Luderitz to Walvisbay Dunes Trip

[biggles]

I thought I would give a quick report and some pointers for anyone else who wants to do the trip.

There are three options I know of:
The shipwreck Tour. It starts at Luderitz through Diamond Area 1 and follows the coast, focusing on the shipwrecks. This is my first choice, but I have received no response to phone calls or e-mails.
The Faces of the Namib. This is a shorter tour that starts in Soussus Vlei and goes to Meob Bay and Walvis. It is more of a play trip, with camping in one spot for more than one day and doing circle day trips, IRC.
The Luderitz to Walvis Baai Live the Journey. What we did. 600-650km. 6 days, five nights. It starts inland from Diamond Area 1 and goes in and out from the coast, visiting abandoned vehicles and towns. You sleep two nights near or at the coast.

I got close to 2 km/l for the trip... I took 295l and ended in Walvis as the light came on.

[biggles]

[biggles]

The Patrol was awsome!!! Supercharger sang the whole trip. More in love now than ever!!!
The best vehicle was a 4.0l V6 Hilux... guides vehicle was relatively light though and really set up for dunes... and driven by someone who lives in the dunes.
The second best was the Y62 Patrol. That thing just was cruising the whole trip. And got 3km/l, basically matching the V8 diesels!!!
I was disappointed with the LC V8 diesels. I was a fan, but not so much now. At least in the dunes, they did not really perform.
2.8 Hiluxs were the worst, but no surprise there. Diesels and dunes do not mix.
The big surprise was the Isuzu D-Max. Did very well.

Having said all that, weight plays a big role, and the D-Max and the 4.0 V6 were relatively lightly loaded.
Rooftop tents move the weight up top... but I see modern ones are a lot lighter... one of the older style heavy AluCab canopie combined on an LC pickup and almost rolled them, but the driver caught it after a "brown trousers" moment.

[Steele]

Looks awesome!

Definitely on my bucket list. How do you think a 3l diesel patrol would fare in the dunes?

[biggles]

Looks awesome!

Definitely on my bucket list. How do you think a 3l diesel patrol would fare in the dunes?

I have no experience with the 3.0CRD but if you don't overload you should be OK. The guides pick a route that all the vehicles can take and you just stay out of any "play pits" that you don't feel comfortable with.

[ra_01]

The Patrol was awsome!!! Supercharger sang the whole trip. More in love now than ever!!!
The best vehicle was a 4.0l V6 Hilux... guides vehicle was relatively light though and really set up for dunes... and driven by someone who lives in the dunes.
The second best was the Y62 Patrol. That thing just was cruising the whole trip. And got 3km/l, basically matching the V8 diesels!!!
I was disappointed with the LC V8 diesels. I was a fan, but not so much now. At least in the dunes, they did not really perform.
2.8 Hiluxs were the worst, but no surprise there. Diesels and dunes do not mix.
The big surprise was the Isuzu D-Max. Did very well.

Having said all that, weight plays a big role, and the D-Max and the 4.0 V6 were relatively lightly loaded.
Rooftop tents move the weight up top... but I see modern ones are a lot lighter... one of the older style heavy AluCab canopie combined on an LC pickup and almost rolled them, but the driver caught it after a "brown trousers" moment.

Thanks for the report.
Ya LC V8 is overrated.