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 throws of a build. Because we’re en route with very little data and wifi connectivity, we thought we’d answer the FAQ 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 $h1t.

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

What is your fuel consumption? We have 2 Diesel tanks, one of 100l and the other 200l. Unfortunately, the larger tank does not have a fuel gauge attached;        therefore unable to measure our fuel consumption precisely. We recon we manage 6.3km per litre when travelling at 80kmph.

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 did not arrive in time.

Currrent 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  Victron 3000 inverter fed either/or/and by 2 x Solar panels/alternator/220v electric current when available in a campsite.

Gyser: Hanson Gem 3 gas/electric gyser. 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’s 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 of Profitment Center in Worcester designed the system based on our initial requirements. Tel: 023 342 4093 Both the owner, Andrie Everson and JP, were always available whenever Butch required any assistance, whether relating 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. Due to the super singles, Butch’s biggest frustration around the Honey Badger related to the inflation/deflation of the rear tyres. Furthermore, placing valves on both sides of the rims was deemed impractical, although the Aussie rims provided it. Butch found Ettienne Goutier, who has designed a simplified central tyre inflation system. He managed to have the second valve fitted to each rim and his central tyre inflation system, which has Butch in seventh heaven thus far. We can now simultaneously inflate or deflate all our tyres to a pre-determined pressure. TI Systems SA. Tel: 071 1020593 Email: [email protected]  

Do you have your 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 Wifi modem and buy Data Sim Cards in each country. In South Africa, we use a Vodacom data card. We have installed a booster aerial for better connectivity. 

What type 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  Invection plate, Phillips Airfryer, is the best invention since sliced bread. Our Microwave and Convection oven combination can only be used when hooked up to electricity.

NB outside South African borders (Mozambique and East African plugs and sockets are no longer three-prong but either European two-prong plugs or UK prongs. We could, fortunately, buy an adapter in Mozambique; otherwise, we’d not be able to plug the truck into the electrical systems.

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 succinctly puts it this way. “We are going on a trip to nowhere, with no final destination or end date. Limited only by health and wealth and the desire to continue travelling.”

For any other questions, please email [email protected]  we’ll try to answer any questions.

How can we follow you? On my blog www.maricha.co.za or Facebook: Maricha.co.za  or Polarsteps: Maricha Knight Van Heerden Robertson or 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 with ease for exceptional service. 

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

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

We’ve had new tyres fitted, with a weight load increase; this ensures that the side walls are thicker and have been a good investment. This was done in Swakopmund.