Tonks4x4 Defender 6x6 Expedition Camper

Wow, stunning.

When I go to Eastnor next year I hope I'll be able to have a look at the finished vehicle. Keep the story and pics coming.

Hello chaps a small update....

The puma bulkhead I have been using for mock up purposes is a RHD and I want to build as LHD so I have managed to source a LHD puma bulkhead. However it is in much worse condition than I first thought.
Here is an idea of its condition and how it's been treated



To say this is a 2007 bulkhead it's in worse condition than the 1988 one!



So it has now been stripped bare and I will be taking it to get dipped at prostrip tomorrow along with the old original bulkhead, a customers and the bonnet that I have been altering.

Once clean I will be able to do the repairs required and also stretch the width and make the footwells larger to give more room for your legs on long journeys.

With regards to the bonnet I have started with 2 very very rough puma bonnets. They were dinted, battered and quite rusty in places.




First job was to drill out all the spot welds on the internal frame of each bonnet.

Once these were removed I gave the outer skins a session in the English wheel to stretch the steel and take out some of the dints and creases.

Next I measured and marked the centre of each bonnet and then added 6" before cutting.

Then the two halves were offered together and tacked into position



A similar process was used to alter the inner frame and then this was fully welded back together

Tomorrow this will be taken to prostrip to remove all the paint and any organic material.

Once back it can be worked some more and I can then lead load the joint to stop any sinkage or filler cracking in the future.

Then Tom can crack on with final filler and paint.

Here is a rough mock up of overall width of the front of the vehicle

its a Land Rod Rover,

There is your project name lol

flat said:

its a Land Rod Rover,

There is your project name lol

Click to expand...

Or a "Land Road Rover" as let's face it 90% of the time it will be on roads

yeah, fair point :-D

Wish I was blessed with a talent and skills like I've seen on these pictures.

That engine looks awesome with the blue in there. Definitely following this!

looking sweet this build thread will be watching closely. alot of hard work and effort already gone into it!!

WOW that engine is spooge worthy!
I'de love a 6x6 camper, love the idea of air sprung, what sort of psi does it take to get it at a good level with just the chassis

This build is just awesome. Every post stuns me. Keep it up.

Incredible stuff!

Please let it finish something like this
2013 Brabus B63S Is An Exercise In Delightful Insanity, Gallery 1 - MotorAuthority

lovely rebuild cant wait to see it finished

200tdi ayre said:

Please let it finish something like this
2013 Brabus B63S Is An Exercise In Delightful Insanity, Gallery 1 - MotorAuthority

Click to expand...

I have seen some videos of this on YouTube and it is an animal! I don't care much for the red interior
Looks a bit like this tdci at Peterborough this weekend

Tonks4x4 said:

I have seen some videos of this on YouTube and it is an animal! I don't care much for the red interior
Looks a bit like this tdci at Peterborough this weekend

Click to expand...

I saw this and I LOVE it

Tonks4x4 said:

I have seen some videos of this on YouTube and it is an animal! I don't care much for the red interior
Looks a bit like this tdci at Peterborough this weekend

Click to expand...

It's incredible, definately a build for the future, there's a guy on D4x4 that's built a 130 on portals with fox remote resovoir shocks that's a beauty but there's something special about a 6x6 portal monster !!

The interior is abit rash I agree but for 300 grand you want something special haha

Only a little movement as I have another full rebuild in taking up my time...

However the bulkhead and bonnet have been to prostrip to be acid dipped.

It's the first time I have used this process and I have to admit that it is the best way to have it done by a million miles.

Here are a few results of some of the parts I have taken...






So I can now make further repairs to the bonnet and then it can be lead loaded down the seam.

The bulkhead is off to a friend who is a sheet metal worker to make the alterations to have it 12" wider and then it will be off to Galv

Your mpg figure expected is a bit on the optimistic side , more realistic will be 10-12mpg or 8-10 on lpg from my experience with a tacr2 6x6 .
Economy is a big factor for touring , that was behind the swap from V8 3.9i to M57 TD in my 110 .
Will you be fitting droop check straps on the rear axles , or just relying on the s/abs ?
What are the specs on the airbags , and how have you plumbed them , any ride height control other than pressure ?
Its a very ingenious idea on the pressure drop for maneuvering , as the third axle tyre life on the tacr was very limited , in service 6000miles was good . very interesting thread , look forward to the future developments

it looks great ,what a machine that is going to be, keep up the good work, what type of air springs did you use ,as i need 4 for my 6x6 170?