Defender storage spots

[Bundalene]

Hi, I have gone from a S2 Disco to a Defender again recently. Where do others mount a fire extinguisher and where do you keep the winch controller so they are easily accessed. Our cubby box in the middle has so much junk belonging to SWMBO I would never find the controller there. Thanks, Erich.

[dmdigital]

Erich, good questions and I look forward to the answers!

I've been playing around with spots for the fire extinguisher since we got the new Defender and I am still at a loss:confused:
For the winch I'm thinking of keeping the controller with my other recovery gear in a box in the back like I do with the other Defender.

[The ho har's]

OK...here is the run down..beside the tool box thats under the backseat fits

the fire ext nice and easy to reach when you open the door....the other side

is the first aid kit again nice and easy.....the winch controller fits in the rear

toolbox with the tree protector, snatch block and snatch strap...the other

side has the air compressor.....any thing else:angel:


OOOHHH I forgot you guys don't have tool boxes under your back seats do you;)

aahhh well there's a thought for you...buy a 130:wasntme:



AAHHH I must be getting over my cold ...whatch out:twisted:




Mrs ho har:angel:

[Blknight.aus]

the winch controller lives between the seat and the cubby box and I have 1 fire extinquiser by the fridge at the rear door (on the side with the handle not the hinge) and 1 on the drivers side rear door on the little step beside the bottom of the seat...

occasionally both extinguishers will be in the same place along side the rear seat or on the floor beside the seat belt reels but mine shift depending on load out. I used to have (but now cant find) the symbols for the extigushers that ID stick in the seal of the glass nearest the extinguisher.

[Rugrat]

Hi, I have gone from a S2 Disco to a Defender again recently. Where do others mount a fire extinguisher and where do you keep the winch controller so they are easily accessed. Our cubby box in the middle has so much junk belonging to SWMBO I would never find the controller there. Thanks, Erich.

Ok - winch controller is in the overhead console - but its also a remote so pretty small, the 'wired' one is with the rest of the reco gear in a box in the rear. Fire Extinguisher - 1 under the passanger side storage area - near the access panel, doesnt knock knees or get in the way of the passanger, 2nd in the rear where the grab handle is up out of the way.

[dobbo]

OOOHHH I forgot you guys don't have tool boxes under your back seats do you;)

aahhh well there's a thought for you...buy a 130:wasntme:

Mrs ho har:angel:


I have a toolbox under my rear seat, thats where the fire extinguisher goes and when the winch is fitted the controller will live.

Hey Ho Har, which back seats do you mean? The front facing ones or the rear side facing seats?

Oh I forgot you can't seat 8 passengers can you, time to upgrade to a County..

[one_iota]

Erich, good questions and I look forward to the answers!

I've been playing around with spots for the fire extinguisher since we got the new Defender and I am still at a loss:confused:
For the winch I'm thinking of keeping the controller with my other recovery gear in a box in the back like I do with the other Defender.

I mounted mine to the rear door liner...I figured that this was the most accessible place in the event of needing it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/1096.jpg

The liner is dense plastic about 3mm thick. It is removed as shown on the attached sheet. There is also a clip in the centre of the panel not shown on the diagram.I used 5mm screws and lock nuts with large washers on the backside.

Hopefully it will cope with the rough and tumble.

I also fixed the hold open spring mentioned by timNZ in the wheel carrier topic while I was at it.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Fire Extinguisher - Is it the law to carry one in Oz???


I can count on one hand how many Land Rovers Ive seen with an Extinguisher in... and mine's not one of them!!

Jon

[jimbo110]

Ah the joys of owning a Defender!
I have the extinguisher where the factory put them, passengers footwell kick panel. If I need to I can reach it from the drivers seat. For the winch remote it lives in my recovery gear bag under the back seat, only have to undo the zip 6" and out it comes:o, you know what I mean, dont need to lift the seat. Under my back seat lives my gumboots, compressor, camp stove, wet weather gear (raincoat and leggings) and recovery bag (snig chain,9m strop, tree protector, snatch block, gloves, shackels and winch remote) and full size shovel. All this takes up no room and cant be seen from outside the truck. Gotta love Defenders:)

[dmdigital]

Fire Extinguisher - Is it the law to carry one in Oz???

No, but you never know when you'll need one!

[Narangga]

If you are not carrying rear seat pax all that often then why not on the back of the dog box/cubby? Easily accessible from either front seat.

[one_iota]

Fire Extinguisher - Is it the law to carry one in Oz???


I can count on one hand how many Land Rovers Ive seen with an Extinguisher in... and mine's not one of them!!

Jon

A work colleague once said to me:

"What would you do if you came across a car that was on fire and the passengers were trapped and you didn't have an extinguisher?"

I went straight out and bought one.

[Bundalene]

If you are not carrying rear seat pax all that often then why not on the back of the dog box/cubby? Easily accessible from either front seat.

Thanks Dale but that spot is taken with a HF radio. How was Mirrngatja??
Cheers, Erich & Sheila

[Larry]

I removed the grab handle from the rear door & mounted the extinguisher in the original holes with a fire blanket suspended below.

Yet to find a permanant place for the winch controller.:(

[cewilson]

My first one is currently mounted on the wheel arches in the rear, hinge side. That is about to change to the cargo barrier above the kiddies head. The second one is located in my 'spares' truck, but that's not as easily accessed.

As for storage in general, if that's what you're asking - the following is what I've done (or doing):

Overhead console - absolutely brilliant
Rear drivers side guard - fuel tank
Rear passenger side guard - water tank
Under passenger seat (between chassis and sliders) - water tank
Under drivers seat (between chassis and sliders) - fuel tank
Under drivers seat (cubby box) - high flow air compressor and accessories
Under passengers seat (cubby box) - 2 x batteries, marine battery switch, auxiliary fuse box
Between wheel arches in the rear - trucks fit absolutely perfectly in the gap for storage of items (not on slides)
Roof rack - good for bulky light items and the second spare tyre. You can use a bag to secure and keep dry loose items like clothes. You can also mount awnings, shovels, hi-lift jacks, Maxtrax etc off the side easily enough.

Currently looking at lockable tool boxes to fit on the wheel arches in the rear cargo area. Idea is to permanently secure them there, which allows a good packing area in between the wheel arches.

Also looking at running some sort of board across the wheel arches so that I can put say 4 decent containers underneath for recover gear and cooking gear. Drawers cost so much that I'm not trying to go down that line.

Then from there I have a flat area between the tool boxes to put the fridge, clothes and other items I carry on trips.


Cheers
Chris

[pommie]

Hi, I have gone from a S2 Disco to a Defender again recently. Where do others mount a fire extinguisher and where do you keep the winch controller so they are easily accessed. Our cubby box in the middle has so much junk belonging to SWMBO I would never find the controller there. Thanks, Erich.

My smallish ARB fire extinguisher is mounted horizontally on the back of the cubby box. That way it can be reached by driver, passenger or anyone in the back. My cubby box is non-standard custom built from the "department of interior" - but I think that you could still screw into the wood of the standard cubby

[cripesamighty]

I seem to remember looking on my rave disk for this same thing many moons ago. From memory the recommended position for a fire extinguisher in a Defender was bolted to the base of the front passengers seat. I will see if I can dig up a picture.

[Offender90]

Mine is mounted on the rear panel (see photo), unique to (the 90) panel vans I suspect?

[CraigE]

I carry one it is mounted on the trans tunnel for easy reach no good having it where you can not get it. On the Disco I had one on the front fllor drivers seat and one on the cargo barrier. The small 0.4-0.5kg up to 1kg extinguishers will not do much if a fire even has a remote hold. You would need to get to the fire within the first few seconds. However it may give you time to get people out or retrieve irreplaceable items. Remember we are talking DCP extinguishers here and they destroy electrics and corrode metal. CO2 is better for electrics, but does not last long and should not be used in a confined area with people. Foam is messy but very effective. AFFF foam is very corrosive. I spilt about 20ml of undiluted AFFF on a tow bal a few days ago and it stripped the chrome off in sceonds. Fire Aide is non corrosive.
To have any real effect you would need to carry a 4.5-9kg extinguisher. I have and can put out car fires with a 9kg that have a fair hold. I stunned my ex boss once when he did not think it could be done. Conditions would have to be right and can very dramatically so anything is better than nothing. However most times I have seen the small ones used the car ends up a smouldering wreck unless you have quick access to multiples of them.
Basic thing to remember is aim at the base of the fire, not at the flames and you will be more effective. Most people aim willy nilly at the flames and there is no hope of putting a fire out this way with an extinguisher. My advice is do a fire extinguisher training course to learn how to use one effectivelly. But above all protect yourself, no point aiming at the base of a fire if the flames or smoke are going to get you and most vehicle fire smoke is toxic. If we go in close it is in SCBA.
When the fire aide extinguishers become available in Australia it will give you a lot more chance. All we use for foam eductor systems now. More expensive but can be used very effectivelly at 1% instead of 6% for AFFF and is environmetally safe and non toxic and non corrosive.
Cheers
Craig

[The ho har's]

Hey Ho Har, which back seats do you mean? The front facing ones or the rear side facing seats?

Oh I forgot you can't seat 8 passengers can you, time to upgrade to a County..


we don't need to fit any more than two in...my disco only has two seats the reast is cargo area...If we do buy another defender the back seats will come out also...a nice county will do though;)


Mrs ho har:D

[Psimpson7]

Yep, I mount quite a lot of stuff on the bulkhead behind the seats in my 90.

I thought with certain types of extinguisher, you were supposed to alter the position of them every so often, otherwise with corrugations and so on the powder contents can solidify at the bottom?

dont know if thats true or not?

ALl my winch controls are hard wired internally and externallY.

Tools and recovery gear is stored under the seats, expensive spares are in 2 boxes, one behind each seat or in teh cubby box.

[JamesH]

Same as Craig, on the transmission tunnel drivers side in front of the handbrake.

It's never got in the way, believe it or not.

Defender does not have central locking so when I'm around the only access I can be sure of is via drivers door as all other doors stay locked.

I look at the gauge every now and then and it still shows green but it is coming up to ten years old.

[The ho har's]

I thought with certain types of extinguisher, you were supposed to alter the position of them every so often, otherwise with corrugations and so on the powder contents can solidify at the bottom?

dont know if thats true or not?


Same as Craig,

I look at the gauge every now and then and it still shows green but it is coming up to ten years old.

Yes you should shake the fire extinguisher every now and then because yes the powder does settle on the bottom...we rotate ours every now and then ...and do hold it upside down and give it a good shake


Mrs ho har:angel:

[CraigE]

Exactly as Mrs Ho Har says.
You do not have to change positions / locations.
Just take it out of the cradle once a month ad turn upside down, rotate and give a shake. Same before you use it if you have time as it will give better duration and dispersion. These units can be recharged but usually is more cost effective to just buy a new one (talking 0.4 - 0.5 kg units)

[CraigE]

Yep, I mount quite a lot of stuff on the bulkhead behind the seats in my 90.

I thought with certain types of extinguisher, you were supposed to alter the position of them every so often, otherwise with corrugations and so on the powder contents can solidify at the bottom?

dont know if thats true or not?

ALl my winch controls are hard wired internally and externallY.

Tools and recovery gear is stored under the seats, expensive spares are in 2 boxes, one behind each seat or in teh cubby box.

Definately true. I have seen a few fail from compaction while showing fully charged. A good rotation and shake once a month takes care of this. This applies to all extinguishers inc 9kg units. As a matter of course we turn them all upside down before using to mix contents.

[numpty]

Definately true. I have seen a few fail from compaction while showing fully charged. A good rotation and shake once a month takes care of this. This applies to all extinguishers inc 9kg units. As a matter of course we turn them all upside down before using to mix contents.


I know this is an argueable point, but technically speaking the contents shouldn't compact, as the powder is under pressure and therefore in suspension.

Compaction was certainly an issue in the older types which had a dry nitrogen cylinder inside the extinguisher. With these you could unscrew the head, remove the cylinder, stir up the powder and replace cylinder and head.

[Bundalene]

Finally got round to a spot for the winch controller, wheel spanner and a few other odds and sods. The item is out of a Series1 Disco rear door and I plated the inside with a section of alumminium. I have a few more pics.


http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9391/nov4012fg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[1103.9TDI]

Fire extinguisher always mounted in a position where it can gather the least amount of momentum in the event of an incident/accident, but is also readilly available for deployment during an emergency. Behind a cargo barrier or similar is essential, even if mounted low in the front of the vehicle, it could cause horrific injuries to passengers legs/feet, if knocked out of its cradle under high G's.
As for the winch controller, do you mean the box or the remote?.Wasn't there a thread recently that advised hiding the control box under the bonnet, due to a'holes disengaging the winch, winding out cable, ie around the vehicle lengthways, then shorting the controller on with a bent nail or paper clip, and running off while the winch rewinds!:eek:. Not a pleasant thought!.
Store the remote where you can find it, before you go off road, and if there's a chance you may need it, plug it in, and have the thing hanging though your drivers side window!.

[one_iota]

I am usually mild mannered but what really gives me the irrits when travelling is the frequent need to rearrange the rear of the Defender to get to the fridge or the storage boxes. The culprits are usually the soft goods: pillows, coats ,sleeping mats and bags.

The idea is to use the roof space at the rear not so much for storage when moving but to stow stuff whilst camped and when stopping for meal breaks.

So I did a bit of googling and found this in an obvious place:

Milford Industries (http://www.milfordind.com.au/index.php/selectedContent/1350677028?PHPSESSID=ad96a5f1b5e1893732b0e31a1aa73 8f2)

This is how I have rigged it:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/653.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/654.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/655.jpg

I haven't used it in anger yet so it needs road testing.

I'm impressed with the fixing options that come with it.

I have restrained the front edge with an EPDM strap stretched between the handles behind the rear seats (put there for the 7 seater). If and when Milford make a cargo barrier for this model that will take over the support for the front edge.

[werdan]

Back door. :D:D:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/11/652.jpg

[George130]

My fire extinguisher is mounted on the drivers seat box at my feet. Winch controler lives in the centre console.
I also mouted winch control switches in the centre console but have since destroyed the wires. Switches for the winch are easy as they only have to trigger the relays. I had an on of switch and a toggle. Found it great when it worked.

[cewilson]

I carry one it is mounted on the trans tunnel for easy reach no good having it where you can not get it. On the Disco I had one on the front fllor drivers seat and one on the cargo barrier. The small 0.4-0.5kg up to 1kg extinguishers will not do much if a fire even has a remote hold. You would need to get to the fire within the first few seconds. However it may give you time to get people out or retrieve irreplaceable items. Remember we are talking DCP extinguishers here and they destroy electrics and corrode metal. CO2 is better for electrics, but does not last long and should not be used in a confined area with people. Foam is messy but very effective. AFFF foam is very corrosive. I spilt about 20ml of undiluted AFFF on a tow bal a few days ago and it stripped the chrome off in sceonds. Fire Aide is non corrosive.
To have any real effect you would need to carry a 4.5-9kg extinguisher. I have and can put out car fires with a 9kg that have a fair hold. I stunned my ex boss once when he did not think it could be done. Conditions would have to be right and can very dramatically so anything is better than nothing. However most times I have seen the small ones used the car ends up a smouldering wreck unless you have quick access to multiples of them.
Basic thing to remember is aim at the base of the fire, not at the flames and you will be more effective. Most people aim willy nilly at the flames and there is no hope of putting a fire out this way with an extinguisher. My advice is do a fire extinguisher training course to learn how to use one effectivelly. But above all protect yourself, no point aiming at the base of a fire if the flames or smoke are going to get you and most vehicle fire smoke is toxic. If we go in close it is in SCBA.
When the fire aide extinguishers become available in Australia it will give you a lot more chance. All we use for foam eductor systems now. More expensive but can be used very effectivelly at 1% instead of 6% for AFFF and is environmetally safe and non toxic and non corrosive.
Cheers
Craig

Bit of a side point here Craig - but one of our boys made a stuff up a little while ago at an MVA and discovered that Class A (BFFF) foam puts car fires out quite well - esp tyres alight. It's made a few of us stop and have a think over this way.

Cheers
Chris

[foz.in.oz]

I have mounted my extinguisher horizontally on the front of the cubby box just behind the hi-lo stick.

The winch controller lives in the recovery/tool box in the back and I also have switches in the dash center for it. The switches are washer switches wired through relays so you can't power both at once. There is also an isolator switch so that idiot passengers don't try and unwind when going down the Bruce!

[CraigE]

I know this is an argueable point, but technically speaking the contents shouldn't compact, as the powder is under pressure and therefore in suspension.

Compaction was certainly an issue in the older types which had a dry nitrogen cylinder inside the extinguisher. With these you could unscrew the head, remove the cylinder, stir up the powder and replace cylinder and head.
Numpty,
Sorry for late reply but only just read this.
The point is not argueable from a factual point of view. The contents will settle and compact in all DCP extinguishers if left sitting. This can and does occur from as little as a month on. I have seen many fail and use them regularly even brand new ones.
On one occassion I had 3 out of 5 fail when used in anger (not on my site, but another business).
Generally they will still discharge but you may not get maximum contents use / coverage or duration out of them and those extra few seconds can be vital to controlling a fire.
Cheers
CraigE

[CraigE]

Bit of a side point here Craig - but one of our boys made a stuff up a little while ago at an MVA and discovered that Class A (BFFF) foam puts car fires out quite well - esp tyres alight. It's made a few of us stop and have a think over this way.

Cheers
Chris

No argument and why we use foam on car fires usually through an eductor rather than extinguisher, they will work well, but are more expensive, have less duration and usually harder to purchase in smaller sizes easily. Also good for covering chemical spills. They can easily be used for wrong and dangerous application by untrained persons. The foam is also conductive so another reason these are not promoted. I believe you will be refering to a class AB extinguisher BFFF (red with blue band), a class A is generally water.
The ideal solution is to carry a 4.5kg or 9kg dcp and foam but not usually practical.
Just for reference if any one needs this info :
Classes of fires :
Class A : Combustibles such as wood, paper.
Class B : Flamable and Combustible liquids (paint, oil, petrol, diesel etc).
Class C : Flamable gases (lpg, acetylene etc)
Class D : Combustible metals (magnesium, sodium, potassium etc).
E type fire : no longer called a class as is electrically energised equipment as once the energy is isolated it reverts to its base compound class.
Class F : Cooking oils and fats.

Extinguishers :
Water - solid red - Use on class A fires. Ineffective on Class B or C. Dangerous on Type E and Class F.

Foam - red with blue band - Use on class A & B (may spread class A if used incorrectly), Limited effect on class F, Ineffective on class C, Dangerous on type E.

DCP - red with white band - 2 versions
ABE suitable for use on class A,B,C and Type E fires. Ineffective on class F.
BE suitable on class B,C and Type E Fires. Limited effect on class F. Ineffective on class A.
Check labelling.

Carbon Dioxide - red with black band. Suitable Type E, limited effect on Class A, B, C and F. But can be used. Can also be used for cooling vessels.

Wet Chemical - red with oatmeal band or label. Suitable for Class F and A. Ineffective on class B and C. Dangerous on Type E.

I have created a basic fire extinguisher slide show that we use for training, if any one wants it I can email it, just PM me. Please bear in mind it is for basic users being trained, not so much professionals.

Hope this is usefull.
Cheers
Craig