The Early Days
Toyota did not make a double cab at that time and we decided to do a conversion to a double cab. The original bakkie had been galvanised and the additions were also galvanised. We added a photographic hatch.
Would I galvanise again ?
Galvanising is the process of heating zinc to over 460 degrees and coating the steel components to give protection from the elements. Even if scratched it provides protection due to a local chemical reaction. This gives the outside a characteristic appearance, rather like it has been hammered all over, called splange. The disadvantage to this process is that the zinc adds a massive amount of weight to the vehicle. You need to be a weight lifter to get the bonnet up. The stopping distance of the vehicle is proportional to its weight and so predictably being galvanised also affects the stopping distance. Luckily we do not go fast but the following distance has to be considered with some caution. Never forget you are driving a lethal weapon. The advantages are the reduction in rust and the rugged strength. Rust is still very little considering the vehicle has been parked next to the sea for years. The chassis has no rust, rust is predominantly on the doors and windscreen where water collects or has leaked. Even that is modest considering the use and time frame. It is really strong and tough. I have no problems driving into the bush or pushing road obstructions out of the way with the vehicle as the galvanising is a hard crusty protection, difficult to damage.
I may galvanise again.
Would I turn a bakkie into a double cab ?
You can buy original Toyota double cabs now so this is generally unnecessary. I would not extend the bin again as this lowers the angle of exit and requires welding an extra piece on the chassis. This is a weak point. When going over a drop of more than 45 cms the back of the chassis makes contact with the top of the drop unless you try a fast bunjy jump. Going down very steep gradients is not a problem as the nose is pointed down and the backside is in the air. The Beast so far has managed most drops it has attempted with its extra weight, and the chassis has only cracked once. See a later story.
I would not convert a modern single cab bakkie to a double or extend the bin..
Would I add a photographic hatch again ?
When the photographic hatch was put in the lid was of galvanised steel and you more or less had to use the winch to open it. Needless to say we dumped it for a fibreglass hatch after a couple of trips. At least now I can open it. The people putting in the hatch had no idea what thousand of kilometres of bad corrugated roads would do to the hatch supports without vibration reduction. The hatch supports have required regular upkeep and once again need rewelding to the roof. They are leaking into the the cab. In the rainy season in Zambia we has to use silicon glue to stop the deluge. I am going to reweld and put in some form of vibration reduction, Kelbe style.
Photographic opportunities to use the photographic hatch are rare as you usually want to be at eye level. Elephants, giraffe and birds may be the exception. Its not bad for landscapes if you want middle ground. It can help to see over tall grasses and ditches and scan the horizon. In places like Kgalagadi where the roads have been graded so often they have sunk beneath the landscape level it is a big bonus. Its nice at sunset to drink beer or wine. Otherwise creatures don't do as well as you are shooting from above the animal, these images are much better shot from ground level.
Photographic hatch and game reserve rules
We found South African game reserves were unhappy about a person standing with their head through the roof even if you have a roof or canopy over the hatch. They see a photographic hatch as a sunroof. The Botswana and Nambian game reserves vary. They are generally OK with it if you have a roof or shade over the hatch. They don't want you to break the silhouette of the vehicle. We only go through the roof if the photographic opportunity is much better although we used it more when we had a passenger friendly back seat. Zambia is fairly unconcerned and Tanzania and Kenya generally design their safari vehicles with hatches. Maybe it reflects the different landscapes.
I would not put in a photographic hatch again.
Would I galvanise again ?
Galvanising is the process of heating zinc to over 460 degrees and coating the steel components to give protection from the elements. Even if scratched it provides protection due to a local chemical reaction. This gives the outside a characteristic appearance, rather like it has been hammered all over, called splange. The disadvantage to this process is that the zinc adds a massive amount of weight to the vehicle. You need to be a weight lifter to get the bonnet up. The stopping distance of the vehicle is proportional to its weight and so predictably being galvanised also affects the stopping distance. Luckily we do not go fast but the following distance has to be considered with some caution. Never forget you are driving a lethal weapon. The advantages are the reduction in rust and the rugged strength. Rust is still very little considering the vehicle has been parked next to the sea for years. The chassis has no rust, rust is predominantly on the doors and windscreen where water collects or has leaked. Even that is modest considering the use and time frame. It is really strong and tough. I have no problems driving into the bush or pushing road obstructions out of the way with the vehicle as the galvanising is a hard crusty protection, difficult to damage.
I may galvanise again.
Would I turn a bakkie into a double cab ?
You can buy original Toyota double cabs now so this is generally unnecessary. I would not extend the bin again as this lowers the angle of exit and requires welding an extra piece on the chassis. This is a weak point. When going over a drop of more than 45 cms the back of the chassis makes contact with the top of the drop unless you try a fast bunjy jump. Going down very steep gradients is not a problem as the nose is pointed down and the backside is in the air. The Beast so far has managed most drops it has attempted with its extra weight, and the chassis has only cracked once. See a later story.
I would not convert a modern single cab bakkie to a double or extend the bin..
Would I add a photographic hatch again ?
When the photographic hatch was put in the lid was of galvanised steel and you more or less had to use the winch to open it. Needless to say we dumped it for a fibreglass hatch after a couple of trips. At least now I can open it. The people putting in the hatch had no idea what thousand of kilometres of bad corrugated roads would do to the hatch supports without vibration reduction. The hatch supports have required regular upkeep and once again need rewelding to the roof. They are leaking into the the cab. In the rainy season in Zambia we has to use silicon glue to stop the deluge. I am going to reweld and put in some form of vibration reduction, Kelbe style.
Photographic opportunities to use the photographic hatch are rare as you usually want to be at eye level. Elephants, giraffe and birds may be the exception. Its not bad for landscapes if you want middle ground. It can help to see over tall grasses and ditches and scan the horizon. In places like Kgalagadi where the roads have been graded so often they have sunk beneath the landscape level it is a big bonus. Its nice at sunset to drink beer or wine. Otherwise creatures don't do as well as you are shooting from above the animal, these images are much better shot from ground level.
Photographic hatch and game reserve rules
We found South African game reserves were unhappy about a person standing with their head through the roof even if you have a roof or canopy over the hatch. They see a photographic hatch as a sunroof. The Botswana and Nambian game reserves vary. They are generally OK with it if you have a roof or shade over the hatch. They don't want you to break the silhouette of the vehicle. We only go through the roof if the photographic opportunity is much better although we used it more when we had a passenger friendly back seat. Zambia is fairly unconcerned and Tanzania and Kenya generally design their safari vehicles with hatches. Maybe it reflects the different landscapes.
I would not put in a photographic hatch again.