Member Since: 29 Jul 2015
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 110
Camper conversion....
Hi
I finally took the plunge and set about the conversion I have been intending to do for at least 12 months – no-one can call me impulsive……!
I bought a Disco 3 Commercial early last year that had been fitted with a rear seat conversion but still had the windows covered, which is what I wanted. Not having carried any rear seat passengers for over a year the decision was made to go ahead with the conversion.
When I bought the vehicle the seller offered me the original Commercial interior but on collection, couldn’t find it…….. There was homemade board in the boot space which I soon replaced with a sliding floor ( fleabay bargain No 1 )
Last week I found just the parts I needed for my conversion ( fleabay bargain No 2 ) which was the front lower frame, bulkhead and upper guard.
These were rubbed down and painted due to surface rust, and I opened up the centre section for three reasons, 1 – as an escape hatch due to my claustrophobia, 2 – to reach through and lock the vehicle from inside and 3 – to enable me to carry longer items without always resorting to the roof rack.
Once this was done, I removed the seats, and test fitted the under floor frame, adding a rear bracket for support.
The next job was to build a frame to raise the floor height so that I had a level surface, having settled on 18mm MDF for the floor.
The complicated job was calculating the cuts for the carpet, as I didn’t want to see any joints when it was fitted. I ran out of adhesive so the side panels will be carpeted later!
The off-cuts were just the right size to put a shelf behind the seats and this provides lower storage for my tent, cooker, water and over-sized first aid bag (!) The upper shelf accommodates my chair, walking poles, camper mats, sleeping bags, blankets and jackets.
All my winching and recovery gear fits under the sliding floor and there is a comprehensive set of tools and all my ancillary camping gear stored in the new under floor area.
The final bargain was, while buying my beer for the weekend, the rubber floor mats from As*a, which will protect the carpet, for £10 each.
I am now looking for someone in my area to help me plan and install an auxillary battery set-up to go under the floor………….. I can do medical, I can do joinery, I can even now do carpet fitting but electrics are just dangerous spaghetti to me…..
It has just had a two night test run in the Dales and was everything I wanted. While my friends were packing away their wet tents and caravans., I supplied the coffee!
Total cost including the sliding floor, timber, fixings, carpet, Commercial parts, etc. – less than £400.00…….
Simon
25th Sep 2016 10:24 pm
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9422
Love the work you've done Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
25th Sep 2016 11:00 pm
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
25th Sep 2016 11:05 pm
YASRR
Member Since: 29 Jul 2015
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 110
Thanks guy's, I appreciate the acknowledgement from people that know their Disco's!
Now I need to find a gap in my shifts to make one of the 'meets' and share a beer....
25th Sep 2016 11:48 pm
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
Looking very nice
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
26th Sep 2016 12:12 am
Landie71
Member Since: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1019
Really like that - looks like a fun project
26th Sep 2016 7:46 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9422
Keep us posted - what are your plans for things like fridges, electrics, lights, cooking? Perhaps even a little sink?
Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
26th Sep 2016 8:24 am
nickprice
Member Since: 01 Mar 2011
Location: Den Haag
Posts: 317
Brilliant, looks really good!D3 SE with Hankook MT 275/65/R18, IID BT Tool, ProSpeed rock/tree sliders + compressor guard, RLD sump guard & winch tray + 13,000lb hidden winch, Gearbox guard, Frontrunner 80l aux tank with fuel gauge, V8 brake upgrade, Traxide USI-160 dual battery system, Frontrunner ladder, custom boot storage, Lazer LED driving lights, de-cat exhaust, Aftermarket Oro TPMS, i7 Mac Mini touch screen install (running Windows 10) mirrored on rear screens.
26th Sep 2016 8:47 am
WicklowDisco
Member Since: 14 Sep 2016
Location: Wicklow
Posts: 17
Looks great, has the shower got hot water ?
26th Sep 2016 6:58 pm
nestu
Member Since: 12 Sep 2011
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 392
Looking good..job well done
26th Sep 2016 9:06 pm
Dr LC8
Member Since: 31 Jul 2015
Location: Manchester but from Rome
Posts: 164
Very cool!
N
26th Sep 2016 9:18 pm
YASRR
Member Since: 29 Jul 2015
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 110
Thanks for all the positive comments, everyone needs encouragement!
Phase two is at the planning stage, but there will be no hot shower - I will just avoid being away on my birthday..............
Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
26th Sep 2016 10:56 pm
milkbottle
Member Since: 28 May 2015
Location: Surrey
Posts: 133
Nice job...have been hinting to the wife that this is what I want to do. Might take longer than 12 months... Series 2a V8 killed it
Series 3 ex coastguard
110 HiCap
110 rebuilt from pickup to 5 seated hardtop...got that one in a feature of LRO!!!
Disco 300tdi. White
Disco 300tdi. Iceland and back. What a trip and no frozen drumsticks!
P38. Loved that car. Still miss it.
MGZS 180 major smiles for miles. Gone.
D3...LED bulbs in and out. EGR blanked. Geoff flushed and serviced
MG TF - bought for SWMBO. She doesn't like it. Shame. To sell or not to sell.
Triumph Thunderbird 1600 - awesome
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
