Category: Range Rover Classic

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Auxiliary Lights for the Range Rover Classic Overland Rig (Post #723) 2/8/2026

In this post I put the lights on the roof rack. The weather played along and it was the only day this week I could get out there. Last weekend was spent getting Erica and Brian’s house moved. Erica remembered I drove M54 5 ton trucks in the Marine Corps Reserve.

So I got to drive the Uhaul home. The first two hours was driving with the wind on the front right corner with a wicked wind blowing me all over the road with the incredibly vague steering. I also enjoyed a cross with that vibrated the left mirror and creating the a loud noise. It was brutal.

We got them all load and unloaded in two days. That took a toll on this old man but I was happy we got it all done.

So on to the lights…

I started with a template so I could get the holes drilled correctly that needed a slight adjustment for the power wire. Once I got them on the roof rack I realized the power wires were going to need to be secured and out of the way.

I found some metal clips that were designed to hold a table cloth on to a picnic table. After I broke 4 drill bits trying to drill hole in them, I gave up and went to the hardware store to buy some. On the way I realized the steel was probably spring steel. So drilling a hole was probably a folly in itself.

The bracket got installed and then I went on to wiring. Nothing special here. I watched a Simon Fordman YouTube video where he soldered his wiring. I decided that would be how I did it. What I learned is I need a wider variety of heat shrink. I had several of the right diameters but not in the length I needed.

What’s next? I’m glad you asked. I need to wire in the switches and relays. This means I need to determine what the box is going to look like. I also need to decide what I’m going to make the inside out of, MDF? plywood? paper mache? the choices are endless!!!

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https://youtu.be/0Lqgz8RKHMA
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Unboxing and Random Stuff with Mr. Fisher (Post #721) 1/11/2026

My buddy Mr. Fisher came over to bring some used tools over for my grand kids to play with. He replaced his old tools with new ones with more modern batteries and technology.

We talk about my lights and reminisce about trips and gear in this longer than normal video.

Here’s all the stuff we talked about:

Superbrightleds Part Number: VAL-CW5 9 Watts, 630 Lumens, 5700K, Rated IP67 waterproof

Bill Burke Bio

Google search Camel Trophy – Tanzania-Burundi 1991 if you want to watch more.

Glue Tread Made in the USA

Thanks for reading, like and subscribe, and Happy Rovering.

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Let There Be Light (Post #719) 12/14/2025

In this post I rough-in the wiring for the lights on the outside of the Big White Bus. My plan is to have external lighting that I can control from the comfort of the sleeping area in the back of the Range Rover Classic.

I have selected the lights I’m confident will provide the light I might need… setting up camp, entertaining guest and generally lighting up the exterior so I can see any threats that might be lurking while I relax in the the comfort of the sleeping area.

Three of these strategically placed on the roof rack should be sufficient lighting. There is a a minor concern about how the wiring will go from the lights back into the sleeping area. The wire I bought has a significant shield. I sorted out how they should run past the D pillar beauty panel.

I think it will work the way I have it, but if not, I will cut the beauty panel to accommodate the wires. I had a thought to run the wires through the tubing on the roof rack. The thickness of the shielding will likely prevent that. I also didn’t have black zip ties. So I’ll have to source those to complete the wiring.

That’s the gist of it for this week. I do explain my recent absence from posting videos. I have had a few weeks of medical issues that all culminated into a possible muscle tear or pull in my abdomen. I then had family over for Thanksgiving, then I reinjured myself helping Mrs. Okierover’s cousin with a tree that would have fell on his rent house. I then got bronchitis and it has been a battle to beat that. Better living through chemistry.

Congrats to the Midshipmen as they defeated the Cadets of Westpoint in a thrilling football game. My first Army/Navy game was on TV when I was probably 11 years old (1975, Navy won). I had just begun to enjoy college football. I was watching the game on my black and white TV in my room. My dad walked by and I asked, “Who do we route for in the Army Navy game?” Dad said, “Always Navy.” That should have been obvious but I was only eleven and didn’t have a full grasp of the universe at that age. I know, shocking.
My dad served in the Navy when, “Ships were wood, and men were iron.” That was 1947-1950. Sailors learned knots and morse code and nautical things subjects no squids today learn. My uncle also served with my dad on the USS Wiltsie. Uncle Bob lied about his age and joined when he was 16 years old. Epic. Dad was 19 years old. They fought the Chinese communists during the Chinese Civil War.

Thanks for all the emails and messages checking on me. I’m getting better every day.

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Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

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Random Next Jobs on my Range Rover Classic Overland Rig Part 3 (Post #717) 9/7/2025

This week I continued the “odd jobs” on the Classic. These have been piling up as I moved through the truck cutting out rust and welding new patches, grinding away rust, killing spiders, painting, and planning. Would it have been prudent to have written these tasks down, absolutely. Did I write any of them down, not a one.

I’m sure I’ll be encountering them more and more as I start running wiring for the interior. As I start installing the trim and the other interior bits I’m sure there will be dozens of these jobs.

I got the rear seat belt mounts reinstalled. That took a little clever thought to run a string up through the holes and pulling the bracket into place. This required a few trips back and forth under the truck. That will wear an old man out quickly. I installed the rivets so I’ll be able to use those points for a seat belt AND to lock down racks or gear and the bed/tray mechanism that I’ve been planning.

I also tackled the rust on the front differential. It is really crusty. There is no risk of if rusting through. The bloody thing is 1/2 an inch thick.

I got a sprayer and applied some rust converter liberally. I’ll check it this week after work to see how it did.

I also bought a spray attachment to assist in cleaning the bottom of the truck off. You’ll see a LOT of oil covered surfaces and I’ll have to start chasing down where that is coming from. I have some ideas but it will need to be CLEAN before I start finding the leaks and weeps.

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May the wind take your troubles away and Happy Rovering.

https://youtu.be/6fJd5ANY9vU
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Random Next Jobs on my Range Rover Classic Overland Rig Part 2 (Post #716) 8/31/2025

The first thing we did this weekend was drive up and surprise Lucas by taking him to his first pro football game. It was my first too, but we made it all about him. He had a great time.

In this post I worked on the footwell and the rust issues that may come up from melting off the stone chip/bedliner material with my welding. I got underneath and scraped off as much as I could reach with all the exhaust and drive shafts in the way. I also now realize there is a fair amount of leaking oil on this beast.

I found some transmission fluid, obviously engine oil, and I saw some antifreeze too. These are all leaks I can list along with my power steering which is weeping from the lower seal. All very annoying. Some we can fix. Some we will probably not fix. Engine oil could be coming from the valve covers which I think need sorting. Antifreeze is likely coming from one of the heater hoses on top the engine. All of those should probably be replaced based on age alone.

I also used some of the fancy zip ties to lock some stuff down. That was very satisfying. There is actually only one size in the bag and they were too small for some of the holes.

I also found some rust. “NO, how is this possible!!!” you might say. The front differential is really rusty. Flakey rusty. So that will need to be cleaned up and coated in rust converter. Then painted. The other rust I found was on the tube that houses the bonnet release (hood release to my fellow Americans). It looked terrible. I got the wire wheel out and got it knocked down to bare metal. I was pretty proud of myself for not wire wheeling my fingers.

I got it coated in rust converter and will get it painted next weekend. I still have several additional jobs to do. It’s labor day weekend so I plan to spend some quality time out there.

That’s about it for this week. No video last week because I had trouble getting the video to build and by the time it was built it was the middle of the week. So I slotted it for later.

Thanks for reading, like and subscribe, and may the wind take your troubles away.

Happy Rovering.

https://youtu.be/ERO8ZXFW5Q4
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Planning Random Jobs on my Range Rover Classic Overland Rig (Post #715) 8/18/2025

It’s the Dog Days of Summer.

From Wikipedia: The dog days or dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius (known colloquially as the “Dog Star”), which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck. They are now taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Actually we are a week outside the OFFICIAL Dog Days of Summer, that’s okay Oklahoma is behind in a lot of things.

In 2024 Oklahoma was 49th in Education among the states. Thanks New Mexico!

We are 37th in crime…

48th in Healthcare! West Virginia and Mississippi are still worse.

On the good side!!!!!

2025 US News ranked Oklahoma City was named #1 Big City to live in!!!!

When it comes to food, Oklahoma is #1 in Onion Burgers and probably chicken fried steak. I’d say we are top 5 in BBQ too.

When it comes to oppressive heat we are rocking it on that too!!!

It’s too hot to work in the shoppe. I’ve tried to get out in this hell-scape but my 60 year old body is not my 40 year old body and I’ve had a mutiny. My brain still thinks I’m 40 so my body chronologically aged is 60+.

I’ve got a few things I’ve been putting off fixing. They aren’t all that important individually, but necessary.

Zip tie some wires. I’ve got a bunch of failed zip ties underneath. I bought some special for this and I need to get under and get this sorted.

Rear brake line bracket. I cut the bracket off so I didn’t have to deal with the brake lines. Now it’s just hanging and needs to be reattached.

Rust. I bought some rust converter. I could use it very judiciously to make some stuff look better and to stop the rust.

GMRS Radio. I need a solution for my GMRS radio that would make it portable. Was thinking ammo can… haven’t decided exactly.

Not in the video. I have to seal up the floor of the passenger side footwell where I welded and it melted off the stone chip coating.

That’s about it. Like and subscribe, hell drop me an email or comment on the video. Share it with friends at parties…

May the wind take your troubles away….Thanks for reading and Happy Rovering.

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