With a roof rack, rooftop tent and five large bolted-down plastic crates inside for packing space, Steyn and Elsabé Joubert of Malmesbury and their 2003 Land Rover Defender 110 Td5 have often gone travelling.

They have visited Botswana, Namibia (especially Kaokoland and Damaraland), Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi and have crisscrossed South Africa.

“It worked well, but we wanted to make it even more comfortable,” says Steyn.

Early last year, Steyn took the Defender to Albie Bam of AW Bam General Repairs in Wellington to put his money where his mouth is.

Albie obviously has more talents than to flatten uneven metal surfaces, because four months later, the Defender had been transformed into off-road wheels with a roof that pops up to form a tent and double bed, acres of packing space and a built-in kitchenette.

The conversion was done without lengthening the Defender’s wheelbase or widening the body.

The only change to the body is a 10 cm spacer that was inserted between the standard roof and side panels to create more room for the bed.

The total conversion cost some R65 000, excluding the fitting of the fridge and freezer, two extra batteries and extra water - and diesel tanks.
 

This is what was changed on the Defender:

The better to sleep:
The front of which has been attached with hinges – opens with gas shock absorbers.

As the roof opens, the tent folds out on both sides – all within two minutes.
“We sleep with the little windows open,” says Steyn, “and it has never rained in.”

When the bed isn’t being used, the back half of the bed floor folds up against the roof for more space inside.
This feature, says Steyn, makes a huge difference when you are working in the back of the Landy.

You also don’t have to climb up to the bed with a ladder – you simply step onto the lowermost bottom cupboard from where it’s an easy climb onto the bed.
 

The better to cook.
The inside panel of the back door was removed and a “kitchenette” was fitted with a dropdown table.

The kitchenette has elastic bands that keep cutlery, mugs and glasses in place, and even a recessed spice rack.
“The design was mine,” says Elsabé. “A woman’s thinking is more practical,” she adds.

The better to pack:
Apart from the pop-up rooftop tent, the biggest change was the removal of the rear seats. They were replaced by built-in cupboards and plywood drawers with aluminium frames.

A fridge and freezer was mounted on the cupboards

The more to pack:
Apart from the built-in cupboards, there is nifty packing space all over, such as the one bag of the spare-wheel-cover that has space for a braai grid, braai stand, coal tongs and Blitz. 

The other bag has space for the pop-up screens for the shower and bundu toilet.

The stitching of this spare-wheel cover, the tent and seat covers is the handiwork of one of the women at Albie’s firm.

“It looks like a product that Land Rover would want to market,” says Steyn proudly.

The further to drive:
Apart from the changes made to the inside of the Landy, Steyn had extra tanks fitted to enable him to carry 200 litres diesel and 100 litres water.

“One never knows when you will need it,” he explains.

The better to sit:
The awning that was attached to the roof rack of the Land Rover before the conversion, could be reused.
Albie made new support struts for it.

The better to make a fire:
However, the conversion that has caused the greatest stir among their friends, is the steel basket bolted to the front of the bumper and in which they collect braai wood when they are in the bundu.
“Most people are more interested in the basket than in the conversion,” says Elsabé. “They can’t stop talking about the nifty idea.”

Room for a baby giraffe:
Even tall people can stand up comfortably in the back of the Land Rover
once its rooftop tent is up.

Nice and compact:
In a mini kitchen such as this you can quickly knock together lunch in the bundu.

Talking point:
In the steel basket bolted to the front of the Landy, Steyn puts wood collected from the veld.