Hi calling it a camper is egging the pudding a bit and I have come in for some friendly ribbing from friends who have things like a jumbo jet on an Iveco or Merc base vehicle. BUT I am happy with what we have, it not roughing it in my book just fun. Book called stuffication an interesting read. However we were somewhere on a proper camp site and the Belguim chap next to us had a thing like a game controller round his neck and remotely moved his huge caravan up to the back of his equally huge vehicle. I have to say there were a few moments when the green eyed monster raised its headThat explains a lot of your previous posts. When you said "camper", I had assumed a purpose built modern vehicle on a van base or similar.
Now I understand why you don't have much space, and few conveniences.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
There is some history of landrovers being used as campers, and if you intend to use the 4wd capability, it is not a bad idea.
However, as you are discovering, the 4wd capability comes with a price in weight and space, and the bodies are not particularly spacious for such a large vehicle.
Provided you don't mind roughing it a bit, it should be fine. Bear in mind that the chap with the caravan mover would probably struggle on any surface that wasn't dry, and pretty much as smooth as a bowling green.
Horses for courses.
Hi All
I am not completely competent with these forum things BUT hugely grateful for ALl and ANY help never assume anything is known. For instance years and years ago I was really really struggling to do up a biggish nut. I didnt know groves cut in the flats meant it was a left hand thread until someone sheepishly told me (assuming I knew)
There is some history of landrovers being used as campers, and if you intend to use the 4wd capability, it is not a bad idea.
However, as you are discovering, the 4wd capability comes with a price in weight and space, and the bodies are not particularly spacious for such a large vehicle.
Provided you don't mind roughing it a bit, it should be fine. Bear in mind that the chap with the caravan mover would probably struggle on any surface that wasn't dry, and pretty much as smooth as a bowling green.
Horses for courses.
Hi Your not wrong about body size but 4 x 4 is needed and the vehicle has to be able to do other stuff. So everything has to be modular easy to take in and out. We have a baker style tent which is magic and gives a decent sleeping space etc etcThere is some history of landrovers being used as campers, and if you intend to use the 4wd capability, it is not a bad idea.
However, as you are discovering, the 4wd capability comes with a price in weight and space, and the bodies are not particularly spacious for such a large vehicle.
Provided you don't mind roughing it a bit, it should be fine. Bear in mind that the chap with the caravan mover would probably struggle on any surface that wasn't dry, and pretty much as smooth as a bowling green.
Horses for courses.
Hi Steve Earlier I thanked someone else for the calculation but in fairness they said it wasnt them. Chances are will be camping for more than a week at a time but I now have a clearer idea of what to do
steve2286w
Well-Known Member
No problem, I learnt some good stuff on this thread too, not least the book tip, her indoors birthday now sorted, hope the camping goes ok and. Send a pic of the tent/ panel set up and let us know if it worked well.
Hi We have used the tent already a couple of times already and am really happy with it. and will post some photos when we go off next month. Nothing to heavy this year as we have shed loads of stuff to finish off at home. Shell Island for a week or two then the Scottish 500. Bit of a c**k up over ferries to Bilbao (our falt) so we have to rethink that one. Poss a few days in Hampshire with friends at a dark sky campsite. I would like to say more about the tent if anyone was interested but I am not sure what this site thinks about advertising. Photos should be oK though
Turboman
Mab An Gov
Pics of the tent, and talking about it, won't be a problem, so long as you make clear it is yours, and you want to keep it.
In any case, you only need 50 posts to sell in the For Sale section on the forum, and you are not far off that. The rules about advertising are mostly aimed at people who join the forum specifically to buy and sell stuff, not genuine members talking about their interests.
Hi Tent 100% not for sale, I'll post some photos of our next trip (with solar panel) and if anybody is interested Ill tell them Thanks All for your help
mikescuba
Well-Known Member
I have only just read this thread which is now some four months old. I haven't read all of them and don't know how far you have got with your battery and solar panel installations so this info might be passed it. You have several choices when it comes to batteries. Lead Acid, AGM, GEL, and Lithium. I run a motorhome where I have installed GEL batteries. Lithium are too expensive and I'm not sure they have any added advantages. With the normal Lead Acid batteries they can be discharged down to 50 to 60% before causing them damage. With a GEL battery they can be discharged down to 20% therefore your going to get more out of a GEL battery and they will withstand more cycles than Acid batteries. GEL batteries require a different charge rate. I can't remember the exact numbers but its something like 14.8 to charge lead acid and 14.4 for GEL. We have recently come back from a 10 day trip around Brittany where it rained and was cloudy most of the time. My two 110 amp GEL batteries powered the MH for 9 days before I realised that someone who shall remain nameless as she has been with me for 30 years accidently switched a switch which stopped the leisure batteries from being charged. THey were down to 12.20 volts. We were running TV, lights, fridge which was on gas, water pump etc. We weren't being economical with power as I never gave it a second thought until I just checked it out of curiosity. In the MH world the advise they give you is to go for as big a solar panel as you can fit and afford. I have a 100 watt solar panel, as we live in the south of France where the sun shines longer that is sufficient. If I lived in the UK or Brittany I would probably add some more.
These are the batteries I went for and have had them on my last two MH. Guaranteed six years. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-110ah-leoch-powabloc-tubular-gel-battery/
Just thought this info might be useful if not for this time, maybe for the next time round.
These are the batteries I went for and have had them on my last two MH. Guaranteed six years. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-110ah-leoch-powabloc-tubular-gel-battery/
Just thought this info might be useful if not for this time, maybe for the next time round.
Hi The project is almost together. In the end we bought a 160 watt folding panel. It has folding legs and is effevtively plug and play. It all packs away into a stout case with handle. It just about fits up against the double windows sitting on the sleeping platform. One day I might change the controller for mppt. The crocodile clips have gone in favour of an anderson plug. Thanks for your reply anyway
We have a folding panel plug and play so not fixed, no holes the panel can be moved to follow the sun but clearly doesnt work when we are traveling
Just thought we have fitted 2 gel batteries with a sp.it charging system
mikescuba
Well-Known Member
That's what they do on most motor home installation.
