1997 Land Rover Defender 'Big Cab' 130

[jamieluck]

Hi, I have advertised my Defender Big Cab on the Aulro site and nowhere else yet. Had a geezer ring me up about it last night and challenged me on a couple of things, which I found quite offensive!!
This is my third Defender and think I am getting to know them quite well so I would just like some reinforcements on a couple of beliefs with my ute.

1. My tray is a heavy duty galvanized tray with drop down sides. It is 2700mm long by 1950mm wide, this is not standard in Defender 130 utes is it? I was of the understanding that it is an extended tray and that standard length tray is about 2050mm long?

2. Because it is a 'Big Cab' it was made for Telstra and because of that they were all flogged by the drivers??(That is what the caller told me last night). Mine is superb, has never let me down in any way and is, by far, the best engine I have ever had. I always service it myself and care for it like a baby.

3. Mine has done 174000km's. If it didnt come with service history how can I find out if and when the timing belt was done? It could have been done at 100,000km's or 140,000 km's?

4. I have seen one other 'Big Cab' for sale in two years, and I am regularly on the car sales web sites looking, and that one was a much later model i think. This geezer last night told me there are heaps of them around?? I have never seen another one down here in Tassie.

Hoping someone out there can make me feel better!! Cheers Jamie

[Chomby]

Just sounds like the cheap fella was trying to knock a few $$$'s

Don't budge

[spudboy]

Hi Jamie - I have an Ex-Telstra extra-cab, and they are not that common at all.

I was also warned about them being flogged by insensitive Telstra employees, but have not had any issues with things falling apart at all.

Mine has an alloy canopy on the back, so can't compare tray sizes, but the length of the canopy is 2100mm, so sounds like yours is extra long.

A '97 will be a 300TDi - no? Mine is TD5, so no timing belt, but for the cost of doing it (compared to the cost of it failing) it'd be worth just replacing it. The new buyer will factor that in to the selling price I guess.

[Scouse]

I don't think all the big cabs were sold to Telstra. A few came through here & I don't recall them being sold to Telstra.

[Gaz69]

jamieluck

Hi, I have advertised my Defender Big Cab on the Aulro site and nowhere else yet. Had a geezer ring me up about it last night and challenged me on a couple of things, which I found quite offensive!!
This is my third Defender and think I am getting to know them quite well so I would just like some reinforcements on a couple of beliefs with my ute.

1. My tray is a heavy duty galvanized tray with drop down sides. It is 2700mm long by 1950mm wide, this is not standard in Defender 130 utes is it? I was of the understanding that it is an extended tray and that standard length tray is about 2050mm long?

2. Because it is a 'Big Cab' it was made for Telstra and because of that they were all flogged by the drivers??(That is what the caller told me last night). Mine is superb, has never let me down in any way and is, by far, the best engine I have ever had. I always service it myself and care for it like a baby.

3. Mine has done 174000km's. If it didnt come with service history how can I find out if and when the timing belt was done? It could have been done at 100,000km's or 140,000 km's?

4. I have seen one other 'Big Cab' for sale in two years, and I am regularly on the car sales web sites looking, and that one was a much later model i think. This geezer last night told me there are heaps of them around?? I have never seen another one down here in Tassie.

Hoping someone out there can make me feel better!! Cheers Jamie
G'day Jamie,
I too own a extra cab 97 defender (300TDI) same as yours. I am the second owner and mine was orginally bought by a concreter in Sydney until he needed something a bit bigger so he bought a 5 tonne truck. I have added some comments to your dot points as i also can give you facts with what i know.

1. My tray is 2400 x 1850. I would not like a longer tray due to over hang as it is.
2.Mine was not a Telstra ute as i believe they only got TD5 delivered and mine was ordered by the original owner and supplied by a Sydney Dealer (cant remeber who it was)
3.All 300TDI should get timing belt done around the 80000 - 100000 k mark to ensure it dont let go. No big issue to replace.
4. There are not many extra cab / big cabs around! Ive seen a few EX telstra TD5's around but only about 2 other 300TDI's around like ours. They are rare and thats why i am hanging onto mine. Mine will have 300000 on it by Xmas and just run in and very reliable


Regards Garry

[jamieluck]

Hi Garry, thanks for your reply. The tray on mine has had reinforcements added to the back of the tray to allow for the extra length in the tray and it certainly seems to be more than adequate. Since I bought my big cab I have been telling people that I will have it forever, but we did a little family trip to Bruny Isalnd in the ute and the 3 of us in the front bench seat for 7 hours down and 7 hours back made us realise that we need the dual cab!!!
We thought about it long and hard but family must come first. I will get a dual cab defender when I sell mine so I am being faithful! Cheers Jamie