Vehicle Preparation
Making the Landy Tropical Ready
Taking a 60+ year old Series 2 Land Rover out of temperate zones and driving straight into intense tropical heat, extreme humidity, and monsoonal downpours requires serious preparation. To safely navigate our upcoming routes, we have overhauled the mechanical cooling and entirely re-engineered the interior cabin environment.
Mechanical & Cooling Upgrades
Crawling along remote, muddy tracks or idling in gridlocked cities at 100% humidity pushes classic cooling systems past their breaking points. Here is how we're modifying the setup to ensure the 2.25L engine stays cool:
Larger Radiator
Swapping out the factory unit for a high-efficiency, larger radiator to drastically upgrade our total base cooling capacity.
Switch-Operated Fan
An auxiliary electric fan wired directly to a manual dash toggle switch to force maximum airflow when idling or in heavy terrain.
Tropical Thermostat
Utilizing a lower-opening thermostat to cycle coolant into the radiator early, staying ahead of potential thermal spikes.
Cabin & Living Space Overhaul
An uninsulated bare aluminum cabin easily transforms into a greenhouse under a tropical sun. We've introduced several major upgrades to drop cabin temperatures and lock out moisture:
Roof Insulation
Heavy-duty rubber and foil insulation installed along the bare metal ceiling and sides, which is then covered in black 'TunnelCore' to block radiant heat from cooking us.
RTT "Tropical Roof"
Our permanently mounted rooftop tent acts as a massive physical sunshield, leaving an insulated air gap above the roof skin.
EcoFlow Wave 3 Aircon
The front middle seat was abandoned to install active, hard-hitting climate control directly in the cab.
Window Tinting
High-performance, heat-rejecting window tint applied across the glass to minimize solar load throughout the day.
Monsoon Sealing
Extra silicone sealant on every bulkhead gap and extra rubber insulation to pack out notorious factory door seal gaps.
75-Litre Fridge
A high-capacity overlanding fridge to ensure an abundant supply of ice-cold water to combat dehydration.
Explore the Full Build & Adventure
From a bare-chassis mechanical rebuild to custom camper fabrication, follow every stage of prepping this 60+ year old Series 2 for the ultimate global expedition.
The Grand Expedition
All of these grueling tropical preparations are for the ultimate test: a massive 30,000km+ overland expedition driving a classic 1960 Land Rover halfway across the world. Explore our overarching plans and map layouts for this lifelong dream journey:
Peanut's Perspective
"I have officially authorized the removal of the front middle seat. While losing a potential napping platform is regrettable, replacing it with a dedicated EcoFlow Wave 3 climate control unit is a highly acceptable trade-off for a cat with a premium, thick fur coat. If the 75-litre fridge is not adequately stocked with chilled treats, however, renegotiations will occur."
Landy Rover 8 Rules of the Road
Crucial guidelines we live by to keep the vehicle together and spirits high on any expedition:
- Go easy on the old girl.
- If I like somewhere, I stay for a bit.
- No more than 300 or 400km per day.
- Check the engine oil every day.
- Change the engine oil every 5000km.
- Investigate weird noises.
- No driving at night (you can't see anything anyway).
- Have a fun time!
After spending 3 years restoring a Series Land Rover, and then spending one year converting her and building a 4WD campervan, we are now going on the ultimate adventure and driving from Australia to the UK! As a result we now need to make our Series Land Rover ready for the Tropical Heat! Join us as we drive a Series 2, ex-army Land Rover across the globe. Our first challenge is stopping the Land Rover from overheating and stop the heat inside the cabin.