Snagger Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 It looks like it’s towing a boat. If it was towing anything else, then their packing would be atrocious with all that internal space and the roof rack! I don’t think it’s bowing-I think that is an illusion form the camera angle and perspective, as both ends appear to lean in a great deal too. But the break over and departure angles make this a road going vehicle only, so a production RV would be safer, cheaper, more comfortable and probably more legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 21 hours ago, Mo Murphy said: @V8 Freak Uncle, this could be your next truck combining both of your interests ! Mo Errrr... Nope.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 4 hours ago, ThreePointFive said: It could be worse.... The annoying thing is the kit itself is practical and sensible... To be fair, if you picked the US flags off it it would be fine, it's better than being be-decked with camo gear. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nonimouse Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 what's the reg plate ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Sans parole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 18 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: To be fair, if you picked the US flags off it it would be fine, it's better than being be-decked with camo gear. Yep, it’s the flags that are the problem. Not because of the nation of the flag, just because the whole black fabric with sewn lateral loop tape and muted flag reek “SEAL-Walt”. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSIIA Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Forget the LR conversion, this is the "Apocalypse Grade" camper https://www.businessinsider.com/custom-rv-expedition-camper-van-traveling-australia-slrv-2019-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 That at least looks smart and could actually go off-road. The trouble with these things though is at some point after your four days in the wild, you have to rejoin reality and go to the shops, buy fuel or park somewhere and realise you've got thirty foot long monster that won't go under parking barriers, go round a mini roundabout and you have to park out of town and shlep back a mile with all your groceries, only to find it surrounded by kids wanting cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreePointFive Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 I like that, it's not trying to be anything. Spending months out in a desert with 9 other people, on the other hand.... Cant imagine it's too fun to be a passenger if you're not sat in the cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 49 minutes ago, Eightpot said: That at least looks smart and could actually go off-road. Could it though? It weighs many many tonnes, it's huge, and if you get it even a little bit stuck who's going to give you a tow? There was a chap at one of the Ladogas with a 4x4 MAN drawbar rig - camper on the truck, race car/workshop in the trailer - it sunk a wheel trying to get into one of the campsites and caused a lot of amusement, given that there were other teams with bone stock Ford Transit campers who were happily camped and already on the vodka watching it unfold. I'm sure it's appropriate for the military who need to get around off the beaten track, but they travel in groups and have big heavy recovery trucks on call. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 8 minutes ago, FridgeFreezer said: Could it though? It weighs many many tonnes, it's huge, and if you get it even a little bit stuck who's going to give you a tow? There was a chap at one of the Ladogas with a 4x4 MAN drawbar rig - camper on the truck, race car/workshop in the trailer - it sunk a wheel trying to get into one of the campsites and caused a lot of amusement, given that there were other teams with bone stock Ford Transit campers who were happily camped and already on the vodka watching it unfold. I'm sure it's appropriate for the military who need to get around off the beaten track, but they travel in groups and have big heavy recovery trucks on call. I'd love to know what it does weigh. Got to be knocking on the door of 15T. I can't see a weight in the spec, but the smaller version they build on the 4x4 chassis has a base MGW of 13T. The article linked mentions 264Gallons of water capacity, so taking that as US ones.... 999L or a ton of water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 (edited) Yeah I don't think I'd fancy taking it green laning or on a quarry play day (🤔 mm actually I would, but not if there was a bill for the results 🙂) but it at least looks like you could fill it with fuel, water & beer to last a month then hammer it through the sand and gravel plains of Oz, Namibia or Morocco bouncing off the odd wadi without stressing it - where the stretched Defender limo looks like it would split a bit in various places and go slightly banana shaped before beaching itself on a slight hummock or sit with it's wheels spinning after reversing onto a very slightly raised verge 😃 To be fair it's a lovely job on the defender even if an Iveco 4x4 motorhome would have been more appropriate. Hope they have more luck than me this year taking it somewhere 😆 Edit - I missed the photo of the front of the Defender - I take back anything nice I said and would like to put a match to it. Edited January 13, 2021 by Eightpot 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Awful thing, the turning circle might be interesting. The Perentie on the other hand looks a little more acceptable.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 On 1/10/2021 at 12:20 AM, FridgeFreezer said: I found this, it's... interesting: https://onlyadvert.com/this-zombie-deluxe-is-a-good-way-to-survive-the-apocalypse/?utm_source=sc2 I think it's honestly not *that* bad. Remove some of the tacticool carp and maybe have a slightly classier interior, and you have a pretty nice camper setup. It's obviously not meant for rock crawling, but the breakover/departure angle is at least a lot better than a regular camper van. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 It's not for me but, like it or hate it, no one can deny its had a hell of a lot of work done to it Regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreePointFive Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 11 hours ago, Happyoldgit said: Awful thing, the turning circle might be interesting. The Perentie on the other hand looks a little more acceptable.. Have to love a Perentie, never realised how ugly the windscreens were before, though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Reminds me of this company https://earthroamer.com/ Over the top but you have to love a big F Series Ford 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 There's a couple online who've built a frickin' huge clone of one of those and, much like others mentioned in this thread, I'm not convinced you'd sensibly get it any further off-road than a Merc sprinter on AT's before it either sank or tipped over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 57 minutes ago, FridgeFreezer said: There's a couple online who've built a frickin' huge clone of one of those and, much like others mentioned in this thread, I'm not convinced you'd sensibly get it any further off-road than a Merc sprinter on AT's before it either sank or tipped over. But how cool do they look though 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 13 hours ago, L19MUD said: But how cool do they look though 😁 To some people yes, I just see someone who's probably spent 50k more than they needed to live less comfortably than they could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 19 minutes ago, FridgeFreezer said: To some people yes, I just see someone who's probably spent 50k more than they needed to live less comfortably than they could. I get your point with all the added bling. I do think those F series trucks would make a good starting point as you can chose the right size for what you are planning as opposed to stretching a Defender like the above and hoping for the best! There are hundreds of thousands of them about and lots of common parts plus seen to be very durable and reliable. Rock auto can get obscure parts for US vehicles into the UK with all the duty sorted in 3 days most times so I imagine getting parts from them vs parts from the UK for a Land Rover if you are in the middle east would be just as easy/easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Had an email back about the weight of the 8x8 above.... 20T! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 1 hour ago, L19MUD said: I get your point with all the added bling. I do think those F series trucks would make a good starting point as you can chose the right size for what you are planning as opposed to stretching a Defender like the above and hoping for the best! There are hundreds of thousands of them about and lots of common parts plus seen to be very durable and reliable. Rock auto can get obscure parts for US vehicles into the UK with all the duty sorted in 3 days most times so I imagine getting parts from them vs parts from the UK for a Land Rover if you are in the middle east would be just as easy/easier Having driven an F350 Super Duty camper in Alaska I have to say I was less than whelmed with it for all manner of reasons, and it certainly didn't feel like it wanted to go any further away from tarmac than I'd take a 2WD transit. What you gain in traction you lose in size & weight & CoG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 6 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: Having driven an F350 Super Duty camper in Alaska I have to say I was less than whelmed with it for all manner of reasons, and it certainly didn't feel like it wanted to go any further away from tarmac than I'd take a 2WD transit. What you gain in traction you lose in size & weight & CoG. I guess the camper pod makes a huge difference to the COG. I'm sure it is better than a 2wd transit though! My Transit gets stuck with a blade of grass underneath it I have not spent much time in a F250 or F350 and not had a chance to play off road. Have done a few thousand miles in late F150's including some tracks that had craters in them that would have Defenders lifting a wheel here and there. I didn't go silly as I was liable for any damage, more chose the safe line through. It didn't feel any less capable than my TDV8 L322 other than the longer wheelbase/overhang affecting break over and departure angles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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