Rolling with the Punches! | The Ultimate Shakedown, Part 2: Drama in the Cederberg

We make our way West, leaving the Northern Cape behind and switching to Low Range as we tackle a very challenging descent into the Doring River Valley.
0:00 - Intro
2:00 - A Scenic Departure
3:32 - Karoo Highlands Route
5:41 - Van Rhyn's Pass
7:01 - Finally some Gravel!
8:04 - Roadside Lunch
10:44 - Gifberg Pass
13:32 - Descending into the Doring River Valley
15:38 - The Sound that Nobody Wants to Hear
18:33 - Rolling with the Punches
21:28 - A Scene Worth Waiting For
24:27 - Unpacking the Day's Events
27:24 - Wagyu in Paradise
Thanks as always to the following companies for supporting this channel:
4x4wholesalersafrica.com
www.lasportec.co.za
eezi-awn.com
www.nationalluna.com
diversityblends.co.za
pausecoffee.co.za/
kampenbraai.co.za

[@mzwandilezikalala3597]

Going on a days long road trip in autumn and packing just shorts and flip flops is the most white guy thing. I love it. Never change, Matt. Never change.

[@stevenpretorius7341]

Thanks!

[@leonpotgieter4701]

Well done. It is beautiful to see a couple doing what they love doing together including the four leg child. Keep on doing what you do well. Thanks again 👍👍

[@seanbatty2665]

Yeah. My wife and I cycled North Cape Norway to Cape Town in 1992, I miss this travel like crazy! Would love to be doing this as a job now……..but alas too stupid, will stick with my day job!

[@b.davis.wildlife]

Matt this is incredible! What a well constructed episode. The drone footage and soundtrack at 18:35 is just epic!!

[@crasht8]

I carry light truck tubes and some talken powder. Coat the tube and inside of the tubeless tire with the talc (stops the tire wearing through the tube) put tube inside the tubeless tire and inflate. Lighter than more spares and will get you rolling again. :) love these video's mate Africa is a beautiful looking spot!

[@mvubu6823]

Your videography is always spectacular. Thanks Matt

[@garybregovits]

Thanks for introducing us to the remote, beautiful parts of South Africa stunning soundtrack at 10:40.

[@lesedikhanye5846]

The dog is definitely living its best life😍

[@brucelumsden94]

I find your videos very interesting, thankyou for your presentation. Congratulations on your shooting.

[@gavinsmith28]

So love the way you share the good and the bad of overlanding is SA

[@seanbatty2665]

Ahhh Matt, I take two spares all the time. One on the back bumper and the other on the roof or in the back depending on our trip/load.

[@hanneliewiese3477]

What a gorgeous camping spot ! Love your videos. Beautiful dog !

[@seanbatty2665]

Your comment on the fuel…..spot on, I have a 60l long range tank installed on my extended cab Hilux GD6 4x4. Love the diesel. I am excited to see your camper conversion. At the moment I am a believer in very little roof top weight and still camp with a Safari Bow. We can have that up in quick time. I have the BFG tyres ready to mount, just milking the last from the Terra Firmas which have been awesome…..especially when considering the price.

[@thaireesj41]

You two eat too well! I am drooling watching this! 😂

[@francoisrossouw1656]

Awesome episode, cool under pressure.

[@wesselkruger1972]

Killer shirt Matt!

[@karlandtoniavonbroembsen305]

Hi Matt and Nicole. So love to watch your show and the beautiful places you visit. This is very interesting to watch how you learn as you travel. Thank you for sharing. Can't wait for the next episode!!

[@philippiebarendse5168]

Thankyou Matt, always enjoy your videos. Its thru you that i always watch your episode. Keep on the good work and safe traveling.

[@cedricbrown9676]

An inreach device might be a great backup. I use mine a lot as i motorcycle solo through places without signal like the Cederberge and Tankwa. No necessarily for the SOS, but to text friends for spares if i should need it.

[@dusty_cruizer]

Awesome spot, we love Gifberg. Next time you should take the difficult route down to the river 😉 Awesome camping spot down there as well

[@dirkvanpapendorp7175]

What a super video of your drive down to the Doringrivier! I considered going down there in September but with a bush caravan in tow.😅 Definitely not a chance after seeing the descent! Will have to ask for a of the grid spot on top of the hill to camp; then drive down with the bakkie only! Baviaanskloof, which we have done in 2023 is a “vulletjie” against this!😮

[@siphosibiya4472]

That was really a rough drive. Got me on the edge of my seat

[@thebuffalooverlander]

Always great episodes …. We also just went through Cederberg on our latest trip . Travel safe and thanks for great footage

[@leonpotgieter4701]

Another winning video. Very nice thanks

[@stephenbarlin2314]

Great trip . I am very envious.

[@ArchieMakuwa]

Awesome video-gorgeous remote locations

[@davidkelroe-cooke4766]

That is one seriously cute dog you have!

[@kevinallwright8660]

Great episode. Thanks for sharing.

[@vossierebel]

Great, really great! Love the "character building" stint! I'm wondering - do you need to go do a tyre building course? Get the equipment so you don't have to carry heavy extra complete wheels but rather a few spare tyres?

[@michalf6460]

loved ittt !

[@johannvanschalkwyk2141]

Matt you need a Gluetred kit for those tire side holes.. :) , great video..

[@overlandersa]

We've also been down there and also underestimated the track. We stayed two nights and the original idea was to explore the area on the second day, but after driving in we decided to just spend that day at the campsite. But because it is so beautiful it was no hardship. We had to use Maxtrax to get out. Bye the way, having a second spare wheel certainly reduces stress...

[@amberisabelle5151]

How do I find out more about this campsite? :)

[@sandilemaphumulo2804]

How's it Matt & Nicole. I love your content and love seeing the places you take your rig. Just a suggestion for your tyre setup. Have you tried Terrafirma Rugged Terrain. I run them on my Isuzu and I've been to places like the Drakensberg to Mozambique to Malawi. They are not loud on road, apart from an increase of about 0,5l/100km extra, the side wall strength you get and peace of mind , you cannot with the BF Goodrich. Your only drawback is your max speed is 190km/hr but I doubt anybody drives at that speed. Keep up the good work, I look forward to more content and also get ideas on places to visit that I haven't been.

[@gavinsmith28]

Your tires seem a bit low profile- as you said, 17” better than 18”, but taller tyres would help more: I love my 33” tyres on 17” rims on me Everest

[@richardsaunders7569]

Excellent video Matt. I do have a question for you. I know you're very busy and you're trying to get all your editing and all that fun stuff done and still be able to carry on normal life which we all know is extremely hard. But, Is there any way you could shoot a Video showing what drone you use And what it's like for you every day Behind the controls trying to take footage? I have watched all of your videos.And I have been watching you for years but I don't think you have ever answered one of My comments.😂😂😂 That is understandable though but it would be It's awesome to see a video around the drone.

[@SKIKR]

Awesome video!! Wanna swap my 17s gd6 mags 😊

[@RRYanSpencer]

Next time consider Botterkloof road/pass. Between Calvinia & Nieuwoudtville turn off to Clanwilliam. Beautiful road, especially in flower season.

[@mattdubber]

I did that road on my last West Coast series, it was great!

[@RRYanSpencer]

@@mattdubber I must have seen it then. I proposed to my British wife on that road in flower season. Stopped the car, hopped a fence and walk a km or so into the veld.

[@lionridds]

Great shakedown video👌What’s your suspension spec currently with the new build? Especially the rear since you mentioned an upgrade. I’m considering the Alucab camper setup for my Hilux. Hence I ask

[@airgunslugslingers]

👍👍

[@mikekay213]

How is the center of gravity and aerodynamics of this camper vs previous setup so far?

[@jurgengrosse999]

Hi Matt, I have the same model fridge and battery system you have. I’m on my 2nd battery in under a year. With a brand new battery, driving all day my fridge draws the battery down overnight. I set the battery type to lead acid instead of calcium(the charge voltages are a fraction lower) and fitted a 160w/18v solar panel to the top of the canopy. Problem solved. By 8am, the battery voltage is never under 12v anymore…..🤷‍♂️

[@mattdubber]

I found out that the problem was with the cable running from the engine bay to the DC-DC charger. Once I replaced the cable it was back to normal, it runs the fridge for days now with no issues👌🏻

[@louisvanderwath8536]

freezer temp is set too low

[@mattdubber]

That isn’t the issue, I’ve always had it set that low. The battery just wasn’t charging properly. All sorted now!

[@recklessjunkie]

Do you think two spares would be over kill? I don’t know you know🤷

[@mattdubber]

In most cases yes, but in certain routes it might be worth it to carry 2 spares. I have space under the fuel tank so the only negative would be weight.

[@seanbatty2665]

I carry two. Heck it is a truck, and on my Hilux, plenty of room, we travel very light in the grand scheme of things.

[@tristanhall5971]

Thanks!