Let’s bring Sauna into Africa

"Supernatural?"
"No, supra-natural. That's like a whole other level above super."
(Jack Black and Ben Stiller in The Pick of Destiny, 2006)

Easily transferable to the overlanding business. Whenever you ask "Which car should I choose for my overlanding trip?" they will answer "Toyota!".
"Why?"
"It's the best, it will never break!"

So, actually, my dear hard-rockin' amigos, I can confirm that this is a myth. Attentive readers will notice that I already had some pretty ugly problems with my 2006 Prado during the first stage of my trip. Here I go with another one. I initially wanted to leave Dar and head north yesterday. But two days ago I discovered a freshly broken drive shaft boot on the front which was leaking grease/oil. Supra-uncool! On 20th I have to be at a border to stamp-in my new Carnet de Passages. Hmmpf. At least I am at Eckhard’s place which is probably the best-equipped truck workshop in Dar. This week Eckhard is busy with another customer’s “problem car” and so I started to disassemble my front left suspension assembly yesterday. From time to time Eckhard or his “fundi” (colloquial for expert/mechanic/skilled individual) threw a glance and a helpful comment. Never thought to be able to untighten these heavy bolts and nuts with my own force. The biggest lesson I learnt: A huge hammer is your most valuable tool! A year ago in Germany, Mario and Andrejs – the guys who assisted me with the Prado – told me the very same. Oh, they were so right about it :-p
By 6 p.m. we had everything in single parts and thus some desired samples in order to find fitting spares. Another downthrow: also the left steering knuckle oil seal “existed past its designed lifespan”. At 7.30 p.m. both spares arrived via piki piki (motorcycle taxi delivery). And this is where Toyota and Tanzania turn most shit into gold! The fact that around South/East Africa (especially here) these SUVs – in similar age or newer – are pretty common makes every corner shop to sell spare parts.

Today the fundi continues re-assembling my drive shaft and I assist while Eckhard is throwing curses at the neighbouring Mercedes Benz G’s diesel pump. Apart from G Class he is specialised on Volkswagen Transporters and does not have any specific tool for fitting my huge, flat, filigree Toyota oil seal. A few minutes later he returns from his backyard with the rusty metal cap of a big gas bottle which is having – by incidence – the same diameter like the seal’s fitting nut (97 mm). Wtf?! Quickly the heavy cap is shortened, looses its round head and gets reborn as “special tool for pressing the seal into its bed”. Invaluable, sovereign, supranatural awesomeness! I should better quit my job and do an internship here at Eckhard’s :-P
In the late afternoon I have everything ready and also manage to rebuild a ripped-off “front fender apron” (the official Toyota part name) from a piece of Cordura cloth which I carry around in the car for a year already. What a great day of improvising and brain using. I reward myself with a calamari platter.Читать далее