Thread: Sleeping in the Defender

Scallops sleeps in the back of his 86''. He is over 6' tall, it does have a drop down tailgate though.

Cheers, Mick.

The various pommie LR magazines have covered this and there was an 88" carawagon conversion - it generally means that the required distance/space is achiieved by folding the front seat backs and using the whole space from the dash to the rear door/lid.

Any requirement to find space for the stuff you normally carry on a trip when you sue that space for camping doesn't seem to be considered.

Too much of a squeeze for me I'm afraid.

I'd need to take a swag, tent, or preferably, a camper trailer



http://www.88inchcarawagons.co.uk/

also

http://www.rms1.co.uk/lrcc/forum/vie...php?f=17&t=358

I have slept in the back of my 90 before (I am 5' 9" not sure what that is in metric). It was OK but not very comfy. Would have been better if I had opened the back door but this was in a lay by in France.

Ivan

My Series I (86") has been modified so that you can sleep inside.
The seats fold down, some brackets are fitted between dash & seat bulkhead and some plywood installed.
In a Defender the problem would be getting the front seat out of the way.

Some pictures here (Post #35)
1956 Series 1 with PTO welder (home made)

At Cooma I remember a few vehicles where there was a small awning that fitted over the rear door (Defender opens sideways so a frame might be needed). That way you slept inside the vehicle with your feet outside but under canvas.


Colin

At 6'1" I've unfortunately had to spend many a very uncomfortable night in a 90. This was in a 300Tdi (with a bulkhead) during my first 3 months building roads in Central Africa. The best option was a deck and foam mattress arrangement with a cut out to go between the front seats (head to the rear and feet banging into the gear shift).

Unfortunately the locals (both wild life and populace) prevented and "open door" option.

First trip back to civilisation I invested in a roof top tent - IMO the only way to actually sleep in (or on) a 90 without towing a camper of some description.

Cheers,

Lou

Originally Posted by Rickoz

OkieDokie i did a search & could not find a thread on this one.

Has anyone ever slept in the back of your Defender 90

Could it be done comfortably if your of average height around the 173cm'ish mark, & Only one or could two shortasses be squeeze on top of some gear stored on the bottom of the Defender 90

Hi , my wife and I were towing our caravan a few years back . We were were in White Cliffs ,Opal town NSW. when a 90 pulled in with Caution Left Hand Drive . Once they selled in I went over for a chat ,it turned out they came from Italy, and traveling around Australia . There chioce a td5 90 .they slept in a roof tent . They also said they had done a trip from Hong Kong to Italy , a few years before , also across North Africa ,all this in a 90 !!..

Originally Posted by jimr1

Hi , my wife and I were towing our caravan a few years back . We were were in White Cliffs ,Opal town NSW. when a 90 pulled in with Caution Left Hand Drive . Once they selled in I went over for a chat ,it turned out they came from Italy, and traveling around Australia . There chioce a td5 90 .they slept in a roof tent . They also said they had done a trip from Hong Kong to Italy , a few years before , also across North Africa ,all this in a 90 !!..

Jim,

SWMBO and I toured 6 weeks at a time around South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique in a 90 with a roof top tent.

If its only 2 people its not that hard to fit all your gear... Mind we were quite a bit younger and priorities in what you want to take changes I suppose!

Cheers,

Lou

I slept in the cab of a series LR on Misima Island (PNG) when a cyclone was raging and my bush house lost its roof! I was a younger fella then too LOL