rear luggage area set-up

[Swift]

Hi All.
I've posted this in the camping section, but given about 3 people a month read that section, I'm going to try posting here.
I'm about to undertake a two and a half week extended trip crossing a fairly major desert. I'm going to have to be self-sufficient for at least 6-7 days of travel with no access to any supplies whatsoever.
What I'm interested in are people's ideas for storage solutions for the back of the Disco 2 given I'm going to be packing up every day. I currently have 40 litre Engel, 4 boxes for foodstuffs, one big box for kitchen equipement, and enough containers for 55 litres of water and 60 litres of diesel, plus camping gear to be stored in the car. The back seats will be folded up and I have fit all this gear in my car before.
I'm on the lookout for new ideas - genius ideas, on what kind of boxes to pack things in (stackable, indestructible, etc..), and how to lay it out.

Bring on the replies!

http://web.mac.com/gavanswift/iWeb/LR_Aventures/Welcome.html

 

[Swift]

Just found out the longest distance betwen fuel stops will be 900km (560miles)

 

[skippy3k]

You need to get "Sahara Overland" by Chris Scott. It deals with exactly what you are looking for, and I believe is considered THE resource for desert crossings. It even discusses Land Rovers.

Or check out the Camping section for photos of other storage layouts.

 

[Ruffin' It]

I just started buying supplies for building my storage unit. I'm going to have the typical drawers and whatnot, but I'll also have a roll-out kitchen in the rear so I don't have to pack plates, stove, etc. where they will be in the way as well as a flexible water bladder in one of the side storage compartment with a foot-switch operated small electric water pump from West Marine so the kitchen will have running water. The other nifty thing is I will have front and rear laterally mounted steel tubes bent to follow the contour of the interior. From there I'm attaching some one inch steel mesh fencing (not cyclone, the welded stuff) across the celling to which I can hang the light but bulky things like sleeping bags. Lastly, I'm flush mounting this cargo tie-down system: http://www.cargogear.com/Straps_and_Tiedowns/Anchor_Points.htm to secure the remaining supplies to the floor.

Let me know if you want to know more

 

[braves6117]

Ruffin'it- You have any photos of what you have installed already? And I would love to see it when your done, sounds just like what I have in mind :applause:

 

[ptschram]

So that's what a wombat looks like!

 

[RRCNicky]

Go here - they have lots of product, solutions and extensive photos...

www.expeditionexchange.com

 

[JeffM]

Try this place for ideas

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/index.php

Also take a look at the stuff these guys have

http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/africanoutback/

I'm taking it that based on the amount of fuel you'll have to carry you're going to invest in a long ranger auxiliary tank?

Jeff

 

[Swift]

no, I'm not going to put in a long ranger fuel tank. I'll be carrying at least 60 litres of diesel in Jerry cans inside the vehicle.
...and the longest time between services (food, fuel, etc..) will be 8 days.

 

[DiscoNomad]

My African Outback drawers are great. Highly recommend.

 

[varova87]

there are some previous threads on this. i started one of them.

try searching for them, they might help out. im still on my quest for the best setup for my needs.

 

[antichrist]

As I recall, those experienced in desert expeditions generaly say reduce your usual mpg by at least 50% when estimating fuel needs.
I'd just remove the rear seats for the trip, if you're returning eventually to your starting point.
For spares, be sure to take spare axle CV boots. If you get a tear in one, sand in them will disable you in short order.

 

[antichrist]

I really shouldn't go by memory. Tom Sheppard in Land Rover's "Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide suggests fuel for the actual distance + 25% + 100 miles. He also gives a "terrain factor" to use if you don't have "actual" distance but can only measure the distance on a map. If a 1:1m map is used he suggests multiplying your fuel needs by a terrain factor of 1.5-2 for desert driving. Hmmmm....I guess typing this out I see I was about right the first time for desert driving.

 

[Swift]

This is my current plan for the pack. In the past it has worked out quite well, but the longest time I've been away with it is around 10 days. This time it is two and a half weeks, hence I'm looking for some fresh ideas.

 

[montanablur]

I love, love, love the schematic.

Since you are a planner, an old proverb to live by...

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

 

[UK 4X4]

Love the schematic too, but have issues with the weight distribution of all the fuel and the 10ltrs of water being on one side.

Clothes and gear etc won't balance it up very well,
but I can see your thinking of easy access too.

In my truck I built a set of drawers out of ply to give me two levels of storage, similar to disco nomads....but with less cost...

So theres less unstacking etc.

Using 12mm ply for the casing and 6mm for the drawers does not add much weight but doubles your easy accesable space. in the rear flat section.

 

[nickb857]

Love the schematic too, but have issues with the weight distribution of all the fuel and the 10ltrs of water being on one side.
.

x2

 

[Swift]

I understand the issues regarding weight distribution. This will be more fuel than I've normally carried. Usually the weight of a full Engel on one side and a couple of Jerry cans on the other has roughly equalled out - and they both empty at around the same rate.
I have polyair springs in the rear so I'll so a little evening out using them.

The plan is certainly all about ease of access as I'll be doing a touring trip where we set up every day. The water in the middle of the vehicle will be piped and tapped to the right passenger door so I never have to lift it out. I'm even planning of filling it in situ with a hose.

Unfortunatey drawers are not a great option for me as my touring tent lives under a parcel shelf I've made that straps down to the rear tie-downs, already raising the Engel and Kitchen box. The tent folds flat, but takes up the entire floor of the rear luggage area.

In the photo below you can see the size of the touring tent (which is held in place with 6 pegs, one centre pole and the rear frame - no guy ropes!), plus the Kitchen box and table set-up.

Also, the way I've currently organised the pack I can still see out the rear window and I only have the second spare tyre on the roof.

 

[Asolo3j]

Why not put the lighter-weight items like clothing in a pelican/storm case on the roof rack? Maybe a smaller expedition tent will make it easier to pack?

 

[Ruffin' It]

Ruffin'it- You have any photos of what you have installed already? And I would love to see it when your done, sounds just like what I have in mind :applause:

I don't have any photos as of yet, but I am going to document it well and make the plans available to whoever wants them. I just haven't found any products or plans out there that do what I want and the stuff out there is WAY over priced.