Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

my application demands that i tag along a trailer or caravan - I managed Van Zyls pass and RooidromPass with a Jurgens Oryx on tow - we also took the river route between Swartbooisdrift and Epupa. Soooo - stoning for being a pain in the g^t ... dont generalise bru ..
having said that - we had a P I A with us on that trip who only had a trailer on tow - but he cost the tourgroup 3 days [his trailer kept on falling apart]
it all bears down to the moer behind the steering wheel.
Back to the Patrol in this post - I'd LOVE to hear Lionel's comment on his Patrol in that situation... and also the recovery story .. with pictures.

Looks like LA Sport owner was driving the Troll. I have sent a mail to Lionel to ask what happened.

Took my Comfort through the Kgalagadi, Rigtersveld including Akedis pass, and no problems. Tyre pressure on most of the route was down at 1.5 bar, with good tare road pressure was at 1.8.

This is the reply I got from LA Sport,


Ja nie !

The Patrol got stuck at the start of a river crossing with lionel behind the wheel. The caravan chassis got itself stuck in the sand which in turn pulled the Patrol down. Luckly there was a Cruiser to pull him out.

See what i mean!!! .....

Just got some good inflromation from the horse's mount. Patrol got a problem with the gearbox. Sensor's got wet and gearbox got stuck in 4th gear. No wonder they got stuck.

Automatic problem!! Manual do not have sensors that can cause these problems

(squeecking noise)

I do not think that that could really be considered a large contributing factor to that situation.

I do not have gear ratio data for the 4.8 Patrol, but I would expect the gear ratio in 4low to be between 1st and 2nd high. In 4l, that Patrol should still have plenty enough power to dig holes in that sand?

Looking at how deep the nose of that trailer is into the sand, I have to agree with earlier comments on this thread that that was a crossing or line that should not have been attempted (not even in a fully-functional vehicle).

If the gearbox sensor failed in during that crossing, then he tried it in the wrong gear as well, but if the problem already existed before he tried that crossing, then he really shouldn't have been trying to cross there? Either way, bad judgement prevailed.

We all make mistakes, and the more we drive off-road, the more we are inclined to over-estimate the abilities of both ourselves and our vehicles. This is how we learn. If you are unfortunate enough to get stuck where there is a newspaper photographer handy, that is embarrassing, but don't try and blame the vehicle?

We all have things to check out for but ja mabe not the best idea to cross with that trailer if there is a problem with the car??????

Peter I would agree if it was one of us, but it was Lionel Lewis and a group including Gary (voetspore). If Gary tells me that is what caused it I would believe him. I also would comment that the Troll was probably not in LR.