Product reviews

Caprivi seat covers

RIDE IN STYLE Seat covers that raise the bar

It’s a fact that 4x4ing and overlanding is a filthy business. You are inevitably climbing in and out of your vehicle, particularly when stuck or inspecting the terrain ahead, and bringing in leaves, sand, sticks, mud and various things that seem to grow overnight. Add a scattering of dog hair, plus those sticky kids’ snack leftovers, and in no time your cab looks like the dance floor at the end of a three-day music festival. The carpets take a lot of strain, and that’s best addressed with all-over rubber covers, but those fancy patterned cloth seats which seemed such a…

TBV Solar 160W flexible fold-up solar panel

Catching the sun: TBV Solar 160W flexible fold-up solar panel

If you have a dual-battery system, and run a fridge and other power-draws in remote places, you are going to have to invest in solar panels. A day’s driving will help top up your second battery, but unless you are near a 220V source, when you are parked for any length of time the power drain is going to kill your second battery within a day or two. There’s plenty of choice out there on the solar front − from large panels that can be fixed permanently to the roof of your trailer or van, to various more mobile units…

Ironman 4x4 Travel Master Multi-Rod and Multi-Reel

Gear: October must haves

Ironman 4×4 Travel Master Multi-Rod and Multi-Reel FISHING FRIEND For the travelling fisherman struggling for space, Ironman 4×4 has the perfect solution. The patent-pending carbon- fibre Travel Master Multi-Rod offers 36 combinations in nine different rod styles, giving the ideal setup at a moment’s notice for any demand from river to surf fishing. It all packs up into a compact carry tube. Complementing the Multi- Rod is the Multi-Reel, which features three pre-lined spools colour-coded to match the rod tips, pinion gears, 9 + 1 ball bearings, a 5.5:1 gearing ratio and a silent anti-reverse. R3315 011 634 7600 www.ironman4x4.co.za…

Built for a life of hard knocks

Underbody armour and why you need some bolt-on protection

By Andrew Middleton Whether you’re rock crawling or overlanding, the added safety that underbody protection provides may be a lifesaver for you and your vehicle. Just picture the scene: driving through the Namib, you hear a ghastly CLUNK – and you realise that the middelmannetjie was harbouring a jagged rock. There’s a hole in your sump and oil is gushing out. You wouldn’t be the first person to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a damaged vehicle, and you won’t be the last, but all this could easily be avoided with a decent bash plate. As standard, all…

Bulldog remoulded tyres

Gear: September must haves

Ironman 4×4 twin-LED work light WORK LIGHT The new universal work light from Ironman 4×4 is compact, with a low power draw from its two 5W CREE LEDs, and uses brand new reflectors to make the most of its superbright 840-lumen output. Easily mounted and wired in a variety of places on a 4×4, it is ideal for assistance in reversing, illuminating a camp area, or lighting the cargo area of a vehicle. It is IP67 and IP69K rated for ingress of water and dust, and features a diecast aluminium housing and stainless-steel mounting bracket. R495 (011) 634 7600 www.ironman4x4.co.za Tasco Essentials 10×50 binoculars IN FOCUS When it comes to general-use…

Trigger happy

Buyers Guide: Overlanding camera kit

A guide to the basics of photography and what you need in your kitbag to step up your image game when travelling in the wild. Since the dawn of human civilisation, humans have been creating images to replicate scenes that they see. Photography has progressed from ancient cave drawings to portraiture and the dawn of the digital age. Nowadays, the most commonly used camera is in your pocket at all times, and it’s incredible what one can achieve with a simple mobile phone. However, if you want to capture the beauty of nature in any great detail on your next adventure,…

Tentco 10cm & 5cm self-in ating mattress

Tentco 10cm & 5cm self-inflating mattress

NO-PAIN MATTRESS Z-fold and roll-up foam mattresses are bulky and take up a lot of packing space, so it’s worth taking a good look at the more compact self-inflating examples from Tentco. Made from PVC with an anti-slip coating below and a micro-suede covering on top for comfort, they insulate well, pack small and are extremely comfortable. They are supplied with a compression stuff sack: simply open the tape and they inflate themselves. The 5cm-thick example weighs 2kg, packs to a 70cm x 18cm roll, and opens out to 190 x 54cm; the 10cm weighs 3.65kg, packs to 70cm x 18cm, and opens out to 200 x 66cm. R599…

Escape Tracks

If you aren’t getting stuck, you need to try harder, goes the old 4×4 adage. But then you need to extract yourself – and these knobbly tracks made from UV-resistant LDPE (Polyethylene) are the business when it comes to regaining traction in mud, snow or sand. They stack together easily for carrying and mounting to a vehicle, weigh 2.8kg each, can support 3 metric tons, and measure up at 110 x 35 x 8cm. Order by email and expect to pay R120 for delivery to major metropolitan areas.

Outdoor Accessories JuiceBoost

JUMP STARTER This compact power bank packs a solid 200A starting punch. Designed to be compact enough to be kept in a cubby-hole (at 450 grams and just 17 x 8.5 x 3.2cm), it is also powerful enough to jump-start your vehicle up to 20 times on a single charge. The JuiceBoost will give your battery a boost when you need it most, but it can also charge your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or other USB device, and has an LED torch with a strobe and SOS setting for those night-time emergencies. It fits into a handy zip-up carry case, and is supplied with crocodile clips, 12V…

Tasco Essentials 10x50 binoculars

Tasco Essentials 10×50 binoculars

IN FOCUS When it comes to general-use Porro-prism binoculars, the Tasco Essentials range is keenly priced for what it offers – including fully coated lenses, a rugged rubber-coated housing and a variety of sizes and configurations. This 10×50 (magnification x objective lens) example with its centre focus mechanism and fold-down eye cups weighs a full-size 770 grams, and has a 122-metre field of view and a close-focus limit of 5.5 metres. R899 www.trappers.co.za *Prices are subject to change without notice. Check website for latest update. Item may not be available at all Trappers Stores.

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