Featured 100: Bongani

[Bongani]

Cruiser Showcase
http://ladybirdfilms.biz/videos/Cruiser%20Showcase%20256kbps.wmv

In 2005 I finally acquired my 2000 model, 1FZ-FE, 105 series with 117 000km on the clock after spending close to 10 years looking for the perfect trail and overlanding vehicle. The vehicle was in pretty much stock standard shape and over the past two years I have been rigging it for overlanding travel while trying to maintain some form of balance to keep it trail fit.

An overlanding rig can get heavy very quickly and one needs to be careful of a too extreme lift while trailing requires a light rig with big lift and oversized wheels. I suppose I must mention that I stay in Cape Town (South Africa) and Africa and its wild is right here on my doorstep. It’s a natural thing to throw the tent in the back and hit the roads.

Suspension and wheels
Front OME 851 (100kg)
Rear OME 864 (+400kg)
OME Castor Correction Kit
Dropped Gearbox cross member (Problem with front drive train vibrations)
285x75R16 BFG AT with Toyota Steel Rims (Two spares)

Armor
TJM T15 Bullbar
KC Daylighter Spotlights 130w (Right pencil beam, Left flood beam)
Camera mount on bulbar
Custom made rock sliders (clamp unto chassis)
IEF Rear bumper with dual spare wheel carriers. Currently using one arm to carry the spare and the other arm to carry a gas cylinder.

On Top
FrontRunner Windcheeta Low profile full length roofrack http://www.frontrunner.co.za/
Stainless steel mounted table that slides in underneath the roofrack
Outback Extreme awning
VHF antenna on D pillar on the right
EeziAwn 1.4m wide Rooftop tent http://www.eeziawn.co.za/

Engine bay
102Ah Quick Cycle Staring battery
105Ah Deep Cycle Battery
300A Marine Switch to toggle between batteries
Raised breathers
Carbon Vac service every 20 000km



Inside
7-pin Mod
ABS Mod
Lockers in High Range
Icom IC-F110 VHF 25 watt radio
Garmin 276c with RAM mount (www.gpscity.com)
EscapeGear Canvas Seat Covers http://www.escapegear.co.za/
National Luna Battery Status Monitor http://www.nationalluna.com/
Vehicle Mounted Safe for passports and cash (under passenger seat)
Extra power points in the front, middle and rear of the vehicle
Goody bag hanging behind the bench seat with several small pockets
2x 1,5kg fire extinguishers mounted in door sills of rear doors
Underneath the bench seat is a:
Hi-lift jack (taken apart)
Spade
Tyre Pliers
Tyre Debeading Tool

In the Rear
Africa Outback Roller Drawer system
Custom made shelf with 60l water tank
National Luna 74l Fridge/Freezer (two separate compartments http://www.nationalluna.com/)
Fini 170lpm Air Compressor (Draws close to 60A)
Dustbin Bag on SpareWheel cover

Overlanding
The rig is permanently overlanding ready. All the pots and pans, cutlery, crockery, braai spices and other things that one will use stay permanently in the vehicle. This use up all the space in the right hand drawer. The left hand drawer is used for food items and all drinks goes into the left hand storage area. In the right hand side vehicle storage compartments I keep all the oils to keep the vehicle going. These are the 500ml plastic bottles that fit perfectly in the compartments. In this area I keep all the basic tools to help myself when in trouble. The fridge has a 44l freezer compartment and a 30l fridge or freezer compartment. The keep the wife happy as I do not end up freezing the cucumber and tomatoes while keeping all the meat frozen in the freezer compartment. It is secured with metal turn buckles. I have rolled my Landy a few years back and it was a frightening experience when the load from the back come undone in the vehicle. So every thing is always tied down. http://www.overland.co.za/grafix/Wrecks/Morne

Every year we do at least one 3 week overlanding trip. About 10 weeks ago I returned from just such a trip where we explored Namibia and Kgalagadi. Kgalagadi was very special as we took part in the Nossob 4x4 Eco drive which is a 4 day, guided eco drive through the park (contains some of the big five). Every night one would bushcamp (no fences) in the wild and change of wild life visiting the camp is very real. On the last night Lions came through the camp while we were sleeping not the mention Hyena etc.
Read the Kgalagadi trip report here. http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/GH_ShowArticle.asp?HID=55&CATID=1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8

Apart from the bigger trip we also spend every 4-6 weeks on a camping weekend where we need a 4x4 to get to the location, away from the crowds.
Read the Richtersveld trip report here.
http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/GH_ShowArticle.asp?HID=51&CATID=1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8


Trailing
But a 4x4 is meant to do some trailing as well. A 40 minute drive from where I stay is a 12sq km duneveld called Atlantis dunes. I have a year permit for AD and spend at least every 2nd weekend there if not every weekend. Time is spend between 4x4ing and sandboarding. The dunes are not very tall (80 meters) but we have developed a technical driving style that challenges the vehicle and driver. You make it as difficult as you want to and as dangerous as you want to.

Have a look at the video clip to see what I mean
http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/uploads/AD2.wmv
http://www.ladybirdfilms.biz/videos/Sandboarding%20Atlantis%20Dunes%20256kbps.wmv

The 105 petrol loves the dunes. We deflate to 0.8bar and drop further when required. Sometimes the tyre comes of the rim but with some practice we have it down to a 5min job to be mobile again, after putting the tyre back on the rim without removing it from the vehicle. Here is a video where I was involved in shooting a training DVD.
http://ladybirdfilms.biz/videos/how%20to%20debead%20a%20tyre.wmv


When overlanding the elements can really throw in some surprises. In August 2006, a IH8MUD member was visiting ZA and we arranged an overlanding weekend. Unfortunately he could not join us but we still went to the Cederberg mountains and had wicked time where I almost drowned the cruiser while coming across a flooded drift. Thank goodness it ended well with just a little bit of water in the air filter housing. The video shows my buddy coming through with a much better approach
http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/uploads/Cederberg%20Water%20Crossing%20256kbps.wmv

Most of the trails around Cape Town offer rocks and mountains and occasionally some water. Nothing hectic by USA standard but enough to keep the adrenaline flowing.
Mapping Buffelspoort was an outing to go and map all the trails in the area. It was a particularly wet experience.
http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/uploads/BuffelspoortIntro256kbps.wmv
Here is an example of the rock we drive.
http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/Uploads/Skurweberge4x4.wmv

Future mods will entail mounting two 40l water tanks underneath the vehicle, thus allowing for more packing space inside the vehicle.
For some for videos visit my website www.ladybirdfilms.biz If you want to see any specific pics or larger pics let me know.

Me and my boys.

 

[spressomon]

Wow! Great set-up on your rig! Can't wait to view all your links. Thanks for posting up!

Trying to figure out what the vertical black lines where the lower trim pieces normally go on the AO Drawers?

 

[Bongani]

Cool Cool

Those black lines are velcro. (straight of a HP server farm rack) Its rather handy to tie a bag to a tree etc and easy to find on the AO drawer system.

 

[e9999]

excellent write up!

great rig! and a great guy too! Check out his videos!

 

[UltraFJ40]

Four thumbs up!

Thats a real nice set up. Thanks for posting up.

 

[UltraFJ40]

Jesus, I looked at some of your pics again and realized that I need to dump one of my houses in South Florida and buy something that will allow me to access the great outdoors a little easier.



Here, if you want to get away, a boat is generally required not a Cruiser!

Thanks again for posting up.

Doug

 

[Bongani]

...allow me to access the great outdoors a little easier.

Dam right. Work as little as you can while you do as much as you can!

 

[pint]

Sweet rig and very nice write up.

 

[Dandon]

Simply amazing!

 

[Timbo]

Wow...

 

[justimaginejack]

Awsome, Thanks!

 

[Campfire]

Great write up and some awesome videos on-line. It looks like a well used rig and I bet your boys love the outing also. I'm out in the garage right now looking at drawer ideas, and I've got a few more from yours.
Thanks again.

 

[1point4]

that is an awesome rig to make you and your boys/family explore the great outdoors. thanks for all the info and sharing it.

 

[e9999]

B, might be interesting for some here to hear why you got a petrol truck rather than a Diesel (since you hear a lot of folks here saying they would give their right xxxx for a Diesel 105...)

 

[tmarx]

Nice write-up buddy. See yah in the dunes on Sunday

 

[Bongani]

B, might be interesting for some here to hear why you got a petrol truck rather than a Diesel (since you hear a lot of folks here saying they would give their right xxxx for a Diesel 105...)

Eish, setting me up far a fall.
In ZA petrol vs diesel debates sparks up a thread and always ends in some or other fight.

Over the past few years I have owned 7 4x4's of which 3 were diesels. My last diesel was the 120 Series Prado Cruiser. With 96kw and 343Nm it is a fine drive when the vehicle is empty but as soon as you add a bit of a suspension lift, bigger tyres and overlanding kit and it became outright dangerous to overtake trucks driving at 100km/h. Sure this on tar but 80% of our time we spend on tar, trying to get to the destination. Furthermore I found the Diesel very expensive to run. Fuel economy was 1km/l better then the petrol and fuel filters keep on getting blocked.


The 105D is an awesome vehicle offroad but with 96kw and 285Nm it is a tad underpowered for the weight of the vehicle compared to the 165kw and 387nm of the 1FZ-FE motor. Fuel economy on the diesel is a tad better on the tar but the 4.5EFi is so much more drivable no matter what load. In the dunes the 4.5 rules and the diesel can not compare at all. On rock the diesel has a slight advantage but the difference is not big, in fact the petrol has better torque than this 4.2 straight six diesel. So it comes down to a personal choice in the end.

Final thought, Petrol heads rule!

 

[e9999]

Eish, setting me up far a fall.
In ZA petrol vs diesel debates sparks up a thread and always ends in some or other fight.

Over the past few years I have owned 7 4x4's of which 3 were diesels. My last diesel was the 120 Series Prado Cruiser. With 96kw and 343Nm it is a fine drive when the vehicle is empty but as soon as you add a bit of a suspension lift, bigger tyres and overlanding kit and it became outright dangerous to overtake trucks driving at 100km/h. Sure this on tar but 80% of our time we spend on tar, trying to get to the destination. Furthermore I found the Diesel very expensive to run. Fuel economy was 1km/l better then the petrol and fuel filters keep on getting blocked.


The 105D is an awesome vehicle offroad but with 96kw and 285Nm it is a tad underpowered for the weight of the vehicle compared to the 165kw and 387nm of the 1FZ-FE motor. Fuel economy on the diesel is a tad better on the tar but the 4.5EFi is so much more drivable no matter what load. In the dunes the 4.5 rules and the diesel can not compare at all. On rock the diesel has a slight advantage but the difference is not big, in fact the petrol has better torque than this 4.2 straight six diesel. So it comes down to a personal choice in the end.

Final thought, Petrol heads rule!

good to have somebody's first hand thoughts on this to educate us since most of us here in the US know very little about Diesel cruisers and just have wet dreams about them...

A fine topic for civil (!!!) discussion.

 

[Wellcraft19]

Morne,
Great write-up and your trip reports are amazing. True LC country!
Glad you got out alive from that Defender accident. Not knowing, but think the doors on an LC (or other modern car) are designed to remain shut and not just "pop open" during a roll-over like you had.

Will check some of your video clips later today.
Oh, BTW, almost afraid to ask but assuming your rig is a stick shift, how long in between clutch replacements?

 

[Bongani]

Wellcraft
Yea, the Defender roll was pretty hectic. The doors of modern vehicles are meant to stay close but the Defender has external hinges that grinded off and the poor support of the alu frame caused enough flex for the doors to pop open. But enough of that.

My rig is indeed a manual. The clutch on the 105 series lasts about 150 000km which is about a 80 000km shorter lifespan than the 80 series clutch. With my last clutch replacement I actually fitted a pre 96 model 80 series clutch to the LC. The 80 series clutch design is much better and the pressure plate is considerably stronger. This has resulted in a much better ride. My previous 105 series clutch lasted 30 000km only.

 

[BosBok]

Nice one Bonganini


Ps. don't bash the diesels too much...maybe you want to upgrade to one later and this statement comes to haunt you