Rin's Land Rover One Ten is a testament to the idea that all good things take time. 

The Trip That Started It All

Back in 2017, Rin found himself in the bush outside Cape Town, South Africa, riding in a Defender fitted with an Alu-Cab Icarus Roof Conversion. Along for the trip were Jeremy, founder of Alu-Cab, and Warwick, the company's CEO. 

That was all it took. One trip. One vehicle. Hook set. 

From that moment on, the Defender became the dream. 

A Pandemic Purchase

Fast forward to the pandemic lockdowns. Like many of us, Rin spent his evenings doomscrolling. Except instead of social media, he was deep into nightly searches on Gumtree (South Africa's version of Craigslist). And then it appeared...

The original Gumtree listing image

A 1989 Land Rover One Ten. A CKD (Complete Knock Down) truck built in South Africa during the sanction era of the late 80's. These "Tracta" models came with their own quirks that made them so special:

• The good: galvanized chassis straight from the factory
• The not-so-good: a six-digit VIN tag (hello, NJ DMV headaches).

Rin moved fast. With some coordination, trust, and persuading, he convinced the team at Alu-Cab SA to help facilitate payment to a stranger halfway around the world and transported the vehicle to America, sight unseen. Just like that, he was now the proud owner of a SA-spec One Ten. 

First Things First

Not long after the truck hit U.S. soil, the modifications that stole his heart back in 2017 became priority number one:

An Alu-Cab Icarus Roof Conversion. It only made sense. Next came a period-correct Front Runer Slimline I Roof Rack, complete with custom decking that Rin built. And with that, the adventures officially began. 

Well...mostly. 

                                               

There were also the less glamorous parts of the Defender ownership including bulkhead rot, persistent overheating, endless breakdowns. LR owners that get it, get it. 

The "Simple Refresh"

Eventually, the idea surfaced: a simple winter refresh. But if you know Rin, you know he is the poster child for scope creep. 

The slippery slope began innocently enough. A few late nights in the garage turned into a few months. Before long, the truck was stripped down to the bare chassis. The vision evolved into something much bigger—a Land Rover purpose-built for backroads and dispersed camping in the Northeast.

Powertrain

The original engine needed more work than it was worth for reliable long-distance travel. In its place went in a Cummins R2.8 crate engine, Ashcroft R380HD transmission + LT230, crate axles to handle highway miles, and the goal for all of this? Keep the character, lose the travel anxiety. 

Structural Upgrades

Because seeing the ground through your footwell doesn't exactly inspire confidence on a road trip, several trips to Rovers North were in order. A new bulkhead, fresh doors, and just about everything in between laid the foundation for a proper rebuild. 

With some solid new bones underneath and everything freshly painted, it was finally time for the fun part. 

Outfitting

Growing up around rigs outfitted with ARB gear, Rin knew exactly the look he was after. First on order was an ARB Bull Bar, Warn 8274 Winch, and IPF Lights. But aesthetics alone wouldn't cut it. To match the drivetrain upgrades, Rin also added Old Man Emu BP-51 Bypass Shocks, Safety Devices Roll Bar, Scheel-Mann seats, and a Powerbrake X-Line Big Brake Kit. The result? A Defender that could cruise highways confidently and still feel at home deep in the woods. 

Built to Actually Camp

Getting to camp is only half of the mission. Staying there comfortably is the other half. 

The updated Alu-Cab Icarus Roof Conversion went back on, paired with an Alu-Cab 270° Shadow Awning and that OG Front Runner Roof Rack. Just like that, the One Ten transformed into a serious overland living platform. But Rin didn't stop there. 

Inside, the vision was to have a couch and kitchen beneath the tent. GP Factor helped bring that idea to life, fabricating a fully custom aluminum interior system complete with a Dometic Sink and Stove, integrated drawer storage, sub floor, and a food grade stainless steel water tank. 

It's equal parts utilitarian and thoughtfully designed. 

Add in some custom paint, bamboo countertops, and tailored seat cushions, and suddenly Rin isn't just camping, he is traveling in a true home on wheels. And if this now sounds familiar, this build was what sparked the new GP Interior Systems available for the Grenadier! 

A dream sparked in 2017 finally became reality nearly nine years later. 

If you find yourself passing a white Land Rover One Ten at camp in the Catskills of NY or the Green Mountains of VT, stop by. There's a good chance Rin is nearby, ready to crack a beer, geek out over his build, and talk Rovers for hours.