2000km in the High Country/ Defender TDCI 130

[FV1601]

Thought I would make a few comments on how the 2010 130 went over the last few weeks up in the Vic high country. We have had the truck for 3 years now, so it is just about sorted…….
ATB Centre diff has an unforeseen advantage: with no ABS the brakes are dreadful, steep descents on rough terrain has always seen the 130 skipping its way down every time a wheel unloaded. Still does so, but to a noticeably lesser degree. Works well on the loose dirt roads as well of course, and considering it was primarily fitted for reliability/strength, it has been more than worthwhile.
I always considered our ’76 Rangie as the best climbing vehicle we ever owned. Chug away at low revs, it would climb up just about anything. Put your foot down and the sky was the limit. Amazes me that something the size and weight of a loaded 130 can behave in the same way. We have the 160BHP Bas tune, but also a nervy navigator, so the climbing is done as moderately as possible.
Bilstein shocks now fitted and being the correct length we now no longer have to stop, after some spring flexing, to pry the rear coils back into place, unlike the Terrafirma days. Original springs, still copingwith everything we throw at them.
We run two TJM ProLockers, I can’t praise them high enough.My excuse for fitting the rear was to help with the downhill braking…. And then the front diff was committing suicide anyway….. Now the navigator thinks theyare worth every penny. WooHoo!
The famous youbeaut Anti stall, 1st low. Climbing hard out of the Cobberas Track, we tackled one too many rock steps in 2ndand stalled. All the hype I have read, I assumed that a restart in first would be a piece of cake. Had to wind it up to 2500rpm before we got moving at all (reallymiss that hand throttle). I have no doubt that if I was in first (as I shouldhave been by then) that the anti-stall would have climbed out fine. But as a hill start, no way.
First low just not low enough! Riding those damn brakes(think I mentioned them already?) all the way down a reasonable descent to keep revs below 3000rpm. I did ask Pete Bell if there was a way of increasing enginebraking, but no. I will have to investigate transfer ratios I think. The engine braking does appear to have improved a little with all the headwork that has just been done, but that is another story.
I fitted Hankook DynaPro MT 235/85 last year, they are performing well on and off road with minimal wear. A compromise of course, a little noisy for a road tyre, not aggressive enough for a true mud tyre. I also found them a little touchy to get the pressure right. 30psi, lovely in the bush, sloppy on the bitumen, 35 psi harsh in the bush, great on the road. Sweetspot in the middle seems to be fine though, so will probably go with them again when the time comes.
We use an Oztent RV1, mounted across the outside rear of the truck, the major rain events while we were away has changed one thing: we now wrap the tent in a waterproof tarp before it gets packed into the carry bag, the fly handled 40mm of rain overnight fine, and we even set the side panels up for the first time (in three years), quite comfy in a minimalist way. The 140mm rain we did find a more solid and larger overnight stay for…..
Going bush in the Vic high country in December means youpretty much have the place to yourself, apart from a few parties that gave deerhunters a bad name (Dogs in national parks, Driving around locked gates,spotlighting and shooting within 100m from where we were staying…interesting little chat at 1.00am for that one).
I would love to post some pics of the Landy in action, but all I can find are Brumbies, water dragons, Brumbies, birds, Brumbies, orchids, Brumbies and gold mining relics. I don’t get to play with the camera much…
Rich

[Colmoore]

Nice trip by the sounds Rich.
Interesting to hear your comments on the tdci 130; it will be interesting to compare to my td5 130. I debated long and hard over what to replace my tdci 110 with!
You didn't happen to see a D4 rolling (the wrong way) through the steep stuff while you were there did you? I saw a photo on Friday of an expensive looking mishap in the VHC [emoji54]

[Stinkler]

No ABS on a 2010? Excuse my ignorance but I would have thought it standard on the Puma? Or am I misreading?

[FV1601]

Colmoore,
Saw lots of the steep stuff, but no D4, hope they got out alright.
Good luck with the TD5, and welcome to the world of 4 point turns.


Stinkler
I think the ABS was an option on the TDCI 130 in an effort to keep costs down. Whatever the reason, I don't have it
Rich

[Stinkler]

Ok, good to know.

Sounds like a great rig and excellent adventures, good reading and look forward to more.

[Robmacca]

First low just not low enough! Riding those damn brakes(think I mentioned them already?) all the way down a reasonable descent to keep revs below 3000rpm.

Interesting to hear that u don't think the 1st gear LR is lower enough..... Love to know what u think of the TDi/Td5 1st gear LR then.... Scary stuff :)

[FV1601]

Rob, first gear going up is fine, it's down that is the problem. You can only squeeze so much engine braking out of small motors I guess, but we are carrying loads that the 130 is supposed to be designed for....
It's been a while since I had the TD300, I'm not even allowed to talk about that one!
Perhaps a few years with a TD42 Patrol gave me an expectation that the middle pedal actually worked, even if you did not need it with all that engine braking up front. Really a shame that it was nowhere near as fun as the Defender off road.
Rich.

[Tins]

Rob, first gear going up is fine, it's down that is the problem. You can only squeeze so much engine braking out of small motors I guess, but we are carrying loads that the 130 is supposed to be designed for....
It's been a while since I had the TD300, I'm not even allowed to talk about that one!


Interesting. My 300 D1, admittedly lighter, and rarely loaded up, has a set of MaxiDrive reduction ratios in the TC ( ashamed to say I don't know the ratios, but it will climb anything if it has traction ). In low first I need to use the loud pedal to maintain movement down steep hills, or the thing will stall and stop. Diesels have mighty compression as a rule.

[FV1601]

Johntins
Sounds like I need to investigate Maxidrive Transfer ratios!
Rich.

[alan48]

Puma 130's did not get ABS or traction control until after MY13 models. Have to agree engine braking could be better in standard trim.
Alan

[Beery]

These newer diesels are lower compression than older ones like 300Tdi and TD42. If you had a Puma with 20:1 compression it'd hold a lot better.

[martnH]

How about an exhaust brake?
Just put a butterfly valve t the exhaust pipe

My puma doesn't produce much engine brake too. Going downhill very easy to rev up to 4k.....

Cheers

[dromader driver]

Following the down hill braking discussion. The Isuzu bushfire truck we have with exhaust brake is very effective in the right gear. Coming off Mt Glorious NW of Brisbane you can descend the whole way without touching the foot brake.

Have often wondered what one of these would be like SGV Exhaust Brakes (http://www.sgvaustralia.com/hand-2-3.html) I have asked for a quote on a cable operated system which is only listed in the obtain a quote page

[Tins]

These newer diesels are lower compression than older ones like 300Tdi and TD42. If you had a Puma with 20:1 compression it'd hold a lot better.

19.0 for 300TDi, 17.5 for ZSD. Would have thought that was sufficient, but I guess it's the weight thing, same reason they seem underpowered.

[Tins]

How about an exhaust brake?
Just put a butterfly valve t the exhaust pipe

My puma doesn't produce much engine brake too. Going downhill very easy to rev up to 4k.....

Cheers

Go the whole hog and fit a hydraulic retarder!

[FV1601]

The exhaust braking issue has been raised before, from memory the valve train assembly on the TDCI will not cope. Would love to hear from someone who has gone ahead and fitted one though.
Rich.

[DiscoMick]

Surprised to hear you say first low downhill is too fast as I've had to accelerate downhill in our 2009 110 with TC.

[FV1601]

DiscoMick, I can't comment on the TDCI 110's performance, never driven one. It comes down to weight, steepness of track and Mr Gravity. With the TDCI 130, Mr Gravity does not have to try too hard.... Mind you, when we had the old F100, he had even less of a battle!
Rich.

[Mark130]

Sounds like a good trip Rich. Hope you can wrestle control of the camera from the navigator next time.
I haven't had any off road fun in way too long, but I remember trading my V8 auto D1 for my 2002 TD5 130 and was introduced into a whole new world of relaxing descending. You now have me wondering if my STEEP descents were not anywhere near as steep as I remember them.
Cheers
Mark

[Tote]

+1 for the Hankooks, I'm running them on my 130 as well in 265/75-16 on 7" ZU rims and they transform the vehicle on and off road in comparison to the stock MTRs which I was always disappointed with. We were going to do the Coberras the weekend before last but the closure of the park after all the rain cancelled the trip.

Old inter trucks had an electric retarder, I reckon that wouldn't be too hard to fit in tandem with the handbrake drum if you were able to do the engineering works. Has anybody played with one?

Heavy Duty America Retarder Technology (http://electricbrakesystems.com/index.htm)

Regards,
Tote

[Tins]

+1 for the Hankooks, I'm running them on my 130 as well in 265/75-16 on 7" ZU rims and they transform the vehicle on and off road in comparison to the stock MTRs which I was always disappointed with. We were going to do the Coberras the weekend before last but the closure of the park after all the rain cancelled the trip.

Old inter trucks had an electric retarder, I reckon that wouldn't be too hard to fit in tandem with the handbrake drum if you were able to do the engineering works. Has anybody played with one?

Heavy Duty America Retarder Technology (http://electricbrakesystems.com/index.htm)

Regards,
Tote

Interesting. Probably be an easier fit than the hydraulic one I joked about, which would be highly impractical. I wonder if the electric ones need speed to make them work. Can't see why, but I'm no engineer.

[Tins]

Old inter trucks had an electric retarder, I reckon that wouldn't be too hard to fit in tandem with the handbrake drum if you were able to do the engineering works. Has anybody played with one?

Heavy Duty America Retarder Technology (http://electricbrakesystems.com/index.htm)

Regards,
Tote Something from Telma, maybe? Perhaps a little big.

Telma Retarders (http://www.atecoequipment.com.au/products/telma/)

[DutchMick]

Nice read! Was in the same area last week with the so-called ‘Red LR 130 club of ACT’ (two members, very exclusive ;) )

Have a TD5 and although I have less experience than you my feeling ng was the TD5 held up fine in 1st gear up and down Cobberas. Needs the loud pedal to get down ;) Did all the really steep climbs in 1st gear. Nice and steady. Sometimes used the rear locker just in case. I rather use it and get up than need a second try.

And yes, had the place to ourselves! Spotted a few campers and came across one other car while driving. Great!

Sadly heard some shots in the evening too. Why can’t people just do what is the right thing and don’t spoil it for everyone?

[FV1601]

Shame to have missed you Dutchmick, of course it would have been so very crowded as your club has double the membership of The Barnawartha White Elephant Brigade.....
We did the Cobberas East to West, seemed to be a lot more up then down that way, so it suited us fine.
Using Lockers means you never have to say sorry ( as the navigator decamps...)!
Rich.

[Pub247]

Even in a D1 300tdi I find i have to use generous amount of braking going downhill on some of the real steep tracks in high country. Though my 32's probably don't help

[zapata1]

Nice trip by the sounds Rich.
Interesting to hear your comments on the tdci 130; it will be interesting to compare to my td5 130. I debated long and hard over what to replace my tdci 110 with!
You didn't happen to see a D4 rolling (the wrong way) through the steep stuff while you were there did you? I saw a photo on Friday of an expensive looking mishap in the VHC [emoji54]

That was stephan Fischer all off road,black river track Jamieson, one of his mates rolled it.
The cobberas track were you heading towards the Barry way or coming from the Barry way the climb up from the ingeegoodbee would have been interesting
We did it may 2017.[smilebigeye]

[FV1601]

Zapata1:
Camped on the Ingeegoodbee after visiting McKillops bridge and Suggan Buggan, (Waiting for the rivers to drop a little after all that rain) then drove McFarlane Flat Track back to Cobberas. There were indeed a few interesting bits.... also lots of pics taken of Water Dragons, obviously they are way more interesting than a Landie waving its wheels in the air.
Enjoyed the drive down to the Bridge (too hot for us though) and into Suggan Buggan. Not 4x4 obviously, but fun regardless.Short walk into Little River Gorge is a must, think it could have been named a little aptly....
Rich.

[Grumbles]

Going bush in the Vic high country in December means youpretty much have the place to yourself, apart from a few parties that gave deerhunters a bad name (Dogs in national parks, Driving around locked gates,spotlighting and shooting within 100m from where we were staying…interesting little chat at 1.00am for that one).

Rich

Irresponsible and/or illegal behaviour damages the reputation of hunters and can create unsafe or unsustainable situations. Perhaps you might consider reporting suspected offences by email or by telephoning Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Customer Service Centre on 136 186

Even if the info provided cannot be acted on at the time for one reason or another it is still valuable intel because it may point to regular/predictable behaviour patterns which can be anticipated and therefore acted on in the future by GMA/VicPol bush patrols.

All reports and information received are treated as confidential and the source of the information is kept private. You can remain anonymous if you wish, although it assists investigating officers if they can contact you for further details.

Report illegal hunting online - Game Management Authority (http://www.gma.vic.gov.au/enforcement/report-illegal-hunting2)
(http://www.gma.vic.gov.au/enforcement/report-illegal-hunting2)


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[Northy]

I agree, just did Merricumbene ft in Duea NP found i had to ride the brakes on the way down a fair few downhill sections in 1st low range. 2.2 puma 130 with 33's weighing in at 3.1 or so