Converting the Masses

So on 15th February 2008 we bought a 1996 Toyota Hiace Compact 2.4 Diesel panel van with 98882 miles on the clock for £1550 (incase you are interested...probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway!! ha ha!). The previous owner in Stevenage assured me that the extremely loud noise coming from the back (which I thought was the rear diff on the way out) was just the exhaust pipe rubbing on the driveshaft, so he took a couple of hundred quid off, and we bought it... Then the starter motor which worked fine when we test drove it, just stopped working, and we couldn't start it...doh! not a good start (no pun intended). Well we got it back to Hastings and to the garage: new starter motor, and as I was previously convinced of otherwise, a new rear diff required... Doh Doh!! It's gonna cost a grand to fix.. At this point we were starting to have serious misgivings towards the whole trip, but we got the van back and it ended up being only £400 which was the first bit of good news, and it's been all good from then on in!

The van is great!!!! We have called it "Matatu" due to it's resemblance to the 'African mini-bus' that all who have been there know and love! Sweet engine, sweet gear box...Yes!...this is going to get us to NZ!!

The next task is to get it ready for our expedition. We need a lot of storage space to carry loads of water, food, spare parts for the van, tools, spare wheels, extra diesel, clothes, other equipment for camping/treking, a cooler, gas tank and stove, porta loo, a folding bed, solar shower, electric inverter so that we can charge our laptop and other electrics from the vans battery, other cooking equipment, Lonely Planet guide books, and much more!

I started by paneling the walls and floor with ply wood, and insulating behind it to keep us cool in the heat of mid-summer Asia. We bought a futon for £22 off ebay, and I bolted it in so that it can swing easily down to make a bed, and be secured safely in the 'sofa' position. What fun!

Many thanks to Dan and Andrea for donating their portaloo and roofrack for our use, and in the case of both items I think it's safe to say abuse!

This is Clive. He doesn't have the internet therefore won't ever see this, so I thought it would be funny if I put this picture up and we all had a good giggle at him behind his back?