Back in August of 2022, we saw ourselves infected by the Suzuki Jimny bug, and for the last three years, we’ve become Jimny enthusiasts. What started its life as a simple 3-door micro SUV from Japan before joining our team, soon saw itself shapeshift from a city slicker, to a hardcore lifted 4×4 and then quite literally a home on wheels, thanks to some overlanding accessories.
Slow in speed and heavy on fuel it may have been, but this pet peeve quickly became irrelevant as the Jimny impressed us with the destinations it took us to all over SA and across the border thanks to its amazing off-road capabilities, its versatile and lego-like nature in stock and kitted out trim made it a jack of all and the relationships that have been formed thanks to this amazing 4×4 has been unforgettable for us. If you want to have fun, make friends and go anywhere, the Jimny is the perfect companion.
What put the icing on the cake for us and the beans on toast for our editor in chief, Simon Morton, was attending the first-ever Jimny gathering in Clarens. This event got the Jimny faithful, newcomers, media and many outfitters together to witness how this little SUV could start a whole industry on its own and a whole lifestyle of outdoor activities, social groups and events like the Jimny Gathering that, just so by the way, broke a Guinness World Record on its first ever attempt. It’s just unheard of, but it happened, and the Jimny continues to grow in its popularity thanks to the industry around it and thanks to the birth of the 5-door Jimny.
We absolutely loved our 3-door and took the route less travelled at the time, the route of looking for specialised (Jimny specific) South African-based brands to work with, brands that were unique, engineered well and that stood out from the rest. We achieved our goal of building an awesome micro-overlander, but we needed more space, and for that very reason, we upgraded to the 5-door in July last year.
With our recent 5-door Jimny journey, we have taken the route most travelled, which is sticking to OEM parts and companies that are approved by Suzuki Auto South Africa. We were amazed to see how Suzuki SA have partnered up with Front Runner over the years, seeing almost every second or third Jimny that passes by fitted with some or other accessory from Front Runner’s lineup. For the last couple of months, we have quickly found out why Front Runner is such a popular brand within the Jimny community and why it’s one that so many people gravitate towards.
Why is Front Runner so popular then?
Well, did you know you can finance a roof rack and ladder straight off a Suzuki Showroom floor when purchasing a new Jimny? Yes, you can add a few tasty goodies from Front Runner at your local Suzuki dealership, and not even flinch at the extra cost on your monthly instalment. Suzuki works with a few other brands for interior, tyres and rims, but as far as useful accessories go, Front Runner is their go-to brand. There are only a few parts from Front Runner that can be financed through a Suzuki dealership to get you started, but we all know once a mod has been done to your Jimny, the ocean that is filled with accessories never stops flowing, and Front Runner have all seven seas.
Financing parts for your brand new Jimny through Suzuki aside, Front Runner is a South African-founded company, which means accessories are always stocked and well-priced compared to the imported stuff, and of course, we all know local is lekker.
So, with the second Jimny Gathering approaching and with overlanding or camping being a big part of the Gathering, we visited Front Runner to fit some essential accessories:
- Underline II Roof Rack Kit / R13,375
- Ladder / R1,360
- Front Runner Roof Top Tent / R15,399
- Easy-Out Awning / R5,026
- Pro Stainless Steel Camping Table Kit / R6,033
- Pro Water Tank with mounting system / R1,669
- Drop Down Table / R1,290
- Rack-Mounted Bottle Opener / R57
- Expander Camping Chair / R1,360
Total = R45,512
This seems like an extensive shopping list, but you could easily go further. But as it sits, we are looking at only 45k. Not bad at all, especially with the big ticket items really being the rack at 13k and the tent at still a very attractive 15k compared to what else is found in the market. I mean, some rooftop tents cost the same price as all these items, and top-of-the-range tents can cost close to 80k, so I hope this puts the good value for money into perspective. Conveniently, Front Runner have over 55 different items you could choose from to suit your style of camping or adventure. There is no perfect combo, but maybe the ladder and the rack are a good starting point.
With our starter pack for the Gathering fitted, we fueled up the Jimny and set off on a prep camp at Somabula Nature Reserve in Cullinan to test out our new setup. A prep camp, or whatever you want to call it, is a good way to find out what you still need or how to refine your setup. No one wants to drive over a thousand km from Gauteng down to Oudtshoorn to find out you’re missing something, or a few items just don’t work for an extended camp.
Our test run wasn’t to review each item, but to see how quickly we could set up, break down, and how simple everything works, as well as how comfortable it is to live with. A simple setup that’s easy to put up and break down makes camping so much easier, especially if changing locations or activities are planned for the day. So, this is what we wanted to find out: at the Gathering, there will be a music festival, a 4×4 route and the mass gathering, which we will have to break down camp for.
Front Runners’ roof top tent is not a clamshell by any means, but can still be set up relatively quickly with two people on hand. Meredith and I got the tent set up in 15 minutes without needing to read a setup guide or watch a YouTube video. You simply zip open the waterproof dust cover, undo the two velcro straps that look to hold down a concertina and then pull the ladder, and the tent follows.
Even with the Jimny being a relatively small vehicle, a little step ladder would help the process, as the tent sits high up and standing on your tyres when unzipping the dustcover is very inconvenient. If we had to pause the clock right there, we would be close to the 5-minute mark. However, what takes the most time when erecting the tent is setting up the flysheet with the interlocking poles, but honestly, it’s worth the effort as they work so well.
Breakdown takes a little longer, I’d say an extra 5 minutes compared to setup, as the concertina itself needs to be carefully tucked in so that the tent can stay dust-free and fit perfectly into its cover. Otherwise, our overnight stay in Front Runners’ budget-friendly rooftop tent really did impress us. It was way more spacious than what we expected, at 1.3m wide and 2.4m long, offering great ventilation, inside storage for phones and wallets, a comfortable 6cm thick foam mattress and even enough space for shoes or extra storage inside the tent.
I have never been a fan of awnings, but after having spent some time with Front Runner’s, I don’t think I could go without one. The Easy-Out Awning is very quick and painless to set up and pack away, with a simple zip to open, two legs with pins for hard-packed ground and another two legs that fold out to form the framework work, which is easily strapped in with velcro straps.
The legs are height-adjustable, so you can adjust them to the level of the ground or for more coverage from the sun. The size of the awning is also just right at 2m wide and 2.1m out from the vehicle, making it an ideal size for two or four people. For 5k, I think it is a bargain, and if you want to take things to the next level, Front Runner also sell LED strips that fit to it so you can camp out all night with good lighting.
Being massive braai fans, ‘Meri’ and I brought our gas Weber along for a lekker end-of-day dinner feast, and to make our lives easier, Front Runner has the Pro Stainless Steel Camping Table Kit as the perfect dinner and prep table. Helping keep the Jimny’s boot less cluttered, Front Runner have designed their camping table to slide right under their Slimline II roof racks and also lock into place with a latch. It is a massive space saver and luxury in the bush; however, you will need to use some muscle to remove it and store it.
Front Runner’s Expander camping chairs aren’t part of the Pro Stainless Steel Camping Table Kit, but are well worth it if you want another space saver and a comfortable seater at that. The clever telescopic design helps the chair fold into an extremely compact unit, which is easy to store and transport. With a Jimny, the smaller the better, but luckily, with Front Runner, you don’t have to compromise on comfort.
When camping, water is a very valuable commodity, so we always take more than what we need, because you never know if you are going to need to use it for drinking water, washing dishes with, or even showering and cooking with. To once again keep the interior as bare as possible, Front Runner have the Pro water tank and mounting system for the roof rack. The brackets secure it to the rack and are easy to unlock if you need to fill the bottle up, and the bottle does have a tap, so access to water is made very simple.
At the end of a full day and evening’s stay at Somabula, Meri and I enjoyed our stay thanks to a few camping essentials from Front Runner and are confident in our equipment heading into this year’s Jimny Gathering.
For more information on Front Runner accessories, click here – Front Runner South Africa
