What is the reading on the odometer?
342 000 km, of which about 60 000 km were off-road. It turned over to 300 000 km at the highest point of the Swartberg Pass

How many owners?
I am the third owner, having inherited it from my dad in 2007. The first owner imported the vehicle from Japan to India where he was working at the time. He brought it along when he returned to South Africa and sold it to my dad.

What did it cost?
R90 000 in 1998

Why a Toyota?
Toyota = reliability

What is its nickname?
The Truck

Where have you been in it?
Our family have been to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, the Richtersveld, Mozambique, the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) and Lesotho in it.

Your dream destination?
Monkey Bay in Malawi and the Serengeti

Any breakdowns?
Just before we left on holiday to Zambia my dad tore his Achilles tendon. My mom had to drive all the way to Sakazima Island in Zambia – with my dad as backseat driver. I navigated. It was torture.
After a while my dad had had enough and he drove further wearing his moon boot (a special boot for people with an injured or broken ankle).
That’s when the water pump started leaking and the cylinder head cracked. It just goes to show: just when the man took over and thought he was in control …

Repairs up to date?
The cylinder head that cracked on our Zambia holiday in 2004 was repaired. This year the left front shock came loose.

Modifications?
A Safari turbo system was installed on the original 2.8-litre diesel engine, which was replaced with a KTZE 3-litre turbo diesel engine after 160 000 km. An extra fuel tank was installed and 33-inch Bridgestone Dueler tyres were fitted.

What do you like about the vehicle?
I am crazy about my truck. No one cuts me off while I’m driving, on campus I stop where I want to and I can reach any off-road destination.

And what not?
Its high diesel consumption

If you could change something, what would it be?
I would install a CD player.

Best memory?
The car, carrying five people and towing a very heavy trailer – passed Van Zyl’s Pass in Kaokoland with flying colours.

Will you drive through Africa in it?
Definitely!

Do you pack anything special for a long trip?
Yes, curry powder for our friends’ leaking radiator. Believe me, it works.

Which famous person would it be?
The Gladiator

If we gave you R10 000 …
I’d fit a roof rack and a rooftop tent, because the car is mine now, and I’m not towing a trailer.