Thread: 2000km in the High Country/ Defender TDCI 130

Thought I would make a few comments on how the 2010 130 went over the last few weeks up in the Vic high country. We have had the truck for 3 years now, so it is just about sorted…….
ATB Centre diff has an unforeseen advantage: with no ABS the brakes are dreadful, steep descents on rough terrain has always seen the 130 skipping its way down every time a wheel unloaded. Still does so, but to a noticeably lesser degree. Works well on the loose dirt roads as well of course, and considering it was primarily fitted for reliability/strength, it has been more than worthwhile.
I always considered our ’76 Rangie as the best climbing vehicle we ever owned. Chug away at low revs, it would climb up just about anything. Put your foot down and the sky was the limit. Amazes me that something the size and weight of a loaded 130 can behave in the same way. We have the 160BHP Bas tune, but also a nervy navigator, so the climbing is done as moderately as possible.
Bilstein shocks now fitted and being the correct length we now no longer have to stop, after some spring flexing, to pry the rear coils back into place, unlike the Terrafirma days. Original springs, still copingwith everything we throw at them.
We run two TJM ProLockers, I can’t praise them high enough.My excuse for fitting the rear was to help with the downhill braking…. And then the front diff was committing suicide anyway….. Now the navigator thinks theyare worth every penny. WooHoo!
The famous youbeaut Anti stall, 1^st low. Climbing hard out of the Cobberas Track, we tackled one too many rock steps in 2^ndand stalled. All the hype I have read, I assumed that a restart in first would be a piece of cake. Had to wind it up to 2500rpm before we got moving at all (reallymiss that hand throttle). I have no doubt that if I was in first (as I shouldhave been by then) that the anti-stall would have climbed out fine. But as a hill start, no way.
First low just not low enough! Riding those damn brakes(think I mentioned them already?) all the way down a reasonable descent to keep revs below 3000rpm. I did ask Pete Bell if there was a way of increasing enginebraking, but no. I will have to investigate transfer ratios I think. The engine braking does appear to have improved a little with all the headwork that has just been done, but that is another story.
I fitted Hankook DynaPro MT 235/85 last year, they are performing well on and off road with minimal wear. A compromise of course, a little noisy for a road tyre, not aggressive enough for a true mud tyre. I also found them a little touchy to get the pressure right. 30psi, lovely in the bush, sloppy on the bitumen, 35 psi harsh in the bush, great on the road. Sweetspot in the middle seems to be fine though, so will probably go with them again when the time comes.
We use an Oztent RV1, mounted across the outside rear of the truck, the major rain events while we were away has changed one thing: we now wrap the tent in a waterproof tarp before it gets packed into the carry bag, the fly handled 40mm of rain overnight fine, and we even set the side panels up for the first time (in three years), quite comfy in a minimalist way. The 140mm rain we did find a more solid and larger overnight stay for…..
Going bush in the Vic high country in December means youpretty much have the place to yourself, apart from a few parties that gave deerhunters a bad name (Dogs in national parks, Driving around locked gates,spotlighting and shooting within 100m from where we were staying…interesting little chat at 1.00am for that one).
I would love to post some pics of the Landy in action, but all I can find are Brumbies, water dragons, Brumbies, birds, Brumbies, orchids, Brumbies and gold mining relics. I don’t get to play with the camera much…
Rich

Puma 130's did not get ABS or traction control until after MY13 models. Have to agree engine braking could be better in standard trim.
Alan