My Defender came (secondhand) with LRA water & diesel sill tanks, polyairs in the rear springs, cruise control, cargo barrier and a few other extra's. It had been serviced in Darwin so the previous owner did a big trip.
I then fitted a home made storage system.
I sorted out what I wanted to carry and then designed a storage system around it.
Two jerrys for water, four plastic storers for food, 3 chairs, 2 burner Coleman, single burner Coleman, hand winch, hotplate, foldable table (plus a heap of other stuff like a camp oven, Bush Kettle, crockery, cutlery etc. etc.).
I ended up setting the fridge back towards the cargo barrier (otherwise there was lost space behind it). A plastic wash bowl with frypan, large cookpot (useful if you want a lot of hot water) & billy sit in front of the fridge (in cotton bags to stop 'em rattling). This can be stuck under the back of the vehicle if the fridge is being used.

Fridge pulled out.

A few years later I made a folding shelf inside the rear door, great for brief stops to make a cuppa.

It's still fitted with 7.50 x 16 tubed tyres (it's a 1995 model). A trip to the High Country a year ago had everyone in Toyotas & Nissans airing down their huge tyres and taking the **** out of my 'cheescutter' tyres but I went everywhere they did.
I'd suggest you work out, maybe even purchase all the items you want to carry and then get a storage system made to carry them.
You can spend a lot on fancy tyres, lift kits etc. etc. but for most trips the Defender is already a capable vehicle.
Best of luck,
Colin
'56 Series 1 with homemade welder
'65 Series IIa Dormobile
'70 SIIa GS
'76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
'81 SIII FFR
'95 Defender Tanami
Motorcycles :-
Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C, Suzuki SV650
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