Cape Town to Swakopmund

[MarkASmith]

Hi Tinus.

Hmm, that hurt at 3.2 km/l but I learnt a few things on this trip. Only engage 4x4 when you need it as running in 4x4 on gravel or hard sand just suck fuel due to the additional drag. My save you tires but if you not spinning there is no reason it would. In 4x2 I was getting 5.8, engage 4x4 and it dropped to 4 and the thick stuff 3.2

To be honest and in the in the bigger scheme of things I can live with the consumption. I could have gone with my TD5, used lass fuel but..... (you know what comes next) so with the bad consumption comes the Patrol awesome ability and reliability so it’s all good.

[Tinus lotz]

I have had similar results. ...your thinking is correct. ..also make use of toptronic especially when towing. ..stops slip on gearbox when gearing up and down

[Peter Connan]

Funny, I have found exactly the opposite:
The moment conditions get tough, using 4x4 saves me fuel.

Wonder if it has something to do with auto vs manual...

[Tinus lotz]

Piet is has to do with hi and low range and auto box gearing up and down . I think a person needs to drive in hi range but when ulabouring the car go low

[David]

Yip. On the auto box I also find the torque converter slipping has the greatest impact on fuel consumption. There is definitely less slip in manual mode and when towing I would almost always slip it over to manual mode 4th.

On gravel (good or bad) I always put it in 4H - I don't care about consumption - your level of control should something go wrong is just so much better!

What happened to the Oryx? Commander! - Go big or go home!

Nice feedback Mark - where did you cross the border and how did the Patrol handle Groenrivier?

[MarkASmith]

Hi David.

The go big or go home applies to my family not the caravan, LoL.

I started camping with a two man tend with with an ex who hated camping. Then after two kids I move to a large tent but once the ex was gone I inherited two more kids with my new better half. Camping then became a major challange so decided to buy trailer tent which was great as it did make life easier hower it still meant erecting a tent for the boys to sleep in.

I looked at the Oryx but decided there was no point as on a one day stop I would be back to square one. After looking at all the options there was only one that could accomodate two adults and 4 kids and still have the ability to go everywhere and trust me it does.

I am very happy with my choice. When we have the kids with us we have enough space and when we are on our own we dont use the front section and have loads of space. After my 3500km + trip I just did I think I made the right choice.

Cheers,
Mark

[MarkASmith]

Sorry, to answer the rest, groenrivier with the Commander in tow was no problem at all. Deflated the Patrol to 0.8 bar and the Commander to 1 bar. Even drove down to the caves with it in tow without a problem.

Was my intention to cross at Alexanderbay but decided to divert and go to Richtersveld and cross at sendlingsdrift.