Hilux - best recovery vehicle by far

[Harold]

1988 in the Magadikgadi grass plains: Had to tow a Landrover.
Eventually found the problem. A loose carburetor – worked OK when he had his foot flat as this sucked the carburetor firmly in place. However at slow speed, over corrugations and ruts, the carb flopped around and sucked air.

Near Savuti we found a Merc galantenwagen stuck in the sand and got him out.
Am sure it was not the Merc’s fault – just a driver that did not know what he was doing.

1990 on main road up to Kasane: Towed a Range rover for almost 150km to Kasane. The Range R. had caught fire – ‘twas the main loom behind the dashboard. Got to the fire by using an axe to chop open the dashboard. At Kasane an auto electrician hot-wired the Rangie so that we could get it started by joining two wires together – then pushing or towing to start . No other electrics worked – nothing. This put paid to our intended trip to Kaudom.

Same trip: the Land Rover started playing up. After much diagnostic research we decided that it had to be electrics. My wife, who knows as much about mechanics as I do about sewing, fiddled with the points and said, “Should this be loose?” The one contact stud on the points was loose. The problem was solved by re-riviting the stud with a whack using the back of an axe.

2000: About 10 km before Messina we came across a new, top of the range, Pajero parked on the side of the road with the occupants gazing sadly into the engine.
I stopped to help – did not know what to do as the engine resembles a photo copy machine rather than an engine. Out with tow-rope and towed him to Messina. My Hilux was smiling from side mirror to side mirror

2001 Namibia: Encountered a German tourist who had ventured off the road in his rented BMW and got seriously stuck in sand. Ever tried to find a tow point on a BMW belly deep in sand? Hope I did not damage his front suspension too much in getting him out.

2002: In the Kalahari Gemsbok park I stopped to help a caravaner who could not up up a slope as his front wheel drive car lost traction. We disconnected the caravan and I pulled it up for him. In so doing I missed out on a cheetah kill that must have happened 10 minutes before I got to the scene.

2005 on trip to Mozambique. Torrential rain after Xai-Xai. Friend with us in a LR TDI stopped for diesel at Quissico after which it would not start. I pulled it around the village to try and get it started. No go. Finally set off towing it to Inhambane.
What a trip – on the way came across another group in our party whose boat trailer
had a blow out. They had no spanners, zilch! Then discovered that the axle had moved causing the tyre to burst. Now had to get the boat off the trailer and make repairs, all this in the pouring rain. Finally got to Inhambane at about 1 in the morning with the Landrover still in tow. The problem with the LR was moisture that got onto the immoboliser system; and they say it is an off-road vehicle. He had to load his LR on a truck and get it to Maputo. A very costly exercise. LR finally paid up but after one hell’va fight.

But I must admit I had to get help once. Got stuck in the Basanga flood plains in northern Kafue. Thankfully it was a local Landcruiser and not a Land Rover that helped me. Just as well as then I did not have a hi-lift jack.

So what is the most important item to carry in your Hi-Lux? A tow rope!
‘Cause without it you can not help others.

[BenHur]

Mooi so Herold, was this all in the same Hilux or was it more than one?

[Harold]

More than one - I have had 5 since 1987, basiacally one every three tears up to 2001.

[pietpetoors]

Spot on Harold. I am busy writing my trip report for this weekend. We had a muddy weekend. The only two vehicles that went all over without help and the only two vehicle that were used as recovery vehicles because they can, were:
1. SFA Hilux with 3.0l Cressida motor, 33" tyres and locker at the back.
2. SFA Hilux, standard 2.4 motor, 33" tyres and lockers front and rear.

The rest of us were at the other side of the rope.

[Cookie Monster]

Cool Harold I have only used mine twice to recover others I have only had mine for about 5 months I towed a 2.5 Caravelle because of a faulty imobilizer that was about 30km. And once to pull a 4x2 ranger were the guy got a little carried away in the mud and got stuck up to his axils

[BenHur]

Spot on Harold. I am busy writing my trip report for this weekend. We had a muddy weekend. The only two vehicles that went all over without help and the only two vehicle that were used as recovery vehicles because they can, were:
1. SFA Hilux with 3.0l Cressida motor, 33" tyres and locker at the back.
2. SFA Hilux, standard 2.4 motor, 33" tyres and lockers front and rear.

The rest of us were at the other side of the rope.

[pietpetoors]

Thanks Bennie, I know, but I do not take too many pics of myself when trying to get out of the mud. I am getting one of the other guys' photos this afternoon and hopefully he has the action on there.

[Niel]

Hi

The very good looking lady with the camera did not get the full picture but here we recovered a SFA stuck in water. It was a great feeling doing this recovery because the entire day I heard the story of IFS will get stuck and how the SFA guys will recover me ……. So this one felt extra special. I will rather not comment on how many times I was recovered in the past (more the 2x4 days but none the less).

[BenHur]

Neil

Just remember one thing. If you never get stuck, you are not trying hard enough.

[Cookie Monster]

I agree Bennie :!: Just remeber try not to get to bold when you are alone :!: