You can't go wrong with a classic, you often hear. Apparently, that still holds true when that classic is one single step away from becoming a rust bucket because there's nothing you can't achieve with some TLC and A LOT of hard work and determination.
As luck would have it, Matt and Jess, a young couple from Yorkshire, England, have plenty of these. Their DIY (do it yourself) build, which they call The Big Green Rover and in which they plan to travel the country and then the continent in the following months, went viral on social media – and is proof that dreams are within reach, as long as you don't lose focus along the way. Because the way there can get too long and challenging.
The recent boom in mobile homes and the ever-popular downsizing trend have shined the spotlight on many incredible examples of alternative living. Van or bus conversions, tiny homes, RVs repurposed for permanent residency, travel trailers, and pop-up homes are good examples of the way in which many people are trying to travel more, live on the road, or simply reduce their carbon footprint.
Examples of people turning cars into campers aren't exactly rare, but then again, this type of mobile home isn't the norm, either. The same applies to Land Rover campers, which is why The Big Green Rover has become a viral star: the choice for a basis vehicle is odd, to say the least.
Photo: TikTok/TheBigGreenRover
If you take into account the fact that this Land Rover is also quite old and not in the best shape to begin with, this project becomes even more noteworthy. Matt and Jess have set up several media accounts for the build, documenting the challenging process and engaging with the audience in the hope of offering assistance to others who might be struggling with the same obstacles.
The biggest adventure still awaits this Rover camper: the two plan to take it on the road around the UK this year, "and then we'll go from there." The plan is to head to the Old Continent and continue the travels, but it's apt to change depending on how things go.
The Big Green Rover started out as a 1988 Land Rover Defender 110 that had seen much better days when these two bought it. The most difficult part about the conversion, they say, was dealing with leaks. In fact, it remains the most difficult part because a new leak appears every time it rains.
Photo: TikTok/TheBigGreenRover
The two stripped down the back of the Defender, insulated it, and started building their future – very tiny – home on wheels inside. It basically consists of a kitchen block that doubles as storage and office space and a pull-out double bed. There's a kitchen extension on the back door, thanks to a fold-down table with a removable cooktop and hooks for utensils and pots and pans.
The two made sure to integrate storage throughout, so even though the interior space is very compact, they still have enough space for their stuff. There's storage under the bed and in the cabinets under the kitchen block, and there's a small shelving unit running around the room for smaller items.
With the conversion complete after much painstaking work, Matt and Jess can sum up the experience in five pieces of advice they'd give anyone else thinking about something similar. The first would be to plan well, so forget about those other content creators out there saying you can take on a build like this one and just "wing it."
Photo: TikTok/TheBigGreenRover
Installing insulation throughout is the second piece of advice because it will ensure that your mobile home remains comfortable even in extreme weather. The only way in which you might be able to cut some corners here is if you plan to use it only on rare occasions and then too for short periods of time.
Add storage wherever you can because "you will need it," Matt and Jess say. They've clearly taken this to heart, putting storage options wherever you see an inch of free space. Save cash by doing some of the work yourself, and use salvage materials instead of buying new because it'll help keep costs down. But the most important piece of advice from these two is to enjoy the process – and whatever adventures come next.
Matt and Jess' The Big Green Rover is obviously a more extreme example of downsizing in a mobile home, if only on account of the fact that their camper doesn't have a shower – or, for that matter, a toilet as the two have to rely on on-site restrooms or go in the bush. But even as such, it proves that there's truth to the saying "less is more" if, by that, you understand the ability to make the most of your life with the little you have.
Photo: TikTok/TheBigGreenRover
And by the way, Matt and Jess are well aware of the Land Rover's reliability issues, so if you're thinking of cracking some joke about how the only camping they'll be doing is on their own driveway, they beat you to the punch. "If you mean because it will break down… you are CORRECT!"
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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