Replace a Defender with what?

The G-wagon does look like it is worth looking at - are Iveco and Oka ANCP 5, and do they come with a full length closed body?

The biggest downside to the G-wagon is, of course, the price - I don't know what he paid for his Defenders (a few years ago now), but I believe both were second hand - the older one is a 300tdi, and the newer an ex-army Td5. Both would have been a small fraction of the cost of a G-wagon.

As an aside, an indication as to the sort of driving he uses them for is that a major concern of his is finding tyres that don't stake as easily as the ones he's tried (a typical selection of the tyres you would find used on Defenders).

Forget the Oka! No such thing as ANCP when they were built. Brilliant vehicle all the same, especially with a Chev V8 diesel and an Alison auto fitted!

Maybe Thales should introduce a civilian version of the Hawkie.
Hawkei ute gets a sporting salute - Car News | CarsGuide

I think there might be a market out there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rick130

The BT50 3.2 oil drain issue is a non event if you refill within 15 minutes.

Everyone knows about it, there was a TSB very early on detailing it.

My old employer ran a fleet of them, the only issues we had was two fuel pumps lunching themselves, picked up during warranty servicing and again, something Ford/Mazda were aware of and looking for.

---

Google Ranger/BT50 oil pump. There are dozens of references on the net and not only from whinging owners but from reputable trade organisations. From what I read fifteen minutes is asking for trouble. Most suggest getting the oil in in 5-7 minutes to be safe and others say as soon as the outlet starts to drip as opposed to flow, screw the drain plug in and start pouring in the new oil.

Also Google Ranger/BT50 flat battery. Dozens of references on the net to this problem also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The G-wagon does look like it is worth looking at - are Iveco and Oka ANCP 5, and do they come with a full length closed body?

The biggest downside to the G-wagon is, of course, the price - I don't know what he paid for his Defenders (a few years ago now), but I believe both were second hand - the older one is a 300tdi, and the newer an ex-army Td5. Both would have been a small fraction of the cost of a G-wagon.

As an aside, an indication as to the sort of driving he uses them for is that a major concern of his is finding tyres that don't stake as easily as the ones he's tried (a typical selection of the tyres you would find used on Defenders).

---

If he is repeatedly staking tyres perhaps he needs to consider tyres of sturdier construction like light/medium truck cross ply, say 8.25 x 16 x 12 ply used on 3-4 tonne trucks.

Or maybe the Bridgestone D661's. They are tough as nails.

[QUOkTE=JDNSW;2768960]Had an interesting conversation yesterday with a friend. He runs a small groundwater mapping business that operates in two quite different spheres - mining and primary production.

His operations involve mostly driving crosscountry, not even on tracks to cover a regular grid. Currently, he operates two Defenders, but his mining clients are getting insistent about ANCAP 5 rating for all vehicles. He has looked at possible vehicles to replace the Defenders, but there are two different issues.

1. All the vehicles he has looked at appear to excessively vulnerable to damage when subject to the sort of use it would get in his type of operation - inadequate ground clearance, bits that are too easily damaged compared to the Defender's axle housings and other underpinnings when you hit stumps, and too many electrical bits able to be snagged by sticks when pushing through scrub. He was particularly critical of how vulnerable Toyota's starters appear and flimsy sheet metal and vulnerable wiring under Discoverys.

2. With virtually all remotely suitable vehicles aimed primarily at the urban yuppie market, and advertised as this, showing up in one of these at any primary production venue would greatly reduce the chances of getting any work!

The requirements for a vehicle are best possible offroad performance coupled with reasonable operating costs, and able to cover long on highway distances easily between jobs. Ability to maintain a steady speed of around 5kph all day without issues. At least two tonnes offroad towing capability. Full length single compartment body to house instrumentation (cuts out dual cabs). As mentioned above, ANCAP 5 rating. Need a high driver seating position similar to the Defender to make it easier to see where you are going when pushing through scrub or crops.

Anyone got any ideas?[/QUOTE]

Toyota 76 series wagon in gxl spec for the factory lockers, around $70k+ new.

Bullet proof single turbo v8.

IMO the best serious off-road tourer out there (for the money).

Definitely what I would have bought if I didn’t love the td5 110.

Paul.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harro

[QUOkTE=JDNSW;2768960]Had an interesting conversation yesterday with a friend. He runs a small groundwater mapping business that operates in two quite different spheres - mining and primary production.

His operations involve mostly driving crosscountry, not even on tracks to cover a regular grid. Currently, he operates two Defenders, but his mining clients are getting insistent about ANCAP 5 rating for all vehicles. He has looked at possible vehicles to replace the Defenders, but there are two different issues.

1. All the vehicles he has looked at appear to excessively vulnerable to damage when subject to the sort of use it would get in his type of operation - inadequate ground clearance, bits that are too easily damaged compared to the Defender's axle housings and other underpinnings when you hit stumps, and too many electrical bits able to be snagged by sticks when pushing through scrub. He was particularly critical of how vulnerable Toyota's starters appear and flimsy sheet metal and vulnerable wiring under Discoverys.



2. With virtually all remotely suitable vehicles aimed primarily at the urban yuppie market, and advertised as this, showing up in one of these at any primary production venue would greatly reduce the chances of getting any work!

The requirements for a vehicle are best possible offroad performance coupled with reasonable operating costs, and able to cover long on highway distances easily between jobs. Ability to maintain a steady speed of around 5kph all day without issues. At least two tonnes offroad towing capability. Full length single compartment body to house instrumentation (cuts out dual cabs). As mentioned above, ANCAP 5 rating. Need a high driver seating position similar to the Defender to make it easier to see where you are going when pushing through scrub or crops.

Anyone got any ideas?

---

Toyota 76 series wagon in gxl spec for the factory lockers, around $70k+ new.

Bullet proof single turbo v8.

IMO the best serious off-road tourer out there (for the money).

Definitely what I would have bought if I didn’t love the td5 110.

Paul.[/QUOTE]

That’s the go,will use more fuel,but ultra reliable and fantastic resale.

For the $ nothing on the market comes close.

I tend to agree scarry, but this is a land rover forum and died in the wool defender owners just can't see anything else , which is sad.

I was going to say ex-mil G-wagen, although I'm not sure they have many wagon body types, as the Land Rovers they are selling are pick-ups, also only models from 1987-1998 are on sale now so might have to wait awhile.