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The vehicle
The vehicle is a white Land Rover Defender 130 Dual
Cab driven by the standard Td5 Diesel Motor (stick shift)
with cloth seat covers and tinted windows.
The vehicle is a 1999 model but has only been registered
since 2001.
The vehicle is allowed to carry 5 passengers. Depending
on the installed seat configuration 2+1 or 5 passengers
may sit in the vehicle.
Due to it's height of only 2.05 m the vehicle fits into
most of the garages and can be shipped overseas in a
container (better security).
Self sufficiency
Fuel capacity is 200 liters of diesel in 1 main tank
and 2 additional tanks (with fuel pumps). This results
in a range of 1500 km
2 spare-wheels are stored thief-proof inside the container.
The purpose built roof rack is strong enough to hold
3-6 additional jerry cans and 2 additional spare wheels.
120 liter potable water are carried in 2 leak proof
tanks.
The back-section
The back-section is built on a steel frame
covered with Alu sheets.
A "Beduin" roof tent is stowed away dust-proof
in a drawer, accessible from the backside.
Two gibbets and 2 poles stabilize the tent when opened.
A second tent could be mounted on the roof rack.
Access to the tent is accomplished by a telescopic
ladder (We used a Telesteps ladder [http://www.telesteps.se/]).
On the left side a Hannibal Awning of 2,5
x 3,5 m can be unfolded. It is self-supporting
and tent poles are only used on heavy wind and rain.
All the baggage is exceptionally easy accessible by
2 big hinged hatches supporting 2 tables.
Despite the huge payload, the vehicles point of
gravity is extremely low.
The inner life of the back-section has been adapted
to the measurements of the proven Rako boxes (www.georgutz.com).
The boxes can be fixed by clamping sets should the terrain
get rough.
The 48 liter stainless steel WEMO fridge (www.wemo.ch)
without deep freezer is driven by an external Danfoss
compressor. For the temperature-management an Ecotronic
circuit (Wemo) has been built in. It cools the fridge
down by additional 5 degree celsius when the vehicles
electrical voltage is sufficiently high.
The Rako boxes, which can also be used as drawers on
rails mounted to the hinged tables, make up a perfect
kitchen.
Potable running water is made available with a water
pump (SHURflo Whisper King) with water-pressure regulator
and is filtered (water filter: a coarse filter pre the
water pump, a fine particle filter [0.1mm sieve] and
a Seagull 4000 filter post the pump). The content of
both freshwater tanks is controlled by water-gauges
(Votronic).
Due to 120 liter water in 2 switchable tanks (leak
proof!) and the water filtering system used to fill
the tanks, water should never be a problem. The water
tabs of the water tanks are mounted outside the back-section and are lockable (no water mess inside the vehicle
while loading water)!
An external 230V power inlet allows connection to
campsites electricity while all doors of the vehicle are
still closed
A 3. battery is installed to drive fridge, water pump,
light a.s.o. and can be charged by the also installed
battery charger and conditioner.
The back wall in the driver's cab accommodates a wardrobe
and a small clothesline. Also mounted in the cab, very
close to the kitchen and is a 6 kg fire extinguisher.
Also the console in the driver's cab is built on Rako boxes
and has 2 sections. Tanks to the rim
on the cap of these boxes, maps, pencils and the like
don't fall between the seats.
4 persons can comfortably eat on the big table
(118 x 78 cm). It fits into a compartment
in the back-section.
A huge mozzie tent as big as the awning itself can be
attached to it.
The Alu frame of the awning is appropriate to be used
as clotheshorse. A smaller clothesline is permanently
fixed to the floor of the unfolded roof tent.
The whole setup relatively comfortable also during
bad weather due to it's extensive and big awnings.
Also during sandstorms, food contained more tucker than
sand ....
On the right side is a second hinged table, mainly
used for repairs and maintenance.
Also on the right side there is room for a large 80
x 60 x 33 cm Rako boxes (ideal to stow away backpacks,
sleeping mattresses a.s.o.).
A toilet-tent can be mounted under the roof-tent.
Access to clothes and manicure cases is ideally accomplished
through a door at the backside of the back-section.
The PortaPoti 345 chemical toilette
is normally installed in the driver's cab in a special
compartment which can also be used as a auxiliary seat (including
seatbelts).
The loo can easily be removed from the furniture and
placed in the toilet-tent.
A 3rd seat can be mounted in the driver's cab instead
of the toilet-compartment.
The lower backdoor is at the same time the support
for 2 original Defender jacks, used to stabilize the
vehicle during the night and also mount point for a bench
vice which makes repairs easier.
Everything on this is optimised and each Millimeter
of space is used up. Due to this the mechanics building
the vehicle gave it the name "The Millimeter".
Extensions and Upgrades
A sunroof is mounted on the roof rack which keeps
the cabin cool. The air-snorkel is
also used as support for the external GPS antenna. The
CB antenna (76 cm; 27 MHz) is mounted on the top at
the back end of the roof rack and performs equally well
on all sides.
The installed 27 MHz CB radio (40 Channel AM/FM Maycom
AH27) connected to the external antenna, can be removed
from its support and can be used as a handheld transceiver
when battery pack and flex-antenna are attached.
The GPS / PC-connection between the Garmin GPS 176
Color (which is connected to the external antenna) and
the PC is installed and makes navigation easy. A 12V plug
for the PC is also pre-installed.
Radiator protecting steel-mesh and protectors
for head- and back-lights are mounted. A mounted
makrolon plate additionally protects the headlights
from flying debris.
The winch (Husky 10 mounted on the bull-bar) is connected
to a separate battery which is normally run in parallel
to main battery. It can be separated by a switch should
the motor stall to avoid the main battery to run flat.
An 80%-Diff-Lock on the rear axle helps in
critical situations.
Flood lights mounted to the A-bar and also to the rear of the vehicle provide good illumination.
Custom-built galvanized steel sills
on each side of the cabin are used for body-protection
and attachment points for the high-lift jack. Without these
points, the backside of a 130-Defender cannot be jacked up
using a high-lift jack. Also at the backside of the
back-section are 2 additional points for jacks mainly
used to stabilize the vehicle when the tent is "pitched".
10 mm Alu underbody protection guarantees protection for the steering mechanism. The mudguards are covered by Alu sheets
allowing climbing on to the vehicle.
The Hayman-Reese tow-bar is rated for 3.5.tons
and can also be used for recovery if a correctly
rated shackle-assembly (WARN Winches) is fitted.
Since standard "bridge-elements" have proven
to break, Peter (our brother in law) designed new elements
which are good for 2000 kg each. The elements weight
11 kg and are stowed at the right side of the back-section.
The "bridge-elements" were tested by jacking
up the fully laden vehicle on one side to increase the
weight to one element even more. There were just a few
Millimeter bowing under load visible (as expected).
Meanwhile the elements were already several times used
to temporary rebuild parts of a road, for recovery and
also for simpler things as balancing the vehicle while
camping.
Experiences and adventures with our "Millimeter"
We put the Defender through their paces in Niederbipp
during a SIBESA-driver's-training.
Axle movement is fantastic and thanks the very low point
of gravity tilting the vehicle was never a problem.
In Tunisia the final product finally proved it's quality.
It also smoothly managed the bottle-neck near Douz,
a sand dune barrier of roughly 400 m including an difference in elevation
of about 30 m in the first half of the way up.
The 80%-diff lock in the rear axle contributed its
part in such difficult situations.
A 1.75 m long drawer (accessible from the rear end)
allows carrying reasonable equipment ....
... which also was extensively used in Greece to cleanup
and rebuild roads ....
The recovery-gear carried along matches the weight
of the vehicle.
They were found very useful and were successfully used
in Greece.
Where ever we go ... "The Millimeter" is
a trusty companion which never left us in the lurch.
It brings us to the loveliest places, should
it be in the mountains ....
..... or in the middle of a desert.
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