The Big Idea !

Following 3 years of challenge events in a Range Rover it was clear that the Range Rover wasn't going to survive another year without major work. The challenge events put a real strain on all the major components anyway but with the Range Rover bodywork being proud of the wheels it was taking a real pounding and more and more time was being spent panel beating to try and get it looking anything near straight. The final deciding factor was the appearance of creases in the inner rear quarter which suggested that the body and chassis were starting to flex.

I considered an Ibex but really couldn't justify the extra expense so sat down and listed all the requirements I would have for my next challenge vehicle. A good departure and approach angle, bodywork that is less vulnerable to trees and easily fixed, front and rear winches, locking diffs etc... and came up with my own solution to the problem.

A fellow club member was selling his ex-military 110 V8, a deal was struck and so in June 2003 I drove it home to use as the basis for my new vehicle. An injury to my hand sustained in May 2003 meant that I was in no condition to start work on the new project until late September 2003 (Catching your hand between a bouncing spare wheel and a Range Rover tailgate is not to be recommended) At least that gave plenty of planning and thinking time. The vehicle had to be ready to compete in the Muddy Truckers Trophy Challenge in March 2004.

The plan

Improve the departure angle by shortening the rear overhang to a few inches less than a 90. The wheelbase would be reduced to 100" to improve manoeuverability and provide a stable platform whilst allowing a bit more room for seats. The 100 inch wheelbase is a good compromise between manoeverability, stability at speed and carrying capacity. The cab was to be produced from an old hard top, shortened to produce a long truck cab. The bulkhead behind the seats would be replaced with a flatter version to provide more covered storage behind the seats and accomodate the rear winch.

Install a rear winch, mounted behind the seats to improve the weight distribution and allow the winch to self spool more efficiently with the rope feeding underneath the rear load bed and out through the rear cross member. Install a front winch, the front plate of which to be no further forward than a standard Defender bumper.

Fit a full internal/external roll cage with diagonal supports going to the rear wheel arches rather than into the load bed so that the spare wheel can be laid flat in the rear and slid in and out through the tailgate.

My existing Range Rover would provide the engine, gearbox and axles but the transfer box would be replaced with a 1.4 ratio LT230 rather than the Range Rover 1.2 ratio chain drive version.