Baboons 5 to 8 October 2017

Planning a get together (GTG), trip or competition?
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Alex Roux
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Baboons 5 to 8 October 2017

Post by Alex Roux »

Hi everyone

This is the Baboons Thread
It is a mountain pass in Lesotho, and regarded the most difficult public road to drive on in Southern Africa.

In terms of difficulty, it is right up there. Even recently it has resulted in groups havign to abandon a vehicle to be recoverd at a later stage.
So definitely not for the fainthearted.

The proposed date to start this tour will be to leave Gauteng on 3 October (early morning).
Day 1: Getting to the overnight point just before the pass at Ramabantla.
Day 2: First day in the pass, about 8 hours of "sukkel" - (under dry clear conditions)
Day 3: Second day in the pass, about 6 hours of "sukkel"- (under dry clear conditions)

It will be slow going most of the way. But hopefully it will not rain or snow (this can still happen in October), in which case the "sukkel" time will increase exponentially.

Day 4: So if all goes well, and there are no breakdowns (typically broken propshafts, broken side shafts, CV joints etc), we should be able to head our way back to Gauteng on 6 October. However, from researching this trip, I know it is wise to make sure you can extend your break from work by a further day or two (just in case).
Hence the time is set out from 3 to 8 October.

To think about:
1) 2" suspension lift very important.
2) Rock sliders are critical.
3) Communications (especially if we need to break the group into two groups)
4) Lockers: Without lockers may be doable in a Patrol, but will need to consider the order of vehicles (without lockers) in case some need a bit of a pull at any critical point.
5) a Koevoet to help clear rocks with (note that your co-driver will get a real workout moving rocks on this trip).
6) Very warm clothes, and water proof clothes.
7) Spare cash, in case we need to negotiate with a tribal leader in case of emergency
8) Lots of spare food and water in case we get stuck
9) Lots of spare fuel to keep warm inside, with idling car, in case we get stuck in a blizzard ( I realise risk of this is low in October, but I have been told it can still happen at this time).
10) Prepare for unassisted camping - there are no facilities on the pass itself, and only small shrubs to hide behind for toilet.
11) Items typically associated with bush mechanics, such as blou draad. (if someone can bring a welder, that may be a good idea as well - I have seen videos of guys fixing / doing welding on their cars along the pass)
12) The usual stuff associated with 4x4 trips - high lift jack, recovery equipment etc.

List:
1) Alex Roux - Patrol
2) Errol Wilken - Patrol
3) Michael Steyn - Patrol
4) David Marais - Patrol
5) Dawie Pieterse (Ossewa) - Patrol
6) Steve Robinson (Biggles) - Patrol
7) Alex Botha - Patrol
8) Pierre Pille - Patrol
9) Pieter van As - Patrol
10) Francois Herbst - Recovery vehicle (Rubicon)
Last edited by Alex Roux on 06 Sep 2017 12:49, edited 9 times in total.
Skilpad, Shortie, Toro & Masewa
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Alex Roux
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2005: GU TD42 - aka "Masewa"
1996: GQ TB48 conversion - aka "Skilpad"
1993: GQ SWB TB42 - aka "Shortie"
1985: MQ Patrol (Safari) SD33 - aka "Toro"
Home Language: Afrikaans
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Alex Roux »

BaboonsMap.pdf
(197.83 KiB) Downloaded 295 times
Skilpad, Shortie, Toro & Masewa
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Wilkie »

Alex my maat...I got your back
my naam kan op daai lys gaan.. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Michael
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Michael »

Ek dink ek moet hierdie een ook doen.
"The Just shall live by Faith" Rom1:17

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David M
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by David M »

Have to just get the leave approved and I will be in.

My fishing time is taking a serious knock this year because of all these lekker trips.
There are still places out there!!!! - Daniel Goz - The "Tapam" movie
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Overdrive »

Alex
Seeing your post reminded me that I last tried that pass in 1976 in what was then already an old Land Rover. In those days it was the only road to Semonkong. Those 7 ton snub nose Mercedes Benz 4x4 trucks used to traverse it to take goods to the store at Semonkong. So I guess it was not as bad then as it is now.

Anyhow the LR rear side shafts stripped near the top of the main pass. I had to do a 100 point om keer in front wheel drive and bring it down the pass in front wheel drive.

ha ha the follies of youth....................
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by ChristoSlang »

Overdrive wrote:Anyhow the LR rear side shafts stripped near the top of the main pass. I had to do a 100 point om keer in front wheel drive and bring it down the pass in front wheel drive.
Aggeneeman Rod, everybody knows that the side-shafts in a Defender act as a fuse to prevent the gearbox from stripping :rolling:
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David M
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by David M »

David M wrote:Have to just get the leave approved and I will be in.

My fishing time is taking a serious knock this year because of all these lekker trips.
All sorted - Please add me to the list
There are still places out there!!!! - Daniel Goz - The "Tapam" movie
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Michael
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Michael »

Alex, maybe it's better if you update the list in the first post? Might be better to keep track of the list
"The Just shall live by Faith" Rom1:17

Check out my build here My Patrol
And my engine rebuild here mostly engine related stuff
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Alex Roux
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Joined: 11 Jul 2011 10:54
Full Name: Alexander Roux
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Home Town: Johannesburg
Current 4x4: 2004 GU 3TDi (Lexus) - aka "Witblits" (sold)
2005: GU TD42 - aka "Masewa"
1996: GQ TB48 conversion - aka "Skilpad"
1993: GQ SWB TB42 - aka "Shortie"
1985: MQ Patrol (Safari) SD33 - aka "Toro"
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 49 times
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Re: Baboons 3-7/8 October 2017

Post by Alex Roux »

For some reason I do not seem to be able to delete my own posts anymore
Skilpad, Shortie, Toro & Masewa
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