There is nothing more iconic in the world of rugged expedition imagery than a Land Rover 110 Defender ploughing it’s way through muddy tracks, roof rack loaded with jerry cans, spot lamps and winch on the front and surrounded on all sides by jungle!
Here is an image of one of our staff off-road in the English Lakes District.
The Land Rover Defender, and the Series models before it, were and still are one of the greatest off-road machines every built. Light weight, excellent transmission system, fantastic axle articulation and the perfect suspension set up (whether the early leaf springs or the more modern coil springs).
I am seeing some raised hands… and I am sensing the inevitable question “If they are so good, why do people need to convert them?”.
Land Rover conversions don’t stem from people trying to make them better, they are to make them more suited to a specific task. Such is the way the almost ‘modular’ Defender is made that converting a normal 110 Defender into one that has a camping body on the back, or even has an extra axle and becomes 6 wheel drive, is not too much of a challenge.
Some popular Land Rover conversions are listed below:
- Camper vans
- Construction/load carrying vehicle
- Safari vehicles
- Vehicles with modifications due to driver disabilities
- Specialised expedition vehicles
- Winterised/cold weather conversions
- Competition conversions
The only limit to the Land Rover conversions that can be carried out by a skillful workshop is your budget and imagination.
Due to the cost and length of time taken to get your expedition vehicle ready and the importance of the professional work carried out on it we here at S2Si only have one recommendation when it come to pointing customers in the right direction. One of our expedition leaders has worked with the Foley family out in Zambia during his time there and has also spent time in their UK workshop. The Foley brothers, Paul and Stuart, can provide you with vehicles to match your budget and your destination. Also of use to the world of expeditions is their ability to have the vehicle shipping for you to the start of the expedition or can help getting it back home.
To visit their website, give this a click – Land Rover Conversions
Once you have your pride and joy sat there, in your drive way, now what? Well it is now highly recommended that you learn thoroughly how to drive it in all conditions. We of course can help you with your Land Rover expedition training by organising an event to help you learn about the handling characteristics, some basic mechanical training and cover what spares and tools would help you for the journey.
Tags: land rover expedition training, land rover expeditions, What are the best gap year travel ideas, What can I do on my gap year
