About to take the SVX plunge

[Roulston]

Okay, test drove it today, the deal has been negotiated and I am about the get the fleet company to close on the SVX Defender.

Aside from a few things I don't like (third row seats) it seems okay once they closed the price gap between the base model and SUX to under $10k and incuded 3 years of servicing.

The advice I need are on the accesories:

I will swap my new AT rubber from my current 2000 v8 disco (which is on the market now for $10k if anyone is interested:)) to the SVX, but still want

1) Bar and winch
2) Snorkel, and
3) second battery.

The real confusion is the bar and winch combo, ARB, TJM, etc. Who can make a cost effective recomendation. I do not expect the winch to get a LOT of work, I am a hunter not a rock crawler, more insurance than heavy duty cycle.

Thanks for reading and for your thoughts.

Cheers, Tony

[BilboBoggles]

Personally - I'd go for a MillWeld (winch bars-rock sliders-4x4 snorkels-custom bar work (http://www.millweld.com)) competition bar (about $990) which is cheaper - stronger - lighter - and nicer looking than the ARB. See MILLWELD (http://www.millweld.com/a/Winch_Bars)

Or alternatively Scopion Racing do some nice bars - and Rovercraft import them (Also around the same price.) Last time I priced an ARB bar it was much more expensive than that.

There are apparently some good deals on less well known brand winches - and various review articles floating around. One advantage of a brand name winch is that the parts are easy to get - but it will be expensive. If price is a consideration - then I'd look at some of the less expensive winches on eBay. I've seen a few there that cost around $600 that seem to be reviewed quite well.

One slight issue I've seen on the SVX is that the black interior shows dust up really easily, and once it's dusty it's hard to make it look nice again. If that would bother you, then before you go out anywhere in it, get 2-3 tubes of Sikaflex and seal up all of the gaps in the body work. (Or hassle the dealer until they do it.) The New defender has no underseal which make it suck dust in like crazy through the little gaps in the panels. Ive got a little volcano happening in the rear of mine!.

FYI - The tyre size on the defender is 235/85/r16 which I think is not a size normally fitted to a Disco? The Stock Defender tyres are General Grabbers and are actually quite good as an All Terrain type tyre.

[kenleyfred]

G'day Tony
Had our SVX 4 months now and love it. Had to get the SVX for my wife to like a Defender.
To be honest I would prefer a 5 seater, not black. Like the sunroof but it lets a lot of heat in and is often hot enough for me to want to wear a hat. The side steps are handy. The ipod connection is useless to me ( no Ipod)
All our weekend use is on the beach and even though I have the full Defender rubber mats inside the fact that it is carpeted is a pain. I like to clean the interior with a leaf blower. The seats are too nice to want to cover with canvas covers.
But those front seats. They are worth the extra money to me. Just love them.
I rest my hand on the gearstick all the time, love the feel of that aliminium knob. (that sounds really sick)
The radio is not the easiest to use but is really tops.
Enjoy yours
Kenley

[kenleyfred]

I would love to put an ARB bullbar on it. Had one on our Disco.
But one of the crossbars cuts right in front of the little spot lights. The standard lights are very good.
Kenley

[Grover-98]

Get some pics up as soon as you get it :)

[Roulston]

I do like the look of the milweld unit and the price is right.

Re: the tyres, I am not running the standard Disco tyre size anyway. I am sure they will fit.

I will pay attention to the sealing as a priority, though one shouldn't have to.

Cheers, Tony

[wally]

Personally - I'd go for a MillWeld (winch bars-rock sliders-4x4 snorkels-custom bar work (http://www.millweld.com)) competition bar (about $990) which is cheaper - stronger - lighter - and nicer looking than the ARB. See MILLWELD (http://www.millweld.com/a/Winch_Bars)

Or alternatively Scopion Racing do some nice bars - and Rovercraft import them (Also around the same price.) Last time I priced an ARB bar it was much more expensive than that.

There are apparently some good deals on less well known brand winches - and various review articles floating around. One advantage of a brand name winch is that the parts are easy to get - but it will be expensive. If price is a consideration - then I'd look at some of the less expensive winches on eBay. I've seen a few there that cost around $600 that seem to be reviewed quite well.

One slight issue I've seen on the SVX is that the black interior shows dust up really easily, and once it's dusty it's hard to make it look nice again. If that would bother you, then before you go out anywhere in it, get 2-3 tubes of Sikaflex and seal up all of the gaps in the body work. (Or hassle the dealer until they do it.) The New defender has no underseal which make it suck dust in like crazy through the little gaps in the panels. Ive got a little volcano happening in the rear of mine!.

FYI - The tyre size on the defender is 235/85/r16 which I think is not a size normally fitted to a Disco? The Stock Defender tyres are General Grabbers and are actually quite good as an All Terrain type tyre.

That Millweld bar in the picture provides bugger all protection. The guards are completely exposed. And to my eyes looks horribly ugly. It might be more expensive but I'd be looking at an ARB. At least it'll give the vehicle some protection in the scrub or if you hit a large animal.

[geckos]

ARB one when i bought mine was $1150 in 2006.
cheers
also solid as, have it some trees with it at low range speed.

[Roulston]

Well the saga is that after calling every manufacturer I can think of, no on can supply a bar for the SVX, of the base model current defender.

Can there be that much change in the models or are they simply not sure?

ARB were a definate no, as were TJM, ECB and OL?

I have gone to MLWELD yet, as I perfer the protection offered by the ARB style bar.

Are they all simply unhelpful crack heads or has on one produced a bar for these?

I get the same message for a snorkel, surely they have not change the air intake between 2007 and now?

I also note a few of you have winches and lights mounted without bull bars. I assume these winch bars are still third party.

Tony

[kenleyfred]

ARB in Hendra have shown me a photo of one of there bars on a SVX. The smaller spotlight was obstructed but the owner didn't care.

Scorpion have told me they can customise there bar so the spots are not obstucted. Personally I prefer the ARB bar and will eventually go with one of theirs with additional spots to compensate.
Kenley

[aew849]

The three Deefer's I have owned have all sported the ARB unit, the first had a Warn 10000lb and the second a 9000lb.....mostly were used for winching jobs other than vehicle recovery....

I have crossed the nullarbour 8 times in these deefers and cleaned up my fair share of the slow and/or stupid roo's without a mark, ding or dent at hwy speeds, so have no qualms in recommending the ARB.

They are not totally bullet proof as my second bar was on a Td5 Xtreme wagon that I fair planted it into a young gumtree ( my fault 100%, on sandy track ) and impacted right on the winch fairlead. Bent the bar and split the winch and regretfully totally flattened the gum. New bar fitted and rebuilt the winch $$$$$.

I like the idea of a winch mounted on a spare towing post, such you can fit it front or rear....just need the electrical connectors and isolators. Saves you having to cart it around when you're not out and about the countryside.


aew849
04 130 DCPU "Bev" - naked up front..bar no winch (yet!)

[spudboy]

Well the saga is that after calling every manufacturer I can think of, no on can supply a bar for the SVX, of the base model current defender.

Can there be that much change in the models or are they simply not sure?

ARB were a definate no, as were TJM, ECB and OL?
...
I get the same message for a snorkel, surely they have not change the air intake between 2007 and now?

Tony

Is the SVX the same as 'normal' 2007+ defenders when it comes to fitting a bullbar? If so, then try PMing "Scallops" as he got someone to fit a bullbar to his Defender. Pre-2007 bars will not fit, as he had to get one made up (I think by ARB) especially.

I got a Mantec snorkel for my 110 (a 2007 model) from Rovacraft in Perth. Cost was $500 and yes, it is a different fitting from the pre-2007 models.

Cheers
David

[dmdigital]

I don't think an ARB bar will fit an SVX. I suspect the high beam lights will be obscured by bar work. Have a look at what Rovacraft are selling.

[Nera Donna]

G’day Tony,
Allan from Perth has his SVX all kitted up with ARB bar, Snorkel, Lockers, Dual Batteries and lift. Might be worth getting hold of him and finding out how he got on. I’ve ordered my bar through 4x4 Sports in Perth. Nothing was said to me about different fitment between the standard Defender and the SVX. I’ll need to look into that???? Thanks for the heads up.
As far as the dust is concerned. Yes they do ingest bucket loads of the stuff. Went down Pemberton for a spot of fishing last time home and it took three days to clean the dust out of the inside!!! Not happy Jan. :mad:
But on a brighter note, the Defender did have to tow out a buggered Toyota. And he was one of the knockers when I order the Fender. Ahhh revenge is sweet. :)13914

Cheer

Craig

[uninformed]

what do LR offer as genuine accessories?
maybe they have something suitable?

Serg

[solmanic]

...Yes they do ingest bucket loads of the stuff. Went down Pemberton for a spot of fishing last time home and it took three days to clean the dust out of the inside!!! Not happy Jan. :mad:

Let me guess, you had the A/C on recirculate? If you did, you actually should have had it set to fresh air. The cabin pressurises and you should get a lot less dust sucked in at the rear. Scallops says he had minimal dust problems on his big trip last year using this method.







...if however, you did have it set to fresh air, then I agree, they leak like a sieve.

[solmanic]

what do LR offer as genuine accessories?
maybe they have something suitable?


:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:





Sorry, I'm feeling a bit sarcastic this morning.

But seriously, Land Rover have nothing in the way of barwork accessories suitable for Australia. They only offer soft nudgebar types of stuff since that's all they are permitted to install in the UK.

[Nera Donna]

Let me guess, you had the A/C on recirculate? If you did, you actually should have had it set to fresh air. The cabin pressurises and you should get a lot less dust sucked in at the rear. Scallops says he had minimal dust problems on his big trip last year using this method.







...if however, you did have it set to fresh air, then I agree, they leak like a sieve.

Nah, A/C was off. Drivers window down, vent set to fresh air and the sun roof was just cracked open a touch. Fabulous sunny afternoon. All the dust marks seem to come from around the back door, under the rear doors and surprisingly from between the glass and door skins on both rear doors??? Never seen that before. Anyway I've resigned myself to the fact that this maybe one of those thing that need sorting out on new cars? Never having own one before I wouldn't know. But thanks for the heads up, I'll try what you suggested next time.

Cheers

Craig

[stevencam]

Nah, A/C was off. Drivers window down, vent set to fresh air and the sun roof was just cracked open a touch. Fabulous sunny afternoon. All the dust marks seem to come from around the back door, under the rear doors and surprisingly from between the glass and door skins on both rear doors??? Never seen that before. Anyway I've resigned myself to the fact that this maybe one of those thing that need sorting out on new cars? Never having own one before I wouldn't know. But thanks for the heads up, I'll try what you suggested next time.

Cheers

Craig

The bottom door seals do need some attention, I got some high rebound foam rubber strips from clark rubber and fitted to the bottom of all the doors behind the existing rubber flap making sure they meet neatly with the upper door seals and taking care not to obstruct the drain holes. This has kept the cabin pretty much dust free driving every day on unmade dirt roads and tracks. Didn't fix the battery box but, last time I looked it was chockkers with dirt.

[Roulston]

Okay so more liek 30 hours.

Picked the SVX up yesterday, spent last night fitting lights and the UHF, antennae's etc.

Just got to 100ks, and loving it.

So far so good, just as well now I'm in hock.

The electrics went in easy, standard driving light relay in Pax seat box to trigger the just fitted HIDs. Plenty of space there for the UHF chassis. Though just thinking about the holes I drilled in a car I've just bought made me double check every time I got the drill out.

Only one minor niggle, the absolute lack of storage, box aside. Though now that I have pulled the 3rd row seats, the Space Case fits perfectly in the back and is full of recovery gear etc.

I will post some pics in teh next few days.

Cheers, Tony

[Allan]

I used ARB bar on my SVX. Make tracks in Midland removed the bar that goes across the lights and did a verry good job of it. ARB also supplied the snork. Hope this helps. By the way Make Tracks emailed me a photo of the mod before moding the bar. This I think was first done in Brisbane.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Okay so more liek 30 hours.

Picked the SVX up yesterday, spent last night fitting lights and the UHF, antennae's etc.

Just got to 100ks, and loving it.

So far so good, just as well now I'm in hock.

The electrics went in easy, standard driving light relay in Pax seat box to trigger the just fitted HIDs. Plenty of space there for the UHF chassis. Though just thinking about the holes I drilled in a car I've just bought made me double check every time I got the drill out.

Only one minor niggle, the absolute lack of storage, box aside. Though now that I have pulled the 3rd row seats, the Space Case fits perfectly in the back and is full of recovery gear etc.

I will post some pics in teh next few days.

Cheers, Tony


PICS of the above Please:D




I used ARB bar on my SVX. Make tracks in Midland removed the bar that goes across the lights and did a verry good job of it. ARB also supplied the snork. Hope this helps. By the way Make Tracks emailed me a photo of the mod before moding the bar. This I think was first done in Brisbane.


PICS Please

[Nera Donna]

I used ARB bar on my SVX. Make tracks in Midland removed the bar that goes across the lights and did a verry good job of it. ARB also supplied the snork. Hope this helps. By the way Make Tracks emailed me a photo of the mod before moding the bar. This I think was first done in Brisbane.

All good infomation. Thanks Allan. :BigThumb:

[Roulston]

Okay, ARB were helpful in the end, but I doubt they have the market to solve the SVX driving light problem.

I have ordered a Scorpion Winch Tube bar from rovacraft and a Tigerz11 Winch.

They are also sending me a snorkel.

I went for a short (dusty) drive on sunday to determine where the dust will come in and have since siliconed the joints and added some more foam tape around the doors.

Have fitted SuperNova HIDs, about to upgrade the H4 and H9 lamps to HID, have installed the ARB compresssor, CB and replaced the 3rd row seats with two Space Cases. Will apply soem more tint to the sun roof after work tomorrow.

I am really happy with the car.

Now can someone tell me? I should be able to fit 265/75/16's on this. They will be the same rolling dia as the current 235/80/16's. How big can I go with out suspension mods?

Tony

[Scallops]

Now can someone tell me? I should be able to fit 265/75/16's on this. They will be the same rolling dia as the current 235/80/16's. How big can I go with out suspension mods?

Tony

265/75/16 will fit on your rims - they are the same rolling diameter (to within a bee's dick) as standard 235/85/16 - you listed 235/80/16 above but that is a typo?