Landrovers

I've wanted a landrover for ages and got one in January, a nice vintage SIIa - it's older than me!

However, it has been fantastically looked after - the previous owner is a great welder and the chassis is perfect. The clincher was that a Perkins diesel engine had been fitted that had barely been run-in - this will give 30+ mpg and run forever! The steering has all been sorted and even the leafsprings have all been cleaned and greased and work - as you will know when you bounce 2' in the air over a small speed bump!

As someone who is more comfortable with a precision screwdriver in his hand whilst fixing or building a PC, learning to maintain this old beast has been a steepish learning curve. However, I'm getting there - I've checked all the oil levels in the gearbox, transfer box and overdrive, fixed the wipers, replaced the duff windscreen water pump, replaced a seriously worn universal joint in the front propshaft, replaced the rear UJ at the same time although this only had slight play - it would only get worse. Next repair is to fix/replace the slightly leaky bung on the fuel tank.

So, your maybe wondering what the appeal is of these old, noisy, slow, drafy, leaky vehicles? Well, apart from their go-anywhere ability (off-road even the old Series vehicles are peerless), ability to tow anything and their iconic style, well it's the ability to customize these vehicles unlike any other.


Some mods and changes I've made so far:

• Fitted 12v power sockets (cigarette lighter & usb)
• made overhead console and fitted stereo into roof area
• made and fitted central cubby box between front seats
• fitted rear bench seats, seat backs and head-rests
• utilized space under bench seats (which sit on frames atop the metal seat boxes) to store variety of tools
• fitted hi-lift Jack to front of seat-box
• made false fronts to the seat boxes to store additional tools, inverter, oil, hide jack etc
• fitted rear work-lamps
• fitted full length roof rack complete with front-spot lights and ladder (bought off a very nice chap in Perth)
• constructed and fitted home-made raised air intake
• carpeted inside
• fitted gearbox/transmission tunnel soundproofing
• fitted mini compressor
• fitted full size defender mirrors (the current mirrors were absolutely useless)
  

Next job is to construct a second battery tray and install a battery + split charger to run the inverter. Also on the agenda is to partially floor the roof rack with chequer plate, chequer plate the wings to allow standing on to load front of the rack, fit a steering guard, fit rear speakers into false seat box fronts, line the roof, and fit some cab lights front and rear.

Long term mods are to fit solar panels to trickle charge the batteries and fit a rear reversing camera and build a PC into the truck as well - with an lcd screen fitted on a pivoting arm in the rear cab.

This may all sound like overkill but when finished I will have a go-anywhere vehicle that is completely fitted out for camping, for photography, will have mobile internet on a decent-spec fitted PC, has enough tools to be a mobile workshop or for on the road repairs.

Why? Well lots of reasons. 1 - I love camping so having such a capable vehicle which can charge my camera battery/mobile etc and eventually support a roof-top tent is just perfect. 2 - it will allow me to reach places that would take ages by foot, to let me shoot photos from different places - and I can use the roof rack as a raised viewing platform. 3 - my ambition is to go on an overland adventure into Arabia and Africa!

So there you have it; not everyone gets landrovers, but at least that's a glimpse into what you can do with one.