DEFINING A DEFENDER
An imported Defender 90 finds a new home with Canadian Nick McKay as his next customized off-roading adventure vehicle.
STORY BY MERCEDES LILIENTHAL
PHOTOS BY NICK MCKAY
This is the Big Silver run of the river project up Canada’s Harrison East forest service road. It was the first time the truck was away from home without backup. It performed flawlessly.
(Photo: Tina Rahn)
“MCKAY’S INTENTION WAS TO PURCHASE AN IMPORTED D110, 1 PUT A SLEEPING PLATFORM IN AND USE IT AS A BASE CAMP, ‘BUT WHEN YOU’RE ON A LIMITED BUDGET, BEGGARS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS.’”
Canadian resident Nick McKay caught the off-roading bug after attending Washington’s 2014 NW Overland Rally.
After being a passenger on his first off-road trail run, McKay witnessed extreme excitement when the 1998 Land Rover Discovery I he was in slipped into a deep V-notch, showing its underbody. After he and the driver, Spencer Whitney, were checked on, the vehicle was righted and winched back to safety.
Prior to recovery, McKay had a smile the size of Alberta on his face; he was hooked.
McKay’s First Build: Ourea
After the unexpected rescue, McKay bought a “well-loved 2008 Nissan Xterra” four months later, nicknamed it “Ourea” and has been going on adventures ever since. Since then, the 34-year-old adventurer, along with his wife, Tina Rahn, have piloted many off-roading excursions with it.
McKay’s Xterra was lifted and showcased a beefy front bumper with a WARN winch and rock sliders for side body protection. The interior was wired to power the ARB fridge, communications and auxiliary lights.
From Moab to Whistler, McKay and Rahn toured together in the 4x4, until she eventually called Ourea her own.
“During the winter of 2018, I came to a realization that my wife had stolen my truck from me,” McKay said. “If I wanted to go on my own adventures, I would need to buy one of my own.”
A pair of Defenders are on an adventure in Lillooet, B.C. In the background is Chris Walker’s 1996 Defender 90 (from Overland Training Canada).
This is how the D90 truck rolled out of the container. (Doesn’t everyone carry a spare chassis on their vehicle’s roof?)