Little bit of a background:
This is long winded!
My girlfriend is a teacher, and I’m fortunate enough to have the freedom to do whatever. Which gives us the summer together, to do as we please. The last few years, we’ve really focused on exploring our own country (USA) The move has been, picking up random semi interesting vehicles and living out of unique Airbnb & Hotels along the way, and selling the vehicle upon returning. It’s worked out well, with only a few minor hiccups along the way.
Last summer we didn’t travel, due to obvious reasons. Aside from the grocery store, occasional hiking, and maybe a handful of other stores. I haven’t done anything since the pandemic started. I’m 33, but decided very early on I was going to stay away from other people. Not a chance I want to pass anything along, to someone who has a compromised immune system. For the first time in my life, I can truly say I know what depression feels like. Sitting around, not going to the gym, and not really watching my diet like normal has been taxing. It’s time to get my ass off the couch, but in a manner I feel is responsible.
Both of us have talked about hitting more remote destinations for hiking, and truly exploring our national parks. Along with, living out of a roof top tent. The allure has been there for years, but I’ve always compared it to a threesome. Sounds great on paper, but far more work than it’s truly worth.... Not to mention, this is basically all of my camping experience.
Yes, In places with tent pads, sometimes facilities, etc. Nothing like this fable trek we’ve chatted about many times.
Well, the time is actually nearing. Without Covid, I’m not sure we would have actually ever followed through with something like this. Thanks Covid
The hunt for a suitable rig:
This really only became a real thing at the end of March, it’s now the end of April. So a month... I bought a Land Cruiser a little over 2 hours from my home. It made the small journey home with no issues, but I bought it knowing I would need to give it lots of love. The realization set in quickly the following day, that there just wouldn’t be the time to finish it how I wanted by our set off date of June 1st. I still have it, but she’s for sale!
Back to hunting for another vehicle. I’ve always had a soft spot for Land Rovers. Mainly the Defender, and Discovery. I had a friend, who purchased an almost new at the time 04 SE7 Discovery. He took it off roading within the first few days of ownership, not knowing a single thing and being incredibly careless. It was a recipe for disaster. We were doing massive jumps within minutes of arriving, plowing through trees, etc. There wasn’t a panel without massive scratches, front bumper was busted, and cracked plastics throughout.All of us were laughing for hours. To be young, and stupid again! Great times. Since, I’ve always wanted one but have avoided due to the abysmal reliability, and that’s saying something. I’ve owned countless oddball vehicles!
Now, there has been one I would actually own and that is a Discovery paired with the 300tdi engine. Sadly, we never got these in the US. I’ve tried buying a few over the years, none ever panning out due to various reasons. Someone an hour away actually owns a swapped example, and offered to let me check it out and test drive it.
After arriving at his home, I find out he bought it for his 16 year old daughter. It’s her first car, a manual turbo diesel swapped Discovery and she was beyond pumped about this machine, and knowledgeable. Super rad! After checking it out, I wanted one badly. I could only find two on the market. One was a true 300tdi Disco, but was sold new without AC- so out of the question. The other was a swapped example with some rust, along with other minor issues and a firm price tag of nearly 20k. I knew if I were to purchase that, come time to unload I would lose thousands .
I did some hardcore digging on various forums, and some very old threads! Found someone who owned one, and asked if he was interested in selling. He reached out, and informed me he started to sell off some of his Rovers over the last year or so. He owned like 6 different Rovers at one time, and was considering letting go of the one I inquired about. He gave me a brief run down, and said he wanted $X for it. The price was fair, so I instantly agreed to purchasing. It’s currently on its way to me, and should be here by Tuesday!
Its a UK spec 300TDI Discovery, with an automatic transmission & AC. Both which will be appreciated by my girlfriend. It’s had nearly $9,000 worth of work. The top end has been redone, new radiator, intercooler, piping, lift kit, tires, etc. I haven’t seen it in person, but it sounds like a winner I will find out soon enough! I know it will need a headliner, which I have a shop that is going to custom make one. The awesome looking $2,000 roof rack isn’t ideal for a roof top tent. It’s way too tall, especially given the 2” lift & larger tires. Speaking of the tires, they are nearly $300 a piece and are bias ply! I prey they are live-able, as replacing brand new tires feels so wrong! The radio doesn’t work, so I picked up an alpine Bluetooth unit & all new speakers. Basically, I’ve been ordering a bunch of random stuff for something that’s not even in my possession yet.
Auto transport companies in my experience are almost never on time, hopefully it does show Tuesday. I have a shop who is going to custom make a new roof rack. I also need to pickup the roof top tent. Should be a productive week...
Nothing like having a 27 year old vehicle show up a month before you leave on a 3 month excursion, and plan to live out of
This is long winded!
My girlfriend is a teacher, and I’m fortunate enough to have the freedom to do whatever. Which gives us the summer together, to do as we please. The last few years, we’ve really focused on exploring our own country (USA) The move has been, picking up random semi interesting vehicles and living out of unique Airbnb & Hotels along the way, and selling the vehicle upon returning. It’s worked out well, with only a few minor hiccups along the way.
Last summer we didn’t travel, due to obvious reasons. Aside from the grocery store, occasional hiking, and maybe a handful of other stores. I haven’t done anything since the pandemic started. I’m 33, but decided very early on I was going to stay away from other people. Not a chance I want to pass anything along, to someone who has a compromised immune system. For the first time in my life, I can truly say I know what depression feels like. Sitting around, not going to the gym, and not really watching my diet like normal has been taxing. It’s time to get my ass off the couch, but in a manner I feel is responsible.
Both of us have talked about hitting more remote destinations for hiking, and truly exploring our national parks. Along with, living out of a roof top tent. The allure has been there for years, but I’ve always compared it to a threesome. Sounds great on paper, but far more work than it’s truly worth.... Not to mention, this is basically all of my camping experience.
Yes, In places with tent pads, sometimes facilities, etc. Nothing like this fable trek we’ve chatted about many times.
Well, the time is actually nearing. Without Covid, I’m not sure we would have actually ever followed through with something like this. Thanks Covid
The hunt for a suitable rig:
This really only became a real thing at the end of March, it’s now the end of April. So a month... I bought a Land Cruiser a little over 2 hours from my home. It made the small journey home with no issues, but I bought it knowing I would need to give it lots of love. The realization set in quickly the following day, that there just wouldn’t be the time to finish it how I wanted by our set off date of June 1st. I still have it, but she’s for sale!
Back to hunting for another vehicle. I’ve always had a soft spot for Land Rovers. Mainly the Defender, and Discovery. I had a friend, who purchased an almost new at the time 04 SE7 Discovery. He took it off roading within the first few days of ownership, not knowing a single thing and being incredibly careless. It was a recipe for disaster. We were doing massive jumps within minutes of arriving, plowing through trees, etc. There wasn’t a panel without massive scratches, front bumper was busted, and cracked plastics throughout.All of us were laughing for hours. To be young, and stupid again! Great times. Since, I’ve always wanted one but have avoided due to the abysmal reliability, and that’s saying something. I’ve owned countless oddball vehicles!
Now, there has been one I would actually own and that is a Discovery paired with the 300tdi engine. Sadly, we never got these in the US. I’ve tried buying a few over the years, none ever panning out due to various reasons. Someone an hour away actually owns a swapped example, and offered to let me check it out and test drive it.
After arriving at his home, I find out he bought it for his 16 year old daughter. It’s her first car, a manual turbo diesel swapped Discovery and she was beyond pumped about this machine, and knowledgeable. Super rad! After checking it out, I wanted one badly. I could only find two on the market. One was a true 300tdi Disco, but was sold new without AC- so out of the question. The other was a swapped example with some rust, along with other minor issues and a firm price tag of nearly 20k. I knew if I were to purchase that, come time to unload I would lose thousands .
I did some hardcore digging on various forums, and some very old threads! Found someone who owned one, and asked if he was interested in selling. He reached out, and informed me he started to sell off some of his Rovers over the last year or so. He owned like 6 different Rovers at one time, and was considering letting go of the one I inquired about. He gave me a brief run down, and said he wanted $X for it. The price was fair, so I instantly agreed to purchasing. It’s currently on its way to me, and should be here by Tuesday!
Its a UK spec 300TDI Discovery, with an automatic transmission & AC. Both which will be appreciated by my girlfriend. It’s had nearly $9,000 worth of work. The top end has been redone, new radiator, intercooler, piping, lift kit, tires, etc. I haven’t seen it in person, but it sounds like a winner
I will find out soon enough! I know it will need a headliner, which I have a shop that is going to custom make one. The awesome looking $2,000 roof rack isn’t ideal for a roof top tent. It’s way too tall, especially given the 2” lift & larger tires. Speaking of the tires, they are nearly $300 a piece and are bias ply! I prey they are live-able, as replacing brand new tires feels so wrong! The radio doesn’t work, so I picked up an alpine Bluetooth unit & all new speakers. Basically, I’ve been ordering a bunch of random stuff for something that’s not even in my possession yet.Auto transport companies in my experience are almost never on time, hopefully it does show Tuesday. I have a shop who is going to custom make a new roof rack. I also need to pickup the roof top tent. Should be a productive week...
Nothing like having a 27 year old vehicle show up a month before you leave on a 3 month excursion, and plan to live out of
