Suzuki Bass Lake Adventure

By Chad Lückhoff

As things morph and change, the consumer market ebbs and flows. Trends are born and fashion infiltrates our daily lives, altering our considerations. In the automotive industry, buying trends change as well, largely influenced by popular media and a host of environmental factors. As such, the South African market has moved away from the three-box four-door sedan and opted not for the larger estate car, but rather the Sports Utility Vehicle, or SUV. This is largely due to the condition of our roads and the number of minibuses and trucks that share our road space on a daily basis. We want to sit higher in a vehicle so that we can see and be seen. It’s a sad day for the low-slung sports car then.

With more and more consumers opting for SUVs and 4x4 vehicles, the sales have increased dramatically and with that, more owners now have vehicles that are quite capable off-road – even if the owner isn’t one to venture into the unknown.

Having the tools at the ready, I recommend that more of these 4x4 owners learn the craft of off-road driving, learning an appreciation for the finer art of 4x4. It’s a hugely enjoyable affair that doesn’t have to cost the earth, moon and stars. And you can most likely enjoy the adventure in your daily drive.

To demonstrate the flexibility and capability of their small 4x4 offering, Suzuki SA invited Lawrence and I to join Allan Pepper and his team at Bass Lake in Henley-on-Klip, where we would put the Jimny through its paces and hone our off-road driving skills in the process.

A typical instruction day starts with a classroom session where the instructor, in our case, Allan himself, goes through some of the more technical aspects that one should consider when tackling off-road obstacles and challenges. Considerations such as rear-wheel positioning, when to use a diff-lock and how modern braking systems work. All of this would later be used out on the course through a variety of challenges.

Following this, we were lead out onto the course, two to a vehicle, where some tricky obstacles awaited. With the heavy rains the night before, it was a muddy affair with pools of water belying the depth and severity of some of the trenches. The rain did, however, provide some advantage, having washed away the loose grit and gravel, compacting the soil. This, surprisingly enough, helped the diminutive Jimny climb some of the most arduous inclines.

While the Suzuki Jimny may only have a small 1.3-litre naturally aspirated engine, it’s torquey delivery, light weight and rugged 4-wheel drive system make the most of the short overhangs and tight break over angle, allowing it to traverse terrain that one would not ordinarily expect it to be able to.

As the day drew on, the obstacles became more and more challenging, ranging from off-axis inclines and declines to gorges that required a deft touch and a healthy dose of courage. With each and every task completed, my confidence grew, in both my own ability and that of the little Jimny. It’s easy to see why the small, compact 4x4 is as revered as it is, held in high regard in the 4x4 community.

Before heading off to lunch, Allan demonstrated the benefit of 4WD systems on dirt roads with regards to road-holding and maintaining control. Taking the Jimny through a slalom course on gravel in 2WD, the tail slid about, the weight shifting from side to side and upsetting the balance of the car. Only an experienced driver would be able to save that. With 4WD engaged, the course was completed at a higher speed and with less wash-out – a situation better suited to the man-on-the-street who doesn’t spend every day on the dirt.

I would highly recommend that anyone who has a 4WD equipped vehicle attends one of these courses, with their significant other in tow, to experience what Green Laning, Mudding, Cross-Country and Rock Crawling is all about. It’s a great way to spend time in the outdoors, in the fresh air, learning new things and exploring the unknown.

*Images courtesy Chris Wall Media