Defender Build

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why the Defender and how he got the name “Willy”

The vast and untamed landscapes of Iceland are unlike anything else in the world. Majestic mountains, powerful waterfalls, and rocky terrain that seems to go on forever. It was on our honeymoon that we first encountered the Land Rover Defender, the ultimate off-road vehicle that can conquer any challenge thrown its way.

As we journeyed through Iceland, we saw these iconic vehicles effortlessly crossing rivers and traversing rough terrain, inspiring us with their rugged beauty. Every time we saw one, we couldn’t help but stop and admire it, imagining ourselves behind the wheel, exploring this stunning landscape.

Our love for the Defender 110 grew with each passing day, and by the time we boarded the plane back to Switzerland, we had already decided that we needed to find one of our own. We wanted to transform it into an off-road camper, a vehicle that would allow us to travel and explore in comfort and style.

After weeks of searching, we finally found our newest family member: a Defender TD5 110. The moment we laid eyes on it, we knew that it was meant to be ours. One week later, we were driving it home, ready to begin the process of turning it into our dream adventure vehicle.

The Base

 

We named our Defender Willy, after a gentle giant we had encountered in the Icelandic waters: a humpback whale. It seemed fitting for our new ride, which, like the whale, was strong, powerful, and built to survive in the harshest of environments.

Now, with Willy by our side, we’re ready to take on whatever adventures lie ahead. Whether we’re crossing rivers, climbing mountains, or simply cruising down the highway, we know that we have the ultimate vehicle to take us wherever our hearts desire.

from scratch

 

the idea behind

Picture this: the sun setting on a deserted beach, the waves crashing gently on the shore, and in the distance, a Landrover Defender 110 TD5 named Willy, parked right on the sand. This may not be the usual camping spot, but for us, it’s the perfect place to spend the night.

But why a Defender and why an off-road camper? That’s the question on everyone’s mind, including our family and friends who couldn’t believe that especially me, Andreea, who was never a camping fan, would travel like this.

It’s funny to think back on our first vacation together, where Christian had booked us a giant camper with the motto “the bigger the better.” While the trip was nice, the inflexibility of the camper made it less enjoyable. Willy is the complete opposite, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the natural world and experience the freedom of being in the middle of nowhere.

it starts with a sketch

 

It all comes down to the freedom and flexibility that a Defender 110 provides. It’s not just any car, but a beast that can conquer rough off-roads and cross rivers with ease, taking us to the most breathtaking places to spend the night. We can visit cities, see untouched nature, spend time on our own, and enjoy the silence of nature without any distractions. It’s all about being in the middle of nowhere and feeling like we are the only ones in the world.

When we first got Willy, we hadn’t yet adopted Nacho into our family. But even now with our beloved dog by our side, traveling in our off-road camper feels like the perfect way to explore the world.

So, while our family and friends may still be in shock, we are living our best lives, exploring the world through the lens of our trusty sidekick Willy, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

 

a strong foundation

 

most important about “Willy”

With an unyielding spirit of adventure, we delved deep into the realm of Defender modifications, devouring videos, articles, and discussions, all in the name of our cherished TD5, Willy.

Our quest for the perfect Defender interior led us to prioritize a comfortable and easily accessible space in the back, where we could relax and unwind without any fuss. Cooking and enjoying meals in a cozy atmosphere with soft lighting was a must, especially during stormy weather.

With SNAP’s song lyrics in our head :”Ive got the power” we made sure to prioritize a reliable source of electricity to keep all our gadgets charged and ready for action.

And of course, we couldn’t hit the road without ample storage space for all our gear, including Andreea’s matching outfits and shoes, Nacho’s food, drinks, snacks, and all the other needed things. Inside storage was a must, rooftop storage only goes so far on our wild adventures.

Being able to go off the grid for a few days was essential for us. We wanted to have the freedom to explore remote areas and not be tied down to campsites or other amenities. This meant that we needed to have enough water, food, and power to sustain ourselves for a few days at a time.

We researched and installed various systems to make our Defender autark. This included a water storage tank, a solar panel system to charge our batteries, and a fridge to keep our food fresh.

 

furniture fabrication frenzy

 

the quest for power

 

how about an oak cubbybox for the TD5

 

Check out the full room tour:

 

Full Partlist

Willy is built with top-quality parts, many of which come from tigerexped. If you’re looking to equip your own rig, you can find most of what you need there. By using our affiliate link, you’re not only getting great gear but also supporting us—thank you!

 

Chapter 1 – The Base

• Landrover Defender 110 TD5 (2004)
• Origin: Spain –> Italy–> Switzerland
• 120’000km
• 1’500 to 2’000h of passion

 

Chapter 2 – Exterieur & Technics

• Defender Winch Bumper – Uproar 4×4
• Defender Rocksliders – Uproar 4×4
• Light protection – Uproar 4×4
• Bonnet Armour – Uproar 4×4
• Winch – Warn VR Evo 12S
• Sparewheel Carier – Nakatanenga
• Hoodhinges – Exmoor Trim
• Snowcover
• Snorkel – Landrover Original
• LED Headlights – Trucklite 27270C
• Direction lights etc – Wipac
• Wheels – Dotz Dakar 7×16 ET8
• Tires – BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2 265/75 R16
• Shocks – OME Old Man Emu Nitro Charger
• Springs – Front OME Old Man Emu 767
• Srings – Rear OME Old Man Emu 754
• Radius Arms – HD Cranked Radius Arms
• Roofrack – Flatdog UK – RAX 110
• Storage – Auer Packaging Protective Cases
• Seats – Scheelmann Traveler LR
• Sterring Wheel – MOMO Heritage Indy 
• Cubby Box – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Quick Acsess Battery – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Tablet Holder – RAM Mount X-Grip 1,5“
• Switch Pannel – AC-800 RGB SWITCH PANEL WITH APP&REMOTE CONTROL
• Auxbeam Headlights – V-ULTRA SERIES | 5 INCH 172W
• Light Bar – Osram LEDriving® LIGHTBAR VX1000-CB SM 108W
• Side and Rearlights – Osram LEDriving Reversing FX120S-WD – 15W
• Mirrorcamera – Wolfbox G850
• Side and Rear Window – Explore Glazing
• Folddown Table – Offroad Tec
• Diesel Tank – GMB Mount Long Range Diesel Tank 47 Lier
• Rear Ladder

 

Chapter 3 – Living & Camping

• Clothes Bag – Cocoon Packing Cube with Open Net Top
• Water Tap – Tigerexped – Camper Faucet Foldable Hot Water Tap Queensize Camper
• Sink – Tigerexped – Vanlife” camper sink from Queensize Camper, 340 x 220 x 120 mm
• Fridge – Engel MTV45F Fridge/ Freezer 40L
• Medibag – My Medic MYFAK™ FIRST AID KIT
• Cosmetic Bags – Evoc Pouch Wash Bag
• Campstove – Cadac 2-Cook 3 Pro Deluxe
• Windowblinds – MUD UK
• Rooftop – Alucab Icarus Rooftop
• Reclining Headrest – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Awning – Alucab 270 Awning
• Diesel Heater – Autoterm Air 2D
• Storage Box – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Camptable – Spatz Sandpiper Table
• Camping Chair – Helinox Chair Zero High Back
• Dutch Oven – Petromax Dutch Oven ft4,5 – Fire pot
• Firepit- Hofats Triple 65
• Grill – Hofats
• Wheelcarrier – Britpart Spare Wheel Carrier
• Stairs – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Shower Cabin – Vickywood Shower Cabin
• Toilet – Trelino® Origin S • Composting toilet
• Shovel – Trooper Shovel
• Shower – CAMPLUX AY132 – 5 Liter Tankless

 

Chapter 4 – Tools & Recovery

• Airhose for two Wheels – Custom Made Fluri Adventures (Ask for Assistance)
• Compressor – T-MAX Compressor 72 LPM
• Sandboards – TRED PRO sand plates grey
• Recovery Gear – Nakatanenga Recovery Strap
• Recovery Gear – Nakatanenga pulley for plastic ropes, with and without soft shackles
• Recovery Gear – Nakatanenga soft shackle 10mm – breaking strength 12.000kg
• Fold Down Mechanism – Offroad Tec
• Toolbox – Kraftwerk – 204.104.800
• Car Jack – Bahco 12T
• Toolroll – Carhartt Tool Roll
• Storage Box – Roverland-Expedition Chassis Storage Box
  • Get 5% off the Roverland-Expedition Chassis Storage Box with our special code FLURI5!

 

Chapter 5 Water & Gas

• Watertank Inside – 51 Liter
• Waterpump – Tigerexped – Water pressure system – pressurised water pump 12V & pressure storage tank
• Filtersystem – Alb Filter
• Water Tank Back – Frontrunner
• External Water Pump – Seaflo Submersible and Inline Pump 280GPH
• Tanks Sensor – Votronic Tank Level Sensor
• Refillable Gasbottle – Gaslow Tankbottle 2,7kg (4,5Liter)
• Adapter Set

 

Chapter 6 – Electricity

• Battery – Renogy 12.8V 300Ah Core Mini Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
• DC-DC Charger – Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC 12/12-30A (360W)
• Solar Charger – Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 75/15
• Solar Panel – Tigerexped – Solarpanel 180Wp “black tiger 180”, 1100×796 mm
• Battery Charger – Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12/30 (1)
• Battery Monitor – SIMARINE PICO+
• Shaunts – SC303, SCQ25, SCQ50
• Switch Pannel – Tigerexped Switch panel 12V, 10 ports with Bluetooth
• USB Charger – Tigerexped – USB-C / USB-A built-in socket 12/24V QC/PD3.0 45W light-auto-off
• Power Bank – Goal Zero Yeti 1000X
• Portable Solar Pannel – Ecoflow 110W
• Hairdrier – Dyson Airwrap