Table of contents for October 2018 in SA4x4

Our Rad Rig this month is a familiar one: a Jeep Cherokee XJ that we have seen being transformed over the course of a year of intense refitting. It’s the brainchild of three 4x4 enthusiasts, the “Bros”, whose story has featured regularly in the pages of this magazine. Their plan was simple: buy an old banger, and turn it into something special through a combination of sponsorship and crowdfunding. If you bought a Broject T-shirt or soft shackle online, or at any of the various shows and events at which the Jeep was shown, you were in with a chance to win the completed project. Brilliant, we thought. And ambitious. But the Bros are persuasive, and just over a year later, they’ve got a truly stunning Rock Crawler to give…

Having four wheel drive is not a guarantee that you will get out of any sticky, low-grip situation. If traction is relatively constant, all four wheels will provide drive, because the transfer box is sending power to both the front and rear axle-housings via two propshafts. But, if a front and a rear wheel on alternate sides lose grip (say when one is going through a deep rut), the rule of open differentials means that you will stop moving. Open differentials are designed to allow different wheel speeds on the same axle, enabling the vehicle to go around bends and turn corners. This is where differential locks and modern traction control systems enter the picture. They are there to supply power to the wheels that do have traction, but they…

Recently I looked at several alternative uses for tampons, and this month I felt it only right to let those little packets of rubber shine. Yes, the humble condom. Something which causes a lot of young men to go bright red when they go to pay and there’s a young lady at the checkout. But this piece of latex has very many uses in a survival situation. There are some that you may be aware of, but at least one may surprise you. For almost all of the uses I am about to describe, unlubricated condoms work better. First aid The primary function of the condom is to prevent pregnancy; it also acts as a barrier against the spread of sexually-transmitted and blood-borne diseases. In this respect, if you need…

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 from 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. Pictures…

Price R1 353 500 Engine (1VK 56 K1) Cylinders/Capacity V8/5552cc Bore/Stroke 98.0/92.0 Compression ratio 10.8:1 Aspiration Natural Fuel Petrol Power 298kW @ 5800rpm Torque 560Nm @ 4000rpm TRANSMISSION Shift type Automatic 1st 4.8867 2nd 3.1697 3rd 2.0271 4th 1.4118 5th 1.000 6th 0.8642 7th 0.7745 Reverse 3.357 Transfer ratio (low) 2.679 CONTROLS Steering type Power assisted rack & pinion 4WD type Part-time with rear diff-lock CHASSIS/SUSPENSION Chassis type Ladder frame Suspension (F) Double wishbone, coil Suspension (R) Multi-link, coil Hydraulic body Motion control (HBMC) front and rear Turning circle 12.5m MEASUREMENTS Length 5165mm Width 1995mm Height 1940mm Wheelbase 3075mm Front/rear track…

Extreme temperatures are something many overlanders have to get to grips with – think of November to February in the areas just north of us. In the ‘special’ areas, temperatures above 40°C are rather common. If you do not take steps to manage the heat, it can be life-threatening for you and your vehicle. For yourself, you need to think about dehydration, sunstroke, sunburn, and plain overheating, especially when exerting yourself. On the vehicle side, there is always help to be had from the air-conditioner. However, you may not always have enough fuel to keep the vehicle running, and you cannot stay in the vehicle all the time. In any case, in these temperatures, most aircon systems will be stretched beyond their capacity. The aircon also puts an increased load…

“Okay, so which way from here, my lovely,” I asked my fiancé-cum-co-pilot. In truth, without a map between us and little in the way of intelligible signboards en route, this was not a question Annette could’ve been expected to answer. I was merely trying to get a rise out of her as a she was still a little put out from not being able to shower earlier that morning — the donkey boiler water which I’d stoked for ages, and nearly asphyxiated both of us in he process, was deemed not hot enough. We were on the first of the two trails at “Gonjah Boerdery”, a mixed farming and hospitality enterprise in the beautiful Gamtoos River Valley, just east of the Baviaanskloof. When researching this venue, I had not come…

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…

SNOW DRIVING – THE REAL DEAL Having had much experience of driving in snow of various sorts, reader Joe Palmer was bemused by the range of comment received online regarding the best way to tackle snow conditions. He says these comments varied “...from good sense, to plain dangerous driving.” This prompted him to weigh in with the full article below… “In recent years, we no longer experience spring here in South Africa, as we seem to go right into summer conditions in September. However, I read the comments and advice on snow-driving in the September 2018 edition of SA 4x4 with chills running down my spine. The comments varied from good sense, to plain dangerous driving. Even with winter behind us, I still decided to speak out rather than to…

Tyres are designed, manufactured and tested to meet strict governmental requirements, manufacturer requirements, vehicle performance characteristics and consumer expectations. That is a lot of expectation. Modern tyre technology blends a unique mix of chemistry, physics and engineering to give consumers a high level of tyre performance in the areas of safety, reliability, efficiency, long wear and comfort. Tyre use however is to some degree out of the hands of the manufacturer, so if consumers want their tyre service life to match the cost, it’s best to maintain a proper schedule of tyre care, which means regular balancing and rotation. Construction These days, nearly all passenger and light truck tyres are radial ply construction; the orientation of the body cords provides sidewall flexibility. Cords form the ply and the bead, providing…

SUZUKI JIMNY Back to basics Since its introduction in 1998, the third-generation Jimny has seen no major updates until now. All new, and shown to the public at the SA Festival of Motoring (for dealer release in November), the Jimny sticks to a proven formula of solid axles and ladder frame, but bucks the cutesy and rounded styling trends of the era with a bold, boxy body. A flat nose and low mounted rear lights have allowed the Jimny to be marginally shorter than its predecessor, yet supply occupants with more front and rear legroom and flat folding rear seats for easy cargo loading. Suzuki’s all-new 1.5-litre engine replaces the anaemic 66kW 1.3, and is put to task pushing 75kW at 6000rpm and 130Nm at 4000rpm through the same five-speed…

A visit to the Okavango Delta has been one of my wish-list items for the longest time. After years of trying unsuccessfully to find a friend or family to accompany me, I decided to go on my own. I did my research, and prepared a precise itinerary with pre-booked campsites and set dates. Then I came across Ultimate Adventures, which has an Okavango Delta trip on its annual calendar. It was an easy decision to go with Simon and Desiree Steadman – and one of the best I’ve made! I left Johannesburg one day earlier, and overnighted at The Big Fig Tree Inn, which is about three kilometres from the Botswana border. This gave me a more relaxed start for my trip. Big Fig Tree Inn is shady, has grassed…

In a fitting send-off on Mandela Day, Kingsley Holgate, his son Ross and their crew kicked off the newest expedition – Cape to Kathmandu – with a visit to an elderly team in Nyanga township to help make bead bracelets. They were making ‘Relate Trust’ bracelets which are sold all over the world, and which raise funds for over 100 causes while providing jobs for the elderly in rural areas. Many of the elderly men and women who create the bracelets are poor-sighted, so the visit tied in neatly with the Holgate Foundation’s Right to Sight initiative - which supplies new specs and changes lives. The team also visited a nearby school to distribute materials for their new cause – Early Child Development (ECD). Possibly because Kingsley has already travelled…

We are fed a regular diet of diesel-engined SUVs, and they have clear virtues: torque and fuel economy. But what a pleasure it is to forget about saving the planet and jump into an old-school petrol-powered V8 - to enjoy the sound of an engine that likes to rev, and the thrust that comes with 5.6 litres of displacement. Yup, the Nissan Patrol is available in just one flavour: Arab oil-baron spec. So, if you like your SUV big and bad and thirsty, this is it. There is no mistaking the sixth generation of the Patrol, known as the Y62, now here in SA some years after its international release. Truth be told, it is frikking huge. If the previous model, the Y61, looked and felt pretty massive, this one…

By the time you read this magazine, it will be almost exactly a year ago that the ‘Broject’ was introduced to the public at the 2017 Mystery Rally. This was an ambitious plan in which three ‘bros’ – namely Graham Lindemann, Michael Simpson and Andrew Rogers – came up with an almost absurd idea over far too much of Michael’s home brew. The plan was to build the most epic 4x4 in South Africa, then give it away. As I drive along a muddy trail beside Graham, discussing the Broject, I can hear the tone in his voice deepen as he realises that, in just a few weeks, it will be the end. It’s time for someone to win the Broject. Entrants entered the lucky draw for the Jeep by…

Jade Cloete What a gorgeous setting – and Jade’s Amarok just makes it even better to look at! The BiTDI DC 4Motion brute is seen here posing along the Bushman’s Cave 4x4 Trail near Clanwilliam. Paulo Fernandes Can you spot the Disco? According to Paulo, the dust in the Hoanib River Valley in Namibia can be extremely fine and thick, but it seems it was still no match for the TDV6 Landy. Roy Walsh Judging from all the pics he’s sent us recently, Roy is having a ball of a time in his compact, intercooled Pajero. He snapped this shot on his way through Van Zylsrus, one of his stops on a journey through the Kgalagadi. Harry Wagener Harry has completed a whopping 85 off-road and 4x4 trips, many of…

LOCATION: • PROVINCE: Eastern Cape • GPS: Latitude: -33.758889 Longitude: 24.814722 • NEAREST TOWN: Patensie – 9km • DIRECTIONS: Head north-west out of town and drive 9km until coming across a small “Gonjah Boerdery” sign where you will turn right into the farm. Follow the markers to the chalet or campsite; or the 4x4 route if on a day drive. If lost, retrace your steps and enquire at the Tolbos Restaurant just on the other side of Patensie. • NEAREST FUEL & PROVISIONS: Patensie TRAIL DETAILS: • OPENING TIMES: All year, but certain parts of the trail may become pretty slippery in the wet so keep an eye out for heavy rains before going. • TERRAIN: A combination of reasonably graded mountain roads and twee-spoor tracks over all sorts of…

“Experiments have shown that it often takes only a single encounter with a toxic prey species for a predator to learn to avoid it” In last month’s article, we looked at the ingenious adaptations that enable the Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) to survive, and thrive, in its arid savanna home. This month I would like to explore a different type of survival stratagem, namely colour, which is employed by a wide variety of animals you are likely to see in the bush. And we are not talking only about ‘fifty shades of grey’, but also vibrant, bright, ‘outthere’ colours! Many predators search for their prey visually. As a result, numerous prey species have evolved special body colouration to reduce their chances of being eaten. For some, this entails making use of…

Raptor is a name synonymous with off-road racing, Baja 1000 big-bore petrol engines, and adrenaline-fuelled driving. And now it’s been filtered down to the Ranger. But, instead of the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol in America’s latest F-150-based version, we get a sprightly 2.0-litre, twin-turbo, four-cylinder diesel. Does this mean that Ford has softened the brand, or does the mini-Raptor still cut it for the adrenaline junkie? We went to the Aussie Outback for a flat-out drive to find out. Under the bonnet Although the engine is smaller than the 147kW five-cylinder 3.2-litre Duratorq that has made a name for Ford’s crop of T6 Ranger bakkies, the Raptor’s little 2.0-litre oil-burner produces more power - with 157kW on tap at 3750rpm, and 500Nm from as low as 1750rpm. The smaller mill…

PULL-OUT PATIO The Thule Omnistor 1200 fits most caravan models with extrusions, simply sliding into your existing rail. It has a sleek and contemporary design that’s durable and weatherproof. It’s also available in various lengths and colours. CONTACT FOR PRICING 011 230 5200 thuledirect@thrsa.co.za www.thule.com TOP SHELF Maximise your tent’s storage space with this 3-Shelf Deluxe Cupboard from Tentco. The foldable unit measures 60x49x90cm and has hard shelves and a solid top, allowing it to double as a nightstand. The front zip keeps your possessions safe from goggas, and it even comes with a carry bag. R605 011 397 6451/2info@tentco.co.za www.tentco.co.za SUPERIOR INTERIOR Booxe has expanded its range of high-quality rubber Floor Mats to fit the Toyota Prado, Hilux, FJ Cruiser, RAV4, and Ford Everest and Ranger, adding to the…

The Western Cape chapter of the Four Wheel Drive Club of SA had last visited the Hex River 4x4 trail about two years ago, and in July this year, we felt that it was time to visit the trail again. Although this trail had officially closed in 2008, when I contacted the farm owner, he agreed to allow us another visit. The Hex River 4x4 trail is situated on the R318 about 35km from the closest town, De Doorns. It is in the Quado Mountain Range, and is undoubtedly one of the Western Cape’s most dramatic mountain trails. It is called the Rubicon of SA, because of the difficulty of the three trails that it offers - it is 75km in total and takes two days to complete. The views…

Of all the popular upgrades that we do to our 4WD vehicles, the management of the 12 Volt power system is arguably toughest get right. power system of a vehicle consists of a battery, a charging system and a network of electronic devices that manage this power to ensure that the vehicle starts, that the now depleted battery is charged back up to full capacity as quickly as possible and that all of the standard electronic devices of the vehicle are properly and sufficiently powered. This is no small feat, but this system works. As overlanding enthusiasts, we have additional requirements for power that the standard vehicle is not sufficiently geared for. This is especially true when we venture away from places that offer 220V plug-in power. We want to…

Age: 62 Occupation: Farmer Modifications: Long-range tank, six-pack jerry can holder & jerry cans, Big Country roof rack, ladder, bull bar, rock sliders and swinging spare-wheel holder, drawer system, Tabor 9K – winch and Little Blackbox system, Continental Cross Contact tyres, spot lights. Future modifications: LED spotlights, especially for Botswana during night driving. Dream vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 4.5 V8 S/W. Most memorable trip. 2013 - Kgalagadi – Gharagap Camp. Two young lions walked around our chalet the morning when I planned to take coffee to the children in the next chalet. 2018 - Ruacana, Epupa Falls, Van Zyl’s Pass, Marienfluss. Other trips: 2014 - Kgalagadi. 2015 - Sani Pass and Katse Dam. 2016 Tankwa Karoo. 2017 - Kruger National Park. Planned Trips: Zimbabwe, Zambia and Victoria Falls. Caprivi and…