Its a HRT vehicle, designed to allow climbing frames to be mounted. This allows quick deployment from vehicle through upper level windows.
Best seen when used in anger (training!)
Why not, people are converting the original Freelander to front wheel drive (Even get kite to complete it now) when the complex rearward drive train has expensive issues.
Gorrila boxes are good, although not sure where you can get them from in the UK - we use them in theatre to move our kit around in. They cost about $30 for the large version, so praobably about £40 here!