Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

I recently enjoyed an overseas holiday. This was a unique experience for me in many respects; for starters it was the first time I’ve holidayed overseas. I’ve been over the oceans a fair amount but up until now it’s always been on business trips - attending car launches. It has to be said that attending a car launch overseas on someone else’s dime is rather different to going on an overseas holiday that you yourself have saved up and paid for. For starters, there’s none of that business-class air travel malarkey; no, this time you sit at the back of the aeroplane where the seats don’t turn into beds at night, and they don’t bring you a glass of champagne just before takeoff. And when the bloke in front of…

Their nomination - Mac Nicol’s, South Coast, KZN We arrived to a cup of tea whilst the friendly staff erected our tent - a normal trait at this park. This sets the mood for a wonderful and relaxing time here. The resort is 90 metres from miles of unspoilt beach, and is on the banks of the Ifafa Lagoon. A bird lovers paradise, the park has beautiful trees and vegetation, level and grassy electrified sites and spotless ablutions. Whilst retaining a truly country feeling, the resort has every facility for your comfort. Their mountain bike/running/nature trail is newly completed (about 14 km of single track in pristine natural bush.) And don’t forget, they have a fully stocked shop and bottle store on site and takeaway in seasons. The resort is…

• It’s good to be adventurous, but do some research on the area in which you’re likely to end up. Take road conditions into account: the most common breakdown is because of flat or damaged tyres and rims, sometimes caused by using tar-biased tyres in rocky areas. Local tyre suppliers don’t keep a stock of low-profile tyres and rims, so consider using a more common rim/tyre size for 4x4 trips. You could take spare tyres and rims, and a tyre-repair kit and pump, as an alternative solution. • Be aware of the availability or otherwise of fresh/drinkable water. • Check your communications; confirm cell phone reception at destinations; have a plan of action in case of emergency. • Bear fuel-availability in mind; and also carry extra fuel. • Take note…

BACK ISSUE: MAY 1962 When I think back to the vehicles of my childhood, cars seemed much larger then. Probably, because I was a little boy and everything was huge to me. Interestingly, cars have actually got larger over the decades - though they have not necessarily always increased in weight. In this month’s back issue, the May 1962 issue of Caravan magazine, the big news is a really small caravan: the ‘ultralightweight’ Minor caravan designed specifically for smaller vehicles of the time. This unit was built by Sprite Caravans of Pinetown, and weighed 750 lbs - or today’s 340 kg. That’s seriously light! And, for just R590, seemingly a real bargain. The Roamer folding caravan is another unit featured which feels as though it could be right for today’s…

TOW CAR SPECIFICATIONS In each issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life, you have a list of caravans, off-road caravans and trailers, which is a very handy reference for prospective buyers. One column in the caravan section that I would suggest you reconsider is the ‘suitable car’. The weight of the caravan size doesn’t match the suggested engine size anymore. For example, for the Jurgens Penta which weighs 1 400 kg, an engine size of 2.8-litres is recommended. The new Nissan X-trail, weighing 1 450 kg, has a 1.6 turbo diesel with a torque of 320 Nm, and can easily handle the Penta; the Jetta 2.0 TDI (tested in the August issue) has a similar torque. It can, legally, tow a Sprite Splash, whereas the suggested engine size is indicated as…

DANCING THROUGH THE DAISIES We recently stayed at the Vanrhynsdorp Caravan Park for three nights, just to catch our breath and get up to date with chores. But, as the weather was cold and very windy, we decided to go to Groenriviermond, Doringbaai and Strandfontein to see if the weather was better there, and head for Gifberg after that. I could hardly breathe while going up the pass. For one, there were the amazing sights that surrounded us, and rocks so high and majestic in an array of interesting shapes. And secondly, because I’m terrified of heights... and the drops at the side of the road were something else. As you know, we travel everywhere very slowly - we watch most cars race past us and wonder what they have…

POTJIE PERFECTION Craving a good old-fashioned South African potjie? The Cadac Potjiekos Cooker Top is ideal for home use as well as for when you are caravanning, camping or fishing. It’s designed for use with a number 2 or number 3 three-legged potjie pot, and it fits directly onto your gas bottle. The cooker top is vitreous-enamel coated, and has a wind-shield design to allow for effective and safe cooking. R270 For more information, contact Outdoor Warehouse on 021 464 5100, or visit www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za. TAKE A HIKE As any keen hiker will tell you, socks are almost as important as boots. Falke’s new AH2 Cool hiking socks feature cushioning in critical high-strain areas, extra-fine toe seams (to prevent friction and blisters), and wide-rib-comfort top & ankle elastication. They’re woven from…

At first glance, Nieuwoudtville looks like one of those sparsely populated, dusty, country towns - the ones where you share the garage forecourt with a tractor and an old bakkie with two bewildered-looking sheep peering through the tralies on the back.You wait patiently for the solitary petrol pump attendant to get around to filling your tank; and, while you wait, you think to yourself,‘Nothing happens here.’ But the sun is getting low in the big blue sky, so you contemplate the camping sign you saw some metres back… And so, by chance, you stumble upon the fact that there are some unusual, interesting and really great reasons why you should visit Nieuwoudtville. The first reason to visit Nieuwoudtville is the temperature. The Northern Cape area can become very hot in…

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FREE TEXT AD Besides the description of the item you want to sell, your email must contain your name, contact number and the province in which you reside. Then, simply email all this information to classifieds@caravansa.co.za. If you wish to display an image with your ad, your text is limited to 40 words, and such an ad will cost you R456 - email the address above for more details on how to go about placing such an ad. We reserve the right to withhold any ad, or to edit the text supplied to fit the space available. Free text ads are published on a first-come-first-served basis, and must be resubmitted every month that your item remains unsold. MOTORHOMES 2015 Fiat Ducato Express Camper with full warranty.…

MOTHER NATURE’S FACT FILE - FROM SOUTH AMERICA! LLAMA The Llama, Lama glama, is a domestic animal which has been used for centuries by people who live in the Andes mountains. They’re employed as pack animals to carry goods, and can transport loads of up to 34 kilograms, travelling as far as 32 kilometres in a day over the rocky mountain terrain. Llamas are willing workers, up to a point; if you overload a Llama, it will refuse to move, and may even lie down or spit at you! But their calm, predictable temperament and intelligence have seen them becoming popular as pets - they are very curious animals and approach people easily. They are very social herd animals, though; so, if you want a Llama as a pet, you…

2005 was an auspicious year for Toyota SA. It was the year they launched a wholly new model: a midsized SUV with the curious name of Fortuner. While they were confident that the new model would sell in decent numbers, it is common knowledge that they had no idea just what a success it would turn out to be. Fortuners quickly became as common as muck - and, as the saying goes, where’s there’s muck, there’s brass. Very soon other manufacturers tried to muscle into the same sector. We had the Pajero Sport, which was neither a Pajero, nor a Sport. The first Ford Everest, which just didn’t race anyone’s motor. (Despite having a very good one). And, much more recently, the Chevrolet Trailblazer which clearly wasn’t one, although being…

ENSURING GREAT AFTERSALES SERVICE In order to help Campworld dealerships around the country continually improve the quality of their after-sales service to customers, Jurgens Ci, the country’s largest manufacturer of caravans, has been implementing a Workshop Grading Programme since 2008. This has been accomplished via the introduction of training and standards which, today, have become an integral aspect of all Campworld dealerships nationally. Training is a key component of the Programme and is used to educate and evaluate workshop personnel on a regular basis. This has enabled the development of fully-skilled technicians for the caravan industry. Over 660 training sessions have taken place since the Programme was initiated. As having a modernised workshop environment contributes to productivity (and, in turn, to customer service) the Programme has seen the development of…