Scarlet is back on the road.

Scarlet was sold in December 2009 and is back on the road.
We wish her new owners a fantastic journey !

Hilux Raider (1991) 2.2 petrol 4x4 - For sale.

Scarlet - our faithful Hilux Raider (1991) 2.2 petrol 4x4 - is for sale.
As you know from this blog, it has just returned from an Africa overland safari.

It was a fantastic vehicle to have.

Diff lock. Single cab.

320 000km.
Mechanics renewed before departure – good condition.

Includes custom aluminium canopy, fridge-freezer, battery system, roof-top tent, awning, 2nd fuel tank, water tank, shelving, steel boxes, spares, camping and recovery equipment.

ZAR 90,000

Call Steve : +27 84 447 5544

(See more pictures under the "Scarlet" theme, and generally on the whole blog ; and see the reason why we have to sell it on our "Home page").

Scarlet's Anatomy

The Kitchen and Diningroom

Steve's side

Caro's side

The Recovery Compartment

What to pack?

Two lists of things we:

1. Should have left in the garage:

Surfboards – a good starting point for many conversations, but not worth the hassle of off-loading every time we stopped for the night, loading them on again the next morning and then having to stop every so often to re-tie them. Maybe it would have been different if we had found some waves…

Cooler box – we used it for storage where another black box would have been better.

Egg holder – doesn’t work unless eggs are hard boiled!

2. Found really useful:

Snatch-strap – the best thing since the hi-lift jack (if you are travelling as two vehicles).

Awning – lovely in the rain.

Vacuum cleaner – some sanity when the dust becomes too much!

Tools – often the know-how is there but the tools aren’t. Spares for Toyota seem to be available everywhere. Fortunately we haven’t had to replace anything other than a wheel bearing thus far.

Fridge – what a pleasure! To think that we had even discussed whether it was worth the money...

Fan - hanging in our tent as a ceiling fan. It saved our lives on many hot nights! (Thanks for the idea, Gideon)

Fire lighters – Good old, Blitz. Charcoal is more easily available that firewood in most places.

Wash basins – Two big plastic basins for washing food, clothes, dishes and bodies.

Potjie – Our cast iron cooking pot.

Bleach – we took 1 litre of 12% Sodium Hypochlorite (NaHOCL) which we used to clean all our drinking water and fruit & veg. We use 3 drops for 10 litres of drinking water.

Spot light and binoculars – for checking out all the creatures hanging around our camp,day and night (Thanks, Pat & B).

Getting Scarlet ready

Customised aluminium canopy
Long range fuel tank (60l)
Water tank (60l)
Fridge (Engel 40L)
Roof-top tent (Howling Moon 1.2m)
Awning (Howling Moon)
New Engine (4Y 2.2litre petrol)
Recondition gearbox, differentials
New radiator
Electronic distributor
Service carburettor, alternator
Gas stove (LPG)
Extra leaf springs rear and new shocks all round
Spare wheels x 2
New seats and covers
Fuel jerry's x 2 and bracket
Inverter and second battery
Hi-lift jack and lifting points
Tools and spares

Scarlet

She's a Toyota Hilux (1991) 2.2l petrol engine.
She is a 4wd with a front diff lock.
Oh, and she is red and tired of being referred to as 'the fire engine'!

"Have you ever seen a burnt down Hilux on the side of the road ?", Jaque, our mechanic, once asked.

Would you like to know why ?
Watch this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhoOkMccPZo

We chose an earlier model Hilux because they are renowned for being tough, simple and reliable. They are foundly widely throughout Africa , and we should have no problems (touch wood) finding mechanics with the spares and knowhow. And we needed a bakkie/pick-up for all the home renovation leading up to the trip !