Thread: Thinking of buying a military defender a few questions

Originally Posted by cafe latte

............
Now a few questions.. What are the top speeds, and how noisy are they?

The 4x4 has a top speed in the region of 110kph, adding a turbo will increase this. They are noisy, particularly at idle, but soundproofing can be added. Most 4x4s available are soft tops, and wind noise will be the major noise at cruising speed. Can't help with the 6x6.

How about km/l do they drink much?

About 11km/l for the 4x4.

The 6x6 is amazing is it still good on a car licence?

No, but some have looked at derating it to get under the limit.

.......
How about rego cost for the 6x6?

No idea - it will vary by state.

Thanks guys
Chris

Can't help with the 6x6, but I am sure someone will come along.

Note that the 4x4 does not have power steering, but it is not particularly difficult to add, although it will cost a minimum of around $1000 depending on how much work you do yourself.

John

Originally Posted by cafe latte

I posted another thread about possibly getting a Mahindra or a 130, but more and more I am thinking Defender as I just love driving them. I am starting to wonder about military Defenders as they are low kms rugged and cheap for the km they have done. If I get a 4x4 110 my tools will stay dry but I will need a trailer for hay. If I get a 6x6 I can transport anything I will ever need and keep it dry too it just might be perfect
Now a few questions.. What are the top speeds, and how noisy are they?
How about km/l do they drink much?
The 6x6 is amazing is it still good on a car licence? Now a big issue if not as I need to do a heavy rigid soon for the fire brigade, but just wondered.
How about rego cost for the 6x6?
Thanks guys
Chris

Hi Chris,

I can answer some of your questions. Firstly I have moved your post to Coil Sprung Military Land rovers because even tho they are an Isuzu variant they come under the military version. If you are on the land I would recommend you get a 6X6 variant preferably a GS cargo with the big alum tray and also preferably with the dropsides and canvas canopy and you don't need a trailer anymore. Fuel wise they drink about 15-16l/100K and in their basic state are reasonably noisy but this can be easily rectified by adding some insulation like Dynamat inside. They will sit on 100k no problems but are happier at about 85-90 due to the 4.7 diff ratio. Unless you are doing a lot of highway K's I wouldn't change the diff ratio - they die quicker on hills with 3.5 ratio diffs. With regards to the licence, here in Qld you will need a LR licence if you leave the GVM at 5600kg. If you get a mod plate and reduce the GVM to under 4500kg you can drive it with a normal C class drivers licence. Rego is going to cost you around $900 per year (plus the stamp duty on what you pay for it - first year only). They are classified as a light commercial or van in Qld if you reduce the GVM to under the 4500kg mark. Once you have driven one you will be hooked!!!

Thanks,
In the UK I had Medium rigid equivalent on my licence but only car was recognized without a new test. I have just joined the town fire brigade (I have been a rural for ages) and I need to do a heavy rigid in the next 12 months so not a big issue.
I have been looking for something that is big with a possibility of cover for a while and the 6x6 might just fit the bill. I can get a low km version and I can carry my tools in the dry, actually I can carry a few bails of hay in the dry with that canopy.
Has anyone got one up near Cairns or the Tablelands (far north) that I could have a look at to help make up my mind?
Cheers
Chris

If you were a bit closer you could take mine for a spin. If you are going to buy direct from the auctions I would suggest you get a copy of Barefoot Dave's buyers guide and preferably inspect the vehicles before the auction. Some of them look good in photos but are a bit rough in the flesh.

When I was looking at buying one I read loads of threads on here and came across this link which was really interesting


www.remlr.com


Ended up buying a Disco 2

Thanks guys lots of great info I do really need to see some in the flesh I think. Right now I am considering either a single cab Defender, a Dual cab Defender, the 4x4 Perentie or the 6x6. The single cab has a good tray but I will need to buy a cover as in the wet season everything on the tray gets soaked. The Dual cab I could remove the rear seats and put electric tools inside but I will miss out on having a good tray for when I need it. The 4x4 Perentie would be perfect for keeping tools dry but not so good if I want to buy hay or a pallet of lick for the farm, I would need a trailer too which is not the end of the world I suppose. The 6x6 would haul hay and just about anything I needed and do it dry too but they do drink fuel and they require an LR licence as well. I will need to get a heavy rigid licence anyway soon but the missus also drives to get lick so she would need to do LR, again not a deal breaker but it needs to be considered. I think driving one would help that way you see how noisy they are and what other issues they have. Aircon is not a big issue as my F truck did not have it when I got it and I had it fitted for 1800 dollars so I would just consider that in the price.
One thing I like about getting a Perentie is they seem to come with very low km's and the 3.9 engine is good for serious km's. If I spend the same money on a normal Defender I will be looking at maybe a Defender with 200,000km or more.
Lots to consider.
Chris

Hi I recently bought a 6x6 all of the advice above is spot on, once driven you will be hooked, I didn't inspect mine first as it was a Sydney auction and I'm in Perth, I paid 15K similar vehicles in Melbourne and Brisbane sold slightly cheaper but the Sydney one by state law had to have a blue slip so I could register it straight away hence I was willing to pay a bit more. Because of thier width 2.2 m I couldn't transport it on a car carrier, so the quote Syd to Perth was $4500, I drove it across stock standard 2 months ago great trip, noisey no heating or cooling but fun, cosmetically the Army doesn't look after them well but if you can look past that they are great.
Hope you buy one they are great trucks.

Originally Posted by Perentie Brad

Hi I recently bought a 6x6 all of the advice above is spot on, once driven you will be hooked, I didn't inspect mine first as it was a Sydney auction and I'm in Perth, I paid 15K similar vehicles in Melbourne and Brisbane sold slightly cheaper but the Sydney one by state law had to have a blue slip so I could register it straight away hence I was willing to pay a bit more. Because of thier width 2.2 m I couldn't transport it on a car carrier, so the quote Syd to Perth was $4500, I drove it across stock standard 2 months ago great trip, noisey no heating or cooling but fun, cosmetically the Army doesn't look after them well but if you can look past that they are great.
Hope you buy one they are great trucks.

I am so curious.. How noisy is a question, I really need to drive one to find out.
I would really like to see both the 4x4 and the 6x6 and try them both out.
Does anyone know the consumption, top speed and noise levels of the 4x4 Perentie while we are on the subject?
I probably should not get too worried about these issues though as with my F truck which this new truck will be replacing I mostly just drive into town (10km) to fix up one of my houses or get supplies for the farm. The lick we get is the other direction, maybe 20km and the most I go in it is to Atherton which is about 60km when we need hay but that is only for a couple of months a year at most.
Chris