Display Vehicles

Known as "Home of the BIG expedition trucks", the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW has some of the best display vehicles at any show throughout the land. This year within our Field of Dreams™ attraction, it's looking better than ever! 

Don't forget we love diversity, so welcome all types of campers whether that be ... bikes + ground tents, cars/4x4s + roof tents, trailer tents, caravans, campervans, motorhomes, RVs and of course everybody’s favourite, trucks from 4x2s to 8x8s! APPLY TO BE A DISPLAY VEHICLE: Email us at 4x4trading@talk21.com with a couple of photos of the exterior and interior of your vehicle.

THE FOLLOWING ARE BOOKED IN AS DISPLAY VEHICLES IN OUR FIELD OF DREAMS™ (June 2026)

It's not a full final list, but it will give you a very good idea of the type of vehicles already booked in.

 

Hailing from The Midlands, Anthony and Becky Charley + family live and travel full time in their converted 7.5t Mercedes 815 horsebox full time.

Having previously travelled around the UK, in January this year (2026) they travelled around France and Spain.

Their next little excursion? Europe and down into Morocco - what a great experience for the kids!!!

 

 

 

Keith Elliott from Co. Durham converted his 1994 Land Rover Discovery 4x4 during the  Covid lockdowns.

 

 

Now a 6x6 flatbed with demountable body, the 3,500kg vehicle he’s owned for 24 years has been completely transformed!

 

Proving yet again that expedition trucks do not have to be all-wheel-drive ...

Originally a Police mobile incident vehicle, when current owner Chris Vickers acquired this 2004 Leyland Daf LF45 with just 45,000 miles on the clock, the 2^nd owner has been using it as mobile classroom.

Now converted into a full-blown camper, Chris has owned the lorry for 5½ years.

 

 

 

A brace of Mercedes Vario Self Builds ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A regular visitor at the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW, Craig Room of Essex will once again be displaying his 'baby' ... a 1977 M.A.N. KAT1 8x8. An ex German Army 32t high mobility load carrier, it's now been now fitted with a living pod.

 

Displayed by Caroline & David Fisk, this is a rarely seen vehicle in the UK.

It's a French-made  Bremach TGR-35 4x4.

 

 

 

 

Richard Friend's Daf T244 4x4. Converted from an ex-British Army general purpose truck to a camper over the past 4 years. 

Maiden voyage in 2025 to the Western Balkans – 6,000 km through Albania, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

3-month trip planned for this summer (2026) to Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

 

The 4-motion VW T6 of Keith Jones. Purchased new as a base model with 4-motion and diff-lock and various comfort upgrades, the initial conversion had a pop-top and temporary home-built interior, this still in place, albeit tweaked over time. Subsequently we have fitted a lift kit, uprated wheels and tyres (3rd iteration), underbody protection, a rear bike/ gear carrier now changed for a French SKEP gear carrier with additional modifications, recent conversion to high-roof in Germany.

The van is designed for quick camping in all weathers and the ability to travel off the beaten track if necessary, accepting the limitations of the vehicle. Future mods include an interior rebuild, additional storage in the roof area and plan to limit the reliance on gas for cooking in the van – in other words, a big and beefy electrical system!

The van has taken us through France numerous times, including to the French Alps, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Italy and throughout the UK, including tours of Wales and Scotland, around the Northcoast 500 and Skye, Planned trips include further trips to the Scottish Islands, Ireland, another tour of Germany, through Austria to Slovenia, and tours of the off-road trails in the Alpes and Pyrenees.

 

 

Carl Sproson' s 7.5t 4x2 Mercedes Atego self-built full time live-in camper.

Spent 3 months in the French Alps summer 2025.

Featured on Liveration.

 

 

 

2010 Iveco Daily 4x4 5.5 tonne camper of Nigel Wood, Barnsley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(left) Residing in the Malvern Hills, the 20,000 kg 1977 Scania SBAT111SA 6x6 of Dave Barratt. Originally designed and manufactured for the Swedish Armed Forces, its full title is Special Bulldog Allwheeldrive, generation 1, 11-liter diesel engine.

(right) Shane Barratt of Herefordshire and his 1979 AM General M916 6x6. Boasting a 10.8 litre Cummins 400 Turbo Diesel Engine, his beast weighs in at a whopping 56,000 kg GVW!

 

Yet another vehicle rarely seen in the UK, it's a 2015 Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 4x4, weighing in at 6,500kg GVW.

Originally a snow plough, it was a 3-year conversion, finally finished in March 2023. Since then owner Brad Wilkins has travelled all over Scotland and beyond.

Brad is actually 'popping' down from Glasgow to sell his camper, so grab yourself a bargain. How much? You'll find out weekend of 13-14 June 2026!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Eley's extended Scania 113 18 tonner. Originally in 1991 it had a tipper body, with the entire vehicle just 3.8m long.

At some point in its life it was stretched to 6m to become a 4x4 overland truck accommodating 28 adventure-seeking customers probably in Africa (although equally it could have been Central/South America).  Nowadays in its new role it’s become for Simon, the ideal ‘home on wheels’!

We've been informed that unfortunately Simon can't make it to the show after all .. sorry to disappoint!

 

Roxy, the 10 tonne Daf T244 of James and Farrah Sleight, East Sussex (Adventure_Club23).

1994 – British Army.

2007 – Fire Search & Rescue.

2018 – Mini-bus for Bike Park Wales mountain bike centre, although not so ‘mini'.

2023 – Off-road recovery truck.

2023 – In September of that year it became our overlander. We lived full time in Roxy on a farm in summer, then after converting Roxy ourselves to a proper expedition truck …

2025 – … we spent travelling around France.

2026 – On Sunday 14^th June we’ll be giving a 1hr talk about the build and our adventures as part of the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW’s Seminar Sessions. Free to attend, come and join us!

 

A newly completed camper conversion, the Barratt's in Leicestershire 1995 11.6 tonne DAF T244 4x4 Expedition Truck.

Completely self-built by father & son over the past two years, "hopefully come showtime it will have its new graphics" according to son Ross. UPDATE: Graphics complete!

 

 

 

 

Residing in the Orkney Isles, Scotland, the 10 tonne Mercedes 1113B  of Stuart Pirie & Charlotte Cooper.

We bought the 1984 truck as a retired German fire engine, imported it to the UK and converted it ourselves into our home on wheels and mobile mechanical/fabrication workshop.

The conversion included chopping it down from a double to a single cab, building the habitation box and building the whole interior.

We moved from our previous DAF T244 into the Merc in June 2025 and have since travelled all over the UK and spent this winter exploring Greece and Turkey.

 

Sandy's Tons of Turquoise 1989 Ford Iveco Cargo two-wheel-drive lorry.

 

 

2013 Peugeot Boxer 4x2 van van started life as a white delivery van. A self-build by Toby Sutton of Malvern, he’s now been living in it for nearly 2 years.

 

 

The 12,000 kg 1992 Leyland Daf T244 4x4 of Gary Morris, Shropshire, pictured here at a previous ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5t VW Crafter CR50 of James Young, founder of the VW Crafter & LT Group.

Owned for 10 years, he bought the vehicle as a standard panel van. A full

camper conversion followed with registration from Class 7 to Class 4 . Big BFG tyres on steels were added. Not a 4x4 but 4 wheels driving in snow, mud and sand – this camper been everywhere! Inside is a full camper layout, while at the rear is an air compressor, racking and an elevating camper bed which raises it to the roof when carrying bikes, and to the wheel arches when being used as a camper. Engine is last of the 5 cylinder 2.5 Diesels, mapped to 215 bhp. Solar panels keep the batteries and fridge topped up. Accessories include a snorkel, bull bar, roof rack + ladder, bike rack etc. EVERYTHING  converted by James, so 100% built not bought!!!

 

Author of a host of travel books (a lot of them connected with travelling with dogs), Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Lambert latest tome is titled “From Caravan to Overland Truck: Jacqueline Lambert’s Off Grid Journey”. It chronicles the story when herself and husband Mark were both made redundant in 2016. Most people might have seen uncertainty, Jackie saw it as an opportunity.

Turning a love of travel into a full-time lifestyle on the road, they traded bricks and mortar + their caravan for adventure and eventually converted their 24.5-tonne Volvo BM 861 6x4 ex-military truck into an off-grid home-on-wheels. Affectionately known as ‘The Beast’ (which it certainly is!!!), they’ve had adventures on every continent other than Antarctica!

 

Residing in Conwy with current owner John Wheeler, this 2004 M.A.N. M2000 was a 2-year build for John. Finally finished in April 2026, the 4x4 boasts a modified Vickers body, which started life as a service vehicle with Western Power. As part of the conversion he built the sub chassis and put a Vickers tank repair unit on and kitted it out. 

Having just proved it’s worth on a tour of Scotland, brand new adventures await for his newly created, highly capable 18t overland truck.

 

 

The self-build 2014 Citroen Relay of Imogen Lawson.

Countries travelled – virtually all of the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Belgium, Spain and skiing … somewhere!

 

 

 

 

 

7.5 tonne 2005 Mercedes Vario 814DA that’s been displayed in our Field of Dreams™ before by its previous owner, but according to the camper’s new owner Glen Weatherly, “it now has a remap so, technically it’s an 818”.

We’re sure fellow Vario owners will know what Glen means … we don’t!

Interestingly, before the Varios were replaced by the Sprinter, the range comprised …

512D (4.8 tonnes GVW)

612D (6.0 tonnes GVW)

814D (7.5-tonnes GVW)

… which we believe [correct us if we’re wrong] is far more than Sprinters at only 5.5 tonnes GVW, so possesses a much bigger payload.

 

The 10.5t MAN 10.224 expedition truck of Nick Lake, residing in Kent.

Originally a Spanish utility vehicle, the MAN was converted into a camper in 2021. Since then Nick has explored Europe and Morocco.

NOTE: We've been informed that unfortunately Nick can't make it to the show after all .. sorry to disappoint!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1998 Marshall-bodied Land Rover Defender ex-British Army ambulance, the pride 'n joy of owners Jo & Marc Barnett in Gloucestershire.

 

The build took over 10 years.  Series Land Rover ambulance body put onto a more modern 110” chassis, with a double bed, toilet, fridge, cooker, pop-top roof, storage and diesel overnight heater.

 

 

Featured in the British Land Rover Owner magazine and the equivalent French version.

Travelled all over the UK to the very tip of Scotland – John O’Groats. Planning already underway to venture into mainland Europe next year.

 

 

 

 

Kate Kenlock’s 8.6t 2001 MAN L2000 L E A R K LE 160C. Bought by Phil and Lynn Seddon in Preston 2013, it began life as snowplough in the British Army. Phil then set about designing and building the camper body, although it turned up at the Adventure Overland Show in September 2015 as an empty box, only managing to get the MOT and insurance on the day of the show! Having designed, built and fitted out the camper body, in Feb 2016 the Seddons took it to Europe and Morocco. This was for four months. “We starting off skiing in the Alps” explained Phil, “and ended up nearly falling off a track in the Moroccan Atlas.” 2019(?) saw them and the truck tour Canada, USA and Mexico.

Now affectionately known as ‘SuperMAN’, the next chapter in the truck’s life was when Kate bought it in Feb 2025 and promptly drove down through France and Italy, took the ferry to Greece and on to Turkey. She then stored the truck in Turkey and flew to Azerbaijan, spending 3 weeks driving Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, before returning to the truck. From Istanbul she drove up through Bulgaria and Romania into Moldova. Weirdly, she tried to drive into Transnistria (a landlocked breakaway state internationally recognised as part of Moldova), but was turned back at the border for being too big. The solution? She simply off-loaded her motorbike and drove in! From there Kate returned to Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, across Czechia and Germany and back to the UK. 13 counties over 3.5 months and 4,700 miles.

In December 2025 Kate drove down through France and Spain, then took a ferry to Italy. From Italy she took another ferry to Tunisia. According to Kate, she spent “a month wandering about Tunisia trying not to get stuck in sand dunes and driving though a huge sandstorm on the edge of the Sahara”. She then went back to Italy and managed to grab tickets for the speed-skating at the Milan Winter Olympics. “A trip of very variable weather from sandstorms to snow!”

I have done some alterations to the truck including designing and building a motorcycle carrier on the rear, adding air conditioning and completely upgrading the electrical system. The truck is now plated at 8.5 tons due to the additional weight. My next plan in the truck is either driving down from Senegal to Nigeria or shipping to Namibia, possibly winter 2027.

But before that, the highlight of the year is almost upon her and SuperMAN – as a display vehicle in our famous (or should that be ‘infamous’?) Field of Dreams™ at the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW 2026. See you in June!

 

Weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, the 2014 Toyota Landcruiser HZJ79 of Claire & Darren. Purchased in Germany from new, it’s a conversion by the highly-respected Bavarian company Bimobil.

Hardly seen in the UK, in fact there won’t be just one Bimobil displayed in our Field of Dreams™, there will be a second almost identical vehicle alongside!

Having travelled around swathes of mainland Europe since new, we’re very fortunate Claire & Darren can make it to this year’s ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW at all as nowadays they live in Italy.

Paying a flying visit to the UK to meet up with family and friends in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, the timing for our upcoming event in June couldn’t be better. Welcome back … see you in another 10 years time!

 

 

 

Having just returned to the UK following 2 years driving the 19,000 mile Pan-American Highway from Alaska in North America all the way down to Argentina in South America, Jo Penney and her partner are now back in the UK and heading to Stratford-upon-Avon where they will be displaying their great-looking Mercedes-Benz Atego expedition truck at the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW 2026. In fact not only will they be displaying this great-looking Mercedes-Benz Atego expedition truck, they also hope to sell their home-on-wheels at the show!

The intention is, the sale will actually help fund their next big adventure, this time by boat! Intrigued? Yes, we are too!

 

Manufactured in Ukraine and Austria by Krug Expeditions GmbH to a standard design defined as Project Rhino, the model name so called because a donation is made to the Project Rhino (a charity protecting rhinos in South Africa) for each vehicle sold.

Jo explains, "After we commissioned our Project Rhino in June 2023, which BTW is registered in UK at 7.5t with a 10.5t chassis so not too heavy, we did trips across Europe to Austria, then to Morocco for some off-roading in the Sahara as a shake-down before we shipped to Halifax, Canada to drive the Pan-American Highway."

"The last two years we spent driving the PanAm across Canada to the Arctic Ocean, then all the way south to Ushuaia in Argentina via shipping from Panama to cross the Darien Gap."

Editor's note: In case you weren't aware, the PanAm as it's affectionally known, spans no less than 14 countries – Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina – officially making it the longest road in the world!

 

 

Manufactured in 1999, the self-build 7.5t Mercedes-Benz Vario 814D of Mel Baker in Lincolnshire.

Looking at the interior shots in particular, a cracking job she's made of it!

Just back from Morocco, her latest tour also took in France, Portugal, Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Leyland Daf T244 4x4. Clearly the favourite all-wheel-drive truck for conversion in the UK, due to the British Armed Forces auctioning off their redundant stock at inviting prices.

This one owned by Thomas Yarker based in Warwickshire. It's a 1996 ex-RAF winch truck weighing in at 10,800 kg.

The all-important beer fridge being installed. Don’t know why the toilet roll is on top of the fridge, maybe because it’s in close proximity to the 240 VOLTS 50 HZ DISTRIBUTION PANEL!!! Complete with isolators and circuit breakers, wonder if the original distribution panel will be reinstated?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Featured here is the 2001 7.5t Iveco Euro Cargo of Marc Andrews from Caerphilly.

It's a converted horse lorry which is lived in full time. In fact Marc calls it his ‘smart home’.

Recent addition is the lorry’s rear garage in which he keeps his 'little runabout' ... a monster BMW R 1250 adventure bike.

 

 

Kenny Cockburn's 2016 Mitsubishi Canter 7C15 fridgebox conversion.

Weighing in at 7.5t with it's 2.998 cc 4-cylinder diesel engine producing 148 bhp, the Canter is a good base vehicle for a camper conversion.

Entirely self-built, he's travelled most of Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1983 Mercedes 1222af of David Moulds, the movie maker for The Offgrid Explorers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affectionately known as Florry the Lorry, the 2012 7.5t Daf LF45 is an ex-removals lorry lovingly converted by owners Cat and Chris into a cosy home on wheels, built for a simpler life and the freedom of the open road.

 

 

With over 30 years of experience travelling the world and living in homes on wheels, they, along with their chocolate labrador Rolo, have spent the last 7 years living full-time in Florry, meandering through the UK and particularly Europe which we love.

More than just a vehicle, Florry represents adventure, slow-living, and the joy of making memories wherever the road may lead. Cat mentioned, “We have a number of old friends in Dafs who will be at ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW 2026. Two friends in particular were inspired by our build and used to email me questions to help with their builds. I've not seen their trucks since completion, so would be great to see them now they are living in their respective vehicles and the adaptations they’ve made.” 👍

 

The Reynolds Boughton RB44 conversion of Les Newell. 

If you are not familiar with this particular vehicle, the RB44 is a 4x4 conversion of the Dodge 50 series 5.5 ton truck manufactured in the late eighties and early nineties.

According to Les, "This has been a 2 year project starting with a complete nut and bolt rebuild of the truck including extensive body welding. I then fitted a modified Sainsbury's delivery van box on a 4 point kinetic mount. The interior is still a work in progress but it should be at least habitable by the time I arrive at the show in June." 

"The blue protective plastic will of course be removed from the cabinets come showtime!" 

 

Residents of Etters, York County, Pennsylvania, USA, Alex Thomas and partner present ‘Judy’, their 8 tonne 2003 Ford E450 4x4 Ambulance.         

Editor’s note: The vehicle has four rear wheels, so technically is it a six-wheel-drive?

Having had their ex-ambulance camper shipped over from The States, they’ve been on this side of the pond since August 2025. Since then they’ve been exploring a good deal of mainland Europe and Morocco, and are currently en route to the UK. “Playing the ‘Schengen Shuffle’ makes us a move a little more than we'd like” Alex explained, “but it's been great.”

“Fuel costs are crazy right now but it's just part of travelling. They go up and down. We just move a little slower during this time which is nice as we can take in the surroundings.”

They’ve owned the vehicle for 8 years and have lived full time in it for 3.5 years. “We did the build ourselves, then had it converted from 2wd to 4wd (6???). It has travelled to 3 continents and 18 countries”.

"The ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, weekend of 13-14 June 2026 will be our first event on this side of the world, so are really looking forward to it."

You can follow their travels via EmergencyGetaway on all social media platforms.

 

Yet another 7.5 tonne Mercedes Benz 814D, they are certainly popular! The custodian of this old warhorse, affectionately known as ‘Elsie’, is Andrew Hemsley of Kent. Built as a new venture by Auto-Trail in 1990 essentially for film work, they built four in total and two went to Australia. I bought it with just 38,000 miles on the clock and two owners.

Elsie can be off-grid for a considerable time and indefinitely with fuel for the built-in Honda water cooled generator, again fitted by Auto-Trail. So the vehicle can charge the batteries when the main  4 litre turbo engine is running, a series of two 240 watt solar panels also provide power.

There is built in air-conditioning, a 240 volt house fridge, 12 volt/240 volt freezer, large double bed at the rear, a conventional foldaway bed for two, an underslung 45 litre LPG tank, gas hob, and a sleeping area above the driver for children or a couple of thin adults!

The vehicle frequently tows a horse box, normally with three vintage motorcycles inside or a trailer with a smart car on it. Mileage these days from new, about 95,000  miles. Still working on the vehicle as time allows.

I have travelled all over Europe several weeks at time, with a month in southwestern Morocco mostly wild camping, going down as far as Tan Tan near the border with Western Sahara.

 

This 8.6 ton 2013 International was used as an American school bus in New York for approximately 5 years. It was then used as special needs bus, so did fairly little miles and even now only has 42,000miles.

Paul Martin and his partner purchased it from a U.S. dealer in August 2020 during Covid, had it shipped over to the UK and ultimately to Suffolk, arriving in Nov 2020. We then spent nearly 3 years renovating it and changing it into the motorhome of our dreams.

We have only travelled in the UK but have plans to travel further afield.

 

David Harries’ 1970 F17 Winnebago complete with a tuned 300hp BMW engine and 6 speed box! Lowered and on airbags, it boasts a 6 ton anti-roll bar fitted, rear traction bars, uprated shock absorbers and brakes.

Will be touring Europe later this summer.

 

 

David Harries’ other toy, a 1962 Citroen h van fitted with  an Audi A4 engine and box, uprated brakes plus many more modifications.

All modifications to these vehicles were carried out by David.

Not just show vehicles either, both these campers have travelled extensively in UK and Europe.

 

 

The Defender 130 Quadtech of Joe & Hannah Wilkinson, Stokies from Staffordshire.

Formerly a utility vehicle, as you can see it’s a true work-in-progress project, currently being converted into a ‘go anywhere/everywhere camper’ suitable for  a family of four.

We love conversions like this, sure you will too!

 

 

FOR SALE

Just back from nine week 12,000 miles, 14 months tour of Croatia and Slovenia, owner Dave Gratton from Hampshire does a similar length trip most years.

Tipping the scales at 4,100 kg it’s a 2023 Hymer Grand Canyon Crossover 4x4 and although it’s a great camper, it’s time to upgrade to something larger to travel further afield, on "bad roads" not off road, per se.

“Having been to your show in the past, we think it would be great to display it in the Field of Dreams, chat to visitors about the joys (and challenges) of travelling and look at what is out there that might suit our ambitions. Clearly, we would want it known that it is for sale.”

No problem as we will have a VEHICLES FOR SALE area just north of our Field of Dreams™ display area, where for a £25 donation to the Veterans in Action charity, owners can sell their campers.

If you want to sell your vehicle, simply book and pay for camping online in the normal way via www.ticketsource.com/whats-on/warwickshire/stratford-racecourse then when you arrive at the racecourse, make your way to the Field of Dreams™ and adjacent to that is the VEHICLES FOR SALE area. Pay your £25 in in cash upon arrival. Simple!

 

 

 

'Katy', the overland wheels of Julie Burdon & partner from Staffordshire – not Stokies, next door in Newcastle-under-Lyme!

Destinations have mainly been France and Spain, then down into Morocco for desert driving!

When Julie contacted me she said, "We’d like to come to the show. Our truck is Katy she’s a Daf  T244 4x4, we’ve been to your show most years. A few years ago it was really wet and Katy winched 9 trucks out of the mud and Paul Jackman from Lorry Life UK  named us truck of the show. 😂  Hope we’re not too late but we thought we couldn’t make it and now we can!"

 

Here’s a rare ex-military beast. It’s a 2005 Mowag Duro 6x6.

‘The DURO (Durable Robust) is a series of wheeled, multi-purpose military transport vehicles produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems/MOWAG in both four and six wheel drive. It was initially developed for Switzerland by Bucher-Guyer AG in Niederweningen, Switzerland. An initial 3000 vehicles order for the Swiss Armed Forces came through in 1994. In January 2003 the production was transferred to MOWAG in Kreuzlingen. Over 4,000 DURO 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles are now in service worldwide. The main customers are Switzerland, Germany, Venezuela and the UK.

232 Duro-3P were exported, all equipped with a Cummins 6BTA-5.9 (245 hp) diesel engine.’ Thanks for the info Wikipedia!

According to owner Jonathan Blackburn from Cornwall, “In its former life the vehicle likely travelled around the Middle East, and more recently on the Continent. Here it is pictured in Picos Mountains of Northern Spain."  In its element!!! (Editor's note)

 

 

Ray Perry's 2004 10t MAN LE2000 4x4 expedition truck.

The body was built by British converter Crossland Trucks of Market Drayton, Shropshire, then fitted out by Ray himself.

 

 

The 2001 Iveco Eurocargo 4x4 expedition truck of Lewis and Belinda Hill.

Lewis explains, “After a long journey building the truck due to ill health, we will have just completed our trial trip of Ireland for six weeks prior to venturing out to Europe and beyond.

Originally commissioned for the RAF, we purchased and converted it over two years on our driveway. We have now sold our house in Hertfordshire and plan to live and travel full time in our truck, ideally over the next couple of years … health permitting.

Incidentally, we have attended your last couple of shows, the last time with our partially built truck on display. So those who saw it previously can now see it fully converted”.

 

 

The VW Caddy van of Jay Smith. “I bought this van a year ago, explained Jay. “I’d originally wanted a Land Rover, but due to budget and my circumstances at the time, a van was the only realistic option. I was working in forestry at the time and needed something capable of getting me to remote sites, so I started modifying the van to better suit the conditions I was working in. What began as a few practical upgrades quickly snowballed, and I’ve now ended up with a fairly unconventional off roader.

Despite being only two wheel drive, it’s proven to be surprisingly capable. It has a fully working snorkel, a six tonne winch mounted on the front, a 20 litre jerrycan mounted on the rear, and a large amount of recovery equipment stashed away throughout the vehicle, along with many other modifications. I’ve taken it all over the UK, driven it in all sorts of environments, and it hasn’t let me down once.

It’s also a campervan, fitted with Starlink, a TV, and a bed/sofa. I have plans to take it abroad next year to test it even further in new environments and terrain.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The unique camper of proud owner Stewart Needham. I’ll let Stewart tell you all about his ‘new-born baby’, and when he contacted us about being a Display Vehicle.

“I own a Land Rover Discovery TD5” said Stewart, “professionally converted by Dirty Dawg Adventure Vehicles. It features a fully coachbuilt body over the cab extending over the rear, with a pop-up solid-sided roof that extends 500mm upwards. The vehicle is on chunky all-terrain tyres with upgraded suspension and fully painted in jet black.

Inside, there’s a double bed above the cab and C-shaped seating behind the bulkhead. The rear has a shower and 85L fridge/freezer on one side, with a kitchen, cupboard storage and electrics on the other. It’s fitted with 910W of solar panels (tilted to point at the sun), a 24V battery system, full interior lighting, heating and hot water.

This practical overland setup would be a great fit for the show and I’m happy to answer questions from visitors.

Thank you for your time – I’d love to be part of the Field of Dreams.”

Now, this and Stewart's offer that he’s “happy to answer questions from visitors” is exactly what the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW is all about. It doesn’t matter a jot if it’s a self-built vehicle or professionally-built to the customer’s specifications. After all, not everybody is a mechanic/cabinet maker/electrician/metal worker/plumber/gas fitter/glazer/upholsterer ... and more! Each to their own.

Display vehicles in the Field of Dreams™ are many and varied, that’s what makes the attraction so damn interesting!!!

Thanks to all the owners for making this year's Field of Dreams™ the best yet - and that's saying something as previous displays have been fantastic. Long may it continue!

Cheers,

Tom Mc (Event Director)

 

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE VEHICLES DISPLAYED IN OUR FAMOUS FIELD OF DREAMS™ AT PREVIOUS OVERLAND SHOWS AT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON RACECOURSE.

Bedford MK 4x4 with proud owner 'Mambo Mark'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased in 2020 with just 5,000 km on the clock, this Volvo 6x4 is a rarity in the UK.

 

Begining life in the Belgian Army, 'The Beast' was purchased by Jackie & Mark Lambert to tackle future travels overland to Mongolia.  Incidentally, Jackie is a renowned author of 'doggie' books ... including the "Adventure Caravanning with Dogs" series, "Year 1: Fur Babies in France - From Wage Slaves to Living the Dream", "Dog on the Rhine - From Rat Race to Road Trip", "Dogs 'n' Dracula - A Road Trip Through Romania", and "Pups on Piste - A Ski Season in Italy".

Check out and like her Facebook page!  Facebook: @JacquelineLambertAuthor  Blog: www.WorldWideWalkies.com

 

 

 

What you can achieve during a pandemic ...

The Land Rover Discovery 300 Tdi of Roger Thorley and his son, residents of St Helens, Merseyside.

Whilst cutting out rust at the rear of a standard Disco 1, the decision was made to turn it into a 0ne-berth campervan.

 

 

 

 

The exterior is based on the hordings surrounding St Pancras Station during its rebuild.

Congrats, a great result the pair of you.

Based on your design, expect to see a few more conversions like yours on the road before too long!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Wilson's new project - an ex Army M.A.N. about to be coverted to a camper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the progress of Genghis, the 1982 Bedford MJ at http://www.thelorrylife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roland Ager's 14.2 tonne M.A.N. KAT1 ... and tail!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on an American AM General M934 truck, the vehicle was imported from the Netherlands where it was used by the American Army as a mobile command post.

Boasting sliding side pods, when set up it's 14ft wide!

 

 

 

 

 

We just love the variety of vehicles this event attracts. This next vehicle is a classic example!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1970 Gaz-66. Manufactured in Russia, the owner is Colin Woollard. It was used as a radio repair vehicle in the Czech Army, then converted into an overland camper 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is nothing like leaving it to the last minute. Case in point is the M.A.N. of John Julyan, as his new baby entered the paint booth on Saturday 21st September 2019 ... the weekend preceding the 'Late Summer' edition of the show!

No problem, that's a whole week for the paint to cure!!

 

Of what we've heard, he's not the only one. The Adventure Overland Show + International Campervan Show is fast developing into the place to exhibit owner's latest creations - long may it continue.

Keep 'em coming!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR OWNERS WHO WISH TO DISPLAY THEIR VEHICLE IN OUR FIELD OF DREAMS™

APPLYING TO BE A DISPLAY VEHICLE

This year we have completely restructured the layout of the show, so display vehicles within our Field of Dreams™ attraction will form part of that new set-up.

All owners who wish to display their pride 'n' joys centre stage have to apply in person for a display vehicle slot.

Applications must be made via Charles McGuigan at 4x4trading@talk21.com IMPORTANT: When applying please attach two photos of the exterior and interior of your vehicle.

Two categories of Display Vehicle:-

1. Under 7.5 tonnes: Successful applicants will receive 50% discount on their Weekend Camping Pass.

2.  7.5 tonnes and over: 100% discount to compensate for their high fuel costs! Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse is known as 'The home of the BIG trucks', so we continue to welcome them with open arms!

NOTE: When displaying their vehicle, owners must present a 'photo board' for the public to read. This to include any relevant photos such as the build/conversion (if relevant), the vehicle's details (year of manufacture/engine size/etc.), and history of the vehicle (if known).  This way you can go walkabout during the course of the show, so don't have to be tied to your vehicle all weekend!

Successful applicants will have their photos and relevant info shared within social media.

DISPLAY VEHICLE OWNERS ... all you need to know:-

General Information: Due to legal requirements, vehicles must remain static 10:00-17:00 on Saturday 13^th June 2026,  10:00-16:00 Sunday 14^th June 2026. Vehicle movement is possible at all other times. This rule is especially important on the Sunday as day visitors are still paying to enter at 14:00, so expect to see a full show, not half a show! So you know, traders are contracted to stay until 17:00 Saturday, 16:00 Sunday – this way visitors will get value for their hard-earned. The only exception is in bad weather, in which case traders/display vehicle owners will be informed that "early breakdown of stands/displays is possible".

Basically, walkways are 10am - 5pm Saturday, 10am - 4pm Sunday. Before and after these times, the walkways are roadways.

Displaying a Display Vehicle: Please remember that Display Vehicles will be viewed by the general public, so naturally we want to promote our hobby/sport/pastime in a good light. Owners are therefore asked to form a display that is both interesting and informative. Photo and information and boards are essential, as they explain what a particular vehicle is – the make/model/engine size/modifications/history/etc. What nobody wants to see is just a boring line of vehicles! This is very important for the show.

Interaction with the public is also good, so if you have some special skills, by all means … show them off!

No commercial activity or private sales, as this would be unfair on the traders. Should you require an inexpensive trade stand or want to sell some private, preloved gear in the CamperJumble™ zone, then contact Event Director Tom McGuigan via 4x4trading@talk21.com

It is however okay to promote your favourite charity, a forthcoming club event, etc. We’re quite open about this providing it’s confined to simply distributing leaflets/flyers from the confines of your pitch, or leaving flyers on your windscreen .. then no problem whatsoever! What we can’t have is owners turning their area into a commercial area, this just wouldn’t be fair to the traders. As mentioned, trade stand prices are extremely low for an event of this type, so by all means enquire about trade prices if required.

As a Display Vehicle owner, if you are around to chat to show visitors, this would be great, but we don’t expect you to be chained to the vehicle all weekend. You have to go walkabout too, it’s all part of the weekend, so if you could leave a note on your driver’s window, either giving your mobile number and/or the time you will return, that would be excellent. We’ve all been to shows and wanted to chat to the owner, only to wait there for ages and them never return.

We want the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW to be as interactive as possible, hence this request.

Display Vehicle Location: Camping is of course allowed on Display Vehicle pitches in the Field of Dreams™. As for actual space, vehicles will be lined up in a row, either straight or in an arc depending on space on the day, so there will always be enough room to position yourself depending on your needs.

Having had your E-ticket scanned when you arrive at the racecourse's main gate, simply inform the Gate Marshal that you are a Display Vehicle, they will direct you to our Field of Dreams™. Upon arrival, simply inform the Marshal if you require a little more room for an awning or whatever, they will position you accordingly. If you require a lot more room for any reason (more of a display for instance, a desert scene with plastic palm trees would be very welcome!!!) then please inform me of your requirements in advance. Any problems, then simply ask the Marshal to radio us.

Pre-Event Camping for Display Vehicle Owners: So you know, we would prefer not to charge a fee for pre-event camping at all, but nowadays the venue charges us, so we have to charge you. Sorry, that's life!

Pre-event camping is possible @ £20 per vehicle per night on Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11^th June 2026. This fee now applies to ALL vehicles, regardless if you're a Display Vehicle or a regular camper.

Thereafter your Weekend Camping Pass as a Display Vehicle covers you up to 3 nights from Friday 12th to Sun 14th June 2026.

Departure by 16:00 Monday 15th June 2026.

For pre-event camping, simply arrive at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse CV37 9SF, inform the Gate Marshal you are a Display Vehicle whereupon you will directed to our Field of Dreams™. Once set-up camp, you won’t have to move location all weekend.

NOTE: If you decide to book pre-event camping and you’re felling bored, then we would welcome your assistance setting up the show. Everything from erecting signs to marking out lanes with spikes & white rope. If you can spare an hour or two, then pop over to the Event Office where a tea/coffee and a lump hammer will be waiting. Thanks in advance!!

Display Vehicle Enquiries: Any questions about Display Vehicles pre-event at the ADVENTURE OVERLAND & CAMPERVAN SHOW, contact Tom McGuigan at 4x4trading@talk21.com

Cheers, 

Tom McGuigan [Event Director]