The Light Touch
•Equipment
Touch the Light.....
John MacPherson
Landscape and Environmental Photography from Scotland
This is for Land Rover enthusiasts only - abandon hope all others who read past here...............
One of the biggest problems for any serious landscape or nature photographer is getting around, being in the right place for sunrises and sunsets, or reaching the remoter corners where wildlife is located, and staying warm dry and comfortable in the process. But I have found a solution and in the process have become.........a Land Rover afficionado! The solution is a s/h Land Rover 110 (ex-Vodafone fleet vehicle) which I have recently had renovated. I have removed the tired old (200,000 miles!) 2.5 TD and fitted a 200Tdi engine, an ASG longer range fuel tank of the 'sandwich' type installed in the rear wing and holding an extra 40 litres, a GKN overdrive, and an Eberspacher diesel-fed heater running off a split-charge dual battery system. The Eberspacher provides heat to warm the engine block so that cold starts are easier, and also heats the interior. It uses around .25 litres an hour. The interior of the vehicle has full insulation throughout, and I have built some fitted cupboards and a convertible sleeping area. Loaded up with all the kit, I have a warm, comfortable go-anywhere vehicle. I have been able to do trips in serious winter conditions and stay warm and dry, and have never been stuck on any snowy road thanks to the incredible ability of the Land Rover. For UK driving the 110 is a bit heavy on fuel (ie costly), but the purchase of a Land Rover should not be judged solely on the fuel cost. Factor in the longevity of the vehicle, the high resale value, and the relatively cheap insurance and spares costs, and the whole deal seems a bit more value-for-money. And they are eminently recycleable - a high % of all the Land Rovers ever made are still on the road! Not fast vehicles though! And they tend to leak!! I've undersealed the inside of my van!
•Land Rover
