Thread: I'm torn...am I getting softer?

So as my interest grows I'm researching what is available to extend the "tourability" of the new Defender. My current old Defender setup has among other things an additional fuel capacity:45 l, a water tank of 35 l, and a auxiliary battery and outlets for the fridge and other things.

So far very little seems to be available (understandably).

So what is everyone thinking with regards to these items?

With the slightly larger fuel tank in the new Defender, combined with better fuel consumption would you need the extra 45L of fuel?

One of the reasons I snapped up a D240 is that without the MHEV bits there's a huge amount of usable space under the rear loadspace floor. I'm looking at options for a custom fuel transfer tank in there, possibly in the 80L range. Or I could go smaller and have a permanent water tank as well. P300 has the same space BTW if you go for an entry-level model.

Lots of folks have fit aux batteries, DCDC etc in that space also, even with the MHEV engines there's enough room on top for that.

Bear in mind also the 168kg dynamic load rating for the roof. The way this vehicle is designed moves more stuff higher so you can have better ground clearance and angles.

My biggest gripe is the narrowness of the rear door and the shallow distance from 2nd row to rear (which is understandable given the spare tyre on back instead of underneath). It all makes drawers and fridges and tables a bit tricky and I haven't quite figured that out yet. Thinking about a low-height drawer set then a fridge in sideways above it with lots of lighter bulky stuff on the roof in boxes.

Originally Posted by IndusD4

With the slightly larger fuel tank in the new Defender, combined with better fuel consumption would you need the extra 45L of fuel?

Fair question.

According to the LR figures the Defender S with the 3.0 l diesel engine can achieve 9.1 litres/100km. The tank has a capacity of 89 litres (I don't know how much of that is useable). So the maximum range would be about 950 km. Not bad. I currently get about 1050 km out of the 120l (-5l) capacity.

For remote travel 20l carried in Jerry cans on the roof rack would suffice.

Originally Posted by one_iota

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For remote travel 20l carried in Jerry cans on the roof rack would suffice.

Not sure about "on the roof rack" but agree with carrying of extra fuel for the remote area travel. After all, how often do you really need that extra range?
Also, when you take into account the cost of purchasing & fitting an extra or long range tank and the extra weight that you've got all the time I don't think it's really worth it. A different matter with the older Defenders where you had a considerably smaller original tank.

In over 30 yrs of desert driving I have never needed extra fuel.

I still always carry 20l though. Others have used it.

There are so many opportunities to purchase fuel now , many properties sell fuel and have eftpos.

Having large reserves of fuel also , I think, makes people reluctant to stop.

I stop , seriously , every 2 hours , sometimes less. **** stop, drink stop, eat stop, tourist stop.

stop and fill frequently , you don't need lr tanks any more.

We are the opposite,on nearly every desert trip we have done in the D2’s,and the D4,we have needed the extra fuel in Jerry’s.

It doesn’t take much,even taking a wrong turn to run low on fuel with a standard LR tank.I wouldn’t do any remote travel without an extra 20 litres at least.We often took two jerries,as we had the room.

The issue with the new Defender is the load space in the rear is quite small,if the second row seats are being utilised,so a rack is what is needed.
Two jerries,30 litre or so of water,fridge,and there isn’t much room left for other gear,particularly if camping.

Not in a new Defender but in my 2003 110, I've hinged what I call an iternal roof rack which mainly carries two bed rolls but other 'stuff' often finds it's way up there also. Some people use nets in a similar way but by using a bit of excess pool fencing and loading the soft stuff on top, it holds everything nice and firmly in place.
No holes were drilled in the vehicle as I used the existing the existing screws which were securing the rear grab handles to secure the rear support and the front was hinged using two bolts with nyloc nuts in the frame of the (cut down) cargo barrier.
It also eliminates the extra weight of boxes on a roof rack to water/dust proof and it's easy to access.