Thread: DEFENDER 110 Td5 - mods for trip q's & a's pls...

First thing i'd do is get rid of the grabbers and get a decent tyre.

One of the WA guys can give you a better idea as to which type of tyre is best for the conditions, but i'd suggest a proper AT tyre like the bridgestone 604V, BFG AT or Cooper ST.

Hi Manta,

Let us know where you are located, we might be able to suggest a few suppliers.

--sound proofing
I'd suggest you check with "Bigbugga" and "rmp" for details on sound proofing. Personally I don't see the need.

--long distance tanks
Long Ranger does a 127lt replacement tank for the TD5. Will set you back about $895 but will give you adequate range on your trip. If you want even more at a later stage you can get a 36lt companion tank ($526) to go with the 127 replacement.

--gonna need new shocks and springs
I would suggest Bilstein shocks ... around $322 a pair. If you are in NSW check with Graeme Cooper Automotive, they can help with a Bilstein setup. (www.lrexpert.com.au)

--General Grabbers have only done 5k, but are they sufficient as multi use tyres??
Although I don't have personal experience I do believe the General Grabbers are a good multi tyre. If you do want something with a bit more byte .. BF Goodrich MT's, Good Year Wrangler and Cooper STT are all well respected muddies.

--is there an aftermarket aircon??
Can't help you here but be prepared to spend big dollars. Aftermarket aircons are not cheap and you will pay to have yours replaced. I'll go out on a limb here and say you might be looking at around $2500 to have this done. Again, in my humble opinion I don't believe the Defender aircon is that bad to justify the cost.

From your list I would say .. get the replacement tank and suspension upgrade (especially if you carry a big load) and save your money on the other stuff. In addition .. get a cargo barrier (Milford) to keep the luggage in it's place.

Hope this helps,

Henry.

Howdy!

- Cargo Barrier (can stack more in the back safely)
- Tie downs for fridge and boxes in the back

Are you travelling with another vehicle? How many people in the fender? How are you planning to sleep (swags do take up room, roofrack)?

- Recovery gear
- Extra spare wheel and tyre (get a steel rim, unless you have another alloy floating around)
- 12 volt outlets in the cargo area (for lights and fridge)
- 2nd battery and isolator
- If only two people, I would remove the back seats and use this area for bags etc.
- snorkel

If you find the aircon not cool enough, you can buy (very cheaply) some blinds which suction onto the back windows (passenger and load area) which will cut down on the heat getting into the vehicle.

Keep all windows close and turn up the aircon, don't laugh, but it will actually pressurise the cabin and stop some dust ingress.

There is more

Will keep thinking.

It is amazing that in this modern day world a vehicle can still have so many design faults after being around for such a long time!

I don't doubt the ability of my new truck for offroad use - but the cabin has such obvious design mistakes it makes me wonder how such a reputed car manufacturer can be happy selling these cars in the year 2000+.

I don't want to go on about the basic workmanship - because we all no how bad British build quality is. The Defender is a workhorse right? Right - it wasn't designed as a ***** star tourer like a Cruiser or Disco, but people can deck them out, modify them etc etc to their own specs. But things like AC, sound levels, driver seating position is something most manufaturers have got right.

Who designs an AC unit that points at your shins?? Not only that - it can't be directed at the windscreen when needed to demist! When used in 35 degree heat it freezes up! Not to mention just how noisy the bloody thing is when trying to cool the huge cabin down.

When you take a Defender down a gravel track for the first time you might be mistaken for someone taking shots at you. The stones hitting the underside of the arches can deafen you - this needs work. I was hoping to lay rubber under the arches. I will also add a blackwidow cargo draw - that should soften things a little.

The seating position for me is very uncomfortable. I am not small - 100kg, 6 ft. I find my right shoulder jammed up hard against the pillar forcing my neck on an angle giving me headaches and neck problems. I need to do something here. Perhaps move the seat 1" left. But then the wheel is off center?????? And my left leg would be jammed up against the hand brake.

When travelling at 100km/h it is impossible to hear what my 2yo son is saying in the back seat. My wife is also 6 foot and finds her knees around her neck because of the stupid AC design at her feet.

I wonder how many of you have taken the skin off your left thumb letting the hand brake off??

Have you ever put a couple of blokes around 6 foot in the back seat?? They can't see out the windows because the line of sight is obstructed by the roof and doors!!!

I have a very long list of other things that I can't beleive haven't been rectified by the LR design team. As I said - I don't doubt the offroad ability (it would have to be the only real 4WD still being built apart from the Merc G wagon), but surely LR would get more sales if they addressed these issues.

My wife is asking me to sell it. It is my 3rd LR - I love em. Because of their simplicity. The new D3 does not interest me. I like to be able to fix the car if it breaks down a long way from civilisation....I just think that a 55k car should be a little more user friendly - even a semi truck cabin is more comfortable!!

As for our trip...if my wife hasn't convinced me to sell my new delima; the 3 of us will set off June 1 for 2 months. Heading across the Nul then up west coast to Pilbara and Kimberlys. (We are on the Eastern sea board). Camping in a Freedom Tent (THE BEST tents in the world!!!). Have an ECB cargo rack. Got recovery gear. The cargo barrier is a good idea. The long range tank will be fitted. Getting ECU upgrade and new shocks. Tyres will stay because they are brand new. We have two steel rimmed spares.

I suppose I type the above with a little dissapointment. I have driven most 4WD's and have a list of things I like in a car. First is safety, then off road capability and cargo space. Fuel consumption follows. The Defender really is the only choice - I'm just a bit ****ed off it's not a bit more comfy!!

Anyway - I wax and wane on my new truck. Just hoping you guys might be able to convince me to live with the neck pain and head aches! Just gonna need to take extra pain killers!

MANTA
(my totem)

i'm 6ft also and 120kg

i have a 130 dualcab

i find when driving lean towards the centre console
then it aint so bad [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

and then when the foam in the seat breaks its even better :wink: :wink:

ah defenders and comfort

Come for a drive in my series 3, your defender will ride and sound like a limo after that [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Manta ... I'd suggest you raise the centre console by a few inches .. you will find it makes a very comfortable armrest and might help with your seating position. It came to me by accident after I raised my centre console to fit an inverter underneath. Works a treat [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]