men and woman who have a passion for conservation and are willing to give their all for the cause. Tribute is paid on this day to those injured or killed in the line of duty over the past year; it is sobering to see how many rangers have been injured by wild animals and poachers or paid the…

A knife is the single most important item you can have with you in a survival situation, as it has many functions, but no one type of knife is good at all tasks. A big, heavy knife may be good for batoning (splitting) wood, but not preparing game or whittling fire sticks. Whereas a small knife comes into its own during more delicate tasks. But what makes a good bushcraft knife – a fixed blade, or folding blade? A big knife or small knife? Let’s try and unravel the ins and outs of buying a knife. THE CATEGORIES Folding knife A folding knife is useful due to its compact size. However, they are not without their faults. Many do not have locking blades, so can easily fold back on a…

Keeping up with the neighbours is getting more difficult nowadays, and if Oom Piet from across the valley has just bought one of these to take the sheep to market, you’re all but trumped. The big numbers alone are something to behold: 165kW and 550Nm, a sticker price around R700k, and eight gears. One of our esteemed colleagues touted it as the ‘Bush Lamborghini’, and what a fitting name that is! All this V6 hoopla comes nine years after the Amarok’s initial launch, and countless ‘Only milk and juice come in 2 litres’ bumper-stickers. The long awaited launch is well timed for trumps; the nearest rival – a Ford Ranger 3.2-litre five-cylinder with 147kW/470Nm – has nearly 20% less power and torque. But that big new engine is only one…

“Jeez, boet, where does the road go? It looks like it might drop right off the edge of that mountain over there,” commented my longstanding co-pilot, Lionel Williams. We’d been in the car just over an hour, following our host’s map showing tracks marked in green (Grades 1-2) and blue (Grades 2-3). We were fast approaching the only red route (Grades 3-4) on our chosen 50km perimeter trail – the aptly named “Banggat” section, when the track suddenly fell away steeply before us. Travelling in our borrowed Isuzu KB300 4x4 LX Extended Cab, we’d ambled along the predominantly green route from our guest house to the elevated point of “Karoopunt”, about a third of the way into the trail. The route until that point had been a gradual ascent to…

When touring midsummer in the 40-50 degree heat of Namibia or the Karoo, or simply taking a lunch-break by the roadside, you’ll need some shade. Having an awning that’s quick and easy to set up, yet durable and sturdy enough to take nature’s beating, may mean the difference between crying, sunburned kids and a happy holiday. An awning’s principal work is providing shade, but one can have several functions. With the addition of sides, an awning will help you weather a dust-storm, a downpour, and even swarms of bugs. As ever, there are many different types of awnings to choose from, ranging from a simple lightweight roll-out, to the swing-out 270-degree awning with sides, that creates a large and spacious enclosure. The choice is yours; and in this guide, we…

One thing the Mazda BT-50 cannot be accused of is being popular. Even after the recent facelift, it still hasn’t been taken up in great numbers by the local market. Strangely enough, this could just be a matter of brand snobbery: put a Ford badge on what is essentially a re-skinned T6, and you’d be in a different league. For sure, there are still some aesthetic shortcomings in places where Ford does better - like the grille, the rather too large wraparound tail lights, and a more resolved and sophisticated interior driver interface, but none of them are deal-breakers. With that apparent elephant out the room, one can focus on the things that are right. It’s why SA4x4, and our sister publication Caravan & Outdoor Life, have been given a…

Age: 69 years young. Occupation: Pensioner retired as Human Resources Manager of an international pharmaceutical company. Modifications: Roof rack by Big Country 4x4, bull bar, 8000lbs Ox Series Super Winch, Jerry cans/holder, high-lift jack, dual-battery system with C-Tek DC-DC charger, Ostrich awning with LED lights fitted (plus LEDs installed in canopy), two aluminium welded sleeping bunk frames with marine ply surfaces and folding mattresses in back of canopy, 55-litre water tanks underneath each bunk, 10-inch wide white epoxy-coated alloy rims fitted with 31 x 10.50 R15 LT BF Goodrich AT tyres, sand ladders. Future modifications: The best affordable car air conditioner on the market! Dream vehicle: The all-new Nissan Navara. Most memorable trip: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Past trips made to: Namaqua NP, Richtersveld and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks, Sani Pass, Lesotho…