Thread: Our Defender Td4 Expedition Conversion

I wouldn't be inclined to mount a hi lift on that cheaper wheel carrier - I'm aware of similar designs that have failed when heavily loaded on corrugations (which would be bloody inconvenient).

Consequently, I'd consider them both to be wheel carriers only. Also, while the stainless one is a very nest piece of kit, again I'd be nervous about its durability over corrugations (and ease of repair in remote locations) - I think on balance I'd recommend the cheaper of the two - or a Rijidij if that's an option for you. I have one of these and it's unbelievably tough.

I apologise as I have not re-read your thread for a while and so can't recall your exposure to badly corrugated roads - but they are basically a destructive force that takes no prisoners. In this respect you've certainly made a solid call upgrading your suspension.

Regarding a hard mounted compressor - I have an ARB unit mounted in my rear storage drawers and its proven to be an extremely useful piece of kit that can be used for locker actuation in the future. I've found the hose long enough to reach all four corners of a 110 - it comes out of the drivers side passenger door.

At very least i would consider a remote power plug if uou go for a portable compresor - having shorted my batteries out twice last night while I was reinstalling them (tired and in the dark) I have no appetite for having to play around in my battery compartment any more.

Prioritise quality with a compresor - a broken one is less than useless its an excuse not too run appropriate tyre pressures, which is a puncture/bogging/singl vehicle rollover waiting to happen.

PS I'm envious of your trip!:

Hi mike,

You asked a couple of days ago about legality of the 110...I had a mate a few months back who got pulled over by the police for having too many spot light, he had 6.

He had to take it over the pits(road worthy) and was informed that 4 spot lights was the maximum in WA...not sure how many you have but thought it would be good for you to know.

Cheers

Hi gingz,
We're not planning on installing any Camel-Trophy-Style extra head lights or spots, so there's going to be no problem there! We're, however, thinking of installing maybe one spot, which can be turned/moved from the inside of the car ... But that's just based on a recommendation by Tom Sheppard ... don't really know, whether we'll really need it or not! Thanks for the info, anyway ... Do want to be on the safe side when it comes to the situation when the officials check the car after shipping to Fremantle.
n plus one, thanks a lot for your ideas concerning the spare wheel carriers ... We have actually been interested in the Rijdij one, but are not sure, whether it is OK according to European/German roadworthy regulations, which sometimes are a bit fishy, if you know what I mean! Don't know who could help us answering that question!? The carrier really looks great and seems to be really tough and certainly THE thing for Australian (and thus almost any other) conditions. Also, we'd have to find somebody who can install the carrier near Perth or Fremantle ... we'd have to find somebody taking care of the first thorough service in Oz, anyway!
Yeah, that's that for the moment

Took a look at the Rijidij carrier on their website again and found that it most surely won't fit to my car, as we've got a rear step which covers the section of the rear cross member (is it called like that in English?) the carrier has to be bolted onto! Seems as if we've got to find something else! :-(

... and then: compressors ...
Which ARB compressor (or other brand) would you recommend?? Money, of course, always is an issue, but then, I definitely need something reliable and tough! Would be great to get any suggestions!

Hi All,
I found Mulgo's Glove Box ( Mulgo Glove Box for Land Rover Defender MY07 onwards | Buy 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Accessories and Parts Online Store | Expedition Centre Australia by Mulgo ) on the net today! Looks simply great! I checked all the German 4wd suppliers and found none selling it! That really is a pity! I would love to have one - today! Any experiences from you out there???

... or does anyone know where I can get the Mulgo glove box in Europe? Unfortunately, Daniel did not reply to my email so far (... maybe it has ended up in the spam folder, as my mails sometimes seem to do overseas!) ...
Mike

Originally Posted by Mike Walkabout

Back to one of my last few questions ... Do you think an inbuilt compressor is worth the money?? ... I am thinking of "access points" on both sides of the car to be able to fill the tyres in no time!
Then, I found two spare wheel carriers for the rear door and simply can't decide. What do you think ...

Hi,
Looks like you have a beautifully set up vehicle - I'm envious! Your questions:

1) Is an inbuilt compressor worth it? I think yes. It solves a storage problem (where to put the portable one) and is slightly easier to use. I have mine in the engine compartment, and the on/off switch is there too. Easier wiring and the instrument panel looks a bit less like a space shuttle. Sure I have to lift the bonnet, but I do that a lot anyway.

2) Spare wheel carriers? Ages ago (I think in an expedition-advice book) I read that in a Land Rover don't have any accessories that connect the body to the chassis. My spare wheel carrier (Kaymar Engineering in Australia) puts 100% of the weight onto the chassis. I have done 10s of thousands of km on corrugations with no problems. It's also very strong. In town someone in a large 4wd ran into the back of me - huge damage to the front of his car, and only a scratch on the wheel carrier.

I think that both of the versions that you are looking at are mounted on both the body & the chassis.

3) although you're not asking any more - winch? hi lift? I really only do touring but I have a hand winch that I have never used except to learn how to use, it, and a hi lift that I use all the time. It's multi purpose but you do have to be careful with it. I have an adaptor that means I can use the standard jacking points (if a stable jack is what I want from it!). It's now over 40 years old (it was my father's) and I used it last weekend in my driveway when I changed the front shock absorbers. One piece of advice I received was that hi lifts don't like dust so I have a bag for the jack part, and try to keep it inside the vehicle.

hope this helps, and have fun!