Thread: Which engine in Defender 130 for the big trip?

Hi, my name is Kai, a dutch Kiwi who's been living in Melbourne for much of the new millenium.

I used to own a Defender 90 in Holland, going back 16 years now…

My wife and I, along with our 2 kids, are preparing for the big trip - Melbourne to the UK, spending 18 months overlanding, taking the India, Pakistan, Iran route into Turkey and onwards…

We're currently shopping around for a Defender 130, as the tray will fit a tray-on camper, to sleep all 4 of us comfortably. It's one of the few vehicles that will take the estimated 1200kg payload, and I know it will do the job.

Here's my dilemma, there's lot's of people for and against the isuzu engine(s), or td5/300tdi, for various reasons, most of this is based around towing, and there aren't any hills to speak of in Oz, so this trip has different requirements from those that use their vehicle only in Australia.

I would appreciate some advise from all you knowledgeable landy people as to which engine will be best for the trip we're doing, considering we'll have a 1000kg + payload, and yes there are some high hills to climb, think the himalaya's into Kathmandu, and the highest road in the world through Pakistan.

- I understand the TDI engine is easier to fix (important for the countries we're travelling through), as it has less electrics then the TD5, but the TD5 has more grunt, which has to be a good thing when going up lots of hills with a heavy payload, this would make the TDI somewhat underpowered, no?

- So, TDI or TD5?

- If TD5, should we look at an upgrade kit such as the Davis Performance Landys (DPL) upgrade package, as mentioned on Overlander 4WD Magazine - Australia's leading four wheel drive magazine for TD5? If so, do we really need the GKN overdrive unit, or could we just stick to the $2500 engine upgrade, to help us get up those hills a bit better?

- There's a lot of mention of putting 2.8 or 4 L isuzu's in the Defender, of course people that HAVE done it think it's the best thing since sliced bread, and the people that haven't swear it's completely unnecesary, really.

How much would it cost - isuzu engine + fitting, and is it wise in my case? I'd love some frank advice, bearing in mind the trip that this defender will be taking, including resale value in the UK, servicability on the way, and the fact that i don't want to do modifications to the vehicle that will either make it harder to fix or more likely to break down.

- Lastly, budget: I had in mind buying a 1998-2003 model, depending on which engine is the wisest choice, so that puts us in at around $25-33K, the higher the initial price the less we can spend on possible engine mods…

cheers

Kai

Find a couple and take them for a drive. I don't think there's really enough between them to make that much of a difference.

I reckon that you should decide on cabin noise rather than power, repairability, etc.

You should pick the best vehicle with the best logbook that's been serviced obsessively.

If you're on the road for eighteen months, you're likely to break down, and will probably have to fly parts in. With eighteen months, a few days here or there shouldn't be that pressing.

I reckon you'd be mad to take an Isuzu, the cabin noise would have you regretting it every day for the entire trip.

Although not being able to make conversation while you're driving could be a good thing.

Cheers
Simon