Baboons pass 2025

[Rechardt]

Alex and the team. We'll done and glad everyone got home safely.
Great trip report Alex and I agree with all your recommendations on tyres etc..
Thank you for adding me to the list.
I may not have finished, but trust me, I was there.

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk

[Douw]

Great report Alex , wow you guys had it rough.

[grips]

Thanks Alex one of the best reads on the forum in a long time. Also well done seems it were above extreme.

[AndreasR]

Great trip report and true adventure. Thanks.

Lesson learned. If you want to play with the big boys you better have the big toys.

[Bugger]

Great trip Report

Greater teamwork to bring a fellow Strandee to Safety

Well done guys

Agree with Alex I did Baboons 1st time with my Beach Buggy 2017
And with Tiny 2019

There was lots of changes on road conditions

I'll do it again when time Allow


Again Great achievement and respect urned

[Cruisers]

Quite an interesting read . Glad you all made it safely back home , I am a newbie here but not new to off the beaten tracks adventures.so one of the best things after such a journey is getting home.Update regarding -The Prado - she reached home safely here in Pretoria around 11pm. Really have to appreciate everyone who helped to tow the girl and move her along, she managed her drive back to Pretoria without use of a trailer. Thankful to the friend Fabian who always goes out of the way,excellent mechanic and the awesome George who towed her from the lodge all the way to Maseru border post, and also Thomson’s Towing in Ladybrand and also The Heritage House in Ladybrand for accommodating Marlan .Semonkeng Lodge was excellent with their service especially when I kept calling them from 5pm to check if there was any arrivals .Good teamwork All the best Kevershree

[Bogaards]

Great trip report! Glad you are all back.

[Trolly Fan]

Below is a quick taster of the more complete movie being created by Muller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKMRx4tYTRQ

[Trolly Fan]

And now for the full production!

https://youtu.be/4IsIRFq-ARw

[Trolly Fan]

Thanks to Muller for that

[Mad Manny]

OK watched the entire final video
Looks like it was very tough.
Well done to Alex for arranging the event.
Well done to the Patrol 4x4 Forum & the 4x4 Action Group guys.
Well done to the others too.
Nice video Muller.

Looks like you need, at a minimum, is:
A well kitted 4x4..
33" wheels at a minimum.
A decent lift and good suspension..
At least 2 spare tyre's and the ability to patch many cuts.
Maybe a spare side shaft.

That video put me off ever doing it and I've been wanting to do it for many.years....

[Trolly Fan]

That video put me off ever doing it and I've been wanting to do it for many years....

Hi Manny

I think our experience was made a lot worse because of the Prado's diff.
If it was not for that, we would have finished easily 3 hours sooner on day 2
If it was not for the tire issues on day 1, the same applies.

The Maxxis (3 vehicles), and the Jeep (on BFGs ) did not have any tires issues....
(just two vales on the Prado while being towed, but you can't really blame the Maxxis for that)

My view is if you have either of those two tire brands, you drive at the right pressure, and do nothing stupid, you should not have had any tire issues.
Also, all of the tire cuts happened in the early part of the trail where the rock edges are quite sharp (where the road was recently scraped). The rest of the pass the rocks and edges are not as sharp.

Breaking a diff is quite rare.

So in a way you could say it was just a matter of bad luck.
We were on the other hand very lucky though to have had warm sunshine for the two days.
So it could have been worse or better.

There are harder tracks out there, but this is consistently technical, with no escape route.
So, the implications of a breakdown is much worse.

[Mad Manny]

Other than the FJ, the other 3 vehicles that made it all had SFA's...

[PsyPhin]

Great report and video. Still on my bucket list, BUT

I am now glad I did not manage to join. Seems it was over my ability.

[Trolly Fan]

Other than the FJ, the other 3 vehicles that made it all had SFA's...

Yes, the Prado and FJ had IFS.

But the FJ is quite a plucky thing (I think its weight and short wheel base counts in its favour).
Besides bashing the exhaust into smitherines, and the tire cuts & debeading, that car held up.
I think an FJ with 2" lift and 35" (if possible) would be awesome on Baboons.