In the back and the water solution

ihana.com - big trip - the landy - guide - in the back and the water solution

 

Cooker on the door...

...unfolds quickly...

...ready to make some tea

The rear door has had the glass replaced by a steel panel in Nicaragua for better security. Fixed to the steel are two plastic storage boxes (occasionally containing jam, hot sauce and coffee) and a bottle opener. The cooker is made by Coleman and runs off normal unleaded petrol which we keep in a 10 litre green jerry can beside the door.

Bass tube, subwoofer box and blue safe on right

Jerry cans hold 80 litres of water

Strapped down, stylish orange boiler suit between

Filling the landy with water, click to see better

The storage area looks big when its empty but its easy to fill it all up. Running along the inside of the wheel boxes are two long radiators which heat the inside up using the engine coolant. This can be turned on or off by a tap behind the cubby box. This only got used in Patagonia.

The first things that go against the bulkhead are the four 20 litre water cans. These are ex-army and are made of black plastic to avoid things growing inside (clear ones encourage algae). They are placed with the tops facing the front so we can fill them up in situ using a hosepipe and funnel with standard 19 or 20 litre plastic water barrels of purified water (usually costing about $1.50 each). One person stands on the bonnet and tips the water from the barrel into a funnel. The other guy keeps the hose in the jerry can and keeps a watch to make sure that not too much water is spilled.

Landy shower

Water bags, 10L and two 6L

For drinking we siphon the water out into two 6 litre waterbags kept in the cab. We also have a 10 litre waterbag which we fill at garages or in rivers and is only used for cooking and washing. Using this method our drinking water lasts at least a month. The 10 litre bag also serves as a shower.

Bolted to the bulkhead is a steel safe which we use to keep our passports and other documents in when we don't expect to be crossing any borders. Its hard to get to the safe as the winch is in the way of the door so we don't use it very much.

Recovery box, books box and spares boxes

Winch and cable sit next to the safe

Kitchen, food, camping and tools boxes

Boxes stack perfectly

A sheet of plywood covers this up

All this fits in...somehow!

Either side of the jerrys live the winch and a box containing recovery equipment, shackles and suchlike. This way the heaviest things (presuming the water cans are full) are far forward to keep the weight as close to the centre of the car as possible. Then come the other boxes of spares and whatnot and right at the back live our holdalls of everyday items like clothes and wash kit. This way its easy to access the things we need most and we can just grab our bags and spend a night in a hotel without having to dig out loads of stuff.