Einträge mit dem Tag ‘Namib’

In true and typical raging research mode, I went on a quest on the Internet looking for answers to a seemingly simple question, Wheel Spacers - Good or Bad? I posted the question on three different bush whacking, rock smacking, hardcore 4×4 forums, one in South Africa, one in the USA and the other in Oz. The results were rather interesting to say the least and I am now more confused then before. But that’s not the point

Before I take it any further I have to say that I neither mean any disrespect, nor do I intend to mock anybody or sound condescending. I just find it rather fascinating how different perceptions can be. It’s in the eye of the beholder, yes? Pursuant to my concerns and questions posted I received this, no doubt well meant reply:

Having taken a fully loaded and that is at GVM across the Simpson Desert and for an extended off-road and remote area tracks evaluation covering over 3500km I do not agree with your assessment of the potential risks.

Fun in the Namib

Allrighty then, me thought. Through the desert, fully loaded, 3500km at GVM, sounds just like the kinda scenario Wohni was conceptualised for. Strange enough, while the thread was going on and on, participants pointing out who has the mostest experience and the bestest knowledge, it was only two days later when I thought to myself “let’s check out this ominous Simpson Desert”. After all, there are all kinds of desert. Amongst many others the Sahara, largest of them all, the Moab, rock crawlers paradise or the mighty Namib, the oldest one of them all with the highest shifting dunes in the world, towering some 300 metres into the air.

Just to recap, the Namib is quasi right at our door step and my main photographic interest is the desert, especially dunes. Which makes it slightly important to conceptualise and build a rig suitable to traversing these areas and capable of taking the abuse and strain, both terrain and environment will confront it with.

Which brings us to the Simpson Desert and the challenges it presents to man and machine:

Big Red

Let's Go!

Big Red, also known by its aboriginal name as Nappamerri, is a huge sand dune in the Simpson Desert that stands approximately 90 metres above sea level and 35 metres above the plain, although height may vary due to winds and dunal movement. This sand dune which sits 33kms west of Birdsville in Queensland, provides an extremely challenging feat for 4WD enthusiasts although it is not necessary to scale its height to traverse the Simspon Desert as there are alternative routes. Source: Exploroz

No further comment, yet, besides trying to show (with the video footage below) what a dune can be, I’m happy to use this opportunity to introduce iDream Africa. Because I love what these guys are doing and because together with them I had the best fun you can have with your clothes on - with much more of it yet to come.

Keep it straight,

Tommy

iDreamAfrica - “Don’t Try This At Home” (00:15)

iDreamAfrica - “Desert Adventure” (04:31)

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4×4 boffins around southern Africa have a philosophy, or theory (it depends), which goes something like this:

• You can (and many actually did) get to and experience most parts even in a VW Beetle
• You will usually need the 4×4 only for the last 50 meters, which you might as well walk
• Should something go wrong and/or should you encounter seriously challenging terrain somewhere along the route, any ‘ole 4×4 won’t be good enough
• If your vehicle and mainly your driving skills won’t live up to it, you are f***ed

As a desert lover and photographer, who obviously likes to take pictures in and of the desert (duhhh) amongst other subject matters, I want to be able to move in and around the desert, or rather, ANY KIND of desert. Namibia and southern Africa provide plenty of opportunities in that regard and more.

Low level in 210s - unbeatable

UN (WFP) ops in Angola

Having had the pleasure to see a large part of southern Africa from the air, I now want to experience it on the ground and close-up. Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, and so on and so on, live is too short (*sigh*). Simply crossing those countries and/or areas thereof will not suffice, there are certain locations and routes I have set my mind on going to and I am determined to go there on wheels.

The above mentioned objectives and goals obviously immediately eliminate the likes of any Soft Roaders, Crossover SUVs and whatever else is available on the markey today, which merely make it easier for soccer mom to attack curbs without having to worry about it.

No comment ;)

Yet another very important consideration is self-sufficiency, hence suitable amounts of water, food, electricity and fuel, sometimes for many days and kilometers, presenting a challenge for the vehicle, which has to carry all of the before mentioned - plus - occupants (in our case a family), their clothes, toys, etc. pp. you name it. That ticks off the likes of even most Full-size SUVs and double cab Bakkies, especially for us, who do not like either tents or roof-top tents, nor do we like camping “out-of-the-box”.

No comment ;)

On top of it all we appreciate some sort of comfort and safety together with the option to sleep in a comfy bed and/or to cook a pot of noodles without having to unpack half a ton of boxes, bags and stuff from the back of an SUV or Bakkie. Also, and I actually do understand women in that regard for once in a while, your own hygienic toilet and washing/showering facilities do make a difference, especially if easily accessed. This rules out anything that does not come close to some sort of cabin in the back.

Trailer, you say? I almost forgot to address trailers, and we actually where so close to buying one at some stage, I have to admit that the concept and convenience of a trailer is hard to beat. However, although I have listened to all the stories of off-road trailers having been schlepped up and down and through the bundus, which have done it “nooo problem” and even made it back home, I’m sorry I just cannot see a trailer towing vehicle covering hundreds of kilometers of gravel, rocks and bumps, the likes you encounter in Damaraland, never mind crossing a dry river bed or any other “patches” of heavy sand i.e. the Namib (?) Huh?.

Last but not least, I (yes, me!) get a hissy-fit if I have to look at the back of the same truck or bus for 300 kilometers. Usually in this part of the world, these guys go up the hill with 40km/h and down the hill with 140km/h. Overtaking them asks for good nerves, lots of horses and/or pre-planning of a one kilometer sprint on a 5 kilometer stretch. Yes, the journey is the destination, but every now and then you have to cover some distance and would appreciate arriving before midnight. This rules out all heavies which are usually limited to the same speed as the stinker in front of you together with recent years’ Defenders and their sodding under powered turbo-diesels (sorry guys - you know who ;). At least for now. Mayhap - or even most probably - once I’m old and grey and have too much money and time at hand, I will gladly tinker from Cape to Kairo while on a 17 year sabbatical.

LC70 Concept - deployed

LC70 Concept - closed

Sooo, where does that leave us? Well, for now it leaves us (our family) with exactly what we have chosen - a Toyota Landcruiser Bakkie which will in the very near future piggy-back a cabin and which is being converted to a 4×4 Camper, as we speak.

The decision to buy a new one was a no-brainer, because good second hand ones are a) not easy to come by and b) not that much cheaper then a new one. Plus - the new Landcruiser, amongst other niceties, comes standard with what had to be fitted aftermarket to the old one i.e. long range tanks, aircon, diff-locks, etc.

So far, so good, … so long,

Tommy

Share This

4×4 boffins around southern Africa have a philosophy, or theory (it depends), which goes something like this:

• You can (and many actually did) get to and experience most parts even in a VW Beetle
• You will usually need the 4×4 only for the last 50 meters, which you might as well walk
• Should something go wrong and/or should you encounter seriously challenging terrain somewhere along the route, any ‘ole 4×4 won’t be good enough
• If your vehicle and mainly your driving skills won’t live up to it, you are f***ed

As a desert lover and photographer, who obviously likes to take pictures in and of the desert (duhhh) amongst other subject matters, I want to be able to move in and around the desert, or rather, ANY KIND of desert. Namibia and southern Africa provide plenty of opportunities in that regard and more.

Low level in 210s - unbeatable

UN (WFP) ops in Angola

Having had the pleasure to see a large part of southern Africa from the air, I now want to experience it on the ground and close-up. Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, and so on and so on, live is too short (*sigh*). Simply crossing those countries and/or areas thereof will not suffice, there are certain locations and routes I have set my mind on going to and I am determined to go there on wheels.

The above mentioned objectives and goals obviously immediately eliminate the likes of any Soft Roaders, Crossover SUVs and whatever else is available on the markey today, which merely make it easier for soccer mom to attack curbs without having to worry about it.

No comment ;)

Yet another very important consideration is self-sufficiency, hence suitable amounts of water, food, electricity and fuel, sometimes for many days and kilometers, presenting a challenge for the vehicle, which has to carry all of the before mentioned - plus - occupants (in our case a family), their clothes, toys, etc. pp. you name it. That ticks off the likes of even most Full-size SUVs and double cab Bakkies, especially for us, who do not like either tents or roof-top tents, nor do we like camping “out-of-the-box”.

No comment ;)

On top of it all we appreciate some sort of comfort and safety together with the option to sleep in a comfy bed and/or to cook a pot of noodles without having to unpack half a ton of boxes, bags and stuff from the back of an SUV or Bakkie. Also, and I actually do understand women in that regard for once in a while, your own hygienic toilet and washing/showering facilities do make a difference, especially if easily accessed. This rules out anything that does not come close to some sort of cabin in the back.

Trailer, you say? I almost forgot to address trailers, and we actually where so close to buying one at some stage, I have to admit that the concept and convenience of a trailer is hard to beat. However, although I have listened to all the stories of off-road trailers having been schlepped up and down and through the bundus, which have done it “nooo problem” and even made it back home, I’m sorry I just cannot see a trailer towing vehicle covering hundreds of kilometers of gravel, rocks and bumps, the likes you encounter in Damaraland, never mind crossing a dry river bed or any other “patches” of heavy sand i.e. the Namib (?) Huh?.

Last but not least, I (yes, me!) get a hissy-fit if I have to look at the back of the same truck or bus for 300 kilometers. Usually in this part of the world, these guys go up the hill with 40km/h and down the hill with 140km/h. Overtaking them asks for good nerves, lots of horses and/or pre-planning of a one kilometer sprint on a 5 kilometer stretch. Yes, the journey is the destination, but every now and then you have to cover some distance and would appreciate arriving before midnight. This rules out all heavies which are usually limited to the same speed as the stinker in front of you together with recent years’ Defenders and their sodding under powered turbo-diesels (sorry guys - you know who ;). At least for now. Mayhap - or even most probably - once I’m old and grey and have too much money and time at hand, I will gladly tinker from Cape to Kairo while on a 17 year sabbatical.

LC70 Concept - deployed

LC70 Concept - closed

Sooo, where does that leave us? Well, for now it leaves us (our family) with exactly what we have chosen - a Toyota Landcruiser Bakkie which will in the very near future piggy-back a cabin and which is being converted to a 4×4 Camper, as we speak.

The decision to buy a new one was a no-brainer, because good second hand ones are a) not easy to come by and b) not that much cheaper then a new one. Plus - the new Landcruiser, amongst other niceties, comes standard with what had to be fitted aftermarket to the old one i.e. long range tanks, aircon, diff-locks, etc.

So far, so good, … so long,

Tommy

Share This

4×4 boffins around southern Africa have a philosophy, or theory (it depends), which goes something like this:

• You can (and many actually did) get to and experience most parts even in a VW Beetle
• You will usually need the 4×4 only for the last 50 meters, which you might as well walk
• Should something go wrong and/or should you encounter seriously challenging terrain somewhere along the route, any ‘ole 4×4 won’t be good enough
• If your vehicle and mainly your driving skills won’t live up to it, you are f***ed

As a desert lover and photographer, who obviously likes to take pictures in and of the desert (duhhh) amongst other subject matters, I want to be able to move in and around the desert, or rather, ANY KIND of desert. Namibia and southern Africa provide plenty of opportunities in that regard and more.

Low level in 210s - unbeatable

UN (WFP) ops in Angola

Having had the pleasure to see a large part of southern Africa from the air, I now want to experience it on the ground and close-up. Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, and so on and so on, live is too short (*sigh*). Simply crossing those countries and/or areas thereof will not suffice, there are certain locations and routes I have set my mind on going to and I am determined to go there on wheels.

The above mentioned objectives and goals obviously immediately eliminate the likes of any Soft Roaders, Crossover SUVs and whatever else is available on the markey today, which merely make it easier for soccer mom to attack curbs without having to worry about it.

No comment ;)

Yet another very important consideration is self-sufficiency, hence suitable amounts of water, food, electricity and fuel, sometimes for many days and kilometers, presenting a challenge for the vehicle, which has to carry all of the before mentioned - plus - occupants (in our case a family), their clothes, toys, etc. pp. you name it. That ticks off the likes of even most Full-size SUVs and double cab Bakkies, especially for us, who do not like either tents or roof-top tents, nor do we like camping “out-of-the-box”.

No comment ;)

On top of it all we appreciate some sort of comfort and safety together with the option to sleep in a comfy bed and/or to cook a pot of noodles without having to unpack half a ton of boxes, bags and stuff from the back of an SUV or Bakkie. Also, and I actually do understand women in that regard for once in a while, your own hygienic toilet and washing/showering facilities do make a difference, especially if easily accessed. This rules out anything that does not come close to some sort of cabin in the back.

Trailer, you say? I almost forgot to address trailers, and we actually where so close to buying one at some stage, I have to admit that the concept and convenience of a trailer is hard to beat. However, although I have listened to all the stories of off-road trailers having been schlepped up and down and through the bundus, which have done it “nooo problem” and even made it back home, I’m sorry I just cannot see a trailer towing vehicle covering hundreds of kilometers of gravel, rocks and bumps, the likes you encounter in Damaraland, never mind crossing a dry river bed or any other “patches” of heavy sand i.e. the Namib (?) Huh?.

Last but not least, I (yes, me!) get a hissy-fit if I have to look at the back of the same truck or bus for 300 kilometers. Usually in this part of the world, these guys go up the hill with 40km/h and down the hill with 140km/h. Overtaking them asks for good nerves, lots of horses and/or pre-planning of a one kilometer sprint on a 5 kilometer stretch. Yes, the journey is the destination, but every now and then you have to cover some distance and would appreciate arriving before midnight. This rules out all heavies which are usually limited to the same speed as the stinker in front of you together with recent years’ Defenders and their sodding under powered turbo-diesels (sorry guys - you know who ;). At least for now. Mayhap - or even most probably - once I’m old and grey and have too much money and time at hand, I will gladly tinker from Cape to Kairo while on a 17 year sabbatical.

LC70 Concept - deployed

LC70 Concept - closed

Sooo, where does that leave us? Well, for now it leaves us (our family) with exactly what we have chosen - a Toyota Landcruiser Bakkie which will in the very near future piggy-back a cabin and which is being converted to a 4×4 Camper, as we speak.

The decision to buy a new one was a no-brainer, because good second hand ones are a) not easy to come by and b) not that much cheaper then a new one. Plus - the new Landcruiser, amongst other niceties, comes standard with what had to be fitted aftermarket to the old one i.e. long range tanks, aircon, diff-locks, etc.

So far, so good, … so long,

Tommy

Share This