First timer - Dream come true

[fitchaj]

G'day guys,

So I have bought myself a 2009 Defender 130 with all the bells and whistles, which has been a long time dream for me.

I posted a thread on here about a week ago with the story behind this defender. The old owner spent 3 years and THOUSANDS of dollars getting it ready for the Cape and a trip Broome. However, he sadly passed away before he and his wife could go on the trip.

He has done a lot of work to this thing as you can see from the pics.

Cheers!

P.S I hope you guys don't get sick of all the questions I will throwing your way with regards to my new rig.

[juddy]

A good buy you have there. The last owner must have wanted to save some cash, ditching the hd rims for older range rover rims that are not designed for the 130 is not a good idea.

[fitchaj]

More pics

[fitchaj]

A good buy you have there. The last owner must have wanted to save some cash, ditching the hd rims for older range rover rims that are not designed for the 130 is not a good idea.

Could you please elaborate on this issue? You're dealing with a complete rookie (to defenders).

Cheers

[juddy]

130's were never factory fitted with alloy rims, you can fit them and drive around all day without issues, but they were fitted for a reason. 130 rims have a high load rating, compaired to alloy and standard steel rims.

Offen called a wolf rim, the heavy duty rim is standard fit on most British army land rovers, the older version was a one ton rim.

You can buy rated alloys for the 130 from a number of manufactures.

The cheaper hd/ wolf rims that some people sell are Chinese sourced, most of the military spec hd rims are made in Spain for land rover.

[juddy]

G'day guys,

So I have bought myself a 2009 Defender 130 with all the bells and whistles, which has been a long time dream for me.


P.S I hope you guys don't get sick of all the questions I will throwing your way with regards to my new rig.

Where's your spare wheel live?

[fitchaj]

Where's your spare wheel live?

It has a swing away arm for the spare wheel

[LoveB]

get some wolfs on there! or ZU's!

nice rig. perhaps to honour the guy who's done it up you should continue the trip for him...

[Blade74]

Agree that a trip in his honor would be awesome.

Finish what he started.

[POD]

Looks like a great vehicle Fitchaj, I was admiring it in your previous thread about the second snorkel. I'm also a long-time dreamer and only recent owner of a 130, have had opportunity to use it for a couple of trips and they are fantastic. Yours doesn't strike me as a vehicle that was set up with a view to doing things the cheap & nasty way. I have mixed thoughts about the alloy rims; probably not an issue at all unless you will be operating the vehicle close to GVM, i.e. 1.5 tonne payload, which I would think unlikely for most private users. However, may also be something that an insurer could use as a get-out-of-claim-free card.
Did you figure out what the second snorkel is all about?

[DeeJay]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/90-110-130-defender-county/64057d1376199492-first-timer-dream-come-true-20130810_085531.jpg

This is what Juddy is pointing out. The offset of Alloys is different than the Wolf rims, plus they are 7" not 6.5" like the Wolf's. You can see in the pic the small clearance & when the vehicle is leaning over on corners with a load, the tyre will rub on the spring mount at the top. Check if they are shiny as the tyre looks like its been rubbing. All said it has dozens of great modifications and you can't be critical of a small oversight like the wheels. I say small because I found out the above from experience, Wanna buy some alloys?? :angel:
Edit: I should add it is not so bad with 235x85 tyres as with 265's.

[fitchaj]

Ahh yeah I see what you mean about the wheels now. That's definitely something I will look into modifying then.
As for continuing the trip in honour of the old owner I have already started planning my Cape trip.

I have also organised with the dealership I bought it from to have a photo of the truck at the tip forwarded onto his wife.

Cheers!

[jimb]

Good on ya mate. Nice jest ure and thought

[noogie]

Don't forget to share the photos with us!
:D

[Cobber]

Well done on the purchase, looks like you've done well with it :BigThumb:

[beefy]

ur from wa?

[fitchaj]

ur from wa?

No I'm located in North Qld.

[n plus one]

There's a range of rims around that will solve both (offset and load rating) issues, including Zu rims, Terrafirma Alloys, Wolfs and Performance Alloy TX1.

I've recently fitted the TF Alloys, which have a 1,300kg rating and a negative 10 (ET10) offset - perfect!

If you're getting me rims make sure you solve both issues - but I would be most concerned about load rating in the mean time - and I mean from a legal perspective.

[Epic_Dragon]

thats awesome you will be doign the trip :D and such a nice touch to have photos forwarded on to her :) will probably make her sad, but happy at the same time. such a sad story :( but awesome beast you have there!

[PTC]

Very nice looking truck. I've just bought a 130 as well and i looked into purchasing that one. As it sounded like the perfect set up. Though too far away for me to travel to collect it.

I plan on heading up to the cape too in a year or two with my mates. Hence the reason for a new car. I might see you along the way.

[460cixy]

Definitely a cape trip in order I recon the old bloke will me stoked knowing its gone to some one who will use it.

[fitchaj]

There's a range of rims around that will solve both (offset and load rating) issues, including Zu rims, Terrafirma Alloys, Wolfs and Performance Alloy TX1.

Any hot tips where to look for these?

[n plus one]

Any hot tips where to look for these?

TF alloys from Juddy (a member and runs Landybitz), TX1s from Performance Alloy in Sydney, Zus from somewhere like Devon 4X4?

Edit: Well, there yo go - Juddy does Zus too!

[the_preacher1973]

TF alloys from Juddy (a member and runs Landybitz), TX1s from Performance Alloy in Sydney, Zus from somewhere like Devon 4X4.

Juddy does the ZU's. Sydney 4x4 Accessories do the TF's.

[juddy]

We do Zu's, and we are Distributors for all Terrafirma/Allmakes products too.

Give us a call...