Hinged Pop-Top for Defender

[man_overland]

Hi All,

I've been looking at various long term sleeping options for my 2013 110.

My "design brief" is basically

- Cheap
- Easy to build/fix
- Same roof height to use all the 2100 cark parks
- Same roof profile for low wind resistance and noise
- Light weight to keep the centre of gravity low
- "Low profile" as I'll be in a lot of poor countries and a defender stands out enough


I think the best I've seen is something like the attached image, which is hinged down the side.

The thing I like best with the side hinge is it gives a lot of flexibility with the "house" height/shape options. I'll probably make the floor from ply sheets.

I'm thinking of making a brace to replace the strength to the sidewalls that the roof provided, and shape the brace so that it can also be a shelf for the bed/ply, and so the ply can be dropped out for headspace if required.

I am wandering if anyone has any experience building such a brace or thoughts on working around the curved shape of the windscreen and rear door, or if you have any general thoughts suggestions for me.

I'll be starting the build in approx. Oct as I'm currently overseas, and will put the build pics up here.

Cheers, Brian

[Tim_AM]

My first thought is that you are preventing the use of a roof rack,

I think you would be better off with a hard shell roof tent,



what do you actually gain from having a hinged roof?

what countries are you travelling though? does the climate dictate that you would need to stay inside?

[tuesdayfox]

Our loving arrangement for our overland trip London to Hong Kong is to sleep in the defender. Wife is okay with that so

[kogvos]

Our loving arrangement for our overland trip London to Hong Kong is to sleep in the defender. Wife is okay with that so

You may want to tint the windows.

[gromit]

I think you need one of these Conversions
Freight on something that big would be a deal breaker though.

Roof height is slightly higher than std. Only the centre section is cut out so the original roof still gives some rigidity.

Here are some pictures of Dormobiles showing internal layouts etc. Land Rover Dormobile pictures 1


Best of luck,

Colin

[weeds]

Have a read of this thread.....

130 Station Wagon with side fold pop top build

[Red90]

Conversions

[Dervish]

You have a 110; just sleep in it. Take out the second row seats, level out at either wheel box level or top-of-tub level if you need more storage space. This is an old photo of our setup, but the best I have. The mattress (in blue) is propped up for fridge access.

IMG_5386_zpsdc90a182.jpg

[JoeFriend]

Hells yeah sleep in the car - only photos I have on this phone, but if you are smart you can even put your fridge on a slide, make a gullwing or two - 2 rows of storage in the back (one of which is a drawer) and off you go into the wilderness!