We started off by doing some in house training, free of charge, to our customers who noticed results straight away. The word got out. We got requests from other organizations for training and had to think about where to go from there.

We invested time and considerable resources into developing a capacity to be able to carry out what has turned out to be driver training with a difference. Research had told us that driver training in some quarters was getting negative reviews and it was being said that drivers were coming out the other end of the process with poor driving attitudes = poor driving!

When we first started to carry out training as a service industry, if you like, there was resistance to the rates that we set. Even though they were well on a par with similar types of schools in the more developed countries. There was this view that if the service was available in Africa then it should be cheaper!

We went through a struggle period trying to convince organizations of the benefits of our type of training. Small groups, maximum amount of time hands on and the practical side of the training backing up / reinforcing the theory. As in any service industry … “you get what you pay for” …

Saying that, the struggle has never really disappeared and it’s not likely to. It’s more in the background than it used to be.

This is mainly down to organizations who have taken training with us realizing the benefits in relationship to cost; and investing more in a human resource that, in the end, has control over the security of the human asset and, what is possibly, one of the most expensive physical assets, in the third most dangerous working environment globally; the roads.

The message has then been passed onto the other organizations through our best marketing tool. Our customers.

More and more it seems that organizations are realising that the correct type of driver training does reap rewards even though the initial outlay may seem expensive. And what is more they are going on to making this available to their staff as continuance training. Realizing that safe defensive driving is a life and lifetime skill that has to be continually updated to keep training effective.

We have been up on our soap box for the last ten years shouting out that driver training has to be an integral part of any successful fleet management programme and to have a positive effect on global road safety. And we applaud the organisations out there for bringing this message home.

My only hope is that the level of driver training is not compromised. There is no cheap solution to effective driver training. You can’t learn about driving, driving a desk with 30 others in the jam with you!

A big THANK-YOU to all our customers / students, who have stuck with us and passed on our details, over the last ten years.

We would be on the back roads without you.

Mick.

Central locking system in this one failed. Seems that some systems cannot take the rigours of African road conditions. Or they may just be poorly refitted/fitted when the armouring was carried out.

This one had been to a workshop to be fixed and this is how it came back. Security compromised?

Emergency Tool Kit

Emergency tool kit found behind this panel in the rear of the vehicle. Needed a Philips screwdriver to undo the panel. Guess where it was found? You got it! I was told that the panel is generally left off to access jack and other emergency tools etc. The panel is part of the armouring! Security compromised?

Bull Bar and HF Mounting

Not much thought given to this HF antennae modification (maybe the radio fitter?). For one it’s a killer. Not such a bad thing if it’s the right target but statistically speaking it would probably be a child running out in the road who gets it.

Also the bull bar (which is a really nice one) is supposed to protect equipment not make it more vulnerable! The HF radio is probably fitted to help with communication in remote environments - I would want it to work … if the aerial gets damaged …?

• The aerial also makes another blind spot on a vehicle that’s blind spots have already been made larger.
• The mounting also makes it impossible to use the inbuilt high lift jack point.
• It has also decreased the vehicles approach angle. The bull bar that is fitted actually increases the angle!

As an alternative solution, the company that makes the bar (ARB) also makes a rear bar with a spare wheel holder and the ability to mount the aerial high up at the back of the vehicle.

Another example - spot the faults …

The HF mounting was made a local Jua kali shop. (slang term for metal workers associated with Mango trees)

• Approach angle gone.
• Blind spot given by aerial which is now vulnerable to damage.
• Number plate obscured.

Plus poorly fitted winch in my opinion:

• Can’t see what’s happening on the drum so no idea what’s happening with the wire.
• Control box fitted in a vulnerable location.
• That hook has probably already been damaged and the roller fairlead!
• Could do with a winch saver.

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It?

This vehicle went in for repair! The guys did a cracking job though. Apparently the locking system had failed and they tried to jimmy the door open. Vehicle was still being used.

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It? Part II

I didn’t get a picture of this one, but an organisation operating in this region imported a 4wd from one of the better supplier of armoured vehicles. The vehicle was well kitted out and batteries were protected. The company had fitted a cut off switch in the engine compartment so that batteries could be disconnected.

Unfortunately, the organisation was not aware of the cut out switch and when they received the vehicle of course it wouldn’t start .

Instead of contacting the supplier, they sent the vehicle off to the guy under the Mango tree who decided to “rewire” the main electrical system.

Anyone who’s worked in developing countries will know what I mean. Anyway he did manage to get it started but at the same time blew a few fuses. Repair was carried out to these fuses by wrapping some copper wire around them and off the vehicle went. Fixed. Right. Not long after the repair, I believe it was probably a few minutes, smoke stared billowing out of the bonnet and luckily the engine fire extinguisher worked when the driver pushed it.

Of course both batteries were then damaged. These were the special expensive ones that are little bit smaller than the average ones. The battery boxes were too small for the new batteries and it took, by the looks of things, a rather large sledgehammer to make enough space for the new ones which are of course now not secured in place!

BTW, Who’s Going To Fix It? Part III

So even if you do buy the best make sure you have a good plan as to who will maintain it /and do the repairs.

If one did break with 3 tons of pull on I wouldn’t like to see the consequences even if it were dampened.

A while ago I had read some pros and cons of synthetic winch rope and the only real con seemed to be price. It’s a little bit more expensive but a hell of a lot lighter. So it worked out about the same once it was shipped to Uganda.

The Results

We’ve been using it now for about a year and I think we’ve put it through some very rigorous tests using it on the recovery course. So here goes with my purely personal opinion of the stuff.

• It’s lighter and friendlier to use.
• It has a higher safe working load than its wire counterpart.
• It doesn’t kink itself when you don’t have a straight line pull therefore less chance of causing irreparable damage.
• If it does break under load reports have said that it self dampens. But we put a dampener on for the belt and braces approach.
• It’s friendlier on the pulley when doing a 2:1.
• You get rid of those horrible roller fairleads.
• It’s easier to clean and then load back onto the drum when carrying out maintenance.
• You don’t get any stray wire strands going through your gloves.
• You can let it slide through your gloves without the risk of damaging your gloves and hands.
• Your carrying almost 12kg less on the front of your 4wd.
• It’s safer safer safer safer….
• It’s bloody brilliant.

Over the last few years of doing armoured 4wd training I have come across some good modifications, but mostly bad. The bad ones mainly affect the off road capability, and therefore, the ability to pass through the environment that the vehicle is supposed to.

The following is a gripe about having free wheeling hubs fitted. In general, they are pretty much a waste of time in an environment where you cannot cruise safely at highway speed. And 80% of the roads are still unsealed.

Free Wheeling Hubs

Recently a client brought their AV to a training course so as they could familiarise themselves with it’s operation. On one of the exercises we teach changing into 4wd on the fly, which I believe is an important technique, allowing the driver to exit a sealed road onto an unsealed road and change into 4wd High.

Whilst demonstrating I found that there was a resistance (and noise) from the transfer case.

The vehicle in question had covers over the front hubs which in my experience means that normal hubs are fitted. But on investigation I found free wheeling hubs underneath in the free position. After setting the hubs into the locked position we were able to complete the exercise.

Some armouring companies put a set screw through the hub to lock it into the lock position.

But why not just take the bloody things off and fit normal hubs that don’t give the option of the free setting?

Side Mirrors

I can’t understand why the modifiers of 4wd vehicles to armoured don’t do anything about the mirrors. It seems stupid that to re adjust them if they go out of position, you have to stop, open the door, get out!! Now Mitsubishi 4wds are not a great favourite of mine but on some of their models they fitted, what seemed like at the time, some gimmicky electrical mirrors that allow the driver to fold them in and out as well as adjust from the inside. Surely this type of system would be useful on an Armoured 4wd.

Mods that affect Off-Road Capability

The fitting of some off road protection equipment is, at times, poorly done or not given much thought at all. Below is a sump/steering guard fitted, aptly named by one of my colleagues as the “chocolate fire guard”. We took the vehicle off road into our Low Range driving section and this mod enable the driver to get it bogged down quite easily! Not what you want from a vehicle that is supposed to be used in a harsh and hostile environment.

This is what it should look like.

Another bad one below. Refitting of the spare wheel underneath the vehicle after the armouring has been done in this case reduced the departure angle so much that the vehicle could not pass through the first exercise in our Low Range course! We had to take the spare wheel off and leave it aside as putting it in the back loose would have not been safe.

Also, thought should be given to the type of environment that these vehicles maybe going into. In this case, the vehicle is expected to go to harsh, possibility hostile and certainly remote environment. A 2 spare wheel option was not even considered.

There are great rear bars (most people only seem to consider the front of the vehicle) made for vehicles that can accommodate 2 spare tyres. And HF antenna mount (another rant on that one to follow). Look through the ARB site for these.

Battery Mod

This a particular modification that I did like though. Batteries were relocated to the rear of the vehicle behind an armoured cover. Batteries that were fitted were the sealed type. And yes the loose items in the back of the vehicle were noted and commented on - the client was advised on the use of tie downs and cargo nets.

More to follow later in Part II.

http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/12/the-sun-rises-o.html