Planning a 4x4 weekend from Pretoria

How to set up a bakkie or SUV for a short gravel trip without overpacking the boot.

A weekend out of Pretoria does not need a roof tent and a month of planning. The Magaliesberg, the Waterberg, and the roads around Pilanesberg are close enough for a Friday departure and a Sunday return, if the car is ready before you leave town.

Start with the vehicle, not the campsite. Tyres, including the spare, should be in good condition and at the right pressure for tar. Carry a gauge so you can drop a little pressure on gravel and put it back before the highway home. A double cab or SUV with decent ground clearance is enough for maintained gravel. Low-range and diff locks matter on tracks that are rutted or wet, not on a graded farm road.

Pack water for everyone in the car, a basic toolkit, a torch, a tow rope only if you know how to use it, and the jack that actually fits the car. Recovery gear you have never practised with is extra weight. Fuel stops thin out once you leave the N1 and N4, so leave town with a full tank.

Tell someone your route and the time you expect to be back. Gravel after rain changes quickly. If a section looks deeper than the axle, turn around. The trip is the point, not the photo of a stuck bakkie.

When you get home, wash the underside and check for new noises. Dust in the air filter and stones in the tread are normal. A vibration that was not there on Friday is not.