BAND OF BROTHERS

Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.

- Gareth Dean

The CAR and Leisure Wheels teams set course for the Tankwa Karoo for a timely reminder of the competency of the competitors in the local ladder-frame, adventure-focused SUV segment.

THE TRAILER

Led by a selection of impressive locally based manufacturers, the evolution of the so-called adventure camper caravan has seen these rugged, purpose-built off-road trailers become the default choice for intrepid overland travellers, predominantly towed behind one of the similarly hardy ladder-frame SUVs gathered in this feature.

Loaned to us by local manufacturer Infanta 4x4 via Cape Town-based AXL Outdoor, the family-sized Enkulu 2 trailer provided us with an ideal opportunity to put the towing prowess of each of our adventure SUVs to the test. More specifically, each vehicle took a turn to tow the 1 196 kg trailer along our route, while we also tested the acceleration figures (standing and overtaking) of each SUV with and again without the added load hooked up, to compare figures.

We weren't about to make it easy, either, with our chosen stretch of testing road featuring a rise in elevation of 96 metres over 2.5 kilometres.

DAY 1

Cape Town to the Tankwa Tented Camp, via Worcester and Ceres / 328 km

From town-going, to uphill-towing and on to the heart of the Tankwa Karoo