Muddy Marge is the New Marge!

We bought Muddy Marge in November 2023. A Land Rover 110 Td5 Defender XS County Station Wagon. Originally Black, but now with orange details to make her more easily recognisable if stolen. The previous owner had spent much time and money kitting her out as an overlander with an Alucab Icarus raising roof containing a double bed, and side boxes for tools and outdoor kitchen. Since then she has been further adapted to more suit the type of travelling we intend to do. Here are some photos showing the work being carried out.

Muddy Marge at her old home Newmarket.

Sat on the drive with Marge, a two camper family! Now Marge is with a new family. 

She was fully kitted out, but the layout didn't suit our use so it all had to come out.

The inside was insulated, and sound damping panels fitted.

New cabinets built, not much fun in the winter out on the drive.

Next the lightweight Poplar ply cabinets painted in a nice bright orange, on the drive, and in the kitchen on our Ercol table!

Cabinets in, and the wiring & plumbing begins.

Upholstery material chosen to suit colour scheme, and be good at hiding muddy marks.

Cushions all fitted along with the Boxio composting toilet.

Roof rack, roof box and solar panels fitted. With the 390 watts of panels fitted even on a not particularly sunny day 25 amps were going into the 300Ah Lithium battery. We need such a large set up, as although we will have a gas BBQ, all other cooking will be on a mains induction cooker, kettle and toaster. With a 2000 Watt inverter we can run any one of those for hours without flattening the battery. With the 50 amp Renogy DC to DC charger / MPPT system we will refill the battery from the alternator or solar panels very quickly.

Well we had to try her out, so off to Brockenhurst in the New Forest. Almost everything worked fine, the electric cooking system was perfect, omlette cooked on the induction hob. Just a few adjustments to be made, then get prepared for our trip up to Scotland.

Due to the weight of the new equipment on the roof two of the gas struts had to be uprated, and when fitted, which was an awful job one of them bent! Hopefully that was a one off, as at £143 a pair John was not very happy. Nene Overland promises they will have a replacement here by Wednesday morning, so fingers crossed as we planned to leave on that day for Scotland!