This year’s instalment of the NAMPO Harvest Day in the Free State saw many automakers revealing beefed-up bakkies, each boasting several off-road upgrades for spirited 4×4 enthusiasts who want to conquer the roads less travelled. We look at a trio of these capable double-cab bakkies …
ISUZU D-MAX ARCTIC AT35
Carrying the legacy of its forbear into the seventh-generation D-Max, the (locally built) D-Max Arctic AT35 was developed in partnership with Arctic Trucks. Locally built, you say? Indeed, the Japanese firm’s Struandale plant in Gqeberha is the only Isuzu production facility accredited by the Icelandic tuning company, who specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles, to produce this model, which is built alongside its standard stablemates, before upgrades are made at a dedicated Arctic Trucks body shop.
So, which upgrades have been made to the D-Max? For starters, the D-Max Arctic AT35’s larger wheel arches houw 17-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain rubber. Together with the latter items, the “specially developed” suspension arrangement, replete with lift kit and Bilstein dampers, have increased the bakkie’s ground clearance to 266 mm (from 232 mm). In addition, these modifications have improved the approach, breakover and departure angles, and the wading depth (up from 800 mm to 865 mm).
MITSUBISHI TRITON HALO AT35
Continuing with Arctic Trucks-tuned bakkies, meet the Mitsubishi Triton Halo AT35, the local arm of the Japanese automaker’s new flagship. According to the local arm of the Japanese brand, with the Triton Halo AT35, it has given off-road enthusiasts an “extremely” capable vehicle.
Mitsubishi SA’s pinnacle pick-up is equipped with an Iron Man suspension set-up, which, with the addition of 17-inch Arctic Trucks wheels (fitted with BF Goodrich off-road rubber), have increased the (standard; 220 mm) ground clearance by “approximately” 35 mm.
The Triton Halo AT35 has also been equipped with a snorkel and a roof rack, with the latter item carrying a spade and a high-lift jack. Ralliart accessories are also present.
GWM P-SERIES LTD
Spearheading the local P-Series line-up, GWM South Africa’s new flagship bakkie, the P-Series LTD, features several choice off-road upgrades, such as steel fore and aft bumpers, a snorkel, a winch, and 18-inch alloy wheels. However, what truly sets this model apart from its GWM bakkies stablemates, is its four-wheel-drive set-up, a selectable system (the other variants make do with a torque-on-demand arrangement), the top-tier P-Series features off-road modes like 4H, 4L, Sand, Snow, and Mud, and additional systems like a ‘Cross Country Expert Mode’ and ‘Drive Mode Memory’.
