Thread: Is a new Defender 130 cab/chassis right for me?

Hi Mike,
I have a 130 DC and love it. mind you, I have one from 1998, the last of the defenders not to be (like all newer 4x4s) overcomplicated with electrics.


Get a dual cab, they are simply put far more versatile. period.

• Be aware, you have come to the land rover forum so don't expect too much support for a Toymota...
• When the kids come along, you will have to have child restraint anchors fitted.
• get a flat tray ute then you can use a tray-on camper. see the section on the top of this page that relates to "ideas for your expidition defender" for some great ideas...
• For the amount of money you would spend on a new one, you could get an old one (they all look pretty much the same anyway) and be able to spend a bit of dough on accessories!

Good luck, and post some photos!

Ours is a 2003 130 HCPU, we took the tub off and replaced with a steel tray to carry the camper.

the only adjustments we have done is taken the inner helper spring out and replaced it with air bags, and put a heavier sway bar in to carry the camper weight.

We regularly do long distance touring and to this point we have had no issues.

Kimberley/N.T., Plenty Hway, Tanami track, GRR and Nathen River road to name a few.

All around S.A. and of course QLD

Recently arrived home from 5 weeks touring among other places,the West Coast Tassie, all around Vic and NSW.

Before our last adventure we removed the EGR valve and removed the centre exhaust had a remap and fitted an EGT monitor, the increased power is amazing, we can actually overtake now, remembering our's is a TD5 not the newer ford engine .






Mrs hh

Mike,

recently went through the same process...............kids arriving ment the single cab 1999 cruiser ute was no longer viable........................and it was damned uncomfortable. I still wanted a tray ute as I had a dog at the time.

I ended up purchaisng a new PUMA 130 twin cab and have made a few mods. It is comfrotable to ride in much more so than the cruiser ute............its weird but you wouldnt think it only has a 2.4 TD motor that was my biggest worry and probably is the only box not ticked if it had a 6cyl or a 3.2l 4cyl it would be perfect. From what I understand its the drive train that is where you will have problems most of the time.

It is more fuel efficient than my crusier ute. 6spd on the hwy is good I can pass in this gear.

I have a 2.2m tray (you cant have a tray this long on a hilux and you you can go to 2.4m as some others have)on it so I neally have a full length tray and the addition of the rear set of seats. For adults the rear seats will not be great. There straight out of the wagon and take up to much room IMHO, a seat designed for the twin cab would have been preferable so a little recline could be had. I got rid of the brackets so I can access behind the seat.

I dont have many KM's on mine yet as I have been walking to work and the places I hunt on have been flooded and therefore I have driven it little.

But so far it has been fine. Had an issue early on the tray maker busted a fuel line.......not the cars fault.

It is the only twin cab on the market that has;

Live Axels
Actually has some Clearance as standard
Actually has 4x4 Tyres as standard

The new dash inside I find unique and tougher than hilux etc. I have added Mulgo seat extensions and I can get back too far if I want !!

there a unique ride and I think a very versatile truck.

Is it a 20yr car I dont know I'd like to think so, at any rate it by the time you deck your 4x4 out it would be cheaper a few yrs down the track to replace the flogged out motor and drivetrain than to up grade I am guessing.

For me if I was doing it over again now I dont have a dog..........................I dont know..........but having a ute tray when you are into hunting is handy.

As far as a dual cab goes other than cutting down a Workmate V8 Crusier Wagon (which is unaffordable for most) its the only dual can on the market that is a real 4x4 and thats why I bought it.

I have too much $$ in mods now to dish it off, and maybe I have not drove it enough to REALLY appreciate it. I love the looks of it especially with the bonnet bulge.

I suppose I am saying I love it...................but still have reservations occasionaly as when I can get to the places I go (floods) they are quite remote and my cruiser never let me down on those trips, and the 130 Twin Cab has yet to prove itself.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming!

So the 130 HCPU and the 130 cab/chassis are exactly the same car, right? It's the same hard-core suspension setup on each?

Glad to hear your experience pc3, but I guess like mine you're waiting for the LR to prove itself.

ho-har's, that's a great looking truck, nice one! I'm pretty much sold that the chassis and the body will do the job for me, but I'm still uneasy about the mechanicals. Shame yours is a TD5 so no direct comparison to the new Puma.

Would still like to hear about anybody's experience with the engine management/electronics... this is my main worry out bush. What I want is a car that can be kept going by a bush mechanic, none of this 'computer lockdown' stuff. How does this stuff go underwater?

I'm going to test drive one of these beasts on the w/end, anything I should look out for?

There is plenty that have done outback travel in thier puma's,mines arriveing in May and it will do lots of miles around the Pilbara,if I had any doubts I wouldn't have bought it.I am buying a Hawkeye for it and my L322 because I can then fault find both vehicles with the one machine. Pat