Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

How would the Patrols fare in a test like this ?


http://jalopnik.com/5930933/jeep-grand- ... test-again

Not well. No propper 4x4, with decent off-road tires (read high sidewalls) will do well in a test like this. Look at how the rim hits the tar.

On the other hand, I have a bull bar. So I am not that worried about moose...

I tend to agree.
With the size and momentum I would also tend to take it on the chin unless there are grate risk to human life.
Bruin Beer.

Bruin Beer wrote:I tend to agree.
With the size and momentum I would also tend to take it on the chin unless there are grate risk to human life.
Bruin Beer.

That's why you need Grant's air-horn!

I you want a roadster, then buy one and not a Patrol.

Not sure how the Jeep's moose test result can be that bad.
I understand that for a car to be approved to sell in the USA, it has to pass the "swerve test".
I.e. 80km/h, then turn the wheel full lock left, then full lock to the right.
It should not fall over. But the Jeep in the above test came close to it.
Perhaps the "moose test" is more demanding than the specs of the "swerve test"

AFAIK, the "swerve test" is the reason why the Fortuner is not sold in the USA or in Australia.
Which implies that the Patrol (standard susp of course) must pass it.
I suspect most of ours, with susp lift, will not pass it anymore.
But then, with three tones of car and a solid bull bar, perhaps less of a worry?

Kudus seem more likely to end up in front of cars than Eland.
People have died this way in plat karre. Kudu end up on top of the roof, which is apparently the worst case scenario - and can cause death.
So I wonder, what will the implications by if I drive head-on into a Kudu with the Patrol?
Perhaps given the height of the body and bull bar, it is unlikely to end up on top of the roof?

http://www.patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.ph ... mologation

Akex
Ek stem grootliks saan met jou.
Koedoes is egter geneig om in die nag agter die ligte van die kar in te te spring, en hulle spring hoog. Bul bar of te not - jy gaan selfs in 'n Patrol seer kry. Don't try it.

That Jeep test was a set up. Tyres under inflated, suspension set high and top heavy load. It could not be repeated on a proper test track.

If I was about to hit a large antelope with the Patrol I would plough on. In fact with any animal straight is usually the best policy. I have lost s few friends that swerved to avoid soft squishy things and ended up hitting hard solid things. With the patrol the bonnet is at chest height, so you would only have an issue with something like an eland. The problem with platkars is they take out the legs and the main body continues into the windscreen at relative velocity. I have seen the mess a pheasant made of a windscreen, it would be slightly worse with a Kudu bull. Most Patrols would clip the main body of most antelope so would slow it down relative to vehicle speed.

On a side note, while in Namibia reporting my trailer rollover to the police they were looking for a Kudu hit and run RSA driver. The Kudu went between the car and the trailer. A common issue apparently as they jump over the car and end up on the trailer.

My Opinion


If you are scared of a Kudu rolling into the windscreen or roof, do a suspension lift.


Below is a compilation with failures on the moose test. My opinion is this a necessity as this test pushes vehicle manufactures to provide us with safes vehicles. This is the reason why all the new DC's have EBD. This aids in preventing the roll over and saves lives.

Scary what happens,