Table of contents for September 2018 in SA4x4

“Gemsbok radiate excess body heat at the end of the day, often standing on top of dunes to catch the evening breeze” Mention the words ‘survival expert’ and the first name that comes to mind for most people is Bear Grylls or Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Whilst both men have demonstrated remarkable survival skills in extreme conditions, I would dare to suggest that the ultimate survivalists are found in nature. The dictionary defines survival as “the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of difficult circumstances or adverse conditions”. As environments have changed over the millennia, animals and plants have had to adapt to challenging circumstances; and nowhere more so than in the arid savanna. The Kalahari, a popular destination for many 4x4 enthusiasts, is home…

Everybody’s heard a Zimbabwe travel horror story. Under the rule of Robert Mugabe, corruption thrived in all but the most remote reaches of the vast and diverse country. One would encounter dozens of roadblocks between Bulawayo and Harare, each ‘staffed’ by police or scammers seeking nothing more than to extort one for a couple of trillion Zim dollars. Journeys by road became arduous and expensive – and often dangerous, too. Well, I’m happy to report that things have changed. Zimbabwe, it seems, is open for business. The fall of Uncle Bob has paved the way for optimism and recovery, and the newly incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa knows that tourism is one of his nation’s prime resources. It’s almost as if he has given a direct order to his police force:…

Intrepid travellers who venture along the lesser gravel roads high along the western reaches of the Northern Cape, where arid desert land tumbles towards the tempestuous Atlantic Ocean, will be lucky enough to discover ‘Eenkantland’. This ‘Land on the Side’ is also known as Namaqualand, and the region’s Namaqua Coastal Route traverses the north-western parts of the area. It is a place of stark, jaw-dropping beauty, where a semi-desert inland escarpment transitions into a turbulent shoreline. Here, rich and varied botanical biomes have been savaged by a vigorous climate, and these extreme elements have shaped a space which is rugged beyond belief. Look closely, and you will find that the arid earth bristles with a profusion of bulbs and succulents, while quiver trees and dramatic granitic outcrops lie stacked against…

Do you have a magic shot in your photo collection that captures the essence of overland travel? SA4x4 is keen to promote adventure travel the world over, and to share those amazing memories with all our readers. Trawl your image banks and share those moments in time on SA4x4’s Facebook or Instagram pages, along with your name and a short description of what you are seeing and where. Action, wildlife, landscapes – we want to see it all. Take a look at some of the best entries on this month’s cycle. HOW TO ENTER Tag @SA4x4 on Instagram, and use the hashtag #SA4x4OverlandImages If Instagram is too 21st Century, email your pic to overlandimages@sa4x4.co.za with the subject line Overland Images and we will post it to Instagram for you. The…

TOUR DETAILS Each year, Zambia plays host to two of the best kept secrets in the natural world. These two wildlife spectacles are only ever witnessed by the avid adventurer due to the remoteness of the areas in which they occur. This year, we have combined two of our most popular tours in order to witness both migrations in one magnificent Zambian expedition. Liuwa Plain National Park is situated in the Upper Zambezi flood plains of Western Zambia. The park covers an area of 3 600km2 of vast grasslands and wooded islands, and the plain from which the park takes its name is 70km long and 30km wide. The park plays a vital role in the Zambezi’s catchment and is flooded from late December to June each year. Liuwa also…

For weekend warriors, almost any 12V compressor fridge will do. But remember that in December in Mabuasehube, your fridge will be working hard and cycling often, drawing more than 6A average consumption. In addition, your drive time will be severely limited, as the nearest fuel is about five hours’ drive one way. If you use your fridge in the adverse conditions of high ambient temperatures and big loads, it can easily be found wanting. Here are some pointers on how you can help it to survive. Compressor Almost all 12V compressor fridges use the same Danfoss BD35f compressor, which has a max ampere draw of 6.4A at 12V. Be aware that some expensive combination fridge/freezers may use two of these, so your battery may have to supply 12.8A in adverse…

This month’s Readers’ Rides prizewinner gets a set of Opposite Lock 100W halogen Long Range Driving Lights worth R3995, plus a recovery kit bag worth R395. The lights are 225mm in diameter with a steel body, black epoxy powder-coated finish and stainless steel rim. They feature a hardened shock resistant glass lens with a protective polycarbonate cover, and are backed by Opposite Lock’s 2-year national warranty. Opposite Lock’s range of 4x4 accessories includes Tough Dog suspensions, Lightforce Driving lights, OL bullbars, VRS winches, recovery gear, and more. Find them on www.oppositelock.co.za or contact 011 697 0001 . TERMS & CONDITIONS: Email your Readers Rides entry to editor@sa4x4.co.za. Only hi-res images (1MB or larger) will be considered – no cellphone pics. Please provide a description of the vehicle and the place.…

WILLIE & AMANDA DAVEL TOYOTA HILUX 3.0 D4-D 4X4 LEGEND 45 Occupation: Service manager & housewife Modifications: Airmax suspension, Front Runner load bars, Pod rooftop tent, and an RSI canopy modified to our needs. The side panels are fitted with a water-level gauge, and there is an inverter, a water pump and kitchenware. The load bed contains a built-in drawer system with a two-burner stove, a National Luna fridge and slide, and packing space for clothes and food items. The canopy is fitted with LED lights. Also included in the rear is a dual-battery system running two 105Ah batteries, a 150-litre built-in water tank, and a batwing awning. Future modifications: Onca replacement bumper and a long-distance fuel tank Previous vehicles: 3.0 D4-D Fortuner, 2.7-litre Toyota Hilux Dream vehicle: Toyota Land…

This month’s column may be a bit controversial and against the advice of some of the tyre experts, as it includes some tricks that should really only be used in the case of a dire emergency. Fact is, countless times we’ve been stuck on the roadside with a torn sidewall, or marooned in a dune with a tyre off its rim. What do you do in these situations, and how can you get home safely? Torn sidewall Let me first be clear that once a tyre has a torn sidewall, it is ruined and must be replaced. However, the problem arises – as it has with me on several occasions – where one has already used up the spare and the only tyre available had a cut in the sidewall…

VW TOUAREG Bigger and Better Now in its third generation, the popular VW Touareg has been renewed and refreshed. It is now based on VW’s long wheelbase MLB platform, shared with the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga. Three V6 options are available including a 3.0-litre diesel with either 170kW or 210kW, and a 3.0-litre turbo petrol with 250kW. The big 4.0-litre V8 turbo diesel as found in the Bentley is available (punching out 310kW), while a plug in hybrid is expected at a later stage. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic supplied by ZF with a Torsen 4WD system that includes a lockable centre differential and rear diff lock. An optional off-road package adds four driving modes to the package, to better equip the vehicle’s air…

I trained as a mechanical engineer and worked at JCB in the UK midlands, before leaving for Africa at the beginning of 1978. My first service vehicle was a 2.6 Series III Pick Up with JCB. My next vehicles were 109 Station Wagons with the Malawi Government, plus two Mk I Range Rovers. I used the latter extensively to do inspection work in the central and northern regions. While in Malawi, I bought a Series III 109 Station Wagon as a shell, and rebuilt it. My father came to visit before I’d finished it, but in order not to miss the touring of Malawi, we finished it ‘en route’. The most memorable drive took us to Milange, where we turned left at the border with Mozambique and then left again…

A few years ago Enertec Batteries were tasked with a requirement from Avis Safari Rentals to supply them with the best and most reliable, cost-effective battery for their 4x4 rental vehicles as they were experiencing untenable battery issues. Investing in batteries is often overlooked as a general commodity, however, a battery is the heartbeat of the vehicle, supplying all power and starting requirements. It can literally make or break one’s leisure and/or bush experience. First we established what hardware would be fitted to the Avis vehicles in order to assess their typical power consumption needs and patterns. Our conclusion was to look at this project as a pure off-grid application as the vehicles spend extended periods away from a 220 Volt power source and furthermore every trip was to be…

The second generation Mahindra Pik Up, based on the Scorpio, has had a host of updates which brings it into the 21st century, putting it on top of the budget double-cabbakkie pile. It is a simple and robust take on the workhorse concept, which is refreshing in a world where fancy car-like features and showy finishes sell a vehicle. This one feels more old-school, rather like an early FJ Series Land Cruiser, and is all the better for it. We drove India’s best for about 1000km, including a trip to a very snowy Matroosberg, to see what it’s made of. For the first time in years, I came away extremely impressed: this is a well-priced offering from a left-field brand, and I only wanted to drive it more. Interior Mahindra…

R327 995 Odometer 20 000km ENGINE Cylinders/Capacity I4/2179 Bore and stroke 85x96mm Compression ratio 16.5/1 Fuel supply Common rail Fuel Diesel Max power 103kW @ 3750rpm Max torque 320Nm @ 1500-2800rpm TRANSMISSION Shift type Manual Low range Electromechanical actuation CONTROLS 4WD selection type Rotary dial Steering type Hydraulic power assist Wheels 6.5J X 16-inch alloy 4WD type Part-time CHASSIS/SUSPENSION Chassis type Ladder frame Suspension (front) Independent, coil spring Suspension (rear) Solid axle, leaf spring Turning circle 6.7m curb to curb Tyres 245/75 R16 MEASUREMENTS (MM) Length 5175 Width 1820 Height 1860 Wheelbase 3040 Front/rear track 1450/1450 FUEL INDEX (LITRES/100KM) Fuel capacity 80 litres Average 7.9l/100km Calculated…

The Waeco CFX-65 fridge-freezer we have been using since early 2013 has now been rebranded a Dometic, in line with the Swedish company’s brand-consolidation exercise. It was always built by them, so this is just a name-change for this fridge which needs no introduction as the unsung hero of all our local trips. Whether it’s working at max capacity in 40 degree heat or sitting turned on in an office for months at a time, the old beast has its work cut out. And it hasn’t missed a beat. As Grant Spolander put it in his 2013 review of this very same fridge: “There’s more to a fridge than just degrees, amps and insulation”. He’s right. A fridge must also be well laid out, easy to operate, have a large…

Perhaps we should have done the easier Red Cone Farm route, after all,” I told my fiancée, Annette, as my furrowed brow channelled rivulets of sweat down my temples. Although Ferndale Farm’s Circle Road North route had already provided us with a fair number of Grade 3 challenges in the form of a large boulder crossing and some axle-twisting ruts, plus the odd 35° ascent and numerous narrow roads riding atop precipitous cliff-faces, we had until then been comfortable that our trusty Mazda BT-50 would not fail us on this route; especially as we’d had the more aggressively-patterned Dunlop AT3 G rubber recently fitted. But one s confidence evaporates remarkably quickly when faced with a vehicle sliding sideways towards the edge of a precipice. Annette had the sense to get…

There’s no point in driving around with your roofrack/ rooftop tent if you’re not on holiday. Save fuel (and wear & tear) by installing a Fredlin hoist. This proudly South African product solves the problem of where to store your roofrack/ rooftop tent, canopy, or even a sports car hardtop: up and out of the way! The Fredlin hoist fastens securely to your garage roof or carport, is easily installed and can be operated by one person. TO ENTER One Fredlin hoist will be given away every month to the lucky reader featured in Me & My 4x4. Simply send a photograph – 1 MB or larger – and the answers to the categories shown above, to editor@sa4x4.co.za. Vehicle and driver must be featured together in an off-road setting. (No…

This month’s winning letter scoops a great double prize from Ironman 4x4: a Tyre Repair kit worth R695 and a Speedy Deflator worth R895. The Speedy Deflator is a quality brass item that screws onto your vehicle’s tyre valve, allowing you to remove the valve core for rapidly and accurately airing down any tyre before tackling tough terrain. The repair kit is a comprehensive set including metal awls, 30 repair cords, a digital tyre gauge and a handy carry case. Both these items should be in every off-roader’s travel kit.…

In its first major update since 2006, the new Wrangler JL is in every way an improved vehicle over the old, with a host of new technologies, features and options. Notably, the Wrangler hasn’t gone soft like certain competitors, but instead the brand owner FCA has focused on improving on-road comfort without changing the winning off-road recipe of flexy solid axles and a ladder frame. The modular nature of the Wrangler has also been improved, with even more customisation options available. Engines & drivetrain Three engine options will be available from launch, including a 2.2-litre diesel, a 2.0-litre turbo petrol and the ever popular 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol, now with two-step variable valve lift and a cooled EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system. Unfortunately, South Africa will not see any diesel…

FRY THOSE FLIES Tired of miggies and mozzies ruining your evening under the awning? The UltraTec Portable Zapper Lantern blasts out 180 lumens of LED light and can zap bugs for up to 15 hours on a single charge. It recharges via USB in around three hours and is also water resistant, making it very easy to clean. R310 021 595 3910 | info@safarict.co.za | www.safaricentrecapetown.co.za RACK ‘EM UP The Thule Caravan Superb Standard bike rack attaches to your caravan’s A-frame and can hold two bikes up to a weight of 60kg. It’s completely tiltable and lockable, keeping your bikes secure while still allowing access to your vehicle’s storage space. The rack can even be upgraded to hold a third bike with Thule’s extension set. R6113 011 230 5200 |…

It amazes me how disrespectful some people are. I use the bush for my work, and I can’t believe how many times I come across human waste lying on the surface. Much of this is obviously a result of the ignorant belief that ‘no one will ever come this way’. Yes, we do! Soggy lumps of used toilet paper strewn all over the place are one of the most disgusting sights you can find in the bush or at a wild campsite; I’ve even encountered these in campsites with toilets. They are a mecca for flies, which land on these dirty piles, pick up innumerable bacteria (did you know that a fly can carry up to two million bacteria on their grubby little feet?) and then deposit them on your…

Bakkies are really versatile vehicles. As time goes by, they just seem to get better. In the case of a double cab, this is especially true. The passenger cabins of these trucks are almost car-like in design, and many of them feature an abundance of luxuries that were unheard of even in luxury sedans not so long ago. Add to this the advantage of a lofty perch from which to observe the lesser mortals in their sedans and little runabouts, and one can begin to see why the likes of the Hilux and Ranger regularly top the vehicle sales charts. If you are an outdoors type of family, there are very few arguments against owning a double-cab pickup. With the versatility of a load bin out back, which in many…

By stretching VW’s modular MQB platform by 110mm, it was possible to add an extra two seats to the already spacious Tiguan. The extra space moves VW’s premium mid-size SUV into a neat slot between the regular Tiguan and the larger seven-seat Touareg. Like other VW products, the AllSpace feels premium, and offers high levels of intuitive technology and an extremely comfortable drive. Three spec levels are available, with four engine options which include two diesels and two petrols; we tested the mid-spec 132kW 4Motion Highline with a sweet-shifting 7-speed DSG gearbox and spirited performance. The open road is where the Tiguan is most happy, and with only 201mm of ground-clearance and long overhangs at each end, the AllSpace should be considered the softest of softroaders. A Haldex AWD system…

Mark Drysdale Talk about a downpour! Mark’s 2015 Land Cruiser 76 Series V8 was parked in the right place at the right time for this epic shot in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Neil du Plessis Neil’s 1998 75 Series Cruiser is sitting pretty on some 33-inch Cooper STT Pro tyres and a solid Old Man Emu suspension upgrade. That Desert Air snorkel must’ve come in handy in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park! Erwin Coleske The Toyotas are out in their numbers this month, and Erwin’s is kitted-out to the “T” with TJM suspension, a long-range fuel tank, a roof top tent and plenty of other gadgets. Here he is, standing tall above Swartberg Pass. Jerard Olivier The Namib Desert is no place for softies, and this tough FJ Cruiser…

LOCATION: •  Province: Eastern Cape •  GPS: S 32° 18.572 E 27° 19.822 •  Nearest town: Cathcart – 25 km (110km from East London) •  Directions: On the N6 from East London, turn right into Cathcart and travel to the R351. After 3.5km (having passed the township on your right), take the Ferndale 4x4 dirt track to your right and travel another 21.5km. The campsite gate will be on your right. •  Nearest fuel & provisions: Cathcart TRAIL DETAILS: •  Opening times: All year, but check with Butch about rainfall and snow in winter. •  Terrain: Pretty much every terrain imaginable, except for thick loose sand, on the Ferndale- (4 routes of varying intensity, most of them pretty challenging) and Red-Cone route (2 route options and a play pit). On…