Namibia 2015
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:49 pm
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
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
Geniet dit!!
