FAQ – Answering All Your Frequently Asked Questions

We are chatterboxes, as you know, and every time someone stops for a natter, we often answer many of the same questions, especially from folks planning or in the throes of a build. Because we’re en route with very little data and Wi-Fi connectivity, we thought we’d answer the FAQs in a blog.

Who built the truck? AC Motorhomes in Brackenfell. http://www.acmotorhomes.co.za/  

Why was the truck named Honey Badger? Because Honey Badgers take no sh1t.

What kind of truck do we have? Isuzu 300 NPS 4x4, 2013

What is your fuel consumption? We have 2 diesel tanks: one 100L and the other 200L. Unfortunately, the larger tank does not have a fuel gauge, so we can't measure our fuel consumption precisely. We reckon we manage 6.3 km per litre when travelling at 80 km/h.

What type of rims do we have? Super single rims fitted with Hankook Dynapro MT 37X12.5 OR 17LT tyres. Tyre King in Worcester. Mossie 023 347 4214 (excellent service)

Rims were custom-made because the ones ordered from Australia failed to arrive in time.

Current rims made by Joe Liebenberg. Neville Liebenberg continues manufacturing rims. Tel: 082 4043216 Email: [email protected] J&H Refurbishing.

Electrics: 4 Blue Nova Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, 13V/108Ah@C10/1404Wh, controlled by a Victron 3000 inverter, fed by 2 x solar panels, an alternator, or 220V electric current when available at a campsite.

Geyser: Hanson Gem 3 gas/electric geyser. Supplied by Motorhome World

Atlantis. https://motorhome-world.com/  

Custom-made mattress: Teecee’s Mattresses and Beds in Worcester tel: 082 977 2346 

Appliances: Fridge, gas hob and kitchen wash basin: Dometic (the upright fridge, designed for motorhomes and yachts, which we have, doesn’t have a locking system. Until we added straps, the doors often flew open – very disappointing.)

Do you have an extra fridge/freezer? Yes. Fridge/Freezer: Snow Master.

Bicycle rack: Stainless steel, custom-made by Zandre Harmse: Jan Bom Braai. On Facebook

Wood box: custom-made by a friend.

Roof Hatches: bought online. Yacht hatches

Aluminium cargo storage box mounted on the cab roof, made by Jasper Hewett Bushwakka (https://bushwakka.co.za/). This box was removed, and a lighter Thule was fitted.

Who designed our electrical system? JP at Profitment Center in Worcester designed it based on our initial requirements. Tel: 023 342 4093. Both the owner, Andrie Everson, and JP were always available whenever Butch needed assistance, whether related to the Honey Badger or not.

What system do you use to inflate or deflate your tyres? The back axle is designed for double rear wheels. However, with the super singles, Butch’s biggest frustration with the Honey Badger was inflating and deflating the rear tyres. Furthermore, placing valves on both sides of the rims was deemed impractical, even though the Aussie rims provided them. Butch found Ettienne Goutier, who has designed a simplified central tyre inflation system. He managed to fit a second valve to each rim and integrate his central tyre inflation system, which has put Butch in seventh heaven thus far. We can now simultaneously inflate or deflate all our tyres to a predetermined pressure. TI Systems SA. Tel: 071 1020593 Email: [email protected]  

Do you have a bathroom? Yes. We have a wet room (shower, basin, and Thetford swivel-seat chemical loo). We also have an outdoor hot-and-cold shower.

What GPS do you use? Garmin Overlander with Tracks for Africa, and Garmin InReach for our security and satellite communication.

2x 5kg Propane gas cylinders – Gas en Sport Worcester

Tracks for Africa Maps and Travel books.

How do you communicate? We have a Wi‑Fi modem and buy data SIM cards in each country. In South Africa, we use a Vodacom data card. We have installed a booster aerial to improve connectivity. 

What types of bikes do you have? We have Darrvin E-Bikes. Gert van Wyk Tel: 078 014 2090 https://darrvinshop.com/ 

What mod cons do you have? A single convection plate is the best invention since sliced bread. Our microwave and convection oven combination can only be used when plugged in.

NB: Outside South Africa (Mozambique and East Africa), plugs and sockets are no longer three-pronged but either European two-prong or UK plugs. Fortunately, we could buy an adapter in Mozambique; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to plug the truck into the electrical system.

We’ve had to replace our electrical steps. Found the correct system on Takealot Thule. Shipped to Swakopmund by Post Net Tokai. Cost a fortune but is worth it.

Where are you going, and for how long? Butch puts it succinctly. “We are going on a trip to nowhere, with no destination or end date. Limited only by health and wealth and the desire to continue travelling.”

For questions, please email [email protected]  ; we’ll try to answer them.

How can we follow you? On my blog at www.maricha.co.za  , on Facebook: Maricha.co.za, on Polar steps: Maricha Knight Van Heerden Robertson, or on Instagram: Kikki3757 

Our truck is insured with Pollol Nel Insurance Brokers. Paula van Rensburg is our competent “boss”. Her email address is [email protected]  , or contact her at +27 (082) 321-7977. We can recommend her for exceptional service. 

Solar Panels - we replaced and upgraded our solar panels in Upington - 2X 335-watt boards. ATM Sonkrag Auto electric 0543311522 Danie van den Heever 0834119991

Steps - our new electric steps will be a Thuli product purchased on Takealot.

We’ve had new tyres fitted with an increased load capacity; this ensures the sidewalls are thicker and has been a good investment. This was done in Swakopmund.