Design
The interior reconstruction of our Defender was a project entirely undertaken by us. However, the reconstruction wasn’t a simple “start and go” endeavor. Prior to the actual reconstruction, we had to carefully consider numerous aspects, make crucial decisions, and then proceed with the design phase. To ensure functionality and address any oversights, we embarked on several shorter trips with the Defender during the reconstruction process. In this section, we delve into some of the aspects and lifestyle considerations we formulated before commencing the conversion of the interior in our Defender.
It’s not a storage closet or a huge suitcase
In essence, the primary goal of an overlanding vehicle interior revolves around functional storage—efficiently accessing equipment, food, and clothing during stopovers. However, beyond this practicality, we harbored additional aspirations for our interior during our overlanding adventure.
Given our full-time, multi-year travel plans, we aimed to carry all the essential equipment, and also winter to summer clothing. While recognizing the advantages of existing highly functional overlanding storage systems in the market, we found ourselves at an impasse regarding their aesthetics.
Amidst numerous discussions on interior design, a consensus emerged: our Land Rover Defender should not merely be a storage closet but a cozy, liveable space. Both of us shared a distaste for the idea of spending hours packing and unpacking with each move. Hence, the focus shifted towards crafting a storage space that seamlessly blended functionality with an appealing aesthetic.
This realisation prompted a return to the drawing board, where we drew inspiration from ingenious DIY vanlife rebuilds and the work of other 4×4 overlanders who successfully combined functionality with style. Leveraging this inspiration, we designed our own interior, striving for a perfect harmony between aesthetics and practicality.
Bringing outdoor living inside
In essence, our vision revolves around conducting daily activities—cooking, eating, working, and essentially living—outside our Defender. Nature is not just our backyard but our living area. However, considering our year-round travel plans and varying weather conditions, practicality dictates the need for flexibility.
While our preference is to immerse ourselves in the outdoors, there are situations where external conditions might not be conducive. It could be too windy for cooking, too cold to sit outside, or an entire day of rain. Hence, we’ve designed our setup to enable seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.
To achieve this, we’ve opted for maximum portability in our gear. Our Defender doesn’t feature a built-in stove or sink, but rather, we’ve invested in versatile, portable equipment. This approach allows us the freedom to perform day-to-day activities comfortably inside or outside the Defender as per the demands of the moment.
What being off the grid means to us
For us, overlanding encapsulates the idea of achieving self-sufficiency while maintaining a level of comfort. Our travel philosophy involves the capability to dwell in remote (inhabited) places for extended periods, typically ranging from 5 to 10 consecutive days. This emphasis on self-sufficiency is reflected in our interior design, which smoothly integrates the storage of essential items.
Some key examples include proper food storage, a reliable water supply, an outdoor toilet, a solar shower, and equipment for road repairs, coupled with a robust (solar) power setup.
Balancing this self-sufficiency, we also prioritize a certain degree of comfort. We aim to avoid dedicating entire days to basic living and camping tasks. Instead, we have incorporated elements into our interior to enhance our overall experience. These include built-in lighting for convenience, heating equipment for added comfort, and sporting gear such as an inflatable kayak, hiking and running essentials, and swimming gear. Additionally, we have made provisions for a portable table and chairs to facilitate various activities and make life on the road a bit more convenient.
Every kilo unused is too much
Defenders aren’t built for speed, and our goal during overlanding isn’t to prioritize it. Typically, we avoid highways, cruising comfortably at around 80 km/h or even slower. Despite the emphasis on a leisurely pace, minimizing the weight we carry remains crucial for overlanding.
Reducing the number of kilograms we carry isn’t just about achieving lower fuel consumption; it’s primarily aimed at minimizing wear and tear on the suspension and drivetrain. This consideration becomes particularly significant in countries where paved roads are a luxury. The Defender’s unique advantage of being able to traverse nearly any terrain is optimally realized when the vehicle’s mass is kept to a minimum, ideally leading to fewer breakdowns.
In the context of interior design, we’ve taken special care to keep weight at its minimum. This philosophy extends to our exterior rebuild and daily utilities, all part of an overarching strategy to enhance the Defender’s efficiency and reliability during our overlanding adventures.
Stowed away
While it may seem obvious, it’s crucial to secure all loose items inside the vehicle when on the road. Our interior is designed to facilitate this, especially considering our expectation of numerous off-road adventures where navigating potholes and rough washboard surfaces is unavoidable.
Ensuring that all equipment is stowed away serves multiple purposes. Not only does it maintain the good working order of our gear, but it also plays a vital role in safety. On challenging roads, preventing equipment from becoming projectiles ensures a safer driving experience. Securing items also minimizes distractions caused by rattling noises, allowing us to focus more on the road ahead during our adventurous journeys.
Because data is awesome
While not an absolute necessity, Paul’s background as a researcher and engineer kindles a love for data and its processing. This passion extends to monitoring various aspects of our overlanding experience, including our movements (speed, distances, location, and altitude) and weather conditions (indoor/outdoor temperatures, pressure, and humidity).
In a nod to his technical inclination, Paul has embarked on a Raspberry Pi project, integrating nifty sensors and displays inside our Defender. This setup allows us to not only gather and monitor data but also run a local server. The server serves the dual purpose of visualising the collected data and providing a platform for website work, particularly handy when internet access is unavailable during our travels.
What about costs
Cost is undeniably a crucial consideration. In our exploration, we discovered that both off-the-shelf and custom-built solutions often come with expensive price tags, funds we’d prefer to allocate to our travel experiences. This realisation led us to make decisions that prioritise budget savings through DIY projects and taking calculated risks by opting for less expensive and lesser-known brands.
Read about the budget we established for ourselves during the preparation phase. This financial plan reflects our commitment to balancing practicality and affordability.