Reading the various Land Rover forums I see that there are more threads about break-ins to overlander vehicles. So I've taken a few measures towards making my hybrid more secure. First I install an immobilizer so that it can only be started with a key in the ignition.

Next I made a set of window guards for the sliding rear windows and to the rear door. I'm finishing up on the 2 guards for the small windows on both sides of the rear door.

After what seems to be a long list of things to do to the hybrid I think that I'm nearing the start line in better shape, til that is a few weeks ago when the turbo began making angry noises. Thinking that I solved the problem with a leaking pressure hose, the sounds only got worst. In the end I ordered a new turbo cartridge which I replaced last week. 

The cartridge in the foreground, the bearings are worn to the point where the middle shaft was vibrating around so much that it began destroying the fins on the exhaust side of the cartridge. 

With the turbo rebuilt, the hybrid is running much better. 

Knowing that the hybrid is going to have a lot of weight in the rear with the roof top tent and the camping gear I made a mount for my Hi Lift jack so that it is as forward as possible on the front bumper. This is not a position that I intend to use all the time especially when offroading but rather just for long camping trips so that I can "try" to get to grips with better weight distribution. Also when we hit the road, the spare tire will be move from the rear door to the bonnet.

Another month has passed with more work being done to the Hybrid. Literally we are weeks away from this trip with everything is falling into place.

I hit on the brakes in an earlier post, I wasn't planning to doing this upgrade but on a local "for sale" page these drilled/grooved disc's came up for sale at a great price, I just couldn't let them pass. At the same time I repacked the bearings, changed seals that needed replacing and replaced the brake pads. Even though I have new brake pads on the hybrid, I have new sets for both the front and rear in my reserve parts container.

Next came the awning that I made which clamps onto the roll cage of the hybrid. Using light weight square steel/aluminium pipes I created a frame which I can place a tarp over. The frame uses a simple attachment that is clamped to the roll cage as a sturdy mounting point. The awning is 1.8m x 2.8m which is plenty enough for 2 people to have a table and chairs under for protection from the elements. Not in the photo below I have several guide lines with storm spikes that I will use to keep the awning firmly planted.

By going this route using an inexpensive tarp, if it does get damaged, it can easily be replaced by stopping to any hardware shop along the route.