Land Rover Classic Offers Defender Expedition Camper Conversion

Even though it’s been almost eight years since the classic Defender ended production, it has remained extremely popular for its most iconic traditional purpose – as an expedition vehicle. People across the world are still turning them into campers, with the 110’s huge rear space the perfect size to make into a comfy bed. But if you don’t feel like spending a few weekends with plywood, a measuring tape, and a saw figuring out how to build out a Defender camper, Land Rover Classic’s new collaboration with UK campervan builders The Ply Guys has you set.

There are three offerings for Defender 110s. The Beinn is designed for the 110 Station Wagon, with a full-width bed, storage drawer, full-height side storage, and kitchen work top. The Sgeir is designed for the three-door Defender, and features a full-length counter down the side of the vehicle. Machir is a cheaper option for station wagons, with a low bench along the right-hand side of the vehicle instead of full-height cabinets.

All of the offerings are made of birch plywood, and ceilings and walls have routered engravings of topographical maps. All three models have slide-out beds with marine-grade foam padding, covered in various fabrics, including several colors of Harris Tweed. Flooring is made of hexa-patterned rubber mat.

Also available is a plywood center console box, with an armrest with thick-padded Harris Tweed. It replicates the forms of the classic Land Rover cubby box, but out of a durable birch plywood. Instead of the glued-on vinyl covering of the original, which tends to come un-glued, it has a rubber hexa pattern covering, similar to the floors of the camper systems.

If you’re not into camping inside the truck, Land Rover is also partnering with TentBox for a hardshell roof top tent, coming in 2024. More on that next year, but the displayed vehicle at Goodwood looked impressive, showing off the Land Rover logo on the top of the shell.

Though the Ply Guys setups aren’t cheap, they are a nice plug-and-play solution for a Defender camper, saving a lot of time fiddling about with wiring, wood, and upholstery – by the time that you custom engineer a solution and build it, the value is there for many people.

Check out the Ply Guys Land Rover setups here!