Hi Dave and welcome to the forum!
Re suitability of your vehicle, speak to Graham Powys and have a look at the pics in the first post of this link below ...
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=911
He seems to manage
quite well in his ....
If you drive it right you shouldn't be getting it broken! My Disco is my everyday car so whatever I do to it on a weekend it has to get me to work on a Monday. Even when it's had 3 inches of muddy water in it. :oops: The only damage it's had (apart from scratches) was done on the way to work, not off road!
Not sure about all groups but I think our group get around 30p per mile fuel for call outs and I think that is paid by the council if we are called out by them.