Bush Lapa Vlooi, first impressions

[Pieter Hugo]

Gaan einde die week en volgende week in jou valley toer, grootvadersbosch, bontebok, khomeesdrift, ens. Sal toet as ek verbyry.

Geniet dit Funguye, oorweeg ook Oewerzicht naby Greyton en Vloedbos tussen Caledon en Napier.

Ons het ongelooflik lekker gekamp by SANParke Addo. Beplan om op pad terug van Cradock af vir twee nagte oor te staan by SANParke Karoo - bietjie vir Vlooi gaan wys hoe lyk die regte Karoo!

[PeetS]

Ek doen dit ook deesdae so, as my Miskruier volgepak is, trek hy die skaal op 1,3ton. Die bakkie is waarskynlik so 2,5ton volgepak en met passasiers. Om 100kg se gewig te spaar deur met die BL se tenk leeg te ry, gaan geen verskil aan brandstofverbruik maak teen 'n totale gewig van digby 4ton nie.

In elk geval, is die 100kg se water in die tenk nie net 'n balanserende gewig wat die BL se neus ligter maak nie, dit is ook lae gewig, wat ek reken 'n goeie ding is.

Jaco

Het jy dalk al probeer om die gewig op jou wa se sleepstang te meet as jy klaar gelaai is en reg om te ry?

My Rooimier se plaatjie dui aan dat die punt belasting op die slaapstang nie 100 kg mag oorskry nie. Ek het 'n 200 kg badkamer skaal gaan koop en met die wa se sleepstang op die hoogte wat dit agter die Cruiser sou sleep, dit geweeg. Ek moes redelik stoei om die gewig net by 100 kg te hou. Ek was ook oortuig dat die tenk se volmaak 'n groot verskil sal maak aan die neusgewig, maar lyk my die relatiewe kort hefboomafstand van die watertenk tot by die as veroorsaak dat dit amper niks verskil maak nie. Ek moes die yskas en gasbottel wat ek in die wa gery het, tot agter die as skuif om uiteindelik by 95 kg op die neus uit te kom.

Ek sal as dit effe warmer is hier in Gauteng 'n paar ordentlike fotos en lesing neem en post. Ek is effens bekommerd dat ek dalk ( in my geval ) die sleepmeganisme se maksimum speks oorskry.

Ek moet ook bysê dat ons 8600 kilometers in Namibia ( en oor Van Zyls pas) sonder insident gery het. Die enigste ding wat soms gepla het is dat die meganisme nie altyd wou oopmaak as ek die wa wou afhaak nie. Dit het egter beter geraak toe ek die hele meganisme uitgewas het met seep en warm water en toe met 'n Wyns produk gespuit het


Groetnis
Peet Schultz

[WillieSo]

Peet,
Indien die meganisme waarna jy verwys die wa se haak is wat om die sleepstang se bal pas (moeilike beskrywing) het ek agtergekom dat wanneer die wa se rem vas is, dit soms moeilik afhaak. Wanneer die wa se rem los is en die wa effens kan beweeg, kom dit maklik af. Miskien help dit.
Groete

[lekhubu943]

Ek weet presies waarna jy verwys, Peet. As mens die neus wiel opdraai bly die wa se gooseneck oor die sleepstang se kop. Manlief het amper die Prado se agterent eenslag so opgetel op ons Zambie trip.

Ons het gevind dat stof die hoofoorsaak is, en hoe meer goed mens daar inspuit, hoe meer pak die stof en hoe erger raak die probleem. Aan die einde het Anton die goosenek so twee sagte houe met die rubber hammer gegee. Mens kon die stof sien uitval en daarna het hy elke keer maklik afgehak.

[Funguye]

Manlief het amper die Prado se agterent eenslag so opgetel

Ok, een minder persoon waarmee ek OOIT gaan moeilikheid soek!

Geniet dit Funguye, oorweeg ook Oewerzicht naby Greyton en Vloedbos tussen Caledon en Napier

Pieter, baie dankie, ek jaag so rond op die oomblik ek kom nie by huiswerk uit nie, het maar gedink ek sal dit "wing" op my toertjie. Ek gaan nou die twee plekke add op die lys, baie dankie.

[Pieter Hugo]

'n Vinnige draai gemaak by Keurboomstrand op pad na Addo.



Eerste aand by Addo. Koud maar nie te koud om 'n vuurtjie aan te steek vir 'n tjoppie nie.



Die opslaan en weer oppak gaan al beter - sal egter nog baie moet oefen om by 10 minute "set up time" te kom!

[Kooskop]

Die opslaan en weer oppak gaan al beter - sal egter nog baie moet oefen om by 10 minute "set up time" te kom!

Dit sal kom... Onthou, die onder 10 min sluit nie kantseile in nie....net wing, stabilisers, beddens oop en opgemaak en yskas oop vir tee....

[Jaco Kruger]

Het jy dalk al probeer om die gewig op jou wa se sleepstang te meet as jy klaar gelaai is en reg om te ry?

Ek het dit nog nie gedoen nie Peet, maar ek verbeel my aan die begin van die Review-draad het Michael op 'n stadium daaroor gepost.

Ek self het in die neuskas, met die uitsondering van 'n 7kg gasbottel (wat op geen ander plek kan staan nie) net kampstoele, die tent se kantseile en ander ligte items soos 'n besem, skoppie en so aan. Die groot gewig is egter in die yskas kompartement en die items daar kan ook na geen ander plek geskuif word nie. Die ding is dus, as ek die neusgewig meet en dit is meer as die aanbevole gewig, is daar niks wat ek daaraan kan doen nie, maar gaan ek wel heeltyd daaroor bekommerd wees.

Ek trek dus 'n Oudthoorn-move op hierdie een en steek eenvoudig maar my kop in die grond.

[Kooskop]

Ek het dit nog nie gedoen nie Peet, maar ek verbeel my aan die begin van die Review-draad het Michael op 'n stadium daaroor gepost.

Ek het.....maar moet my asb nie detail vra nie.....dis many moons ago....of liewer..... baie "ice tea's" gelede.... Dis wel iewers in die argiewe.....

[Klaxon of Africa]

As posted previously but with photos this time ,
.....so we choose the coldest weekend in July to take BL305 into the bush , I should have known that when the Hornbills and go away birds were laughing at us that we were in for a treat , I have not experienced cold like this for a very long time . Luckily Michael had sounded the warning bells and we had taken the ducks feathers along in a big bag as well as some support in the form of muscadel & friends . Obviously a new Bush Lapa draws attention and the little warthogs even dropped to their knees as we passed by while the wildebeest looked on indignantly .
I had taken the family along with their competition vans ,the banter was friendly but eventually filled with acknowledgement and appreciation for a very good product . We have had an inordinate amount of teething problems with the Vlooi but must say that the team in the Cape are working their butts of to clear the snag list . I started by putting out the stabilisers and then opened the wing .... Five minutes Julle grap seker man !!!, I took at least twenty because I just could not open it without feeling too much tension being put onto the canopy , eventually however it worked like it should and I now know that practice will make perfect . I then opened the peg bag but had forgotten the .... Mallet , this put the hornbills into a dancing frenzy of laughter while I tucked tale and went begging for a mallet . The rest of the setup was quite smooth , then it was time for koffie and what with my old stove a little " Fokker" affectionately known as the fokkertjie we now had to show the team what Bush Lapa had brought to the party , wow, what a unit it worked like a charm ! I have not yet tested the side panels but this will happen next time round .
So we kuier around our kuierpan ( best mod to date ), it works like a charm photo included and simply perches on the fold away braai tripod which we carry and then it was off to bed , well ..... Slept snug as bug in a rug but awoke to the drip , drip , drip , drip of water . I thought Pieter Hugo was joking but no , it was dripping in the trailer , we had been christened and the roof was wet except for the top panel which was frozen with a sheet of ice , it was cold .......and not to be concerned I recalled the photo which Michael had posted and now know we have work to do on a mod which will help us with this little watering problem , other than saying this to shall pass with winter .
I also found that my slide carrying the fridge / freezer with the very neat cable tied gas pipe was cutting the cable ties when we slid the drawer back and will have to work a mod for this arrangement as well , so if anyone has advice , asseblief , help tog .
I found that the new charger was not working and then realised that we had actually been running power from the battery for 4 days now and it carried through the weekend , talk about stress testing the batteries !
I could also not for the life of me get the geyser to operate , I followed instructions to the T but alas ......, this is a section which must still be tested .
My very good family and friends are by now appreciating the whole Bush Lapa experience and the only thing the go away birds and hornbills are after now is the left over braai brood which we have put out for them and the BL is taking its place as a contender in the game of bush craft

[Klaxon of Africa]

As posted previously but with photos this time ,
.....so we choose the coldest weekend in July to take BL305 into the bush , I should have known that when the Hornbills and go away birds were laughing at us that we were in for a treat , I have not experienced cold like this for a very long time . Luckily Michael had sounded the warning bells and we had taken the ducks feathers along in a big bag as well as some support in the form of muscadel & friends . Obviously a new Bush Lapa draws attention and the little warthogs even dropped to their knees as we passed by while the wildebeest looked on indignantly .
I had taken the family along with their competition vans ,the banter was friendly but eventually filled with acknowledgement and appreciation for a very good product . We have had an inordinate amount of teething problems with the Vlooi but must say that the team in the Cape are working their butts of to clear the snag list . I started by putting out the stabilisers and then opened the wing .... Five minutes Julle grap seker man !!!, I took at least twenty because I just could not open it without feeling too much tension being put onto the canopy , eventually however it worked like it should and I now know that practice will make perfect . I then opened the peg bag but had forgotten the .... Mallet , this put the hornbills into a dancing frenzy of laughter while I tucked tale and went begging for a mallet . The rest of the setup was quite smooth , then it was time for koffie and what with my old stove a little " Fokker" affectionately known as the fokkertjie we now had to show the team what Bush Lapa had brought to the party , wow, what a unit it worked like a charm ! I have not yet tested the side panels but this will happen next time round .
So we kuier around our kuierpan ( best mod to date ), it works like a charm photo included and simply perches on the fold away braai tripod which we carry and then it was off to bed , well ..... Slept snug as bug in a rug but awoke to the drip , drip , drip , drip of water . I thought Pieter Hugo was joking but no , it was dripping in the trailer , we had been christened and the roof was wet except for the top panel which was frozen with a sheet of ice , it was cold .......and not to be concerned I recalled the photo which Michael had posted and now know we have work to do on a mod which will help us with this little watering problem , other than saying this to shall pass with winter .
I also found that my slide carrying the fridge / freezer with the very neat cable tied gas pipe was cutting the cable ties when we slid the drawer back and will have to work a mod for this arrangement as well , so if anyone has advice , asseblief , help tog .
I found that the new charger was not working and then realised that we had actually been running power from the battery for 4 days now and it carried through the weekend , talk about stress testing the batteries !
I could also not for the life of me get the geyser to operate , I followed instructions to the T but alas ......, this is a section which must still be tested .
My very good family and friends are by now appreciating the whole Bush Lapa experience and the only thing the go away birds and hornbills are after now is the left over braai brood which we have put out for them and the BL is taking its place as a contender in the game of bush craft

[Klaxon of Africa]

Here are some of the pics to cover the story

[Klaxon of Africa]

My pics are not loading this morning

[Pieter Hugo]

Back home in Caledon after 5800 kilo's with Vlooi 296 following closely. Fuel consumption - no rather forget that! Wonderful trip, not a single problem and enjoying Vlooi every moment.



Spend a few days in Kgalagadi, then all the way back to Caledon to stock up. Then via Keurbooms to Addo



Spend two days in Addo - fantastic facilities and a very well run SANPark.



Spend a few days with children in Cradock then back to Caledon via Beaufort West.



Again a very well run park with excellent facilities - and beautiful Karoo.




Room with a view -

[Funguye]

Pieter, awesome trip! You are making me very excited to go there (again, but haven't been for 10 years).

Klaxon, I love the hornbill pic! It's now my phone background . Question tho, you need to explain what a Mallet, Fokker and kuierpan is. Either I am too young or too afrikaans to know them. To my mind I think mullet and a round table with alcohol on a sliding disc in the middle along with a drinking game where everyone loses. The other is a guy that steals my fav camping spot :P

[Klaxon of Africa]

Pieter, awesome trip! You are making me very excited to go there (again, but haven't been for 10 years).

Klaxon, I love the hornbill pic! It's now my phone background . Question tho, you need to explain what a Mallet, Fokker and kuierpan is. Either I am too young or too afrikaans to know them. To my mind I think mullet and a round table with alcohol on a sliding disc in the middle along with a drinking game where everyone loses. The other is a guy that steals my fav camping spot :P

That damned bird thought we were the joke of the week , he was dancing around our site and making a merry noise , eventually left after we fed him . Also has a few wildebeest looking at us a bit " skeef" but that is what you get when you are in a Bush Lapa hey? The fokkertjie is a German gas stove which I had installed in our previous trailer , the brand name is the same as the German aircraft of WWII but not nearly as effective , a tad slow to say the least , so we would take absolutely hours to brew anything . Now of course we have another problem .... We drink to much with the " lekker stofie" on the Vlooi . The Vlooi is also known as Skapie and has a black sheep sticker which I will dress it in . The reason for the sheep is that the unit was the black sheep of the Bush Lapa units , even left the factory without a charger or holes for the support poles for the awning and much much more . Now the unit is really good though but the family have named it so .. A fire pit is the most advanced kitchen unit you will find in the bush , in the same league as Schmeg ..... For me anyway . The fire pit is a 44gallon drum , 200 litre I think , which has been cut off at 150 mm on the open end . I will try and include a photo . This space age kitchen is my braai , my potjie area , my bread baking area and after all the food a place where we make our fire to sit around .

[Klaxon of Africa]

That damned bird thought we were the joke of the week , he was dancing around our site and making a merry noise , eventually left after we fed him . Also has a few wildebeest looking at us a bit " skeef" but that is what you get when you are in a Bush Lapa hey? The fokkertjie is a German gas stove which I had installed in our previous trailer , the brand name is the same as the German aircraft of WWII but not nearly as effective , a tad slow to say the least , so we would take absolutely hours to brew anything . Now of course we have another problem .... We drink to much with the " lekker stofie" on the Vlooi . The Vlooi is also known as Skapie and has a black sheep sticker which I will dress it in . The reason for the sheep is that the unit was the black sheep of the Bush Lapa units , even left the factory without a charger or holes for the support poles for the awning and much much more . Now the unit is really good though but the family have named it so .. A fire pit is the most advanced kitchen unit you will find in the bush , in the same league as Schmeg ..... For me anyway . The fire pit is a 44gallon drum , 200 litre I think , which has been cut off at 150 mm on the open end . I will try and include a photo . This space age kitchen is my braai , my potjie area , my bread baking area and after all the food a place where we make our fire to sit around .

trying the wildebeest

[Klaxon of Africa]

trying the wildebeest

our special unit

[WesPret]

Edit

[RVictor]

Hi guys. I have a vlooi for sale!