Help needed finding a poor man's 'Expedition vehicle'

[mr2man]

I wonder if anyone can help me by suggesting either suitable vehicles, donors or firms making vehicles for use as a sleep-in, go anywhere machine?

I want to swap my car for one I can travel to remote locations in, in difficult weathers (nearly got stuck this week in a fwd Volvo) for photographic trips and can live and sleep in for a few days at a time. Haven' t a clue what to do though!

[mr2man]

Thanks for the replies so far, please keep them coming! I would prefer to be able to sleep inside so wondered if a Land Rover would be long enough and reliable? Do they keep going without ongoing maintenance. I am a muppet technically so could only handle the most obvious bodge fixes.

I wondered about an estate and taking out or laying rear seats down and putting a mattress and sleeping bag down too. Or a van, like a sprinter with winter or off road tyres. Don't know how tough and reliable they might be though.

[mr2man]

Would be in Europe, so that sounds like a good idea.

[mr2man]

Foliage said:

I quite like the look of these kinda things - http://www.northstarcampers.co.uk/index.html

I had never thought of one like that, but it does look promising. I could leave it here until I go on trips suitable for it, even de-mount it during longer ones and have something easier to drive around in. Just cost considerations including storage to think about I suppose.

[mr2man]

iguana said:

Can get vwt5 in 4x4 not sure ref the t4 I'd assume so. Can get sprinters in 4x4 are over 2m tho.

You can make a bed in the rear of most 4x4 like discos etc, I've done that before. I've got a shogun 3.2 the seats fold flat 'ish' & makes a double bed, for work I'm often in in a couple of nights a WK off on Europe runs, I just fold the pas side flat, leaves the 60% side of boot for tools etc. I've had simple curtains made, takes 2 mins to set up & its fine. With the right bedding its fine to really cold temps, was minus 5 before Xmas in Germany. You can always get a night heater fitted for a grand or so.

Another good sounding idea, thanks. This is sort of what I was thinking about. Getting a heater and battery capacity up or some form of generator for camera gear and laptop etc. and a decent Arctic type sleeping bag and so on, for when it is really cold.

[mr2man]

tenohfive said:

Mark Mullen put together something for exactly this purpose:

http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/2...
http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/1...

Thanks very much for the link. Really useful,, cheers!

[mr2man]

Yes, I would like some comfort and road drive ability!

[mr2man]

Thanks again. No decision made yet, so keep em coming!

[mr2man]

Now that is a good idea! I would never have thought of that, but the pre-installed sealing etc. sounds like a real advantage.
Need to look into availability etc.

Cheers

[LastLight]

I'm not, so need something at least reasonably spacious if I'm to live in it for a few days at a time. Still dithering!

[LastLight]

ikarl said:

I thought this thread would have ended as soon as someone posted a Mitsubishi delicia?! Strange it hasn't...... So, how about a Ford Explorer? I'm 6'6" and spent the night in the back of one and had loads of room

I'll be honest, I did 't even know what that was until,I looked it up. I do like the thought of toughness and reliability (!). A bit like the Toyota or Mitsubishi (can't remember right now) Top Gear tried to kill.

[LastLight]

Or easy! If only I had the skills.