Thread: Which Defender as long-term touring vehicle

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

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Long story short, the wife has agreed that we ought to look at a Defender to prepare it for when we quit work and wander off indefinitely, probably in about 3 years.
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I thought sounded fairly likely that there would not have to be room for kids.

You would probably be carrying a lot of unnecessary junk if you couldn't fit everything a retired couple need in a 110.

Thanks for all the replies guys.
Yes we have considered a tray-on, and I think the 130 is pretty cool, but we already have the camper set up. Agree there are some places we wouldn't try to take the camper - we've just come back from swagging it across the Simpson - but we certainly could have gotten the camper as far as Dalhousie.We have an awning with walls, swags and stretchers and could just chuck an Oz tent on the roof if necessary and arrange to store the camper for a bit.
I'm neither very mechanical nor electrical, but am learning bits slowly. Whatever we get is going to get a bumper to bumper going over before we go anywhere.
While the 2.2/2.4 option would certainly be newer, I'd consider a Td5 or even a good 300Tdi. Our 300 Tdi has been pretty good really, with some problems more related to general age or bad workshop efforts. Fundamentally, our Disco has proven itself a tough old bird, but its getting a bit tired and will need some money spent if we were to keep it. Cleaning the Simpson dust out of it today I reflected on how many memories are tied up with that vehicle. I'm just not sure if we could still be chugging around in it in 10 years time.
We wouldn't be travelling fast as we like to stop and look around.
I'd certainly go for the right older vehicle if it was well equipped and had a good history, as the money saved could be used in other ways.



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Think about it this way,you know your disco,parts from the UK are dirt cheap,you could make your disco sound with a few grand in cash,I would spend the money and keep what you have or go all out buying the newest Defender I could afford.IMHO having driven just about every 4wd in Oz I think the D1 Tdi auto is the best at everything,the L322 Td6 RR is the best wagon ever sold but the D1 just drives,parks,cruises and 4wd's so well. Pat

Yes Pat, I agree the D1 300 Tdi is a good thing and Plan B is certainly to hang onto it, spend a few thousand and we're away.
There are two main reasons why we're looking away from the Disco to a newer Defender:
1. The Disco has had a series of issues in the last year, some caused by workshop stuffups and some by just old age, which have caused us to lose faith in its reliability. This is probably unfair, but the wife just doesn't feel able to rely on it, and its already 19 years old, so in 10 years it could be a 29 year old truck, which is really getting on.
2. The Disco is quite short between the rear seats and the back door. We would like to install a permanent setup of fridge/freezer, battery bank, drawers for tools and some food-related items and maybe even a water tank.
A newer Defender could overcome all those drawbacks. At a personal level, I've always liked Defenders.

Keep in eye on the market section,
My 08 130 is unfortunately going under the hammer soon.
Ben.

A related question is, how much fuel should be carried? We took 150 litres to go Mt Dare across the Simpson to Birdsville and only used 100, but it was nice having the extra. Most long range kits seem to be about 150-160. Is that generally enough, particularly if you have a couple of holders to chuck a couple of extra 20 litre drums on the roof rack if necessary?

On my 130. I have a standard tank at the rear and a 70l diesel along the drivers side. On the passenger side there is 60L of water. I find that gives me 1200km range and is more than enough for most of the trips. If you wanted in the 130 as well you can place another fuel or water tank under the rear seat. 65l i think it is.

This set up works well as it keeps it down low and in the middle of the wheels. Rather than a 140l replacement tank hanging off the back of the car. Which will weight a ton. As it replaces the plastic factory tank with a steel one and double the capacity.

Depending where you are traveling that is more than enough. There are a lot of service stations hidden out there to get fuel from. Though some you are paying a premium. And good idea too is to carry a spare jerry. Just keep them empty and strapped to the roof in case you find a great deal on cheep fuel to top up.

Yes, on our Simpson trip we had the standard 89 liters plus 3x20 jerries on the roof. We used about 100 litres from Mt Dare along the French and QAA lines to Birdsville, averaging 13.6 l/100km, so had plenty of margin.
But for a permanent arrangement I would like to get more fuel down low, and to be able to buy it at cheaper places and just top up in remote areas.
A Toyota with us had 160 litres in tanks, which seems a good amount, plus 40 in jerries on the rear bar.