Over landing is growing in popularity. People are leaving the luxury hotel rooms for the near untouched destinations created by nature. Getting to these arrears is in many cases rather risky but with the right vehicle and specialised accessories, it is possible. With thousands of options, which are the key items?

The big question

The first question you need to ask yourself is if you have the right vehicle for an overland adventure. Sure, many new 4x4 bakkies are extremely capable like the latest Mitsubishi Triton, but in saying that, many new offerings tend to lean towards the lifestyle segment meaning that they feature large, expensive wheels and ultra-cool paint jobs finished in an exotic colour like Cuban summer sunset orange – or something like that. Many of the new 4x4 bakkies on offer are jam-packed with the latest electronic gadgets and luxury items.

They also cost quite a bit of money. The latest, top-spec Toyota Hilux double-cab Legend RS retails for R973 000. Surely one could find something on the used market for less?

Searching for your new off-roader

The  home page offers an easy to use search box. We set our maximum price at R300 000 and max was R450 000. This resulted in around 846 vehicles to browse. You can browse those here. 

I settled on a 2012 Toyota Hilux 3.0-litre D4-D 4x4 double-cab. The vehicle in question has done its fair share of travel which has resulted in 185 000Km however the asking price for this particular vehicle with a canopy is R319 000.

The Toyota Hilux has proven itself throughout the African continent due to its reliability as well as the availability of parts, no matter where you are. This Hilux will cost you about R6464 per month.

Let’s get the car ready for our adventure

  1. Bullbars are one of the first accessories to be added to any 4×4, improving your approach angle and significantly improving your frontal protection. Many modern-day options feature a compartment for a winch and they are even airbag compatible. They offer integrated fog lights as well as an aerial mount for radios. We found a replacement bull bar for your Hilux at a cost of R16 700.
  2. Suspension upgrades are also very important. These upgrade can eliminate suspension sag and support the additional load. They can also improve comfort and handling and ultimately improve the vehicles ride height. A reputable set will cost about R17 000.
  3. High powered LED lights are another option worth considering as the better visibility you have the safer you will be, especially when venturing into unknown areas. We found a set of 6000K white light 48W output high lux for around R3000. 
  4. Snorkels are an excellent way to protect your four-wheel drive’s engine. The higher air intake gives you the combined benefits of cooler & cleaner air input, safer water crossings and increased airflow for improved performance. One of these will cost about R2000.
  5. Off-road tyres. Your vehicle's tyres are extremely important and fitting the right rubber is essential. Look at an All-Terrain tyre option as this tyre balances on and off-road capabilities. These tyres are also designed with reinforced sidewalls for added protection. A set will cost about R4000 per tyre.
  6. Other items worth looking at include a recovery kit which should be in the car at all times. This kit usually consists of tow-straps, hooks, chains and gloves. Another item you should consider is underbody protection which protects vital parts of your vehicle's undercarriage.

Let us recap

Our Hilux cost us R319 000, R355 800 less than the new equivalent. It is also well under our R450 000 max budget. With that, the total cost of extras mentioned above comes in at R54 700 bringing the total cost of our overland ready Hilux to R373 700, or in simpler terms, R5300 less than a new Volkswagen Polo Life.

Many of the items mentioned above can be sourced from any reputable off-road accessory stores and their knowledgeable sales staff will be able to guide you in selecting the right items for your vehicle. Perhaps it is time to start considering different options within the car market, perhaps it’s time to live a little on the adventurous side of life.

Written by Justin Jacobs for CHANGECARS