Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i SA4x4

BENZ SHOWS PREMIUM CONCEPTS Would you buy a bakkie with a three-pointed star on the grille? Even if it cost a hefty premium? Mercedes-Benz is betting that their investment in Euros in the “high nine figures” will lure new buyers into the mid-size-pickup market segment; those looking for a double cab that is rugged and stylish, capable off-road as well as safe at speed on tarmac. The world is ready for a “premium” bakkie, reckons Merc, and their formula is a clever one. The ladder-frame chassis is shared with the Renault-Nissan alliance and is the basis of the new Navara and Alaskan respectively. But it’s been tweaked and reskinned, judging by the X-Class Concept revealed in Stockholm in October, and presented in two forms – those of “stylish explorer” (a…

TERAFLEX SHORT- AND LONG-ARM SUSPENSION KITS Range from 2.5-inch Budget Boost kits to 6-inch Long Arm, low Centre of Gravity kits. TERAFLEX SPEED BUMP HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUMPSTOPS Tuned for high-speed performance on all JK Wranglers. Patent technology that absorbs large impact energy progressively during compression to prevent bent axle tubes. FORGED S/T DUAL RATE SWAYBAR SYSTEMS FLEX ARM KITS FOR JK (EIGHT ARMS EACH) Monster Flex arms R25 940 Sport Flex arms R20 700 Alpine Flex arms R22 590 JRI SHOCKS Technology that easily enables your Jeep to go from driveway to trail. Offers six settings to customise your driving preferences. R27 000 FOX TERAFLEX TUNED PERFORMANCE SHOCKS Teraflex partnered with FOX to create a lightweight aluminium body, long travel performance shock with Teraflex-specific valving to handle the extreme demands…

Back in 2012, while on a quest to drive the eight passes of the Eastern Cape, SA4x4 was warned off trying to tackle the Baster Voetpad which links the Barkly Pass to Ugie. Locals felt that the BMW X6 we were driving at the time would not make the arduous, 35km-long mountainous route. As we don’t like to leave loose ends, it has been our goal to return and complete what was started; and General Motors recently stepped up to the plate and offered the spanking new Chevrolet Trailblazer Z71 4x4 AT for the trip. Sporting a new face, upgraded interior and some aggressive black decals and rims, the bright red Trailblazer certainly looked the part of a vehicle that could easily conquer the notorious pass. While researching the route,…

When all the hoopla has died down and people have recovered from the shock of Jaguar building an SUV, one can focus on just how it is positioned, and how capable it might be in its intended role. Straight off, let’s say that this is not a hardcore 4x4; it’s a softroader with extra traction potential and more space out back. I had immensely enjoyed the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, which is in much the same mould as the F-Pace, but with the additional benefits of almost-sensible tyres and air suspension to raise clearance. The Jag has neither. We tested the R-Sport version with its deliciously fruity 3.0-litre supercharged V6 making 250kW and 450Nm. (The top R version bumps out 280kW.) To Grippy and chuckable on tar, the F-Pace certainly is.…

For our selection, we have opted for the sweet spot that suits most buyers: compact winches, suitable for most double cab owners, rated at or close to the 10 000lb (approximately 4500kg) mark. What we also found, is that the price differences between top-end winches and entry-level models are huge, with a R29 000 price gap between the OffGrid 9500lb and the Warn Platinum Zeon 10 000lb. These differences in price can be attributed to the place of manufacture (China vs USA), exchange rates and the number of middle-men between manufacturer and customer. Of course, there is a quality difference, and when you look carefully you will find the more expensive winches have better fit and finish, a longer warranty, and superior internals. Things like the duty cycle and corrosion…

Typical camping power draws 50-litre fridge: (Runs at 45 Watts per hour, 32% efficiency running at 30⁰C ambient) 45 Watts x R hours, divided by voltage 12V = 30 Amps per day (30 Ah) Lights: 2 x 13 Watts fluorescent about 3 hours a day 26 W x 3 ÷ 12V = 6.5 Amps per day (6.5 Ah) Television via an inverter: 35 Watts x 90% efficiency for inverter, say 2.5 hours a day 35 W x loss = 39 W x 2.5 ÷ 12V = 8 Amps per day (8 Ah) Radio/Player: 10 Watts x 3 hours ÷ 1 2V = 2.5 Amps per day (2.5 Ah) Total daily load 47 Amps consumed per day = 47 Ah Divide 70% of the battery rating by the daily load. A…

OSCAR WILLEMSEN 2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER Age: 46 Occupation: Adventurer Modifications: 150 litre long-range tank, body lift, removed back seats, put on a snorkel, off-road front bumper with winch, front camera. Future modifications: Two-drawer system with collapsible gas stove. Roof top tent that can be set on a stand and taken off vehicle. 90 litre fridge/freezer. Dual battery system. Solar panels. Electrical socket for campsites with electricity. Dream vehicle: Fully kitted Toyota Land Cruiser. Most memorable trip: Mozambique, testing out the FJ. Planned trips: Western Cape, Kruger Park, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia. I never leave home without my: Tupperware...…

RESCUE DRONE My husband is an avid photographer and a fanatic when it comes to aerial photography, thus his DJI Phantom 4 drone travels with us wherever we go. Drones are somewhat of a contentious issue at the moment, and their use in many areas is prohibited; however, on a recent escapade into the Mabuasehube/Kgalagadi Transfrontier parks, we were rescued with the aid of the drone. In October, we travelled with friends up to Mabuasehube with the intention of driving across to Nossob and spending three days in the Kgalagadi. We duly set off for Nossob on the appointed date, taking what we believed was the correct road. As time progressed, we found the road conditions deteriorating. The corrugations were exceptionally bad and the sand was some of the thickest…

RANGE GETS A SPIT AND POLISH Isuzu has made just enough changes to the new-look KB to make it a must-have on the nation’s Christmas wish-list. The 2016 KB is essentially a facelifted version of the sixth generation Isuzu KB, involving a slightly reworked bonnet, new tailgate styling (double- and extended cabs only), and revised instrument cluster, radiator grille and fog lamps. Giving you more bang for your buck, the updated LE and LX grades now come standard with a tow bar, sports bar, roof rails and power-adjustable leather seats, yet still undercut on price (by about R10k) the equivalent offerings from Ford and Toyota. The rear suspension on all models has also been tweaked to allow for a smoother ride, via revised rebound control on the rear dampers on…

TINY MITE FOR SA? Based on the Duster platform, Renault’s new Oroch will be coming to South Africa as soon as a right-hooker is signed off, we hope, and it’ll open up a whole new segment in the bakkie market. Available in left-hand-drive markets since 2015, it is smaller than any other double cab sold in SA. The Oroch will be powered by an 82kW 1.6 petrol and a 106kW 2.0-litre petrol, with both a five-speed and a six-speed manual gearbox. And an automatic option will be available later. There is no word yet on the popular 1.5 turbodiesel 4x4 as a drivetrain option. Because of its double-cab configuration, the Oroch will offer practical advantages over comparably-sized half-ton bakkies such as the Chev Utility or Nissan NV200. A new infotainment…

The success of our “The Living Traditions Expedition – A Journey to Chew Bahir” is in serious jeopardy. Our negotiations with the police at Arbore have reached an unfortunate stalemate - the Swiss might have invented the clock, but it is the Africans who own time. Arbore is the last village of significance before our convoy of three Land Rovers makes its way onto Chew Bahir, southern Ethiopia’s Great Salt Ocean, for an attempt at a historic world-first traverse by Land Rover and land yacht. Very few tourists come this way, and for good reason. In the 1960s, the lake was up to eight metres deep in places; now, it is nothing more than a dry saltpan which develops small swamp sections during the rainy season. In April 1888, Count…

The management of protected areas in Africa has been revolutionised by having helicopters available to carry out various tasks. Remote areas which are normally inaccessible by road become just a hop, skip and jump in a helicopter. Once airborne, you have no worries about ground clearance, departure- and breakover angles, punctures, or diff-lock engagement. No matter how bad the terrain, a helicopter can fly above or around any obstacle; and, as long as there is a suitable landing spot somewhere for refuelling, the scope of a helicopter flight is really governed only by the breadth of your imagination. Helicopter bush pilots have gained an almost mythical hero status in the industry. These days, with all the pressures associated with managing a wild natural area, these pilots need to have not…

This year’s Atlantis 4x4 Fun day started with unseasonal rain soaking into the dunes around Atlantis on the Cape West Coast. The damp did nothing to rein in the enthusiasm of the 100 or so teams of two, consisting of a driver and co-driver, as they assembled into groups to hit the white-sand challenges. Organised by the Western Cape chapter of the 4 Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa, and sponsored by Toyota, this is touted as a family fun day. It’s also an epic way to get sand in your shoes while having fun tackling the dunes. But make no mistake, there is lots of testosterone about and many egos at stake. Some guys have clearly spent months prepping their vehicles, which range from heavily fettled Land Rover Defenders…

When you run out of traction in an area where there is nothing to attach a winch to, and no other vehicle in the vicinity, you have to get creative. You could bury a pole, or a spare tyre, or something heavy that will provide an anchor point. The Pull Pal is that other, on-hand solution. For simplicity’s sake, we can describe it as a plough: one made with thick steel sections that are almost as hardy, and nigh-on as heavy, as you’d find on a piece of agricultural equipment. So, how does it work? We tested the RW14 000, which weighs in at a workout-spec 20kg in its neat nylon carry case, but is rated to extricate vehicles with a GVM of 4.5 tons. The frame consists of a…

This trail listing is designed to be an easy reference guide to trails in and around South Africa and southern Africa. All trails have been rated by their owners according to the grading system alongside. We recommend you phone the trail operator to check conditions as weather and other factors can easily change a trail’s difficulty rating. COOPER TIRES SOUTH AFRICA wants to promote your trail, and has offered to pick up the advertising costs. So, if you are a trail operator, this is a great chance to get 4x4 owners driving your route. To include your trail in this listing, or to update or amend any details, simply send all the required information to editor@SA4x4.co.za, or phone SA4x4 (021 702 4200). In addition, if you think a trail should…

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…

TWEAKED INSIDE AND OUT Since its local launch in 2012, the Trailblazer has seen few updates, but, despite slow sales, has proved a worthy competitor to other bakkie-derived SUVs like the Fortuner and Everest. For 2017, and to keep pace with major updates on those key rivals, Chevrolet has released the first major set of updates. A new four-pot Duramax diesel has been added to the line-up: a 2.5-litre unit with variable geometry turbo offering an impressive 132kW and 440Nm. This is up from the base model 2.5 with its 120kW and 380Nm, and slots neatly below the flagship 2.8-litre with its gutsy outputs of 144kW/500Nm. For now, only the 2.8 models are available in 4x4 with low range, offering three-ton towing capacity and ‘gradient braking’ to help maintain steady…

RENAULT’S TAKE ON NAVARA Sharing a platform with both the expected new Mercedes-Benz double cab and Nissan’s Navara, the new Alaskan will be Renault’s first foray into the double-cab segment. Renault will be positioning the Alaskan at the top end of the leisure bakkie segment, and offering high comfort levels thanks to a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs, and quality materials. A 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin turbo diesel in either 120kW or 141kW states of tune will lead the premium chase, with a base 2.5 petrol as well as a 2.5 turbodiesel also available. The Alaskan is rated to tow 3.5 tonnes and carry a 1 tonne payload, and will have a vital-for-the-segment 230mm of ground clearance. Both 2x4 and 4x4 options will be available, the latter boasting electronic selection…

GREAT SHADE Alu-Cab Shadow Awning Make sure that your shade doesn’t run away from you with the Alu-Cab Shadow Awning. Built in the stormy Cape, this awning is designed to stand up to strong winds and inclement weather. Its aluminium-coated canvas provides 10 square metres of the coolest shade, spread across 270 degrees (and covering both the side and rear of your vehicle). Set-up is a simple one-man operation. The unit has just four arms, each containing a tie-down strap for really serious weather (a peg bag and pegs are also supplied). It weighs in at 24kg and can be attached to roof racks or load bars. R12 995 www.alu-cab.co.za TWO-WHEELER PROBLEMS? Fork Mount Bike Carrier and Thru Axle Adapter by Front Runner Tie down your two-wheeler with Front Runner’s…

There is no doubt in my mind that birds, like humans, have distinctive and often fascinating personalities. If you spend some time observing them, and develop a skill for recognising their habits, you come to realise that whoever created the avian species had unlimited imagination when it comes to colour, design, mannerisms, and (obviously) personalities to match. Just think about a common, everyday bird like the tiny sparrow. Its trademark is to wake up an hour or so before daybreak, sit outside your bedroom window, and chirp away at something that sounds surprisingly like the English alphabet. Ayh, bee, cee, dee, bee, chirp, cee… and so they go on for 10 to 15 minutes. And they don’t give up until everyone inside the house has been woken. Or the cocky…

“The further north we went, we realised how heavily Megatron was loaded and we discarded all the ‘ ’ ” unnecessary gear What do you do when you hit 30, don’t have kids, and feel like a break from your job? You embark on a three month, 25 000-kilometre overland trip through southern and East Africa, obviously. Revved up by the promise of adventure, and after a year of planning and prepping, the time had finally arrived. We were relatively new to overlanding and 4x4ing, so we made some minor alterations to our steely-blue Hilux - hereafter referred to as Megatron. We weren’t keen on experiencing a breakdown in the middle of nowhere, so I installed new Camil suspension and a diesel water trap. My wife was not impressed when…

When your heart groans for an escape – any escape – out of the city, there is always one place that comes to my mind first: the Cederberg. Only three hours out of Cape Town, this 710 km² mountain range offers 4x4 drivers and adventurers alike a massive mix of wildness; from rugged 4x4 trails, to great hikes, caves and waterfalls. As a rendezvous point, four of us met at a place called Nuwerust to relax and set up camp. With kids cycling around the fields between wild springbok and huge oak trees, the place is a veritable paradise, especially when it is quiet. Once we’d recovered from a massive breakfast the next day, the rest of Cederberg’s magnificence called out for a little exploring. Just ten kilometres away from…

WINNER JESUS SAIZ Jesus and his friends needed to stretch their legs after 10 long days of road-tripping through Namibia – what better way to do it than on top of their 1996 300 TDi Land Rover Discovery 1? ALWYN VAN WYK Alwyn took Meraai, his 1962 Land Rover 2.25lt SWB, for a trip to the Tankwa Karoo National Park. Here, Meraai (named after Mariah Carey owing to the singing and humming of her diffs, gearbox, engine, and tyres) is caught crossing the Renoster River. DAVID & DALE CLENDENNEN Dale reluctantly gave up her spot behind the wheel of her Subaru Forester to take this snapshot of her husband driving along the B4 in Namibia. DANIE LUBBE On a recent visit to Kubu Island, Daniel discovered that size does matter…

PRO UPGRADE One-stop solutions are everywhere these days – gas stations fill-up empty tummies and empty tanks, grocery stores allow you to pay bills and stock up the food cupboard, and, most recently, GoPro allows you to capture, edit and share content all from the same platform. In September 2016, Nicholas Woodman, GoPro’s CEO and Founder, announced the release of a whole new range of products and services that establish the GoPro range as an end-to-end happy solution. The new line includes an updated HERO5 camera range, new cloud-based software, and a brand new Karma drone. These upgrades become available in retail stores as of October 2016. For more information, visit www.gopro.com. DAKAR TEKKIES It’s not surprising that BFGoodrich would return as the official supplier of tyres to the 2017…