Robin Hartman’s life took an unexpected turn when she stepped inside a stranger’s van. A few camping trips later, and she’d put her biomedical studies on hold, rented a Land Rover 110, and left Amsterdam for the wild landscapes of Scandinavia.
But the adventure hasn’t exactly gone smoothly.
The Land Rover That Wouldn’t Quit (Literally)
“All the electrics went out, the engine wouldn’t shut off, and the hood was stuck,” Robin laughs. Stranded, she found a mechanic who fixed the issues and strongly advised her to go home.
Stubborn as ever, Robin slept in the car that night and continued her journey the next morning. “During this trip, I fell in love with overlanding. Sleeping in the wild forests of Sweden. Parking up on the edge of a fjord in Norway. I’m very happy that I decided to push onwards.”
And that’s exactly what Robin has done. Stepping outside of her comfort zone and applying herself fully, and passionately, to whatever the universe throws her way.
Becoming Overlanding Robin
After that initial trip, Robin bought the same problematic Land Rover she’d rented, but when incompetent mechanics left it stranded for a year and a half, she realised that if she wanted it done right, she’d need to do it herself.
As anyone who has fallen in love with the green oval can attest, wrenching is a large part of the Defender’s charm. Robin has taught herself how to get the most out of her passion project by knowing her way around her toolbox.
“I still don’t see myself as a mechanic though. I just know how a car comes apart and goes back together again, which is useful for when I break down.”
She’s most definitely a mechanic though, and fortunately for us, Robin doesn’t just take us with her on her overlanding trips throughout Europe, but she will often invite her followers to join her inside of her workshop too.
When the Defender got to a point where she was happy with it, or it was at least running again, Robin set her sights on a new challenge…
The Volvo C303
After splitting up with her partner at the time, Robin found herself the owner of a Volvo C303. The ex-military beast had survived a rally crash, a breakup and a 2,500km drive home. It deserved a new lease on life.
“A mechanic told me he couldn’t fix it. So I tore the whole thing apart and rebuilt it myself. Again, with zero experience. It was never really the plan to convert it into an overland rig, as I have my Land Rover 110, but I needed a project to get my head around and thought that I might as well build the dopest overland vehicle.”
Wanting to fully experience her newfound freedom, diving head first into an intimidating new challenge with zero knowledge, but a whole lot of determination, was the solution to what Robin was looking for.
“I had a vision for this car and it was my goal to bring that vision to life.”
Why the Volvo C303 is the Ultimate Overland Rig
“The Volvo C303 is a dream for overlanders,” says Robin. “It’s simple, reliable and built like a tank. The legendary B30 redblock engine is bulletproof, and with EFI upgrades, I’ve boosted power, torque, and fuel efficiency without sacrificing reliability. I swapped the original 4-speed gearbox for a 5-speed, keeping the low crawl gears for off-road mastery while adding a highway-friendly overdrive. Compared to my Defender, the C303 is on another level. It’s an unstoppable overlanding machine.”
Simple & Reliable: “These Volvos come apart and go together like Legos.”
Military Tough: “The ex-military Volvos are treated with zinc, so there’s next to no rust. I reused almost every part.”
Twin-Locked Portals: “Where others get stuck, the C303 just rolls through.”
Bonus Feature: “The driver’s windscreen opens. Really useful when it’s warm out!”
Game-Changing Gear
“I like to think of the C303 as a small Unimog,” Robin laughs. “The Volvo being so boxy, it also gives me a ton of space inside.”
Still, Robin wanted some additional upgrades that the original Volvo didn’t offer, and that’s where Alu-Cab was happy to collaborate…
“The rooftop tent makes it possible to utilise the space inside the vehicle for storage, cooking and most importantly, a place for my dog to sleep. Thanks to having all this space inside and being able to sleep in the tent, it was much easier for me to kit the vehicle out for long term travel.”
“I absolutely love the awning. I’ve never actually had an awning before and it’s an absolute game changer. I spend way more time outside than I used to, now that I’m not that exposed to the elements when its raining or the sun is beating down. It’s still comfortable to be out. My dog HATES the rain, so he’s also really stoked about having some coverage.”
Overlanding Tips
For anyone wanting to build an overland rig, Robin recommends taking a few things into account.
“First of all, what kind of vehicle are you looking for? Then, what shape is the vehicle in? What I see happen often is that people buy a car for a ‘too good to be true’ price. They then later figure out it needs a LOT of work. This can very quickly become really expensive. Sometimes its worth spending a little bit more on a vehicle thats solid. If you’re unsure, take someone with you who knows their stuff.”
Start Simple: “You can just throw a mattress and gas stove in the back of your vehicle and go adventure.”
Invest Smart: “A power cube and foldable solar panel add comfort without breaking the bank.”
Choose a Solid Base Vehicle: “Sometimes it’s worth spending more upfront to avoid costly repairs later.”
Sleep on Your Roof: “A rooftop tent is a good investment. It gives you a designated place to sleep, and lets you use your car for storage. It’s also easy to remove in case you want to use your vehicle for different purposes.”
Overcoming Adversity
After her breakup, Robin slept in her workshop for four months before building a tiny house as a temporary home.
“The C303 project saved me. I worked 14-hour days just to not think about the breakup.”
Similarly, traveling solo has taught Robin about resilience.
“Sometimes your journey doesn’t go as planned, you might break down or run into the wrong people. It’s important to continue to push forward in those kinds of situations. If you don’t then that’s where your trip ends. Van-life and overlanding is celebrated on the socials. Yes, you camp at beautiful places in nature, but It’s also very primitive. It’s a big change going from living in a house to living in a car, and it’s not for everyone. There were times where I hit some really rough patches, but in the end it was always worth pushing forward. The feeling of satisfaction when you manage to fix your car, meals shared with kind strangers and parking up at the most remote places makes it worthwhile.”
Giving Up Is Not An Option
People often ask Robin about the challenges of solo travel and how she deals with the loneliness of the road.
“I have my dog with me, but even though he doesn’t talk back I don’t really experience loneliness. I’m used to being on my own and don’t really enjoy social interactions too much. Don’t get me wrong, I like to meet up with people from time to time, but I’m fine being on my own for a couple of months. I’ve always traveled like this and wouldn’t want to change it.”
When Robin is feeling social and craves human interaction she’ll visit a cafe or restaurant and will be chatting away in no time. Also, she says that when you’ve got a strange accent and an even stranger vehicle, there are plenty of strangers who are quick to strike up a conversation.
A Volvo 6×6
Look closely, and you’ll see that the boxy green vehicle seen above and below has six wheels instead of four. Because why wrench and travel in one retro military vehicle when you could have two?
“I have recently added a Volvo 6×6 to my collection and will be mounting the Alu-Cab Rooftop Tent to the flatbed and then do some shorter getaways in it.”
Robin’s Advice for Solo Female Overlanders
Trust Your Instincts – “If something feels off, just bounce.”
A Dog Helps – “Zuko’s been my best companion.”
Don’t Let Fear Stop You – “You have one life. Live it!”
Follow Robin’s adventures: 📷 Instagram
Behind-the-scenes & travel plans: Patreon