Hilux 4x4 Forum

Martin K

Big respect to you for doing the Epic. Amazing achievement at any age. Hope I am still up to that level of activity when I am 58.

Martin K

Ya ek ry nog fiets maar ek is nou 48 en getroud. Ek geniet dit baie. Just races like the Argus and 94.7 now.

Martin K

I kept a diary every day but after the trip put them away and forgot about it. I am currently talking to a ghost writer and plan to get a book out in the next few years. It is odd reading the diaries again.

Martin K

I was very against RTT until I got talked into it and bought one. It is great to sleep in. Real luxury and easy to use. I still throw a small 2 man hiking tent into the bakkie. It is useful to "claim" your site if you need to drive around or if the vehicle cannot be driven to where you wan...

Martin K

I am quite keen to do a trip up Baboons pass in Lesotho. I am no ways a Rambo kind of guy and much prefer the overlanding side of 4X4 but every now and then this type of thing can be fun. My only other tough drive so far was the Road To Hell and while doing that we met some other guys that said I sh...

Martin K

I did a similar trip 15 years ago. Two friends and myself rode on bicycles from Israel to Nelspruit. It took 6 months. We had no support and carried all our camping gear, water, food clothes and spares on the bicycles. Over 20 Kg of stuff at times. It was very hard but lots of fun.

Martin K

I totally agree with all the guys that say learn the vehicle first.

First mod for my money would be a snorkel, not for water but for clean cooler air that will lengthen the life of the motor. Next would be tyres and a compressor to be able to select the optimum pressure for conditions.

Martin K

July 79, the last 7 SAI intake at Bourkes Luck and then in 80 moved the base to Phalaborwa. Later signed up PF and became a photographer in the SAAF. Folks ran out on money for my education and the SAAF was a good thing for me. Based in Swartkops for training and then Waterkloof.

Martin K

I have done most of these roads and did the Mokhotlong to Sehlabathebe in December. Molumong guest house has camping and rustic accommodation. I will dig out the GPS points later today. Katse is not my favorite but I guess worth a visit. The falls are fantastic but it is a long detour. On the plus s...

Martin K

Lovely

Martin K

I will also recommend T4Africa. I also want to put in a caution on the nuvi500 as an all round gps. A problem with this device is that it has an onboard rechargeable battery that lasts 8 hours. Many hikes, cycles and other outdoor activities last longer than that and you cannot simply slip in anothe...

Martin K

In my experience you can get all the way to Nairobi on pretty easy roads so a decent all terrain tyre would do. The road up to the Ethiopian border can be hell if it rains. I went through here in a period of rare flooding and it was a nightmare. Mud tyres would be the thing to have. If you continue ...

Martin K

My 2c. The newer bakkies and suv's such as the Fortuner are amazing vehicles and do a very good job at making a ride quiet, smooth and stable. This helps sell vehicles as when you test drive it it feels fantastic. A person relatively inexperienced can quickly get into trouble in such a vehicle as yo...

Martin K

Can't say much about the Tom Tom as I have not used one. I do use a 7 series Garmin. I have found the thing extremely easy to use. The interface is intuitive and I didn't even bother with the manual. I loaded tracks4africa Lesotho maps onto it and it all worked well. For pure offroading it would not...

Martin K

Thanks for that. Any recommendations for the tuner?

Martin K

Lat year I posted a question about tyre sizes and got lots of good advice. Thanks for that. Now for my new question. I drive a 2002 SC IFS 2.7i. I would like to achieve the following with some work to my engine. Improve fuel consumption. Get a bit more power. Not lose any low down torque but even im...

Martin K

Oh Hell. Hope it works out and gets better for you. Best wishes and stick around

Martin K

Holiday in Lesotho was great. We arrived at Sehlabathebe and for 2 days were the only people there. This over the festive season.

Would not personally go to Moz in December. Too hot and too humid. About 12 years ago I rode a bicycle through Moz in January. It was too hard

Martin K

I have only done 110 000 km so just finished running in :D no trouble yet.

Martin K

I know from using a more sophisticated controller and looking at the output that the angle to the sun does make a difference. The problem is you then spend the day obsessively moving the panel around and really it is not necessary. I just lay it flat on the ground in a place where shadows will not f...

Martin K

Sorry, not getting it right

Martin K

Hope this works. If it does it is the images of the SP. Checked size and it is 40 by 60 folded

Martin K

Checked my invoice for the SP. It says 2 X 30watt panels with controller R3500 excluding VAT. Each panel is approx 60 by 40 cm (by memory here) and are joined by a hinge. They therefore fold open into one large panel and each panel connects to the controller. This is the glass and silicone type pane...

Martin K

No problem Hennie. I will check my invoices and bring in the panel to work tomorrow so that I can take a photo for you.

Martin K

I bought it from Gerbers in Pamona Kempton park. I think that was the price but you would need to confirm it. Sorry no photos, never thought about it. Gerbers mounted a Brad Harris on the rear bumper so the panel controller just jacks into that. Neat and easy to use. The dual battery is mounted unde...

Martin K

Not sure anyone is still interested in this thread but anyway I will post my experiences with SP from my last trip. I have had endless trouble with my dual battery system and had one more go to get it to work. Gerbers redid the thing and I bought a 75 watt panel, glass, that folds up in 2 a bit like...

Martin K

This may be a stupid suggestion and if you have already tried this please ignore me. Sometimes my difflock gets stuck and by reversing slowly for a short distance and then going forward again it frees up. It seems like tension builds up when I drive with difflock and turn and this needs to be releas...

Martin K

I have used the Garmin 60 CS for years. It is very good as a hand held when hiking and so on but awful for driving unless you have a navigator on board to use the thing for you. The screen is too small for driving and the interface fiddly. For hiking it is wonderful and also excellent for cycling. I...

Martin K

Well I am excited about the year ending and going away. Holiday is planned and some preparation and mods to the "Bakkie" I am curious about where others from the forum are going, why and what preparations you have made to prepare an exciting, interesting and safe trip. Really this is just ...

Martin K

This is the bakkie I mentioned doing work on at Gerbers in Pamona Kempton Park. The list is now long. Long range Tank Alucab canopy Sliding drawer Engel Fridge Howling Moon Tent Awning Water Tank OME torsion bars shocks and leaf springs ARB Bumper Warn Winch ARB compressor 600w inverter Dual Battery...

Martin K

Making sense. Hot water in a water tank which I have then all I need to do is buy the pump thingy and not worry about the complications. The heap of sand with a plastic sheet over it is a great idea.

Could I use the 12v shower pump to replenish my water tank from a river I wonder?

Martin K

I want to add a hot shower to my next holiday. I have been to camping places and see a lot of options, some built in, some work on a gas cylinder etc etc. I was wondering if anyone on the forum has any ideas and any experiences good or bad. My holiday is getting close and I am starting to get excite...

Martin K

Ignition packed in on my 2.7i SC. Parked in my garage and the next day the key simply wouldn't turn. Toyota talked to me like I was an idiot, for which I do not blame them, and sent out a mac. He was sure it was just jammed against the steering lock but no luck. Couldn't push it back out the garage ...

Martin K

Just saw this post now so perhaps it is no longer of use but anyway. My wife and I did this road by bicycle a few years back. When it rains the dirt sections are hell. We ended up carrying our bikes through mielie fields in some places as the road was so bad. We watched cruisers being pulled out of ...

Martin K

The front page of the star this morning (14-02-08) caries a story about 4X4 drivers in Namibia and Mozambique destroying the environment and generally not behaving well. The article states that due to clampdowns in South Africa the hooligan element amongst us is now exporting bad behavior. Our neigh...

Martin K

I hope my speedo is now more accurate. GPS was showing 100km/h and speedo a little over 110km/h. No wonder I wasn't getting speeding fines

Martin K

Well I think I can put this one to bed. Fitted BFG mud terrain 31 by 10.5 yesterday. Looks good I think. Not too excited about driving in the rain though.

Martin K

Thanks Wade. I am for sure going to take the general advice on this forum and do what you suggest. 31 inch tyres and a mud tread for Lesotho. Rock sliders and additional protection all round. I want to add a larger tank as I hate using jerries. It is more important that the wife is comfortable with ...

Martin K

Kaspaas wrote:
Knersus wrote:Looks lekker and scary 8)
Not so scary anymore.. Martin winched all the rocks out of the way, or did you put them back again Martin?

Na, we put them all back. Wouldn't want to spoil anyones fun

Martin K

Hi Martin, We are looking at doing the Pella and Namakwa trail on route to SWA. We are 4 vehicles with trailers.....so this pass is out for us. Have you done the entire route, or only the pass? I'd like to pick your brains about about the whole route if I may. Let me know, and I'll start another th...

Martin K

I did the road to hell at the beginning of January this year. It was very hard, we had to carry a lot of rocks. I had to use my winch twice. When you get to the bottom the camp site is not great unless you head right (east) on a rough road, track for about 400 m and you come to a place close to the ...

Martin K

I get around 650 km per tank with hubs free and 600 locked when driving on road. 2.7i

Martin K

Good grief. How cool would that look?

Martin K

Kaspaas, I like the way you think.

I have no idea what you are talking about though. Please explain what a SFA conversion is and what will it cost? Lift the hell out of it sure sounds fun.

Martin K

Dadz Toy wrote:Nice looking Legs (Ooooops!, I mean Lux)

Cheers

Rich 8)

I said bakkie not bokkie. :D

Martin K

Thanks Guys

That is exactly the feedback I am looking for. I want a small body lift but the power thing and potential fouling make me think the 31 inch will be the way to go.

Martin K

I would like to go up to a 32 inch from the current 30 inch Goodriches i am currently running. Would like to also change from the all terrain to the mud tyre. I go to Lesotho more than Namibia. My question is does anyone have any experience with this tyre size change? I am worried primarily about th...

Martin K

Thanks. Yes they were taken a few days before in Southern Namibia. Hot and beautiful.

Martin K

My soon to be paid for Bakkie

Martin K

Well Guys you are of course correct. Get to know the vehicle and become a better driver. Cannot argue with that. I will of course do my best to learn more and would like to do a recovery course and more driving courses. I will slowly keep upgrading the vehicle because that is also part of the fun. I...

Martin K

The Road To Hell was great fun but it was tough, well I found it tough. We had a few incidents including winching off a large rock that then rolled into the road in front of the last vehicle (we were 3 vehicles on the trip). We obviously had to clear the road and make it safe for the next people dow...

Martin K

I skillfully bought a bakkie with a locker and when I lost all traction on a steep piece of road with a scary drop off to my left , with tremendous skill and dexterity, I pressed the button and engaged the locker and sped off into the sunset

Martin K

Kaspaas wrote:Yeah that's a fact, but its cheaper than drugs.... and the scenery is to die for!!! 8) 8)

With scenery like we get to see and fun like we have who on earth would need drugs?

Martin K

I went down to 1.3 in front and 1.4 at the back. Perhaps I could have gone lower. I was nervous of damage and did take some chunks out of the tyres anyway. I am happy so far with the Goodriches but feel the mud terrain would also have given me more traction. This sure is not a cheap hobby is it? Tha...

Martin K

Thanks Guys. Seems I am on the right track. I did a route I think is called the "road to hell" on my holiday and it was real tough. Managed to not damage anything but traction was a problem for me. Thats why I am looking to change stuff. I will try to upload a image of a friend winching of...

Martin K

Searched on google. Hilux 4X4 and limited search to pages in South Africa.

Martin K

Standard with rear locker. I am no sure about the ome and what is all available but I do have more than just shocks. Yep it is a pretty good bakkie but I battled a little in some areas this past holiday. I would like to put 32 inch in place of the current 30 inch Goodriches but am unsure that they w...

Martin K

Had a great holiday in the Northern Cape Southern Namibia and am full of enthusiasm for my bakkie after getting back. Thing is I don't know a whole lot and am stuck for advice. I drive a 2003 2.7i SC that has been slightly modified. ARB bumper and built in compressor, dual battery, ome shocks and Wa...

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