MY WHEELS
Check out this roof tent
Boet and Marina Grobbelaar from Dealesville in the Free State hail from the Kalahari, so their hearts long for it when they plan a holidays. “We farmed with cattle and game, and I was a professional hunter who took other hunters to Namibia and Botswana,” says Boet. Now that they are retired, they once again have the time to do what they love most: touring to faraway places. “We like going where other people don’t usually set foot. The wil-der and rougher, the better!” laughs Boet. “Those places where, in the mornings when you get down from the tent, you have to wipe away the tracks from hyena and lion who came looking for leftover bones during the night.” Their first touring vehicle was a 1989 Hilux 2.8 4x4. “After that, we got our first 4.2-litre Land Cruiser 76 station wagon. It was an amazing vehicle, but in the high dunes of the Namib it ran out of power before it could reach the top. So we upgraded to the much-anticipated V8 turbodiesel 76 station wagon,” Boet explains. “It is without a doubt the best 4x4 expedition vehicle for Africa and nobody can argue with you on that!”
When and where did you buy the vehicle and how much did it cost?
We bought it in February 2014 from Hannes Berg at NTT Toyota, Mokopane. We paid R600 000.
What are your favourite destinations?
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola. Pretty much any place that is far and wild. But our favourite camp sites are Halali in Etosha and Mabuasehube in Botswana.
So why a Cruiser?
Have a look at the worst deserts and most isolated places – which vehicles do you see there? Land Cruisers. And they say you can keep a Cruiser going with only a pair of pliers and some wire!
Tell us about the modifications on your vehicle.
I designed a custom roof rack. It slides forward towards the nose of the vehicle on 20 rollers and then rests on the front bumper. My DIY 80-litre steel tank for shower water is right at the front of the roof rack and the roof tent fits right behind it. They are of equal height and the water tank was built with a curve for less wind resistance. Since the roof tent slides forward, it leaves a “stoep” of about 2m where we can fit two chairs and a table. We need this roof stoep because we regularly camp at places like Moremi, Savuti and Mabua, where you need to be above the ground by sunset. Otherwise the lions and hyenas might have you for dinner! The stoep is also a safe place to get dressed and the perfect spot to film the most spectacular sunsets over the Mabuasehube pans. All the aluminium welding was done by Schalk van der Merwe, a wonderful man from Bloemfontein who isn’t hampered by the fact that he doesn’t have legs. The addition of the Bundu Top and the other accessories – Ironman bullbar, airbags, duel battery system, winch, two 40-litre water tanks – would not have been possible without the help and advice of a close friend, Nellis of Safari 4x4 in Bloemfontein.
How long did it take to do the modifications?
More than two years. We did them bit by bit as we got the money together. After every trip, we came back with more ideas for modifications.
Which modification is your favourite?
Probably the Power Flex 160W solar panel that we can roll open on the roof of the Bundu Top. It provides enough power for an 800W converter, which is hooked up to my double battery system. My fridge, lights and even TV work off it, so I could watch the Olympic Games in Mabua!
Is there anything that is made specifically for your needs?
Yes, the electric winch that sits inside the roof of the Bundu Top. With the press of a button I can have the tent pitched within 3 seconds. I like the fact that you can leave things like your bedding, pills and Bible inside the tent when it closes.
What do people say when they see your Cruiser?
Everyone is surprised at how fast the tent rolls forward and opens up.