KGH's Defender
- Thread starter Kgh
- Start date
Kgh
Let’s go already!
Today was the DC-3 wreck. Pretty neat. The land owner has restricted vehicles, it is a 4Km walk to the aircraft. Ran into some Italian Defender guys we also spoke with last night.
After that hike, we made a quick lunch of sandwiches and fruit in the camper. We were on our way to the lighthouse/arches at Dyrhólaey.
Along the way we saw a sign for Eyjafjallajökull Erupts, a small family museum about the 2010 eruption. I remember a flight delay from it, so we stopped in. Very nice, a short film about the family with great footage.
Then onto the arches. We were looking for puffins, no luck. Did enjoy the scenery and miles of black sand beaches.
Tonight we are in Vik. At a campground, surrounded by those who do not understand light and noise discipline. Hopefully tomorrow we wild camp away from people.
After that hike, we made a quick lunch of sandwiches and fruit in the camper. We were on our way to the lighthouse/arches at Dyrhólaey.
Along the way we saw a sign for Eyjafjallajökull Erupts, a small family museum about the 2010 eruption. I remember a flight delay from it, so we stopped in. Very nice, a short film about the family with great footage.
Then onto the arches. We were looking for puffins, no luck. Did enjoy the scenery and miles of black sand beaches.
Tonight we are in Vik. At a campground, surrounded by those who do not understand light and noise discipline. Hopefully tomorrow we wild camp away from people.
Kgh
Let’s go already!
This is why I dislike organized camping in Europe. And even Iceland. All the minivans are rentals, and we are packed like sardines.
If one is staying on main road, car/van is probably an OK way to go. The vans are kitted out with plywood builds, enabling storage. Come with Webasto-like heaters, camp equip, and a bed.
On the positive side (iPhone photos. I did get some cool shots in the real camera):
We did get decent shots, but after a point we just put down the devices and really watched the aurora. Too much time trying to "document" the experience can actually become the experience. So we just sat back and soaked it in. It was breathtaking. First time my wife has seen it.
Its 8AM. I am in the campground community kitchen on their wifi. It is pob 40 degrees in here, no heat. Fingers are too numb to type.
Truck porn.
And me looking touristy
Kgh
Let’s go already!
Just some random shots. Best photos are on camera, these are phone shots.
Sat AM. Up at 7 to pack, wash/fuel/drain holding tanks. Turned in truck and now sitting at coffee and juice place in Airport.
Yesterday: after wild camping and aurora watching Thurs night, we got up and headed out. Stopped in at the Icelandic Seal Center, http://www.selasetur.is
Really cool little museum, we decided to do the boat tour. We were only passengers on last day of season. Boat run by a guy and his son, really nice people. Saw Harbor seals, different birds, had hot chocolate and pastries made by the wife of the captain. Neat experience.
We then drove north along Midfjorder, and did a few stops to see more seals. Great view of atlantic.
Victory_Overland
Explorer
Sounds like a fantastic trip! Was it worth hiring the Defender camper?
Kgh
Let’s go already!
It WAS a fantastic trip! Absolutely one of the best trips I have ever taken.
As for Defender: our other options were to rent cars, 2WD vans kitted out, 4WD trucks not kitted out, SuperDefenders (google iceland super defender) or other truck/camper combos. We chose the 130 because...well, because Defender. As I am in process of extracting myself from work obligations, it was a good run in this type of rig to see if it is liveable. It is, but we would change a few things.
The Defender could have used heated seats, windscreen (winterkomfortpaket), AC to help with de-misting when we got in with wet clothes, a longer range fuel tank. It did have a Webasto supplementary diesel heater.
Almost 30K kilometers and the stock Continental CrossContact AT tires were getting close on tread depth. These are the factory standard Euro Defender tire. Truck did have the 130 helper springs inside the standard coils, but sagged in the rear due to camper. An air assist would be a nice touch. The water tank held up OK, prob 60L, the camper itself was heated by propane. Inefficient as we ran out at 3am one night, and I froze my self changing tanks! Diesel heat would be nice. Thetford cassette toilet was a cinch, no fuss, no muss.
All in all, a good rig, and a good experience. Especially because the wife enjoyed herself, had the "comforts" she desires, and was warm enough.
With this as a baseline, we discussed the options of a 130 ambulance conversion. They are plentiful over here, and a few different configs available. I would go for a 94 model year, which would give us a 2019 importation date. 94 would get the 300TDi with no electrics to speak of. Add an overdrive and would probably be ok withoutt a 6-speed gearbox.
Most ambulances have a hella big rear overhang. We discussed getting rid of rear doors, replace with a panel, and bob the tail at an angle. Install RV type windows and a door on the side, and it is a good base to build out from.
We probably did 300 kilometers on unpaved roads. From newly graded gravel, to washboard, to tire swallowing pothole after pothole at 15KPH. This was not done for "wheeling" but to get from A to B. The truck did well, but I would probably go for a more robust or marine grade cabinetry and hardware.