The Beast; Champion Or Dud?
The Beast is our 1997 much revamped Toyota Land Cruiser. A veteran of many adventures and the subject of a love/hate relationship (mostly love).
The Early Days
We bought The Beast for R70 000 with 140 000 kilometres on the clock. The AA ran all the checks and balances and gave it a clean bill of health. The vehicle was a single cab and we took no time in converting it into a double cab and added 70 cms of extra length to the bin.
How Not to Moments
The pros and cons of galvanising
The pros and cons of modifying a bakkie into a twin cab and extending the bin
The pros and cons of a photographic hatch
Game reserve rules and a photographic hatch
How Not to Moments
The pros and cons of galvanising
The pros and cons of modifying a bakkie into a twin cab and extending the bin
The pros and cons of a photographic hatch
Game reserve rules and a photographic hatch
Safari Conversion
Having converted it to a twin cab we now needed to convert the back to a safari vehicle. A permanent aluminium top was fitted to the bin, weather proof, strong enough for us to stand on and secure. We had canvas sides and roof fitted, supported with a square mild steel frame work. Other additions included …
How Not To Moments
Does weight hanging off the back of the vehicle matter ?
Do you need 4 car batteries ?
Do Jerry cans work ?
Why were we hated by every other game viewing vehicle ?
Does pressure testing fuel tanks guarantee a good build ?
How Not To Moments
Does weight hanging off the back of the vehicle matter ?
Do you need 4 car batteries ?
Do Jerry cans work ?
Why were we hated by every other game viewing vehicle ?
Does pressure testing fuel tanks guarantee a good build ?
Tyre Troubles
Little did we know that tyres were going to be one of our major expenses on our trips. On the first big trip we limped home, having started with 6 brand new tyres and buying another 3 en route. When we arrived home the spares were shot and there was a slow puncture in one of the back tyres. So we used 9 tyres in the trip and arrived home with 3 usable ones. Possibly a record!
How Not To Moments
How not to choose the right tyres
How not to change a tyre
Tyre covers are for people who drive around cities
How Not To Moments
How not to choose the right tyres
How not to change a tyre
Tyre covers are for people who drive around cities
Stranded
I was so chuffed at my first wheel change that I had forgotten to tighten the wheel nuts properly. The first inkling of disaster was the ping of a wheel nut whizzing past a local cyclists head. This was followed by a new rhythmic sound of metal on metal. I stopped. There were only two out of five wheel nuts left. The rest had sheared off. We were stuck.
How Not To Moments
How to break your wheel studs again
How not to plug a tyre
A silly reason to have a flat tyre
How Not To Moments
How to break your wheel studs again
How not to plug a tyre
A silly reason to have a flat tyre
Highlift Jacks, Axle Jacks And Accessories
Torque wrench
The repeated punctures on the Nambian roads soon led to better tyre changes. We had only two jacks and have bought another 3 over the years and discarded a few as worthless, too heavy or down right dangerous. The 15 inch wheel rims result in the axle being closer to the ground after a puncture with less clearance. The result is the jack will often not squeeze between the axle and the ground, even when fully adjusted down. We have learnt over the years to …
How Not To Moments
How not to watch you car fall off the jack
How not to spend hours lifting an overloaded car.
How not to watch the car sink into sand while you change the tyre
Dumped items
Essential items …
The beginning of a list of what we consider essential safari items
How Not To Moments
How not to watch you car fall off the jack
How not to spend hours lifting an overloaded car.
How not to watch the car sink into sand while you change the tyre
Dumped items
Essential items …
The beginning of a list of what we consider essential safari items
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