Help me out here .. I bought a 2800 lwb to rebuild and customise into my "toertuig" but heard comments that the 2800 lacks power when it comes to sand and dune riding casting a bit of doubt on my choice .. I know I might be opening the same can of worms as the KTM vs BMW saga but I don't want to spend money on the wrong vehicle.. I plan to do trips to Bots and Namibia..
OK I am going to open a can of worms here, so pls bear with me, we have done the dunes twice in Namibia and the Diesel do take more strain and this is true of most diesels (generalising here 
), the dunes in Namibia are big very big, momentum, power and long rev range helps alot in these circumstances. I have seen the Hilux D4D struggle (alot), the Land Cruiser 4.2D Bakkie (donkey in the dunes) and the 100 series VX with 4.2 Turbo Diesel (Families car) and this has to be driven very hard (cover the rev gauge so you don't see it hard...) and a few take overs are required. In my opinion Petrol is better in dunes than the diesels, but it does not mean you cannot do it in the diesels, and the petrols are driven very hard as well, had a 4.5 efi cruiser bakkie on 1 instance and that handles the dunes very well, but you still drive it hard still, red lining is common place on driving the dunes, and have to change gears VERY quickly else you are going nowhere. As for driving in thick sand (beach and river beds) in my opinion this should not be an issue (may need to watch exhaust gas Temps if for prolonged periods I would imagine, but I have no experience on the Paj 2.8, but having done basic driving test some time ago on the bakkies (at least 7 years ago), it has alot of torque and should cope fine, but sure some owners of the 2.8 will respond on real life experiences on both and may prove me wrong too - also note I am not an expert on this one, just from my experience this far in the dunes in Namibia.
), the dunes in Namibia are big very big, momentum, power and long rev range helps alot in these circumstances. I have seen the Hilux D4D struggle (alot), the Land Cruiser 4.2D Bakkie (donkey in the dunes) and the 100 series VX with 4.2 Turbo Diesel (Families car) and this has to be driven very hard (cover the rev gauge so you don't see it hard...) and a few take overs are required. In my opinion Petrol is better in dunes than the diesels, but it does not mean you cannot do it in the diesels, and the petrols are driven very hard as well, had a 4.5 efi cruiser bakkie on 1 instance and that handles the dunes very well, but you still drive it hard still, red lining is common place on driving the dunes, and have to change gears VERY quickly else you are going nowhere. As for driving in thick sand (beach and river beds) in my opinion this should not be an issue (may need to watch exhaust gas Temps if for prolonged periods I would imagine, but I have no experience on the Paj 2.8, but having done basic driving test some time ago on the bakkies (at least 7 years ago), it has alot of torque and should cope fine, but sure some owners of the 2.8 will respond on real life experiences on both and may prove me wrong too - also note I am not an expert on this one, just from my experience this far in the dunes in Namibia.
I suppose it is the same old horses for courses scenario.. might do the dunes once in this Paj and Bots once a year but there are many other trips to consider locally..
There are probably lots of guys with alot of experience from Atlantis that will provide alot more insight here on he petrol vs. Diesel performance and more specifically for the 2.8. I would definately give it a try though, it is alot of fun in Namibia, and there are alot of guys with Diesels that go into the dunes, so it is not to say don't do it, just a note that you may need to take a few turns over some of the dunes, which is also OK, and is part of the fun.
Namibia dunes are hard on the cars so some of the tupperware may go missing, if you have weakness on the car it will find it, the cars work very hard in the dunes, both Petrol and Diesel.
Namibia dunes are hard on the cars so some of the tupperware may go missing
, if you have weakness on the car it will find it, the cars work very hard in the dunes, both Petrol and Diesel.
For sand driving, the diesel motor will suffice, but for dune driving the petrol motor is the best.
As posted earlier, the higher the dune, the more revs are required.
Diesels just run out of revs with the higher dunes and require more momentum to get up a dune and therefore more damage is done.
Just my 2c.
Nico.
As posted earlier, the higher the dune, the more revs are required.
Diesels just run out of revs with the higher dunes and require more momentum to get up a dune and therefore more damage is done.
Just my 2c.
Nico.
Shaun,
As ek ook 'n paar druppels kan piepie na aanleiding van ons ondervinding in die Namib met ons 3.8 GLS.
Ons het Desember 2010 die Namib aangevat en glo my, die Namib se sand is totaal anders as die Kaapse weskus sand of die Angola sand of die Zambia sand. Ek het gedink ek kan sand ry, maar laat ek jou vertel, my "pyle" is teruggedruk sodat hulle gelyk het soos mangels!! En dan praat ek nie eers van die duine nie. Die goed is monsters en alle karre op die toer moes hard werk om bo te kom.
Indien jy wil toer en nie so seer duine wil gaan ry nie, is enigeen (petrol of diesel) goed - maar as jy duine wil ry, sal ek aanbeveel dat jy sterk oorweging skenk aan 'n petrol Pajero. Iets wat natuurlik groot verskil maak is die moer wat die stuurwiel vashou. Party mense kan an ander probeer. Ek sal stem vir petrol.
Ek het so maand terug die krappigheid gehad en het 'n 2008 3.2 diesel GLS gaan toetsbestuur. Nadat ek die bultjie in Voortrekkersweg oor die Magaliesberg gery het, het ek onmiddelik besluit geen diesel vir my nie.
Cloyd
As ek ook 'n paar druppels kan piepie na aanleiding van ons ondervinding in die Namib met ons 3.8 GLS.
Ons het Desember 2010 die Namib aangevat en glo my, die Namib se sand is totaal anders as die Kaapse weskus sand of die Angola sand of die Zambia sand. Ek het gedink ek kan sand ry, maar laat ek jou vertel, my "pyle" is teruggedruk sodat hulle gelyk het soos mangels!! En dan praat ek nie eers van die duine nie. Die goed is monsters en alle karre op die toer moes hard werk om bo te kom.
Indien jy wil toer en nie so seer duine wil gaan ry nie, is enigeen (petrol of diesel) goed - maar as jy duine wil ry, sal ek aanbeveel dat jy sterk oorweging skenk aan 'n petrol Pajero. Iets wat natuurlik groot verskil maak is die moer wat die stuurwiel vashou. Party mense kan an ander probeer. Ek sal stem vir petrol.
Ek het so maand terug die krappigheid gehad en het 'n 2008 3.2 diesel GLS gaan toetsbestuur. Nadat ek die bultjie in Voortrekkersweg oor die Magaliesberg gery het, het ek onmiddelik besluit geen diesel vir my nie.
Cloyd
We went with Armand from iDream africa, he does day trips to 7 days in the dunes, he will be a good person to ask, I have his details, pls PM me if you would like to contact him. The good guides will sort out an alternative route if you really cannot make it, or choose not to do a specific route or dune due to bottom angle or cannot clear the dune. I believe the 2.8 Paj will be up to the task, but it must be in good nic and no weaknesses, so maybe start with a day trip, these are great fun! Some of the dunes can be hectic like the loooooong drop, we got just over 150 down there on the 4.5 efi cruiser bakkie.
Thanks guys.. gebruik wat jy het.. seems to be the solution to my current situation as spending the money to ditch this project in favour of a petrol might not be worth it. I will complete this build and use it to the best of it's capabilities (not to mention my limitations regarding offroad experience ) and enjoy the trips I'm hoping to make..and in time replace it with a newer model .... and of course start the which model debate all over again.. 
I have to agree with Cloyd ,as we see with offroad biking it is often the pilot not the machine that has the limitations 
So let me just get started and learn from those in the know...Wishing you all a blessed 2012 and hope to meet at one of the rallies soon.
I have to agree with Cloyd ,as we see with offroad biking it is often the pilot not the machine that has the limitations So let me just get started and learn from those in the know...Wishing you all a blessed 2012 and hope to meet at one of the rallies soon.
Site Admin
There are some of the Namib dune trails that do not allow diesels on the trips full stop.
Simon Bloomer
Shaun,
On the very positive side though the 2.8 diesel will be very good on the technical trails, has good clearance and a very good super select 4x4 system (possible rear diff lock as well depending on the model), the Namib dunes may be the only place where you may find limitations, else you will enjoy the 2.8. I don't believe you will have any issues in say Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, etc, so it may also be cheaper to hire a 4x4 in the dunes that way you spare your car and will not cause any damage, as Cloyd indicated, you drive the cars VERY hard in the Namib dunes, and in my opinion it may cause damage (physical or later on driver train, turbo, etc) which may only appear alot later.
Hire a 4x4 if this is what you want to do in Namibia, it is common place to get damage of tupperware (especially the rear bumper) of the Pajero (and also other 4x4's which are LWB - which is often not mentioned - especially in magazines, etc), for instance the cruiser 100 series rear bumpers also get ripped off in the dunes, and hiluxes running boards get damaged, lose mud guards, damage to exhaust, nudge bars, etc.
The costs of repairing or replacing this on your vehicle may offset the cost of the rental, so something to think about.
Just a thought...
On the very positive side though the 2.8 diesel will be very good on the technical trails, has good clearance and a very good super select 4x4 system (possible rear diff lock as well depending on the model), the Namib dunes may be the only place where you may find limitations, else you will enjoy the 2.8. I don't believe you will have any issues in say Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, etc, so it may also be cheaper to hire a 4x4 in the dunes that way you spare your car and will not cause any damage, as Cloyd indicated, you drive the cars VERY hard in the Namib dunes, and in my opinion it may cause damage (physical or later on driver train, turbo, etc) which may only appear alot later.
Hire a 4x4 if this is what you want to do in Namibia, it is common place to get damage of tupperware (especially the rear bumper) of the Pajero (and also other 4x4's which are LWB - which is often not mentioned - especially in magazines, etc), for instance the cruiser 100 series rear bumpers also get ripped off in the dunes, and hiluxes running boards get damaged, lose mud guards, damage to exhaust, nudge bars, etc.
The costs of repairing or replacing this on your vehicle may offset the cost of the rental, so something to think about.
Just a thought...