Proposed 110 build - self contained for two with no RTT - possible?

[Canol 109]

I have a '91 3 door x-MoD 110, and camp regularly in it with two (and once 3) people in the back.

I have 4 sections of .5 plywood that goes across the seat boxes topped with a 4" piece of foam. I use load straps to keep the boards tight. Under neath i have 4 large ammo boxes, with ropes attached so that i can pull them out. 1 box for food stuff, 1 for cooking gear, 1 for clothes and the other for misc. My cooler sits strapped down while travelling, and moved to the front while camping.

The side lockers hold extra fluids, recovery gear, air compressor etc.....

With 2 people (under 6') it is actually very comfortable....3 is quite snug, and probably wouldnt so it again...but it was me and two female friends so maybe.....

[tommyd]

How about one of these from Dormobile? I have dreams about this vehicle...

(Photos "borrowed" from Red Mountain Rovers: http://www.rmr4x4.com/web/vehicle_photos/976102)

[paulnb57]

That truck from Red Rovers looks good, but I think the inside space could be a bit better utilised. However it gives a good reference. Making (I like to make as much as I can) the bed frame fold will be a challenge.............
The Red Rover truck is listed as a 1985 vintage......mmmmmmmm

Thanks folks for the many, useful replies....
Paul

[REDROVER]

How about one of these from Dormobile? I have dreams about this vehicle...

(Photos "borrowed" from Red Mountain Rovers: http://www.rmr4x4.com/web/vehicle_photos/976102)

WOW what a beauty ,

[Canol 109]

1985...with a Puma Engine, body work....seems like stretching the rules a bit don't you think.

Beautiful truck, but you have to wonder for almost $50K...what are you getting? Even if you galvanized the original 27 year old chassis...I would want a serious independent specialist and the DMV to review this before I plunked down that kind of cash.

Now saying that...I do like the Doormobile concept, however I agree with a previous post that space could be way better utilized. Not a lot of storage for a camper??

[Christian P.]

I know there are other companies that also offer pop-top roof. Personally I am not a fan of the 2 single beds on the top....I prefer a double...

Do you guys know which ones are out there?

[mike_ie]

Ok folks

I semi retire in December and will rebuild a D110 van body - galv chassis, replacement bulkhead 300tdi, yada yada.......... anyroadup, I would like it to be self contained for expedition travel, I'm not a fan of roof top tents, so wonder, would two people be able to travel cook sleep etc inside a 110 van body? This would mean being seriously creative with interior space, travelling light (not a bad thing) perhaps a pop up roof, has anyone managed it? Any photos/floor plans etc. Initial expedition would be round the coast of the UK (no I don't need a boat!!) then Morocco is on the cards........

Current thinking is-
1 An interior similar to VW camper with rock and roll type bed
2 Awning on one side
3 Roof rack for light weight stuff
4 Pop up roof (Dormobile??)....


Your thoughts/ideas appreciated...parking space rules out a D130

Cheers!


Paul

Hi Paul,

I've been a browser here for years, never a poster, but considering that I built exactly what you described, I figured that my 2 cents might be worth something. I rebuilt my Defender two years ago for travelling around Australia, and then overland to Ireland, and for me I had the same criteria as you, to a point. I have a rooftop tent wich I use most of the time, but I wanted to also have the option of sleeping in the back should I decide to park up in a city, and I wanted to be able to cook in the back of the Defender, even in the most rudimentary form. I've long been a fan of cooking on the tailgate, or the bonnet, or whatever flat surface thats available, but on a wet and miserable day, nothing beats being able to crawl in the back, turn on the stove, and cook a quick meal, or brew a cup of tea. It's a decision that I came to appreciate very quickly in Tassie, I can tell you.

The front of the kitchen unit, as seen from the rear. If you have a tablesaw, then rebate everything - it adds an unbelievable amount of support. Upper left, the stove location, lower left and right, storage. Rounded corners look better, and are far more forgiving on the shins, knees, or anythign else that happens to hit them.



The next images will give a better idea of how it looks...



With stove in place:



On the opposite side, seating and storage.



Construction is pretty straightforward - a main front panel, side panels and a middle panel to add more support, and divide up the storage space.



From the side, you'll see that the storage box is pitched inwards as it approaches the ground. This maximises storage, while still giving your feet room to move when sitting in the back. PRobably not necessary, but I figured, why not. In hindsight it does add quite a bit more comfort.



Getting closer to completion. The top section of the front panel is nw in place. Originally I had planned for the bed section to hinge out, hence the notch, but I later scrapped that idea for being too complicated. The extra bed section can be pulled out of storage whenever it's needed.





Things get a little complex as it gets to the rear door....



Looks a bit better in the back of the Defender:







The fridge section, which sits behind the passenger seat, in what was formerly the rear passenger footwell. Again, you can figure out the basic idea from the photos, all joints are rebated for strength - the two grooves in the floor are for the feet of the fridge, and stops it from sliding around. Food can be stored in the area to the right of the fridge.



With the lid on...



Lots of funny angles, I know. But the entire setup is designed to be modular, and easily removed. If I pick up some work in another country, I may need a work truck...



Last but not least, storage behind the drivers seat. Again, the cuts and angles make sense when it's in place. The recess and angled side on the right allows the drivers seat to go back as far as possible - I need the legroom.



The runners on the bottom take a 55 litre storage box snugly. The box can be accessed either through the rear passender door, or through a hatch yet to be cut in the top.



From the other side...



Confused enough yet?? Ok, this is how it fits together...

Clockwise from left: Main seating and storage, Fridge and food storage, 55l storage, kitchen. Each module, once unbolted, can be lifted out. Stripdown from start to finish takes less than 10 minutes.



Now all the angles begin to make sense.



With the additional bed section temporarily in place:

[mike_ie]

Now, time to make it look a bit better....

First, laminate the kitchen...





Then marine carpet the rest.



Aluminium beading provides a lip for the hatches to sit into...






...and aluminium angle on the remaining edges makes for a hardwearing interior.









Once I was happy with the fit, I rubber insulated the floor, before fitting for good.



And no, I didn't sew the cushions myself





Hopefully this gives you a few ideas at least.

After two years of living in it, would I design it differently?? Sure. It's definitely nice to be able to just jump in the back after a long day's driving, that's for sure, but I'd probably simplify the setup a bit if I were to redesign it. I don't use the cooking facilities half as much as I thought I would, though I will admit that it's certainly come in handy on a few torrential days. Access is, how should I put it - you certainly need to be somewhat spry. Obviously I have no idea of your level of physical fitness, but it's work jumping in and out of the thing for me, and I'm 32 years old. And in tropical climates you will absolutely cook in the back, to the point where I've crawled out at 3 or 4am to pull up the roof tent just to get some sleep.

As it happens, I'm shipping my truck back to Ireland in the next couple of months, and am taking this out and rebuilding again.

Hope this helps,

~Mike

[Jitterbug]

Plenty of space, I spent 5 months With 2 of us travelling in a 3dr discovery. We had a false floor at the level of the windows, slept on top all the stuff underneath. The extra space of a 110 should be comfortable as a sleep in - live outside vehicle.

Check out this site for more ideas on pop top defenders http://www.mulgo.com.au/

[JSBriggs]

Have you considered getting an ambulance body? http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...477-Ambu-Build

-Jeff