Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

1. Name: Herbie Hellstrom

2. Birthday and Age: 27 October. 47

3. Town and Country of residence: Durbanville

4. Home Language: AFrikaans & German

5. Occupation/Business: Nuclear Quality Assurance

6. Family status: Married with 3 daughters

7. Membership - Other 4X4 Clubs and Forums: Cape Town Land Rover Club. Overland Forum. 4x4Community. Landcruiserclub Forum.

8. Current 4x4: 1. 2007 Nissan Patrol 4.8 GL 2. Land Rover Discovery 1 Tdi

9. Current Mods: Towbar. Semi completed installation of VHF radio
10. Mods on wish list: 1. Suspension 2. Dual Battery System 3. Tyres 4. Brad Harrison points 5. Another sub tank on opposite side.

11. Vehicle on wish list: This is it! Wish there was a V8 diesel though ... or the new(ish) 4.2 TD spotted in Tanzania

12. Previous 4x4's: Range Rover Classic 4 door V8. VW T4 Syncro Tdi. Toyota D-4D Hilux DC 3.0

13. Last 3 offroad or overland destinations: 1. 2006 - Namibia, Botswana 2. 2007 - Baviaanskloof 3. 2008 - Richtersveld, Overland to Kenia & back

14. Your favourite destination: Kalahari - Botswana side, although I would not mind going back to northern Serengeti!

15. Other hobbies: Photography

16. GPSr and Map Data used: Garmin 276C with T4A

17. Rate your 4X4 and overlanding experience: Adequate to be self sufficient & care for a family of 5 in the bush

18. Photos of you and your Vehicle: Later ...

Hello Herbie

Looks like you and I still need a mod or 2

Baie welkom.

Hi John

Man we do this to ourselves - the Hilux was just nicely kitted out and ready for any trip when I went and sold it!
However I learned a lot from my previous vehicles mods, so now it is just a case of finding the money and then we will play!

I am looking forward to the near final version of the Patrol (there will never be a final version ...)

We must meet up and discuss these monsters in more detail!

Cheers
Herbie

Vehicle status is slowly but surely changing ...

1. Fitted ARB front bumper (I think it is a De Luxe) with IPF fog lights installed (bought 2nd hand)
2. VHF radio installed underneath existing car radio (great fit if you remove the Nissan tray) with areial on front bumper.
3. Fitted KC Daylighter Spots onto bumper with relay activated cabling
4. Installed aerial switch to control the aerial extension
5. Removed top central bin lid and installed cabling and external aerial for GPS. Busy modifying Garmin fitting to mount permanently in the created hole.
6. Fitted a 12mm aluminium spacer to get spare wheel away from rear door.
Future fitment:
7. Going to fit heavy duty cabling from front of vehicle to rear and into a fuse block for easy power take off.
8. Design and build rear loading system (space for fridge and drawers and 2nd battery) etc

Hi Saltman, I see you a Landy man. I had 4 myself previously.(19682.25P/19822.25P/19902.5P/1996TDI) What do you think of the new defender, went for a drive the other day, nice engine and the best gear change ever in a Landy, I must say wouldnt mind one .
Koos

And you admit that on a Nissan site!!!!

Well yes, I never had a days trouble with one of them, or with peoples Landies that travelled with me.I enjoy driving a Defender
I also stand with one foot at L/Rover and the other on Patrol country.
I dont believe in brand bashing, all solid front suspension vehicles are nice thats on the market!!
Koos

Koos

We went on a CLRC (Cape Land Rover Club) run a couple of weekends ago and there were 2 Ford Transits with us (reference to the new 2.4 Litre engine in the Defender).

They do really well in rock and gravel etc, but the TC (Traction Control) still lets them down when you really need the power / spinning wheels. Eg. when trying to get up steep dunes with a short run up, they did not make it.

I also like the new dash. However the big surprise is going to be the Disco 3 facelift, which they are actually branding as the Disco 4.
Check the power and torque of the new 3 litre diesel TDV6! Would love to put one of those engines in a 3.0 Patrol engine bay!