DD - good point re: kids routine - their welfare very important to us . Had thought about this and had thought about self-educating while travelling also to ensure they keep to the curriculum and don't lose out as such. Have been looking at World service education website (bit costly) where they liaise with you while you are on the move and assist with portable education packs and provide assessments - so routine etc. will be a very important element. Due to cost am thinking about approaching their exisitng school also nearer the time to see if we can follow existing focus for school year however, education is not something we want to mess with - (and we are not professional teachers as such) so if it comes with a high cost but better educational protection/ensurance, we'll go for it. Envisage approx 11 months minimum on the road with children - quite a long time for them to be out of school - this has been major consideration for us. Once in OZ - we are hoping to school them there while we get work for a year before considering returning. While on the move, think we need to provide approx 3.5 hours daily to older daughter and a bit less to younger son - so this trip is going to have rigidity and routine built in to a fair degree. Gone are my dreams about being able to wake up late on some beach somewhere - sniff! - reality about the hard work ahead - but a bit of balance will make us all happy - routine probably means we'll get a heck of alot more out of the trip too! Thanks for info as am particularly interested in any tips re: children whilst on the move -anything at all - health/education/vehicle security/comfort.

Sorry to put the cat amongst the pigeons
Are you staying in OZ permanent when you get there?
The double cab option here pic http://www.bhrv.co.uk/images/1190921.jpg
would enable you to build a camper type back on with luton for kids sleeping, and raising roof. You could retain the rear tub to fit back on for work use Should not be that difficult to sort out
They were sought after by tradesmen in OZ due to load carrying ability and highest train weight limit of any 4WD 7400kg
The earlier pic was of a converted 110 not a 130 with the 130 double cab as you can see two rows of seats and four doors in the cab area
Hope that helps with your decision making
feel free to pm me if you want more detail

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh - stop showing me these photos - the 130 looks G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. Addresses child friendly issue of being to see out. I want to cry. When you say sought after - does that mean can sell easily once in OZ?
Ideal plan for us is to apply for Australian skills based visa (we have just received application forms). Fly there and back to validate visa (a bit expensive I know) but this leaves us much more flexibility to enter Australia in our own time (within 5 years I think - but to be confirmed) rather than be too rushed along the route should we decide we want to stay somewhere longer/venture off track - don't want to be too rigid with the physical travel plan bit. Finance a consideration so don't think we can afford to veer to far off this timeframe either. Would like room for manouvre though. Once there - ideal then to stay minimum 1 year - option to sell/ship vehicle back/stay in Australia/move on/overland a different route back (except we'll definately be penniless at this stage). Definately would like flex - have never been to OZ and right now it serves as end destination point for us to regather ourselves and decide next move.

When you arrive in OZ you will need to discharge your carnet
You will then have to pay the import duty this is based on the original cost of the vehicle then reduced by the amount of time you have owned the vehicle at so much per cent a month. To extend this time you can tell them you intend to re export the vehicle and pay a duty deposit that will be returned on export or at the end of the allowed time for export taken as the duty. The reason for doing it the second way is that it makes the licencing for use in OZ easier to comply with I can give you more info later via pm if you like.
I take it then that you are not intending to emigrate to OZ ?
If you stay in OZ then you probably not want to sell as they are ideal for work and travel In OZ . I used one extensively when I lived there.
The visa thing IIRC 2 years might be wrong , might have changed.
Your destination in OZ ? dpends what you think of heat, work, children growing is priority ?

All those vehicles are good, but most people overload or spec up machines way beyond what they need.
Load up your tent and cooker, go camping in Scotland for a week and see what you missed, then you'll know what you REALLY need, probably less than half of what you thought.

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There is a forgotten, nay, almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is ENGLAND.

in view of what is intended and the duration a week of monk like deprivation in scotland is probably not going to help much JMHO

They'll be fine

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There is a forgotten, nay, almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is ENGLAND.

Cassie,
If you haven't already done so, log onto these sites - they are a mountain of info and will also give you an indication of what you might need to bring with you, plan your route, borders, visas, etc.
The Africa Overland Network
Horizons Unlimited - THE Motorcycle Travel site
Cheers Richard

i agree when designing my 110 i wrote a list of everything i needed then crossed of every thing i wouldnt youse twice a day and then went an bought a laptop with a molile d,band on it to amuse myself in the evenings as my luxury item

ps will poat some of my interior sketchs 2moro for my 110 conersion
as 2 one of you earlier posts ive bought rear windows and am fitting them in t,top for kids for 250

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Originally Posted by nickh75
i'm gonna have to agree with davie
Originally Posted by odenne
Wooooooo, yer gettin close to magical Davie

RichardQ, thanks-have browsed loads for the past couple of years. Focus for me though remains vehicle A) I am not going to Africa - which tends to be where most of the overland prep info can be found. Very useful for all sorts incl. planning, visas etc. but would like to not overspec vehicle unnecessarily. And I am planning a slightly different trip where unlikely to be isolated/exposed for long periods such as I imagine Africa could be. B) Overlanding with children puts a slightly different spin on the vehicle for me. No matter how much I've looked - can never seem to find anything re: vehicle considerations where children concerned - hence fantastic input on Landyzone I'm receiving which is proving invaluable.
DD - would love to see your pics. Between yours and T2Man advice (Busaboy too!) - am still veering a preference to 110 300 tdi csw though. Roof rack provides ample for family size roof tent due to lwb, back area provides all the storage and vehicle overall seems for child friendly and flexible (with a bit of work of course). DD- you said your putting windows in - and maybe you can change my view once you post photos so I can see what yo mean better - look forward to seeing.
T2Man - well – In terms of floor space and storage and flexibility – I still feel the 110 csw if for us. As DD says - I think if I list what I think vehicle fit out and think about configuration in more detail - this might open my eyes a bit more clearly. Right now feel that the 110 csw is for us. Time will tell – (I did a while ago think a converted ambulance might be good fun!).
For now though "I'm keeping my baby", “my baby is staying” - added problem for me is that following years of dreaming and saving for my first Landy - 110 csw - and having scoured the UK for the best non-electric spec I could afford - and having now purchased 4 months ago - I have fallen madly in love - was in love before I bought - knew this was the one for us - and am emotionally attached. What your all saying is tantamount to suggest I seek a divorce? By the way Busaboy, we have loads of camping trips scheduled - many quick and short ones this year, then longer incl. abroad next year. Somehow wonder what they'll make of us in the fields complete with grills, roof tent and paraphenalia. Am just about to book level 1 for off-roading though beginning May for starters - feel we really need to get to know vehicle in more detail re: handling and capabilities and to make us think about and know our vehicle and certain situations which we might need to consider on our travels. More following on separate message.....