Thread: Our Defender Td4 Expedition Conversion

Hi M,
Will ask a friend concerning the idea of the fuel tank under the passenger seat ... at the moment (it's a left hand drive!), it's the place for bulbs and fuses and some other electric stuff. I'll try to find out ... sounds a good idea to me! Thanks!

Not sure about the TD5 & TDCi but Land Rover used to offer the option of a second tank under your passenger seat. The change over tap even changes the fuel gauge to look at the 2nd tank.

I'd be surprised if you couldn't get something to fit.

M

Here are two Defender sill tanks that fit under the existing seat boxes.
Dimensions are in attachments - but should check actual vehicle dimensions before having them made up as I have found that Landys vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle.

Long Range Tank vs Jerry Cans

Capacity is 55 and 35 litres + a bit more depending on how you plumb the filler hose/s. I use a Facit pump to transfer fuel to OE tank when required.

One advantage of sill tanks over the rear wing tanks is that the extra weight is better positioned.

Only mod I'd make if making more up would be to reduce size of filler to 38mm dia and put a second air breather at other end of tank/s.
Also, when plumbing air breather, care must be taken to ensure that there are no low spots which will cause partial blockages if/when fuel enters the air line.

Originally Posted by camel_landy

In the rear wings, you can get 45L diesel on one side and a 45L water on the other. You can also get another fuel tank under your passenger seat (standard Land Rover option).

M

Just be careful running 33's or 255/85, thay will rub on the rear 1/4 tanks.

Here in Aus the 1/4 tank is $900 which is pretty hard to get your head around for 45lt. $ per lt Mulgo are reasonably good value for money.

Just saw this thread and from the title I thought you'd bolted a Freelander engine into a Defender !

Originally Posted by Mike Walkabout

Service on the road ... found some LR-Dealers on the way (i.e. inserted them into our general route-plan) every 9 to 10k kilometres but am also happy to get your ideas concerning the when and where!
By the way, I'm still under warranty and - if I prolong it for another two years - will be till May 2016 ... just not sure if the additional 2 year's warranty is vaild in Australia.
Cheers, Mike

Was talking to a fellow a couple of weeks ago who took his car from Aus to China and discovered when he got back that LR have a world wide warranty service.
When in China he had a problem which was fixed there, and when back here, they reimbursed him for the work.
Not bad, but I'd be checking just to make sure.

Though it's already been said, I must agree, keep the weight down. Overloading causes a large proportion of suspension and tyre failures. The places you mention are merely dirt "highways" and in an offroading sense won't give a standard Defender any trouble (if you have good dampers, eg. Bilstein or Koni). These roads often have severe corrugations - like a washboard surface - and really shake a vehicle, hour after hour for hundreds of kilometers. Bolts shake loose, suspension bushes fail, door latches play up wires break and tyres fail. A guy at Mt Dare once said to me "we use the under 30 under 80 rule, tyres below 30 speed under 80". If that ****** in the Landcruiser with big tyres wants to pass you and do 130 let him go, you'll pass him again when he stops for fuel or tyres.

x2^^