Thread: Building the Ultimate touring 130 with slide on - my version...

About three weeks before we head off, been flat out! Have done too much to mention, but the main things are finish off the air con, fit cruise controll, wired up the winch and got the front maxidrive locker working. While I had the front diff pulled down to weld on the block for the actuator, I also braced the top of the axle tube and made a diff guard/slider that also protects the tie rod. I also replaced the wheel bearings, fixed the two snapped off drive flange bolts by simply swapping the whole hub from a spare county diff (thanks Tony), fitted new maxidrive drive flanges, and converted back to oil lube CV's and oil fed wheel bearings. There was some bad pitting on the swivells which I attempted to fix with liquid metal and wet n dry, so far so good, no leaks. The one shot grease may not leak as easily but I wasn't impressed by fairly bad rust forming on the inside of the swivel balls up the top. I opted to run the front locker off air insted of vacume. I regulated the air down to 17psi, ran it into a 12v solinoid which has two lines going out to the front diff. I used an ARB front locker switch so as to match the rear air locker switch, and I still used the earth switch on the maxidrive actuator so the switch light only comes on when the diff is actually locked.

Being winter I havn't tested the air con out in the heat but yesterday it was rainy and cold so I got to test out the demister with the AC feeding into the heater ducting with my simple slide valve. The windscreen was very foggy and with the AC on I was happy to see it actually did work to very quickly demist the windscreen! Funny how things we take for granted in any other car seems to be amazing to have in a defender! Speaking of which, the cruise control seems to work very well also. Was a bit of a headache at first as my LED tail lights mucked with the cruise computer, so the fix ended up being to install two load resistors. All works well now. The torque of the Isuzu works well with the cruise.

Our basic trip plan is to head north to Cape York via fraser island. We will be heading into the cape about August and are keen to do the tele track. We will be travelling solo, whats anyones thoughts on the telegraph track solo? Was thinking there will be plenty of other travellers, or anyone keen for some tele track action?

Cheers,
Andrew.

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Taylor,

First up - make sure you call in to visit on your way north. Have space to camp up while in Cooktown if you need.

I know you have gone to a tonne of effort putting those condensers in place... my 130 with a 1800mm wide tray (like yours looks like) use to have vertical head board sections. I got sick of straightening them and have now tapered from the top of tray sides in tot he width of the cab.

I fear you are going to wipe out your AC condensers... maybe even consider a slider from the cage across to the outer corner of your tray/ condenser bracket?

s

Thanks heaps for the offer to catch up, might just take you up on your offer to camp too

Re the AC condensers, yes I have been worried about wiping them out and a slider, like you suggest, would help a bit. I left the hurdle with vertical sides cos the slide on is also square to maximise space etc, and obviously I also wanted to maximise air flow. too late now, if I wipe em out I'll have to open the windows !

I'll Pm you for contact details ,
Cheers ,
Andrew .