Table of contents for December 2019 in SA4x4

In the mad rush to pack, shovel in the kids, ensure you have all the right food and passports, and vehicle papers, the holiday getaway you have planned is often off to a frantic start. Sometimes it’s more frantic than the working months that came before. But when you are on your way it’s surely time to kick back, enjoy the thrum of the motor, the passing landscape, and, later, crack that cold beer and enjoy the fireside festivities. This is why we travel, after all. So that’s 2019 done, and after a brief break it’s time to get cracking on a fresh and breezy 2020. We all know the drill: new destinations, new challenges, more time to do the things that get you going. All of us at SA4x4…

Anyone who has to load cargo vessels for a living will tell you that packing is a science with a bit of art thrown into the mix. When crossing oceans, you can’t have ships listing to one side or prows pointing to the stars. Same with the guys trying to fit the contents of large houses into the defined space of a furniture removal van. These guys are the true Tetris geniuses, because there’s hell to pay if priceless antiques are left behind, or the van falls over at the first roundabout. Loading up for an overlanding mission is much the same. With a few added complications. Not only do you need to distribute weight according to a few sound principles, you also need to have ready access to regularly…

It’s a sad truth that many South Africans take our neighbouring countries for granted. Those in the know are fully aware of the awe and splendour on offer just beyond our borders. With that in mind, we enlisted the services of Riaan Jooste, a passionate 4x4 tour operator and enthusiast who would be plotting our canter through Swaziland – these days known as eSwatini – and southern Mozambique, one of his personal favourite destinations. Editor Angus Boswell and I had met up with him in Pretoria, and it wasn’t long before we were awaiting the arrival of our full contingent at Alzu Petroport en route to the Oshoek border post. First to arrive, in a brand-new Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 A/T 4x4, were Toyota’s Jeanette and Anthony Clifton, the South African…

Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Lobamba, eSwatini Accommodation: Camping, self-catering cottages, lodges, dormitories & huts. Meals: Hippo Haunt Restaurant Activities: Swimming pool, horse riding, game drives, mountain biking, hiking trails & cultural experience. Tel: +268 2528 3992 Email: reservations@biggameparks.org Web: www.biggameparks.org GPS: 26°28’47.7”S 31°11’44.2”E Hlane National Park Simunye, eSwatini Accommodation: Camping, self-catering huts & cottages. Meals: On-site restaurant Activities: Guided walks, game drives, birding, mountain biking & cultural experience. Tel: +298 2528 3943 Email: reservations@biggameparks.org Web: www.biggameparks.org GPS: 26°16’21.0”S 31°52’49.2”E Bemugi’s Place Santa Maria, Maputo, Mozambique Accommodation: Campsite & self-catering houses. Meals: On-site pub & restaurant Activities: Boat trips, fishing, snorkelling, canoeing, whale watching & wake boarding. Tel: +258 4385 6836 Email: bemugis@gmail.com Web: www.bemugis.com…

My thumbs-up is answered with two honks, so I gently ease off the clutch. The slack goes out of the tow rope and I barely notice the additional dead weight the Jeep is hauling, such is low-range first gear in the Rubicon. I’m towing a pickup loaded with food sacks and locals that has broken down in the worst possible place. We’re on a narrow, slippery clay hill with dense jungle encroaching all around. We have stamped out of the first Congo, but are still crawling through the large no-man’s-land and so we are, legally, in no country on Earth. Slowly but surely I climb, with the Toyota and its many passengers always looming large in my mirrors. I can’t help but smile as we crawl across the dotted line…

How good is the latest iteration of Volvo’s middle-of-the-pack SUV? Well, you don’t get awarded 2018 World Car of the Year unless you’ve created a vehicular masterpiece, and that’s exactly what the XC60 is. It’s beautiful to look at, as all modern Volvos are, with those iconic vertical taillights and a front end bolstered by functional and Teutonic daytime-running LEDs that bisect the headlights. Sure, it’s not as sharply-lined as a BMW X3, or as sporty as a Jaguar F-Pace, but it is distinctive enough to stand out from the crowd. That’s the Volvo way, after all. This unit has been given some optional treatment in the form of the Premium Pack Inscription (R69 250), which includes headlamp cleaners, heated front seats, a 360˚ camera, and a sublime Bowers and…

Barry Keogh Barry’s 1995 SFA Hilux climbs one of the notorious axle twisters at Welgelegen near Stellenbosch. His rig is fitted with a rear locker, 31-inch tyres, Burnco canopy and Burnco bumpers, along with OME suspension and a 180-litre tank for long trips. Graham Lindemann Graham’s stroked 1997 4.6-litre TJ called Tendai is an absolute beast and can be seen here doing a small wheelie from standstill. Apparently we “don’t have enough pages in the magazine to list future or current mods”. No doubt we’ll be seeing more of Graham’s Jeep soon. Wynand van der Merwe This 79 Series Land Cruiser is almost brand new, yet already has too many extras to mention. Key mods include OME suspension, Rhino front bumper, Gobi rear bumper, I-Kamper rooftop tent on an RSI…

MICHAEL VD WESTHUIZEN 1989 Range Rover V8 Age: 55 Occupation: Department of Defence Modifications: Engine replaced with a 4.3-litre Lexus 3UZ V8, mated to a five-speed auto, 50mm suspension lift, 4.5-ton winch, ARB bull bar, 120-litre auxiliary fuel tank, drawer system, front and rear camera, 275/70 R16 Yokohama tyres on aluminium rims, dual battery and CTEK charging system, spare wheel on swing arm, 200W LED spot lights, LED headlights, rock sliders, 50-litre water tank, 12V fridge on slider, snorkel, Terra Firma suspension, and dual rear shocks. Future modifications: Two-way radio Dream car: Have it at present Most memorable trip: Namibia from south to north Planned trips: Namibia to Zambia I never leave home without: My gorgeous wife and a full tank of fuel...…

BY THE NUMBERS If you’ve ever wanted to know how an engineer evaluates a vehicle, take a look at Eddie Fisher’s spreadsheet, which helps compare the vital statistics of many of the key double cabs and SUVs sold in South Africa. Reading through the winners, it’s clear why the Ford Ranger Raptor has the best width to height ratio (i.e. it is the most stable, in theory), and the VW Amarok V6 has the best power to weight ratio. As Eddie states, “The differences are small, but they make a big difference in the real world”. CUT THE BLUR I receive SA4x4 via Zinio and I read it on an iPad. I have ONE request. Is it possible to have the maps, which refer to articles in a better resolution.…

The four circles of rubber connecting our vehicles to the road are one of the most critical components on any drive, on any terrain. Yet they are all too often overlooked, or simply taken for granted. In reality, you are only connected to the road surface by an area of rubber the size of an A4 piece of paper. Take away the tread, and that contact surface is reduced to not much more than an A5 piece of paper. Despite this small patch separating terra firma and disaster, all too often tyres are the one component (or four components) where 4x4 owners try to save a little money. Big mistake! When selecting the correct tyre for your vehicle and your typical loads and speeds, look closely at the sidewall of…

STELLAR SPOTLIGHT Ironman 4x4’s 9” Meteor Driving Lights blast out 9 180 raw lumens of 6 000K white light, tearing through the darkness with a natural daylight effect. They also come with integrated daytime running lights, and are designed to withstand all the rigours of off-road adventure. With an operating voltage of 10-30W, they’re easy to add to your electrical setup. R4 495 011 058 3026 sales2@ironman4x4.co.za www.ironman4x4.co.za NO BLACKOUTS The Ironman 4x4 Cosmo Dual LED Light is rugged and versatile, with a 20W high beam LED spotlight and a low beam floodlight that can be used individually or in combination. Featuring Osram LED technology, the lights are housed in die-cast aluminium with shock-proof polycarbonate lenses and top-notch reflectors for optimal performance. R2 295 011 058 3026 sales2@ironman4x4.co.za www.ironman4x4.co.za SUPERCHARGED…

THE PLUCKY SOFTROADER Kia Sorento AWD 2.2D 8AT 7-SEATER EX The top-of-the-line Sorento really is a hugely underrated vehicle. Its interior is incredibly plush, and packed with all the modern amenities you could ask for. Year by year the Koreans outdo themselves in both innovation and build quality, manufacturing comfortable, practical, and efficient vehicles that rival the best of brands from around the world. This Sorento was the most powerful vehicle on the trip, and that diesel power, coupled with a capable on-demand AWD system and a superb transmission, allowed it to conquer 4x4 tracks with a sure-footedness that surprised us. With more ground clearance, it could have gone even further. If you’re not looking for a true 4x4, but you have a big family and still enjoy the occasional…

Day one on the road in Mozambique taught us one thing: We weren’t going anywhere fast. Between rutted dirt roads, cavernous potholes, and sharing the highway with everything from errant goats to massive trucks, overland travel was an exercise in patience. Our expedition vehicles (leader Carla Geyser’s signature pink Land Rover and a rented Toyota Hilux) were put to the test. But as we got to know this beautiful land and the people striving to protect it, another truth also became very clear: the journey may be long and difficult, but the destination is absolutely worth the challenge. More than tourism This 2 113km, 17-day overland expedition through Mozambique was more than just a chance to see the sights. It was a Journey with Purpose: A trip led by the…

Having been on the roads since 2015, the highly-underrated Navara has been due for a facelift and recently received ‘Stealth’ treatment. Underpinned by the same coil sprung chassis as you’ll find in the Mercedes X-Class and motivated by a potent 2.3-litre twin-turbo oil burner, the Navara is a formidable machine with arguably the most comfortable ride of any of its competitors. The ‘Stealth’ package includes a host of cosmetic updates to the highly-equipped Luxury Edition Navara. Standard silver detailing on the exterior has been replaced with black trim and orange accents, while a sports bar, accented side steps, and blacked-out wheels complete the picture. To match the exterior, the two-tone theme is continued with black leather and orange material inserts, which helps modernise the interior. Living with the vehicle over…

What on earth?!” you may ask, when considering this headline. “Has year-end madness struck early?” Well, not quite. These are in fact the collective nouns for groups of vultures depending on their activity. When in flight, they are a kettle; when resting on the ground or in trees, a committee; and whilst feeding, a wake. Your second question is most likely to be, “Why vultures as a topic at all?”. To cut a long story short, having just returned from a trip to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and witnessing the impact of the drought, it became very clear to me how important vultures are in the functioning of a healthy ecosystem. They are quite literally the sanitation department of the veld. Vultures are properly classified as the only vertebrate obligate scavengers,…

ISUZU D-MAX Great leap forward Eight years in the making, and just revealed in Thailand, the 2020 Isuzu D-Max will be a huge step up from the current one, which although capable, it getting a bit long in the teeth on the technology front. Though not yet confirmed for production in SA (although this is likely), the updated D-Max gets sharper and more aggressive exterior styling, featuring bi-LED projector headlamps and LEDs in the tail lamps as well. A more powerful and refined version of the current 3.0-litre oilburner makes its debut, now pushing out 140kW/450Nm (up from 130kW/380Nm). Also on the cards is a revised version of the 1.9-litre turbodiesel (the RZ4E) available in other markets on the lower models, likely now making a healthy 110kW and 350Nm. A…

The principal behind the 10 Cs, is that you only need to have 10 basic items with you in a survival situation to survive. These can be broken down into five ‘essentials’ and five ‘usefuls’. Let’s discuss the core five essentials first. 1. Cutting tool: A knife can serve numerous purposes from starting a fire to building shelters and preparing game. A knife is your best friend in a survival situation (and your worst enemy if you don’t keep it sharp). Fixed or folding blade, big or small, it doesn’t matter; any knife is better than not having one at all. 2. Combustion: The means to start a fire is a basic survival requirement, and can be your first priority. A fire can be used to cook, boil water, maintain…

The 2019 Mystery Rally event was bigger, longer, and even better than ever. This year’s fifth running of the event attracted 47 entries for a grand tour of the Cape’s most spectacular scenic spots, 4x4 challenges, and epic campsites. As per usual, the guys from the Western Cape 4x4 & Difflock Club pulled off a stunning event spread over four days in September, including about 600km of driving, two campsites, and a variety of challenges. Being a ‘mystery’, no contestant had any idea what to expect or where to go until the first set of GPS co-ordinates were released just before dawn on Friday, 20 September. First stop was the legendary Honingklip 4x4 Farm and Brewery near Bot River. At SA4x4 we’ve been using Honingklip for many years, as a…

If you’re the type of person who just can’t resist stepping on the toes of purists, irritating those from the Land Cruiser community and Defender enthusiasts alike, you’ll love Pugly. Hendri Mouton, an engineer and owner of 4x4 accessory company Zombie Off-Road, picked up this far-from-stock Defender two years ago already fitted with one of the finest V8s ever put in a Lexus – the legendary 4.3-litre 3UZ. Breathing through custom 53mm headers into a 63mm main Zorst exhaust system, the beast makes an ungodly burble at idle and roars like a mighty lion king when hooked up to the dyno. Making a healthy 190kW at the 35-inch wheels, it reliably and easily trounces the stock TD5’s measly 96kW output. To cope with the big Goodyear mud terrain tyres, diff…

The Armadillo XTR 302 off-road caravan is the latest offering from Cape-based company Xtreme Outdoor Group. This rugged two-sleeper not only fits snugly into a standard 6-metre garage, it is also very easy to set up, making it the ideal companion for jaunts to both the local caravan park and more challenging out-of-the-way spots that are off-limits to a standard caravan. The pop-top allows for 2.1 metres of standing room inside the 302 and the double bed offers excellent comfort. There is ample zipped canvas storage inside for clothes and other travel items. The main entrance offers access to the interior and is set just to the right of the slide-out kitchen, which has space for two camping fridges and two washing up basins. A neat design feature is that…