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Roberto Ragusa, a digital professional and avid photographer, explores the world overlanding in his customized 1989 Defender 90. His passion blends adventure with photography, turning nature into a cinematic backdrop.
We chatted with Roberto about him, his passion and next plans.
My name is Roberto Ragusa, and I live with my family in Palermo (Sicily), the island of sun, sea, good food, and legends. I am a freelancer and have been working in the world of digital web marketing for over 25 years. This job allows me to work remotely, with a laptop and internet connection, while travelling freely.
My greatest passions are overlanding and photography, which started together and have developed over time. Landscape and travel photography is my way of showing the world by capturing moments and places that impact me during my explorations.
When I embark on a trip or excursion into nature, I bring with me very comprehensive photographic equipment. Besides my main camera, I always have several lenses to capture each scene in the best way, and a drone, essential for obtaining unique and spectacular perspectives. But having the right photographic equipment isn’t enough: to get the best shots, you have to be ready to face any weather conditions.
That’s why I always make sure to have appropriate clothing and gear for rain, wind, snow, and mud. One should not fear the cold or bad weather: often, it is the most extreme conditions that provide the most exciting and suggestive images. Being prepared means being able to seize every opportunity without being stopped by adversity.
The Defender 90 (1989) was chosen not only for its technical capabilities and reliability in exploration and overlanding but also for its unmistakable retro aura. This makes it not only a perfectly functional vehicle for tackling any kind of terrain but also a true icon of 4x4 design. Its timeless aesthetics and unique character make it the perfect travel companion for those, like me, who love adventure without sacrificing style.
The vehicle has been customized to ensure maximum autonomy and comfort during explorations. The custom-built camper conversion, made by Tailgate Gear, has been designed to optimize space and provide essential functionality while traveling. Additionally, the Defender is equipped with a rooftop tent, solar panels for independent energy, and water tanks, essential elements for spending several days in nature without external support.
The way I setup my Defender gives me the freedom to travel without restrictions, allowing me to cook and sleep comfortably wherever I am. The rooftop tent provides secure and practical rest, and for colder nights, I have installed a Webasto system that ensures efficient heating.
Organizing the space is essential: a 30-liter fridge keeps food and drinks cool, while various compartments allow me to store supplies and equipment in an orderly manner. Thanks to the solar panel and a 50-liter water tank, I can be self-sufficient for at least three days without external support.
For maximum comfort, I have installed an awning that provides shelter on sunny days, and when I want to relax after a long day of overlanding, I enjoy a movie under the stars thanks to a projector, turning nature into a real outdoor cinema.
My Defender has been completely restored, retaining its vintage charm but improving its reliability and performance. One of the most important modifications was replacing the original 19J engine with a 300TDI Discovery, known for being much more reliable and powerful, making the vehicle more durable and suitable for long overlanding trips in difficult conditions. To tackle any type of terrain, I have installed a +5 cm lift, which allows me to overcome most obstacles with ease, improving off-road capabilities without compromising stability.
Constant maintenance is crucial to ensure that the Defender remains in perfect condition, even after challenging routes. This balance between restoration, technical improvements, and vehicle care allows me to fully enjoy every adventure without giving up the authenticity and iconic character of my 4x4.
One of my most memorable overland trips was an 11,000 km route through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. This trip, made with my partner Cinzia (a saint, as her friends call her), took me from the lush landscapes of South Africa to the extreme desert of northern Namibia, crossing the Caprivi Strip and heading down the Okavango River toward Botswana, immersing myself in the wild and untouched nature of Southern Africa. Unfortunately, this trip was not made with my Defender but with another 4x4 vehicle.
However, my next big trip will finally be with my Defender: I’m planning an adventure in Tunisia, among its spectacular dunes and vast desert landscapes, the perfect environment to test the vehicle and experience authentic overlanding.
Sicily remains an extraordinary land to explore, with its incredibly diverse landscapes, from spectacular coastlines to the wild mountains of the interior.
However, my next big trip will take me outside of Italy, to a destination I’ve been dreaming of for a long time: Tunisia. This journey will be a real test for my Defender, which will finally be able to face the desert and the iconic dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. The idea is to cross breathtaking landscapes, from hidden oases to vast stretches of sand, testing the vehicle and living an authentic overlanding experience. Traveling in the desert is something unique: the sense of freedom, the challenge with the elements, and the vastness of the open space make everything special.
Looking further ahead, one of my future projects is a trip to Iceland, a land I already know well, having visited it three times with other vehicles. However, the real challenge this time will be reaching it with my Defender: a demanding logistical adventure, involving ferries and long road stretches. Once there, however, I already know it will be worth it: between glaciers, active volcanoes, rivers to cross, and the iconic Icelandic highlands, it will be an epic journey that will test both the vehicle and my adventurous spirit.
Many more amazing shots and videos taken by Roberto are available on his social media and site. Follow him on Instagram @il_rosso and check out his site www.robertoragusa.com.
Like what you see? Here is link to the module Roberto has installed in his Defender 90.
Meet Ibrahim, a London-based computer engineer who traded his daily commute for breathtaking landscapes and the open road. We caught up with him to learn about his overlanding adventures, the challenges he's faced, and the incredible experiences he's gained.)
The build and materials quality is absolutely superb. Way better than most of the products available here. Because it uses the airline track for mounting in the Grenadier, it is a simple job to remove it when not needed.
I wanted to fit a 50l fridge onto the drawer/slide combination from Tailgate in my Grenadier. The space was tight, but Stefano had some special brackets fabricated to give me enough headroom for the Evakool. The shelf is great quality and I've gained a huge amount of usable space. Very happy.
best products
Alles bestens, von der Bestellung zur Lieferung.
Und auch besonders die Qualität der Bearbeitung!!
Und ach das Service!
Have to say off the bat I am very satisfied with the product and service from Stefano.
I have a 2 door 2019 Jeep Rubicon and trying to find a supplier that makes parts for a 2 door is a nightmare. Tailgate not only makes a platform base for my Jeep but were prepared to custom build a wide draw unit that is longer than standard. This unit goes all the way to the seat backs.
Fit and finish are excellent and comms about build time and delivery were outstanding.
As we are now out of the EU I won’t dwell on import tax and VAT but they must be factored in if buying in the UK.
Installation takes just a few minutes, after working out how to remove the drawers, and takes initially 2 people. This is more about the size than the weight. For the price, perhaps would have been nice to include an Allen key due to space constraints. I ended up cutting one of mine to fit the space.
Overall, a great fitting product, mated to the specific platform.
Now in discussion about a bespoke fridge slider but that’s another post.
This extremely solid, well constructed, and nice looking kitchen combo is the perfect add-on for my Jeep Wrangler. Easily installed, and fits perfect. 👌🏼
This kind of high quality material is what you need when you go overlanding.
Keep up the good work team tailgategear! 💪🏼🙌🏼
The Quality and fit is Perfect.
Ottimo prodotto e consulenza TOP. Stefano è stato gentile e ha risposto rapidamente e con professionalità a tutte le mie domande.
Sono più che soddisfatto complimenti!
Great design with a durable coating. The flaps are undoubtedly of high quality and craftsmanship.
Nothing more needs to be said... worth every penny.
Last but not least: the customer service is outstanding. If you have any questions, Stefano takes the time and knowledge to find a perfect solution for your needs.
struggled to choose the right table until I saw this product! just dont waste your time reading the reviews!! go hit that "add to cart" button 😂😂 its perfect !
Very good quality and fitted very easy, the only negative was the delivery time was long.
Very happy with purchase
Mega easy to fit, superb build quality. Really compliments my Jeep Wrangler JL overland set-up.
Great quality table!
Especially the wooden pullout board is more stable, than others i have seen.
It’s a great solution for my canopy camper.
Thank you for the great customer support.
Consiglio per chi ha spazi ridotti ma ha bisogno di ottimizzare al meglio la camperizzazione.
Materiale ottimo e molto resistente.
Molto spazioso e sopratutto suddivisibile con varie divisorie!
Abbiamo usato la slitta frigo per 3 settimana praticamente sempre a frigo pieno.
Veramente Materiale ottimo e soprattutto molto resistente, considerando che la slitta la aprivamo almeno una decina di volte al giorno.
Consiglio vivamente a tutti.
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