Table of contents for November 2018 in SA4x4

Social media is a powerful tool. We keep getting told this, but when you see it in action you have to sit up and take notice. We like to shoot a few impromptu video clips on our travels and when attending launches, to share the good stuff that happens on these trips. So, on our recent venture to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to drive the Nossob Eco Trail, we shot a short video with Mike Voss, managing director of RSI (Rock Solid Industries) while he talked journalist Andrew Middleton through the kit on his Hilux Revo. In this four-minute clip, he demonstrated a bunch of the innovative (and rather stylish) equipment his company has designed and just put into production – from the latest SmartCanopy EVO range with its glass-covered…

Because many modified 4x4s have extremely high clearance, their standard jacks are rendered useless, and this is where the high-lift jack becomes essential equipment. On the other hand, most standard 4x4s are not equipped with reinforced bumpers or rock sliders with integrated jacking points, which means that you cannot use a high-lift jack on them without causing damage to their bodywork. Assuming that your vehicle does have reinforced jacking points, this is the standard procedure: • Put on a pair of gloves, and place the jack on a base plate if the ground is soft. Chock and block the wheels of the vehicle. • Before jacking, make sure that the mechanism (including the Pitman arm bolts, shear pins and springs, and I-beam holes) is lubricated, and free from rust and…

TOYOTA HILUX Fresh new face There is no argument that the Hilux has consistently been South Africa’s best-selling vehicle by far, a mantle it has carried for many years. In September, Toyota’s cash cow sold 3943 units locally (export figure 3823), some way ahead of the sector rival Ford Ranger’s 3016 units. This was no doubt helped by the immediate sales success of the recent Dakar Hilux special edition release, which offered a preview of the latest update, with its attractive blacked-out Land Cruiser-style hexagonal grille and dark interior, among other upgrades. The Dakar addressed some of the minor aesthetic quibbles some had with the new Revo model released in 2015, principally the overbite look that marked the model change. Now this more attractive front-end style (and revised rear bumper…

Having been involved in several severe 4x4 challenges of late, it came as a welcome relief to tackle the Nossob Eco Trail which runs through the remote Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Here was a chance to enjoy open wilderness without any stress about vehicle damage. Starting at the Twee Rivieren post right on the border of Botswana in the Northern Cape’s most northerly point, the five-day, four-night trail begins at the point where the Aoub and Nossob river intersect – hence ‘Twee Rivieren’. These rivers flow only once every century, but, even so, are lined with massive camelthorns and populated heavily by antelope. Because of the remote location of camp sites, and their lack of any fencing to provide security - animals range from hyena, to leopard, to lion - the…

LOCATION: Province: Northern Cape Nearest town: Upington (260km) Directions: Upington to Twee Rivieren: 260km via R360 Kimberley to Twee Rivieren: 621km via N10, N14 and R360 Cape Town to Twee Rivieren: 1076km via N7, R27, N14 and R360 Johannesburg to Twee Rivieren: 1090 km via N14 and R360 GPS: Twee Rivieren entrance: S26° 28.436 E20° 36.792 Nearest fuel stop: Twee Rivieren has a small pump station for fuel and tyres. TRAIL DETAILS: Terrain: Dunes no higher than 25m, lots of grassy sand and grassy twee-spoor tracks as well as corrugated gravel. Guided/Unguided: Guided Will I get lost? No Recovery Facilities? Available, as you will be driving in convoy (up to 5 vehicles), although the mild nature of the terrain shouldn’t be a problem for any 4x4. Bring a tow rope…

As one of the least densely populated countries on the continent and one with a stunning array of wildlife and natural beauty Botswana is high on the must-see list for any visitor to Africa, and a country I have been looking forward to for a very long time. It has extremely strict conservation laws, and in the more than 17% of the land mass dedicated to National Parks, animals roam freely and are a fixture of everyday life. National Parks are well organised and affordable, and thousands of kilometres of remote tracks lie waiting to be explored. In many regions, it is much more likely that you will meet a pride of lions than another human being. Crossing into Botswana is by far the easiest International Border of my entire…

In 2015, the road to reconciliation started when my dad, my three uncles and I visited the south-east of Angola on motorbikes. Why did we visit this specific area? To put the ghosts of war to rest, 27 years after the Angolan Border War had ended. During this 2015 trip, we met Angolan General Fernando Mateus, who became a close family friend. As a result, we decided to make it our life’s mission to bring more ex-soldiers to Angola to build new friendships and encourage reconciliation. We put a planning group together, consisting of Oom Jaap, Dad and me. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! Now it is May 12, 2018, and the group that is entering Angola consists of 83 people and 26 vehicles. At…

SA4x4’s official tour operator, Ultimate Adventures, has expanded its tour line-up with four luxury expeditions, adding to its industry-leading range of trips. The addition of new tour leader Laurent Changuion has freed Simon and Desiree Steadman up to focus on longer, more decadent adventures. We spoke to Simon to find out more. So, what’s new? In addition to being longer than standard Adventure Tours, the Prestige Tours offer both breakfast and dinner, both prepared by the masterful Chef Esrom. There are also more activities on offer, and a higher standard of luxury with lodge and guesthouse accommodation. “One of the biggest drawcards on the Prestige Tours,” says Simon, “is the fact that they are limited to a maximum of four vehicles, as we have found that some of our clients…

The D250SA DUAL is a fully automatic 5-stage charger that supplies 20A to 12V batteries of 40–300Ah. It obtains its energy from DC sources such as alternators, solar panels or wind power and optimises this power to meet the charging requirements of different battery banks. The SMARTPASS is a fully automatic power management system for controlling and optimising energy produced by alternators or conventional AC/DC chargers, which is then distributed to battery banks. It can handle up to 120A, and 140A when combined with the Dual. The Smartpass is suitable for all types of 12V lead-acid batteries. FEATURES & BENEFITS • Charging a service battery Charges the service battery from the starter battery or another current source that is connected. • Battery guard Disconnects consumers when the service battery voltage is low…

THE RIGHT STUFF I have never given much thought to aftermarket suspension upgrades. In fact, my attitude has always been that if there was a need for a suspension upgrade, the manufacturer would have fitted one. All this changed last month. I was driving my fairly heavily loaded Prado 95 short-wheelbase along a deep sandy track on the way to my farm near the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Prado is a so-called “grey” import from Japan. The previous owner had fitted a JAOS Steel fuel-tank guard. Unfortunately, this had a sharp open end on the forward side which became hooked under a strong mogonono tree root, and was ripped right off from underneath the vehicle Upon investigation, I discovered that when they were fitting the JAOS, they had removed…

Tyres look simple enough from the outside, but the mix of components inside is the result of extensive (and expensive) research and development by the tyre manufacturers. Each tyre type and profile is designed to meet a specific and exacting set of requirements, either set down by the vehicle manufacturers (when the tyre is specified as Original Equipment) or to meet a defined range of demands that make it attractive as an aftermarket fitment. All the components of a tyre work together to meet a specific set of requirements, and consumers need to know what their requirements are, and what the trade-offs might be, when they select a tyre for their 4x4. Even with current levels of technology, one cannot escape the so-called “magic triangle” - which has wet grip,…

Night challenges are not new in the world of 4x4 adventuring, and the Superwinch 4x4 Night Challenge (which took place on Saturday, 1 September 2018, at Rust de Winter) was right up there for calling on the endurance reserves of all the participants - competitors and organisers alike. With over 400km of trails to choose from at Rust de Winter, the participants were in for a night to remember. Because of the degree of difficulty, the number of participants was limited to 12 vehicles. All types of vehicles were present: from stock standard, to those which had been heavily modified but were still road-legal. The event kicked off with a briefing from Peter Claassens and Fritz Gregor, the very capable and experienced organisers from the 4x4 ATV Club, who explained…

I enjoy music a lot, more so than most people I know. I grew up playing my dad’s seven-singles on his retro Hammerstein radiogram. It was an FM unit with a turntable. Despite his best efforts to lock the glass covering of the turntable section, I always managed to open it. When I think back, I realise that my dad (an Afrikaner) had a surprisingly comprehensive collection of 60s Brit Rock; I think my British mom contributed a little. His Valiant had an 8-track tape player - and the likes of Jose Feliciano, Nana Mouskouri, Johnny Mathis, John Denver and The Carpenters still remind me of road trips down to Durban for Christmas. My own taste in music was enhanced in the 80s, when I got my first portable, double-tape-deck,…

The many burnt-out vehicles abandoned in remote parts all over Africa are grim testimony to the fact that fire is a major risk when overlanding. The culprits are a combination of high ambient temperatures and tall grass, plus heat from the engine and (even more often) from the exhaust. How does one deal with this? The fact is that even green, wet grass dries out very quickly when exposed to the high heat and ventilation of the exhaust areas under a vehicle. This happens within minutes, not hours. In certain circumstances, you may have to stop every 10 minutes to clean around the exhaust. The newer vehicles which are fitted with catalytic convertors are a lot worse, because of the extremely high temperatures associated with these units. Their owners should…

Marc Dunster The number plate may say one thing, but it’s very obvious that this 2015 3.2 Ford Ranger loves the snow, too. It’s kitted out with a Rhino Evolution front bumper, Burnco rock sliders, Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pro suspension and Cooper STT Pro tyres, among other toys. Brian Leitch Brian’s two favourite girls in one picture: his girlfriend, Abby, and his 2006 Defender Td5, affectionately named Penny. This snap was taken on the old airstrip that crosses Deception Valley in the Central Kalahari. Jimmy Milne This crisp white 3.0 D4-D 4x4 Fortuner is almost totally stock standard, aside from the Mad Dog wheels and Hankook AT tyres. It just goes to show – you don’t need much more than that to have a good time! Austin Noble How’s…

Do you take your new Land Rover Discovery when you go mountain biking? Or do you worry about muddy feet, wet clothes and moving your bike from home to where the road ends and the single track begins? If that sounds close to the truth, Landy has developed a product that will meet your needs and do away with those worries and more. Land Rover South Africa has launched the first of what they call ‘Gear Packages’, and it focuses on one of the biggest outdoor activities in the world, and definitely in South Africa – cycling. Essentially, Landy wants to make using your new Discovery for your hobbies easier and more practical, and this first ‘Gear Package’ – apparently the first of several – hits the nail on the…

Although most of us who drive 4x4s kit our rigs out with a communication system of some sort, it is still worth knowing how to send a distress signal using more ‘primitive’ means. The most universal way of doing this is to use Morse Code. This code was invented way back in 1836 by Samuel F B Morse with Joseph Henry and Alfred Vail, as a means of transmitting messages over long distances using pulses of electricity. Although Morse code has been superseded by technology, it is still used by some branches of the military, and has its place in a survival situation. Although Morse code originally used electricity to transmit messages, there are many ways in which in which it can be used. We can use light, in the…

Victron Energy provides power solutions to marine, industrial, automotive, mobility, off-grid and solar markets around the world. Founded in 1975 by Reinout Vader, Victron Energy is based in Almere-Haven in The Netherlands. In the last 43 years, Victron Energy has grown from a small, one-office technology company, to an international enterprise with nearly 1000 different products sold in more than 60 countries worldwide. Victron Energy enjoys an unrivalled reputation for technical innovation, reliability and quality, enabling it to become a world leader in the supply of self-supporting electrical power. Our products have been designed to meet the most demanding situations faced by a diversity of vehicles, recreational and commercial alike. Victron’s ability to meet the demand for customised off-grid systems is unprecedented. World-wide service and support Having for over 40…

The folks over at Land Rover were kind enough to give us a brand new Land Rover Explore smartphone to test out for a while, and it definitely lives up to its name: it’s made for the outdoors. It may be heavier than other smartphones on the market, but that’s because it’s as tough as they come. Its Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen won’t crack from drops of up to 1.8m high. It’s true. I tested it. Land Rover also claims the phone can work in temperature extremes ranging between -30C to 65C, temperatures at which most electronics, including cameras, tend to bug out. It’s IP68-rated, meaning it can be submerged in water 1.5m deep for up to 30 minutes, and the manufacturer, Bullitt Group, has also gone the extra…

Age: 55 Occupation: Chief Technician Modifications: Front Runner roof rack with two Jerry can holders, rooftop tent & hi-lift jack; Old Man Emu shocks; air cushion in rear coil springs; built-in ARB compressor; 285 R17 Maxxis MT tyres on Dick Cepek rims; Escape Gear seat covers & customised roll cage covers; ARB bumper; solar panel & battery system; vehicle lifted. Future modifications: Steel rear bumper & spare wheel carrier; Alu-Cab awning Dream vehicle: Upcoming new Jeep Bakkie Most memorable trip. Mc Millan’s Pass to Orange River (off Vioolsdrift/Rosh Pinah road) Planned Trips: Kleinzee to Groenrivier I never leave home without: Water & extra petrol…

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 driveway shots,…