A custom 4×4 overland rig is a dream shared by many outdoor and travel enthusiasts. But is it really worth investing hundreds of thousands of rands in a custom overlander that you may only use for four weeks a year? We look at some rental overlander options.
Africa is the canvas of adventurers and explorers alike. It boasts thousands of kilometres of dusty tracks and enough 4×4 obstacles for even the most insatiable adventurers.
For most of us, owning a capable 4×4 fitted with a small fortune worth of custom kit for that dream trip is the ultimate prize. Some would argue, however, that unless you use your 4×4 also as a daily runner, parking it in your garage for that occasional overland trip is like investing in an ice-making factory in Iceland.
That said, owning your own rig has plenty of advantages. It’s yours to do with as you please, so you can fit what you want, where you want, how you want. It is also parked in your garage so it is available – whenever you feel like it you can start it up and use it. And, unlike a rental 4×4, you don’t have mountains of paperwork with more clauses than a prenuptial agreement.
Renting a 4×4 vehicle with all the gadgets and accessories necessary for an overlanding trip costs but a fraction of a new vehicle. But there are some important factors to consider.
We compared some of the rental options available based on a theoretical trip: a seven-day trip to Namibia during the month of September. We focused on 4x4s that are self-sustainable with a rooftop tent or living quarters.
Note that a week travelling through Namibia is on the lean side, timing wise. Rental companies reckon that a 21-day rental period is the golden number as far as money saving versus investment versus a worthwhile trip goes.
It is also important to note that rental costs vary according to specific times in the year and holiday periods, as well as popular international travel patterns. September is regarded as ‘high season’ in the rental segment, so it is just about as expensive as a rental deal will get. In off-season periods you’ll be able to secure better deals.
Renting a 4×4 obviously requires the signing of plenty of paperwork in a contract between the rental company and client. And sometimes things go very wrong, so it’s important for a client to ensure they are up to date on all the clauses, rules and regulations.
Tim Bouwers from rental company Bobo Campers tells the story of a Dutch couple who, in 2015, rented a Discoverer FunX2 4×4 camper (based on a Nissan Hardbody 4×4) for a trip through Botswana.
Each of the company’s 4×4 overlanders come standard with a comprehensive information booklet that states, point by point, how drivers must deal with unique African challenges, like crossing a river.
So the Dutch couple arrived at a river crossing in the Chobe wilderness area. The couple had a GPS system, and according to the GPS, they had to cross the river. So into the drink went the Nissan, completely drowning the engine in the process.
The couple was apparently so traumatised by the drowned Nissan and the fact that hippos were all around the sunken FunX2, they recovered their personal belongings, hitched a ride to Maun airport, and caught the first plane back to the Netherlands. It was only two days after the incident that the rental company was informed about the incident with a “we’re sorry” email from the couple.
The vehicle was eventually recovered but the engine had, not surprisingly, expired, and had to be replaced.
Tracing the couple in the Netherlands for the damages incurred (due to the negligent act of driving into a deep river), Bobo Campers issued the ‘traumatised’ Dutch couple with an invoice for the mechanical damage. The couple initially refused to pay though, saying that the GPS was at fault because it did not tell them not to drive through the river.
As Bouwers explained to them, if they had arrived at the edge of a cliff, and the GPS had told them to continue straight, would they have driven off the cliff’s edge because the GPS did not tell them not to? In the end they paid their dues, but this tale is one of many that rental companies have to deal with.
Without further ado then, some rental options:
Afritrax
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 76 4.2D
Vehicle rental: R1 500 p/d
Insurance excess: R20 000
Collision & damage insurance: R200 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R5 000
Insurance excess: R20 000 (without cover)
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R11 900
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 11.5 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 1 or 2 (2nd tent at R85 p/d)
Trailer hire: R680 p/d
Trailer excess: R3 000
Avis Safari 4×4 Hire
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux 3.0 D-4D D/C 4×4
Vehicle rental: R2 045 per day
Insurance excess: R25 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R180 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R12 500
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R15 575
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 8.6 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 1 or 2
Trailer hire: N/A
Avis Safari 4×4 Hire
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 76
Vehicle rental: R2 255 per day
Insurance excess: R30 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R180 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R15 000
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R17 045
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 11.6 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 1 or 2
Trailer hire: N/A
Avis Safari 4×4 Hire
Vehicle: Land Rover Defender 110 Puma
Vehicle rental: R2 255 per day
Insurance excess: R30 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R180 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R15 000
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R17 045
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 9.7 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 1 or 2
Trailer hire: N/A
Bobo Campers
Vehicle: Nissan Hardbody NP300 4×4 (Discoverer FunX2)
Vehicle rental: R1 670 per day
Insurance excess: R51 000 (without cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R350 p/d (only available for 8-day and longer rental periods)
Collision & damage excess: None
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R14 140
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 14 litres/100km
Fuel: Petrol
Tents: Living cabin
Trailer hire: No
Bobo Campers
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux D/C 4×4 Auto
Vehicle rental: R1 620 per day
Insurance excess: R51 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R350 p/d (only available for 8-day and longer rental periods)
Collision & damage excess: R0
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R13 790
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 12 litres/100km
Fuel: Diesel
Tents: 1
Trailer hire: No
Britz 4×4/Maui
Vehicle: Nissan Hardbody NP300 Double Cab 4×4
Vehicle rental: R1 844 per day
Collision & damage insurance: R280 per day
Collision & damage excess: R2 500
Insurance excess: R45 000 (without cover)
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R14 868
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 12 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tent: 2
Trailer hire: No
Bushlore Africa
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux 2.5 D4-D D/C 4×4 Safari Camper
Vehicle rental: R1 890 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R295 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R0
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R15 295
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 9.4 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 2
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R820
Trailer excess: R5 000
Bushlore Africa
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 79 D/C Camper
Vehicle rental: R2 300 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R295 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R0
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R18 165
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 12.7 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 2
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R820 p/d
Trailer excess: R5 000
Bushlore Africa
Toyota Land Cruiser 78 4×4 Bushcamper
Vehicle rental: R2 620 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R295 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R0
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R20 405
People capacity: Two
Fuel consumption: Approx 13 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: Living cabin
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R820 p/d
Trailer excess: R5 000
Bushlore Africa
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux 2.5 D-4D D/C 4×4 Bushcamper
Vehicle rental: R1 980 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R295 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R0
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R15 925
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 9.4 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 1 (sleeps 2 adults and 2 children)
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R820 p/d
Trailer excess: R5 000
Bushtrackers
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 76 4×4
Vehicle rental: R1 900 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: n/a
Collision & damage excess: n/a
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R13 300
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 13 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tent: 2
Trailer hire: No
Bushtrackers
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux Safari Camper
Vehicle rental: R1 650 per day
Insurance excess: R15 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: n/a
Collision & damage excess: n/a
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R11 550
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 10 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tent: 2
Trailer hire: No
Drive South Africa
Vehicle: Toyota Hilux 2.5 D-4D 4×4 D/C Camper
Vehicle rental: R1 410 per day
Insurance excess: R10 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: n/a
Collision & damage excess: n/a
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R9 870
People capacity: 4
Fuel consumption: Approx 10.6 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tent: 2
Trailer hire: No
South Africa 4×4 Rental
Vehicle: Land Rover Defender TD5
Vehicle rental: R1 470 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000
Collision & damage insurance: R170 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R2 500
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R11 480
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 12 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 2
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R540 p/d (equipped)
Trailer excess: n/a
South Africa 4×4 Rental
Vehicle: Toyota Land Cruiser 76 D/C 4.2D
Vehicle rental: R1 870 per day
Insurance excess: R20 000 (no cover)
Collision & damage insurance: R170 p/d
Collision & damage excess: R2 500
Total cost (7 days plus insurance): R14 280
People capacity: Four
Fuel consumption: Approx 12 litres/100km
Fuel type: Diesel
Tents: 2
Trailer hire: Yes
Trailer cost: R540 (equipped)
Trailer excess: n/a
Fuel it
Fuel consumption is a vital factor when deciding on a rental 4×4. Well, at least if you earn rands – if you are an international tourist and you deal in US dollars or sterling, then it’s probably not such a major factor.
The day you take charge of your rental 4×4, you receive it with a full tank (or tanks) of fuel. Subsequent refuels are for your own account though, and the rental company will, once the vehicle is returned, refuel the 4×4 to ‘full’ and add this amount to your bill. Returning the vehicle with 500ml of fuel is not a good plan – you’ll still pay for that last refuel.
So you also have to consider ‘the package’ – renting a 4×4 overlander on the cheap that runs out of steam at 100km/h and reaches 500km on 100 litres of petrol is not necessarily a great plan. Paying a bit more for more horses, a comfortable 120km/h cruising speed and a range of 1 000km on 100 litres of fuel ultimately makes more sense.
When good times go bad
Sometimes things go wrong on an overland trip. It could be a mechanical issue, an accident or, as the Dutch couple in the Nissan Hardbody found out, their 4×4 is not a submarine. As you’d expect, there are certain guidelines to follow in case something goes wrong. These are some ad hoc rules and regulations Bobo Campers subscribe to:
* Customer needs to inform the rental company of the incident as soon as possible
* Depending on the nature of the incident, the customer needs to report the incident and nearest police station and secure an accident report (if it was a traffic accident)
* The rental company will organise that the vehicle is transported to the nearest depot, and a similar vehicle is supplied to the customer. Bobo Campers says its priority in the event of an accident or mechanical issue is to get the customer back on the road as soon as possible. That said, when a 4WD breakdown or incident occurs in the middle of Moremi in Botswana, it may take longer than 24 hours for a recovery vehicle to reach the affected vehicle.
* In the unusual situation that the customer needs medical attention, the rental company will organise suitable medical treatment and ensure that the patient receives suitable treatment
Mechanical breakdowns are dealt with as follows (by Bobo Campers):
* Customer contacts company on 24-hour mechanical stand-by number as supplied in information booklet
* The closest situated company depot will handle the incident
* The aim is to resolve the issue via phone. If the vehicle is still driveable, the customer is encouraged to drive to the nearest town and workshop
* If the vehicle is not driveable, a third-party workshop will be contracted to try and resolve the issue
* If this also fails, the company will replace the stricken vehicle with a similar unit wherever the customer is stranded. In case the customer can give us a clear explanation of the issue and we realise there is no easy fix in the offing, the company will replace the vehicle at the soonest opportunity
* If the customer has to incur accommodation costs while waiting for a repair or replacement to be affected, this claim can be submitted to the rental company for reimbursement, if the damage to the vehicle is not attributed to the customer
* Exclusions for compensation include clutch and drivetrain abuse, driving under the influence or driving in prohibited territories.
Compiled by: Deon van der Walt