Building an Expedition Vehicle
 

I've just bought a Land Rover 110 Hard top, and want to kit out the back with some ply wood etc. I have a basic idea of how to fix this to the Body work, but was wondering if someone could give me some more pointers, or indeed a link to a web site? I don't want to drill unnecessary holes in my new toy!

Thanks

Hello [100wattwarlock],

Holes are just that - holes. It doesn't make a difference to the vehicle if there were pre-stamped or done after the car has left the factory, as long as the edges are potected from rusting. IMHO, if you want to do a job basing your project on the existing fixing points, you will gain nothing and make the job a lot more difficult.



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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.com

The trick is to know where you are going when you start making modifictions. If at all possible avoid trying to create something as you go along. It is likely to be ugly and there will be too many holes!

IMHO time spent researching planning and sketching and taking measurements is time well spent. I have made card-board cut out templates of things I have wanted to create in the past and given these to a blacksmith / workshop to make up for me. This has worked a treat.

The main thing that should be driving you though is not an itchy trigger finger and a power drill but a check list of functional things you have got to acheive:

Ie I want to get from A to B. I therefore will have to cross the following obstacles so I need this, that and the other. This trip is likley to take x amount of time. We will be y number of people.

You then look to kit out your Landie accordingly. If you've got an unlimited budgest then great if not you'll need to prioritise - what are going to be the most helpful pieces of equipment in enabling you to acheive your objectives?

The two main things to bear in mind when kitting out your vehicle is:

1) Making it road worthy and equipping it with the necessary modifications such that you can get from A to B.

2) Maximising the comfort and minimising the hassle factor for you and others whilst living in your vehicle.

With these thoughts in mnind the first two major questions to ask yourself are:

Q1 Do you want to live inside or outside your vehicle?

Q2 How many people do you want to carry?

Q3) Where do you store all the pieces on your kit list?

On the first question I personally rate roof tents for accomodation as it frees up space inside and they are pleasure to live in (unless you intend spending a lot of time in cold climes).

As a starter I would seriously recommend that you buy Tom Shepard's book Vehicle Dependant Expeditions and Chris Scott's Sahara Overland book.

If I covered stuff you already knew apologies.

P.S. A pop-rivet gun is a great for attaching panels / fascia's etc. If its load bearing then nuts and bolts are the way forward. I also prefer aluminium chequerplate to plywood as its more durable(albeit at a cost).

... and twice as heavy. The only thing it saves is a bit of space - 2mm thick alu sheet compared to 18mm plywood.

One thing worth remembering is that the construction needs to take account of the existing service holes, bolts and suchlike. E.g., it's a real pain to undo your superb creation to get access to the fuel tank sender.

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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.com

Thanks,

Yep I'm certainly itching to get started, but I have changed my middle name to Da Vinci, after all the sketches and notations that I've made!
The roof tent is the way to go, but also costs over 500 quid, so right now the immediate plan of action is to devise some form of convertible storage/sleeping space.

Anyway whatever I do, I plan to document it all, so hopefully it may be useful to other novices like myself, who will no doubt learn from my mistakes! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Been there, done that :-)
Kitted out a 110 Hard Top myself, had great fun doing so, made a few errors along the way but VERY happy with the result. The advice I would give is ... make Tom Shepherd your bedtime reading, research loads, measure TWICE, cut ONCE.
If you want any particular pointers just send me a PM.
Best of luck
Ian


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Some suggestions:

1. Building a ladder frame out of box section aluminium can enable you to use thinner plywood and save weight. Easy to work with and strong.

2. Line everything with closed cell foam, rubber or carpet - 110's are noisy enough to give you tinnitus and EVERYTHING will rattle on the piste.

3. Make sure there are plenty of 'strapping down' points.
(see above!).

4. If you're sleeping inside, make it easy to sweep out your sleeping platform - defenders suck dust like a Dyson.

Have fun!

Thanks mate, might well PM you soonish.

The idea of using Aluminum is an interesting one, I had been toying with using some metal angles, as cross memebers in order to make the sleeping area flush with the side storage areas.
I imagine the aluminum will be difficult to get hold of, and will require welding, something I've never done! I guess it will be lighter than most wood I intend to use though, but I figured the wood would have some form of dampening effect on the sound, and insulation agaist the cold (although I doubt the frame would make much difference).
Either way I'll keep you all posted.... I bet you can't wait! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

just look in the yellow pages for 'aluminium stockholders'
plenty around. If you turn up and pay cash it's normally cheaper. Aluminium welding is very specialised, but popriveting is fast and easy - plus a riveting kit is a useful item in your Defender's tool box. L-shape or T-shape connectors etc. can help secure a frame.

Wood can dampen sound - but it can also act as a 'boom box' (think drums!). You won't regret a bit of soft soundproofing and it will keep out the heat or cold.

If you are just looking to sleep to sleep in the back until you can afford a roof tent. Then a large piece of ply with 2 by 1 inch (or similar) battens screwed and glued onto the bottom of it so that it sits snugly into the well between the wheel arches is simple and you dont have to drill the Landie at all!

I would strongly reccomend looking at the travelvans website and getting their book, apart from all the advice there are some excellent contact details in there.
make sure you insulate your lining, sickaflex seems to be the best choice, details are in the travelvans book.

Andy
TLC H60
landy101 ambie/camper
1968 morris minor traveller!
www.plymouth-dakar.com

Hi,

Mine is not perfect, but perhaps something like what you are talking about: An Ali frame with wood.

http://www.roamingyak.org/landy/index.html

&

http://www.roamingyak.org/landy/camping.html

I will be lowering the sleeping platform soon, and changing the rear end so that I can sit in the back and cook next to the back door. Too often it's too wind/cold/dusty/rainy for trying to cook on the back door.

Rooftents are nice, especially in very hot and humid places, but for the price you could just stay in nice local hotels as 700 odd quid would go a long way in some countries. Or just buy a normal camping tent which only weighs 2kg, not 55, and use that on the roof...

All gristle to the mill....




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Cheers, Darrin
NEW Moroccan Desert Pistes DVD out now:
http://www.roamingyak.org/video/

Great info, thanks for the pics as well, always useful.
I'd actually been thinking of putting ply on the sides, maybe use a alu frame for the storage on top of the wheel arches, covered with some thinner ply to keep weight down.
Behind the the ply on the side walls, I had toyed with putting some roof insulation, I figured this will keep down the noise, and insulate against the cold. After all I expect the majority of the time I will be in Europe, and the few times I go to Africa... well by then hopefully I will have saved enough dosh to buy a roof tent!

The travel vans URL, just seemed to be a portal to buy one of their books, which I'm sure is very good, but so far 2 books have been mentioned and at the price of a total £100 I could buy something for the landy! But thanks for the info all the same, all useful.

I've read all three books and here is my 2 pennies worth.

Chris' book is the best for planning routes and also has some excelent advice on planning expeditions

Tom shepherds book is a goldmine on preparing an expedition, but gets a bit heavy sometimes (literally and figuratively)

The travelvans book is the best on how to outfit a vehicle for living in.

hope that may assist you in your decision making.

Good advice could save you the purchase price of the book!

Andy

TLC H60x2
landy 101 ambie/camper
1968 morris minor traveller!!
www.plymouth-dakar.com

The travel vans URL, just seemed to be a portal to buy one of their books, which I'm sure is very good, but so far 2 books have been mentioned and at the price of a total £100 I could buy something for the landy! But thanks for the info all the same, all useful.[/B][/QUOTE]

dj, thanks for the info, I'm intrigued, those heaters look like they are running off water, are you piping them into the All Sport tank, or is that a Tank? From the photo's it's kind of hard to see!

Also do you mind me asking where you bought your Landy from? Did you get it from the Defender Center?

I liked the Video of you with the "Killer Goats" BTW! Funny little creatures aren't they!

I think I might take moggy's advice and buy that Travel Vans book, thanks to all for the info.

Hope to see some of you at the HU Meeting in Derby, this year I'll be bringing 4 wheels instead of two!