Yvonne and Justin’s Iveco Trakker 4×4
Justin & Yvonne’s expedition truck journey so far
Justin and Yvonne have always had a passion for travel and adventure, with plans that stretched far beyond Europe. Their journey began with the purchase of a unique 2008 Iveco Trakker 4×4. Complete with a custom habitation unit originally built in Italy by a Dakar Rally vehicle specialist.
The truck had originally been constructed and registered in Italy, before being imported into the UK in 2015 where it passed IVA and was registered as a private HGV and motorhome. Justin and Yvonne purchased it in 2024, collecting it in southern Spain and driving it back to England. An experience that quickly revealed both the vehicle’s potential and its challenges.
What followed was a two year transformation to turn the truck into a capable expedition vehicle.
A challenging start
The drive home didn’t quite go to plan. We were stopped by police in Madrid as the MOT had expired and the vehicle wasn’t taxed. After showing our ferry booking and MOT appointment in the UK, they eventually allowed us to continue. It highlighted how tricky it can be running a UK-registered vehicle abroad, especially when it comes to staying road legal across different countries.
On the way back, we also discovered the recently replaced electrical system wasn’t working properly. There were leaks in the shower, and water had made its way into a wardrobe where some of the electrics were located.
Once back in the UK, the issues didn’t stop. Autumn storms quickly revealed more leaks, and we ended up using tarpaulins just to keep the rain out.
The rebuild
What followed was a two year renovation, with most of the work carried out ourselves and a fair amount of learning along the way.
We replaced or upgraded:
- The roof skin and cappings (Walker Engineering)
- The bellows
- The full water system, including pump, pipework and external shower (using Camozzi fittings and Rilsan pipework)
- The entire electrical system, including lighting throughout
- Upholstery, table and new flooring over the original cork tiles
- LPG system (replaced with a new Gaslow setup as the originals were over 10 years old)
- Heating system, upgrading to a new Eberspacher Hydronic unit when the original became obsolete
- Rear and reversing cameras (which also helped reduce insurance)
- Rear platform modifications to carry MTBs
- Spare wheel hoist cables
- Four tyres after a motorway blowout, and discovering two of the existing tyres were over 30 years old
We also added a filtered water system, combining a German-made “Famous Water” filter with a Shurflo pump, allowing us to draw water directly from rivers into the 200L tank. Water is then passed through a Pentair carbon filter before use.
The interior
Despite having a relatively compact 4m body, the layout works really well. There are clearly defined areas for bunks, a washroom, kitchen and lounge, with space to sleep up to 4–5 people.
There’s plenty of internal storage, along with additional storage in a rear box and roof box, both accessed via a custom ladder. The short wheelbase also makes it surprisingly manoeuvrable, it’s far more agile than you’d expect from a truck of this size.
With three fuel tanks and a large water capacity, it’s now properly set up for off-grid travel. Although we’ve not quite been brave enough to fill all three tanks yet.
Designing the electrical system
The electrical setup was a key part of the build, and we worked with Nohma to design a system around how we actually planned to use the truck.
A big part of the process was understanding our power requirements and how long we wanted to stay off-grid. We also spent a lot of time thinking about where components should go, keeping cable runs short and allowing space for airflow around larger items like the inverter and chargers.
The installation itself was time-consuming but manageable, especially with the step-by-step guidance. There were a few moments along the way, but support was always there when needed, particularly when it came to configuring the system properly at the end.
The completed design inspires confidence because all the calculations have been made and there is help on hand by email or video call. There were also times when advice was needed, but the key was at the end when setting up the system with the charging parameters. That was done with Huey. We have already arranged possible Starlink contact when in the middle of the Oman desert.
Justin & Yvonne
Justin & Yvonne's Nohma electrical system.
A few takeaways
It’s fair to say the build didn’t quite match the brochure. What looked like a well-prepared truck turned into a much bigger project. Resulting in most of the work needing to be done from scratch.
A lot of it came down to figuring things out as I went, from chasing leaks and reworking systems, to dealing with the realities of pipe fittings.This included the confusion between BSP and NPT threads and general component compatibility.
Having the right support made a big difference, especially when it came to the electrical side and final setup.
Components used in Justin & Yvonne’s electrical system ⚡️
The original plan was to ship the truck to South Africa, travel north, and eventually continue into South America.
However, following a cancer diagnosis, those plans have had to change. For now, we’re focusing on trips closer to home, with Spain and Morocco on the list, while managing regular trips back to the UK.
With the work now nearly complete, we finally have the truck we originally set out to build. Something that feels capable, self sufficient, and ready for travel.
The route may have changed, but we’re still looking forward to getting out and making the most of it.