Details and pictures of the conversion of our Land Rover Defender
Below we try to describe the conversion and illustrate it with pictures. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. What is exciting and interesting for all converters is that there are always new developments, even though the Defender has not been produced in this form since 2017. The new one is completely different, and a real successor in this form is not currently available from Land Rover. That is a real shame, but there are generally exciting developments on the market.
The description is not chronological, a lot has been changed over time, often based on experience in practical testing. We have always tried to find a balance between the budget and what "would be nice". We have also deliberately left out a lot of things because they were too expensive, too heavy, not absolutely necessary and we are currently learning new things every day, see improvements.
Our focus was always on a good off-road vehicle that would allow us to get almost anywhere, but taking our driving ability into account.
In the end, it is of little use if we have landed in one place but have destroyed our home along the way.
roof rack and roof tent
The carrier is quickly described. Our requirements were that it should be walkable across the entire roof (i.e. stable) and as light as possible. We were offered a used, unused carrier and we jumped at the chance. Manufacturer unknown, but it proves itself every day.
Things got more complex with the roof tent. Nowadays, the selection is much larger. In 2016, things looked a little different.
The size was important to us, opening to the rear so that the space around the rear door is covered and a wider covered entrance. We wanted to get from the car into the roof tent dry.
We quickly came across Howling Moon, the STARGAZER 140. Sleeping area 220 x 140, which is perfect for us. The special feature of this tent is the possibility of completely opening the roof, so you are almost lying outside, protected only by the mosquito nets.
The disadvantage of this tent is its weight and the fact that it is covered with a tarpaulin, which is unfortunately always a bit difficult to assemble.
We replaced the mattress, different foam and 8cm instead of 6. Furthermore, the fold is sewn so that the foam does not bend.
When folded, we can leave the sleeping bag (a “shared sleeping bag”) and pillow on top.
We use the warm sleeping bags in the vehicle as pillows for the back seat.
insulation and interior finishing (wood)
There are ready-made kits for the Land Rover in all shapes and sizes. Of course, we looked closely at Ex-Tec, but in the end we decided to do the conversion ourselves. The decisive factor was the availability of an expert in the neighboring town. It was no big deal, we're doing it together with KA Mobile (Werner Kappler). We had already bought the roof tent from them.
The Landy was completely emptied and then insulated with 10cm Armaflex. In some places we applied more (e.g. roof). We also took the opportunity to stick soundproofing mats on the surfaces. Our Land Rover is now quite quiet, which greatly improves the mood when travelling.
The interior was then fitted out. Light, multi-laminated panels with a friendly, light wood veneer were used (nothing rattles so far, despite robust off-road use). The table is built into the sleeping area or backrest. The toilet is built into a box that is relatively easy to access. This does severely limit the emergency sleeping area, but easy access, even while driving, is more important. It is also important to us that all storage compartments can be accessed from two sides (from above and from the side).
The cushions (8cm, cold foam) are made to measure and the separate cover can be washed.
The side cupboard is accessible from the inside and outside. The flaps inside can also be used as a table (was used intensively during Corona for motorhome dinners).
storage space - additional storage space
We need additional storage space for the following things:
Warm clothes or a change of summer clothes, extra clothing (e.g. dresses or suits for special occasions), camping equipment, tools and spare parts.
We have three aluminum boxes on the roof. A large one for the additional tent and camping equipment (chairs, small table, cables and small items). All the additional fastenings for strong winds alone take up a lot of space.
Each of us has our own box for changing clothes. They are completely full!
And then I used the space under the vehicle for tools and parts. Everything is very heavy and therefore mounted as low as possible on the vehicle. The Defender has enough space and I'm surprised why so few outfitters offer something here. Basically nobody. I mounted old ammunition boxes on the frame. They are absolutely stable, waterproof and big enough. And above all, second-hand, they are unbeatably cheap. They don't restrict the ground clearance at all, the running boards are lower. They are not affected at all by stone chips.
We also installed the GMB storage box in the left rear side box. This is where the shoes are kept. Not in the vehicle but still quickly accessible.
We also use the spare tire on the hood as storage space. It can hold a lot.
Further expansion outside
The Rhino awning above the side cupboard and the kitchen provides additional sheltered space for movement. It protects against rain and strong sun. The tent is completely manual and a big advantage is that the poles are standard and can be bought as replacements in any hardware store. It is not as nice or light, but the diameter is right.
The big advantage of the TD5 is its flat bonnet. This allows the spare wheel to be mounted on the front of the bonnet. This puts the weight forward. There is space for the bikes at the back. And it looks cool. The disadvantage is that visibility is somewhat restricted for small drivers, which has a negative effect on potholes. This is where the passenger comes in!
And very importantly, the hood must be additionally secured when it is open. Never put your head into the engine compartment without securing it, not even your hand!
We also added protection at the front for the engine, axle and other parts of the underbody. It is important that enough air still gets to all parts. The thing gets pretty hot and needs its cooling air.
Bike rack on the former spare wheel attachment. It's held up very well so far, but the hinges are starting to suffer over time. I would go a different route today, there are plenty of options available.
I also tried to put weight on the bumper. But the Land Rover is temperature sensitive and so the device is only used for the jack.
electrics
Our vehicle has two batteries under the driver's seat. It's quite tight in the space, but everything is in one place. With a main switch we can completely disconnect the starter battery, which has proven itself in the container. We charge the supply battery with solar power. We also have foldable solar panels (180W) and 10 meters of cable, with the big advantage that we can park in the shade and still charge. The converters are from Victron.
With this in mind, we decided not to have a charging function for shore power. The converter just takes up space and we don't need it. So far, we've always had enough power. The batteries are monitored with a very simple sensor that transmits the data to the mobile phone (Battery Guard). That's more than enough for us.
The Engel refrigerator runs on battery power (at least 3 days) or on shore power (110/220V). Thanks to the very good insulation, it does not lose much temperature, even in tropical heat.
We have LED lights inside and, very importantly, our closet is illuminated (we would install more LED strips here; looking for them in the dark is stupid).
We have converted the headlights to LED. This gives us much better light than the Land Rover standard. The disadvantage is that the lamps do not get warm and so the snow remains on the headlights. Unfortunately, it is necessary to stop and clean them manually.
We have connected some consumers to the additional battery:
· Navigation
· Dashcam
· Additional light outside
This reduces the load on the starter battery and makes us independent when using it. I would not attach the additional high beam headlight to the roof rack again. When it snows or rains, it is too glaring at eye level.
We use the Garmin Overlander for navigation. Advantage: compact and all-in-one, disadvantages: expensive, maps questionable, service could be better.
And we have a dashcam for safety. That gives us a feeling of security. But we haven't needed it yet. That's a good thing.
Music is very important, just like at home. We have all our music with us and can play everything on our Becker radio. The sound is also important to us, as we have already soundproofed the vehicle so well.
Heating
The vehicle had a normal auxiliary heater from the start. We can use it to preheat the engine and have it pleasantly warm straight away. But this is no substitute for heating the interior. Instead, we have installed an AUTOTERM (Planar) 2D 12 volt auxiliary heater as a complete set. The heater is in a box under the "cubby box" and at the same time raises it to a comfortable arm height. We have two vents, one directly behind the box and one in the rear footwell. We would optimize this in the next expansion. If the table is installed as a bed base, no warm air reaches the back, everything stays in the footwell and cannot spread.
So far we haven't had any problems with the heating. We also have the remote control so that we can start the heating from the roof tent.
Water
No water in the vehicle, that was the requirement. The Land Rover is not watertight as it is and we don't want any more moisture. We have two Frontrunner canisters on the roof. One large one (40l) at the front for washing and showering and one (20l) for drinking water, also on the roof. So far we have had no problems with temperatures below zero (-12 degrees is the coldest so far).
In any case, it is more than enough for several days of freestanding use.
Cook
As with the water, we didn't want to cook in the vehicle. There just wasn't enough space, so it would be better to cook outside. We have gas and a permanently installed induction hob (if we have shore power).
chassis
Our Land Rover is very heavy and the structure means the center of gravity is high. Since we don't want to go into extreme terrain, we can deal with this situation.
But this required a few extensions and changes.
Wheel spacers: Classic solution, we have spacers between the wheel carrier and the rim, the classic width of approx. 60mm.
Stabilizers: Even if they limit the articulation of the axles, they are necessary to reduce the rolling of the vehicle. Here, too, we have chosen the standard version.
Spring and shock absorber: I searched intensively for this and spoke to experienced people. There are countless solutions and you can spend a fortune on the subject. In the end it was a long discussion with the colleagues at Ex-Tec and we bought and installed suspension 2. Stronger spring, strong Koni shock absorbers and the car really drives differently. It was a good and still cost-effective decision. And after around 80,000 km, sometimes on tough routes, it fits.
Steering damper, that was added straight away.
Brakes: Opinions differ here. I am completely convinced by the EBC brakes from Britpart. We have swapped everything and it really does brake better, which is what you would call better. Driving with foresight is still the order of the day, although the topes, reductores or tumoles or whatever they are called are always a challenge for man, machine and especially brakes. So here is a clear recommendation: out with the standard and in with something that works (eg EBC).
fuel
Should we install an additional tank or should we just take additional canisters? The high weight on the right-hand side of the vehicle and the costs speak against the additional tank. The space required, which can almost only be covered on the roof (again, high weight outside the low center of gravity), speaks against the canisters.
In short, we chose the additional tank from GMB, which simply uses an unused space in the Defender. And it was the right decision. We now have a range of almost 1,200 km and that is more than enough to find a filling station and also to be able to choose the quality, which is always very important. Installation is easy and straightforward in a workshop, although it is a bit of a fiddle because the rear wheel arch is completely filled. The quality of the parts from GMB is very good, everything fits 100%.
improvements
What did we notice, what did we change.
We have a new gearbox from Ashcroft, not entirely voluntarily. In Calgary, we were hit by it and the series gave up the ghost. We took advantage of the situation and configured a new gearbox together with Dave Ashcroft and Chad from TRS. Longer 5th gear ratio, reinforced bearings and additional oil cooling. All 100% recommended, I would like to do it beforehand next time. But the long-distance comfort is much better, the vehicle is even quieter and it doesn't get as hot! Another option would be the overdrive version, which keeps the 5th as it is, better acceleration, but on flat stretches you still reduce the revs. You have to think carefully about it.
Clutch, get rid of the standard one and install a reinforced one, even if your calf hurts a bit, it's worth it. The car is heavy and just the many topes with stopping and slowly driving over them puts a strain on the clutch.
We have covered the entire roof liner with thin mountaineering ropes. You always need space to hang things up. We didn't use an elastic band, it will sag at some point. The same goes for the nets, in our opinion it doesn't make sense because it restricts the seat height.
We have put rubber bands on the inside of all the cupboards so that we can clamp something to all the interior walls.
We have placed flexible fabric boxes on all free surfaces and secured them with rubber bands, for example for bread, biscuits, coffee, etc. Food that we always need but don't need to be in the fridge.
Basically, we're always coming up with new things, and that will probably continue, no matter what vehicle we have. We're constantly learning new things, and new situations arise.
And I'm sure I've forgotten to write things down. The best thing to do is to take a look and let yourself be inspired. And feel free to get in touch personally.
