Overland with Kids

August 2007

After many years, sold flat in London which free’s up some cash, instrumental to Anne’s 20+ year dream to travel the world overland.  Still not enough however and our children still young. New home needs to be completely refurbished and brought into 21st century - endless pit of money required.

By rights we should use money (and we are not rich by any means) for a much needed (small) extension and replacement windows (small fortunes quoted) but  decide to use instead toward travel using a Land Rover.

Serious search for our Land Rover ‘Defender’ begins (even though we have looked on and off for years at these fine beasts! and salivated at any we pass along the motorway etc. wishing we owned one)

If we were a single couple with no children, we reckon we probably would have spent a pittance on the vehicle.  A number of factors however quickly feature such as child safety, mileage demands, space requirements versus compactness while travelling, we want the vehicle of our choice for life, for Andrew it can double up as a work-horse afterwards,  weight load, fuel consumption/availability/cost, that we can get four bikes, all equipment including camping and ourselves on board - plus the obligatory Christmas tree when required!

With all of this in mind and following further research via web, Land Rover magazine ads and dealers, we decide to go for the best quality, lowest mileage Defender 110 300 Tdi County Station Wagon we can find.

November 2007

Land Rover purchased - a Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW ‘R’ registration - one of the last non-electric versions in excellent condition - from the Land Rover Centre in Huddersfield. Cost £11,995.

February 2008

We need a website and after some research, we contact Helena from Little Blue Plane based in Bedford and www.overlandwithkids.com is born. Cost £511.90 including Ficker account for photos.

We join the Landyzone forum in a bid to understand our vehicle better

March/April 2008

We want to understand our vehicle 4×4 capability better and how to recover, sef-recover and self- assess situations along our route. We undertake a one day (for 2 people) beginners off-roading session at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire and then a more intense 2-day off-roading, route finding and expedition training session at Greystoke Castle in Cumbria. Total costs: £1415 excluding overnight accommodation and travel expenses (£550 Rockingham and £865 Greystoke)

We buy a breathable caravan cover as vehicle sits under a tree on the drive which birds love! Cost: £129.99 from Argos (we figure we’ll save lots of money/effort having to otherwise continually clean the car)

May 2008

We purchased and fitted the following items (with huge help and thanks to the Landyzone members):

3 x 2nd row high back reclining trakker seats from Exmoor Trim and 2 x Britax hi-liner seats from Halfords for children’s height, comfort and safety. Costs: £692.22 plus £40.96 tools

5 x Security Grilles for rear cargo area of vehicle from Safari-Equipe and self-adhesive window tint from Halfords. Costs: £235.59 grilles and £75 tint

1 x full length dog guard from 4×4Mailorder to act as a cargo divider to better protect children from luggage area should be have any mishaps. Cost: £99.88

Also purchased but not yet fitted a 40 litre Engel fridge from MTS. Cost: £480

Security other. Cost: £99.99

Much camping equipment purchased - yet to list

A small fortune spent already - £15,775.53 total (£13,368.63 vehicle, £1,415 off-roading, £480 fridge, 511.90 website)  - vehicle overlanding proving definately not to be the cheapest option! as oppossed e.g. flights, trains, bikes around the world. The realisation of how lucky we are to be able to buy the vehicle comes to mind and the reality of the risk that the vehicle alone is likely to blow our budget if we don’t get a handle and draw in our horns else, there’ll be no funds available to actually travel has kicked in.

We also go camping to Wells-next-the-Sea to get outside our comfort zone and into understanding a bit more about the reality of life on the road. Cost £100

The above costs exclude car tax, insurance and MOT.

We need to knuckle down and start saving hard and making sacrifices if we are to make this trip happen

June 2008

Website is launched and we are able to begin populating

We join Couchsurfing.com for some world networking and hopefully some penpals for the children and also Lonely Planet.com to make use of the Thorn Tree Forum/Kids to Go section

July 2008

An additional £3,500 spent on a second hand Jurgens Xplorer off road caravan which resolves our sleeping and study arrangements.  We are at circa £19, 275.73 solely on the vehicle(s) expenditure stakes.

August 2008

Trip to Terragona, Spain (by air - we did not bring the vehicle) where we managed to do a tiny bit of investigating regarding campsites and places of interest in the area.

Apply for Australian Independant Skilled Work Visa for Andrew (Stage 1)

September 2008

Found out that Howling Moon supply canvas replacement for Jurgens Xplorer roof (£200 including VAT and import from South Africa).

Started buying maps and a couple of books so we can work out our route in more detail (£48).

Continue Australian Independant Skilled Work Visa application for Andrew (stage 2)

End April/Beg. May 2009

Andrew passes practical assessment for Australian visa

2nd Trip to Terragona, Spain

Pesky and rod-puppets arrive (£1,200)

Vehicle graphics and tshirts (£300)

Vehicle training (£100)

May Day Event

 

Vehicle Preparation