Alu-Cab engineer Gakiem Fakier lives the brand. When he's not coming up with new innovations, Gakiem's busy field-testing gear so that when he's back at the drawing-board he can Make It Better. Watch the short video and read his story below.

Our latest overlanding adventure took us through Ratel Rivier Resort farm to Rietfontein. We drove down to the beachfront for some fishing and then headed back to camp. This wasn’t just any ordinary trip, though. Our group was a mix of family and friends who’ve been exploring together for years. We set out across my aunt and uncle’s farms in Die Dam and Rietfontein. But waited until the route was fully flooded to make things interesting.

What’s normally an hour-and-a-half drive turned into a five-hour challenge. There were deep river crossings, muddy tracks, and sections through old salt pans. My younger brother, a professional videographer, captured the whole thing in the video above.

The Land Rovers (driven by my brothers-in-law) and Toyotas (including my friends' well-kitted V6 Hilux and a freshly upgraded – yet still stuck – Land Cruiser 76) made for the usual friendly rivalry. As an Alu-Cab engineer, I relied on my Defender with the Icarus rooftop conversion and full Alu-Cab setup. The Shadow Awning worked for quick rain cover, the Shower Cube for easy cleanup, and all the other essential accessories made the trip a smooth one.

There’s nothing like arriving in one piece after a tough drive, unpacking food, warming coffee, and watching the sunset with everyone. And when we got back to camp, it was a reminder of why we build gear the way we do. Popping open the tent, deploying the awning, and freshening up quickly means more time enjoying the experience.

Trips like this aren’t just fun; they’re how we test and improve our products. Every challenge sparks new ideas to make overlanding easier, safer, and more functional. But most of all, it’s about the people, the recoveries, the jokes and the shared love for the adventure.