Greetings from Western Australia

Greeting from WA

By way of introduction, some expedition history to share.

Grew up in Europe, left when 20 to Aus, then Africa, then NZ, now back in Aus.

Longest trip was 14 months in Africa with the then girlfriend now wife (good test of spousal potential). SA, Zim, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea….and back again. 45,000kms in our extensively modified 1993 South African made Hilux… Fantastic journey.

Numerous short trips, 4-8 weeks, in Southern Africa, mostly Zim, Botswana, Namibia. Love that part of the world. Covered 225,000kms in my Hilux over the years.

Then to NZ. Fell in love with the country on the spot and travelled to every nook and cranny in our…extensively modified…Toyota 4Runner plus SA made camping trailer. Several shorter trips then a 6 month summer tour of the N&S Islands. Loved it so much we became citizens. Bred, worked, left for Aus for something a bit different for a while.

Now in WA, pondering the next moves. Two little rascals, one adventurous wife and eight itchy feet, planning the big one around Aus. Drive a well sorted mine spec Prado now thankfully with a company fuel card ‘cos wow it’s a thirsty beast (petrol) when towing the camper trailer, also a SA made design. But won’t be able to go round Aus in that so thinking about the next project vehicle – Toyota all the way – lots of decisions…

Love building sorted 4WD trucks with all the goodies, big passion of mine in between fishing and boating and work of course.

Looking forward to reading about peoples’ expeditions and fun and games on the back tracks.

Hello & Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like you have lots of experience. Look forward to hearing your stories.

TJ

Got any pics of the truck?

Welcome mate!

"planning the big one around Aus" That's gotta be one awesome journey, how long do you reckon that would take?

Hi and Welcome,

Selection of Africa photos, a couple from NZ and recent ones from Aus. These days it never occurs to me to take photos of the rig, will do some Xmas specials on the south coast in a couple of weeks...

Camp in Namibia


Zambian bridge (repair before crossing, a necessary precaution)


Huge donga under this puddle which nearly flipped us over - Central Kalahari


Tanzanian road - 450km in 4.5 days - Masasi to Songea - this road even has a number - the A19. Hell and damnation all the way.


Madam's game viewing spot - Savuti, Botswana. A few years later she fell off in a remote park in Zambia, about 350km from the nearest clinic. She bounced but destroyed her ankle which we were able to splint. Very lucky girl.


Oldest dunes in the world - Sousessvlei, Namibia


NZ - before the trailer came along. Great set up. one chick, one Stafford, one happy camper.


NZ - Rainbow pass - can't find any with the trailer set up. Note ever present Stafford. Well travelled dog that one. He went on his final journey to the Sky Kennel a few weeks ago, his replacement is on order, delivery in time for Christmas!
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Last weekend in Orleans Bay, south coast WA.



So many great memories...

hi,
welcome this forum.

Hello and Welcome.

A 4x4 trip in Namibia is on my wish list. One day....

Keith

Sorry to hear about the Staff. Had an Irish Wolfhound once, fantastic dog, truly a gentle giant. Trouble is they only live to about 8 years old, so of course the inevitable happened all too soon. She couldn't be beaten, never have another one!

BTW, what's a donga?

donga (plural dongas). (South African) A usually dry, eroded watercourse running only in times of heavy rain.

i.e. a bloody great big nasty hole that was a significant surprise.

During your travels what particular type and brand of tyre have you been using. You would have travelled over a variety of different surfaces both wet and dry that should have been a good test bed for them.

Keith

Dunlop Universal 10ply cross-ply tyres on split rims with inner tubes.

Old fashioned 'biscuit' tyres. Excellent durability and available anywhere and everywhere. Could pump them to 4bar on volcanic rock (e.g. Namibia) or as low as 1bar on sand (e.g. Namibia, about 2kms down the road from the volcanic rock).

Easy to fix with the splitties and inner tubes.

Much cheaper than specialist radials.

Experience was that radials were very susceptible to sidewall punctures, especially 'ironwood' (ancient acacia branches) hiding in sand flicked up when you drove over it, a killer in places like Botswana. Back in the day the only genuine option for radials was the General Super All Grip which was standard on the Landies, but not available in the right size for the Hilux.

Univerals were very surprisingly effective. I got the tip from an overlander who went before me, I trusted his judgement, no regrets whatsoever. They look a bit weedy, don't be fooled!

hartster wrote:

donga (plural dongas). (South African) A usually dry, eroded watercourse running only in times of heavy rain.

i.e. a bloody great big nasty hole that was a significant surprise.

Enlightening this forum!