Table of contents for October 2015 in SA4x4

SA4x4|October 2015

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

‘Travellers were tough back in the old days. They really knew how to make a plan, and dealt with all sorts of hardship.’ You hear this sort of thing all the time, but what does it really mean? Well, starting with this issue, we publish a series of stories about an extraordinary journey, or series of journeys, from South Africa northwards through Africa, undertaken by Peter Middleton and his wife. This was back in the bad old Eighties when South Africans were pariahs, and getting from country to country required not only bravery in the face of aggressive officials, but also some... shall we say ‘inventive’ use of travel documents. Travelling virtually alone, sometimes with a handful of other travellers, in a battered old Land Rover, they did this using…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

LAND CRUISER 200 GETS TECHY

The big daddy in the Toyota Land Cruiser line-up, the 200 Series, has been given a few mechanical and aesthetic upgrades to bring it in line with the rest of the luxury SUV world. Nothing too dramatic, mind, as this is Japan’s careful evolutionary strategy. The first thing to notice is the new three-bar grille, which makes a distinct link to the newest Fortuner/Hilux models, along with new character lines along the flanks, and a bonnet with a hollowed-out centre section. Headlights are now LEDs and the tail lamps extend further inwards. It still looks unspeakably large and imposing. As the owners desire. Inside, the designers took a long look at the sea of randomly located buttons, switches and displays, and have now grouped them by function (fancy that) to…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SPORTAGE RETOUCHED

Kia’s third-gen Sportage was one of the more visually appealing softroaders, getting soccer moms and sporty dads alike in a froth of purchasing enthusiasm. And now, the fourth gen is about to make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, appropriately enough: the redesign was led by the Frankfurt arm of Kia’s design team, with input from the crayon-wielders in California and Namyang in Korea. The car’s rear is a tad more chiselled, but the big change is front-side, where the new “Tiger-nose” grille stands supreme, now separated from the headlights for the full animal effect. At a mall near you next year.…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

MLUNGU IN BULUNGULA

‘‘Little snotkop,” I think, as a wild-eyed youngster swings his rusty panga in a sweeping arc in the general direction of the Isuzu, while jeering loudly at us. Apparently I did not just think this, but voiced the thought quite forcefully. Hence ‘the stare’ from Karyn in the passenger seat. In my defence, this is the second incident in the past hour, with another makwedini hurling a make-believe stone at the vehicle a few kilometres back near Mqanduli. I get the context: mlungu in a bakkie that is worth at least half a million bucks, and the locals wandering about in raggedy shoes and jerseys. We’re venturing way off the beaten track to a community-owned little spot by the name of Bulungula, situated midway between Coffee Bay and Dwesa Nature…

10 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE GEAR WE USED

Coleman® 28 QT Xtreme® Cooler Coleman Xtreme® Coolers are designed with premium insulation technology which keeps the contents cold, on ice, for days. These coolers are perfect for long road trips, days spent on the campsite, or even sporting events, as they have a 36-can capacity and can store two-litre bottles upright. As an added feature, the robust lids are strong enough to be used as a seat for anyone lighter than 113kg. R1050 Coleman® Battery Lock Divide +250 Flashlight Coleman® CT Flashlights are tough and light in a compact body. Their durable case is impact-and water resistant. With their impressive beam distances, high lumens and sufficient runtime, the job will be done long before you need fresh batteries. The LEDs last a lifetime, so they never need replacing. 2…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SUPPORT VEHICLES

The Land Rover The vehicle used to support the motorcyclists was a 1997 Land Rover Defender TDI Station Wagon with almost 600 000km on the clock. It has a total fuel capacity of 110 litres: a standard 80-litre tank and 30-litre extended tank, giving a range of some 1100km. A 50-litre water tank is mounted on the roof rack. The Land Rover carried a total of seven people, including the driver. It towed a heavy trailer with its own roof rack, which eventually broke somewhere on the road to Savate. The good people at the HALO Trust in Menongue helped weld the broken bracket for our return journey. In Savate, Patrick replaced an O-ring (on a hose in the hydraulic steering box) which had developed a minor leak. On the…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

COPPERY-TAILED COUCAL

FANCY NAME Centropus cupreicaudus AFRIKAANS Grootvleiloerie Having owned four different models of two different brands of 4x4 double cabs over the past two decades, and having driven a fair number of other makes and models on occasion, I have learned that small differences in design can often lead to significant improvements in many aspects of normal and off-road driving capabilities of the vehicle. For example, the advent of automatic hubs on the front axle – as opposed to the manually-engaged hubs on earlier models – means that you can engage four-wheel-drive on the fly with the flip of a switch or turn of a dial when approaching soft sand, as opposed to having to stop... and lose time, and momentum, and so on. Naturally there are horses for courses, with…

4 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE NEED FOR WATER

• 7 000 litres – The water required to refine one barrel of crude oil. • 2 900 litres – The volume of water required to produce one cotton t-shirt. • 1100 litres – The volume of water required to produce one hamburger. • 25 700 litres – The water required to grow a day’s food for a family of four. • 100 litres – The volume of water used by a five-minute shower with a standard shower head. • 5000 litres – The volume of water required to produce a standard-size meal of steak, potatoes and salad with a couple of glasses of wine. • 145 litres – The litres required to produce one serving of a fizzy soft drink. • 1000 tons – The estimated tons of water required to produce one ton of grain.…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

UP A GUMTREE

‘‘Geez, this trail’s lame. I could drive this track in a Durban-pimped Bantam bakkie.” I wasn’t sure how to respond to this statement, so I changed the subject. “Wow, aren’t these mountain views beautiful?” Truth is, I was a bit embarrassed. I had promised a group of mates a thrilling 4x4 weekend, but the Leopard Trail’s shorter route wasn’t producing the goods. In their defence, the owners of the farm near Bonnievale in the Western Cape offer two 4x4 trails: a shortish one that explores local 4x4 tracks (the one we were on), and the trail proper that heads into the Marloth National Park. The latter is a Grade 3 or 4 route, peppered with slippery cross axles, clay sloots, and a bit of rock. Unfortunately, we had been forced…

6 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SMOOTH AS SILK

In a world of intensely competing styles and brands, Subaru stands out for sticking to its knitting. It produces good four-wheel-drive cars with boxer engines. They are pedigreed but quirky, and the owners develop a passion for them that seems out of kilter with the bare facts. Take a look at the 2015 Outback here. From some angles it is striking, rugged and bold, but, from others, it is almost a pastiche of a Casio sportsman’s watch. The 18-inch two-tone alloys shod with 60 profile tyres are pretty slick, the trapezoidal grille neatly focuses the bonnet and front-end creases, and the sharp shoulder line holds everything together well. This is essentially a car of fine proportions with a sensible balance of glass to metal. It’s wide, long and generous, but…

6 min

SA4x4|October 2015

ZAIRE, WALIKALE ‘TRAIL’

Mud. The old Land Rover sat up to its rims in mud. In the dawn darkness under the rainforest canopy, in thick, red, clay-like mud. It had been like driving on a soap bar left in the bath too long. And we had been plugging through this stuff for three months. After two years of planning to ensure that we avoided the wrong seasons, we had somehow contrived to drive through the rainforest in the rainy season. Twice. This track we had marked “impassable, incomplete” on our Michelin map, and I reflected on how hopeless we were at planning an overland trip. I hate mud. Dressing in mud. Washing with muddy water. Getting into bed covered in mud. Putting on muddy boots over muddy socks. Muddy shirts, even muddy undies.…

13 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SNAP YOUR RIDE AND WIN A PLANETRON BRIGHTER LED LIGHT WORTH R2730

Send us a high-res photograph (1mb or larger) of your 4x4 (or one owned by a family member), and each month for the next four months, one lucky winner will receive a Planetron Brighter 4-LED light bar to the value of R2250, and a set of mounting brackets worth R480. These lights are new to South Africa, and feature a new lens technology called TIR (Total Internal Reflection) which sets them amongst the brightest LED lights in the market. For more information on Planetron’s Brighter LED lights, call 0861 PLANET (752638), or go to www.planetron.co.za. Winners stand a chance of winning the grand prize, a Planetron Brighter 24-LED light bar and mounting brackets worth R10 500. NOTE: Send your images to editor@ sa4x4.co.za. Remember to include your name, address, contact…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

FORUM

THE MYSTERY OF THE NO BULL, BULL BAR Imagine arriving at Kielie-Krankie in the Kgalagadi to find two attractive blondes in an H-Series Land Cruiser with a full-sized chrome bull bar wedged inside their vehicle – stuck fast beneath the rear seat headrest, and covering both a freezer and pink tool bag! This warranted some serious investigation, so I quickly befriended them. They were both elegantly sipping from their safari thermal mugs. “So nice to have a cup of tea at this time,” I said, as the sun was heading down towards the horizon. “Actually, these flasks are great, as they keep the Captain cool,” said one. Evidently the only man accompanying Michelle and Dulcie was Captain Morgan, and as a standard drinking glass was too small, the safari mugs…

14 min

SA4x4|October 2015

BENZ BUILDS AN X6 RIVAL

If you're going to arrive late for a party, make sure you look your best when you get there, and take along some nice gifts, Mercedes-Benz clearly used this approach with their first large SUV-coupé-crossover. BMW's X6 (already into its second generation) has seen surprising success worldwide, so it stands to reason that something similar would appear with a three-pointed star. While it took them a while to actually build it, the result is very appealing indeed. Conceptually, the GLE Coupé follows the same recipe as the Bavarian. There's a swooping roof and rising waistline which houses the mechanical bits from a conventional GLE (the soon-to-be released SUV formerly known as the ML-Class), just as the X6 is really just an X5 in a sporty suit. But because the GLE…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

EVEREST & RANGER: NEW & IMPROVED

Ford is on a roll, so to speak, and is producing some of its most popular and appealing vehicles ever. The Ranger has been topping the sales charts for months on end this year, and with the new model in sight, great deals have been signed. When the new one appears late in the fourth quarter, what will it offer? The rethink has been thorough, addressing a couple of niggles that cropped up in the first T6 version. The main visual change is to the hood, which is more clamshell-like, and to the grille, now a distinctly Ford trapezoidal design that seems to work fine on the top models, including the Wildtrak, but looks a bit out of sorts on the baseline models. No matter, it will become the norm.…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

WILD COAST 4X4 FOR DUMMIES

• You need a permit if you intend to leave the proclaimed or designated roads. • If you are travelling to a cottage that is not on a proclaimed road, you will need a letter from the cottage owner. You present this at the offices to acquire a free temporary permit that is valid for one month. • Unless you are on a proclaimed or designated road, you may not drive anywhere within 1km of the high-water mark along the Wild Coast, from Kei Mouth up to Port Edward, (including quads, motor bikes, etc.) unless you have a permit. • To obtain a permit, contact the regional office of the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism for the area that you intend to visit. Amathole Region -…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

WAR GHOSTS

At first it is the red-tipped stakes I see rising about a metre from the white Angolan sand. A double row of them marks a narrow corridor of death snaking through the bush. Then I see the partially uncovered anti-tank mines that lie between the stakes. Twenty-eight years ago, I was a soldier on the frontline of battle. Now the frontline is still here and the mines fight on like a lost regiment, not knowing that the war is long over. It is the mine-clearing NGO, the HALO Trust, which forms today’s opposing army; one which painstakingly finds and destroys the mines, making the land safe for the people of Angola. I’m in the Tumpo triangle near the Angolan town of Cuito Cuanavale in Kuando Kubango Province, a place the…

15 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE WORK OF THE HALO TRUST

The HALO Trust is the largest humanitarian demining organisation in the world. Its aim is to make the land in former war zones safe for people to live, farm and travel through. It operates in 16 countries and has been in existence since 1988. They train and employ local people (who know the terrain) to locate and destroy the mines, which is done both manually and using various kinds of demining machinery. HALO has been working in Angola since 1994, and has lifted over 68 000 landmines in around 570 locations around the country. They also dispose of weapons and ammunition. Between 2005 and 2015, the Cuito Cuanavale operation cleared 25 minefields, and there are another 40 still to be tackled. In Kuando Kubango Province, the HALO Trust has destroyed…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

LIFE SUPPORT

What do we need constantly and can never do without? It is not one’s wife, although there are distinct similarities. Both are very fluid, but can also be very rigid, cold and hard. Both can be unpredictable and can become unstoppable when they want their own way. Both can be soothing and capable of tranquillity beyond imagination. Both can offer recreation opportunities like nothing else can. Both can do wonders in cleaning dirty clothes, 4x4s and floors… Right, I know I am treading on thin ice, so would rather tell you that I am talking about water: something that most of us take for granted until we don’t have it. Then we realise how precious it really is – just like our wives! Anyone who has undertaken an overland trip…

4 min

SA4x4|October 2015

DUST TO DUST

“These bloody motoring journalists are too spoilt,” exclaimed a bigwig in Ford headquarters. “They wouldn’t know a hard day’s work if it slapped them in the chops,” someone else shouted… to a hum of agreement. So, following very little deliberation and with a few cackling laughs, Ford decided that, instead of giving us a front-row seat for the action on Ranger Odyssey, they would be throwing us into the deep end without the ability to swim. Of course, looking back, we can see that we got ourselves into this whirlwind mess in the first place. If I remember correctly, it was another journalist who – while smoking a cigarette outside and attending to some business on his phone – was abruptly called in to join the other contestants. “We’re not…

8 min

SA4x4|October 2015

DUNE SLEEPER

Addictions are horrible things. They eat away at the sanctity of a sane man’s mind and tear families apart. Until, eventually, after years of abuse, the inevitable happens – an extension to the garage. Like the most potent of drugs, vehicle-fetishes grip one’s soul and become a controlling factor in a family’s existence. Take Don Nieuwoudt’s household, for example. His poor wife, Annelene, is now addicted, and even Don’s young son has grown up to become a ‘Cruiser fan’. The basis of this generation-crossing addiction started in the early Nineties when Don bought his first Cruiser. After the initial wave of excitement had passed and a tolerance had quickly developed, only a big-block Chev engine in the nose could cure Don’s craving for power. And you can’t imagine how bad…

4 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE RIGHT OIL

South Africans love their cars, and spend a lot on making them look good, but often neglect one of the most critical service items: regular oil changes. What’s more, just as different engines require different lubricants, different geographies do, too. Engen, a brand many know primarily as a fuel supplier, has invested heavily in researching and developing lubricants that cope well with South Africa’s harsh motoring conditions. TECH LEADERSHIP To meet South African motorists’ varied requirements, Engen designs lubricants to the highest international OEM requirements and industry specifications. The primary goals are to extend service life and fuel efficiency throughout the lifespan of an engine, which equates to cost-effectiveness. Innovation is at the core of the product design philosophy, says Hill. “We have an excellent record of breakthroughs in lubricant…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SOLAR POWER

Long gone are the days when camping in the wilderness implied a large dose of “roughing it”. Back then, you would cook with fire, refrigerate with gas, read by dim, battery-powered fluorescent lights, and forget about a TV or sound system. That was until our quest for home comforts ushered in the era of the inverter, which allows you to watch rugby on your portable DSTV receiver, or to power a microwave oven. Until the battery runs down, at least. Inverters, with all the luxuries they bring, are particularly ravenous and capable of draining their host batteries, even your extra-large extra battery, in a few hours. Give your inverter free reign, and you’ll end up in darkness halfway through the night, leaving you just as dependent upon an electrical connection…

10 min

SA4x4|October 2015

JUNIOR EXPLORERS’ CLUB

THIS MONTH’S WINNER JAMES CRANE AGE: 7 James tells us he drew this picture soon after returning from a two-week trip all over South Africa, during which he saw 49 different mammals. PRIZES TO BE W0N! SEND US YOUR ENTRIES: Post: Send to Junior Explorers’ Club, PO Box 31062, Tokai, 7966 Email: Scan an original drawing, or send us digital artwork via email to angus@sa4x4.co.za. Please make sure you include a photo of yourself together with your name, age and your mom’s or dad’s contact details (including their email address). Entries featured on this page will win a mini LA Sport Jeep or another prize of equivalent value. Entries are restricted to children between the ages of three and 12. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

COLUMN THE TALKING STICK

KNOW YOUR RUBBER Someone recently asked me, “What’s the best tyre on the market?” I could sense that it was a rhetorical question, so I kept my opinion to myself and said, “You tell me.” He replied, “The one on your 4x4.” He then went on to explain that most vehicle owners will promote the brand they can afford, no matter how inferior the product. It’s an interesting theory, and it got me questioning the relationship between cheap tyres, and second-grade condoms. Here’s why… In all my years at SA4x4, I never once heard someone complain that his or her holiday was ruined because of a lack of off-road traction. I did, however, hear countless stories of wrecked holidays due to inadequate tyre durability, punctures, and the dreaded sidewall blowout.…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

DUSTER DUSTED OFF

We like the Duster. It’s an unpretentious, fun little thing, a sort of hybrid of all sorts from the parts bin, and priced accordingly. Renault is now taking it more seriously: it’s been a smash hit across various markets, and sold 8000 units in sunny SA since its late debut here two years back. Production has been moved to Pitesti in Romania (from Chennai in India), and this is a good thing – they supply the fussy UK market. From September, the newest incarnation gets a few smarts. The engine and model line-up remain unchanged, but they now get cruise control and rear parking sensors across the board. External tweaks include a new, less chromed radiator grille, plus side mirrors, roof bars and new alloy wheels. Inside, the seat trim…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

GEAR

TAKE A BEATING Ironman underbody protection plates are CAD designed to be the best fit for most popular 4x4s. Available in powder-coated 2.5mm, or 3mm pressed or folded steel, the bash plates protect the front differential, transfer case and fuel tank. Under-body airflow is not affected; and, for the sake of convenience, access to oil drain plugs is not compromised. No drilling or welding is required for installation. R5 995 (R6 995 for Hilux 2005-present) Contact 011 634 7770 or visit www.ironman4x4.co.za DON’T SULK – SELK Recently redesigned to allow a freer range of movement, the Selk’bag offers campers a perfect mix of sleeping-bag warmth and pyjama comfort. A quality polyester shell and thick nylon ‘booties’ prevent tearing, while Selk’bag’s quick-release hand closure system will keep your paws warm. There…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO AROUND BULUNGULA

1. HIKING/RUNNING: Head north along the beach, following cow paths when the beach gets too rocky, and make your way across one or two small estuaries. If you explore inland along these rivers, you might just find the secret waterfall. 2. FISHING: Excellent rock-angling spots are within walking distance of the lodge. Those in the know will head to the Bulls Inn at Mpame, where Cameron, a qualified skipper, is available for charter at R120pp/hour. Tackle and bait supplied. Don’t forget your fishing permit! 3. BIRDING: Two sections of beautiful sand forest allow you to tick the beautiful African Green Pigeon off your list, and you’re sure to spot Pied- as well as Mangrove Kingfishers in the river estuary. 4. CANOEING:A hike across the hills to the south of Bulungula…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE BIKES

According to expedition leader Johan Booysen, the Kawasaki KLR 650 was the motorbike of choice on this expedition because these are basic old-school single-cylinder thumpers, largely unchanged since 1986, with a simple electrical system and a good reputation. The original plan was to go to Mavinga and then back to Rundu, which would have involved water crossings, hence the need for a basic carburettor with no electronic switches or devices. These would have made roadside fixes difficult in the event of a breakdown. The KLR is the most affordable bike in the dual-purpose fold, although the Suzuki V Strom was also considered, but rejected as it has limited water-crossing ability. Four KLRs were used: Johan and Steve on 2014 models, Cobus riding a 2012 and Tammy on a 2002. Tank…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

Sunny skies & Chevrolet

Motorised overland trips through southern Africa have been many and varied. In the 1920s, many of the longer trips by car were for the purpose of setting or breaking records; not many were motivated purely by the spirit of adventure. After all, the roads were hardly conducive to comfortable travel - most were little more than dirt tracks connecting numerous farm gates. The tarring of roads, even in towns, was almost non-existent, and the cars were not much better: solid axles, leaf springs, rudimentary shock absorbers, and no four-wheel drive. It was in these conditions that an overland trip was planned and carried out by my grandmother, Maggy Oppermann. She certainly was adventurous by nature. In 1908, as a 19-year-old, she had travelled alone to Germany by ship from South…

5 min

SA4x4|October 2015

AFRICA’S WATER BY NUMBERS

• 9% - Africa’s share of global water resources. • 4% - The percentage of renewable water resources that Africa uses. • 1200 – Estimated number of dams in Africa. Hundreds more are under construction or being planned. • 68 800 km2 – The surface area of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake and the largest in Africa. The Kruger National Park is 20 000km². Lake Malawi hosts the richest freshwater fish fauna in the world, accommodating about 14% of the world’s freshwater fish species - 99% of which are endemic to this lake. • 70% - The percentage of Africa’s urban population who stay in slum areas. It is estimated that more than 1.6 billion Africans will be staying in informal urban settlements by 2020. • 58% - The percentage of Africa’s population that…

1 min

SA4x4|October 2015

ROUTE AND ITINERARY

DAY 1: Windhoek – Spitzkoppe The contestants arrived in Windhoek and then travelled 200km of tarred road, after which they did not see tar for another 12 days. DAY 2: Spitzkoppe – Palmwag The contestants had their first experience of desert winter, with sheet ice on tents. Driving skills began to be evaluated when contestants took over driving duties from the instructors. Punctures challenged contestants to use the skills learned at boot camp. DAY 3: Palmwag – Khuwarib The 17 Ford Rangers entered the Otjiheka 4x4 trail. Several vehicles became stuck, and puncture repairs in the powdered dust caused some friction between contestants. DAY 4: Khuwarib – Puros Community Camp Contestants took a 10km early-morning-walk in a dust storm, then tested their skills to the limit during various exercises -…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

THE MAKING OF BLING-BLING

I have been a Land Rover fan all my life. I have had more than 20, which range from Series 1s to my latest: a 90 that I built because I wanted something different. The trigger for me to embark on this venture was when I noticed that the bulkhead of the Defender had changed, that the engine was now computer-controlled, and that a new instrument cluster had been added. My budget did not allow me to buy a new one, so I saw the changes as a challenge. To make my own version of a 90 Defender, I started buying all the bits I needed from e-bay in the UK (principally the engine, gearbox, bulkhead and fenders), and had them delivered to friends’ homes, where I’d collect them. That…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

Eighties Overland

In the next months, we will serialise stories of an independent trans-Africa journey, travelling north, that is remarkable because it was undertaken in 1986/87 at the height of apartheid. SA was invading and attacking the frontline states during this period, and South Africans considered any journey beyond Malawi impossible – even suicidal. These stories reveal the lengths taken by Peter and Mandi Middleton – not always strictly legal – to break through these antagonistic borders. It is an intensely personal quest with tales drawn from their surviving daily diaries, here exposed for the first time publically. They travelled alone in a time that was without Internet, satellite navigation, digital cameras, cell/sat phones or computers. Their only contact home was via post collected at unreliable ‘poste restante’ addresses in major towns,…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

READERS’ RIDES

WINNER JEREMY BEHRENS Seems that you don’t need to go all the way to the Antarctic for thick snow when the Matroosberg is on your doorstep. Or that’s the view of Jeremy Behrens, who took his trusty, bog-standard 2008 Defender TD5 to the Upper Ski Hut during winter 2014 – with a little help from a set of Cooper ST3s. EBEN STRASHEIM If there’s an iconic shot, it has to be crossing 4th Bridge in Moremi during the wet season. Eben’s vehicle? A 2006 Toyota Hilux 4.0 V6 4x4 Double Cab. DES HATTINGH Land Cruiser bakkies have plenty of space out back, and Des Hattingh has managed to fill his 2011 example with a DIY drawer system, DIY rooftop tent carrier, 50-litre water tank, dual-battery system and a shed-load of…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

FINDING SIGNAL

A common problem experienced when using a Satellite Navigation device is that you cannot get signal inside a vehicle. There could be several causes, but there are also several solutions. Many problems experienced when using a Satellite Navigation device are caused by finger trouble. The solution is to sit back, think rationally, and use a bit of common-sense. Remember that you get out only what you put in: the technology will do only what you ask it to do. If you are not getting satellite signal in the vehicle, then the first step is to move the device around inside it. Often a problem occurs when the device is positioned in the middle of the windscreen above the car radio, so try a position on the far left or right…

3 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SEEN & HEARD

DEFENDER’S LAST STAND Heritage Edition The Heritage Edition evokes the history of the Defender as a modern interpretation of the famous HUE 166 Land Rover – the first pre-production Series I vehicle, nicknamed ‘Huey’, which dates back to 1947. Adventure Edition The Defender has helped to establish Land Rover’s credentials as the expedition vehicle of choice - and the Adventure Edition is designed for customers who want to explore. SPIRIT OF AFRICA WINNERS Alwyn Jordaan and Melanie Barnard are the 2015 Spirit of Africa Trophy champions. The pair, who finished in the third position last year, successfully mastered five days of demanding 4x4 driving challenges at the Kwalata Game Reserve in Botswana. Alwyn and Melanie took home R50 000 in prize money for their achievement. JIMNY SOUND CHECK Suzuki has…

2 min

SA4x4|October 2015

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO & WIN A FREDLIN HOIST!

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…

1 min