What colour to paint a landrover for overlanding?

[maxingout]

I have had Defenders in four different colors, and I have driven them in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the Emirates, Oman, Australia, and New Zealand.

I have not noticed any difference in the way I was treated by authorities in any place that I have travelled regardless of what color of vehicle I was in. My personal demeanor and personal appearance was the only thing that interested them as long as my paperwork was in order. Most officials have not been interested in my vehicle. I am merely an anomaly in their otherwise boring and meaningless day.

People in general have not shown much interest in my vehicles unless they were other people doing expeditionary travel. Then they are not interested in the color of the vehicle. They are interested in the modifications, what things work, and what things don't work.

I don't feel color matters that much until you are trying to extract a dark color Defender from a bogging in the sand when the ambient temperature is over 100 degrees and you are in full sun. In that situation you have to put on gloves or you will burn your hands when you push the vehicle.

Here is my favorite color.

 

[maxingout]

 

[maxingout]

The fact is, when it comes to Defenders, any color works for me, and I don't think anyone else really cares. So far I have travelled in Red, Green, White, and Burgundy Defenders.

Getting noticed isn't about color. Officials and larcenous individuals go where the money is, and Defenders don't look like rolling bank vaults. Most adventues in Defenders are thinly financed, and everyone knows that.

Defenders in expeditionary mode generally don't exude affluence. They look like basic survival machines, and the older and more beat up they are, the less people notice them.

 

[shogun]

What, nobody mentions the famous Pink?

Anybody have a color code for that?

 

[Ronct110]

Any I should avoid??

Pink for sure.

Not that there is anything wrong with people who like pink.

Just not in an overland vehicle. Like putting a sign on your back "Kick Me". Hostile military will probably use your vehicle as target practise just to mess with you. Fire a couple scude missiles + or - off target. Won't actually hit you to avoid any International Crisis.

Although, if by chance something goes wrong, might not get any sympathy with a headline "Pink Defender. Blown to Bits. Deserving or Not".

Joking set aside, black color or military theme as mentioned already are what I would avoid; beside these two colors, don't worry about re-painting, save your money for mods, and enjoy!

 

[mowerman]

I would go for the G4 orange.
It looks great and would stand out if needed - would you really want to be lost in the desert in a desert coloured truck?:Wow1:

 

[LUKEY]

Well I have taken on board all of your comments, I dont intend to sell the truck as I am rebuilding it on a galvenised chassis and bulhead for a reason I am currently liking the modern Tamar Blue colour as seen on quite a few landrovers, for overland trips it will be sign written as Ill be raising money for charity whilst i do the trips and round town it will also look nice and modern. The whole motor is being stripped to bare aluminium and re etch primed and painted, Hopefully it will be like new when I have finished it

I have already done the doors, roof, Bonnet, back door, side windows so the only major Job bodywork wise is the rear tub.

Many thanks

Luke :wings::wings:

 

[Snagger]

I repainted mine in black with a white roof panel, but mine is mostly used as a daily car and is only occasionally used for European trips. It is a bad colour for sunny places as it would just get too hot. The white roof, however, does an excellent job of keeping internal temperatures down if you don't have a boarded roof rack.

I second Nonny's comments; do not use white as it'll look like a UN vehicle in Africa, and that's would be very dangerous for you. Also don't use tan or sand as they look military, as could most shades of green, even gloss. For a dedicated exped vehicle that is intended for use in the north African desert, I'd go for something very bright like a fluorescent red or green. Yellows could blend in too much for SAR benefit if you get stuck somewhere...

 

[Green96D1]

Im really partial to like various shades of Green.
like a dark olive green to a light sage green!

 

[Snagger]

Im really partial to like various shades of Green.
like a dark olive green to a light sage green!

Dark olive is used by a lot of armed forces. Like the OP said, it's a bad idea for overlanding.

 

[Green96D1]

Dark olive is used by a lot of armed forces. Like the OP said, it's a bad idea for overlanding.

oops i didnt catch that part!.

 

[dcwhybrew]

What was the original color? How about stick with that?

 

[aka rover]

Wow

I never thought about most of these reasons not to paint a Rover a certain color, The safe colors are not very roverish maybe a complete sticker wrap is the smart thing that way you can change the color or scheme to each counrty visited?

 

[mowerman]

For a dedicated exped vehicle that is intended for use in the north African desert, I'd go for something very bright like a fluorescent red or green. Yellows could blend in too much for SAR benefit if you get stuck somewhere...

thats why I like the G4 orange like Ralphs:-

 

[aka rover]

Nice setup!!