Gents,
My annual pilgrimage to the western part of our sub-continent is entering its final planning phase. It is scheduled for mid-Autumn and likely to see us traverse the Kalahari and entering Namibia via Gobabis. Places to stay over/visit during our holiday will include Rostock Ritz, Henno Martin’s house, Blutkoppie, Swakop and ending in Palmwag. Return trip is via Otjivarongo, Hochfeld, Gobabis and Kalahari highway.
We will be a group of six couples traveling in five Pajeros. The final configuration of Pajeros is as yet unresolved. Allan has now sold his 2007 Gen4 GLX and stopped short of buying a brand new one (he is a first generation Scotsman after all). He has a few Pajeros in his sights at around the R400k mark (including a 2012 3.8V6 with 40k on for R370k). Myself and Frik’s 3.8V6 SWB will be pulling off-road caravans, so tank range will be a major planning point. Our caravans can each carry two 20L Jerry cans. I’m happy with two cans but Frik will most probably need a third. Our longest stretch is Kang to the Border and then again Windhoek – Rostock Ritz – Blutkoppie – Swakop. We could divert to Solitaire for petrol, but I have little faith in their ability to keep their stocks in tact, so I won’t be bargaining on that. Another 3.8V6 Gen4 LWB and a late Gen3 3.2DiD SWB complete the list of vehicles. If Allan buys that 3.8V6, then four out of the five will be petrol. I have been saving petrol money all year, and now with the “cheap” petrol, looks like I’ll be able to buy a few Tafels on the trip – cheap wine does get tiresome after a few weeks (I’m not a student anymore)!
Just for the record: I will never talk another man into buying any car.
I will offer my opinion if asked, but no more.
So the group of long standing friends going on holiday together, all with Pajeros, is absolutely by own choice.
Have they at some point experienced one of my Pajeros? For sure.
Have they seen it in action when the chips are down? For sure.
Have they been forced to listen to how reliable it is when sitting around the fire? No doubt.
I still find the notion remarkable that five guys, from all over the country, all drive the same make of vehicle. This happens every day with Toyota drivers, but not to us.
Below is a list of things I need to do before I can point the lumbering old beast’s nose to the west (in no particular order):
Obligatory DELO 400 replacement, with OEM filter (at 7.5k interval).
Pack four bottles of 2SO within reach.
Buy a brand new battery for the car and stick the current battery in the caravan. I only run LED lights off the caravan battery, because my fridge is gas operated (or 220V). The idea of putting my perfectly good car battery in the caravan is to have a standby cranking battery in my arsenal. The current caravan deep cycle will go to the storeroom (or maybe even the recycle heap).
Have air “helpers installed” in the rear coils – I’ll have four adults aboard plus the caravan.
This added load on the rear is tempting me to put the current rear tyres (50% wear) in storage and to fit brand new ones at the rear (all GY AT/SA’s).
Find a place to secure an extra spare tyre (without the rim). Note to self – don’t, one of my mates will surely offer me his spare wheel if I need a second!
Get those cable ties strapped into my dashboard.
I have just bought a gearbox protection plate from Uys, but think I’ll fit it after the trip – it is the weight, you see. My car is going to be extremely heavy, even without that big, fat plate.
Sent from my GT-I9305
Roelf. If you do decide to fit new rear tyres just make sure you do it well before your trip and make sure it does not affect your ability to engage 4x4. I once fitted new tyres on the back with old tyres in front and the 4x4 system did not like the differences for a while and was a pain to engage. I have however through the years had many an odd wheel on one if the wheels every now and again with no hassles in 4x4 engagement, so maybe it was not related but since then I always try and fit 4 new tyres and the best 2 old ones go to my Xplorer which have been made to take the same size.
Other than that I am EXTREMELY jealous! If you need someone to bring you a can of petrol in the middle of nowhere just give me a shout.
CATS
PS I have satphone that you can borrow if you want
Other than that I am EXTREMELY jealous! If you need someone to bring you a can of petrol in the middle of nowhere just give me a shout.
CATS
PS I have satphone that you can borrow if you want
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
Cats,
That is a generous offer. I will seriously consider it, thank you.
New tyres is to reduce puncture risk at the rear where the heavy load is. I'm totally paranoid about my load.
Sent from my GT-I9305
That is a generous offer. I will seriously consider it, thank you.
New tyres is to reduce puncture risk at the rear where the heavy load is. I'm totally paranoid about my load.
Sent from my GT-I9305
Roelf,
Ek hou nie van jou nie!!!!! Jealousy makes one nasty!!
Before I made a bracket to carry a second spare wheel behind the standard wheel, I strapped a spare tyre behind the existing one. Worked like a charm. I can lend you a 100lit fuel tank to carry on your roof rack (with it's own filter and pump).
If the petrol remains cheap, we are planning a long trip to Namibia Oct/Nov staring at Mata Mata, Luderitz, Sossus, Swakop, Windhoek, Etosha and then east and back via Kasane.
Maybe we Pajero ous should plan a trip like the Cruisers and Landrover owners do. ???
Cloyd
Ek hou nie van jou nie!!!!! Jealousy makes one nasty!!
Before I made a bracket to carry a second spare wheel behind the standard wheel, I strapped a spare tyre behind the existing one. Worked like a charm. I can lend you a 100lit fuel tank to carry on your roof rack (with it's own filter and pump).
If the petrol remains cheap, we are planning a long trip to Namibia Oct/Nov staring at Mata Mata, Luderitz, Sossus, Swakop, Windhoek, Etosha and then east and back via Kasane.
Maybe we Pajero ous should plan a trip like the Cruisers and Landrover owners do. ???
Cloyd
Dit klink baie lekker. Ek kannie wag om van julle kar laataandgrappe te hoor om die braaivleisvure nie - kan immers net goed wees met al daai Pajero's 
Geniet dit!!
Geniet dit!!
Roelf,
Gooi dan nog rooiwyn of teen-muskiet middels - rooihart en bleikmidddel.
Cloyd
Gooi dan nog rooiwyn of teen-muskiet middels - rooihart en bleikmidddel.
Cloyd
You missing a few items 
Just done a similar trip but done most of what you want to do.
Add to your list:
1) Large tire patches
2) If you can, even take a second spare. Nam's roads can be tough on tires. I learnt the hard way... Nam's taken three tires away from me and quite a few plug
Then, decrease your tire pressure. It seemed to help me on my last trip.
3) Water and plenty of it.
4) I would consider putting a seed net on the front. Not for seeds (not that many in Nam) but for flying stones from oncoming cars. We found that not only the tourists, but also the loacls did not slow down and thundered past one at terrible speeds.....
5) Sunblock and more
6) Time.... I counted 5 rolled and burnt out cars... Take it easy
7) Cash. In Windhoek and (only one) in Swakop we could pay for fuel by CC. The others wanted to add 5% of the purchase price onto a debit card and 10% for a credit card
8) A good medical aid kit. Should something go wrong, help is normally a loooong way away.
9) Fuel was available in Solitaire (~40Km from Rostock) as well as a very busy tire repair center
10) If you are fussy about your meat, I personally will take my own next time I go. I found the meat though tasty, expensive and not really appealing to the eye.
Biltong, all very good, but all around R280 / Kg....
11) Careful of taking pics at the border. Saw a guy nearly getting arrested for taking pics
12) Make sure the suspension is good on the caravans. Those roads are (currently due to lack of rain) really corrugated and will rattle pretty much anything apart (my dash was fine btw )
13) By that time you might have to carry the unabridged birth certificate of any minors traveling with you. Wasnt an issue now, but will become one soon...
The rest should all be common knowledge.
Have a cold one at Tiger Reef bar in Swakop for me
Just done a similar trip but done most of what you want to do.
Add to your list:
1) Large tire patches
2) If you can, even take a second spare. Nam's roads can be tough on tires. I learnt the hard way... Nam's taken three tires away from me and quite a few plug
Then, decrease your tire pressure. It seemed to help me on my last trip.
3) Water and plenty of it.
4) I would consider putting a seed net on the front. Not for seeds (not that many in Nam) but for flying stones from oncoming cars. We found that not only the tourists, but also the loacls did not slow down and thundered past one at terrible speeds.....
5) Sunblock and more
6) Time.... I counted 5 rolled and burnt out cars... Take it easy
7) Cash. In Windhoek and (only one) in Swakop we could pay for fuel by CC. The others wanted to add 5% of the purchase price onto a debit card and 10% for a credit card
8) A good medical aid kit. Should something go wrong, help is normally a loooong way away.
9) Fuel was available in Solitaire (~40Km from Rostock) as well as a very busy tire repair center
10) If you are fussy about your meat, I personally will take my own next time I go. I found the meat though tasty, expensive and not really appealing to the eye.
Biltong, all very good, but all around R280 / Kg....
11) Careful of taking pics at the border. Saw a guy nearly getting arrested for taking pics
12) Make sure the suspension is good on the caravans. Those roads are (currently due to lack of rain) really corrugated and will rattle pretty much anything apart (my dash was fine btw
)13) By that time you might have to carry the unabridged birth certificate of any minors traveling with you. Wasnt an issue now, but will become one soon...
The rest should all be common knowledge.
Have a cold one at Tiger Reef bar in Swakop for me