110user
Observer
It is about time I start a build thread so here goes.
After spending 10 months living outside the land rover in South America. We decided we needed to start living inside the rover. We met Karin-Marijke and Coen (http://www.landcruising.nl/lc_en) putting around a remote region of the Argentine Altiplano in their 1984 Bj45 with a 11in roof lift. It was a bit tight but they had minimal gear and could actually hang out inside comfortably. It was simple with no pop-top to cause trouble. It was a vision of a small live in truck camper. This style is perfect for international overlanding. It is able to sleep in citys unnoticed, simple with nothing to break, small enough to fit in a container and drive in tight places…plus the diesel is cheap!
Fast forward back to the USA. As soon as we got home I started researching alternatives for the next trip… knew I wanted to stay rover, decided a 130 was too long, I wanted it to be light and have room to live inside needed wider and taller. I though about making my own box, but I though it would end up heavy……Then I discovered the 109 Marshall body Ambulance. I found a body in Washington State and went for it.
Teri and I stripped the rear 2/3’s of the 110 in a couple days and with a borrowed Series IIa pickup cab and a chopped center bulkhead (thank you mr. Briggs) and set off to pick up the Ambu. We drove up in one day, in December, with Teri the dog and myself crammed in the pickup cab. With ductape everywhere we braved the northwest rain and arrived in Olympia, WA. With 10 solid hours of wrenching we started driving back to California with an ambulance on the back of the rover.
The ambulance body itself is extremely light and well made. Double walled insulated aluminum, trussed like an airplane with flush rivets. The paint is typical multicoat military peeler, but it is in near prefect shape otherwise. There are such well engineered niceties as a fold down rear gate, complete blackout blinds, metal bug screens, a safariroof, and plenty of SPACE! We have gone camping in it every other weekend to test out ideas and we love it. I’m about 6’3” and can sleep in it fine, there is sufficient room for a camper setup inside, with a fold down bench/bed.
We have a list (in no order):
-Cut wheel wells
-Make fuel filler (nothing exists)
-Completely remove center bulkhead
-Fit simple roll bar
-Make a rear bumper
-Remove paint and repaint.
-Make two large thin aluminum boxes for the roof
-Replace interior panels
-Rig a solar power setup
- Design and build living space with:
- Fold down bench/bed
-Locking security drawer
-Fridge
-Storage drawers
-Water tank, filter, pump, sink
-Stove
-Tool and spare storage
What I need to do soon is the fuel filler, as of now is is a hassle to fill up. I also have to decide what to use for the interior panels and how to cut the wheel wells and not look like poop.
I’ll be keeping a log of photos and ideas so I’d appreciate any advice, comments etc…..
Thanks!
-Steve
After spending 10 months living outside the land rover in South America. We decided we needed to start living inside the rover. We met Karin-Marijke and Coen (http://www.landcruising.nl/lc_en) putting around a remote region of the Argentine Altiplano in their 1984 Bj45 with a 11in roof lift. It was a bit tight but they had minimal gear and could actually hang out inside comfortably. It was simple with no pop-top to cause trouble. It was a vision of a small live in truck camper. This style is perfect for international overlanding. It is able to sleep in citys unnoticed, simple with nothing to break, small enough to fit in a container and drive in tight places…plus the diesel is cheap!
Fast forward back to the USA. As soon as we got home I started researching alternatives for the next trip… knew I wanted to stay rover, decided a 130 was too long, I wanted it to be light and have room to live inside needed wider and taller. I though about making my own box, but I though it would end up heavy……Then I discovered the 109 Marshall body Ambulance. I found a body in Washington State and went for it.
Teri and I stripped the rear 2/3’s of the 110 in a couple days and with a borrowed Series IIa pickup cab and a chopped center bulkhead (thank you mr. Briggs) and set off to pick up the Ambu. We drove up in one day, in December, with Teri the dog and myself crammed in the pickup cab. With ductape everywhere we braved the northwest rain and arrived in Olympia, WA. With 10 solid hours of wrenching we started driving back to California with an ambulance on the back of the rover.
The ambulance body itself is extremely light and well made. Double walled insulated aluminum, trussed like an airplane with flush rivets. The paint is typical multicoat military peeler, but it is in near prefect shape otherwise. There are such well engineered niceties as a fold down rear gate, complete blackout blinds, metal bug screens, a safariroof, and plenty of SPACE! We have gone camping in it every other weekend to test out ideas and we love it. I’m about 6’3” and can sleep in it fine, there is sufficient room for a camper setup inside, with a fold down bench/bed.
We have a list (in no order):
-Cut wheel wells
-Make fuel filler (nothing exists)
-Completely remove center bulkhead
-Fit simple roll bar
-Make a rear bumper
-Remove paint and repaint.
-Make two large thin aluminum boxes for the roof
-Replace interior panels
-Rig a solar power setup
- Design and build living space with:
- Fold down bench/bed
-Locking security drawer
-Fridge
-Storage drawers
-Water tank, filter, pump, sink
-Stove
-Tool and spare storage
What I need to do soon is the fuel filler, as of now is is a hassle to fill up. I also have to decide what to use for the interior panels and how to cut the wheel wells and not look like poop.
I’ll be keeping a log of photos and ideas so I’d appreciate any advice, comments etc…..
Thanks!
-Steve
