Going round oz! Patrol vs defender

[Andrew.reid]

Hey friends,So I'm heading around Australia soon, planning on covering places like cape york, gulf, Kimberly's, Simpson desert, Vic high country and so on.
At the moment I drive a short wheel base GQ patrol. Which I could comfortably-ish travel in, buuuut I want to take my tinnie and I'd really prefer to not tow a trailer.


So I need a coil cab ute so I can put my tinnie on the roof, patrol utes r extremely over priced so this is why I'm leaning towards. A single cab defender 110.


Am I going to struggle with reliability in a defender driving thru the harshest possible conditions? If anyone has traveled around oz in their defender please comment?

[PAT303]

My two defenders have shrugged off everything Oz as thrown at them for the last 17 years,both are standard production vehicles. Pat

[redrovertdi]

Have you sat in a single cab 110? it was to cramped for me at 180cm.

[landy]

I have a 110 and have traveled a far bit in it. I like it but I'm a bit of a Land Rover nut. I did however have a GU Patrol before it. To be far, I thought that was a great car. Good to drive, comfy capable and good AC and ventilation. But it was 'plastic'. And the Defender is a much better '4WD'. You really do need to be a fan of the Defender. If you are buying one just because it's cheaper you might not get to grips with the short falls. They're noisy,leak water and dust and are cramped but they have a certain something you don't get in a jap 4WD.
As for reliability, that's a hard one. I do my own servicing and keep on top of things. I probably over maintain actually so I wouldn't like to comment. Maybe someone else could give a better opinion here. Although I think problems arise because parts are so expensive here that the non enthusiast owner skips the proper servicing and then complains when stuff goes wrong. Just my opinion!
I would suggest that you drive a Defender, either 300Tdi or Td5 and then a Discovery 1 or 2. I prefer the 2a. And they are reasonably priced generally. Bare in mind D1s are getting a little long in the tooth now.

[Wicks89]

Just a comment on reliability.

Ive never owned a patrol, and they seem good to go nonetheless. People talk a lot of **** about the 3.0 litre version being bad, but tbh if it was that bad no-one would drive them.

Defender is a similar situation, you get people who've never owned one talking a big game about their reliability.

I have a defender td5 130. Some people (even fellow land rover obsessors) would knock it. Some of the common criticisms are:

td5 electronic injection prone to problems because electronics
parts are expensive and hard to find
leak and are dusty
td5 aircon no good

It's all tripe, except maybe the aircon, dust and water part. My td5 has been abused to within an inch of it's life. remapped, lifted, 35's, drowned with water over the dashboard and in the intake manifold, and it has always bounced back.
The key is being forearmed with knowledge, especially if youre going remote. Ive taken my td5 to some remote spots (Gregory national Park up near the kimberlys, the Gulf country and VHC) and driven it hard with no dramas.

If youre thinking of getting a 110 trayback to do a similar setup to jamie hazeldene from 4wd action, with the tinnie up top, you might as well go the 110 wagon tbh and keep your rego costs down and keep more stuff in out of the rain. Plus theyre more plentiful than the 110 trayback.

The BEST option for reliability with a defender? Probably take Pat303's option and keep the mods light in terms of remaps and suspension. It's pretty bloody good to start with.

Go test drive a few and if you walk away from them grinning from ear to ear, then congrats you're now one of us and get ready to start waving at everyone else.

Hope that (long) reply helps mate.

[steane]

Well said Wicks.;)

[Andrew.reid]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll be test driving a 110 soon. I'll let u know the out come. Cheers

[oldyella 76]

I have had 4 defenders now and have done thousands of K's out bush over many years. First defer in 1992 I think the 1st model and everyone after that.
The only trouble I have had is that I did a bearing in the water pump once in the 300 and it was under warranty.
Don't listen to the crap out there as they either love them or hate them and the people who hate them in the main have never owned one. Mine have been all standard except for winch and long range tanks ect, I have never done anything to the engines of the running gear as i kept them all standard. Did all my own servicing probably over serviced but had no problems. I am 115 Kgs and 165 cm and I fit well. If you come from another vehicle you might find the shoulder room a bit short on but you do get used to it. A great comfortable and practical tourer.
Lindsay.

[Andrew.reid]

Took a 09 2.4 110 ute for a drive today. Loved it! Except for the road noise I wasn't very impressed with and it was a little cramped, but I got use to it in like 5mins.
They bloke was selling it reckons it has a rear diff lock as standard, but I think he's confused it with the centre diff lock.
Just wondering what the rear diff consists of? Is it an open diff or an LSD?
Aaaaand I thought the 09 model had traction control but this one doesn't apparently?

[jackdef90]

09 2.4 has TC, when you glow it on start up you should see the tc light come on and go away when it turns over.
No rear locker as standard, only CDL
If it had a rear locker it would have a compressor installed and an aftermarket switch to lock it somewhere, so you'd notice it.

[ozscott]

The traction control coupled with centre diff lock and very long travel suspension makes live axle Deefers and d2's weapons off road...you will be amazed where you can go,

Cheers

[samuelwest]

hey bud, I had an 09 v8 landcruiser ute decked out to the hills and headed up the cape for a trip with my brother inlaw in his old 1994 300tdi defender and a mate in in his 1987 ex army perentie. as soon as we got back I put the cruiser on the market and sold it. I now have a 300tdi 130 duel cab and a 6x6 perentie. both far more capable off road then the cruiser. and if your half mechanically minded and service your own car landys are great.

[Simon]

I'm currently on the way round in my 2013 110 station wagon. No tinny but towing a trailer (Mission) Since Feb it's been through the Vic High Country, Canunda NP, Flinders, Arkaroola, Coffin Bay NP and Lincoln NP with not a grumble. That's with 2 adults and 3 kids.

I can't speak for the patrol, never driven one, but more than happy with the 110. It is essentially unmodified btw (second battery, diff guards and converted to 9 seats is about it)

[MLD]

Took a 09 2.4 110 ute for a drive today.
Just wondering what the rear diff consists of? Is it an open diff or an LSD?
Aaaaand I thought the 09 model had traction control but this one doesn't apparently?

The ute (both 110 and 130) don't have TC. Considered a commercial vehicle thus wasn't a factory fit until the current release (MY2015).

All defenders have open diffs from factory. There are examples of new defenders with pre-delivery diff lockers or ATB's but it's at the request of the purchaser following negotiation with the dealer. Rather rare.

Defender ownership is one of those odd experiences. No matter where you go someone wants to chat to you to tell a story that they once owned a Series or early defender/country but for one reason or another they moved onto a Jap 4wd. Same story, different face in a different town. Moral of the story, a lot of old timers have their roots in the LR marque. Sign up so you can annoy the next generation in years to come.

MLD

[wayne]

If you are thinking of a GU patrol just have the Chassis inspected. I am a member of the QLD Nissan Patrol club and they have a major issues with chassis cracking. one club members new Patrol snapped in half in the Simpson Desert.
The 4.2 have massive overheating issues( just google it) and obviously the three liters are still giving issues.
The old GQ is by far more reliable.
I have a 130 dual cab and the only issues i have had were caused by aftermarket equipment. (300 000 km)

[DeeJay]

09 2.4 has TC, when you glow it on start up you should see the tc light come on and go away when it turns over.
No rear locker as standard, only CDL
If it had a rear locker it would have a compressor installed and an aftermarket switch to lock it somewhere, so you'd notice it.
But being a 2009 model, it may have a Detroit or Tru Trac diff lock & there is no external way of telling.

[PAT303]

Jack both back wheels off the ground and turn one is the easiest way. Pat

[Chops]

It is possible the 2.4 has no TC. Mine is one of a few that we're delivered to Aus without it. They were supposed to go to another country apparently.

[MLD]

It is possible the 2.4 has no TC. Mine is one of a few that we're delivered to Aus without it. They were supposed to go to another country apparently.

Chops, your 110 tub is considered commercial thus TC wasn't a factory spec.

MLD

[Chops]

MLD, that's what I initially thought, however, a dealer has since informed me otherwise.

He told me ALL 110's come to Aus with TC, just the 130's came without as commercial vehicle's.