 | Home > Expedition & Overland > sand driving experience? |
 
|
|
|
| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7685  
|
Cobley at yarwell? Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
||
25th Apr 2021 9:50pm |
|
| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3321 
|
I worked out in that bit of Namibia for a couple of years and lived in the river beds.
Are you renting a camper out there? For most of the terrain you won't need to let your tyres down, just keep the revs a tad higher than you would do normally off road and you'll be fine. I was in a loaded 110 running 235 ATs and never had to lower the tyre pressures. If it gets really heavy going and you're in a heavily loaded double cab, let the tyres down a bit to get you through the sticky stuff. The rentals generally come with compressors.  |
||
|
25th Apr 2021 9:56pm |
|
| boxoftricks Member Since: 06 Feb 2019 Location: Home Counties Posts: 745 
|
I'd recommend speaking to Edd Cobley at East of England Land Rover. He does Dakar training etc. I'll DM his details if helpful
|
||
|
26th Apr 2021 10:21am |
|
| Vera's Driver Member Since: 26 Mar 2021 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 19
|
That would be kind . Thank you.
|
||
|
26th Apr 2021 10:37am |
|
| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3321
|
If you're doing a self drive drop me a line and I'll give you some tips on where to head to...
There's a thread here from one of the trips we did a couple of years back with the kids https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic48577.html?highlight=namibia Click image to enlarge |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 10:38am |
|
| Gareth Member Since: 12 Dec 2011 Location: Bramhall Posts: 1038  
|
It’s out of bounds at the moment, but Macanterra in northern France do have miles of sand tracks and dunes. We went a few years ago on a trip organised by Vince at Protrax, in preparation for our Morocco trip. 2021 Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE D300 MHEV
1966 S2a 109 aka Betsy 1968 S2a 88 aka Bob 2014 Jaaaag F Type 3.0 Supercharged. |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 10:45am |
|
| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 640  
|
I went to Namibia with Safari Drive a few years ago - they arranged a local instructor to give us a lesson on gravel roads and sand on the first day. Gravel roads practice was very useful.
|
||
|
26th Apr 2021 12:02pm |
|
| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3321
|
Agree with Scotm. Gravel roads are much more likely to catch you out than dry river beds,.
the accident rate out there on the gravel is scary, particularly with rental vehicles. Some of the roads will be straight as dye for 30km so people barrel along and lose concentration. Get to the first bend and, wallop!! They also have a pronounced camber on them which sucks you in and people over correct making it worse. |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 12:59pm |
|
| Vera's Driver Member Since: 26 Mar 2021 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 19
|
Thanks for all your great info. Have done a little homework but always up for advice and personal experiences. Back ground is ex-fire service so trained with 4x4 vehicles and spate conditions I.e. snow, ice , mud and floods. Looking to up-skill in the UK prior to departure and considering driving lesson in Namibia before hitting the sandy route to Sossusvlei. Having retired and into risk management , will take the gravel roads with extra caution..... but still need the adrenalin rush.... satellite phone at the read.
 |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 6:06pm |
|
| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2520 
|
Don't forget this book.
Great read, lots of information and practical advice. Click image to enlarge https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vehicle-dependent...amp;sr=8-3 |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 8:19pm |
|
| Vogler Member Since: 02 Nov 2014 Location: Brussels Posts: 309  
|
The book is a good tip, it's incredibly complete. Sheppard has vast experience, including mapping expeditions through the desert.
J Antares Treadwell, a MY06 110 Td5 in Chawton White |
||
|
26th Apr 2021 11:53pm |
|
| camelman Member Since: 27 Feb 2013 Location: Peak District Posts: 3321
|
This is the app I mentioned.
It has most of the Off Road routes in Namibia in there as well. https://tracks4africa.co.za/ |
||
|
27th Apr 2021 11:56am |
|
| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7685
|
Thats two suggests for cobley then!
As above gravel tracks are most likely killer, literally. We have been twice with safari drive to Namibia, last time with two 12years old. Fantastic place to visit. Cheers James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
||
|
28th Apr 2021 8:53am |
|
| Vera's Driver Member Since: 26 Mar 2021 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 19
|
Thank you for all your advice, extremely valuable and certainly wetting the appetite even more so. I have an itinerary and will ask again . Desolation valley and Divorce Pass look a good challenge for my experience me thinks but Van Zyl’s Pass.... perhaps next time .
|
||
|
28th Apr 2021 5:55pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT + 1 Hour |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
