Thread: How I turned my new defender into a touring tardis

It's much bigger on the inside than most people think!

I have had a classic Defender for 15 years set up for touring (overlanding if you like). Its setup evolved over time and with experience. So here is what I have done for the new Defender 110 (the S M E G) Some of it might be useful but of course everyone's needs will differ.



So the prospect of setting up the new one from scratch was daunting particularly given that some owners (and non owners) were critical of the capacity of the new 110.The new Defender presents a different set of challenges as far as stowing stuff. But after a lot of middle of the night thinking measuring and internet research I'm happy that I can match the old ones utility.


Most of the time it’s just Sal and me travelling. I took the rear seats out of the old Defender to increase capacity however this meant we couldn’t take passengers and was strictly speaking not legal in NSW. Defender Storage Drawer extension.


Primary objectives were:

• the ability to easily restore the vehicle back to original
• to maximise the volume that LR provided
• flexibility as often we travel to our country place with the dogs in crates, need to get stuff from Bunnings for the garden, move the lawn mower to and from the repair shop: all the realities of town and country life.
• minimise the carrying of stuff on the roof rack (centre of gravity and wind drag issues)

A couple of other parameters:

• We use a 37l Waeco fridge and that suits our food and beverage requirements.
• I’m reluctant to install a dual battery system as our power needs are not great as we tend to move rather than staying in one place for more than a couple of days. So I’m using an iTECH WORLD 100Ah lithium power station. Power Station This can be charged by solar (we have 200w), on the move from the 12v rear accessory point while also powering the fridge or 240v supply.

Below the removable false floor is a tub that has the scissor jack and other bits as well as a storage area. Some people use this to accommodate a dual battery system. I saw it as an opportunity to stow the infrequently used stuff like recovery gear (list of what I can fit there is below) So to be able to access that, the floor panel needs to be removed. If the fridge sits on the false floor then it and other stuff also needs to be taken out which would be inconvenient at best.


Above where the fridge and other stuff goes is some useful volume. I’ve installed a Cargo Rack from Epic Off Road Cargo Rack. This is fixed to four existing points on the side window ledges. It accommodates the power station at the left hand end with room to access the 12v and 240v points and up to three Front Runner Cub Pack storage boxes Storage Boxes The rack clearance fitted my fridge but accessing the under floor space was still problematic. I had to pull the fridge out to access it.


So a solution was required so I could slide out the fridge and dispense with the floor panel to access the tub. Front Runner have a sliding platform that is designed for the new Defender 110. Cargo Slide This is fixed to the existing lash down points. Access to maintain the Defender’s components under the tub involves removing only 8 bolts. Because this slide raises the fridge 70mm I’ve raised the cargo rack accordingly. Beside the fridge on the slide I can fit two stacked boxes. Storage Crates. I chose these because the sides are vertical and the height when stacked fit under the rack. They are also the same length as the fridge so there is space behind the fridge and boxes on the slide for our collapsible table or folding chairs.

Slide closed




Slide open











Access to the gear stowed in the tub is from the rear passenger doors when the tray has been extended out and the passenger seats are folded flat (which for us is mostly).


This is what is stowed there: (L to R)

• Portable compressor for tyres (relatively large capacity)
• Under the dust pan and electrical cords are the towball and tongue, two hammers, an extendable wheel nut wrench and the handle for the bottle jack
• A bag of recovery gear: straps, rope and shackles soft and hard
• Standing in front is a large bottle jack
• On top of the LR scissor jack is a hose for filling the two 18l VAAST roof rack mounted water storage tanks. VAAST Water Tanks
• To the rear is a tyre repair kit and a VAAST hose.

Across the folded rear seat is a CAOS luggage box which for travelling will carry sleeping bags and what ever else is required. Its day to day use is to carry power tools and other tools between places. The two dog crates sit on top for regular trips and a deluxe double swag fits door to door for camping trips without the dogs. Luggage Box It can also be carried on the roof rack when the rear passenger seats are required.


Luggage box





As a post script just about every thing I bought was on sale for significantly reduced prices and some of it before I got the Defender! Cheaper than a trailer. But yet to be road tested!

Originally Posted by jwb

This is the one I bought. Was cheaper than others and fits perfectly.
Rear Roof Shelf Cargo Shelf Storage Rack Kits For Land Rover Defender 2020-2023 | eBay

Great, just purchased one. Thank you.