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Geobloke, do you use Miffy for your geo (surveying?)? Do you have a full camp set up? How does it work? Any photos?

Hi Grenadier. I do indeed, she is often filled with all manner of geophysical, laser scanners, tripods, GNSS, sediment sampling equipment. Even the odd student from time to time.


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As for the camp setup, I usually do day trips so not often required. But if I have an early morning (0200 sort of thing) to catch low water I have been known to pull out the awning and bivvy underneath it. What is always in Miffy is the small kitchen box which has enough in it to brew coffee, make a hot meal, breakfasts and lunches.

It is amazing how little you need really. As long as I have warmth, shelter and food preparation equipment it is a highly functional and adaptable setup.

In the last few months I have been contemplating getting a roof tent mind you can't be helped. The only reason for not pulling the trigger on it is that with all the kick-back from the increase in "van lifers" since covid a roof tent is not exactly stealthy... Plus getting in to beach car parks would be almost impossible with all the height barriers that have been installed.

Tell you the truth it has been getting harder and harder to subtle places with which to park up, camp out before a survey. So, low key day trips is the way for now.

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Great photos Geobloke, just stunning. And thanks for the summary. Sounds like a lovely job and as you say, the flexibility of the Defender is what makes it so great for jobs like yours.

Understand your thinking on the roof tent. I had considered one, but am now erring towards an Oztent, which is almost just as quick to set up, but with (IMHO) a couple of advantages. One, it allows me to set up camp and drive away. The second is (trying) to keep the roof height low for the motorway tolls. The fast lanes are set at 2m, so on the limit as it is, but a roof tent would make them impossible to use.

Glad you didn’t go into any detail about the ‘odd student’ that squeezes in to the 110 with all your kit though Whistle

Yeah it works and generally keeps on working Well to be honest I am no longer employed having taken the opportunity during covid to get a postgraduate degree. So I am a student once more The drop in income is by far and away the toughest part of this, but the intellectual stimulation and pseudo-freedom makes up for it.

I think that the ultimate Defender survey vehicle here in the UK would be one with a pop up roof camper. Low profile enough to get in places, but expandable for all season surveying. I confess to utterly loving the practical aspect of collecting data. It can be simply gorgeous, baking in heat or as with the start of December...

https://youtu.be/EBRX6qAB5nQ - I have surveyed in some incredibly remote places but this was just about as extreme (in the real sense of the word) as you'd like to get and still get the data. Crazy weather. The streaming stuff over the ground is not water but sand and it got everywhere...

I have an Ostend RV4 with all the trimmings and it is a fabulous tent. So quick to erect and stand erect within Brilliant as a base camp with which to strike out from. But, is a bulky ol thing for one person to set up for a quick kip. Actually I will be selling our OzTent in the New Year because we are having to downsize accommodations when we move house in the Spring/Summer. It will be a shame, but storage space is going to be at a premium. So back to my trusty two man tent for a while

Grenadier wrote:

Great vid. Where’s that?

Do let me know on the Oztent when it comes to it. Might be interested.

Will do Grenadier

That vid was taken at Formby Point back at the beginning of December this year. It is part of 12 monthly surveys (this was survey 7) spread across the southern Liverpool Bay to study the sediment dynamics of the region in relation to climatic forcing. It's a tall ask for one project, but you've got to start somewhere

gcc130 wrote:

We’ve discovered the closed Dormobile roof on our 110 has stopped us using many of the each car parks we can access in the 130 and have to research parking before trips🙁

Well that's that plan scuppered then Plan B v2 is to go for a Dormobile setup but sat on air suspension that can be lowered to the bump stops to get in to places like this

https://youtu.be/rKHfGosxnHI A tad steep but it would solve the height barrier problem

https://youtu.be/klgfJ3rNWG8

https://youtu.be/OGhDzkq2O1o

Honestly... It is a good solution, but a pipe dream for me at the moment.

EDIT. Access position is -50mm of standard height That'd do to get in most places...

gcc130 wrote:

Air suspension, now there’s food for thought.
Being based on a commercial our 110 sits very high, on heavy duty suspension.
From memory the top of the closed extractor fan is about 2.6m.

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Great photo. I do look at it though, and wonder why everyone doesn’t want a DCPU. Nothing against yours GCC, but a DCPU……oooh.  Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey

Grenadier wrote:

gcc130 wrote:

Air suspension, now there’s food for thought.
Being based on a commercial our 110 sits very high, on heavy duty suspension.
From memory the top of the closed extractor fan is about 2.6m.

Click image to enlarge

Great photo. I do look at it though, and wonder why everyone doesn’t want a DCPU. Nothing against yours GCC, but a DCPU……oooh.