Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

As a fairly new Patrol owner, I have no idea what the 4.5 is like in sand. I have been invited on a dune trip through Namibia and need some advice/info.

It is a 4.5 manual.

Thanks

Hi Francois

I want to set your mind at ease that the 4.5 can definitely drive in sand. Dune driving obviously has a special type of skill to master, but the 4.5 will definitely be able to do all, but the very highest of dunes (it is a bit heavy).

Are you doing the Wvb - Meob - Wvb route?

Francois Theron wrote: ↑06 Sep 2020 18:11 As a fairly new Patrol owner, I have no idea what the 4.5 is like in sand. I have been invited on a dune trip through Namibia and need some advice/info.

It is a 4.5 manual.

Thanks

Francois ek vat my Patrol 3 Oktober Atlantis toe vir die eerste keer. Dink dit kan nogal sports wees aangesien ek nog nooit eintlik 4x4 gery het nie.

Francois Theron wrote: ↑06 Sep 2020 18:11 As a fairly new Patrol owner, I have no idea what the 4.5 is like in sand. I have been invited on a dune trip through Namibia and need some advice/info.

It is a 4.5 manual.

Thanks

Thirsty
I suspect the secret is to keep it as light as possible. Tire pressure is obviously critical, and 2nd gear low range is the gear to use.

Also, before you go, make sure the timing is set correctly, as the power is all up high in the rev range and with heat and low altitude, you don't want pinging. No more than 6 degrees before TDC, or it will ping. Also make sure the cooling system is tip-top.

Indeedas Peter said, it is rather thirtsy, but to be honest you will be able to do the Wvb-Meob-Wvb trip with a main, sub and 2 x jerry cans.

I agree with Peter, maybe take your Patrol to Tour de Frans and let him check for pinging (you are going to sit above 3000rpm a lot of the time) and let him check your fuel pump pressures.

Low range will protect your clutch, 2nd, 3rd - the rpms picks up quickly.

I have heard that the 4.5 throws fan belts, but I have never lost one - but I have a spare or 2 anyway.

To give you an idea, one of my friends has the carby 4.5 manual and he does regular dune trips with tourists in it. A lot of these tourist dune and fishing operators use patrols.

Thank you guys, sounds good.

I'm not sure of the exact route yet but Meob is part of it.

Fuel consumption is my biggest concern in the sense that I have to carry enough fuel.
My previous 4x4 was a Prado V6 which ate sand for breakfast, I'm just worried about the weight of the Patrol.

But we'll see and hopefully enjoy.

Hallo Francois

as the chaps mentioned, weight is your biggest enemy but the 4.5 manuals do well in the dunes once you get the nack of the gearing and momentum required. You will need to give more oemf than your Prado and would be good, if you haven't already, go for a test drive in the AD dunes to test optimum gearing/tyre pressure - of course Namib dunes are much higher.

Baie jaloers - geniet, en onthou almal sit vas - and as the saying goes, if you don't you haven't tried hard enough.

Selfs die gids ;-)

Amazing photos John! And yes with that bunch any trip will be fun!

Only Hermie will be brave enough to tackle that trip with a diesel Cruiser!

I've had my 4.5 is Swakopmund for 18 months and we enjoyed ourselves some dune driving from time to time.

The 4.5 will be able to complete the trip (make sure you take enough fuel, my average consumption was just over 3 km/l in the soft sand.)
It is not however the strongest 4x4 out there in terms of power to weight ratio, so you will have to work it really hard on some of the higher/steeper dunes. If you are not sure you can do a particular dune, then perhaps consider taking the alternative route / bypass.

It is however very comfortable and you do not need to fear breaking it as the 4.5 can take quite the beating and still drive home without a hiccup.

Most of all, enjoy the trip.

Ian De Villiers did a nice trip up that way with his 4.5. His has loads of kit & looks to have done well.