Ex-Mil Trucks & 'Wild Camping' in suburbia?

[RicTS]

Hi,

New to the site (I think this is my 5th post - got carried away in the bike section) and I need some honest advice.

Currently I run a SWB Renault Trafic Panel van with a low roof. My hobby is racing dirt bikes, my job is IT 'consultant' (we can argue 'til the cows come home over the term consultant / money grabber / mercenary if you wish). Basically I work away 50+ weeks of the year and this is seriously messing with my bike racing (and fitness).

The type of racing I do is based in forests which means narrowish tracks and farmers gates, it also means site conditions are not always the best - people have had to be winched ON to the sites in the past.

I've stayed on my current assignment in a hotel for 14 months, but my van isn't big enough for me to prep the bike in betwen races hence the impact. I've looked at race transporters, but although they're a hotel on wheels and have a garage, they're no use in the Langdale forest (4x2 size of a planet anyone)

I was thinking about a LWB 4x4 sprinter (looks like Ford have dropped the 4x4 option) but they're big money new & like hens teeth second hand, followed by huge depreciation (not keen on that bit).

Looked at Overland campers (the posh ones) and then realised that they cost REALLY big money (my wife still quite likes to live in our hose), which go me onto the ex-mil trucks.

They have a lot going for them in terms of cost Vs what you get, and I could honestly say that I COULD make use of cab controlled tyre deflation. But am I just looking at a big head ache?. I was looking at the ex-radio boxes which I could mod to form a temporary bed for the night (save on hotel bills) and has the height to work on a bike at night (nothing else to do!).

I was thinking about a Gaz66 or a Tatra 815 6x6 (not sure of the cost), but then the fuel consumption is horrendous (I know you can allegedly get contaminated fuel for free, but that may be an urban myth), not sure of the insurance, but more importantly is it legal to pitch up at the road side and camp?.

I've scouted the area and I'm OK on the area being away from dwellings, it is already used by the big horse boxes overnight during races and it doesn't have a weight limit - I just don't want to inadvertantly get someones back up.

Only problem with the 6x6 is that I'm into LGV territory, and I can't work out if that's a path I really want to go down right now.

So opinions please, what is the downside of going ex-mil, offseting the fuel against the hotel bills and being self contained. Do the ex-mil trucks come with any toys, Genny, air compressor and winch would be very handy (and they cost a fortune to fit to a civi van).

I'm also after negative comments, showed the missus a picture of a KTM Dakar Kat1 6x6 Support Truck - might as well prep her with something that has KTM on it.... went down faster than the Titanic I'm afraid, but hey - she's got her car... I have my Van / Truck / Rocket Ship - Never the twain shall mix.

Only need three seats Driver + Kid1 + Kid2, Missus won't ever come camping, but as I'm away 5 days a week, me going camping with the kids and the wife having free weekends is pretty much as close to being a god as I'll ever get.

Regards,

RTS.