Trails within an hours drive of Cape Town

NUGGET · Post by **NUGGET** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:42 pm

Can the local manne share some info on trails around this area that a complete novice can ride without rolling his hilux, cause that will be a very sad day

And NO Thys i do not want to do a trail around the Fairbridge mall and all its speed bumps, completed that when i had my nissan 200sx. I have no recovery gear except my jack and wheel spanner, so thick sand will have to wait for another time. Maybe something like a bad farm road with a low river crossing or two, some nice views and a braai or picnic spot. Any info here will be much appreciated. Thanks guys

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:50 pm

Hi Andrew, here is a thread recently where you can find some info:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9899" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:55 am

Andrew, the Grabouw MTO trail is a nice, easy starter track... bit of water, one moderately difficult downhill... and a few short uphill scrambles, nothing hectic... a Nissan NouWaarHou and a platkar Suzuki(both 1st time offroad drivers) did it with us last time... and the stunning views are a total bonus of course... 65km's from Brackenfell...

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:20 am

A few pics of the scenery...

Another nearby trail is the 2 Oceans one just outside Somerset West... there are a few decent obstacles along the way, but all have escape/skip routes... there is a 2x4 trail as well...

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:26 am

65km's from Brackenfell...

Mr B, that is more than 1 hour's drive,with your SFA

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:49 am

Jislaaik... jealousy make you nasty Inspector Sherman!

1 hour and 5 minutes to be exactly... non EFi'd SFA's get there a little faster though

the BuTch3R · Post by **the BuTch3R** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:57 am

Mr_B wrote: 1 hour and 5 minutes to be exactly...

All depends how long you have to wait for other drivers to meet at the rendevouz point, mos

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:01 am

So tr..

truckin · Post by **truckin** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:50 am

Jy kan altyd takbok hier in die paarl ook ry, daar was twee "tracks" sand en berg (ek weet nie of die berg nog oop is nie, ek het dit so 5 jaar terug laas gery, en dit is nie vir sussies nie, ek het self bang geraak op van die desents),maar die sand "track" is eenvoudig en hy het nie recovery gear nodig nie en daar is braai plekkies (ek weet dis nog oop ek was n maand terug daar), en daars die hexvallei 4x4 roete in de doorns, dis bietjie tegnies op plekke maar n baie goeie leerskool vir beginers, daars n roete in caledon, ek kan nie die naam onthou nie maar dit word gereel deur die caledon casino (redelik tegnies maar daar is begelyding beskikbaar, baie mooi daar,

ek hoop dit help

Piesang · Post by **Piesang** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:44 pm

Mr_B wrote:Jislaaik... jealousy make you nasty Inspector Sherman!

1 hour and 5 minutes to be exactly... non EFi'd SFA's get there a little faster though

Agnee mr_B waar gaan draai jy om in Grabouw te kom. Ek is gisteraand 12:30 daar by Tygervalei weg met my lux en 1:30 al in die bed en dit is in my agterplaas wat jy kom speel het!!!!

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:18 pm

So hoe kom mens by die Grabouw trail uit?

JA JA, met die teer pad .... :)

WAAR is die ingang na die trail ?

So ook, waar is die Takbok trail in Paarl ?

OOOOMS · Post by **OOOOMS** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:43 pm

ChrisF wrote:So hoe kom mens by die Grabouw trail uit?

JA JA, met die teer pad .... :)

WAAR is die ingang na die trail ?

So ook, waar is die Takbok trail in Paarl ?

Hier is meer info, asook ander 4x4 Trails!
http://net4u.co.za/pete/Takbok%204%20x%204.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

truckin · Post by **truckin** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:59 pm

Takbok

Ry op die N1 na paarl toe, vat die 3rde afdraai, (R301) Jan van Riebeek Laan, draai Regs, ry so ongeveer 5km Takbok se ingang sit aan die regterkant van die pad (kyk uit vir die wit vlae die ingang sit effens weggesteek)

NUGGET · Post by **NUGGET** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:38 pm

Dankie vir die inligting, ek dink ek gaan die Grabouw trail volgende naweek doen, dit is as ek hoef nie te werk nie. Ek wil tienminste 2 beginner trails n maand doen, net om n gevoel the kry vir my lux, daarna kan ek met julle manne n paar trips doen.

Verskoon net my sleg afrikaans, ek is n engelsman

dankie weer vir die inligting

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Andrew keep me posted on your proposed date for the Grabouw MTO trail, if money and time allow I may be interested in joining you!

NUGGET · Post by **NUGGET** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:16 pm

Dit sal lekker wees. Ek sal jou laat weet, miskien die eerste naweek in Augustus.

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:41 pm

Sadly the last I heard Takbok was closed. The farm had been sold and the new owner didn't have any plans to maintain the trail....

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:57 pm

Toast do try to do these trails with some experienced riders, if possible.

There are some experienced riders whoo do take pity on us newbies.

BEST to get shown the correct techniques from the start. :)

Stuff such as tire pressures are second nature to these old timers and can easily make the difference on an obstacle.

Also note that the recent rains has (possibly) turned ordinarily easy trails into "tricky" areas.

I NOT trying to scare you. Just be fully aware of the issues at play, then ENJOY the 4x4 safely.

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:04 am

Unmaintained, the mountain trail at Takbok is a death trap! Thys, where is that video of you taking on the steep descent? Scary stuff!

Mr B

Piesang · Post by **Piesang** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:02 pm

As jy die Grabouw roete doen is dit die moeite werd om te stop by die boordjie wat die ou ossewa pas aanwys. Stap op en jy sien nog die spore wat die ossewas oor die klippe gemaak het. Die Sein kannone lê nog daar en die murasie van die Seiners huissie is ook nog daar.

Daar is ook 'n uitkyk punt wat baie mis ry, waar jy oor Somerset Wes en Skiereiland kyk.

Laat weet maar as jy daar gaan ry. As dit moontlik is sal ek ook wil gaan. Was al baie in die berg in, maar nog nooit die hele roete deur gery nie.

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 8:05 pm

Still looking for info on how to get to the Grabouw trail.

En enige ander rustige trails in die omgewing ...

Jacmeister · Post by **Jacmeister** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:36 pm

Daar is die Blombosch roete-ek dink dis naam-in yzerfontein en dan nie te ver van dit af nie is dit Buffelsfontein. Buffelsfontein is duskant die weskus nasionale park ingan op die R27.

Albei is maar rustig veral blombosch, met braai plekkies halfpad deur, dis n sirkel roete seker so +/- 2 uur om deur te ry.Bietjie sand, maar hierdie tyd van die jaar nie teveel om oor te worry nie.

Buffelsfontein meer n sand pit speel plek, lekker fun, kan ook braai daar.

http://www.buffelsfontein.co.za/about.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://campsa.co.za/sites/campsa/campsa ... pSitesByID" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)/FVUN-6YR8H4!OpenDocument&Click=

Hoop dit help.

missouriman · Post by **missouriman** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:56 am

Wow, I wish that I could read that. I am so mono lingual

Jacmeister · Post by **Jacmeister** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 1:58 am

My bad, Mark.....

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:12 am

Takbok is closed

It is a pity as takbok is a fantastic trail, especially the mountain track but definitely not for newbies on their own. I would suggest you go to Atlantis Dunes Andrew, there you can test your own skills in sand without having to follow a specified route, and you can attempts bigger and bigger obstacles as you get more familiar with your own vehicle. Dont ever do any trails alone though. Get Mr B and some of the other guys to accompany you to show you the ropes, at least the first few times..

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:07 am

Dankie Jaco

wacky · Post by **wacky** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:28 pm

Try Dirt & dust or Melkbos.

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:42 am

I'm not fond of Melkbos... the bits with water in... and the mud... contain so much salt... it's like serious rust and corrosion accelerator... much prefer Atlantis dunes... Dirt and Dust is a very good suggestion... serious obstacles close to home... back of Durbanville... after some rain it can become very tricky...

the BuTch3R · Post by **the BuTch3R** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:07 am

Agree. Dirt & Dust is a nice spot to test your vehicle and your skills. Some of the obstacles are pretty tough, but there's more than one way to tackle these, and you can decide how hard you want to push your vehicle.

I went to play there a few weeks back 8 )

Was on my own, so I had to avoid the "sticky" obstacle sadly :|

Piesang · Post by **Piesang** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:43 am

ChrisF wrote:Still looking for info on how to get to the Grabouw trail.

En enige ander rustige trails in die omgewing ...

Grabouw trail. N2 uit Somerset Wes na Hermanus/George. As jy bo op die berg kom ry jy tot by jou 2de afdraai (dis nou by Orchards padstal, wit gebou en die Rose Mall aan jou linkerkant) daar draai jy lings. Ry tot jy die dorp in gaan en amper deur is en by die 2de stop (daar is net 2 stoppe) draai jy lings. Ry aan met die pad tot jy oor 'n stroompie gaan, dan draai jy regs soos vir die Country Club gaan oor die trein spoor en draai lings saam met die trein spoor soos vir die Country Club. Hou reguit aan tot pad draai teen Bosbou hek, Country Club se hek aan regterkant . Jy gaan daar in en kry ook jou permit en kaart by die hek.

Of anders kom haal my, as ek beskikbaar is.

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:33 pm

DANKIE Piesang. Nou sal ek hom kry. Ry gereeld die stukkie tussen Villers dorp an Grabouw, so weet van daai afdraai - net nie geweet daar is n trail wat ons mag doen nie .... BINNEKORT :)

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:01 pm

ChrisF wrote:DANKIE Piesang. Nou sal ek hom kry. Ry gereeld die stukkie tussen Villers dorp an Grabouw, so weet van daai afdraai - net nie geweet daar is n trail wat ons mag doen nie .... BINNEKORT :)

Chris, wanneer jy gaan, moenie snoep wees nie, vat so paar Hilux manne saam...

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:23 pm

maak so Thys. :)

Waarskynlik oor 2 of 3 weke.

4x4 opleiding die naweek .... die groentjie wil mos nou saam met die ervare manne probeer "akrediteer" ... kry so draai in die maag as ek dink hoe ek my naam met n PLANK kan slaan die naweek ... waar kan my 18 maande se ervaring saam praat met manne wat meer n miljoen off road kilos agter die rug het, ten minste gaan dit eintlik oor die "unit standards" .... maag bly maar draai ....

bloublasie · Post by **bloublasie** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:13 pm

Hi Toast

Do you know when you are planning on going. I'm gatvol of fixing stuff at my house every weekend. Want to go bos this weekend or next. All work and no play makes Homer go crazy!

My lux is still stock standard - I think - and i've only done a little off roading. Melkbos 4x4 and atlantis.

Grabouw sounds lekker.

Andre

bloublasie · Post by **bloublasie** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:16 pm

P.S Waar is Dirt and Dust presies?

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:48 pm

Wellington road out of Durbanville towards Klipheuwel. Just outside of Durbanville you can turn right. You go over a bridge just after turning, with the road swinging to the left. You see some houses on the right and then the turn off to D&D on the left.

bloublasie · Post by **bloublasie** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:37 pm

Thanks Chris. I Might go check it out this weekend.

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:29 am

Bloblasie... make sure you got more than one vehicle in the party... a few of the obstacles look like nothing... but they can get you stuck quick quick!

Mr B

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:40 am

The thing with D&D is that most of the obstacles are laid out for Land Rover 90's, and Hiluxes hang up on them. Ask Kobus Tornado, pietpetoors, myself and a few other guys. If you're going to be there alone, you might be stuck for a long time.

If you use common sense and check out the obstacles carefully you wont have any serious hassles. Avoid side slopes and mud, which there will be plenty of. The mud is acidic/salty and rusts the crap out of a Hilux.

Otherwise take a few mates, a tow rope and enjoy

Once I am back in action I will join you with pleasure..

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:36 am

Thys... bring the Ford... official Hilux recovery vehicle... and you can do a little 4x4 course intro!

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:53 am

OOM_B wrote:Thys... bring the Ford... official Hilux recovery vehicle... and you can do a little 4x4 course intro!

Not before August, I am going to be out of town for a while..