Defender Camper

[Sleeping Dog]

Came across this sweet heart at Watkins Glen State Park in NY. A Swiss couple touring the US. The rig is a 2000 Defender TD5.

I didn't get a look in the camper as it was getting near sunset and I'd already bothered them enough.

One thing I liked was the size. Too bad the payloads of Tacos & Frontiers is so small.

Jim

 

[kellymoe]

Speaking as a Defender owner, the size and height of that camper would be hell to drive on the highway. I have a 130 with a shell on the back and full roof rack and it is sometimes sketchy to drive on the highway, especially with a crosswind. If you have a headwind you are hating life. I would think they would have to have extra heavy duty suspension and airbags in the rear in order to make it a safe ride.

 

[KingSlug]

Being a series owner of a 2a MOD ambulance I can tell you my amby is sketchy on the highway (big rigs roaring by) or high wind situtations standing still. I had one windy night when we were camped in back and the wind was buffeting us pretty good in a rest stop. The defender pictured looks alot taller than my amby. Maybe a wider axle in back like a 101FC would help out.

One serious thing over looked is a lower center of gravity in camper vehicles. I have seen alot of trucks with campers that were deer hunting trying to get deep into the woods tip over, then the hunters had to leave the camper in the woods if it was badly damage or couldnt be reloaded into the bed. Thats why I try to load a lot of water and fuel at frame level.

KingSlug

 

[TeriAnn]

Came across this sweet heart at Watkins Glen State Park in NY. A Swiss couple touring the US. The rig is a 2000 Defender TD5.

Looking at the cab it appears to be a high capacity pickup with the rear bed replaced by a built in camper. There is/was a company in Germany that built camper rear bodies for high capacity pickups. They sent me a set of jpegs in the late 90's but they didn't make the transition from my last computer

Their conversions worked hard to keep the weight as low as possible and looked really nice.

Around 2000 I came across a German couple in the four corners area touring the US in a 110 high capacity pickup with a large camper built onto the rear. We were going opposite directions but both stopped to visit. During the time I got to tour the inside of the camper area. They had an inside shower. I was very envious of that since it was fall and a bit cool at dawn. My shower was outside in a special tent. Buuurrr.

Anyway I thought their rig looked like it would do well on normal BLM maintained trails and they had been on a few OK. It should be able to do the Mojave trail with no problems and they had toured one of the branches of Canyon de Chelly a few days before I did.

Unfortunately all I had with me was a view camera and at a dollar an exposure and set up time I didn't unload it for a picture.

 

[Lynn]

Here's a pic of one from an Italian company, Lonno Offroad Yachts:

but I think I like this one better. Lower CG, but it really needs windows:

 

[Dmarchand]

I think this is a much better option:

 

[KevinNY]

Here is one I took a pic of in Italy.

 

[Lynn]

Here is one I took a pic of in Italy.

Kevin, can you tell what it says on the front and sides of that rig? I can't make it out from the pic.

Thanks,

 

[SuperSoniC_110]

bimobil!

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I think this is a much better option:

That sure is cool...

 

[Blair G]

That sure is cool...

I HAVE BEEN REALY THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS. Not sure why caps are on. Would be an easy thing to do and is easily brought back to stock if needed. I need to get some more 5 bar aluminum.

Blair

 

[SuperSoniC_110]

popup units are far more practical then lifting camper units.
they are way too heavy for a defender and to my opinion too dangerous to drive with.

here some more examples of Campers

 

[TeriAnn]

And don't forget modern Dormobile conversions!

Almost 8 feet of head space with the top up. Space to sit up in a roof mounted bunk.

​

 

[CLynn85]

:drool:

 

[revor]

And don't forget modern Dormobile conversions!

Add to that I belive you can fit a ROW spec SD roll cage to a Dormibile.