sleeping in a D2.

[treesmith]

Hello all.

I dont yet have a Discovery, but I have decided that an early TD5 is the way forward for me. I am slowling makeing my way through the pros and cons of owning 1, and learning wot i should look out for when buying, (all thanks to this forum).

Just one question, how do they measure up for sleeping inside, on short trips, (2 people). As i am not keen on rooftop campers, and have had enough of sleeping on the ground.

Thanks, Mat.

[Alex 110]

now its illegal to take out the seats without an RTA certificate, I find mine too short for me without my feet hanging out the back door, & I'm only 5'6":(. almost makes me wish I had my defender back...almost

[gavinwibrow]

now its illegal to take out the seats without an RTA certificate, I find mine too short for me without my feet hanging out the back door, & I'm only 5'6":(. almost makes me wish I had my defender back...almost
Question - is the rear seat removal a state thing, or standardised standards OZ wide? Haven't heard (but also not yet checked) if it applies in WA, and if not, what happens when you go interstate on WA plates?

[87County]

now its illegal to take out the seats without an RTA certificate, I find mine too short for me without my feet hanging out the back door, & I'm only 5'6":(. almost makes me wish I had my defender back...almost

I'd really like to see the reference for this - I cannot find any ref on the RTA site, and yet anonymous experts keep saying it

It would also seem to contradict the info given by ARB http://outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/doc/ModificationLegalitiesARB.pdf (which wouldn't surprise me)

I have had the rear seats in both my D1 and County permanently removed for years and replaced by decking & drawers - never had any problems with pink slips etc.

On the original question.......Unless you modify the front seats in a D2 to slide forward a bit more you'll be hard pressed to get 1800mm length

Get a deefer !

[steveG]

My wife and I have done a couple of trips sleeping in the back of a D1 which is even shorter than the D2. Both found it VERY comfortable.
I'm 185cm tall, and she's short enough that its not an issue.


Not sure if the seats fold the same in a D2, but have a look here for info on our D1: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-1/66944-sleeping-d1-3.html

Steve

[AussieAub]

Knew I could find it......check this link out!
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/camping-tucker-bush-basics/76651-hammock-discovery-ii.html

:cool::cool:

[Mr.Bear]

Ive slept out in the back of my TD5 on a number of occasions, and i'm 6ft3, and no surprise my feet hang out over the bumper.
I make it all cosy with pillows and stuff and have slept surprisingly well. Maybe its the port i drink first :angel:

Not sure I would want to share it with the other half, much as i love her, it would be more squashy, and after 10mins the fun factor would wear off.

[treesmith]

Thanks for the info, i guess i will just have to get creative when i get a D2.

[Alex 110]

I'd really like to see the reference for this - I cannot find any ref on the RTA site, and yet anonymous experts keep saying it

It would also seem to contradict the info given by ARB http://outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/doc/ModificationLegalitiesARB.pdf (which wouldn't surprise me)

I have had the rear seats in both my D1 and County permanently removed for years and replaced by decking & drawers - never had any problems with pink slips etc.

On the original question.......Unless you modify the front seats in a D2 to slide forward a bit more you'll be hard pressed to get 1800mm length

Get a deefer !


One of my customers is a mechanical engineer who does certification for the RTA & it was he who told me this. Following it up with the RTA section that deals with vehicle modifications I was told that I could get my 7 seater discovery re-licensed as either a 5 or 2 seater, but once that was done I would not be able to re-fit the other seats, which I found rather annoying as I would like a 2-seater for camping, but sometimes need 7 seats in the big smoke.

[Jason789]

Hello,

Just a little curious

Why would you want/need to remove the rear seats when they fold out of the way anyway(they fold into the footwell). You don't actually gain a lot by removing the seats. Even removing the dickie seats in the cargo area does not gain a lot of extra room.

Cheers,

Jason

[PhilipA]

This topic was covered some time ago , and someone dug up that it is NOT illegal to remove rear seats temporarily, as long as all seat belts, safety gear remain in place.
The question is; what is temporary?
I cannot imagine a cop booking anyone for this.
I take my rear seats out when I go on a long trip.
BIG BROTHER is all intrusive but it would be ridiculous to penalise people for this.
Regards Philip A

[Rooballer]

It is doable with a bit of immagination, have done it a few times before kids.

We have spent three weeks sleeping in the back of our D1 at the time, while doing a QLD/SA desert trip.

This was done without removing the rear seats.

We had a set of drawers in the back, so rolled the rear seats foward and had a removable extension for the drawers we put up each night, with the front seats also tilted foward, we were able to inflate a queen size airbed ontop.

Very comfy, still had plenty of room for big esky and other gear below the set up.

Also repeated a similar set up in our Rangie on a Tasmania trip.

Something to be aware of when sleeping in the car: when hot it gets very stuffy and when cold the windows get soaked in condensation on the inside (this is very inconvenient when you want to make an early start).

We got around this by cutting up an old security door/screen to the width of the rear windows so you are able to enable air flow, while keeping the mozzies and other unwanteds out.

[Franz]

Hello,

Just a little curious

Why would you want/need to remove the rear seats when they fold out of the way anyway(they fold into the footwell). You don't actually gain a lot by removing the seats. Even removing the dickie seats in the cargo area does not gain a lot of extra room.

Cheers,

Jason
You actually gain quite a bit of extra space by removing the rear seats - the space behind the front seats is not usable as you have the folded seats there - remove them and plenty of extra usable space.

[Disco EMU]

Just get it lifted and sleep under it! ;)

[Jason789]

You actually gain quite a bit of extra space by removing the rear seats - the space behind the front seats is not usable as you have the folded seats there - remove them and plenty of extra usable space.

I suppose it depends whether you're bringing just the overnight bag or the entire set of Louis Vuitton :)

[1976_michelle]

cant remember if I've asked this before; but which method of folding does the D2 back seat use? (eg not the 3rd row, just the normal back row). Do they sort of double up and push forward to butt up against the back of the front seat such as
here:(see third pic I think)

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/land-rover-discovery-1997-12654574?base=1216&vertical=Car&eapi=2&page=1&sort=~Odometer&cr=1&__N=1246 1247 1252 1282 4294965541 4294965540 1216&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,7500~0.5

Or do the backs simply fold down? I'm kind of hoping the latter as mine will lay down mostly, and I'll create a storage system for the back that raises the boot floor to the same height as the back seats are when they're folded

[trev]

The rear seats fold forward and behind the front seats,but, not if the front seats are right back.
for the driver,to achieve this he/she would be cramped up behind the wheel
in a very uncomfortable position.

Much better to remove them entirely.Then you get heaps more space.

Trev.

[Disco Muppet]

I've slept in the back a couple of times, just racked the front seats forwards, lifted the rear ones.
Put some padding down and it's not too bad, just a bit squished with the door closed though.
Last time, I made the mistake of walking away with the door open to clean my teeth...
Had to evict three people who thought they'd found a free bed! :mad::D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Just one question, how do they measure up for sleeping inside,

Thanks, Mat.

It is 1.3m from the back of the folded second row seats to the inside of the tailgate,,

and its bloody cold outside!:p:p

[MR LR]

I'm actually sick of all the 'experts' shoving all the rules down everyones throats.

Sure they may be right, but please, what effect will it have if i unbolt my seats, sure if i unbolt them too many times the fastenings will wear etc, but if you take them out once for a desert trip every few years this is basically irrelevant.

Call me ignorant/arrogant but some rules are just stupid and should be forgotten about, so it would be nice if everyone could stop crapping on about them.

Do whatever you want with your seats, just DON'T MODIFY them, and if a police officer gets up you ask them to show you the book, they won't...

Cheers

[worane]

Wot Mr. LR said x 2

[Carnut1100]

Not illegal to remove temporarily.
worst case is a pain in the arse Plod giving you a defect. Bolt in and tick it off.

wont pass a rego check without them in.
Had a friend go through this when he moved from ACT to Tas and he'd taken the back seats out of his 3 door Rav4.
had to go to a seat certifying engineer to get a mod plate changing the car to a 2 seater.

[trout1105]

I bought myself a Lovely Big double swag that I can set up in a couple of minutes that is super comfy and warm that I sleep I that when on a trip.[bigwhistle]