Heritage Adventure: ISUZU D-Max Tows the Equivalent of a Hippo from Cape Town to Johannesburg
An ISUZU D-MAX has put its towing capability to the test, hauling a 1.8-tonne caravan more than 4,500 km from Cape Town to Johannesburg as part of Radio Sonder Grense’s (RSG) Kultuur Karavaan campaign.
To put the weight in perspective, 1.8 tonnes is roughly the weight of an adult hippopotamus.
The journey, which took place during Heritage Month, started in Sea Point, Cape Town, and lasted almost three weeks, with the RSG team travelling through six small towns.
The Kultuur Karavaan campaign was created to connect RSG with its listeners in smaller communities and uncover stories that reflect the diversity of Afrikaans culture across South Africa.
“The campaign was created to help us connect directly with our listeners. Its primary objective was to gather stories from our audience and gain deeper insight into Afrikaans culture and the communities they call home,” said Amor Swanepoel, Marketing Manager at RSG.
Swanepoel said Isuzu was selected for the journey because the team needed a vehicle capable of handling the demanding conditions often found on the backroads connecting smaller towns.
The 3.0-litre D-MAX towed the 1.8-tonne caravan throughout the journey, including through significant changes in elevation, strong winds and challenging weather conditions.
“Our route did not always go according to plan. Severe rain and strong winds resulted in tunnel closures, forcing us to take much longer detours through difficult weather, gravel and muddy roads. Despite these conditions, the Isuzu handled the journey without any issues while towing the caravan the entire way,” said Swanepoel.
For the D-MAX, the journey also put its towing stability and off-road capability to the test. Rough Terrain Mode is standard on all 4x4 derivatives and works with the vehicle’s Traction Control System to help maintain traction when driving over challenging surfaces.
“This journey gave the RSG team a good opportunity to demonstrate what the D-MAX can do in real-world South African conditions. Towing a 1.8-tonne caravan over more than 4,500 km, including through difficult weather and road conditions, is a demanding test,” said Iviwe Poti, senior manager strategic communications.
The D-MAX also had to keep four people comfortable throughout the journey, with the vehicle carrying the driver, a technical operator and two presenters.
The road trip ended in Johannesburg a day before Heritage Day, bringing the Kultuur Karavaan’s journey through South Africa’s smaller communities to a close.
For RSG, the D-MAX’s towing capacity was an important part of making the campaign possible.
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