Defender as a tradesman /sparky vehicle

[Mittsy]

Hi guys I'm currently in the process of purchasing a 110 as a work truck as I'm a sparky " and camping and surfing trips with the family". I work around the suburbs and city and will have the back loaded with close to 500kg most days, any issues with that. I'm thinking of drawers down the middle with shelving both sides and power tools and bits and bobs in the middle. Does any one use there's all day everyday as a trade vehicle ? Any input positive or negative is helpful. Thanks in advance .⛺️😀

[XSiV]

You might want to look into the gull wing rear window replacement so you can access your stuff in the rear through the sides. Or you could just get a 130 crew cab chassis. [emoji6]

[County4.4]

Yep i had a 110 county v8 for five years, loved it but got sick of putting tools in and out of the back (drawers would have been handy)so i sold it.

Replaced it with a 130 tray and am loving it. Toolboxes in the back and so much easier for picking up materials.
Just about to get a new removable aluminium canopy for the back.
The only drawback with defenders is putting timbrrs up on the roofracks- Bloody high
Enjoy it

ent from my SM-T310 using AULRO mobile app

[DazzaTD5]

Cant help but just mostly IMHO....

Do you mean like as a single cab with a workmate or such? or using a wagon?

When I worked up north I would have loved a Defender as such a work truckster! but alas sites I would do call outs required airbag compliance etc. So I had a Toyota Hilux, While I consistently had 1 ton of tools/equipment on board and it was comfortable and plenty of power, it wasnt economical and overall prolly not as tough as Toyota like to advertise...

I'd say.....if you are looking at a 2007 on model Defender TDCi (puma)...
Cons;
*not the most traffic friendly gear changes.
*Big big turning circle.

Pros:
*In that Land Cruiser load carry capacity.
*Economical.
*Gets far better road respect than a Hilux sized vehicle (with a bullbar fitted, you drive like all the other idiots on the road and just move where/when you want)
*Way cheaper than any Land Cruiser for the same year/model.
*Very cool..... awesome

Saying that... my Dad has been using Land Rovers as work vehicles for over 46 years that I know. Now he has retired he still has a Defender. :) :) :)

Regards
Daz

[Bobby D]

I use my TD5 crew cab 130 everyday for work. I'm a Carpenter / Builder and I absolutely love the beast.

The tray is bigger than other duel cabs, and having nearly a tonne and a half payload capacity is a huge advantage.

Load it up and tow a trailer and it doesn't break a sweat. I loaded my business partners Triton up, with what I thought, not much and it really didn't like it. The body roll was very unnerving!

I've seen a few 130s getting around with the fully enclosed and secure service canopies, I think that would be the best set up for a sparky.

But yes, as someone said, the ladder racks are quite a distance off the ground with a Defender.

Put some tasteful signage on your Defender and you may even find it get you work! They are a real head turner, particularly ones kitted out for work.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[XSiV]

The only issue I can think of, is if you work in the city and you have to use underground car parks you might find the height an issue. As a rule I just never even attempt to us a covered car park but my 130 is lifted and has taller tyres.

Here's a pic of mine camping but just imagine it without the tent. You could fit a lot of gear in the rear pod.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/282.jpg

[stewie110]

The only issue I can think of, is if you work in the city and you have to use underground car parks you might find the height an issue. As a rule I just never even attempt to us a covered car park but my 130 is lifted and has taller tyres.

Here's a pic of mine camping but just imagine it without the tent. You could fit a lot of gear in the rear pod.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/282.jpg
I do not know about other cities. However when I lived in Sydney parking in the cbd was a pita. Many of the parking stations that allowed the height had tight turns that made driving the defender a challenge. That was in a td5 110 with only a mild raise and stock tyre sizes.

[juddy]

A 3 door hard top with side roller shutters would be a very good work truck .

[MLD]

The rear door design of the 110 wagon will send you bonkers getting bits and bobs in and out. Even with a well sorted storage system getting access to all and the amount of compromised space will, again, send you bonkers.

Then think of the PITA factor to strip out the work stored stuff when you go camping. Or worse still, strip out the storage system to go camping (because the system has been designed for work needs not camping needs).

As a former 110 owner and a current 130 owner, the 130 wins hands down on functionality, practicality and cool factor. A alu canopy is the best of both worlds.

Access to Sydney CBD parking stations is a struggle for both height access and manoeuvrability in tight confines.

Adding to Juddy's thought process, perentie with custom roof and hard sides that hinge like a canopy pod or roll up like Juddy suggested. Won't be able to use your phone while driving unless you buy aeroplane comms.:D

MLD

[karlz]

You might want to look into the gull wing rear window replacement so you can access your stuff in the rear through the sides. Or you could just get a 130 crew cab chassis. [emoji6]

Second that.

[dero]

I am a sparky working out of a 130 tray back . A 110 ute would be fine , but a wagon would need to be very organised & you would have to stock it pretty carefully for every job . I am sure it could work well if set up properly for the type of work you do . Gull wings would be a definite bonus .

[wpalmo]

Hi Mittsy,

If you want a cheap reliable 110 work truck you can't beat a Perentie. Set it up exactly how you want it and it will give you years of trouble free service. They are very tough and allow a custom fit out very easily. You could pick up a tenexed(rebuilt) example with around 5000-15000 kms on the clock for around 12-14k. I scored mine for 14k with 5000kms on the clock. My daughter picked up an awesome FFR with 10000kms on it for 11k about 3 months ago in Brisbane. Try getting a Defender with that sort of mileage on the clock for those sorts of prices! Perentie's are exceptional value. If you purchase the guide to buying a Perentie you will have a good understanding about what you need to look for. Check it out on the Military Coil Sprung section of the forum.

The Isuzu 4BD motor is good for around a million kms if serviced regularly and looked after. I use mine as a daily work vehicle and am very happy with it. If you want it to double as a family vehicle on weekends then you would be better off with a Puma or earlier model defender, maybe a 130 as others have suggested, as you will get the rear seat and rear doors. Reliability will not come close to a Perentie though.

I picked up a 2000 year model commodore wagon as my weekend family get about for a very cheap price and it does the job way better than a Defender for taking the kids to footy and getting around to the shops in my opinion. Perentie for the tough jobs and commodore as the family shopping trolley. Works for me! Good luck with your quest for your family and buisness requirements.

Regards Warrick.

[Don 130]

My 130 has carried a tonne since I got it in '99. For access and security, the aluminium canopy is the go.
That's it in the middle.(photo by Nick P)

[Vern]

Couldn't think of anything worse. Get a dedicated work car, I.e a van. Builder is different, turn up to the job in the morning, and your there for the day. As a Sparky you can go to 8 different jobs in one day, and you also need to carry as much material as possible so your not off to the wholesalers 5 times a day. Been doing this for 23 years, some grave's can get away with using there play car as a work car, sorry but it doesn't work for us sparkies.

[dero]

Vern is somewhat correct , but if I tried to use a van around here , it would be dead in a month .

[Vern]

Vern is somewhat correct , but if I tried to use a van around here , it would be dead in a month .
Yes dero, but tipping your not working in the city. My van is pretty sad after 4 years in a rural area, but its still does its purpose, if and when i start just doing the odd sparky job (getting out of trade) then a duel cab tray with canopy will suit me fine.

[scarry]

Couldn't think of anything worse. Get a dedicated work car, I.e a van. Builder is different, turn up to the job in the morning, and your there for the day. As a Sparky you can go to 8 different jobs in one day, and you also need to carry as much material as possible so your not off to the wholesalers 5 times a day. Been doing this for 23 years, some grave's can get away with using there play car as a work car, sorry but it doesn't work for us sparkies.

Agreed,but if in a rural area,as the OP has said,a van won't handle bad roads for long.We use vans,but don't do any dirt road work,although we do some country work.Vans keep everything locked up and out of the weather,which is good,but hopeless in inner city carparks as they are to high.
Jap vans are also very reliable.

Rick130 seems to have disappeared,but he has used his 130 for fridgies service work for ages.

[Vern]

Original post says he is in the burbs and city. Not rural.
I am rural (not tanami track rural😊), quite a few dirt roads, van is still the best to work out of.

[Wicks89]

There's a reason 9/10 sparkies has a van. They work perfectly.
If you wanted a defender for a work car and a play car I'd have to say 130 trayback with a canopy for work that you could remove and Chuck all your camping gear on the tray. Also a very common setup. But you gotta carry a lot of stuff as a sparky, like odds and ends. It can be done.

Maybe a trailer?

Also maybe think about a part time kit. Might be worth your while if you drive around to 5 or so sites a day. Backlash might drive you up the wall.

[Mittsy]

113098

This is what I have at the moment and its perfect for work not so much for family and weekends . The issue I have with a 130 i would have to shell out on a conopy which aren't cheap. I really love the 110 for all aspects of work and play. I'm a pretty organized person and never worked from a van. I'm trying to convince myself it's the right thing to do. I think it would work especially with the gull wings . And if I bought a 110 if want to drive it ,not Just on weekends. Thanks for all the feedback guys it's great

[PAT303]

Agreed,but if in a rural area,as the OP has said,a van won't handle bad roads for long.We use vans,but don't do any dirt road work,although we do some country work.Vans keep everything locked up and out of the weather,which is good,but hopeless in inner city carparks as they are to high.
Jap vans are also very reliable.

Rick130 seems to have disappeared,but he has used his 130 for fridgies service work for ages.

Sorry but your wrong,St Johns use Mercedes vans that are regularly driven all over outback WA,they are tougher than any Jap 4wd you can buy. Pat

[scarry]

Sorry but your wrong,St Johns use Mercedes vans that are regularly driven all over outback WA,they are tougher than any Jap 4wd you can buy. Pat

Hopefully they are also more reliable than some of the other brands of European vans running around.

[Vern]

Hopefully they are also more reliable than some of the other brands of European vans running around.
Vw transporter was the best work van/vehicle i have ever had. Brilliant car

[PAT303]

Hopefully they are also more reliable than some of the other brands of European vans running around.

Never have problems with them,they are a fantastic vehicle. Pat