On the Hilux 4x4 forum Mark Schubert is known as OOOOMS. Even though his Hilux’s numberplate also bears that name, he calls his bakkie Sweedie – as he does his wife. When things get tough off road, nobody knows who he is talking to…

Everything on the Hilux is exactly like Mark would like it. He kept an eye on every modification and even when the bakkie is due for a service he does what he can himself.

This businessman is the second owner of the 2005 Toyota Hilux 2.5 litre D-4D with the Dastek electronic engine management chip and intercooler that he installed. It is in prime condition. He only paid R180 000 for it, which he considers to be a bargain.

Since he bought the bakkie, he has travelled nearly 55 000 km with it – mostly off road. Mark says the only downside is that Sweedie spends 10 months a year parked in the garage and not off-road where it belongs.

But for those two months that the Hilux gets out, it has everything that you need to survive in Africa for two months on board. The bakkie is always packed and ready to go. And you understand why when you see how everything fits into the canopy. There is a lot of stuff!

To date it was only necessary to replace the clutch and a fuel injector. Other than that there is not a lot he would change – “because it’s a Toyota!”

Where do you go with the vehicle?

Better to ask where it goes with me. The answer is, everywhere! We have been to Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Malawi a couple of times. We have even crisscrossed the whole South Africa. 

What is in the canopy?

Firstly I had the aluminium canopy built according to my specifications. It has four side doors (two big and two small) and a back door. On one of the big doors my axe, saw and portable LED lights are mounted. 

It is always difficult to reach the space in the canopy at the front against the bakkie’s cab. I built a wooden frame with angle iron on which two ammo cases – one on each side – slide in for our clothes. You get to these cases through the front doors of the canopy. When the cases are slid into position there is still space for tools such as an electric drill, angle grinder and compressor.

In the back of the load bin there are two lockable boxes for food and other loose items. Behind that there are two fridges – one for meat and one for the rest that need to stay cold.

More space that goes unused is against the roof of the canopy. There I’ve put a cargo net for all the light items such as an umbrella, eggs, pots and pans and a jacket for everyone.

Behind the big door on the left I have mounted a battery charger, battery monitor, solar panel regulator, fridge temperature monitor and a multimeter on a side panel. Below the panel sits the 1500W inverter. For that I installed two deep-cycle batteries that are connected to the dual-battery system. My recovery equipment is also in the load bin.

The table is tied to the inside of the bakkie’s tailgate. When you open the tailgate, you can easily get the table out and start unpacking – and it is also the last thing that goes in again.

And what else is there?

On the dashboard there is a canvas bag into which I put all the small loose things that usually lie around and get lost. I made a paper template and a friend made it for me. The pockets close with Velcro.

I put spotlights on the bull bar and a spare-wheel carrier on the rear bumper. On the left of the rear bumper is my lunch box where I keep all other tools. It is airtight and lockable. Everybody always asked me what was in the box and as a joke I decided to put an end to the questions and put the words “Lunch box” on it. It does not really hold my lunch.

I had the rock sliders built to my design. They have extra recovery points and high-lift jack points and are connected to the chassis with three brackets made of 10 mm steel.

Apart from the standard jerry cans and gas bottles on the roof rack, there are also a solar panel, a specially made, 2 m long shovel, a high-lift jack, a towing pole and a 10m cable.

When Sweedie is fully packed, there is a rooftop tent, an awning and two extra water tanks with drinking water and washing water to keep him firmly on the ground. Regardless of the weight, I still get 9.4 km per litre.

Lastly there is a VHF two-way radio, two Garmin GPSes, canvas seat covers and DVD players for the kids.

What kind of reaction do you get? 

“Wow, you probably travel far with this van”, “You are nicely kitted out!” and “What does that bakkie have?”