Great project! The mini maintenance/repairs roundup looked brutal when condensed into a few seconds! So understand the 'fist pump' on approval lol! Good luck and I bet you're looking forward to taking some great trips :-)
Yeah, luckily it was over a bit of a period but all part of getting it back into shape. Kind of glad I have it all on video as you can kind of forget all the things done and when it was done. As I have started doing the servicing my self the videos is a good reminder if I forget how long it's been. :) Thank you and I hope to do a lot of great trips in the future.
Super fun! We are in the process of doing something similar to our car. First fix the things and then convert it to an overland car. Not a Discovery 3 though, Suzuki Grand Vitara. :D
@@LandRoverDrive Two months ago or so. Have been checking out stuff to get and gotta order it soon. Downside we also have to get some tools so that first bill is going to be fun :')
I would google to check out if there are some special Suzuki tools that you must have or is nice to have to make some jobs possible or just easier. :) Good luck with the build and I can't wait to check it out. :)
Thank you so much! I hope to travel to Denmark again in the not to far future. 😊 Norway has great scenery but sandy beaches and “warm” water is never wrong in the summer. 👌
G’day Simon. No doubt you have been researching the net for ideas. I did send to you the name of an LR3 channel in Germany. I won’t send the link because YT deletes the post. Here is its name : LR Time. You will see their list of videos and one where Christian and Vera did a touring build. Cheers 👍🏻🙏🏽🦘
Hey, yeah I seen a bunch of their videos and it’s a great channel. 👍 I have some plans already and are going down a different route than their drawers system. But they have some other nifty solutions that I will consider. 😊
Hi Simon, great news Discovery passed the MOT. Here in England we MOT every 12 months. If you do plan to holiday here in the UK, let me know and I'll bring my standard Disco 3 and say hello
Thanks, always a good feeling. 👍😊 One every year, I guess the car park in England should be in a better state with all the tests. 😊 And Yeah, I will post something on my socials and maybe a video about it beforehand. Been discussing a trip to Scotland via a stop at the Peterborough land rover show. Will see what the covid situation will allow and the budget. 😊
@@LandRoverDrive You'll love Scotland! Miles and miles of single track roads with little passing places if someone comes the other way. You have to stop in the passing place if it's on your side of the road and opposite it if it's on the other :-)
Hej trevlig kanal ni har! Älskar att köra i Norge, ska köra hela södra Norge 2022 är tanken! Kan rekommendera 4wd24/7 från Australien mycket cool kanal på youtube. Ser fram emot nya klipp från er snart! Mvh Erik
Hei Erik og takk så mycket. Jeg har vært mye på ferie i Sverige men aldri dratt på overlanding tur så håper det blir en tur i år. #4wd247 er veldig kult og har sett veldig mange episoder. :) Har heldigvis mange igjen som jeg ikke har sett. Hvis du ikke har sett på #ronnydahl enda så anbefaler jeg virkelig han. Litt behagelig tempo på turvideoene og mer fokus på overlanding enn offroad. Hvis du skal kjøre sørnorge så anbefaler jeg å gjøre det før fellesferien i Norge for da kan det bli riktig folksomt. Mvh, Simon.
@@LandRoverDrive välkommen till Gotland, där kan jag guida dig runt ön på min Gotland runt 360 tältsafari. 1 vecka runt ön med bild vi tältar längs med fina platser på ön och ser på fina naturen och annat spännande. Jag bor i Slite här på Gotland och har även stuga på tomten med Airbnb om ni vill bo en natt. Heter mysig stuga Slite. Hoppas vi kan göra denna tripp tillsammmans en dag vore kul. Varmt välkommen mvh Erik Cele.
Tusen takk Erik og det er veldig snilt av deg! :) Ser Gotland har blitt en spennende plass å dra i det siste. Men vil absolutt kjøre innom hvis det blir tur i område i fremtiden. :)
Budget builds are the way forward. Have a look into the Alpicool range of fridges. There are some good reviews of them which led me to get one a year ago. Very low energy consumption and amazing at being either a fridge or freezer (some models have both at the same time). I got an Alpicool C20 for like £120 on Amazon and it’s as good at keeping stuff cold as a Dometic one that cost me £450 for a campervan. Temperature can be controlled down to single degrees and because the Alpicool is affordable it doesn’t matter as much if it gets knocked about. I used a cooler for years but getting hold of ice was so annoying. Such a good upgrade. I have installed a few split charge / solar setups on campervans. Id be looking at a jackery for the ease and flexibility. They seem like the best option as you can bring them into your tent etc.
Yeah, definitely going for a budget build with some more expensive parts due to the fact there was no other alternative, more on that later. 😉 I will try and spend the money wisely and spend what I need in the different areas and save in others. I will definitely take a look at the Alpicool fridges, I’m looking at everything and keeping my eyes open for good offers. 👍 If I buy it in Norway I get a 5 year “warranty”, or a right to complain if something breaks. 😊 When it comes to power station I think I will go for a lithium battery and then look into chargers later. Will go for a solar solution in the end as well but that’s not in the top 10 yet. Looking at Redarc, Ctech and Victron as a charging system but it’s all quite expensive. 😅 I like what you say about bringing it into the tent, but I will be sleeping in my car this year so it don’t have to be mobile. 🚗😊 Thanks for a lot of great tips, it gets me thinking. 👌
@@LandRoverDrive Nice, it pays to shop around and research that’s for sure. It’s satisfying making educated decisions especially as these toys are all so expensive! I use the Victron setup (solar charger and split charge relay from the engines alternator) in my camper they’re really easy to use and quality products. Expensive but worth it. Some of the split charge systems are really cheap, and I’ve heard can lead to more wear and tear on alternators, so worth getting a smart split charging system which has better controls. Victron also allow you to download apps on your phone to see how your battery charge system is performing which is cool. Make sure you get the right wire thickness/ gauge for your setup though and have suitable breakers/ fuse boxes 👍🏻. 12v electrics are really easy to install. There has been a huge shortage on camper fridges etc in the U.K. which has driven up prices and decreased choice, making it difficult to get the exact setup that you want at times, so I think I know what your referencing above! Good luck! On a side note it would be cool to hear about your LRs reliability (maybe in a future vid?). The discoveries have a pretty bad rep over here with plenty on eBay with faulty engines. I think they are awesome cars though and a lot of value for money with the LR3 prices nowadays, if the engines stay working as they should 👌 Keep it up Simon
Thanks Michael for great insight and for sharing your setup. I will definitely do as you say and pay a bit extra where it's needed so I don't get problems in the future. Looks like the fridges are going up in prices here as well. Remember they being a bit cheaper only last summer. Have you seen the 7 years of ownership on the channel? It shows how the Discovery has coped so far. Will do another update on the reliability in a year and two. Video link: ua-cam.com/video/UkUlevw9gwE/v-deo.html if you haven't seen it. Best, Simon.
Subscribed, nice work. I have done a similar project, but to carry a family of 4 plus a dog. I used a Traxide D3 kit from Australia with an optima yellow top which fits in the pre existing compartment in the engine bay. This has run my ARB fridge no problem. Look forward to following your project. For someone as handy as you they are a great vehicle for this role.
Thank you and thanks for the tip. Yeah I want to put a extra battery in the engine bay as well so I need to draw up som plans for the electrics. I’m thinking separate lithium system at the rear and maybe agm at the front. Will start with the lithium so I can power the fridge. I hope one full charge will keep the fridge going for a weekend. But that I will have to test out. Will build it up so that I can bring the whole family, we are also four, even though most trips I’m alone. So hoping to find a nice middle ground. Thanks again, Simon. 👍😊
My single optima yellow top runs the fridge for 2.5 days with the Traxide system because that takes a controlled amount out of the crank battery too. I’ve cheap solar panels which do very well in keeping it topped up. In the end I also bought an ecoflow river battery. It’s just very handy to be able to move power around camp rather than it being restricted to ports in the car. You can see my set up here in these videos Simon, there’s about 6 of these network camping videos based in Ireland. For additional space I had to extend out the back with an inverted bike rack (the buzz rack bike rack I used flips over without any drilling or cutting, it just needed a small floor to be made) this way I can tip it up even with it loaded and access’s the tail gate when I arrive or else to access stuff in the boot. ua-cam.com/video/sbxXtdOCOUk/v-deo.html
Hello, I am at a similar stage with my D4 that I got a few months ago. I just received the last part I need to make it tip top ( replace the desiccant and O-rings for the air compressor, it has been acting up at 0 and sub 0 temperatures ) Regarding the auxiliary battery system. Lithium charging in Norway will be complicated. Most lithium batteries are destroyed if you attempt to charge them at temperatures lower than 5 degrees Celsius. I see you travel in the winter as well. There are some who have a proper controller and heater but they are expensive, not sure if they come in small sizes. For a 35- 40 l half decent fridge, if you go lithium, a 40 amp battery will do. I will be using the setup I had on the previous vehicle, kept all the parts ( the DC to DC and the lithium 40 amp and cables.) From It I was running an Engel 40l fridge, and charging phones, tablets, some small LED lights . I never saw it below 2/3 after 1 night and I also had a 100 w foldable soalr panel. I plan to place all of it it in the trunk in the side compartment, I think it will fit, but I will need some kind of bracket made. If I would start from scratch, I go for a victron 20 amp dc to dc ( I have Redarc 1240, much to expensive and too much for me) and the battery in boot , it will last longer, and maybe 2 small flat 20 amp lithium batteries instead of the bigger 40 amp, all would fit really nice in the space I created by removing the 3 rd. row , completely hidden and not taking valuable space. Good luck with the build, will be very interesting to follow.
Thank you for great insight and sorry for the late reply. I have been looking at heated batteries and at a 100ah one. Pretty expensive but I guess it will last me for 3-5 days without any charge. I was thinking of spitting the battery up into to 50's but not sure yet. I have one big area where I think I can fit the bigger battery but will have to check that. The flat batteries is not available from a Norwegian suppliers so it will probably be regular one. And been looking at the Victron linup as it's pretty common here in Norway so should be easy to source. I'm testing stuff out and will do a rebuild down the line after I have figured out what fits for me. I now see that I'm not utilizing the 3'rd row space good enough due to something I have already built. So on the todo-list for later. :) Thanks again for a great comment. Best, Simon
Iv got a Freelander 2 , I use it for the odd weekend away on my own and plan to take my Grandchildren away for a week or so over the next few years Because of this Iv been looking at putting an extra battery in or fitting a leisure battery in the spare wheel aperture, but having seen how good the Jackery chargers are I think I will save a load of money and hassle and just use one of them I’m not sure if you are familiar with them , but check them out , you can even get solar panels to go with them
Thanks David and that sounds like a great way to spend time with your Grandchildren. I have some trips planed with the kids this year and I can't wait. :) I haven't checked out the Jackery chargers yet but I will, I got another tip about them so they are probably worth a look. Thanks for the tip and I hope you get some great trips this year! Best, Simon.
Hi Simon, You are in a similar situation with your Discovery to me. I just got my 2005 HSE which I rescued from a garage where it had stood for 2 years. I’m recommissioning it to use for some road trips with my daughters. I’m going to be adding a roof tent, awning etc for camping along with solar etc. I had thought about building a sliding pull out set up for my boot, but had thought it might make accessing the spare wheel mechanism awkward? Would mean mounting the spare on the roof or on a swing out? Anyhow I love your content, and look forward to following your journey. I travelled to Norway a couple of times in the late eighties and want to return, so it’s on my expedition list! Take care, Jeff
Nice and good luck with your build. There is so many options and you like I just need to figure what’s works best for our needs. I do like the swing away idea, especially if you need to get to it when your deep into snow or mud. 😊 I will hopefully get a awning and a tent later but we will see. Will take it step by step an test it all out on trips this year. 👍 If you find something that works really well be sure to let me know later. 😉
Regarding the charging system - I am in a similar position with my Defender. She currently has a single battery, that obviously has to double to two, and then you have the decision about which charging/monitoring system to install. And, like you, I almost fell off my chair when I saw how expensive they were. So to be honest for me I am wondering why I need these solutions in the first place. All I really need is a dual battery setup, with my auxilliary equipment on a dedicated circuit that runs off the second battery, and then just a large switch which connects the second battery to the main system when the engine is running (to charge both batteries) and then disconnects it when the engine is not running (so my aux equipment just runs off the second battery). And of course some means by which I can monitor the instantaneous consumption from the second battery along with its remaining capacity. That's it. I don't think I need one of these expensive looking systems. I will be interested to see what you come up with.
Yeah, they are expensive. Depending on the car and it’s charging system you can do a split like you plan but I think the batteries need to be the same, or as equal as possible to get the best working system. Since it’s so expensive I think I will go for a decent lithium battery that can run the new fridge for 3-5 days as a starting point and then buy a charging system later. Our trips are often no longer than 5 days so should cover most of my trips. 😊 This way I can spread the cost down the line. 👍
Hey and I couldn't agree more. Will try and spend the money where it's smart so I don't have issues down the line. I not sure which system yet but maybe I will go for the Victron setup as it's pretty common here in Norway and easy to source. :)
Hey, I have been looking at solution to see what's out there but I don't feel I need it yet. With a camp fire and a good sleeping bag I don't see the need yet. Coldest night out so far has been -24*C and that went well with doubling up the sleeping bags inside of a tent with dual walls. The Discovery acts as a tent so I guess it will be about the same. The coldest night I have slept in the Discovery was around -12*C and that was on the New Years trip last year. Did not get cold at all during the night. I do think about getting a shelter tent and than have a heater if I plan to camp for more than one night or bringing the kids, just to make living a bit easier. :) The disco has a Webasto that runs with the motor when it's cold but haven't hooked it up yet with a remote, can be good for those cold starts.
As a Land Rover enthusiast. and having re built a 2A a number of years ago I admire your courage. Personally I wouldn't trust one of these to go shopping in, let alone to go on adventures in. The TDV6 is possibly one of the most unreliable engines ever made, and definitely the worst engine ever put in a Land Rover. Once BMW, then Ford got their grubby hands on Land Rover, the word " reliability " was lost forever from the Land Rover dictionary...... Replaced with words like, luxury, complicated, broken, and the most common..... Recovery truck.
TDV6 ain't that bad if you service it properly. It will run for longer than a TD5 would without any issues I've suspect. Main problem with D3 is the lack of service they tend to get. If something is to go wrong it will be a bit more troublesome to fix for some parts but in general the D3 is great to work on. The only main issue I got with going on remote adventures with it is that you would need to bring a bit of spares to the drive line as it becomes almost impossible to drive with something missing due to the automatic center diff and TC. A bit easier with the old Defenders and Series cars. But I would say other than the Range Rover Classic the Discovery 3 is the best car they have made. It's hard to beat overall if you want a car for every situation. Don't get me wrong, I would have liked to have the whole LR and RR linup in my garage if I could. :)
I'm from the U.S. Here in some states, in some highly populated counties we have to do an emissions inspection before we can renew our plates. It's basically looking to see that you're not puking raw fuel into the atmosphere. It's generally considered a huge overstep of governmental power. Comparitively, Your MOT inspections seem like straight Fascism Hahhahah. We can basically plate any piece of shit that will roll into the e-check station under its own power as long as we have the money to pay them off. I think if the U.S tried to do MOT inspections like yours, there would probably be another insurrection.
The land of the Free. I would love a bit of that here, in Norway there is a rule/law for everything, and I mean everything. :) My worst rule of all, you can't drive on a road that is covered in snow if it does not have a plow/clearing schedule. So many the nice dirt roads made for cars, is of limits during winter as it is regulated as nature. 2000$ fine for driving off-road in nature in Norway. 👌
Sorry to hear about the Discovery being so bad. There are some bad eggs out there. Glad your happy with your LC, I don't know to much about them so can't really say what's the better truck. But Toyota has a great reputation for reliability so can't be worse I'm guessing. :) Thanks for watching!
Sorry to hear that Robert. The video is part of the complete channel story so stand alone it's maybe a bit low end of interesting. Please check out other videos on the channel, one of the later Overland Series, it's mainly what this channel is about. Best, Simon.
Well done Simon. You have a super vehicle. :-)
Thanks Andrew! 👍😊 The Disco is great and so much fun to start the build now. 🤙
This is going to be great.
I’m buckled in anyway 😬👌
Wohoo, great to hear that. Many videos to come. 👍😊
As a Discovery 3 owner for the past 3.5 years, I am excited to see what's comming. Great content!
Thank you so much! Makes me glad to hear that. I’m really excited about this build and I just want to be in the garage modify it all day long. 😊😊
Great project! The mini maintenance/repairs roundup looked brutal when condensed into a few seconds! So understand the 'fist pump' on approval lol!
Good luck and I bet you're looking forward to taking some great trips :-)
Yeah, luckily it was over a bit of a period but all part of getting it back into shape. Kind of glad I have it all on video as you can kind of forget all the things done and when it was done. As I have started doing the servicing my self the videos is a good reminder if I forget how long it's been. :) Thank you and I hope to do a lot of great trips in the future.
As a Finnish guy, I feel you when you're talking about the climate. 😂
Hehe, I guess it would be about the same all year. Only been to Finland when I was a kid so have to go back soon. :)
Very nice! Building the dream!
Yes! Thank you! Hope it will become the dream at the end and not snap a crank. 😀 No snow plow yet though, that looks like a lot of fun.
@@LandRoverDrive Yes, let's hope so!!
Thanks for making your videos. Really well done and very entertaining.
Thank you Craig! Means a lot to me. 👍😊 Much more to come. 😉
Super fun! We are in the process of doing something similar to our car. First fix the things and then convert it to an overland car. Not a Discovery 3 though, Suzuki Grand Vitara. :D
Hey Edwin and thank you! 👍😊 Grand Vitara is going to be great with it’s 4x4 system and reliability. 👌 When did you get it?
@@LandRoverDrive Two months ago or so. Have been checking out stuff to get and gotta order it soon. Downside we also have to get some tools so that first bill is going to be fun :')
I would google to check out if there are some special Suzuki tools that you must have or is nice to have to make some jobs possible or just easier. :) Good luck with the build and I can't wait to check it out. :)
Gread job mate! See you in denmark or maybe we'll drive up there (i think the scenery is much much better) ✌🏻
Thank you so much! I hope to travel to Denmark again in the not to far future. 😊 Norway has great scenery but sandy beaches and “warm” water is never wrong in the summer. 👌
G’day Simon. No doubt you have been researching the net for ideas. I did send to you the name of an LR3 channel in Germany. I won’t send the link because YT deletes the post.
Here is its name : LR Time. You will see their list of videos and one where Christian and Vera did a touring build.
Cheers 👍🏻🙏🏽🦘
Hey, yeah I seen a bunch of their videos and it’s a great channel. 👍 I have some plans already and are going down a different route than their drawers system. But they have some other nifty solutions that I will consider. 😊
Hi Simon, great news Discovery passed the MOT.
Here in England we MOT every 12 months.
If you do plan to holiday here in the UK, let me know and I'll bring my standard Disco 3 and say hello
Thanks, always a good feeling. 👍😊 One every year, I guess the car park in England should be in a better state with all the tests. 😊 And Yeah, I will post something on my socials and maybe a video about it beforehand. Been discussing a trip to Scotland via a stop at the Peterborough land rover show. Will see what the covid situation will allow and the budget. 😊
@@LandRoverDrive You'll love Scotland! Miles and miles of single track roads with little passing places if someone comes the other way. You have to stop in the passing place if it's on your side of the road and opposite it if it's on the other :-)
Hej trevlig kanal ni har! Älskar att köra i Norge, ska köra hela södra Norge 2022 är tanken! Kan rekommendera 4wd24/7 från Australien mycket cool kanal på youtube. Ser fram emot nya klipp från er snart! Mvh Erik
Hei Erik og takk så mycket. Jeg har vært mye på ferie i Sverige men aldri dratt på overlanding tur så håper det blir en tur i år. #4wd247 er veldig kult og har sett veldig mange episoder. :) Har heldigvis mange igjen som jeg ikke har sett. Hvis du ikke har sett på #ronnydahl enda så anbefaler jeg virkelig han. Litt behagelig tempo på turvideoene og mer fokus på overlanding enn offroad. Hvis du skal kjøre sørnorge så anbefaler jeg å gjøre det før fellesferien i Norge for da kan det bli riktig folksomt. Mvh, Simon.
@@LandRoverDrive välkommen till Gotland, där kan jag guida dig runt ön på min Gotland runt 360 tältsafari. 1 vecka runt ön med bild vi tältar längs med fina platser på ön och ser på fina naturen och annat spännande. Jag bor i Slite här på Gotland och har även stuga på tomten med Airbnb om ni vill bo en natt. Heter mysig stuga Slite. Hoppas vi kan göra denna tripp tillsammmans en dag vore kul. Varmt välkommen mvh Erik Cele.
Tusen takk Erik og det er veldig snilt av deg! :) Ser Gotland har blitt en spennende plass å dra i det siste. Men vil absolutt kjøre innom hvis det blir tur i område i fremtiden. :)
Budget builds are the way forward. Have a look into the Alpicool range of fridges. There are some good reviews of them which led me to get one a year ago. Very low energy consumption and amazing at being either a fridge or freezer (some models have both at the same time). I got an Alpicool C20 for like £120 on Amazon and it’s as good at keeping stuff cold as a Dometic one that cost me £450 for a campervan. Temperature can be controlled down to single degrees and because the Alpicool is affordable it doesn’t matter as much if it gets knocked about. I used a cooler for years but getting hold of ice was so annoying. Such a good upgrade. I have installed a few split charge / solar setups on campervans. Id be looking at a jackery for the ease and flexibility. They seem like the best option as you can bring them into your tent etc.
Yeah, definitely going for a budget build with some more expensive parts due to the fact there was no other alternative, more on that later. 😉 I will try and spend the money wisely and spend what I need in the different areas and save in others. I will definitely take a look at the Alpicool fridges, I’m looking at everything and keeping my eyes open for good offers. 👍 If I buy it in Norway I get a 5 year “warranty”, or a right to complain if something breaks. 😊 When it comes to power station I think I will go for a lithium battery and then look into chargers later. Will go for a solar solution in the end as well but that’s not in the top 10 yet. Looking at Redarc, Ctech and Victron as a charging system but it’s all quite expensive. 😅 I like what you say about bringing it into the tent, but I will be sleeping in my car this year so it don’t have to be mobile. 🚗😊 Thanks for a lot of great tips, it gets me thinking. 👌
@@LandRoverDrive Nice, it pays to shop around and research that’s for sure. It’s satisfying making educated decisions especially as these toys are all so expensive!
I use the Victron setup (solar charger and split charge relay from the engines alternator) in my camper they’re really easy to use and quality products. Expensive but worth it. Some of the split charge systems are really cheap, and I’ve heard can lead to more wear and tear on alternators, so worth getting a smart split charging system which has better controls. Victron also allow you to download apps on your phone to see how your battery charge system is performing which is cool. Make sure you get the right wire thickness/ gauge for your setup though and have suitable breakers/ fuse boxes 👍🏻. 12v electrics are really easy to install. There has been a huge shortage on camper fridges etc in the U.K. which has driven up prices and decreased choice, making it difficult to get the exact setup that you want at times, so I think I know what your referencing above! Good luck!
On a side note it would be cool to hear about your LRs reliability (maybe in a future vid?). The discoveries have a pretty bad rep over here with plenty on eBay with faulty engines. I think they are awesome cars though and a lot of value for money with the LR3 prices nowadays, if the engines stay working as they should 👌
Keep it up Simon
Thanks Michael for great insight and for sharing your setup. I will definitely do as you say and pay a bit extra where it's needed so I don't get problems in the future. Looks like the fridges are going up in prices here as well. Remember they being a bit cheaper only last summer. Have you seen the 7 years of ownership on the channel? It shows how the Discovery has coped so far. Will do another update on the reliability in a year and two. Video link: ua-cam.com/video/UkUlevw9gwE/v-deo.html if you haven't seen it. Best, Simon.
Subscribed, nice work. I have done a similar project, but to carry a family of 4 plus a dog. I used a Traxide D3 kit from Australia with an optima yellow top which fits in the pre existing compartment in the engine bay. This has run my ARB fridge no problem. Look forward to following your project. For someone as handy as you they are a great vehicle for this role.
Thank you and thanks for the tip. Yeah I want to put a extra battery in the engine bay as well so I need to draw up som plans for the electrics. I’m thinking separate lithium system at the rear and maybe agm at the front. Will start with the lithium so I can power the fridge. I hope one full charge will keep the fridge going for a weekend. But that I will have to test out. Will build it up so that I can bring the whole family, we are also four, even though most trips I’m alone. So hoping to find a nice middle ground. Thanks again, Simon. 👍😊
My single optima yellow top runs the fridge for 2.5 days with the Traxide system because that takes a controlled amount out of the crank battery too. I’ve cheap solar panels which do very well in keeping it topped up. In the end I also bought an ecoflow river battery. It’s just very handy to be able to move power around camp rather than it being restricted to ports in the car.
You can see my set up here in these videos Simon, there’s about 6 of these network camping videos based in Ireland. For additional space I had to extend out the back with an inverted bike rack (the buzz rack bike rack I used flips over without any drilling or cutting, it just needed a small floor to be made) this way I can tip it up even with it loaded and access’s the tail gate when I arrive or else to access stuff in the boot.
ua-cam.com/video/sbxXtdOCOUk/v-deo.html
Hello, I am at a similar stage with my D4 that I got a few months ago. I just received the last part I need to make it tip top ( replace the desiccant and O-rings for the air compressor, it has been acting up at 0 and sub 0 temperatures )
Regarding the auxiliary battery system.
Lithium charging in Norway will be complicated. Most lithium batteries are destroyed if you attempt to charge them at temperatures lower than 5 degrees Celsius. I see you travel in the winter as well. There are some who have a proper controller and heater but they are expensive, not sure if they come in small sizes. For a 35- 40 l half decent fridge, if you go lithium, a 40 amp battery will do. I will be using the setup I had on the previous vehicle, kept all the parts ( the DC to DC and the lithium 40 amp and cables.) From It I was running an Engel 40l fridge, and charging phones, tablets, some small LED lights . I never saw it below 2/3 after 1 night and I also had a 100 w foldable soalr panel. I plan to place all of it it in the trunk in the side compartment, I think it will fit, but I will need some kind of bracket made.
If I would start from scratch, I go for a victron 20 amp dc to dc ( I have Redarc 1240, much to expensive and too much for me) and the battery in boot , it will last longer, and maybe 2 small flat 20 amp lithium batteries instead of the bigger 40 amp, all would fit really nice in the space I created by removing the 3 rd. row , completely hidden and not taking valuable space.
Good luck with the build, will be very interesting to follow.
Thank you for great insight and sorry for the late reply. I have been looking at heated batteries and at a 100ah one. Pretty expensive but I guess it will last me for 3-5 days without any charge. I was thinking of spitting the battery up into to 50's but not sure yet. I have one big area where I think I can fit the bigger battery but will have to check that. The flat batteries is not available from a Norwegian suppliers so it will probably be regular one. And been looking at the Victron linup as it's pretty common here in Norway so should be easy to source. I'm testing stuff out and will do a rebuild down the line after I have figured out what fits for me. I now see that I'm not utilizing the 3'rd row space good enough due to something I have already built. So on the todo-list for later. :) Thanks again for a great comment. Best, Simon
Iv got a Freelander 2 , I use it for the odd weekend away on my own and plan to take my Grandchildren away for a week or so over the next few years
Because of this Iv been looking at putting an extra battery in or fitting a leisure battery in the spare wheel aperture, but having seen how good the Jackery chargers are I think I will save a load of money and hassle and just use one of them
I’m not sure if you are familiar with them , but check them out , you can even get solar panels to go with them
Thanks David and that sounds like a great way to spend time with your Grandchildren. I have some trips planed with the kids this year and I can't wait. :) I haven't checked out the Jackery chargers yet but I will, I got another tip about them so they are probably worth a look. Thanks for the tip and I hope you get some great trips this year! Best, Simon.
Hi Simon,
You are in a similar situation with your Discovery to me. I just got my 2005 HSE which I rescued from a garage where it had stood for 2 years. I’m recommissioning it to use for some road trips with my daughters. I’m going to be adding a roof tent, awning etc for camping along with solar etc. I had thought about building a sliding pull out set up for my boot, but had thought it might make accessing the spare wheel mechanism awkward? Would mean mounting the spare on the roof or on a swing out?
Anyhow I love your content, and look forward to following your journey. I travelled to Norway a couple of times in the late eighties and want to return, so it’s on my expedition list!
Take care,
Jeff
Nice and good luck with your build. There is so many options and you like I just need to figure what’s works best for our needs. I do like the swing away idea, especially if you need to get to it when your deep into snow or mud. 😊 I will hopefully get a awning and a tent later but we will see. Will take it step by step an test it all out on trips this year. 👍 If you find something that works really well be sure to let me know later. 😉
Regarding the charging system - I am in a similar position with my Defender. She currently has a single battery, that obviously has to double to two, and then you have the decision about which charging/monitoring system to install. And, like you, I almost fell off my chair when I saw how expensive they were. So to be honest for me I am wondering why I need these solutions in the first place. All I really need is a dual battery setup, with my auxilliary equipment on a dedicated circuit that runs off the second battery, and then just a large switch which connects the second battery to the main system when the engine is running (to charge both batteries) and then disconnects it when the engine is not running (so my aux equipment just runs off the second battery). And of course some means by which I can monitor the instantaneous consumption from the second battery along with its remaining capacity. That's it. I don't think I need one of these expensive looking systems.
I will be interested to see what you come up with.
Yeah, they are expensive. Depending on the car and it’s charging system you can do a split like you plan but I think the batteries need to be the same, or as equal as possible to get the best working system. Since it’s so expensive I think I will go for a decent lithium battery that can run the new fridge for 3-5 days as a starting point and then buy a charging system later. Our trips are often no longer than 5 days so should cover most of my trips. 😊 This way I can spread the cost down the line. 👍
What’s the one modification you would recommend? 🚗🤓
Maybe look into Kasper Hoguland to see what he's done. Light upgrades. Stock lights for be are very dim.
Keep up the videos 👏👏🙂
Do not cheap out on additional electrical power!
2nd battery system with a T Max split charging system is the way to go
Hey and I couldn't agree more. Will try and spend the money where it's smart so I don't have issues down the line. I not sure which system yet but maybe I will go for the Victron setup as it's pretty common here in Norway and easy to source. :)
Will you be installing a heater?
Hey, I have been looking at solution to see what's out there but I don't feel I need it yet. With a camp fire and a good sleeping bag I don't see the need yet. Coldest night out so far has been -24*C and that went well with doubling up the sleeping bags inside of a tent with dual walls. The Discovery acts as a tent so I guess it will be about the same. The coldest night I have slept in the Discovery was around -12*C and that was on the New Years trip last year. Did not get cold at all during the night. I do think about getting a shelter tent and than have a heater if I plan to camp for more than one night or bringing the kids, just to make living a bit easier. :) The disco has a Webasto that runs with the motor when it's cold but haven't hooked it up yet with a remote, can be good for those cold starts.
As a Land Rover enthusiast. and having re built a 2A a number of years ago I admire your courage.
Personally I wouldn't trust one of these to go shopping in, let alone to go on adventures in.
The TDV6 is possibly one of the most unreliable engines ever made, and definitely the worst engine ever put in a Land Rover.
Once BMW, then Ford got their grubby hands on Land Rover, the word " reliability " was lost forever from the Land Rover dictionary...... Replaced with words like, luxury, complicated, broken, and the most common..... Recovery truck.
TDV6 ain't that bad if you service it properly. It will run for longer than a TD5 would without any issues I've suspect. Main problem with D3 is the lack of service they tend to get. If something is to go wrong it will be a bit more troublesome to fix for some parts but in general the D3 is great to work on. The only main issue I got with going on remote adventures with it is that you would need to bring a bit of spares to the drive line as it becomes almost impossible to drive with something missing due to the automatic center diff and TC. A bit easier with the old Defenders and Series cars. But I would say other than the Range Rover Classic the Discovery 3 is the best car they have made. It's hard to beat overall if you want a car for every situation. Don't get me wrong, I would have liked to have the whole LR and RR linup in my garage if I could. :)
I'm from the U.S. Here in some states, in some highly populated counties we have to do an emissions inspection before we can renew our plates. It's basically looking to see that you're not puking raw fuel into the atmosphere. It's generally considered a huge overstep of governmental power. Comparitively, Your MOT inspections seem like straight Fascism Hahhahah. We can basically plate any piece of shit that will roll into the e-check station under its own power as long as we have the money to pay them off. I think if the U.S tried to do MOT inspections like yours, there would probably be another insurrection.
The land of the Free. I would love a bit of that here, in Norway there is a rule/law for everything, and I mean everything. :) My worst rule of all, you can't drive on a road that is covered in snow if it does not have a plow/clearing schedule. So many the nice dirt roads made for cars, is of limits during winter as it is regulated as nature. 2000$ fine for driving off-road in nature in Norway. 👌
My Discovery 3 was the worst car I've ever owned. Nothing but mechanical issues. Total garbage. Traded it for a Toyota Landcruiser.
Sorry to hear about the Discovery being so bad. There are some bad eggs out there. Glad your happy with your LC, I don't know to much about them so can't really say what's the better truck. But Toyota has a great reputation for reliability so can't be worse I'm guessing. :) Thanks for watching!
What a waste of time, who cares about his MOT!
Sorry to hear that Robert. The video is part of the complete channel story so stand alone it's maybe a bit low end of interesting. Please check out other videos on the channel, one of the later Overland Series, it's mainly what this channel is about. Best, Simon.