Preparation Stage 1 - Vehicle Purchase

We first started talking about the possibility of driving back to New Zealand not long after buying a rusty old Volvo 440 Turbo in 2002. At that stage we were only joking, but over time started thinking more seriously about it. In 2005 we were offered the option of buying our friend Brendan's Camel Trophy Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon, and that pretty much made our minds up. The Vehicl was a communications Support Unit in the 1995 Camel Trophy event, and was well equipped for an expedition such as the one we were contemplating.

Vehicle specs at purchase as follows:

Defender 110 Station Wagon 1994
Radio support vehicle on the 1995 Camel Trophy. Only 6 were built for each event

Engine 2.5L 300Tdi.
Roofrack with:
2 spot lights
2 fog lights
rear mounted worklight
rack for 4 x 20 litre jerry cans
1 pair of aluminium sandtracks + mounting brackets
Bull bar with 2 spot lights and bush wires up to roofrack
Front winch bumper with 2 recovery points' Electric winch controlled in cab or externally
Sump Guard
Front axle diff guard
3 Fuel tanks, main (80L) + rear underwing tank (45L)connected + 45L tank under driver seat
Full Internal + external Safety Devices roll cage
5 new + 1 used michelin XZL 7.50 x 16 mud terrain tyres
Rear mounted spare wheel carrier
Bonnet mounted spare wheel carrier
External window grilles to rear windows
Internal load guard
Rock Sliders (Side impact bars)
Valuables Safe
4ft Hi Lift (Farm Jack)
Riased Air Intake (Snorkel)
All axle / engine breathers extended to roof level
Shovel + Pick axe mounted on front wings
Front wings aluminium chequer plated
Twin batteries
Tow bar + electrics fitted
‘Trakker’ high back seats fitted
Air conditioning fitted
Rear anti roll bar
Heavy duty axles
Heavy duty ‘Scorpion Racing’ suspension
Battery cut out switch
Main Fuel Tank Guard
Chassis just been stripped and waxoyled
All suspension bushes replaced with ‘polybush’ kit
4 new Scorpion racing gas shock absorbers fitted
Roof tent, made by ‘Eezi Awn’
Webasto arctic pre heater fitted

Perfect vehicle for the job really, so an easy decision for us.

Following the purchase in 2005 came a period of getting to know the vehicle, as well as fully understanding what it means to be a "Land Rover Owner." This is more than just learning to wave at drivers of other Land Rovers as we travel around the UK... In addition, we had the responsibilty of being a Camel Trophy Owner! It took a little bit of getting used to the stares as we drive down the road, especially as we felt a bit like frauds, as we hadn't actually been anywhere dangerous or daring.