Hilux 4x4 Forum

So it's been a while since I've engaged low range.

I've found a place called Riverside 4x4 near Steynsrus that I want to go and check out in may - date still to be confirmed.

Any members up for it?

There is accomodation and camping facilities.

The trail consists of a number of loops and would take 6 - 8hrs to complete. Doesn't look too difficult.

Should there be interest from club members I will get more details but for the interim you will find them on face book!

Currently there are 4 vehicles (3 non members) looking to go.

Let me know!

Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk

Shane, I will come and have a join..... Lets set a date in early May and go from there?

JohanM wrote:Shane, I will come and have a join..... Lets set a date in early May and go from there?

Great, wil revert back to you after the weekend.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk

Hoor by Hendrik van Alma Kwekery - hy mag dalk wil saam gaan.

Gaai eers begin Junie in daai omgewing wees...

Thabogrobler wrote:Hoor by Hendrik van Alma Kwekery - hy mag dalk wil saam gaan.

Maak so!

Sent from my SM-A720F using Tapatalk

Right guys, my apologies for taking so long.

4th May @ Riverside 4x4 just outside of Steynsrus.

R200/vehicle.
Should someone want to sleep over they have a house @ R100/head.

Camping facilities available @ R50/head.

Sorry Haboob, i tried to see if I have an open weekend early in june but no joy. Would have been great to meet you!

3 vehicles confirmed so far.

1. Shane
2. Rudi (non member) - land rover
3. Bothma (non member) - Lada Niva
4. Malcolm (non member) - Toyota


Feel free to add your names pls.

Suggest we meet @ 8:30

Will post directions closer to the time.

Braai afterwards!

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

"Sorry Haboob, i tried to see if I have an open weekend early in June but no joy. Would have been great to meet you!":

No problem, was not expecting you to change the dates, just for my convenience. A whole Province or even part of one, cannot jump to the tunes of an outsider, who is just passing through...

Updated List is now like follows:

1. Shane
2. Rudi (non member) - land rover
3. Bothma (non member) - Lada Niva
4. Malcolm (non member) - Toyota
5. JohanM - Prado

Might bring a friend along in the 200 Cruiser if they are home that weekend.

Right Chaps, just a quick update.

I just spoke to the owner of the trail. Due to all the rain the river and all the obstacles around it are out.

He reckons that he still has a few obstacles for us to play on, but my understanding is that the river forms a large part of the trail.

I would hate to drive through and only have 4 or 5 obstacles to drive over.

What are your thoughts? Should we wait a couple of weeks?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Shane,

I think it will be best to do the complete trail, no use in driving only a few. Also the risk on the trail with all the rain I do understand that the trail owner will close sections. So I think lets give it a week or so to see what happens.

JohanM wrote:Shane,

I think it will be best to do the complete trail, no use in driving only a few. Also the risk on the trail with all the rain I do understand that the trail owner will close sections. So I think lets give it a week or so to see what happens.

Johan I agree.

So lets give it a couple of weeks.

I want to see if I can shuffle some weekends around and maybe Haboob can join us?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

So seeing that I had already booked the day for this outing, I decided to still go through and have a look at the place.

My mate Rudi came through with his Ford and we met Oom Hans at the turn off from the tar road.

We did not do any 4x4ing, the main aim was to determine what they could offer and if it would be suitable for a day's outing.

As you will see below, it's more of a playground than an eco type trail.

The trail is around 7km long and 90% of the obstacles are erosion gulleys and furrows. Although I initially thought that they would become tedious and repetitive, I soon saw that they do differ in approach and level of difficulty.

Oom Hans informed me that a well known tv personality (who lately parades around in an Amarok....) has done his trail and reckons it varies from level 2 - 4 obstacles. All of which changes drastically in the wet....

I must admit that there were some sections that looked fairly tough.

Due to the rain a large portion of the trail cannot be done as the small river is currently full and the immediate area hosts some of the nicest clay you are likely to find.... Crossing the river at this point is not possible thus all obstacles on the opposite side are unavailable.

Anyhow, on our side there is a nice rock bank that adds some variation and I can see that it's an area that will enjoy much attention.

What I really liked is a spot by the river that offers shade and an opportunity to braai. Many groups that do the trail drop of their wives/kids here first before starting out. This spot is accessed by an alternative road as well as the track from the actual trail.

So those who have wives + kids that do not enjoy 4x4ing, or want to sit it out, can drop them off up front, leave them to "kuier" and go and play.

We spent the afternoon there and had a quick braai and I must admit that I enjoyed it way more than I expected to.

If the weather permits kids can swim in the river and there is even a "zip line" (foefie slide?) into the river.

Oom Hans is a real gem and the salt of the earth! He took 2 hours to show us the trail, then left us to spend the afternoon braaing and refused to charge us anything for his time and facilities!

Sleeping facilties are available in the form of an old farm house. Flushing toilets, showers and very basic beds and a nice braai area.

The house can sleep 20 people.

One can also camp at the river. No power/running water but it does have an old style "long drop" iirc.

All in all I think it will be a fun day for those new to 4x4ing as well as the more experienced drivers just out relax and engage the short stick!

Will look at dates but first weekend in June seems to be the best option at this point.

Will keep you all posted.

Below are just a few photos and by no means cover the whole trail. I was surprised by the beauty of the erosion gullies and one must see them first hand to be able to fully appreciate it!








Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Nice! You could choose some interesting lines in those dongas and over the mounds.
(You'd probably need a locker or two for the more adventurous ones. )

"Johan I agree.

So lets give it a couple of weeks.

I want to see if I can shuffle some weekends around and maybe Haboob can join us?"

Hi Shane/Johan,
Thanks a lot for the thought, but please do not try to accommodate me.
I will be overloaded at the beginning of an over-land trip, when I pass through your area.
Was hoping that I could just meet you guys on the way through.
I now also have my dates finalized. I will probably camp at Tinkwe, Virginia/Umfulo Caravan Park, Parys on Monday/Tuesday night. Looking for your recommendations.
I need to be in Jo'burg on Wednesday...

Hi Edge. I see you read my PM but haven't responded? .....

Haboob wrote:"Johan I agree.

So lets give it a couple of weeks.

I want to see if I can shuffle some weekends around and maybe Haboob can join us?"

Hi Shane/Johan,
Thanks a lot for the thought, but please do not try to accommodate me.
I will be overloaded at the beginning of an over-land trip, when I pass through your area.
Was hoping that I could just meet you guys on the way through.
I now also have my dates finalized. I will probably camp at Tinkwe, Virginia/Umfulo Caravan Park, Parys on Monday/Tuesday night. Looking for your recommendations.
I need to be in Jo'burg on Wednesday...

Tikwe lodge is about 15km from where I live.

They used to have a nice bar/restaurant there (haven't bern there in years!)

Gimme a shout snd I'll come over and we could chew the fat over a beer?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Hi Shane,
How loudly must I shout for you to hear me?
If you will come over, I will be there, so don't let me down, and I won't let you down.
If you let me down, I loose a day, you lose nothing,
otherwise I'll just go straight on to Parys, but only leave from East London the next day.
PM me your Cel. no. & I will send you mine, then i'll let you know when I arrive...

Haboob wrote:Hi Shane,
How loudly must I shout for you to hear me?
If you will come over, I will be there, so don't let me down, and I won't let you down.
If you let me down, I loose a day, you lose nothing,
otherwise I'll just go straight on to Parys, but only leave from East London the next day.
PM me your Cel. no. & I will send you mine, then i'll let you know when I arrive...

Sounds good! Pm sent.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

PM returned, so Tikwe it is, unless you can recommend another venue...

Haboob wrote:PM returned, so Tikwe it is, unless you can recommend another venue...

The only other venue I could have recommended was washed away 3 weeks ago with the rain...

They really sustained some serious damage. You specifically want to camp? Or will a room do the trick?

If so there is a decent place in virginia called Villa Lala....

Allemanskraal dam also have camping facilities - but no restaurant/bar. That is on the Willem Pretorius side.

On the opposite side is Aldam Estates. They have better facilities and decent bungalows but may be pricey.... They also have a little shop and a restaurant - although I don't know if it would be open when you pass by. I think it only opens over weekends.

Both are just Off the N1.

Kroon park in Kroonstad is no longer worth it....

Parys would probably be the nicest/best camping spot. Quaint little town with plenty restaurants/pubs should you prefer an prepared meal and a glass of wine....


Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Tikwe will be fine.
Be nice meeting you as well.
Listen for my call...

Haboob wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2019 2:45 pm
Listen for my call...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgAvHo6vpe4


-F_D

A bout of nostalgia, Eric? Loved listening to his music as a kid.

Andy, I have the Jim Reeves version as well as the Billy Vaughn arrangement, narrated by ken Nordine,. Both excellent, and yes, very nostalgic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPt8qlPXiBc


-F_D

Now that the "Old Dawgs" are done reminiscing...

I have been able to free up the first saturday in june..... that would be the 1st.

After that I'm stuck for the next 6 weeks.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

For those that might find themselves bored this saturday - we'll be at Riverside outside of Steynsrus.

1 x SFA
1 X D4D
1 X LAND ROVER
1 X LADA NIVA

Seeing that I am the only club member who will be present, it will not be deemed a club outing.

I will, however, look at another date in July/august for a day out.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

So we had quite good day yesterday.

We started with 5 vehicles:

1 x SFA
1 x D4D
2 x Land Rovers
1 x Lada Niva

From the beginning we saw that the Disco was going to be a challenge. I didn't know the owner but it was soon obvious that he was either unfamiliar with his vehicle, or something wasn't working.

From the first obstacle he was struggling to get up. Numerous attempts and some generous foot couldn't get him over the first one.

He had to be towed out. But still persisted that he wanted to continue....

The erosion gulleys proved to be tougher that they looked, especially when viewed from the bottom. But most of the vehicles did them quite comfortably.

My mate Rudi was in a V6 land Rover (automatic) with permanent 4x4 but no diff locks. It's a beast and sounds good when a little foot is applied.

Being his first time he was a little nervous and over cooked it a time or two, but soon settled and started looking like a pro!

Of course I made his day (year!) when my SFA got stuck after an erosion gully crumbled and gave way beneath my front wheel.... He ended up towing me out.

Our mate with the Lada did well up to a point. One of the obstacles was a little rough and needed more clearance than he had. He was a little over enthusiastic and blew his transfer case!

The good sport that he is, he jumped into my SFA and proceeded to navigate for the rest of the day.

After all was done we retired to the river and had a lekker braai. Most of us were novices and besides the Lada there was no serious damage to any of the vehicles.

Success in my eyes!

I have more videos than fotos so will find a way to upload them later.






Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk


Edit by F_D: Pic-links fixed.