Touring setup weight concerns ?

G'Day Jack....(my first forum post, hello....Defender apprenticeship completed, now enjoying some fancy D4 luxury)....

I'd take DiscoMick's advice about the ORS drawers. Just had a set of ORS deep aluminium framed drawers installed in my D4. A really excellent product I reckon, and they do a great job of modifying things to suit....was very happy to deal with them. A custom made 50+ litre s/steel water tank went in very neatly also, along with a height adjustable cargo shelf. I can post some pics if you'd like.
ORS also provide good access ports into the void where the third row seats were removed (BIG weight saver and handy storage area). My tip would be to remove the centre rear seat and put your fridge in that spot like I did (another good weight saver - my ARB 47L fits like a glove and leaves all the cargo area space free - also you don't need to buy a drop fridge slide). The seat can be replaced if ever you're arrested for unlawful modifications. (ps..I received advice from the NSW RTA tech division that it was ok to remove the third row seats as the vehicle is also marketed as a 5 seater, but the second row seat removal may be an issue). I'm also a bit loaded with ARB bar, winch, roof platform/gear, 180L fuel and rear wheel carrier (the frontrunner design is good) but haven't done the weights yet.

Sorry for the ramble mate...I'm a bit excitable in D4 world at the moment. 🤪

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Originally Posted by justinc

Iirc B6 armouring suspension allows an increase to 4580kg

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But the sway bars need to be changed too. And in actual armoured trim it weighs in at 7200lbs (3200kg) which is not far off some of you lot in touring trim... amiright ? Yes Mark I'm looking at your D4...😅

So am i right that a vehicle would be over weight carrying 7 adult passengers ?

2,880 empty + 490 = 3,370

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Originally Posted by Ozzy119

So am i right that a vehicle would be over weight carrying 7 adult passengers ?
2,880 empty + 490 = 3,370

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Correct, for the example given by SteveK in his spreadsheet.
However, note that his D4 "...has Second Tank 110lts Kaymar Rear Bar, ARB bull bar, Sliders etc..."
A stock D4 would be approx 200-250kg lighter depending on model/trim.

As has been mentioned already, [front bar/rear bar/aux tank/wheel carrier] really eat into your payload.

Scott

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Originally Posted by LRD414

Correct, for the example given by SteveK in his spreadsheet.
However, note that his D4 "...has Second Tank 110lts Kaymar Rear Bar, ARB bull bar, Sliders etc..."
A stock D4 would be approx 200-250kg lighter depending on model/trim.

As has been mentioned already, [front bar/rear bar/aux tank/wheel carrier] really eat into your payload.

Scott

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Yes. Especially in the higher trim versions. If you want to carry all the gear and a family , you probably need a payload of 1000kg +. Not too many vehicles offer that capacity.

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Originally Posted by skellar

Hi Guys,

Attached is a spreadsheet that I developed to calculate the total weight of my D4 and also the distribution between front and Rear Axles.

Cheers
SteveK

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Thanks for posting that up - really helpfull for me as there is no weigh bridge where I live (at least not yet anyway - local tip is building one but no idea if it will be available to the public yet). Since my D3 is stetup very similar to your D4 the figures would be near enough to work out some rough estimates. I think I'll be just scrapping in under GVM with all the kids onboard - hitching up the camper will put me over. Need the correct initial weights before I get too carried away wwith it yet however

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Originally Posted by LRD414

That's good, thanks for sharing. Fuel doesn't seem to be included? Or is the empty vehicle on weighbridge assuming full tank?

Cheers,
Scott

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Hi Scott, Yes vehicle on weighbridge is with full fuel, in my case that is 80 litres in standard tank and 110lts in the second tank where spare wheel goes.
Spare on Kaymar Wheel carrier. So I am assuming worst case scenario when I start the trip.
I have a similar sheet with a Tab for a Caravan or trailer that calculate Ball weight and adds that to the tow bar on the Car tab.
If anyone is interested.

Cheers
Steve

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Originally Posted by shanegtr

Thanks for posting that up - really helpfull for me as there is no weigh bridge where I live (at least not yet anyway - local tip is building one but no idea if it will be available to the public yet). Since my D3 is stetup very similar to your D4 the figures would be near enough to work out some rough estimates. I think I'll be just scrapping in under GVM with all the kids onboard - hitching up the camper will put me over. Need the correct initial weights before I get too carried away wwith it yet however

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Hi Shane,

If it helps my D4 on the weighbridge had the following (Starting at the front):-

ARB bull bar - (no winch)
Nothing extra under the bonnet
Nothing extra in the front seat area
The middle row of seats - Middle seat removed (-25kg) National Luna Fridge installed (+23) so no difference to standard D3/D4

- 120 Ah battery on the floor in front of the fridge (+36.5kg)

Back luggage area - Third-row seats were still in the car for initial weighing at the weighbridge, so no difference to standard D3/D4 (you will notice I remove them in the spreadsheet)

So the main difference from my weighbridge figures to a standard D3/D4 is the extra battery, extra 110 ltr of fuel and location of the spare.
From my spreadsheet, I removed these items from initial weight and came up with a weight of just over 2700kg with the standard tank full of fuel.
So you could start with an initial weight of around 2650kg and you would be pretty close.
I have a spreadsheet for doing the same calculations for a campervan or trailer if interested.

Cheers
Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skellar

I have a similar sheet with a Tab for a Caravan or trailer that calculate Ball weight and adds that to the tow bar on the Car tab.
If anyone is interested.

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I'm very interested if you're happy to post up that one too.

Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by justinc

But the sway bars need to be changed too. And in actual armoured trim it weighs in at 7200lbs (3200kg) which is not far off some of you lot in touring trim... amiright ? Yes Mark I'm looking at your D4...😅

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JC - Are you insinuating that I'm Fat !! .... or my D4 is? :bat::bat:






Might be right on both cases [bighmmm]


[bigrolf][bigrolf]