Landscape Photography Accessories
So, the pain, missed shots, slipped discs and just downright frustration of this winter is just not to be repeated. Our current mode of transport is great for long distance cruising and copes well around town but a 3.0L 230bhp Automatic with big low profile tyres in the snow? Nah! Double Nah! Embarrasing even… and it cost me a week in bed as I tried to push it out of Brimham Rocks car park (even before we’d actually parked).
Anyway, I’d been considering a campervan for a while and I’d been looking at a website that imports ‘rust free’ Toyota Hiaces from Japan for some time (http://www.poplarmotors.co.uk. There are some 4×4 2.8L Diesel engined Hi Top vans that looked very nice and so we planned a trip down to Chesterfield to take a look, planning to buy later in the year.
As it happened, the garage had the perfect van (i.e. High top, night heater, 2.8 non turbo diesel, very clean, <£10k, awning, open conversion with good window views, gas/electric fridge, gas hob, space for roof locker, sink, mini-toilet). It was in very good condition and only had 60,000 miles on a 94 plate and was just the right price. The night heater was a bonus as I was thinking I would have to fit one for an extra £800-£1000 pounds (a night heater is a little in built efficient diesel burner that exhausts fumes outside of the van and uses a heat exchanger to warm the inside of the van – hopefully very useful when camping in winter conditions).
We had to have a serious think but as far as I was concerned, this was the one. I had done quite a bit of research before hand and discovered that the Hiace is used in third world countries around the world as a minibus and transporter. Story after story I read stated that they were unkillable and would tackle even the most ridiculous of potholded, muddy African roads and the 2.8 diesel engine is so easy to work on and spares available so cheaply (China used to Hiace as the model for it’s own line of people carriers with compatible parts supposedly) that I shouldn’t need to do much work on it (compared to some of the other better specced manufacturers cars which are a little prone to breakdown – including the 2.4 diesel turbo in the UK version of the Hiace). It took a bit of thinking about (OK, not much) and we put our money down.
A couple of people have said “Is it really a proper 4×4?” – well, take a look at the following video of a minivan version taking on a 4×4 jeep..
If you’re short on time, skip to these times, skip to 1’47″, 2’45″ and 5’10″
Another good example is
We went to pick it up on the day that me and Dav were starting out large format course and it drives beautifully – well OK, a little bathtub like cornering at speed but it reminded me of my old Morris Minor Traveller – even down to the 50mph limit going up hills 
it does cruise at 60 nicely though, enough for me..
We’ve yet to try it out for an overnighter but a trip to Whitby is on the books and I’m planning on getting a set of chains so that my personal case of seasonal affected disorder (or “missing effing winter shots”) does not occur again.
As a couple of colleagues have said, the most important part of photography is being in the right location at the right time and given that, a campervan has to be the ultimate landscape photography accessory!
Poplar Motors supplied this Camper Van and they’re very nice people!
Wow – that looks amazing!! You could even probably shoot from under the awning in a pinch in nasty weather!!
Mine’s a Rav4, and luckily I seem to have escaped the recall. The verticality of boot-space and damned run-flat tyres are serious detractors when you’re carrying dogs around the Highlands, however.
Bloomin ek I’m jealous, that’ll get you over the Hardnott Pass! I know what I’m getting when my Romerhome dies now. It’s a bloody 4×4 landscape photography palace!!
I can see the country is going to run out of 4×4 camper vans, like it has run out of Jobo processors. Invest in Hiace while you can, Sean!
Seriously, Tim, a die-hard photogrpaher such as yourself would surely not mind the 5-hour walk-in…? And given your recent description of chasing morning & evening light as whorish, it’s not even as though you would want to start particularly early or finish late.
Regards, Charles
@Al – I was thinking about light sealing all the windows and reversing into ultra large format pinhole shots..
@Tim – What’s the problem with Run Flats?
@Sean – Heh! We’ll see about Hard Knott when I go up with Richard in the next few weeks
@Charles – I don’t mind the walk in at all, it’s the walk back afterward that annoys me.. And chasing morning/evening light is whorish, I just happen to be a whore now and again
Interesting stuff. We get badly stuck in the snow this year (and last year) in rural Devon (near Dartmoor) in our automatic diesel estate. The wife will not stand for a camper van, I think, but we are planning to switch to a manual transmission 4×4 diesel estate. And that’s just to get out of the village, never mind driving over any serious scenery!
never mind the latest high end canon or 645D release – campervans are becoming THE photo accessory for the discerning landscape tog! Looks just the ticket, very nice indeed!
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Personally I’d take a small lightweight tent over one of these any day. More environmentally friendly for a start …
Look forward to seeing those ultra large pinholes
@Simon – You might want to look at proper winter tires too. I was quite amazed at the differences. See the videos here and here.
@David – First proper test when I go out with Richard next month
Hi Tristan – I’ll still be camping (got a 1kg one man and good down sleeping bag) but when it comes to a week at -15 degrees in Glen Etive, I’ll be using the Van. As for environmentally friendly – if I can stay on location for three days instead of going backwards and forwards, I’m hoping that will contribute.. Of course we should all be like Mike McFarlane and Train/Bike everywhere..
Can you get winter tyres in the UK? I know from personal experience that they feel so much more secure in the snow. They are pretty much compulsory here in Switzerland.
I have considered getting a camper van but can’t really justify it, living here in public transport heaven. Besides, I’m a bit of a softie and much prefer the comforts of a warm hotel room when I’m away from base. ;^)
Yep you can get winter tyres and I think we’ll get some for our main car next winter. For the camper, I’m planning on getting either a pair or a set of these
Lord oh lord…….I thought I had logged on to Tim’s blog for a minute for some Landscape porn but actually it has turned into Pimp My Ride (without the porn)! It even has a Go Faster stripe and what looks like alloys. Dude, you are crazy; I’d start with the upholstery if I were you and you could fit some rather nice woofers under those seats. Don’t forget, if you park this in the Kings House, you can’t use the toliets unless you have a room. Clarkson and the Boys did try to kill a Toyota once and failed….so at least it has that going for it!
@David – heh.. it’s actually got a toilet as well so no problems there.. as for the King’s House – I’ll be parked at the bottom of Glen Etive (I’m wondering if the 4 wheel drive will get me up to Robbers Falls?)
Well done, Tim! I look forward to seeing more golden hour images now you’ve got your very own camper!
As for snow-chains – I can certainly vouch for them as I used them all winter with much success as mentioned recently on my own blog. Even Land Rovers were finding it a struggle to keep up when I had them on!
Although the chains were brilliant, I would like to mention, if I may, a few observations I found this winter, which I hope will be useful advice for anyone considering a set, as they can lead you into a false sense of security!
1. Driving up a hill is a breeze! However, care should be taken driving down a hill as your momentum can cause you to slide uncontrollably. Unfortunately, I cannot turn my ABS braking system off on my particular Toyota (No Toyota/ABS jokes please!!) which meant the system kept overriding my braking, negating any advantage of the snow chains as they couldn’t bite through the snow and ice into the road. This nearly led to a meeting with a farm gate – Beware!
2. Snow drifts can occur across roads very quickly which can cut off your means of escape from a location – even snow chains aren’t that good! this nearly happened to me on the way back from Hawnby Hill.
3. be prepared for the worse – take a shovel, flask of hot coffee/tea/whatever, food and blanket in case point 2 catches you out.
4. Like anything else, you get what you pay for. My set weren’t particularly expensive at around £60 on-line. Although very effective, they’ve caused untold scratches to my hub-caps which I will need to replace at some point. I’m just glad I didn’t have alloy wheels! A good set like that shown above in this blog look a lot better but no doubt pricier.
Next Winter, my plan is simply to have them in the back of the car in case of emergency (as it states in the manual), and not to rely on them. Simply another tool that will give me a bit more confidence to get out there a little more often in the white stuff. I’m just going to be a little less cocky when using them that’s all!
Hope this helps.
Of course, you realise all this expenditure on 4x4s, winter tyres and snow chains will guarantee a run of mild winters with not a snowflake in sight!
@Simon – sadly yes, although I’ll just decamp to Braemar for the winter if so..
Fantastic! Exactly what a landscape photographer needs. Was thinking of getting one for myself as I frequently drive to the coast in the middle of the night. Sadly I will have to buy a tent and a very good sleeping bag. http://www.chrishopkins.co.uk
Get it gas converted when you have the money, its a simple engine so it will be significantly cheaper and for longer trips it will benefit you a great deal. I have a T25 VW and it’s been the saving of me, both locationally and on my wallet. I couldn’t run it on petrol, if I was running a 2.8 I would be crying…
Got to agree with you there David, I’ve also got a T25 converted to LPG as well – half the price of petrol and also feeds the cooker and fridge so no messing about with gas bottles. Not sure how diesel engines cope with conversion though?
Congratulations Tim! You will have some great adventures in that. Those Toyota Hiace vans were everywhere in Malawi and kept running and running despite serious abuse on roads that are unimaginable in the UK. I’d be envious if we didn’t already have our own family bus. Enjoy!