CONTENTS

1. CHOOSING A 4X4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Engines Four-wheel Drive Transmission Systems Ground Clearance Suspension Other features to Consider Grey Imports Buying Second-hand 3 8 19 22 25 27 28

2. VEHICLES - THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

1. Lightweights Asia Rocsta Daihatsu Rocky and Terios Honda CRV Jeep CJ Kia Spor tage Lada Niva Land Rover Freelander Mahindra Mitsubishi Pajero SWB Nissan Terrano Ssangyong Korando Suzuki SJ410 and SJ413 Samurai Suzuki V itara and Grand V itara SVM Mohican Toyota RAV4 2. Workhorses and Pick-ups Ford Courier Isuzu KB Land Rover series1,2,3,Defender Mazda B-series Mitsubishi Colt Nissan Hardbody Toyota Hilux Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-up 3. Leisure Station-Wagons Isuzu Frontier Isuzu Trooper Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee Land Rover Discover y Land Rover Range Rover Mercedes Benz G-Wagen Mercedes M-class Mitsubishi Pajero LWB Nissan Patrol 34 35 35 37 39 39 39 41 42 43 45 45 47 47 48 49 49 49 51 59 59 61 61 65 68 69 71 72 74 78 79 81 83

Nissan Sani Ssangyong Musso Toyota Land Cr uiser Prado Toyota Land Cr uiser 50,60,80 and 100 series Volkswagen Syncro bus 4. Specialised and Unusual Vehicles

85 87 87 89 93 94

3. AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Body Mounted Accessories Suspension Modifications Auxiliar y Tanks Auxiliar y Lighting Gauges Electrics Roof Racks Miscellaneous Auxiliar y Equipment Suppliers 98 101 103 106 108 110 117 118 124

4. WHEELS AND TYRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Tyre Selection Tyre Buyers Guide Tyre Pressures Spare Wheel Location Wheel Rims Tyre Maintenance in the Bush Repairing a Puncture 128 136 140 141 142 144 145

5. DRIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Using Four-Wheel Drive Transmissions Specific Off-Road Driving Situations 152 158

6. VEHICLE RECOVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Winches Recover y Accessories Tuggum/Snatch/Kinetic straps Jacks Traction Aids Recover y Techniques Use of W inches Use of Tuggum Straps Use of the High-lift Jack Use of Sand Ladders 184 193 199 201 203 205 207 212 214 218

7. TRAILERS AND TOWING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

Towing Equipment Towing On-Road Towing Off-Road Off-Road Trailer Buyers Guide 222 227 231 233

8. THE TRAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

Vehicle Packing Roof-top tents Camp Fridge/Freezers Camping Safari Clothing First Aid Water and Sur vival Wild Animals Game V iewing and Photography Specilaist 4x4 Maps 4x4 Trails book Lists Conversion tables 248 252 254 260 267 267 269 272 278 279 279 280 285

9. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND BUSH REPAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287

Maintenance Breakdowns Welding on a Vehicle Filters Handling Fuel 288 288 297 298 298

10. NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303

Navigation The GPS Traditional Map Reading Communication Equipment Installation 304 304 309 318 318 322

11. CONSERVATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325

On the Beach Camping Responsible Behaviour 326 328 329

12. THE MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

A sincere thank you to the following people who provided invaluable support for this edition : Julian, Blake and Kelvin Snijman - travelling companions and all-round assistance Jacques Maritz - travelling companion Graham Eagle, Nissan South Africa - vehicles and other support Wayne Asher, Continental Tyres - great tyres and endless support Michael Lester, Toyota South Africa - vehicles and other support Gwynn White, Sam Wrench and Carol Stephens