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TO use a phrase so often said by the Monty Python team, "and now for something completely different!" Usually I give my impressions of the latest in passenger conveyance, but this week I take a look at something which has a very specialised appeal, the Nissan Patrol Safari Pick Up. The Patrol Safari Pickup is a tough, heavy-duty workhorse, and after an absence of several years from our market, will be welcomed by farmers and fleet owners who originally found it to be a very practical load-carrier, as well as durable and reliable.

The latest generation, capitalises on the strengths that made the original so popular with the agricultural and commercial markets. The Patrol Safari Pickup is a single cab 4x4 that is capable of carrying a full one ton load, filling a gap in the range for a heavy-duty, hard-working vehicle with proven off-road capability.

Aimed primarily at agricultural, mining and industrial markets, the Patrol Safari Pickup will probably appeal to recreational users who tow boats, caravans and trailers or who want a go anywhere vehicle.

With a gross load capacity of 1 125 kg, and a towing capacity of 750 kg (without brakes) and 1 550 kg (with overrun brakes), the Nissan will cope with just about anything.

Standard equipment features a heavy-duty chassis, limited slip differential, cyclonic air filtration and long range fuel tanks with a total capacity of 175 litres (two separate tanks, a main 95 litre tank and an 80 litre sub tank).

The All-Terrain Suspension incorporates an advanced heavy-duty coil spring suspension with three links in front and progressive rate leaf springs at the rear with a semi-floating rear axle.

Braking is vacuum assisted with 316 mm ventilated discs in front and 295 mm drums at the rear.

There are also front and rear towing hooks, front mudflaps and lockable fuel filter caps and with a 175 litres and the price of fuel that's important!

The Patrol Safari package also features a substantial front bumper that can carry a winch, a bull bar, towbar and rear step bumper, a double tube rollbar, air-conditioning and a sound system.

Inside the spacious cab with its tinted windows are individual front bucket seats trimmed in vinyl.

Instrumentation includes the usual fuel (main and sub tank), water temperature and oil pressure gauges, speedometer as well as a tachometer and trip meter, plus a digital clock. Steering is power assisted and the steering wheel is tilt adjustable.

Safety features include a collapsible steering column, door side intrusion bars, halogen headlamps, a laminated windscreen, a day/night interior rear view mirror, intermittent windscreen wipers and adjustable headrests.

Under the bonnet there's 4.2 litre in-line six cylinder common rail diesel engine which drives through a five speed manual gearbox. The motor develops 85 kW at 4 000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque at 2 000 rpm, making it an efficient tow vehicle.

On the road the Patrol Safari is relatively comfortable for a vehicle of this type, but do not expect smooth comfort, this is a working vehicle and as such is set up to carry loads over difficult terrain.

Power was lacking when it came to long climbs, but I have been informed that in April a turbo charged version will arrive and that should make tarmac driving a lot more pleasurable.

But it's off road that the Patrol Safari comes into its own. It handles rough roads with aplomb and on some almost non existent tracks the Patrol was sure footed and easy to drive. Drifts and ridges were no problem with approach and departure angles of 44 and 31 degrees respectively, a break over angle of 30 degrees and a crossover height of 430 mm, it was plain sailing. I do not claim to be an off road driver, but the Patrol Safari made even my efforts look good.

Priced at R314 700 including a three year 100 000 km mechanical warranty and an unlimited corrosion warranty, the Nissan Patrol Safari Pick Up is not cheap, but does offer a very tough durable package that should last for years under even the most extreme conditions.

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