Road to Hell - Doodsakker - Van Zyls Pass - Hilux 4x4 Forum
Road to Hell - Doodsakker - Van Zyls Pass
Sat Jun 27, 2015 2:36 am
Anyone interested in our latest 8000Km trip through Angola and Namibia can read more about it on my Blog at:
Road to Hell – Doodsakker – Van Zyls Pass
Three big 4×4 trails in one go!
July 2014 I started a 4×4 forum topic named “Road to Hell – Reloaded” to regroup and get the “manne” psyched up about another adventures trip to Namakwaland. As we failed to complete the dangerous mountain pass called Road to Hell during our 2013 attempt we had to go back and conquer the beast. The topic took off like a rocket and many enthusiastic 4×4 owners added their names to the list.
As this trip was being planned months ahead there was ample time for planning and discussions, but little did I know back then that this would only be the start of an awesome adventure taking us all the way up to Angola.
As an expat working most of the year in foreign countries I unwillingly put allots of pressure on my lovely wife Bianca and as I was long overdue (14 years) to take her on a honeymoon I could have expected a "Fantasy Island" dream holiday request sooner or later, and so it happened. Bianca was tired of home and dealing with all the responsibilities by herself so she needed a break. I spend 250 days offshore during 2014 and needed it too, so we started looking for good fishing holiday destinations from east to west, and that’s when it struck me. Why spend a small fortune on a 7 day fishing trip to Madagascar if you can do a month trip for the same amount of money and enjoy the unspoiled treats Angola has to offer. It all made sense, if we’re going to Road to Hell right next to the Namibian border, why not keep on going, combining these trips and make one hell of a 4×4 touring and fishing adventure of it.
In a blink of an eye it all fell in place.
I’ve been planning and dreaming about a 4×4 trip to Angola for the past two years, not knowing when I’d actually be able to do it. There are so many things to think about, affordability, vehicle capability, visas, fuel stops, fresh drinking water and food, the list goes on and on, but I had most of it put together already, all I had left to do was to combine the dates and apply for leave. Planning the dates was the most crucial as one of my “Bucket List” 4×4 challenges was to drive the 4×4 eating demon called “Doodsakker”.
I started reading as many reports about the Doodsakker as I could get my hands on, form bike trip reports to 4×4 trip reports, all the failures, and reports on vehicles that were lost to the ocean, you name it, I read it. As lady luck planned it for us there was a perfect full moon early morning spring low tide close to the completion date of our already planned Road to Hell trip so our dates were cast in stone, no turning back, we were consciously planning a trip knowing the chances are good that we might lose our beloved Toyota Hilux. Awesome, feels like living on the edge.
As two of the most important aspects of planning the Doodsakker trip is getting your timing right and then being prepared for recovery situations, I started searching for all kinds of methods to do self recovery when bogged down in swampy areas, or elevating as high up a dune as possible with very little run in distance should King Neptune decide to claim my ride. Yes you got it right, I wanted to conquer the Doodsakker by myself. Well that was the initial plan but it didn’t turn out that way as my old forum friend ­Mark Schubert aka “0000MS” was just as eager to ride the Doodsakker and joined in. Shortly after Mark another forum friend Fans Eksteen aka “Hou da nou da” joined us as well.
Reservations were made with Flamingo Lodge and co-owner Theresa Sakko did a superb job assisting with LOI and Visa applications, thanks Theresa, you’re a star, we’re already planning our next trip to Flamingo Lodge so be sure to hear from us again.
So, that was that, we received our Visas in no time and the only thing we were waiting for was to get those 4×4 tekkies rolling..........................................
Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:23 am
Nog net so stukkie gelees
( meer fotos gekyk)
Maar moet se daai is droom trip wat jul gedoen het
Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:57 am
Whew!! I have just spent the past four hours reading about this trip, very nice report, Johannes. Love the idea of using leather for home-made disc pads but hey! - it worked. That left rear tyre was shot to hell & gone as well, surprised it lasted as long as it did. Bianca always look fresh & calm at all time while you sprouted a head of hair!
Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:18 pm
Family_Dog wrote: Whew!! I have just spent the past four hours reading about this trip, very nice report, Johannes. Love the idea of using leather for home-made disc pads but hey! - it worked. That left rear tyre was shot to hell & gone as well, surprised it lasted as long as it did. Bianca always look fresh & calm at all time while you sprouted a head of hair!
Thanks Oom Eric, took me almost two weeks to complete the report, lots of diary entries and media to work through.
Ja Bianca is a wonderful person, she always has so much confidence in my abilities to fix any problems, I hope I don't disappoint her someday.......
Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:25 pm
Hell Johannes dit was nou n lekker trip report om te lees.Jou foto,s is puik.Dit het vir my gevoel of ek ook deel van die span was.
Johannes wees nou eerlik.Stem jy saam met my as ek se dat Suid Wes (Henties) se strand hengel beter en lekkerder is as die wes kus.
Sat Jun 27, 2015 1:40 pm
The Legend wrote: Hell Johannes dit was nou n lekker trip report om te lees.Jou foto,s is puik.Dit het vir my gevoel of ek ook deel van die span was.
Baie dankie vir die komplimente.
Wat Henties se hengel betref, man, laat ek weer gaan probeer voor ek se ek stem nie saam nie, want in Langebaan gee ek die vis pakslae maar by Henties moet ek nog oefen
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:36 pm
Town: Melkrivier - Limpopo
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux 4.0-V6 Auto 4x4, ONCA Bullbar - Towbar & Rocksliders, 2" OME Suspension, 2" Body Lift, 33"x12,5" Khumo MTR's
Sat Jun 27, 2015 2:10 pm
Hierdie is n absolute puik report...... .... ek wil my amper verstout en se ek het nog nooit n trip report so baie geniet nie....... Kan net dink hoeveel werk daar moes in gegaan het.......
Dankie dat jy dit gedeel het en ook die Go-pro films.... dit gee jou n baie beter idee van hoe dit lyk.......
Moet se, daai Hilux van jou is darrem Dem mooi....
Ek is nou n meccie nie maar is daardie ekstra bree rims en groot bande van jou dalk nie die rede hoekom die bearings nie hou en jou wiel moere los kom en die studs beek? Vra maar net.
Sat Jun 27, 2015 2:48 pm
Johannes,Jy het seker vir Bianca die skuld gegee toe jy moes omdraai huis toe om die vars vis te gaan optel wat vergeet is.Ne Bianca?
Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:48 pm
Amazing trip wat julle gehad het.Mark het gese julle het baie fun gehad.Sal laaik om dit saam met julle te doen wat die plekke ken.Baie mooi pics
Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:19 pm
Baie goeie report, nice detail.
Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:16 am
Oupa Stig wrote: Wow.
Ratel-06 wrote: Johannes,
Baie dankie Albert, ja die ou Hilux, sy pas ons goed op, ek wil graag op gradeer maar ek verloor so baie as ek die trok verkoop want ek het so te se alles moontlik op haar gedoen.
The Legend wrote: Johannes
Dawie ja, kom ek stel dit so.
Ek het daai 10J 33" wiele seker al meer as 5 jaar op my Hilux en was van die begin af gewaarsku oor die bearings.
Die feit dat daai groot negatiewe offset die bearings sal beskadig betwyfel ek nie, maar ek dink ook (let wel dis net my opinie met my eie ervaring) dat die gewig van die voertuig alleen nie genoeg is om die negatiewe effek van die wiele se offset n groot invloed op die bearings te he nie.
Laat ek by noem, ek woon teen die see, ek is n see man en het al meer boote besit as bakkies. My bakkie sit baie boot in die water. Ek kon die nagvolge daarvan sien toe ek nou die bearings moes vervang, dit was geroesde gries wat ek daar binne moes skoon maak.
As jy my vra hoekom altwee bearing op die trip gegroet het, (let wel ekt al baie trips gedoen), dan sou ek se dis as gevolg van n kombinasie van dinge.
* Die bakkie het nou 200,000km op en bearings was nog nooit gedoen nie
* Die bakkie sien gereeld water so korosie het n rol gespeel.
* Die ekstra gewig wat ek vir die trip gehaad het en n groter las op die bearings gesit
* En die 10J rims met -42mm offset
Die was die bestandele wat nodig was om die bearings uit eindelik die gees te laat gee as jy my vra.
Ek het klaar vir myself bewys dat 10J rims onder normale omstandighede nie probleme veroorsaak nie.
Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:11 am
Awesome trip and trip report Johannes! Great pics too!
Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:54 am
Die bakkie het nou 200,000km op en bearings was nog nooit gedoen nie
Jy lieg,altwee gedoen op jou trip. Dankie Johannes baie nice trip report.
Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:01 am
Ek dink jy leer baie mense hier 'n les hoe om 'n trip raporteer!!!
Dit het my nou amper laat voel ek was saam met julle daar, sjoe wat 'n storie !!!
Donkies wat jou bakkie dek , mense lang die pad , visvang ( gelukkig nie teen $300 nie)
Jou sukkel met die linker agter wiel ( wys jou hoe 'n klein ding jou jaren se K@@ kan gee ) , soos ek dit lees kry ek daai lus om vinnig te lees om te hoor wat het jy gemaak , hoe het jy dit reg gemaak .
Ek was so nervous vir jou part toe ek die video van doodsakker kyk , 'n paar keer gedink ,"oooohhhhh hier kom die water nou!" .
Stof storie , sjoe dit klink amper soos 'n Indiana Jones tiepe adventure!!!
Ek sal my linker (weet nie wat ) gee om ook saam te kan gaan op so 'n trip
Weereens Weldone !!!
Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:24 pm
Baie geniet.......................wens ek kon dit ook doen. Wonder net hoeveel km het jy afgele. Puik verslag.
Toppie4x4 wrote: Baie geniet.......................wens ek kon dit ook doen. Wonder net hoeveel km het jy afgele. Puik verslag.
Post Road to Hell - Doodsakker - Van Zyls Pass
Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:55 pm
Ja nee ek het brille nodig............
Sun Jun 28, 2015 2:18 pm
Ek moet saam met jou stem oor die wiele en die wielbearings......
Ek het dieselfde mags as jy op gehad en dieselfde bande (het nou Dick Cepec op..... Khumo's was gaar gery....) ..... my bakkie het nou 180 000 km op en ek het nooit bearing failure gehad nie...... Het wel my wielbearings laat doen so 3000km terug as n voorsorgmaatreel.....
Ek dink vrag dra is n oorsaak, maar die grootste oorsaak is water ( :roll: my 2c)..... Dis net my bevinding, is nie te se dit is so nie.......
Maar, ek moet jou n ander ding se....... ek is vrek jaloers op so n trip...... ek sal moet begin beplan......
Ek sit tans op see vir werk, nie dat hier veel werk is om te doen nie, so ek spandeer my tyd om die trip report te doen.
Ongelukkig is die data wat ek moes upload so baie dat dit nou lyk of ons server my af skop, ek kan nie meer my Admin edit page oop maak nie, ...............oops!
Elk geval dis nou jammer, ek wou nog my uitgawes en die roete kaarte deel maar dit sal nou moet wag tot ek tuis is.
Hier is solank iets korts oor my brandstof omkostes, ek wil nie te veel uitbrei nie, sal eerder my blog opdateer sodra ek weer kan.
Total Distance: 7993Km
Total Fuel Used: 1657.77L
Average Fuel Consumption Calculated: 4.82Km/L
Best Fuel Consumption on tar road: Calculated 6.9Km/L
Worst Fuel Consumption offroad: Calculated 3.19Km/L
Total fuel cost: R18,200 (Most of my fuel stops were in Namibia @ +/- R10.70/L)
Mon Jun 29, 2015 7:51 am
Ek is nou so jaloers.... green with envy as they say
ek beplan al so 'n trip sedert ek my eeerste SFA gekoop het - iets het altyd die planne gestop. Nou nie so rof soos road to hell nie. Maar eerder om by die promised land uit te kom... Henties, Swartkop etc.
Eendag is eendag... maar ek gaan dit nie doen in 'n suzie nie. So 'n trip moet met hilux getackle word !!
Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:28 am
Dis sal my n week vat om als te lees maar die fotos is awesome!! Somehow het ek gedink jys n ou toppie Johannes maar sien nou jys maar nog jonk soos klomp van ons hier!!
Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:45 am
Ek's n spring chicken, maar ek haal die toppies vinnig in met ervaring
Mon Jun 29, 2015 9:53 am
Johannes van die See wrote: Ek's n spring chicken, maar ek haal die toppies vinnig in met ervaring
Mon Jun 29, 2015 10:13 am
Dankie vir die deel ek kyk ook nog net prentjies, maar dit vertel ook al n storie. Ek het erens gelees jy wil n cruiser aanskaf kyk jy na die 100 petrol? Wat dink jy in jou overland ondervinding is sy plus en negatiewe punte bo die v6 vigo bv. Ek laaik altwee kwaai
Mon Jun 29, 2015 4:09 pm
Die olie industry lyk bietjie swak nou, ek sal wag tot alles gestabiliseer het dan kyk vir n 76 of DC 79.
Die rede hoekom is omdat ek iets taier soek as n IFS pad bakkie, ek soek n plaas bakkie tiepe voertuig met vering en aste wat gemaak is vir gewig vat en hard week.
Se wat jy wil, n Cruiser is taier as n Hilux en ek verkies Toyota, so wat is my opsies........
Johannes van die See wrote: Die olie industry lyk bietjie swak nou, ek sal wag tot alles gestabiliseer het dan kyk vir n 76 of DC 79.
As ek n 4.5efi optel sal ek bly wees, was nog nooit n diesel man nie.
Wow dis 'n great trip report, maar ek sal die naweek moet tyd afvat om dt behoorlik te lees.
Dit is nou regtig 'n trip van 'n leeftyd gewees.
Bly julle is veilig terug.
started it yesterday & just finished reading it................ wow what a journey....
Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:51 pm
Jislaaaik Johannes........Daai was 'n lekker trip.
Thu Jul 02, 2015 8:25 pm
You had me spellbound from start to finish.What an amazing ,well narrated and very detailed trip report with a multitude of great pictures.I must admit that your swambo is more foto genic than you though Thanks for sharing with us.
Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:22 am
DUDE...........this is wrong on so many levels !!!!!!
But nice one anyway.
Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:07 pm
Great Trip Report, Your Photographic illustrations are excellent, explanations made me feel part of the trip. Thanx for sharing.
Johannes baie lekker lees en foto reisverslag. Nou het jy my net nog meer gedetermineerd om volgende jaar Angola en Namibie te reis.
Tue Jul 07, 2015 11:16 am
Dankie weereens aan almal vir die komplimente, en jammer ek kon nog nie die "Expense Report" by voeg nie, dit sal nog so week of twee neem voordat ek dit kan doen.
Moet nie terug hou nie, moet nie te maklik bang gepraat word nie, en moet nie te lank in ander se skadu loop nie, jy gaan net uit mis op jou eie avontuur.
Ek was gevra om n trip aanmekaar te slaan vir 2016 Junie/Julie skool vakansie. Ons is reeds 6 voertuie, wat spesifiek gaan vir hengel teen die kus. Ek is bewus van Oom Dries de Kock en Oom Jan Slabber se planne en wil nie in meng nie, maar sou dit lyk of julle planne plat val, kontak my gerus om te hoor of ons nog plek het. EK is bereid om max 10 voertuie saam te neem.
Johannes dankie ek sal dit in gedagte hou. Ek is besig saam met Dries om die man en vrou toer in plek te kry.