Is the KJ Liberty Capable, What others Think

AltE · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:18 pm

In preparation for sending my 05 CRD to South Africa for the next 3 years I have been finishing up some preparation (trip to Africa is validation to wife for me to mod it how I want). I spoke to a local offroad shop (they apparently know everything because they drove at Baja once) about fabbing up a prerunner tube bumper to go along with my backbone install. They basically berated me for thinking a Liberty would hold up to trials of African roads (I explained it would be for roads/trails, not rock crawling and seeking out wheeling). I am convinced that it will do great as a city vehicle on poorly maintained roads, as well as on back roads going out to see the rest of the continent. I'd like to hear any thoughts from others, am I crazy??? I'm not looking for a Rock Crawler, just a vehicle my wife is comfortable in, so she doesn't feel nervous in a high crime rate area...

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:35 pm

AltE wrote:

In preparation for sending my 05 CRD to South Africa for the next 3 years I have been finishing up some preparation (trip to Africa is validation to wife for me to mod it how I want). I spoke to a local offroad shop (they apparently know everything because they drove at Baja once) about fabbing up a prerunner tube bumper to go along with my backbone install. They basically berated me for thinking a Liberty would hold up to trials of African roads (I explained it would be for roads/trails, not rock crawling and seeking out wheeling). I am convinced that it will do great as a city vehicle on poorly maintained roads, as well as on back roads going out to see the rest of the continent. I'd like to hear any thoughts from others, am I crazy??? I'm not looking for a Rock Crawler, just a vehicle my wife is comfortable in, so she doesn't feel nervous in a high crime rate area...

I lived in South Africa for 2 months.... You'll be fine... plus some! in the CRD... We took a 30' bus down "African Roads" :shock:

I had to take a picture of a picture.. Because all of my African pictures are on 35mm...
But here is the proof...

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:46 pm

Where are you going to be at in S.A?
I traveled to about every major city... Even though we weren't supposed to.... :twisted:

A word to the wise... Don't go to downtown Durban at night! :wink:

AltE · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:32 pm

We'll be working in the embassy in Pretoria, I'll be chief of security... so I know all about Durban. We'll get to travel the continent a lot, I envision the CRD being the perfect mix of mall cruiser/rough trail vehicle. I'm not planning on racing it in an endurance race or anything.

AltE · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:34 pm

Great shot of the roads across S. Africa...I can't wait to get the rig shipped over. I plan on taking it as far north as Mt Kenya... maybe I'll change the trailrated badge for a Safari Rated...

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:40 pm

AltE wrote:

We'll be working in the embassy in Pretoria, I'll be chief of security... so I know all about Durban. We'll get to travel the continent a lot, I envision the CRD being the perfect mix of mall cruiser/rough trail vehicle. I'm not planning on racing it in an endurance race or anything.

Cool.. Just outside of J-Burg! I stayed at the University and got to stay in Soweto, where I ate Mopani worms! :shock:

Luckily they were fried...

We had to go to the Pretoria when one of our classmates L.O.S.T her passport..

Can I go with you? Then you'd have a wheeling buddy!

tomsjeep · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:05 pm

Congratulations on your adventure upcoming!
Word to the wise, a good, thorough car wash as soon as you get that thing off the freighter (I'm presuming you're not air-freighting it) would be a good idea. One of my vehicles was shipped back and forth from overseas service, and rusted heavily from the exposure to salt air on the trip back and forth. Being a landlubber/cityslicker, I didn't know enough to get a "deep" car wash afterwards, and had rust blooming through from the interior body panels - in places you never see rust coming through!

Fouros · **Posted:** Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:29 pm

mate

if KJ's can handle simpson desert crossings, trips up to the tip of cape york ,the gibb river road in australia it will be able to cope with south african bush roads, take a second spare if you can and water and fuel for those bush trips

calamaridog · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:34 am

Sounds like the perfect vehicle for the trip. Have a safe time.

kobusdP · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:54 am

I live in South Africa. I stay in the North western side of Pretoria. Trails around here get rated as 1 to 5. 1 being easy and 5 bring an airlift for recovey.

Ive done 3 and 4's in my liberty CRD.

take it slow and keep on trying.

AltE · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:50 am

Excellent inputs from everyone. I can't wait to see some fellow CRD's over there, maybe you can show me around...

I watch pretty closely the Down Under Forum, you guys are great proving grounds for the rest of us...

tonycrd · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:54 am

So...didn't this '4x4 specialist' also ask you what a CRD was? Because they have no idea what they are talking about. :roll:

With your setup you can go anywhere anytime. Have fun out there.

icarl · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:58 am

Is the Kj capable? Yes, provided you lift it and put some decent tires on it. Otherwise you will have ground clearance issues. Is it the best off-road vehicle out there? Of course not. The best off-road vehicle out there to me is not a jeep rubicon or some rock crawler but is in IMHO a simple atv because they are small and get into places that a jeep or other 'passenger' vehicle will never be able to fit into. For me it is more about mobility than capability. If the roads in Africa allow a jeep liberty to fit through them then you will do fine. Just throw some decent tires on there, a bumper and winch (necessary if you do safari alone), and if you really want to be capable put in a rear locker and front detroit truetrac.

teckman02 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:20 am

how much is it costing to ship it over

dirt pig · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:45 am

So....This shop that raced "Baja",
In what place did they finish?
If they won it, then yes, they probably know what they are talking about, still doesn't mean they know anything about KJ's or Sth Africa though !
If they only entered and DNF'd, then that is no claim to fame.

Anyone with enough money can get a competition license and enter just about any event !!
Doesn't mean they are experts in the field. More like Fools with too much money!!

AltE · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:28 am

Agreed about driving in Baja, even if they won, it barely relate to the tortures I will be submitting my vehicle to. I wish I had the time and money to race Baja, I'd spend it saving the world...

I have the lift on (OME CRD Heavies all around), tires on (treadwright MT-Gs with UltraGrip) factory skids on, now working on the winch/bumper, and staring at my snorkel and breather extensions every day in the garage. Wife is traveling the next 2 weeks, so I can take the KJ back and start modding it again.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:04 am

AltE wrote:

(they apparently know everything because they drove at Baja once) .

Sounds like thats your problem.

dirt pig · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:41 am

As you and everyone know's (I hope, anyway) that any off-roader has it's limitations ("a man has to know his limitation's"-quote by Harry Callahan). Regardless of what the vehicle is, it's the operator that is well prepared and caters for contingencies that will make it !!

As for the KJ? well that's up to how well prepared the vehicle is set up (sounds like you've covered most bases). The biggest factor is experience.

Hope you have a great time in S.A.

JMSMN · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:10 pm

When you are down there you are going to have to take a ton of pictures and keep us all informed.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:01 pm

FYI mackruss has an 06 CRD in South Africa

Is the KJ Liberty Capable, What others Think

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