just starting out with defender 110

[redneck.woman91]

Hi everyone,
Ive just inherited my dad's 1996 100 defender, which is pretty much stock standard, except that it has been changed to an automatic transmission, has an OME sway bar, trailer brakes and a MASSIVE steel box on the back (i am not talking a tool box, it literally looks as tho somebody has plonked a giant steel box on top of a table top tray.) she has standard sized rims and wrangler all terrains, and an arb bullbar (not winch compatible).

now, my question is - i want to go 4wding, and do quite a bit of it. so i am wondering what everybodys advice is as to what i should do to the old girl?
i am pretty new to 4wding, and theres not many people around here to ask, so all advice is appreciated!

[The ho har's]

Welcome to you:D

your'e username sounds female...hope so....another to the fold??;)

[ugu80]

The beauty of the Defender is that you don't have to anything to them. They are an awesome 4WD as is. Little bits and pieces are there to make them even better.

1st thing you should get is sold by 4WD stores as a basic recovery kit. With that, another 4WD to snatch and a shovel with a long handle will get you out of 90% of stuff.

Don't wait, get out and enjoy it now.

If you are driving around Peats Ridge in your Defender and you get a big wave from a guy riding a big red Honda with a matt black open face helmet, that will be me. (You do know you will have to wave at other defenders as they will wave to you).

[KarlB]

You are most welcome to the forum redneck.woman91. Ugu80 is spot on when he says that you don't have to do anything to a Defender. They [mostly] come out of the box fully functional. If the rear steel box is a real monster then maybe you should get rid of it. Maybe we need to see some pictures. :)

Cheers
KarlB

[lardy]

First thing you do is have a full service (do it yourself for the experience) then get the timing belt done ...then drive it That is all you need to do and welcome

[one_iota]

Take her for a drive (several) and learn how she works with you.

As has been said they work quite well just as they are...that's what they were designed for.

However 4wdriving is as much about improving your skills as it is about understanding the Defender's inherent capabilities. You need to come to an understanding with her.... then when you think something isn't working for you then there are a lot of things you can do to improve the relationship. Therein lies the fun and challenge of owning and driving a Land Rover.

The tool box might help with loading the rear coils so don't rush to removal just yet.

Above all welcome to AULRO and the Defender. :D

[slug_burner]

Welcome,

The timing belt and make sure the cooling system is in good nick. After that you are ready to go anywhere. A hand operated winch will teach you not to get bogged, while someone else is about they can give you a gentle tug with the snatch strap.

[redneck.woman91]

Hi guys, thank u for all your advice, all help is appreciated! Yes I am a female, 18 years old and still on my p plates.
I have been helping dad do full services on both the "offender" as shes fondly known, and our 1992 disco (which has since been scrapped after 10 years of hell) since i was 8 years old, so im no stranger to that part of ownership - also no stranger to the oil leaks! Have been taught from a young thing to wave at other defender owners, its a great feeling to be part of a community.
I will try and post some pictures of the girl at some stage, if you see her once its unlikely you will ever forget her! a few people have said she looks like a refrigerated goods van, so shes quite noticeable. The box is a real pain in the butt for 4wding as I cant see anything, but weight wise its very useful.
Ive been driving her every chance I get in the 2 local state forestries, and so far ive got a bit of an idea of how she handles. I am a bit timid about taking her anywhere decent as of yet as I don’t really have any friends who will go 4wding with me, and the only mate who will go with me has a Suzuki sierra and I don’t think that will be able to pull 2 and a half ton of truck out of a hole! If there is anyone on the central coast who would like to go for a run with me, Im always up for it.

To Ugu80 – you have probably already waved at me, if you see a white defender with Victorian plates and red and white p plates, that would b me!

[samuelclarke]

Welcome to AULRO and Defender ownership...your life will never be the same again! :D lol

In terms of what to do to it. Well firstly I'd recommend you think about where you want to take it - just touring on Outback roads, hard core off road or a mix of the two. Defenders are great in that you can set them up for doing both at once with not too much compromise in either direction.

Posting up some pics of "Offender" will help us make suggestions.

Check out my Defender's project thread to see what I've done and planning on doing...it might give you a few ideas: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-rides/60090-my-first-defender-1992-200tdi.html

[Landy Smurf]

what a girl my age into landys my dream has come true.just joking welcome to the forum

[redneck.woman91]

as soon as i sort out my camera, ill post some pics of her. Id love to go off road 4wding, mainly in victoria. I spent 2 weeks in the Dargo region with some friends and would love to see how my girl does compared to their rodeo and pajeros.

[Blknight.aus]

the first and probably last photo youd take of your deefer with rodeos and pajeros is in the carpark of the fast food joint when you all meet up.

The rest will be taken by others and will predominately be you deefer in the forground, with a snatch strap or tow rope and the paj/rodeo in the background on the other end of the line.

[Scallops]

the first and probably last photo youd take of your deefer with rodeos and pajeros is in the carpark of the fast food joint when you all meet up.

The rest will be taken by others and will predominately be you deefer in the forground, with a snatch strap or tow rope and the paj/rodeo in the background on the other end of the line.

Quite right - the Defy will eat the jappers once the going gets interesting. Welcome redneck.woman91 - and remember to wave! :)

[defender_sg]

G'day and welcome, you certainly won't have any problems keeping up with your friends even with a bog standard defender & there probably isn't much you need to do to it until you get out there and work out what you feel it needs. Enjoy it, we are all looking forward to the pictures.

[Quarks]

Hey, I wonder if it was you I waved to last time I went through Peats Ridge... I seem to recall that the only wave I got on that trip was from a red-P defender. :)

It was back at the end of March, but if it was you, you'd probably remember, something to do with having a big orange canoe up on the roof and six more in tow! ;)

Anyway, sounds like you've got hold of a good'un. :cool:

:)

[redneck.woman91]

haha yes mate i do remember you! ive always been taught to wave at other landys. When i used to drive a hilux i kept forgetting and would wave at landy owners, damn i used to get some funny looks!
I think i am the only p plate defender driver up this way anyway, if there are others i havent seen them!

I took her for a run yesterday up a short local bush track, pretty steep with a heck of a lot of puddles! she did pretty well on the way up, except for when we hit the steepest section where she struggled a little bit even in low range. I think it was probably due to the all terrain tyres and the steel box which is still loaded up with my swag and other camping gear.

Ill be putting up some pics of her a bit later today, along with my small *cough* shopping list, would love to know what people think!

[redneck.woman91]

hello again,
just putting some pics of the offender up - do not ask how she got this name...my dad does not even know!
I have only owned her for a month or so, and Ive already got a shopping list! (granted half of it is things dad and i have wanted to do with her for a few years but never had the time)
*winch bar and winch - havent decided which make yet, but dad was leaning towards a terrafirma tubular winch bar and tigerz 12000lb electric winch)
*Recovery kit
*bash plate and diff guard - (this is a priority as when im driving up our dirt road to home i almost smash the diff coming out of the creek if i go at the wrong angle)
*UHF and aerial, probably will get a VHF as well as that is what my friends all have in their 4wds and when we go bush we usually stick to VHF to talk to one another.
*Dual battery system to join the coleman fridge I got for my 18th
*CD player and speakers
*Spotties - I have inherited a set of IPF 800 spotties from our old Disco, I will have to get somebody else to install these for me though.
*New rims and mud tyres, dad was going to go for either Maxxis bighorns or Mickey Thompson MTZs, with sunrasia rims. I have seen both perform on a Pajero and a Rodeo, and we have Bighorns on our 80 series cruiser (yes my parents crossed to the dark side). They seem to go really well, especially the Bighorns, but havent seen them on any landys so Im not sure.
*A Defender tub tray, in decent nick for a decent price - if anyone hears of one, let me know!

Dad and I are doing a full service on her soon, and the New radiator out of our Disco will be going in, along with new brake pads. She's also coming up for a new serpentine belt, vacuum pump and battery.

PS:In the side on photos u will probably notice the large dent in the Steel box's door. That was courtesy of dad leaving the door up and drving out of the shed just before I took ownership - i wasnt very happy!

[isuzutoo-eh]

Black sunnies and Bighorns look awesome
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/05/1263.jpg
not that im biased

[redneck.woman91]

haha just slightly biased. how do u find the bighorns go?

[isuzutoo-eh]

Bighorns haven't let me down yet, just my talented driving that has :D
I can't usually hear them over the engine on road and off road they seem to work well, though being my first registered 4wd I have little to compare against.

[redneck.woman91]

haha well seeing as everyone seems to like the bighorns that is probably what i will end up going with, now i just have that lovely issue of cash flow getting in the way :(

[Landy Smurf]

hey love the ute

[ugu80]

AAA tyres at Guildford had a stack of Maxxis Buckshot Mudders (very similar to the Buckhorn, slightly more mud oriented) about 6 months ago. I got a set (4) of 235/85/16 fitted and balanced for under $800.

[redneck.woman91]

cool how r they going for you? maybe more suitable for me as i travel on dirt tracks to get home and want to spend a lot of time 4wding

[ugu80]

Maxxis always rate highly in 4WD magazine tests, up there with BFG, Coopers, Mickey Thompson, etc. Mine have gone everywhere I want without drama. Treads in good shape, no tearing or bits missing, as was the case with my previous Dunlops.

Only difference between the Buckshot and Bighorns is the Buckshot has slightly more open tread pattern. The rest of the construction is the same.

[redneck.woman91]

cool do u do much highway driving? what sort of tracks hav u been doing?

[Didge]

Welcome Redneck woman. My daughters 24 & 22 have just been introduced to 4wdriving (as well as the 18 yo son) and they all love it. I'd think about leaving the box on, it's a great go anywhere tent you don't have to set up unless it leaks a lot, just put aside a drawer or two inside for recovery gear and tools and you can stay anywhere. For a young woman it'd also be secure and safe for camping out overnight.

[Xul]

Yeah I'd also stick with the box. They're about as good as it gets for camping. The only thing I'd upgrade a box to is a canvas covered box!

[redneck.woman91]

my plan is to leave the box on for a while longer and then upgrade to a canvas canopy. I cant use the box for much as it leaks like a sieve, I cant see where on earth i am going when im reversing, and its very very heavy. Plus all the pins from the hinges have fallen out after years of going up rough tracks.
At the moment dad and I are planning to cut the box off and just leave the steel tray, then eventually get a decent tray and canopy set up.

[Xul]

Personally I would go with this, it was what I was aiming for if I ended up with a ute, which I didn't. You still won't be able to see where you are reversing but it ticks all the boxes: Light, Secure, Waterproof and Practical.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/05/1217.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/05/1218.jpg

I have a feeling this guy may be a member on here. I spotted the pics on 4x4 action though.

[Bush65]

A reversing/rear view camera will help - see Bundalenes 130 thread in the projects forum.

You said you are new to 4wdriving, but also you have been around landies for some time so you may already know: Always select centre diff lock when off road. Learn how to drive down steep grades with an auto.

I like traybacks for their practicality and ease when used for offroad touring. I also like the type of top that Xul for same use.

You loose some performance with an auto behind a 300tdi (even manual 300Tdi's are not great performers when loaded and against headwinds at best of times), so if not already done consider fitting an egt gauge, and tweaking the turbo and fuel injection pump.

300Tdi's can end up with expensive damage if the overheat due to cooling water is loss, or blocked radiator. It is a good idea to fit a low water alarm - their water pump is mounted very high and they can't tolerate a relatively small loss of water (and the temp gauge will not help much).

Replace the plastic plugs in the thermostat housing and radiator with brass plugs. Do this at home and don't wait until you have a problem - they usually break when you try to unscrew them and can be difficult to get the broken part out.

Fit a relay for the head lights (I like the kit that traxide on this forum sells).

Edit: I notice you mention spotties and dual batteries - traxide has good products for these and you should be able to fit them youself from the instructions - else yell out on this forum or discuss with traxide.

[ugu80]

cool do u do much highway driving? what sort of tracks hav u been doing?


I have a Defender, I go wherever I damn well please. Highways are for getting there. The Maxxis make almost no noise on the highway, but thats probably because I haven't got my hearing aids in. No doubt the Watagans are familiar to you but you are also handy to Turon River (Capertee) or travel a little farther to Abercrombie River (near Oberon) or the Bridle Track (from Bathurst to Hill End). All can be done in a day from Peats Ridge, but you will need a weekend to do them justice.

For longer trips, last year I travelled the Strezlecki track and Cameron Corner; in a few weeks I'm off to Cape York. You are only limited by the price of fuel, but the experience is worth bankruptcy.

[redneck.woman91]

cool,dad was worried but how muddies will wear seeing as i have to go on interstate drives with work, but if they handle it ok they would b worth it. A friedn and i are planning to go to camerons corner at some point in the next year and a half once our vehicles are set up

[lambrover]

the maxxis tyres: I have had the bighorns before and liked them, they through the mud well. The buck shot tyre is not as good in my opinion, it has no side wall lugs, if you look at the bighorns you will notice it has side lugs for better grip in the ruts and astheticaly it is a better looking tyre. as for tyre size for you I would run 235/85/16. If you had a manual box you could get away with running 255/85/16's but as bush65 has said there is some power lose with the auto and this would hurt the power to much, don't despare though as auto's are fantastic off road and when you tackle tough hill climbs you will appreciate the auto, just have to be more carefull coming down the hills.

good luck mate

[Bush65]

cool,dad was worried but how muddies will wear seeing as i have to go on interstate drives with work, but if they handle it ok they would b worth it. A friedn and i are planning to go to camerons corner at some point in the next year and a half once our vehicles are set up
I have, for more years than I care to remember, used muddies for road tyres (IMHO they are the only all terrain tyre). I have managed to get good life from the old style BFG muddies and also from Mickey Thompson MTZ.

The MTZ's on my disco have been on since this time in 2007 and are possibly less than half worn. It is used as a daily driver and has done some long trips. I don't know how many km's but it is considerable.

I have the new style BFG KM2 muddies on the bushie but it still needs a good bit of work before it can be used. I have only heard good reports about these.

[bcj]

I've a 110 c/chassis. 90% of the time I've no sides on tray as I find this best for running around town and offroad- working round farm in steep country and trees- peripheral vision is quite good with no sides. Also better on fuel- though a bit bouncy unloaded.
A slip on cage/camper is a better option than a permanently mounted one ,a well set up one only takes a couple of minutes to put on.
Mud tyres tend to throw around larger stones if your planning much gravel road driving-removing lotsa paint under vehicle.
I have mud tyres and do 500km/week on road & find them ok, I do need them for round paddock though. They're almost on par with my old A/T's onroad,dry or wet and seem to be to be wearing ok
brett
110 300tdi

[redneck.woman91]

thanks mate, i am looking at getting a slip on cage and canopy similar to my ex's, only took us round 20 minutes to get it on and off.
what tyres do u have on ur ute?

[bcj]

Michelin xzl's 7.50r16-not cheap, but excel at doing what they're meant to-
Brett
110 300tdi

[windsock]

...but thats probably because I haven't got my hearing aids in.

Hey ugu, it is nice to know I am not the only one with selectable hearing driving a land rover... :D:lol2::lol2: