V8 D2 Tourer??

[wesbt]

I have a D2 V8 which I've owned for 18 months and have generally been very happy with. Aiming to slowly upgrade until such time as can be self sufficient for decent periods with just the clan.

As has been discussed numerous times the economy leaves a little to be desired and is arguably the single biggest downfall to the V8...

Query - has anyone prepped a V8 D2 into a successful long distance tourer (with some play when the opportunity arises ;) ), and if so, what was involved, was the result worth it, and finally, if time could be turned back, would the same process be followed, or would change over to TD5?


Wesbt

[Slunnie]

There are plenty of D2 V8 tourers and the setup process is the same between the TD5 and the V8 with the exception of fuel carrying - obviously the V8 needing more.

One person I know removed the back seat and ran fuel jerries across the back. Another towed a trailer with gear and carried jerries in that as well as a long range tank and LPG in the car.

If it were me, I would be running a long range tank under the rear and sill tanks under each side if possible (SLS will prevent a PS sill tank, ACE will prevent a DS sill tank). That setup will give you potentially up to 320 litres (200/60/60) I think from Brown Davis (if you dare run their tanks) or about 250 litres (150/50/50) from the LRA tanks (make sure you weld the chassis to the companion tank doesn't fall out) or about 235 litres (135/50/50) from the ARB/Out of Town/Long Ranger tanks with LRA sills.

The disadvantages of the long range tanks is that they sit lower than standard so it reduced your capacity to play, and they are much heavier than the normal standard poly tank.

[Disco W.A]

[QUOTE=Slunnie; (make sure you weld the chassis to the companion tank doesn't fall out) or about 235 litres (135/50/50) from the ARB/Out of Town/Long Ranger tanks with LRA sills.

Slunnie, do LRA make a left & right sill tank? and are they any good?

can you please expand on the bit about welding the chassis to the tank.

Thanks Roger

[Slunnie]

(make sure you weld the chassis to the companion tank doesn't fall out) or about 235 litres (135/50/50) from the ARB/Out of Town/Long Ranger tanks with LRA sills.

Slunnie, do LRA make a left & right sill tank? and are they any good?

can you please expand on the bit about welding the chassis to the tank.

Thanks Roger
Hi Roger,

LRA do make a sill tank for the left and right. To be honest mine is still sitting in the garage waiting to be installed for the next big trip. It does look solid and well made but thats about all I can say from personal experience at this stage.

With the chassis welding - its actually a reinforcing of the chassis rather than welding the chassis to the tank like I've mistakenly typed above.

The companion tank sits in bhind the rear 1/4 panel and swings off a Xmember made by LRA at the front and a mount that swings off an outrigger at the rear. The outrigger isn't designed to carry load in the direction that the fuel tank places on it (ie up and down load as opposed to front to rear load). Due to this the outrigger didn't need to be welded to the top and bottom plates of the chassis to distribute the loading properly into the frame. As all of the load goes into the wall of the chassis the continued flexing of the chassis wall leads to cracking around the mount. This occuring is in my opinion a given rather than a might happen for a touring vehicle. I have had this happen on my D2 and Walker had the companion tank fall out on a trip we did together. The solution to this seems to be to remove the bumper and weld the inside of the chassis using a MIG to thicken up the chassis wall where the outrigger mounts to and extend this weld pad to the chassis top plate to prevent the chassis wall from flexing and cracking again. That seems to have done the trick for me at least and the tank has had a couple of big hits also.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/254.jpg

[wesbt]

Thanks for the reply Slunnie. Have the 135l Long Ranger tank, though my gauge does not reflect correctly so have never run it anywhere near to empty.

Have looked at the sill tanks, wasn't aware there was one available for the passenger side. Thanks for the heads up. Other than fuel, is there anything else to consider specific to the V8?

Thanks again.

[slug_burner]

If you want to play in the water and mud then you might have to do some waterproofing.

At least witht he diesel it is a good idea to put a snorkel on as the air intake from under the front guard can get a mouth full of water. I suspect that at least this part will apply to the V8 as well.