Wanted - Land Rover Defender Ute

[Mggrayson]

Wanting to know recommendations on which series and year the most reliable Land Rover Ute was made?

[Vern]

Mid 80's, 4bd1 120".

[W&KO]

Mid 80's, 4bd1 120".

Would love one of these.......to turn into a hard top.

[JDNSW]

Mid eighties Isuzu engine 110 or the slightly earlier Series 3 Stage 1 with the same Isuzu engine.

[Vern]

Would love one of these.......to turn into a hard top.Unfortunately you can't get them for $3k anymore, and they don't seem to pop up for sale like they once did

[Floydo]

Obviously a Tdi 130

[dromader driver]

94 110 tdi with aluminium tray and canopy on 225/95r16 tojo takeoffs. unstoppable and cheap to run.

[101RRS]

The title says "Defender Ute" but the post says "Wanting to know recommendations on which series and year the most reliable Land Rover Ute was made"

So you just looking at Defenders or all Land Rover Utes? If Defender then one of the later 130s - if all Utes then a Perentie but spend some money on making it more civilised or as mentioned a mid 80s 110 based diesel including the 120.

Garry

[rijidij]

As mentioned already, Isuzu 4bd1 powered 120 from mid 80’s.
With a Lt95(a) and the Isuzu, along with other standard robust mechanicals, in good condition it would be the strongest most reliable Landy ute you could have, with the bonus of a bigger tray capacity than a standard 110.

[Mggrayson]

Thanks all for your suggestions and appreciate the advice.

I saw a 130 Defender dual cab 1996 300 tdi with a HS international 2.8l engine. The original had been replaced at 200k. She needs a fair bit of work especially the interior, engine needs a few hours spent on her, springs etc.

[Silenceisgolden]

Be wary of the 4BD1 - try extensively before you buy. I found (after a LOT of work renovating a vehicle and building a camper) that I couldn't live with the constant buzzing vibration of the 4BD engine. A lot of people can live with the vibes, but I now find a lot of other people can't.

[Vern]

Be wary of the 4BD1 - try extensively before you buy. I found (after a LOT of work renovating a vehicle and building a camper) that I couldn't live with the constant buzzing vibration of the 4BD engine. A lot of people can live with the vibes, but I now find a lot of other people can't.Did you turn the idle up?

[Vern]

Thanks all for your suggestions and appreciate the advice.

I saw a 130 Defender dual cab 1996 300 tdi with a HS international 2.8l engine. The original had been replaced at 200k. She needs a fair bit of work especially the interior, engine needs a few hours spent on her, springs etc.Is this in QLD? I know a guy that had and sold one a couple of years ago.

[Mggrayson]

Is this in QLD? I know a guy that had and sold one a couple of years ago.

I believe it may be the same vehicle??? Do you know the vehicle - my understanding is that it was brought down from QLD.

[Mggrayson]

The current owner brought her in QLD and drove her down to SA.

[Slunnie]

Be wary of the 4BD1 - try extensively before you buy. I found (after a LOT of work renovating a vehicle and building a camper) that I couldn't live with the constant buzzing vibration of the 4BD engine. A lot of people can live with the vibes, but I now find a lot of other people can't.

I agree, the noise, vibration and absolutely everything rattling does my head in. Try before you buy.

[Silenceisgolden]

Did you turn the idle up?

Yes, I did Vern, to stop the 'death rattles' in the gearbox. The problem for me was while driving there is the constant vibration. A real pity, because in every other way the 6x6 is a fantastic vehicle.

[Vern]

Yes, I did Vern, to stop the 'death rattles' in the gearbox. The problem for me was while driving there is the constant vibration. A real pity, because in every other way the 6x6 is a fantastic vehicle.Must be a 6x6/110 thing, never had that issue in my rangie, was as smooth and almost as quiet as our 300tdi disco

[Silenceisgolden]

Must be a 6x6/110 thing, never had that issue in my rangie, was as smooth and almost as quiet as our 300tdi disco

Yep, could well be a chassis thing. The Rangies were of course designed from the ground up to be quiet and smooth, very little 'HNV' (Harshness, noise, vibration) as the marketing people call it. The Perenties were designed to get soldiers reliably where they needed to be, and they succeeded brilliantly. It is likely that inherently the Range Rover chassis/body set-up would isolate vibration.
Of course, soldiers would be unlikely to complain about the discomfort of vibration.
[smilebigeye]

[plusnq]

Yep, could well be a chassis thing. The Rangies were of course designed from the ground up to be quiet and smooth, very little 'HNV' (Harshness, noise, vibration) as the marketing people call it. The Perenties were designed to get soldiers reliably where they needed to be, and they succeeded brilliantly. It is likely that inherently the Range Rover chassis/body set-up would isolate vibration.
Of course, soldiers would be unlikely to complain about the discomfort of vibration.
[smilebigeye]

Oh, they would complain. No one would listen though 😂😂😂

[Blknight.aus]

late 80's early 90's

6x6 perentie