UK to OZ - Vehicle Familiarisation

Re load barrier its easy enough to site the barrier to suit the seats as thats the set up I have in mine.
Re window tint, dont make the mistake of thinking the darker the better. You can get a quite light tint that is just as effective with UVA and UVB and heat rejection . The darker tints make it very gloomy in low light with problems of seeing out as well. Dont tint front windows as illegal in UK the LR should have sundym glass as standard. I use suction mounting see thru shade for the sun side window at front. You can use a strip along top of front screen.

Hello T2Man!
Regarding what shade of tint - I was thinking about security of children in vehicle in 2nd row seats as the first consideration (keep them away from prying eyes when required) as well as UV ray protection but I suppose simple window blinds could address the security issue when needed and if they are sleeping. The lighter tint would then make the vehicle feel less like a prison for them at the same time. So, feel OK on this front. However - was thinking definately about darker shade in rear of vehicle as this is where equipment will be. Do not want stuff on show. What do you think? To your knowledge, would I have any issues getting vehicle past customs control in Australia for example if just rear is dark?

Just a reminder - we have a 110 CSW - all glass windows to side and rear.
Also, thanks for tip re: barrier. Any tips re: fridge in relation to seat recliner kit - or any good alternatives to re-locating fridge - could I put in centre of front seats without any issues if I can't manage to get in 2nd row?

Cassie said:

Just a reminder - we have a 110 CSW - all glass windows to side and rear.
Also, thanks for tip re: barrier. Any tips re: fridge in relation to seat recliner kit - or any good alternatives to re-locating fridge - could I put in centre of front seats without any issues if I can't manage to get in 2nd row?

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Hi Cassie you could change the rear panels with the windows in to defender 90 van panels. Less windows to have to protect with grills and tint that way.

Re fridge , it would get in way between front seats re gear change and seatbox gets pretty hot as well.

re seat recliner, mine are individual to seats so should not make any probs with removal of centre seat and fridge, I dont have engel , I have supakool twin compressor fridge. (made in Oz out performs engel) so cant advise re room question although Engel should fit going by dimensions.

Re window tint, not a customs prob, transport inspection , should not be a prob as you will not have on front windows . There is a standard for light transmission , didnot used to have lightmeters,but that could have changed, but this should not be a prob on the load area anyway, only on passenger area. The best tint I found was RayBan , plantinum grey. (not the cheapest though)

re grills on load bay windows , external grills protect the glass , and also stop people breaking the window , not realising grill inside due to window tint . JMHO

Have been looking at light transmission rules meantime and at Google to see what companies offer in terms of pre-cut or 'do it for you' services. Will have a look into Rayban. Think your right about exterior grilles - was thinking they'd rust but small price to pay for those determined to smash their way into vehicle. Also - decided that would gain more room inside vehicle (albeit small) for extra storage - so yup - mind has been changed to external grilles - thanks.

tacr2man said:

Dont tint front windows as illegal in UK the LR should have sundym glass as standard. I use suction mounting see thru shade for the sun side window at front. You can use a strip along top of front screen.

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If you are talking about side front windows
I was lead to belive you can have tint in the front just no where near as dark as the back
all my mates in the Uk with D3 and RR have tint alround just light on the front windows

I bought some film tint (dark smoke) from Halfords that you can apply yourself to the windows. Still debating whether to DIY or just get a professional company to come and do the job properly. Also played around with window blinds for the kids but decided not - definately need dark tint to their windows to keep away unwanted prying eyes. Bought classic high back trakker seats with reclining kit for the 2nd row seats of the Defender - decided no compromising on childrens comfort. In addition bought Britax hi-liner reclining car child seats to accompany. Think money well-spent for long journey/s ahead. Have started dismantling existing 2nd row seats - exciting! -my first ever project on the LR (apart from washing it - dead clean and sparkly at present). Also now purchased Howling Moon 2.4m x 2.4m roof tent with Flat Survivor Roof Rack with Full Gutter Rails (see my latest post in Weight Loading for 110 CSW) - just waiting delivery.

Land Rover's should come with a warning - no-one advises how 'addictive' they are once you have - and how much untold amounts of money you can soooooooo easily spend. Hence forums like the LandyZone right for LR addicts?!!
Right now, we are feeling like proud parents of a new baby as, having started out as complete novices, we have managed to replace the 2nd row seats with complete success (after much head scratching and re-reading and re-checking - including re-checking with you peeps at LandyZone). The children are now proud owners of reclining Trakker seats from Exmoor Trim for those long journeys and have Britax Hi-Liner reclining car seats to boot - this provides added extra of providing height and better vision for looking out the window too. They are really fantastic and recline right back as/when needed (also providing us with not an ideal but possible opportunity to sleep in car overnight during emergency/dodgy situations - nice to have some kind of option - than just the roof tent e.g. if we are stuck in the middle of a city or something). Can't rate our final solution to the children's seating plan highly enough - really fab, really pleased. Fridge arrived today - dead chuffed and excited and we opted for the Engel MT45 40ltr fridge from Simon at MPS - really helpful chap. Plan now is to remove 2nd row middle seat and replace with this with the fridge (and separate children from those long in-car fights their bound to have). Will just use cigarette lighter and plug fitting for now until we can afford split charge battery system. Last weekend was spend being taken through our paces to learn all about vehicle capability - did a one day course at Rockingham (level 1) and a 2 day tailored course at Greystoke re: more off-roading, expedition preparation, adventure medecine (1st aid), route finding, off-roading route finding considerations. All-in-all an incredibly expensive weekend but could not recommend both highly enough - gave us a real insight and some valuable pointers. Chaps at Rockingham and Neville at at Greystoke - all excellent experiences and we are now more than confident of recovery/self-recovery, diff-lock, hill approach/climbing, mud and gradients etc. In fact, we'd love to do more but will have to settle for some organised off-road sessions if we feel we need any reminding or anything more.
Meantime, keep buying and reading Land Rover magazines back to front and upside down - can't get enough!!! Becoming addicted to anything Land Rover. Latest purchase in this fortune of spending like we've just won the lottery has been exterior window grilles - tried several suppliers including Scorpion Racing (nearly fainted), Mantec, Simmonites, Bearmach and plumped for Safari-equip - due to arrive tomorrow - extortionate prices for these things and even more if you want rust free versions of stainless steel and more £plus if you want s/steel with a black powder coat finish. Did think about alternatives (nail sand ladders, board windows up etc.) but ended up coming back to these. Due to high costs we opted for the mild steels ones in powder coat black with proper rivet fixings (some offer cheaper but fix to rivet and didn't like and we need rivets free for roof rack ski fixings eventually) - so we opted for cheapest option and the ones most likely to rust but couldn't justify extra expense for rust-proof ones especially after seats and the fridge. So our weekend will be filled fitting fridge and grilles. Will let you know how quickly they rust and how secure (will use rivets) to see if we really wasted money here. Just so say thanks to all for useful tips and hints meantime. Next on the list, Rock Sliders (again child safety), DIY window tinting and fuel tanks (longer range) and a steering wheel lock.

You have not found out yet that unlike other addictions you cannot get a cure for landies.

Re the grilles, instead of using rivits had you thought to pop to a bearing supplier, they usually sell nuts and bolts as well, and get some small screws and nylock nuts in stainless steel they dont have to have any special tamperproof heads as the inside nut being nylock will not come off unless you have a spanner on the inside as well as on the head. This will allow you to remove them for cleaning etc if you need to and are more theft resistant than the rivits that you only need a chisel to knock the heads off . Just an idea

T2Man - nice to hear from you - Nylocks it is - having used these for the seats (came in the recline kit pack) - now preferred so will get once we receive the grilles (tomorrow) to see what size we need - thanks!

Grilles are on, windows are tinted, fridge is purchased, seats are in and we have been on a shake down trip to Wells. All good so far. Bleedin' expensive. Could have bought open jaw tickets and travelled the world already what with buying the LR and kitting it out plus all the camping kit etc. small fortune. Border controls, carnet blah, blah, blah - overlanding is definately not the cheapest option not to mention compromise on comfort - thinking of all those 4* hotels we could have afforded if we weren't spending all our money on vehicle bits that go on for ever (but fun and feel like we have achieved something - all good)

In a 4 star hotel you cant wake up in the morning on the side of a misty lake , with birds flying low across the water , you pays your money etc

How about some piccies ?

Yep - point taken - (meanwhile blowing the whole budget on the vehicle with nothing left for the trip!). Some piccys on new website Overland With Kids | » Welcome to Our Adventure!. See Categories, Vehicle, Safety Comfort and Security.

Hi, have you gone firm on any sleeping arngements yet. I found the fold out canvas roof tents became a pain in the backside in wet weather, i.e. Europe and far east. They are better in hot dry weather. I have been using a columbus on my 90 for about a year and am now considering adding another for the kids on top of the trailer. For short stops they are very quick and easy to set up and very comfortable. They also cope very well with wet storage if required.
I currently use a weaco fridge straped to the floor in front of 2 forward facing exmoor trim seats. The kids use it as a foot rest or DVD table when on the move. Has worked fine for comfort but i would like to get a lesuire bat fitted to the trailer and have the fridge on the trailer, just need to sort out access for the fridge.

how bout those tentipee things?anyone else got one of 'em?any opinions on 'em?great or jus abit naff

hi, i camped next to a Dutch family with one of those for a couple of weeks in France last year. It was very roomy. They had the same one as on the trekoverland website. I went round for drinks and to be nosey. In my humble opinion i felt it lacked the modular use of conventional ground tents. i.e. no separate area for kids or kitchen etc. But you could have a heater in it as the top had a movable chimeny bit.

I think i might have said this before so if i have then sorry but

I have a 90 and when we did our touring the 90 was far too small for all our stuff we were taking with us. I also have a soft top so i could not really put a roof tent on. So i had to get a off road camper trailer.




It has out side storage for 4 jerry cans and two gas bottles. Also has a 85 ltr water tank underneth. Made for off road driving.

Note the off road tow hitch



Tap on the out side so that you can wash your hands with out having to get the whole kitchen out


Thsi is the camper part up . It also has all the sides for the awning as well. The area above the trailer is the bed and makes a full size 6' bed



The bed



It opens up for storage and easy access



It has leaf springs. but out here it is keep it simple


We dragged this alround Australia across all the tracks and sand dunes
The great thing with the trailer is you can leave it at the camp site all set up and go on day trips with out having to pack up the camp site each time








At the top of australia after 1000k's of dirt track and off road track

Looks very impressive. As ever - many thanks for the really useful posts and information. We are off to LR Billing show in July as we think we'd probably get a much better idea of what we think might fit the bill finally - roof tent, trailer, ground tent, or other. Trailer option looks good. Will look into options in more detail for sleeping. We are really gutted about the B'rakhah meantime - would have been perfect we reckon.

If you are thinking of buying an overland type trailer, good ones are not cheap how about a rethink , rather than being locked into the landrover idea how about this 230258549472 thats the item no on ebay .