Our Landrover (Katie)

We bought KT in March 2005 from a dealer. She came from a utility company and was in very good condition with 90k miles on the clock.

As you can see she is a 110 hard top, and I got the dealer to fit some jackable sills.

We have done various modifications over the last few months and tried to get most of them done before we went to France on holiday in June. The first thing we did was get some BFG all-terrain tyres so that we could go on an off-road fun day.

Since then, I have built a platform so that we can sleep in the back if necessary and fitted a dual battery system, diff and steering guards, a snorkel (and extended the axle breathers), a gps retransmitter (as it was cheaper than getting a gps with an external ariel), a cubby box and a roofrack and rooftent. I have also fitted 5 additional electric sockets, an internal light and spotlights to the front and rear. Claire made an awning in a suitably khaki canvas and some matching curtains. I think she's nesting.

The only thing I did not manage to do before going to France (see the page under other trips) was get the rooftent.

I didn't think I'd be able to fit the side lockers with the jackable sills in place, however, once I'd got some quotes for fitting fuel tanks with the assorted paraphernalia I decided to set to with an angle grinder. It took me most of a day to do, but they're now done.

Dual batteries (Optima) from http://www.devon4x4.com/ I built the electrical system myself as the split charge systems were so expensive. I got the battery switch and meter from a local chandlers but they are available from vehicle wiring systems.

The shocks and suspension are done after a weekend of swearing. We have gone for heavy duty Bearmach springs (http://www.bearmach.com/) and Pro-comp shocks. I was persuaded in the shop after much umming and ahhing to go for a 2 inch lift. There are plenty of arguments for and against, and we've had to extend the brake lines and fit dislocation cones on the rear to allow for the increased suspension travel. Hopefully, the trade off for this will result in getting stuck less often. I was working in the street doing one side at a time. The first side took six hours and the second less than three!!

Diff /steering guards and snorkel from http://www.paddockspares.com/setup_home.htm

GPS and re-transmitter from http://www.gpsw.co.uk/

Cubby box from http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/

Roofrack (and water filter system) from http://www.brownchurch.co.uk/

Rooftent from http://www.trekoverland.com/