All the handling before going to bed (family living in Defender camper)

[@moobaz8675]

Thats hard graft and must be a pain when it rains. Fair play to you. I hope the kids appreciate the opportunity but it must be tough on them.

[@HeliRy]

It will be interesting to see how your process evolves with the Canadian winter. This works great for now, but it won’t when it’s -40. I have no doubt you’ll find a way though 💪

[@DefenderCanada]

Sleeping 4 in a defender is a real struggle but I can't see how this will be working long term without frustrations. Easy camp, easy out is a priority for us. For this reason too, we park most of the time with the car facing the exit route and we make sure the front seats are clear. There will be times where you'll have to pack everything quickly and leave a camp spot before sleep (wild animals, angry humans, bad weather, police...).

[@ronfinch5532]

No better way to make family memories that will give folks to talk about for the rest of your days!, good and bad. Just stay safe.

[@johncoven]

What a commitment to keep it as minimalistic! And not for everybody for sure 😅 that’s a whole lot of daily workout 💪 Love it !

[@glennj6465]

Wow 😳🙄🫣 All inside is good but slow for a quick get away in an emergency 🆘 BeSafe

[@embula22]

You have put a lot of effort into making this work and kudos to you. Now that you are on the road - you will start to find a rhythm and make things a lot easier for you and the family. This will be a journey of a lifetime and hope you are able to enjoy the memories

[@jensstrang1501]

Hm, that would get on my nerves by the second day. We also have a 110 with pop-up roof tent etc. but there are only two of us and 2 dogs. But everything is stowed away and we don't have to rearrange. This has been changed over several years, easier and quicker access. It will be exciting to see whether this becomes a permanent solution or whether it will lead to frustration. I don't think the current solution will last. Especially now when fall and then winter arrive. I wish you lots of fun, no breakdowns and no uninvited visitors!

[@kdogauch]

The typical Australian family 4x4 setups are A) Duel roof-top tents for minimum overall size, high off-road performance. or B) An off-road camper trailer, for more space and the ability to de-couple the trailer for day trips (easier than packing/setting up roof-top tents). For trailers, you need to be careful as there is a huge range of design, quality and safety. Generally, Australia is the only place where proper off-road camper are made with trailing arm suspension, electric brakes and high strength, low weight materials. If you use leaf suspension (common in other places) it's too hard and will break the trailer or things inside it. If you use inertia brakes (standard in EU) the brakes will engage and burn-out on long down-hill drives, and make off-road driving very unstable. Electric brakes use motion sensors and various modes to ensure correct braking for the situation. If trailers are too complicated, revert to duel roof-top tents, but it will get very tiring after a while setting up and packing up every time you want to do a day -trip or quickly drive to a scenic location for sunset etc.

[@120woodcraft]

You have certainly done a great job of minimising the amount you carry. I take more than that for a weekend camping in a trailer. You have a good routine each night, however I can only imagine the difficulty if it is hammering down with rain and blowing a gale. You must all be very resilient people. I could do that for a week max!

[@discoverland]

How familliar it looks… its some work but quickly done when you are used to it and know where to put things! Its becoming a Bit more challenging at Bad wheather … In the end I tried to move as much as possible outside the car in sacks or on top of the roff top tent. You may get some boxes to put on the roof over there… Hope you have good time. Keep on rocking!!!! … by the way, my Discovery 4 was over 4 tons with all the stuff (4 bikes, surfboards etc.). It still did great offroad (See my sardinia and corsica vids). Cheers Jörg

[@davidatkinson3542]

Headrest is what they are called. Love watching your adventure...doing it your way. I have seen many people actually putting racks on the roof for more storage. Prefer the look without but will prob set my 110 up with that...

[@stephenbland7461]

And when it’s pouring with rain?

[@BeeBeorn]

. Winter is coming..

[@coloradoridgerunner791]

Not realistic for long-term travel! You need a better solution, something like a small locable cargo trailer.

[@theridesideoflife]

One or two rooftop boxes would be enough.

[@silversurfer1870]

This looks like 3.4 tons ready for the road

[@stebee9743]

Won't take long if everyone helps out. Better to be more mobile without the trailer I reckon.

[@timj.7103]

First setup I see with a pop up roof where you're not able to sit below, what a waste jn my opinion. There are so many great set ups for 4 people to travel and sleep in a defender. What if the weather changes quickly or a grizzly says hi? Then the only place to access the truck would be from the back. Safe travels nonetheless.

[@Dougsterxplor]

Who has a callsign? MM7DCD, IO75SV, Glasgow

[@offtrackfamily]

My husband ;) HB3YGO 73 🙂

[@scottbeatson3881]

Is that really what you do EVERY night? I mean, good on you if that’s the way you want to do it, but that seems awfully hard work and unsustainable for long term travel. Wind, rain, security threats, etc, all look like they’d make it even harder (near impossible).

[@unimog404]

to much stuff is packed up in my opinion. The way you do it would not work for me. that is why I made my Suzuki Jimny setup so I can have the bed setup but still can drive around.

[@stefanpalfi504]

I wont do it...

[@sebastianschmitt4772]

No Front but I realy cant understand why you are doing it like this, it looks realy painfull. But i guess you like the daily routine which is coming with 4 ppl. in such a smal car? I even feel cramped in our j78 Landcruiser with a popup roof and 2 ppl. + a german sheperd. Its hard to optimice for each task, when you have limited space. Wouldnt it be better to switch to a ather car? Like a 4x4 Bus, 110 + trailer or drive with 2 4x4? I realy love your 110 Defender dont missunderstand me, it look just bad ass!!! :D Drove one 200tdi 110er my selfe. But the relibility was a to big concern for me to go on long trips, what is obviously a big point for you too. When you take so much tools and spareparts with you. Even when it was beast offroad with its only 2 tonns.. Its just not the right 4x4 for a offroad camper in my opinion. I mean, do you realy drive harder offroad with that setup? Isnt it just much to heavy? You setup is for sure 3tonns+! When the ppl are inside + nafta maybe 3,2-3,5tonns. Whats the point of a aluminium, light 4x4. When its upgradet and loaded like a smal lkw? The whole drivetrain isnt made for hard use with so muche weight. Even with a trailer most offroad is hard to pull off in my opinion. Im realy intrested how you will do in future! :)

[@timj.7103]

spare parts and tolls is a big thing. I never take a lot of spare parts and tools. Drivebelt, oil filter, a few other smaller light things and tools, the most important. The thing thats gonna break will always be the thing you didn't bring lol. And tools wise, just stop at the next house or farm and ask for an impact driver to borrow. I feel like most of the spare parts that need heavier or special tools are not worth the hustle on bringing, especially if you checked the car before the trip. With a set up and loaded as it is, as you say, I doubt you should do extrem offroad. Inhave gps satellite communication. In case of the worst case i get help. Gonna cost me some money and time but if the worst case failure of something big and heavy happens downtown Toronto i doubt you could change it without a garage either or that you have the spare ball joint thing (lol don't know what its called, the round ball thing that goes into in the wheel).

[@feuzpatrick1009]

I have also traveled with four people in our Defender for years and know the problem. But your setup would be far too complicated for me. The assembly and dismantling is just annoying over time. Less is more if your vehicle is constantly at the weight limit and that is certainly your Defender, then the load is accordingly. What kind of axle loads do you have at the front? I'm sure it's over the manufacturer's limit.