TRAVELLING IN STYLE

by Lauren Eaton

If you’ve not already come across it on social media, this is Ralph the L322 Range Rover. He’s an early diesel example, sporting (ha! maybe not the best term for this engine!) the BMW Td6, and although he arrived as a tarmac queen with 22in rims, he will eventually become my laner and overlander.

He’s far from economical averaging 23-24mpg, but is very comfortable, and after 9 months living in a self-converted Freelander 1 I fancied a bit of luxury and a lot more space!

So far I’ve done a fair bit of maintenance work - it’s been undersealed, serviced, the crankcase breather filter has been uprated to the BMW cyclone separator, the EGR has been blanked, and I’ve replaced his hedgehog (end stage heater resistor) as they’re notoriously problematic.

I’ve ordered lots of new rubber bits to fit – belts, hoses, bushes, air bags (yes it is still on air and will remain that way!), and tyres, all be replaced by yours truly, as will the brakes and various bits and pieces such as tailgate straps, gas struts, and one lower door seal. I’m also going to install a second battery, underbody protection, and rock sliders.

The only problems I’ve found so far are that only half the heated screen works, a bit of door seal is damaged, and the thermostat stuck open one day while I was on route to the co-op, not bad for a 19 year old!

Despite the rest being in good shape I’m still replacing all the above to ensure I won’t have to while out enjoying using it.

My plan is to take it to the 2021 Les Comes Land Rover party in northern Spain again - if it goes ahead of course! Then back to Scotland as soon as I can to see the rest of the clan MacQuarrie, and get my fix of wild camping, lochs, beaches and mountains.

If I can manage nine months of that in a Freelander don’t expect me back anytime soon in a Range Rover, especially after so long in lockdown!

Once I’ve done all the maintenance work I will then start on the fun stuff, turning it into my new house on wheels!

While the build will be a bit posher than the budget build in the Freelander, it still won’t be exorbitantly expensive, or be one of those that morphs from a Range Rover into something the size of a small village when set up. One thing I know from years of travelling around in Land Rovers is that you need very little to live comfortably on the road, and the more you have the more you have to maintain, find space for, spend diesel money on buying, and fix when it breaks!

Less is definitely more, especially as I only ever overnight at camp spots and move on the next morning, no one wants to spend hours setting up only to undo it all first thing in the morning, every morning for months on end, but I do plan on a few extra gadgets this time.

Welcome to the family Ralph!