Thread: what makes a defender 3500kg GVM?

In a similar vein, does anyone know what is the physical difference between a 130 defender rated at 4t towing vs one at 3.5t? Other than the compliance plate and a 4t. rated towbar of course. I have one rated at 4t. (130tdi single cab) and 2 at 3.5t. (td5 and puma - both 130 dual cabs).


And is it possible/feasible to get the rating increased from 3.5 to 4t.?
Thks
Alan

I think its just a change in regs, preventing you from towing more than the vehicles GVM. Could be wrong on that too though.

Originally Posted by alanw

In a similar vein, does anyone know what is the physical difference between a 130 defender rated at 4t towing vs one at 3.5t? Other than the compliance plate and a 4t. rated towbar of course. I have one rated at 4t. (130tdi single cab) and 2 at 3.5t. (td5 and puma - both 130 dual cabs).


And is it possible/feasible to get the rating increased from 3.5 to 4t.?
Thks
Alan

I thought the later model Defenders used thinner material to make the chassis.
Cost saving measures.
Could also just be rumour.

Regulations for towing changed in 1998 Australia wide,
There is some info in the article that I have linked below, but it doesn't cover everything.
Regards,
Mike.

national australian towing regulations

Your TDi would have been under the earlier regs, your TD5 & TDCi under the later?
I have a 90 (Private import) with factory heavy duty chassis and tow bar that is rated for 4000kg towing capacity, engineered and complied in NSW for this too.

Originally Posted by taylorslandy

So to convince my engineer, what do the 3500kg gvm defenders have that the others don't? Might need some official document to back it up also.

Cheers,
Andrew.

My Defender is the one in the other thread posted above. Most of the information in this thread is spot on but to put it all in one place, the "HD" Defenders had 130 rims, 130 springs (with helper springs), a tubed (130) Sals axle and NO chassis modifications or thicker steel. Bush65 theorised that there could've been internal chassis mods - I can't confirm or deny that, but I think it unlikely. Too much hassle from a production point of view.

I can't help with any official documentation though.

This is all very interesting my 95 110 ute came with a factory heavy duty upgrade I found this out when my mate at land rover did some research on my vin and printed it off for me I have it some place but there's no detail of what this heavy duty pack consisted of. I can post it up if anyone's intrested

Anyone done a GVM upgrade recently?

Input much appreciated

pd

I remember seeing a chassis that was plated with some flat bar top and bottom, I was told it was factory. Iirc a tdi series 130.
When I asked the bloke said it was a heavy duty chassis , with the plates being In tension and compression much like an I beam.