Military Landrover

steelo

Me and a couple of mates are thinking about buying an ex-military landrover defender, 110 variant, to kit out to hold upto 3 or 4 bikes, riders and gear.

I'm just wondering if anyone has done this before and if they have any advice about it?

Alternatively, if the landrover 110 works out to be too small then we may go A-Team style and find a transit (or generic van) to try and get the same effect.

Again, if anyone has had experience of this type of thing - building a bike rack for inside a vehicle, proposed ways of supporting a number of bikes etc.

Cheers.

Thantos

I've seen Bike racks in the back of vans before. Just a normal front wheel rack bolted to the floor would do.
However, i think you should get straps that you bolt to the crossbars of the roof and hang your bikes upside down by the wheels.
That would be cool.

Big Red S

Me and three friends have a transit between us that we use to get bikes and people around.
It's got a sink, oven and a hob out of a campervan in it, which is handy, but because we use it for things other than bikes there's no bike-specific fittings. Just loops on the walls for bungee cords and eight or nine bits of wood and some dust sheets.
I've seen similar setups, though. Some just as far as a hub with a QR axle through it bolted to the floor (or a bit of 20mm pipe), though there was one in france last year that had a rack on each wall with bedding in between.

One thing I would suggest, though, is that if you go for a van you _do_ want the high roof. Mid- and low-roof vans seem fine to stand up in for a bit, but if you're in it long enough to load the bikes in, it starts doing bad things to your back. It's also handy if there's enough space to get changed in it.

I'm presuming this is a roadtrip-oriented vehicle? Do bear in mind that Defenders aren't renowned for their fuel economy, or their comfort on long journeys - they're cold and noisy (the MoD ones certainly are).

jjojjas

yup,
I have a 110.
carefull what you buy, mines a 200tdi engine so I'm getting 28 - 34 mpg (best at 60mph).
It has seats in mine but I can easily get 3 bike & gear & riders in with comfort. Noise is the main issue in most landy's, but if your happy with the character they have then go for it. Even as a defender fan, I'd say a non-landrover van was the cheapest and easiest choice...
ps. I have never got stuck yet...but I have towed a couple of vans & cars out of muddy carparks when out on a weekend ride.
pps. the older army ones are sometimes non-turbo motors (slower)

pm me if you wish, I have a webpage on my defender.
Jas

madmole

Discovery is cheaper, more comfortable, quieter, more fuel economic, better off road and nearly as much space in the back

I have had 7 bikes and riders in/on mine

fozy

Van would be alot cheaper, repairs on a 110 could turn out to be expensive.

Mr bump

Go for a van mate. I had a land rover and it was uncomfortable and really thirsty on fuel. How many times will you need a 4x4 most places you park in a car park and ride in.

monkeyfcuker

old military land rovers are very cool but and its a big but in a very aquired taste sought of way!! drive it first because the ones the army get rid of are very old and altho they are normally in really good condition they are mega old school, no power steering and no turbo etc and amazingly loud!! dont expect to get more than 20mpg or over 75mph either haha! you will know straight away if its for you or not! oh even if it is all of the above old etc etc you will still never eva get stuck!! ive drove them up stuff that is so steep it hurts your ankles and up river beds and through stuff you just wouldnt walk through and in low range they will probably pull a house

Rockhopper

An ex Army one will have had the t**s thrashed off it at every opportunity. Thats how I drive them anyhow!!

shorty15

agree with last post!
any ex mod landy will have been thrashed to f u ck as its like any other company car except usually you dont go off road in a vectra!
Sure they get repaired but a 110 is very slow,and due to the box in the back where the radio batterys go there isnt as much space in the back as you might think!
Speaking as someone who has experiece of driving them a lot,unless you have a fetsh for them,or intend to drive up routes you wouldnt want to pedal up,get a van

Satchmo245

The guys who I ride with use a pickup truck. See photo:

Clicky

We just take the front wheels out of the bikes and stick the forks over the tailgate (Have some mats laid over too so it does not scratch the bikes or the truck) and then it is further secured using a rope and ratchet system. Easy and secure.



EDIT: Oh yeah, it fits 5 bikes and front wheels comfortably.

lachoman

A van is much better idea. Very practical, cheap and reasonably good on fuel. My dad has had a lot of vans over the years being a builder and all and i know he'd recomend a fiat ducato/peugeot boxer/citroen relay (they are all the same) as they are reasonable quality and have galvinised bodies so no rust He has also had mercedes sprinters but they were unreliable and expensive. If you do get a van try to get a turbo diesel. Maybe a van the size of a fiat scudo/peugeot expert/citroen dipatch would be the best as you could get a bike in without any disassembly but they are smaller than transit sized things.

MaxRocks

any ex mod landy will have been thrashed to f u ck

Or crashed, I've wrote a few off
I'm in the same situation - thinking about getting one and I agree a van is probably more practical (Merc Vito) but vans aren't cool 8)
Plus I kind of miss that annoying whine of the engine at 58 mph

howsmyriding27

i agree with a van... just roll your bike in and out. land rover is cool and 4x4 but not many bikes in and could be expensive to find a decent, working and reliable one.

RobS

Get a softtop 110 ex army, and then hang front wheels over the back of the tailgate Drop In style. Great laughs, plenty of space and the group of you will arrive in style, not get bogged down in the camping field (like me and my girlfriend in her 106 weekend just gone ) and you will look a damn site more stylish than if u turn up in a white transit!

End of the day its about choices and personal preference.

If you like comfort and MPG - take the transit.

If you like style and the great outdoors - take the 110, they are great beasts

Specialized5432

would not recomend i spent time driving air force 90's and 110's and we thrashed the hell out of them (you would not think you could get a few feet air in a landy or drive through a wall)- and all this was on an airfeild so think how bad a landy that has seen some real action could be in. you are probably better to gat a normal second hand landy.