Car Parts and Accessories

Snow is not a common occurence throughout most of Southern Africa, the only exceptions being the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho and parts of the Drakensberg, KwaZuluNatal. Off-road driving in snowy conditions requires the off-roader to make use of the same techniques as for driving on sand and mud. (more…)

When you are buying a 4×4 for regular use in the bush, you will need to decide whether the vehicle’s suspension system should be fitted with leaf or coil springs. (more…)

You are bound to get stuck at some time or other, so be prepared for it. Vehicles tend to get stuck mostly in sand or mud, although there are exceptions. I will focus here on techniques to recover your vehicle from sand and mud. (more…)

Mesh cover for the radiator No 4×4 vehicle should be without a mosquito metal mesh cover fitted to the radiator. On a Land Rover, it can be attached to the grill; on a Land Cruiser, a light frame into which the mesh is mounted can be added to the front of the radiator. Most other vehicles will use either of these methods to cover the radiator. The mesh cover effectively prevents grass seeds and insects from clogging up the orifices in the radiator. (more…)

Safety

There is a lever on the moving foot of the jack which reverses the body lifting mechanism. It points up for lifting and down for lowering. Never leave the lever in the down position with a load suspended on the jack. Only have it in that position when operating the handle for lowering. If the vehicle is knocked the jack could slip or work itself down the column, which is not only inconvenient but can be extremely dangerous as the handle will be thrown up and down by the weight of the load. (more…)

THE HIGH-LIFT JACK

Designed for lifting heavy machinery and loads it was almost inevitable that the high-lift jack would become an essential tool for the off roader. It is probably the single most useful piece of equipment you can carry on your vehicle but, like any mechanical device, it must be treated with a certain amount of respect. The main use to which it can be put is for direct self-recovery; indirectly, it can be modified to operate as a winch and a more mundane use is for lifting the vehicle when changing a wheel, Other, rather specific, uses include breaking tyre seals when in remote regions, as a clamp, and for spreading or closing bodywork. The jack should come with an attachment that bolts on to the end of the column at a right angle. This can then be used as a clamp. (more…)

THE ROPE

A good strong rope is one of the essential pieces of kit for the off roader. It is a fairly common sight to see some of these people with a hemp rope draped around their front bumper or bull bar. This has a degree of pose value but has a number of drawbacks. It is certainly important to stow the rope in a place from where it can be easily collected but this should also be clean. Hemp rots quickly if it gets wet and muddy. In fact, man-made fibre is preferable to hemp as it will not rot. Mud and sand in any rope will, if it is used regularly, cause it to deteriorate as the grit abrades the fibre. Keep it clean. (more…)

Another recent innovation for leaf-sprung vehicles is a type of strong spring that sits between the bush housing and the axle. This simple attachment connects these two points and pulls up the front end of your leaf spring to give it more firmness. But, unlike the extra blade, this spring does not strengthen the system. This impression of strength could lead you to overload your vehicle, and cause the leaf spring to break much sooner when off-roading, with dire consequences for you and your companions. This gadget works well on good and moderate roads. (more…)

Freewheeling hubs

These are only fitted when the vehicle has part-time FWD. whilst driving in only two-wheel drive the front prop shaft becomes disconnected so that no drive goes to the front wheels. However, as the front wheels rotate so the half-shafts, front differential and prop shaft rotate as they are still connected. The friction from this dead weight will increase fuel consumption and increase wear on these parts. When disengaged the freewheeling hubs will disconnect the wheel from the half-shaft (and therefore the Jiff. and prop shaft). (more…)

As with any specialist subject matter, terms grow and develop within it. Enthusiasts take this still further, creating ‘in’ words that few outsiders really understand. However, this need not be so complicated.

The transmission system

It is the transmission system of the off-road vehicle that makes it so distinct from others and gives it its versatility. (more…)

As in the descent, walk the proposed route first. It is useless driving to the top of a slope only to discover it is impossible to get down the other side or even turn round. Again, look for your best route, watching out for extra bumps or ridges which could throw you off course and sideways on the hill. Uphill, steering becomes a problem because of the transfer of the vehicle’s weight to the rear wheels, lightening the steering. (more…)

It is best to avoid driving across a slope. If you have to do so keep your speed low and constant, checking the ground ahead. Look out for any bumps on the upper side and dips on the lower which could dramatically increase the angle. The maximum angle of tilt specified by manufacturers for their vehicles refers to controlled conditions and they do not take into consideration deviations in terrain. (more…)

CROSSING DITCHES

Whether it is a ditch or just a deep hole that bars your route the essential precept is to keep three wheels driving. This can be achieved by only dropping one wheel into a ditch at a time. Always approach and cross at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, taking it slowly in a low gear. (more…)

The first of these is quite different from the rest and it is often the most difficult to cross, particularly when in the form of dry sand dunes. Sand requires flotation rather than grip on the surface. Normally one would not encounter this type of ground in any quantity; were you to do so, then sand tyres might be a safe option.

Lowering the tyre pressures is one way of dealing with soft ground. (more…)

Whatever vehicle you have, the performance of it will ultimately be down to the ability, or otherwise, of the tyres to grip the ground and to perform well in the terrain you are trying to cross. There is not a tyre made that is perfect for all conditions; the advice we give is based on personal experience and the collected views of 4×4 off-road drivers from around the world, rather than the findings of scientific research. Thus it is offered to you in that spirit. For this reason we cannot be held responsible for any events or circumstances arising from the use or misuse of this information. (more…)

Mechanical Devices

There are countless devices to protect the car and its contents, ranging from steering wheel clamps to steering column locks, electronically coded sound systems, gearlever locks and clamps, bonnet locks, electrical cut-outs, fuel cut-outs, even a removable steering wheel. Many use a mixture of mechanical and electronic components and may be activated (and deactivated) by a key, hidden switch, electronic keypad, remote control switch or combination padlock. Here are some of the more common types. (more…)

Also referred to as ‘clutch starting‘, this is a trick which only works with a manual car, and even then only if you have a couple of energetic friends or a convenient hill. (more…)

You have to be very unlucky or totally irresponsible with maintenance to experience total brake failure. Most modern cars have dual braking circuits which are virtually failsafe and, despite how often brake failure is used as an excuse for accidents, it is very rare. (more…)

Don’t let a breakdown ruin your holiday

A roadside breakdown can ruin a well-planned holiday—so it is worth taking a little time to check over your vehicle before setting out. It is obviously impossible to foresee every type of breakdown that could occur; but by following the check list you should be able to avoid some of the more common roadside problems.

Brake pads

Remove one of the rear wheels and check the thickness of the brake pads. If the pad is less than 2 mm thick, seek advice. (more…)

Auto Driver Ability

Poor driving habits can be costly in both vehicle repairs and fuel consumption.

Fast driving is unquestionably a fuel waster, as is rapid acceleration, unnecessary braking (often a result of driving too close to the vehicle in front) and unnecessary use of the gearbox. Never ‘floor’ the accelerator pedal. Change from the lower gears as quickly as circumstances permit and use only the first quarter of throttle movement. If necessary, have your garage fit a second spring to the throttle mechanism to increase tension.

Tests carried out by the AA Technical Department on the Johannesburg- Pretoria highway showed that reducing speed from 90 km / h to 70 km / h reduced fuel consumption by 16 per cent; and reducing speed from 90 km/h to 80 km/h reduced fuel consumed by 11 per cent. (more…)