Thread: New 130 Defender Dual cab

Tuck, welcome. To help in the future there are two search facilities at the bottom of the page. The left is AULRO only. The right is google which sometimes works better.

The standard legal size tray is 1.8, well here in Qld anyway. A 2.2 tray is a standard 2 door ute size, which you are considering to fit to a twin cab. The over hang will be terrible. A tow bar useless, and pending how the weight is distributed can break the 130's back. Perhaps if the set up had only bedding at the very rear it may be ok, but certainly not spare wheels for example. I'd look into legal size in your state. In Qld I have heard it's 1.5m overhang from axel centre, but can't say it's true.
My 1.8 tray with the car at GVM, when travelling has an even load across the vehicle maxing out both axels weights. It rides well but a lot of thought has gone into balance. Personally I could not imaging the car handling above 80 safely on any type of road surface with what you are proposing. Don't forget it's a very real scenario that you will have to swerve for a pot hole, rock, or roo. Emergency break for another road user. Blow a tyre. Or simple to hot into a corner that you didn't expect to sharpen so fast. There is an obligation to your family as well as other road users as to what can be done, and what is safe and realistic. But others would have done it for sure.

You could mount the tray higher to accommodate, wheels, fuel or water. Many do. But this also raises the centre of gravity and pending what tyre size you run the tray can be quite high. Those under tray spare wheel slides you see on Patrols and Cruisers don't fit either. The LR tray rails are to narrow however you could modify a tray off a Patrol or Cruiser, that would be easier. The standard LY tray on standard suspension is at .9 already roughly. The standard tray does vary from dealer to dealer, state to state so it seems also.

No timing chain required.
Child restraints can be fitted by dealer or others for around 300 to 350.

Hi and welcome, depends what model 130 you are looking at, 300tdi has a belt, TD5 has a chain (no changing) I'm not sure about the Puma 2.2 and 2.4.
As Newhue as already covered most of this, I will add that I saw a 130 Dual cab yesterday in town with 2.2m adapted tray and camper.

The overhang of the already lengthy130 necessitated careful consideration in carparks and even more so for off road work. Departure angle was "greatly reduced".

The owner wasnt really fussed about the loss of departure angle and had just come across the Simpson.
Importantly though he acknowledged that his full load was very light ( about 350 kg) and was predominantly up front and low so the only issue for him was overhang only.

Personally that length for a Dual Cab wouldnt work for me and I wouldnt consider it.
Raising the tray to accommodate a spare/s isnt uncommon, but again C of G and loading height issues to consider.
Regarding weight and overhang,
the carriage of 2 spares on a rear carrier (about 60kg) hanging from the back of any std vehicle creates large changes to the ride and handling characreristics.
Now consider that 60kg (asumed to be in bulk from the camper/ tray/ and gear, probably more, over the extra 40 cm tray length (leverage arm), this will have a far greater influence again and IMO, dangerous on a heavy vehicle.

However,
I have seen quite a few "over length" tray backs along the way and if legalities are not a limitation and appropriate consideration to having a low weight/ balance the reduction in off road ability from the o/hang may suit you.

Cheers

Thanks for your replies. Looking at latest model 130 as there doesnt seem to be enough value in getting second hand as resales seem very good or am I wrong.Defender dual cabs latest seem very thin on the ground in SA. I take on board your weight issues- most will be forward of back wheels. Am i missing something regarding departure angles as we will not be changing chassis and the tray will be about 1 mtr above ground.Would have to be a very steep hill

Originally Posted by tuck

Am i missing something regarding departure angles as we will not be changing chassis and the tray will be about 1 mtr above ground.Would have to be a very steep hill

It just depends on your intended travels.
Think steep drop offs, creek & river crossings , embankments both entry and exit etc.

Cheers

Queensland "overhang rules" can be found in this legislation
http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LE...tOpRUMDR05.pdf

Part 3 states rear overhang defined as rear most part of vehicle to centre line of rear axle cannot be more than 3.7m or 60% the wheel base of the vehicle (which ever the least).

For a 130 with a 127" wheelbase lets call it 3225mm, 60% is 1935mm.

Soooo you need to measure how far the front edge of the tray is from the centre line of your axle, from memory it is about 400mm, add this to 1935 and get you overall permissible tray length. 2.2m will easily be legal.

Now do you want that Not a question i can answer!

But after many years with an 1.8m tray, I would happily run a 2.0m tray... but most likely baulk at a 2.2m.

I dont think you departure angle would be the problem, just how much of a load is placed behind the rear most chassis mounts.

Steve

Regarding spare tyre cant hang on back due to slide on tent going out back,dont really like guts busting tyres on to roof dont even prefer roof racks so would prefer down low under tray if possible

Just went and measured my 130.
Front of tray to axle centreline is 450mm - front of tray to back of cab is 120mm
Soooo in queesland you could legally put 120 + 450 + 1935 = 2505mm behind the cab of a 130
Which means you could put a 2.2m tray and squeeze a pair of 235/85R16 between the front of your camper and the body of the ute.
But gee it would look mighty funny and most likely put a fair old strain on the chassis

But it would be legal!!!!


S

double post