Land Rover Discovery 3 Overlanding and Camping Setup Tested on Zimbabwe Overland Trip to Gonarezhou

In this video I show how I have setup my Land Rover Discovery 3 for overlanding and camping. I can convert it from an everyday car into an overlander with my removable camp setup. One of the first trips I did with this setup was to Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
1:54 Overland trip to Gonarezhou
3:10 Disco 3 roofrack
4:22 Interior Disco 3 overland setup
9:25 Disco 3 auxiliary battery setup
10:56 Overlanding with a Disco 3
16:35 Converting Disco 3 back to standard
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The Overland Legend is all about building Land Rovers and overlanding in Southern Africa. We cover Land Rover restorations and builds as well as classic overland trips and new adventures.
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CHECK OUT THE OWNERSHIP VIDEO I DID ON MY DISCO 3
Owning a Disco - • Land Rover Discovery 3...
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[@vincentcorreia5714]

Love it!! Mine has 466k Km and is my daily driver...

[@TheOverlandLegend]

That’s a decent mileage! Thanks for the comments

[@ptcutman]

Keep up the great work

[@TheOverlandLegend]

Thanks will do!

[@AlexStrugariu]

Awesome video, Disco and stories! I've owned a 2005 D3 2.7 auto for the past 7 years and covered 200k km (just bought a 2016 D4 now, but haven't sold the D3 so far; still pondering). Very similar needs were met by the Disco. We were a family of 3 when I bought it. Used for daily commutes in the city, main family limo, rare long motorway trips through Europe, professional field/ expedition workhorse (I am a biologist studying wildlife, often times in the most remote and difficult to access places) and recreational overlanding trips (from 2-21 days long, from a couple of hundred to 5400 km through several countries). I run stock size 17" AT tyres (Cooper AT3s for the past 5 years) to keep it legal and frugal. I added a HD sump guard, the OEM foam bullbar, light guards (mostly for looks, I know), and the cheap tailgate ladder (+ HD tailgate struts) to which I attach my cheap recovery boards (also handy for a trasharoo). Because I use a hardshell roof top tent (which takes up almost all of the roof), I only added aftermarket (OEM-like) long roof rails and crossbars. No need for a heavy roof rack if it's going to be covered by the RTT anyway. Also, I try to keep the Disco in the garage, and it doesn't even fit with the crossbars on. Much easier to remove 2 crossbars than a heavy roof rack. I attach a normal 2.5 x 2 m awning dirrectly to the roof rails. Awning must go in first, then crossbars and RTT. My second battery is a 75Ah deep cycle AGM placed in a boat battery box behind the backrest of the rear left seat (I have the 35:30:35 configuration as well, but only 5 seats from factory), and in front of the "furniture". I have did some cutting in the plastic next to the boot cubbies, where I installed 12V and USB chargers linked to the secondary battery. Next to the main battery, I've installed a Victron Cyrix-CT (50$), a VSR which works great with the D3, and connected to the rear battery via cables run along the chassis. I also have a HD Anderson plug in the back for manually disconnecting the two batteries at will. I also have a small foldable panel to keep the secondary battery topped up when staying several days in one spot (rarely happens). The furniture: a simple shelf system (without a floor) made by a carpenter out of some very light but strong wood, covered in black carpeting. I use the 4 anchor points on the side to strap it in place. In height, it's almost up to the windows, narrow enough to fit between the 4 anchor points; the space between the rear seat backrests and this furniture there is just enough room to fit a 20l Frontrunner water can and a decent sized tool box, both vertically, on one side, and the secondary battery box on the other sided. It is devided in 2 equal sides vertically. The right side is left as is, and the left side is split horizontally. The bottom left compartment hosts the 35.5l IndelB drawer fridge. The upper left compartment hosts two single burner stoves (and some other bits and pieces). The right compartment just hosts a 80L plastic box on rollers where we keep gas cans for the burners, all cooking gear (pots, pans, plates, tongs, etc, etc) and non-perishable food items. On either sides of the furnitures, I keep the solar panel or various misc. items. On top of the furniture I have bungie cords which anchor the table and chairs, all our person items (we use soft clothes bags), or other gear (there room for my 8 yo daughter's bicycle on top). When I don't intend on camping, or I go ground camping) and just stay at various accommodations during expeditions, I replace the RTT with a roof box. I think I covered most aspects of my D3. Very minor permanent mods. Except for the RTT, awning, cross bars (which is a bit of a hassle, requiring 1-2 extra people) I can pack/ unpack the entire boot (battery, furniture, fridge, etc) in around 30 minutes. Cheers from Romania!

[@TheOverlandLegend]

What a great setup , sounds even simpler and more practical than mine. Such versatile vehicles these really. Thanks for watching and leaving such a great comment

[@anthonyforgey3518]

Simple and effective. Love this!

[@TheOverlandLegend]

Yip that’s it! Thanks for watching

[@nickrobertshaw9692]

Hi, I built a similar storage system for my 08 D3 using 13mm steel tube and plywood. It houses a fridge slide for a 50ltr waeco on the driver side and a kitchen box on the left, the shelf above is about 50m higher than the side storage bins and with a cargo barrier I can load it to the roof. I like the idea of using a seat for the fridge with gives you more space in the rear for food or other gear. I also have a rhino flat rack mounted low with a 270 awning on the passenger side, standard pull out awning on the driver side and 40" led light bar mounted on the front. I wanted to be self sufficient so have an arb bullbar and winch for self recovery. Owned the disco for 7 years and it's been the best landy in my 30 year land rover journey. I'm an Aussie but spent 6 months in Africa from Kenya to SA and spent 2 months exploring SA from Joburg to Capetown via Kimberley and along the coast to mossel bay, George,knysna and thru the garden route to PE via Transkei and siskei and up to Durban and then to Ladysmith where I stayed with friends.

[@TheOverlandLegend]

Wow you really are kitted out, amazing what’s possible with these vehicle. Have to agree these are some of the best Landies ever made. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@tristanhall5971]

My dad has a V8 variant. He doesn't use it for off road travel but as a Toyota Prado owner in the past, I envied the space and practicality of his Disco3 and have spent much time dream of how I would use it if it were mine. I miss my 4x4s and am desperately dreaming of getting one again. I keep looking at Disco3 but been nervous given reputation of the diesel engines crankshaft issues... the Disco4 doesn't appeal to me as much as the 3 either.

[@TheOverlandLegend]

It is actually amazing how much space they have. Despite the concerns we still love them

[@calsurflance5598]

Great mix of vehicle set up and overlanding trip.👌 How does the LR3 compare to the Defender as far as off-road capabilities? My wife likes the LR 4 , so we may look for a lightly used one when the time comes. I believe they were the last Land Rovers to use a full frame. Am I correct? Cheers Allen.👍

[@TheOverlandLegend]

Hey Lance thanks for tuning in again. My experience is that the LR3 is better off road than the Defender as standard vehicles because of the traction control and power. It is an incredibly capable off-roader. Yes you are correct it is a body on chassis setup so is very strong but also very heavy at 3 tons

[@calsurflance5598]

@@TheOverlandLegend Good to know. Wow 3 tons! They don’t look that heavy. 😳

[@nihallee]

Thanks, I was going to ask for that comparison with the old defender. I have a LR4 and I added drawers in the back, forming a sleeping platform. IRoof is high enough that I can sit straight. The cooler and water tank is replacing a rear seats and I added a roof box and basket for more storage. I also made everything easily removable. In North America, we only get the petrol engine so I need to carry extra fuel on the roof. I did a lot of roadtrips but we are planning our first trip with some offroading this summer in northern Canada. Love the channel, I have been watching for a little while and I just subscribed. Cheers!!

[@TheOverlandLegend]

@@nihalleethat’s a great setup, I do also travel with a roof box and diesel Jerry cans on the roof. Glad you are enjoying the channel and thanks for subscribing