Touring decisions. Disco or Defender ???

**Aussie_Oz_Born** · 25th November 2018, 12:01 AM

G'day all, I'm chasing some sagely advice,

Next year I'm taking the family on an April road trip from S.E QLD to Ayers Rock. My time frame is about 14 days. I'm tossing up whether to take the Disco or the Defender.....
Last year we did a trip to Carnarvon Gorge in the Defender and the EGT gauge got a work out! Everyone was relatively comfy but it was slow going.

A few trip details;
We're going to be towing a camper trailer around the 1800kg mark.
The Td5 has 315,000km on the clock, well maintained, kitted up, tough as nails but lacking in grunt for long hauls.
The Disco is fairly new to us, good service history, 110,000kms, comfy as, very 'pretty' but fairly stock.

Mods for each vehicle to suit the trip (IMO) are as follows;
Defender: Global Roamer O/D, Big inter-cooler, VGT, new tyres.
Disco 4: Roof rails, Brake controller, Traxide DB kit w/ Anderson plug, Driving lights, Diagnostic tool (Genesis?), new tyres, frontal protection (temporary).

I'm leaning towards to Disco for safety reasons, but I'm concerned with the reliability of the air suspension and low profile tyres on extremely corrugated roads. The Disco is immaculate and I don't want to ruin the limo, it is after all a keeper. If it was just myself doing the trip, I'd take the Defender tomorrow.

What are your opinions? Do I pump bulk coin into the Defender and have a fairly reliable vehicle, or less coin into the Disco and have comfier (more expensive to repair) vehicle for the trip? - Cheers.

**Bluetoes** · 25th November 2018, 06:07 AM

Disco would definitely be more comfortable but it will get a beating going out there. Had a friend do that trip just recently in his 200 series and let’s just say it doesn’t look new any more all the underneath got stone blasted really bad he was towing a 20’ van. Make sure your stone guards are in good nick.

Touring decisions. Disco or Defender ???

**fitzy** · 25th November 2018, 06:34 AM

Don’t be soft, take the Defender.

**rar110** · 25th November 2018, 06:50 AM

6500-7000km in 14 days?

No brainer. D4.

**weeds** · 25th November 2018, 06:51 AM

Defer.....I struggle to see why you need to do the work listed except for tyres.

D4.....although I love my deferfor the two off us but if I had a D4 back when I was towing a 1.4T camper and three kids I’d defiantly take a D4 over a defer. Scott? Just did a great trip report with his D4 doing the Simpson, not towing and no kids but I notice he doesn’t have front protection or driving lights. Given you probably won’t be driving between dusk and dawn as you have the family in tow do you really need bar and driving light

D4 would be my pick

**Aussie_Oz_Born** · 25th November 2018, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Bluetoes

Disco would definitely be more comfortable but it will get a beating going out there. Had a friend do that trip just recently in his 200 series and let’s just say it doesn’t look new any more all the underneath got stone blasted really bad he was towing a 20’ van. Make sure your stone guards are in good nick.

Great advice! I'd hate to chuck a rock through the 8 speed's sump.

**Aussie_Oz_Born** · 25th November 2018, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by weeds

Defer.....I struggle to see why you need to do the work listed except for tyres.

D4.....although I love my deferfor the two off us but if I had a D4 back when I was towing a 1.4T camper and three kids I’d defiantly take a D4 over a defer. Scott? Just did a great trip report with his D4 doing the Simpson, not towing and no kids but I notice he doesn’t have front protection or driving lights. Given you probably won’t be driving between dusk and dawn as you have the family in tow do you really need bar and driving light

D4 would be my pick

As for the Defender bits, the O/D would be to save 5th when towing by driving in over-drive 4th (about the same ratio). Intercooler to get more poke on the level roads and VNT to take off easier and maybe to get up hills better?
Even with a nice tune my Td5 struggles with EGTs up hill and more so when towing. I'd love to do a M57 swap.

**Zeros** · 25th November 2018, 09:59 AM

Which route are you taking?

**Aussie_Oz_Born** · 25th November 2018, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Zeros

Which route are you taking?

The fine details are still up in the air. But generally the route will be Longreach - Alice springs - Uluru - Coober Pedy - Marree - Birdsville.

**justinc** · 25th November 2018, 10:16 AM

I have kept my 1985 110 for that very reason. There is not much chance of me taking the l322 to the Cape or the Canning stock route, its job is primarily to tow the van...

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