Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Caravan and Outdoor Life

When the time came to plan our end-of-year visit to family in the Free State, I had two options: Either fly up from Cape Town and rent a car for a few days, or take a road trip of just over 3 000 km. Obviously, I chose to take a road trip! To make things even more interesting, my wife and I decided that we were going to take our two dogs along for the ride. We have in the past taken them with us to go camping for a weekend, but they’ve never been on such a long adventure (in terms of time away from home, or distance travelled). While I love long-distance driving, I wanted to take a load off after a long year of hard work, so…

The life of a bowler who is also a camper, is never dull. My husband and I are retired and we travel full time with our caravan. Once a year, we pitch up at ATKV Eiland Spa, on the southern banks of the Letaba River in Limpopo. This is a fantastic resort, with loads of activities to keep us busy for weeks, or even months. We play tennis, jukskei, hoefie, and of course, bowling! Let me tell you, lawn bowls is not just picking up a little black ball, aiming and rolling. It takes skill. And these days, there are many coloured balls available, from red to green and orange and even pink and yellow. Bowling is serious business. I am a bowler and have developed a frown between the…

Spring is long gone, and now summer has also officially come to an end. In March, as we enter autumn, many caravanners are already planning for the winter ahead, and the camping gear and homes-on-wheels start going into storage to hide out the colder months. But if you are an outdoor addict and determined to go camping any time of the year, one of the best places you can set course for is Mossel Bay. The coastal destination, situated about halfway between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, has the most moderate climate of any town in the southern hemisphere with an average of 320 sunny days a year. In fact, the only place on the planet that has better weather, is Hawaii. This incredible climate also covers the small hamlets…

HOW LONG SHOULD A BATTERY LAST? I recently swopped my Jurgens Expo for a Jurgens Safari Xcape 2008 model at Leisureland in Bellville, and went on our first camping trip. Before going, I tested the battery system and it lasted for four hours with the fridge and only one light burning. Because the caravan is still under a six-month warranty, I took it back to have it checked. After two weeks I fetched the caravan and the person in charge of their workshop advised me that the battery is charging too high, so they rectified it. Last week we went camping for a week. The battery was connected to the resort’s electricity during our stay, but 10 minutes after being disconnected from an external power source the battery died. The…

Lead-acid batteries remain the industry standard for mobile and vehicle applications. Sealed lead-acid batteries, also known as VLRA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) batteries, are now widespread because they are safer, require little or no maintenance, and cope well with the heat generated by being sited in a vehicle’s engine bay. Modern cars, and notably those using stop-go technology, have these batteries specified as original equipment. However, the starter batteries of many vehicles are still specified as open batteries (also called ‘wet’ batteries), which require the cells to be filled with distilled water. THE C-RATING ON THE LABEL VRLA batteries are manufactured according to international standards, one of which is a Discharge Rating when operating at 25°C. Known as the C-Rating, this is a measure (in hours) of how quickly energy…

These are not your average outdoor foot gear – FALKE socks are designed with advanced features such as ergonomic left and right construction for the ultimate fit, anti-tick and mosquito treatment, reinforced heel and toe for durability, honeycomb mesh construction for effective ventilation, Drynamix fibre to keep feet cool and dry, supportive cushioning, and more… Our prize pack consist of a pair of Advanced Hiking 4, AH1, AH2, All Terrain and Walkie socks valued at over R700.…

HAVE WE LOST THE PLOT? We have been watching the development and blossoming of the “new caravan industry” with great interest and have also been noting the comments on caravan pricing and campsite prices and I must admit, I think that we have gone mad! We all knew that the caravan manufacturers needed a kick up the rear end as some of the local guys were churning out sub-standard caravans with huge prices and less concern for the consumer. Now we have real state-of-the-art caravans coming out with everything that opens and shuts, fibreglass to replace the wood, moulding instead of custom-built cupboards, huge bathrooms, geysers, aircons, ovens, heaters, TV’s and even dishwashers! This is great for going to places where there is plenty of free power, water and space…

It’s not every day that you get to see three custom-built Unimogs, owned by two brothers of a single family. So it was with great anticipation that I trundled off to chat to Adrian Robinson about his family’s love for these very capable vehicles. I was going to get up close and personal with a 2000 and a 1982 Unimog motorhome, as well as a 1982 Unimog single cab utility with loadbed. The last time I came into contact with a Unimog was during my military service, so I was brimming with excitement when I packed and prepared myself for a walk down memory lane. The Robinsons’ farm is situated in the Nuy Valley, a short distance from the town of Robertson. The farm produces stone fruit (plums and nectarines)…

Stealth Caravans revealed their first unit in October 2018. The Evolution XR6 (or EVO XR6 for short) is an upmarket 3-berth pop-top on-road caravan priced at under R300 000. Caravan & Outdoor Life has had a couple of good looks at the EVO XR6, including being at the first reveal at the official press launch, as well as at dealerships and shows. But now we finally had the caravan to take on the road for a few days to get a real feel for it. EXTERIOR Hitching up and heading out, I immediately noted the width of the EVO XR6 – at 2 399 mm, it’s a bit wider than the Isuzu D-Max I was driving, which is only 1 860 mm. So a towing mirror would be preferable.…

George Country Resort Western Cape 10% discount on all bookings of 3 nights or more in Feb, March and April. T: 044 889 0034 C: 071 193 2802 E: info@georgeresort.co.za W: www.georgeresort.co.za Fairhills Caravan Park KwaZulu-Natal Pensioners R1670pm from Jan - Nov 2019 March Madness (March/April) – R2100 for 10 days for family of 4 Human Rights (21-24 March) – R1000 for 4 days for family of 4 Easter Weekend (18 – 22 Apr) – R1000 for 4 days for 4 people T: 071 228 1814 W: www.fairhillspark.co.za Corian’s Caravan Resort KwaZulu-Natal 30% discount on bookings of 10 days or longer. Valid between 9 January and 20 November 2019. Includes Easter and June/July holidays. T: 039 975 1107 F: 039 975 1108 E:…

My wife and I are regular readers of your magazine and really enjoy it. We have recently taken the plunge and purchased a motorhome built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 413 CDi chassis. When I fetched it from the Western Cape and brought it to the KZN Midlands where we live, I was charged the Class 1 toll fee (same as passenger vehicles). However, on our recent trip on the N3, the Mooi River toll insisted in charging me as a Class 2 vehicle. This is quite a bit extra, I might add. I have emailed SANRAL and tried to call them (without success) in order to get clarity on what is the correct charge. The toll fees are calculated on number of axles, and nowhere do they talk about number…

COMFORT, CONVENIENCE & QUALITY Freeline Trail Campers have unveiled their first production caravan. The “Maverick”was launched at the Caravan, Camp & Destination Show at the end of February, but Francois Kotzé gave Caravan & Outdoor Life a sneak peek at the new gravel-roader before it was released to the public. The Maverick is an original design by Freeline, and sleeps two to four people. The 4.5 metre mono structure is made out of lightweight, high-tech composite material, which allows the caravan to weigh less than 1 000 kg. The caravan comes with features like a queen size bed, toilet, shower, outside kitchen (with double basin), gas hob, a 90 L freezer and outside grocery cabinet with a foldout table. Francois tells Caravan & Outdoor Life: “People have often asked me…

Bosfontein Caravan Park is a well-established resort that offers the whole family a perfect getaway. Owners Deon and Martie Beukes are extremely friendly and hospitable, and will ensure your stay is the absolute best. There are a total of 44 caravan stands, each with electricity, fresh water and a dedicated braai. The communal ablutions at Bosfontein are simply spectacular. Wow, you can certainly shower or bath and shave in style. Bosfontein has an amazing indoor heated pool, in which I spent much time enjoying the lovely warmth. There is also an outside swimming pool with a kiddie’s area. For the active teenagers who want to impress heir holiday romance prospects, there is a volleyball court. Of course, the older generation can also try their hand at hitting the ball over…

PHOTO COMPETITION 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. COBUS BOTHA Klein Aus during the school holida ys. KEITH MOORE Spitzkoppe Namibia #Iveco4x4 MANDY FELTHAM DANIELS Camping at Kgalagadi Lodge. BENNETT BOTES Kambro near Britstown on our Kgalagadi tour. Sunset after…