Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2018 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

We are still a few weeks away from the end of the year, but it feels like Christmas already. Why do I say this? Because it feels like we are getting loads of presents thanks to all the new products on the South African market! It seems there is a new caravan or camper or trailer or rooftop tent being launched every month. We kicked off 2018 with the Beeld Holiday Show where we saw the launch of a load new caravans: The Mobi X, Aloe Caravans' Peri-Peri and Excelsa, and the Jurgens Bonzai and Gypsey Lite pop-top. The show was also the first time we saw Destination Caravans display their units (announced end of 2017), and we got a look at the top-quality Swift imports from Loftus Caravans. Apart…

I have to make a disclaimer here: I am a bit of a Mitsubishi fan. You can’t help becoming one after an almost 4 000 kilometre trip with seven Pajero Sports towing off-road caravans up to Epupa Falls, and on through Van Zyl’s Pass, without missing a beat. So, it was great to have the new Triton Athlete towing a Mobi Lodge for a three-week test on various road surfaces. The Triton Athlete Special Edition, to give it its full title, is based on the award-winning Triton double-cab 4x4 automatic derivative. If you are a caravanner, you’ll be happy to hear that the new sporty-looking Triton Athlete (fully imported from Thailand) has had its towing capacity upgraded to 3 100 kg! The Athlete comes in either grey or white. We…

The first time I arrived at Kudu Kaya was after an adventure-motorcycle ride through the epically beautiful and challenging Baviaanskloof. One member of our group had dropped his big BMW when exiting a river, and had cracked the tappet cover on one of the cylinder heads. After we’d limped the 25 km to Kudu Kaya, dribbling oil along the way, our hosts ushered us into a well-lit workshop. Their son, the late Johan van der Watt, a keen enduro rider himself, soon had a Pratley-putty mix covering the crack; and once the water-sullied oil had drained and the sump had been refilled, we were again ready to ride. Johan’s repair saw the Beemer all the way home to Cape Town. The next time I stayed at Kudu Kaya, I was…

Campstyle Organisers is one of the leading suppliers of high-density foam products for the leisure vehicle industry in South Africa. They manufacture custom foam storage solutions, ranging from ammo box inserts to custom kitchen organisers. Under the leadership of Mari Sephton and Ben Stroebel, the company has grown from an affiliated partner of Fearless Projects & Services to a successful brand in its own right. Operating out of Pretoria, Campstyle Organisers aims to service the entire African continent, and beyond. HOW IT BEGAN As long-time campers, the founders of the brand craved tidiness in their setup. They set out to create an "executive camper experience", combining neatness with luxury, and so Campstyle Organisers was born in 2015. "The brand was built on the backbone of strong camper input and experience,"…

I don't remember the exact conversation when Jo-Marie came into my office but it must have gone something like this… Jo-Marie: “Dennis, I have a lady downstairs that has brought a scale model of her motorhome with her, and we need your advice please.” Dennis: “What, she brought a model of her own motorhome? Why?” Jo-Marie: “No, it’s a model of the Discoverer Xtreme 4x4 motorhome she wants us to build for her, and it has a veranda.” Dennis: “Ohh. I see... wait... what? It has a veranda?” Jo-Marie: “Yes, and she brought photos of the full-scale model she build on her stoep at her house.” Dennis : “You’re kidding me, right?” Jo-Marie: “No. Dead serious. Come downstairs and see for yourself.” Of course I could not resist. We at…

BUILDING FREINDSHIPS In June 2014, Caravan & Outdoor Life published an article on my self-built Fiat Ducato camper. A number of people consequently contacted me about doing a similar undertaking, and it was wonderful to be able to share my experience, along with all the ideas, advice and info that I had gleaned from the internet. But, most importantly, it resulted in new friendships with like-minded people who share a passion for “doing it yourself” and road tripping around our beautiful country. This past September, it was a real pleasure for my wife Toni and me to share a Taaibos campsite near Vaalwater (highly recommended) with our new “vanner” friends Mark and Denise Jarvis from Greyton, and Eddie and Luana Joubert from Pretoria. We hope this will be the start…

Flying in under the radar, Profibre Products – a specialist composite manufacturer of bus, truck and train components – have launched their best-kept secret: the new Stealth Evo XR6 caravan. Together with a few selected caravan dealers from Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape, Caravan & Outdoor Life was invited to attend the launch at their premises in Pinetown, KZN, in early October. Their first model is an upmarket 3-berth pop-top on-road caravan aimed specifically at the most popular size of caravan range – a gap left largely vacant by shenanigans going on in the industry of late. When we say “first” caravan, we mean Profibre’s first completed caravan being supplied directly to caravan dealers. We have learned that Profibre has, in fact, been building fibreglass caravan bodies – or…

One occasionally hears of some lucky individual winning the Lotto twice. I recently had a similar double-delight experience on my trip to Botswana with Protea Safari Tours: I was driving a brand new Mitsubishi Triton Athlete, and towing a Mobi Lodge. A magnificent combination! The vehicle’s two-tone orange and black body kit seemed almost custom-designed for the caravan. Believe it or not, I had never before had the pleasure of staying in a Mobi Lodge during an extended trip. Sure, I had photographed it more than once, but this time I had it all to myself for three weeks! What I love about Jannie Rykaart’s tours is the balance between the bush camping and the unexpected luxuries that he always throws in when you least expect it. And although Jannie…

Leon is an incredibly thorough man, so before I zoomed off, he took me through every step of setting up the Nevada. The Nevada is based on the long-wheel-base VW T6, with dual sliding doors. Standard on the Nevada is that the driver and front passenger seats are able to swivel. The first thing you learn is how quickly the Nevada turns into a super modern camper with two single beds, a roof-top double bed, and walk-through capability from front to back. It takes only a few brief moments to lift the base out of the two back seats, fold the backrest down and voilà - you have two comfortable single beds. Add the ingenious proper fixed toilet, and you are ready to camp anywhere. Actually, it’s even more magical…

Just what is happening at Jurgens Ci? The market and media have been abuzz with rumours, and (as we all know) where there is smoke there must be fire! Let’s start by looking at the rumours, and finding out what has given rise to them. It all started in 2017, when the new owners at Jurgens Ci stopped the production line at the factories outside Pretoria from building the brand new range of Jurgens caravans. This move was deemed necessary to solve the problems of “poor quality” and extreme weight-gain in caravans, as well as an unstable workforce. Some of the biggest and longest-serving privately owned caravan dealers suddenly had almost no new caravans to sell. With the situation growing more desperate by the day, it soon became clear that…

LEADERS OF THE PACK – INTRODUCING WILD PACK After 30 years in the caravanning and camping industry, Dave Fraser – formerly of Ci Caravans, Jurgens Ci, and associated with the founding of the well-known camping brands Born Free and Howling Moon – has turned his back on retirement and formed a new company called Wild Pack. To start the new brand, Dave has teamed up with his understudy of 17 years, Kevin Naik, who brings a blend of experience and youthful design flair. The duo are super excited about their new venture of manufacturing canvas caravan accessories and quality camping gear under the Wild Pack label. Dave and Kevin believe that with their 47 years’combined experience, knowledge, and expertise, they can provide the local caravan industry with all their accessories.…

Leon gives probably the most detailed demonstrations that I have ever received of a product. He began the demo by explaining the design philosophy behind the Mobi Lodge. “From the beginning, we started out with the idea of a double-axle caravan. It had to be spacious enough to have a proper island bed, a proper bathroom, a well-equipped kitchen… and it had to be able to be set up in less than five minutes. “But, perhaps the most important of all was that it had to have plenty of ground clearance, all-terrain wheels, and a true ‘go-anywhere’ capability.” Anyone who has ever owned or even simply seen a Mobi Lodge, would know that they knocked it out of the park! This is a caravan that you can take to the…

Want to show off your caravan and camping adventures? Are you a lensman who captures the beauty of nature? Do you have a terrific towing combination? Then show us! Caravan & Outdoor Life want to see your awesome outdoor images and share it with our audience. Whether you are towing a caravan or trailer, heading out in a motorhome, or camping in a tent, take a picture of your travels and share it with us. Each month we’ll publish the best pictures in our magazine, and share your winning snap on our website and social media. THIS MONTH’S WINNER:  Martin Ungerer Slept over at Storms Riv er Mouth. On our way Hartenbos to Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock. OUR FIRST PRIZE IS A HAMPER WITH FIVE PAIRS OF FALKE…

STIFF ZIPS We have a problem with the stiff plastic zips of our tent. It is very difficult to open and close the zips. We want to know how other campers solved the problem. From Tobie & Magda Eybers Godfrey: Zips can get a buildup of dust and /or salt and then need a washing with some good clean water to make them as good as new again. You might consider putting the tent up at home and giving the zips a wash from a hose pipe, or if you are in camp I have found a rinsed-out sports energy bottle filled with fresh water squirted by squeezing the bottle is enough to clean and lubricate the zip. Just don’t put the tent away wet, allow it to…

The Willows Eastern Cape Camping special until 30 November 2018 (excluding long weekends): R180 per standard site, R250 per private site. Maximum 4 people per site. Two more people are allowed at R80 p/p p/n. Enquire about special when you stay for 3 nights or more. T: 041 369 2000 E: reservations@madibabay.co.za W: www.thewillowspe.co.za Waterberg Resort Limpopo Full-time caravanners special: Only R100 per day when you book for a month! Rate includes 1 caravan, 1 car, 2 people. Pensioners welcome. T: 087 802 8390 E: info@waterbergresort.co.za W: www.waterbergresort.co.za Bass Lake Lodge Gauteng Camping stands prices starting at just R357 p/n, including 4 people and 1 vehicle. Valid between 10 Dec and 8 Jan. Contact us for more information! T: 012 735 1650…