J!m
Active member
Spurred on by some synaptic activity in another thread, it seemed like a good idea...
Face it: most of us carry too much stuff. We might even use it now and again, but it can literally be TONS of stuff.
So, some background first. In 2001 I was part of “Vintage Rovers Across Africa” who spent almost three months in northwest Africa. Great time I’ll probably never repeat in my lifetime unfortunately.
In preparation, all the drivers were instructed on spare fuel requirements (Western Africa specifically) as well as water, two spares and other “necessities “ for the trip. In my case, I also had a friggin pile of camera gear. In an 88” Rover, you run out of room fast.
I read articles and spoke with experienced people in the UK who had done trips and/or outfitted others who did. Besides the 109 1-ton springs and a few other “modifications “ to the truck, it was basically stock.
But to the point: the pack. In a nut shell, heaviest items low and central; light items high. Below is the pack I ran, from memory so maybe not exact.
Rear of truck:
Two 5-gallon military water cans, laying down on the floor, against the bulkhead. Spare left and right hand Rover half shafts attached to bulkhead. Two strips of aluminum angle (1.5x1.5x1/8 wall across the wheel boxes at the front; on these were the jerry cans (German military). I think I had six across? A strap through the handles strapped them down. Behind them and the water cans, I had four McKeeson boxes. These are thin plastic with an interleaved lid, used to deliver drugs to the pharmacy. Each was numbered and labeled- recovery, repair, fix-it and parts. Recovery was heaviest, and set on the passenger side, against the wheel box. Parts lower left, other two on top (about the same weight each). This left a space on the left, where I had the tent awning poles, spare one-piece half shafts (Great Basin Rovers prototypes) and other long items I’m forgetting. On the right side floor, I drilled through the floor and installed u-bolts with a nylock on the outside and regular nut on the inside. Two of these provided the hook location for the two straps holding the boxes down. On the left, I needed the wheel box top to be slightly wider to fit the ARB fridge, so another piece of aluminum angle was set flush with the top, sticking into the cargo area. Fridge was strapped to the side of the tub here. Under the aluminum, I had two swing-out steel tabs with homes in them for the other end of the box holding straps. On the right side wheel box I had my tool bag. Oh, on the floor to the left I had a receiver mount vice that could mount to the front bumper.
Inside the back door, I had mounted the demand pump and hoses for the shower. Velcro straps kept it on the door handle- the pump was screwed or riveted to the door. Outside the door I had another 5-gallon can, which heated in the sun all day to supply the shower.
To the right of the back foot was a hi-lift (actually a jack-all brand) and a ladder to the roof rack was on the left. Roof rack was custom made of 3/4 square steel tubing and painted Limestone to match the roof and wheels. Ladder rungs had grip tape, as did the “landing” at the top for Wilson to get in and out of the tent. I slept on the ladder side.
The roof tent was mounted on the right side of the rack. It was open for the tent and also extended over the windshield a bit for shade and space. The open right side had a support that went to the windshield hinge since it wasn’t as structural as the continuous “ladder” structure on the in-open side. Oh, and there was a full-length divider to the left of the tents the rack was very ridgid without too much weight. We each had waterproof bags up here for clothes, both held down with one long 4” wide strap. Also on the rack were a pair of Mantek aluminum PSP, (which I guess is PAP), and a custom mount for the tent ladder on the right side. I also secured the folded tent with a pair of straps over the cover. At the very front of the rack I had my clothes washer (works great!).
In the front driver area, the original seats were replaced with Recarros which are now in my Defender. Center seat was replaced by my camera bag. CB was mounted to the front side of the bulkhead. Toilet paper, individually zip locked for freshness, was stuffed at every available empty nook.
Out front I had a Ramsey RE12000x with 150’ of cable in the custom bumper, a pul-pal on the brush bar and a raw (no rim) tire behind the bar in front of the radiator. Mounted spare on the hood.
I ran the Cooper STTs load range E. 235-85/16 I think they were.
ARB air locker in the rear diff with a tractor-trailer two-speed switch on the shifter for it. One optima yellow top under the hood. Military spring shackles, wedges in front to correct geometry and the aforementioned 109 1-ton springs. Otherwise, a restored (on new galvanized chassis) 1971 II-a 88” safari station wagon. Pastel green.
Face it: most of us carry too much stuff. We might even use it now and again, but it can literally be TONS of stuff.
So, some background first. In 2001 I was part of “Vintage Rovers Across Africa” who spent almost three months in northwest Africa. Great time I’ll probably never repeat in my lifetime unfortunately.
In preparation, all the drivers were instructed on spare fuel requirements (Western Africa specifically) as well as water, two spares and other “necessities “ for the trip. In my case, I also had a friggin pile of camera gear. In an 88” Rover, you run out of room fast.
I read articles and spoke with experienced people in the UK who had done trips and/or outfitted others who did. Besides the 109 1-ton springs and a few other “modifications “ to the truck, it was basically stock.
But to the point: the pack. In a nut shell, heaviest items low and central; light items high. Below is the pack I ran, from memory so maybe not exact.
Rear of truck:
Two 5-gallon military water cans, laying down on the floor, against the bulkhead. Spare left and right hand Rover half shafts attached to bulkhead. Two strips of aluminum angle (1.5x1.5x1/8 wall across the wheel boxes at the front; on these were the jerry cans (German military). I think I had six across? A strap through the handles strapped them down. Behind them and the water cans, I had four McKeeson boxes. These are thin plastic with an interleaved lid, used to deliver drugs to the pharmacy. Each was numbered and labeled- recovery, repair, fix-it and parts. Recovery was heaviest, and set on the passenger side, against the wheel box. Parts lower left, other two on top (about the same weight each). This left a space on the left, where I had the tent awning poles, spare one-piece half shafts (Great Basin Rovers prototypes) and other long items I’m forgetting. On the right side floor, I drilled through the floor and installed u-bolts with a nylock on the outside and regular nut on the inside. Two of these provided the hook location for the two straps holding the boxes down. On the left, I needed the wheel box top to be slightly wider to fit the ARB fridge, so another piece of aluminum angle was set flush with the top, sticking into the cargo area. Fridge was strapped to the side of the tub here. Under the aluminum, I had two swing-out steel tabs with homes in them for the other end of the box holding straps. On the right side wheel box I had my tool bag. Oh, on the floor to the left I had a receiver mount vice that could mount to the front bumper.
Inside the back door, I had mounted the demand pump and hoses for the shower. Velcro straps kept it on the door handle- the pump was screwed or riveted to the door. Outside the door I had another 5-gallon can, which heated in the sun all day to supply the shower.
To the right of the back foot was a hi-lift (actually a jack-all brand) and a ladder to the roof rack was on the left. Roof rack was custom made of 3/4 square steel tubing and painted Limestone to match the roof and wheels. Ladder rungs had grip tape, as did the “landing” at the top for Wilson to get in and out of the tent. I slept on the ladder side.
The roof tent was mounted on the right side of the rack. It was open for the tent and also extended over the windshield a bit for shade and space. The open right side had a support that went to the windshield hinge since it wasn’t as structural as the continuous “ladder” structure on the in-open side. Oh, and there was a full-length divider to the left of the tents the rack was very ridgid without too much weight. We each had waterproof bags up here for clothes, both held down with one long 4” wide strap. Also on the rack were a pair of Mantek aluminum PSP, (which I guess is PAP), and a custom mount for the tent ladder on the right side. I also secured the folded tent with a pair of straps over the cover. At the very front of the rack I had my clothes washer (works great!).
In the front driver area, the original seats were replaced with Recarros which are now in my Defender. Center seat was replaced by my camera bag. CB was mounted to the front side of the bulkhead. Toilet paper, individually zip locked for freshness, was stuffed at every available empty nook.
Out front I had a Ramsey RE12000x with 150’ of cable in the custom bumper, a pul-pal on the brush bar and a raw (no rim) tire behind the bar in front of the radiator. Mounted spare on the hood.
I ran the Cooper STTs load range E. 235-85/16 I think they were.
ARB air locker in the rear diff with a tractor-trailer two-speed switch on the shifter for it. One optima yellow top under the hood. Military spring shackles, wedges in front to correct geometry and the aforementioned 109 1-ton springs. Otherwise, a restored (on new galvanized chassis) 1971 II-a 88” safari station wagon. Pastel green.