4 Wheel Drive Zone

As urban sprawl and suburban growth continue to crowd us more and more, the allure of open trails and roads less traveled becomes more and more appealing. While hiking and cycling offer a needed respite to many, others are drawn to the power, speed, versatility, and fun offered by all terrain vehicles. Unlike motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATV’s) sit on three or four wheels, and are easy enough for almost anyone to operate. Further, all terrain vehicles are easy to understand once you know a few simple basics.

Technically speaking, an all terrain vehicle is a small, open, three or four wheeled vehicle that is designed for off road travel. Those in the market for an ATV will quickly notice the paucity of three-wheeled versions on the market. Due to safety reasons - the three-wheelers had a tendency to tip over easily - only four-wheeled all terrain vehicles were legally produced from 1987 to 1997. Although it is again legal to produce the three-wheelers, very few have been produced.

Aside from the wheel configuration, all terrain vehicles can be divided into two distinct camps: sport models and utility models. Utility models are generally designed to haul small loads on racks or on attached trailer beds. While they may have an engine displacement similar or identical to a sport models, they are designed for more power and less speed. Sport models, on the other hand, are smaller, lighter, and faster, than their utility counterparts. Able to reach speeds as high as 90 miles per hour, some sport models are faster than many full sized cars.

With all that speed - literally at your fingertips - owners and operators of all terrain vehicles need to remember to put safety first. With engines as large as 800cc’s, these vehicles can be extremely powerful and they can accelerate quickly, making it easy to tip them over. While driving an ATV can be fun, functional, and exhilarating, it can be dangerous as well. Each year there are thousands of injuries, and hundreds of deaths, related to all terrain vehicles.

Despite the dangerous track record, all terrain vehicles can be safe and fun for those who follow basic safety precautions. With precautions in place all terrain vehicles provide a fun and fuel efficient way to hit the road, trail, or even hauling things around the farm. Lightweight, easy to store, fast, powerful, and fun; all terrain vehicles have earned their popularity through their utilitarian and recreational qualities.

From years living and working on the African continent, providing services to thousands of tourists and meeting dozens of independent travellers it was due time to explore the top ten tips for those wanting to embark on an African adventure in their own 4×4 vehicle.

You have spent years reading every book written about Overlanding from Cairo to Cape; you have bought all the lonely planet guide books and spent days on the internet researching your epic journey. The decision is made to go ahead and do it. But before you run out and spend thousands kitting out your beloved 4×4 or worse buy the ideal vehicle you should read this.

1. Concerned over not knowing what is out there many people take their car to the Expedition Preparation shop. These people would sell you anything under the sun “as long as it is checker plate it must be good”. “You must have these tyres for Africa” but they don’t tell you that particular tyre size and make is not available anywhere in Africa. So after your first blow-out you are stranded. The USD$2000 latest technology aluminium roof rack looks great but chances are it will crack on African roads and the two places that have a specialist who can weld aluminium are in Nairobi and Cape Town.

If all the “must have in Africa” equipment was that good and essential then it would sell in Africa and not in the western world.

2. There are a million brackets available to hang jerry cans, gas bottles, high jacks, sand mats, shovels etc to the side of the vehicle. If it doesn’t fall off chances are you will wake up one morning and all will be gone. Think about how much equipment you actually need and whether it can all be safely stored inside the vehicle.

3. Keep it simple; I have met people who managed to drive their standard old 2 wheel drives all the way through Africa without problems. Vehicle manufacturers have spent time and money in designing your 4×4 with all its handling characteristics hence keep in mind by lifting your suspension and body you will alter the handling characteristics and steering.

4. Always remember most vehicles in Africa are non 4×4s but they are constantly on the move. A 4×4 can be useful but not essential. Quite often it makes drivers over confident; this can lead to trouble like being bogged on their own in the middle of the Sahara.

Besides you do not have to climb over every single rock face and force your vehicle through metre deep mudpools. Just drive around the obstacle!

5. GPS and other electronic gadgets are great toys but electronic gadgets hate 3 things; heat, vibrations and dust. And this is exactly what they are going to get on an overland trip through Africa. Do not rely on them and make sure you are capable of navigating without them. In 2004 while crossing the Sahara desert in Mauritania we tested traditional sun navigation, compass and GPS. While climbing sand dunes the GPS had us positioned 30kms out to sea - we couldn’t even see the sea from where we were! The sun won, compass came 2nd and GPS 3rd! Here is a tip; have your compass professionally installed by a qualified technician to ensure it is calibrated to your vehicle.

6. The lighter the better. Small engine vehicles consumes less fuel which means you don’t have to carry gallons of extra fuel. Heavy vehicles are more likely to get stuck in soft sand or mud. Light vehicles handle a lot better and are more fun to drive. In 2006 a mate of ours lead a rally from Paris to Bamako; at the start line he arrived in a standard Nissan Bluebird equipped with a tool box from the supermarket, 2 second hand spare tyres, and 1×20lt jerry can for water. He was the only one to finish in Bamako without getting bogged in the Sahara. All the others had USD$100,000 fully decked out 4×4s (very heavy) and were constantly bogged.

7. Food and Water - unless you are going to spend weeks in the middle of the Sahara there is no need to bring tons of food supplies. There are millions of people who live in Africa and they do eat. In most big cities there are supermarkets for expats and surprisingly you can buy the little luxuries from home i.e. Pringles, parma ham, bacon and cheese. Bottled water can be bought or water can be taken from wells and be boiled or treated with iodine or other water treatments.

8. Paperwork - for all vehicles travelling through Africa on foreign number plates they must have a Carnet de Passage. Obtainable from your Automobile Association. This document is a customs paper to allow you to temporarily import your vehicle into the country. Do not leave home without this document.

9. Latest technology 4×4 vehicles have better power and fuel efficiency but are packed with electronics and high tech turbo chargers. These technologies are unknown in Africa. Chances are something will go wrong and no one can fix it. This can leave you stranded for weeks while waiting for spare parts to be flown in from your home country. Add a few extra days, bribes, import duties, stamp fees and nervs to get them cleared through local customs.

10. Never travel at night. An area that is totally safe during the day can turn into bandit country at night. Local vehicles tend to have no or faulty lights, trucks travelling at low speed, donkeys, cyclists and wild life are all over the road. Travelling at night can easily turn into a suicide mission.

The more basic it is the less that can go wrong. You want to enjoy the trip and experience Africa instead of spending half of your time fixing your vehicle and all your gadgets. Surely you can survive without the 12 volt hair dryer that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

Africa is an amazing continent and with a bit of know-how and common sense anyone can take The Long Way Down.