Having prepared the car for Morocco and then returned early I had the opportunity to create a full video tour of the setup and contents. Sorry about the wind noise.

With the update to the rear storage system I had lost the dog guard and the support for the upper shelf.  The space near the roof was so useful that I didn't want to lose it, so I hit upon a cunning plan.

There are many things that you can check visually around the car but to monitor the engine effectively requires additional gauges.  I decided to fit a comprehensive range of gauges to cover EGT, coolant and oil temperature and oil pressure.

Following the overheating problems during the Morocco trip I have become a bit paranoid about the cooling system.  As well as fitting an additional cooling water temperature gauge I also decided to fit a low coolant alarm.

Now that the solar panels are fitted and the fridge all wired in, my thoughts turned to the batteries.

I wanted to add a second battery but the engine layout in the discovery didn't make it easy.  There is a vacant space behind the nearside headlight which matches the battery tray on the offside.  Unfortunately the air intake passes right through this space.

I wanted a system which would assist with running the fridge and would top up the batteries when standing.  I opted to add a solar panel behind each of the rear boot windows.  This had the added advantage of blanking off the windows adding security for the boot.

Please note the solar panel system has been updated with full details here

Although not really necessary for a weekend camping in Norfolk decent freshwater capacity and washing facilities become a requirement for a desert trip or any period away from 'civilization'.

I wanted a simple system that was easy to install and use.

Although the system I have in the boot is very successful I intended to replace it with a lighter version.  The existing one is made out of 18mm MDF and weighs a tonne.

For the trip to Morocco we removed the rear seats, fitted a false floor and carried 2 jerry cans, a box of spares, a porta-potti, a tent, sleeping roll, bags of clothes and loads of other bits in the space.  It was very cluttered and we were constantly moving things to get to other things.  For Tunisia we wanted something better.

I was always fed up with the rear tow bar digging into the ground when I went offroad.  However, it was an excellent rear recovery point.   I wanted to maximise my rear departure angle and still provide a solid fixing point if (when) I needed pulling out.

I have seen many ideas with regard to equipment storage.  Boot drawer systems are good but very expensive for what they are.  So I decided to build my own system.

For our trip to Tunisia, Atlas Overland recommend carrying a staggering 200 litres of diesel.  With the standard disco tank holding 80 and my auxiliary (starter) tank holding 20, I was halfway there.

It is only when I list eveything that I realise just how much has been done to change the disco to suit what I want (and how much has been spent ).  I have tried to list eveything here.  Many of these mods are detailed elsewhere on the site.

Although a bit expensive, £30+ p&p, we found these to be great

For our trip to Morocco I decided that we needed an organised kitchen.  After much 'googling' and keeping my eyes open for ideas at Billing and Peterborough, I decided to make a drop down shelf for the rear door.

I have always liked the look and style of the Safety Devices 'Highlander' roofrack.  It was the only one which I felt suited the lines of the discovery and looked good.  Unfortunately they were horrendously expensive.

I always found the discovery seats disappointing.  Although my car was an ES it was originally bought by an animal rights lover who specified cloth, rather than leather seats (presumably they forgot about the leather steering wheel).

I had heard that it was possible to fit the seats from a Range Rover.  However the seat runners are a different 'pitch' so this is how I adapted the car to take the new seats.