Range Rover expedition camper

Here's a couple of pics showing my 1973 Range Rover Classic expedition camper ... well it will be one day ... HONEST!!!

The intent is certainly there, shame the cash isn't at the moment. As I say, one day.

Great base for an overland vehicle .

My tip if you are going to do lots of harsh miles, would to buy the most heavy duty springs and shocks you can find for the rear, as we found this is a weakpoint.If you dual shock them at the rear, that is even better.

COOL !!!!!


and of course it's WELSH !

MoT exempt? and Tax free?

Loving it !

You noticed the Welsh connection then? Not MOT exempt unfortunately, but certainly tax exempt as it was built early 1973.

Here, does that mean I can have B & W number plates as well? I really hope so, they would set it off a treat.

these range rover classic ambulances are becoming very rare beasts will be quite interested to see its transformation

My lightweight is 1972 and I have pressed black and silver plates.

To be tax exempt it has to be registered before Jan 7th 1973, so if it is a 1973 model then you are VERY lucky !

Why is it not MoT exempt then?

have you seen this conversion?


Converted Range Rover

Lucky indeed! I have a Certificated Copy of a Factory Record from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in my sticky mits that states:-

Date of Build: 3 January 1973
Date of Dispatch: 8 January 1973

It's actually a conversion by Herbert Lomas Ltd. of Wilmslow, Cheshire - see www.rtrehearn.plus.com/lomas_ambulances.htm

Picce of the 1972 Somerset Ambulance Service's RR in the middle is a dead spit of mine.

I'm 99% certain that an ex-ambulance no matter what year has to have an MOT certificate. Would love to be proved wrong though!

Thanks, but as it happens I did know about the former ambulance camper conversion which you provide the link to - as I so very nearly bought it! I saw it for sale at Newbury Land Rover Autojumble a couple of years ago, but just didn't have the funds at the time to purchase it. A couple of months later I did have the funds so tried to track it down, but by then it had been sold to a guy in Norway. However, a bloke I first met in 1997 contacted me to say he had a RR ambulance, an old project that he would never get around to; this was the 1973 one I bought.

found this converted camper/ambulance and it states (rightly or wrongly)

Registered as a "Blue Light" Emergency Event Ambulance - hence Tax free, MOT exempt, Congestion Charge and Bus Lane exempt



http://www.qualitycampers.co.uk/ambulance.html

Mmmmmm, may be true of current working ambulances, but definitely not campers.

how you getting on with the idea of a fold out roof?

know what i want, now all I need is the dosh. I'll dig out a couple of links to what I'm thinking of, only not tonight. Can't think why?

I need to have some type of expanding roof for this camper, as at present I can't stand up inside; any ideas?

Have a look HERE Tom

Sorgen of Wiberg does an elevating roof on a Defender

Tom at Safari equip does one as well

Have aso seen a LR Special Vehicles Division one with elevating roof and sides which pull out

HTH

Brendan

Tom Mc wrote:

I need to have some type of expanding roof for this camper, as at present I can't stand up inside; any ideas?

Hi Tom
First off, nice land Rover, is there an Ambulance section? Seriously, I have thought the same thing with Lizzy, as it will be a sleep in camper. If your roof is metal, why not get an old VW camper van roof to use ? You should be able to shave it down to your roofs shape, and sort the the rest quite easily. It would look good once it's cut down to size, and not be very expensive compared to an ExTec type conversion. What is your height inside the back of your ambulance now? My Lizzy has 149cm inside, which is a huge difference over a stock roof. But being a GRP extension, it would require an internal frame work to support the opening, or the very opposite of the KISS principal. Just a thought for you.https://i.servimg.com/u/f63/16/33/96/95/rnewsh11.jpg

Cheers! Naturally, being a Range Rover enthusiast I love it. I've always wanted a RR ambulance to convert into a camper. One day the conversion will actually happen, but at least for now I've got one, and it's taxt exempt!!! Managed to install a 300 Tdi motor and manual box last year, so once the rest of the mechanicals are sorted and the beast has an MOT, at least it will be on the road and the internals can start to be tackled.

If I can avoid an elevating roof I will. The RR's body is all fibreglass, so while it is 100% watertight as it stands, I would rather leave it that way! Plus of course an elevating roof would mean adding extra weight on top of what is already a high roof. If I have to I will (silicon will sort out the sealing issue) but there will no avoiding additional weight.

Far better to explore an option that was suggested by Assassin (I think???) on this forum - lowering the floor. Not such a daft suggestion, for it would only be lowered at the rear between the ladder chassis where the overhang is (the rear cross-member may have to be adapted a tad) for standing room when using the stove in the galley area/for standing when dressing, plus of course it would only be lowered when stationary. At all other times it would be normal ride height. Perhaps this conversion may be possible on yours too?

Don't know the internal height as the RR is over in Wales at the mo - and I'm not - but it is definitely not stand-up-able at present. Like yours though, the area is LARGE so has lots of potential.

At this rate, an 'ambulance/camper section' may be the way to go.

You may find somthing on my photo album.
https://gs136.photobucket.com/groups/q176/P3MU9QIL52/

M.O.T. on Wednesday - HELP!





300 Tdi mit auto box now fitted, it lives! Question is ... will the authorities let me drive it? Tomorrow I will find out.

Tom
Great to see your motor installed. good luck with MOT
Greg

Problem sorted Tom

Bring it up and stand it in my barn and we can give it the American conversion, full electric elevating roof, and twin side outs.

Thanks Greg, I need it!

Ha, slide outs, like this? http://www.craftcompany.com/bus-conversion.html

Mmmm, nice idea but ...

Tom Mc wrote:

M.O.T. on Wednesday - HELP!





300 Tdi mit auto box now fitted, it lives! Question is ... will the authorities let me drive it? Tomorrow I will find out.

I WANT ONE!

tom the new age travler,,,,,

BTW, forgot to post - it passed!!!