What defender ute to look for?

[blue_mini]

Hi,
Ive finally decided (after a lot of thinking about pros and cons of EVERY land rover model) to get a defender ute.
Id be keeping this for a while and doing it up for camping and long distance driving (planning on going to duntroon so driving there and back). So id be looking to improve economy and cruising speed.
What model defender has the potential for the best economy? Pay the extra cash for a td5 up front or try and improve a tdi?
Id need a full size tray to carry things in. Do the 130 dual cabs have an 8"x5" tray? Or a shortened one?
Thanks for any replies and anything ive missed out on.
Cheers,
Joe

[pc3]

Joe,

some people have 2.4m trays on there 130 DC's I have a 2.2metre on mine, about a foot shorter than a standard cab chassis tray..........+ you get the rear seats.

Cant help on the other ? I own a PUMA 130...............its more economical than my cruiser 1999 tray back diesel was.

[spudboy]

How tall are you? The single door utes don't allow the seats to go back all that far. There are a few rare "extended cabs" still with 2 doors, but they have an extra foot or so of space behind the seats, so you can shift your seat back further.

If you are only looking at dual cab (4 door) utes then this won't be an issue.

Also - can't see the Dual Cab having an 8' x 5' tray! I have a single "extended" cab 130 and the tray size is 2.2m x 1.7m from memory. That's about 7' x 5'6", so it will be significantly shorter on a dual cab, although mine does not have a lot or rear overhang...

Cheers
David

[87County]

How tall are you? The single door utes don't allow the seats to go back all that far. There are a few rare "extended cabs" still with 2 doors, but they have an extra foot or so of space behind the seats, so you can shift your seat back further.

If you are only looking at dual cab (4 door) utes then this won't be an issue.

Also - can't see the Dual Cab having an 8' x 5' tray! I have a single "extended" cab 130 and the tray size is 2.2m x 1.7m from memory. That's about 7' x 5'6", so it will be significantly shorter on a dual cab, although mine does not have a lot or rear overhang...

Cheers
David

This is right, however the legroom problem for taller (over 1.8m tall) can be comfortably overcome to an extent by raising the seat mounts up to 25mm.

Still, a ute cab does not allow for much space behind the seats, but the relatively small centre seat can be removed (if not needed) for a storage box.

Anyway, once you are driving it all these problems will fade into insignificance...........

[weeds]

What model defender has the potential for the best economy? Pay the extra cash for a td5 up front or try and improve a tdi?

what fuel economy are you looking for

pretty sure tdi and td5 are about the same, the td5 does have a few more gee gees

cruising speed, my tdi will sit on 100km/h all day consuming just under 11l/100km

[blue_mini]

Somewhere 10l/100 would be good.
Would get an LPG/methanol injection on it, for the small gain in economy and smoothness rather than the extra power. Then tall skinny tyres for road use to get it crusing easily. All out speed isnt an issue, im building a turbocharged classic mini to get those kicks.

Im a little bit over 1.8 metres, so i guess ill have to sit in one and check that.
Im currently driving my dads single cab 4wd bravo, and can drive that comfortably, just looking for something with more character.

A 130 dual cab trayback could work, but not as practical if i want to sleep in the back or go camping. How do people find theirs for functionality, like carrying sleepers and doors home from bunnings or ikea flat packs?
Thanks for all of your replies.
Joe

[weeds]

my tdi has been tweeked and apparantly blows a bit f black smoke

i'm 183cm and have no troubles fitting into a wagon

[Killer]

The standard 130 DC tub is 1700mm long, easy to sleep in with your feet overhanging on the tailgate. I have found it great for carrying most things, although I haven't tried sleepers or doors.

Cheers, Mick.

[newhue]

a standard MMM alloy tray for a twin cab 130 is 1800 x 1830mm. Just a tad short for sleeping without the feet hanging over the back, but you could sleep diagonally.

Another option is to fit a standard 2400 x 1800 tray and shorten it to your liking or requirements. It's not hard, I have done this and you can find good second hand trays anywhere between $300 and $1000.
A tray manufacturer told me the tray is not meant to hang any further out than 1500mm past the centre of the rear wheel. The standard twin cab tray hangs 1350mm past axle centre. Not sure if this is true, or what state it may apply to, but manufacturer would not supply an extended tray to me in Qld however.

The width of a tray plate is 200mm, so you can easily end up with a 2000x1800 tray that still looks like it should be there, and legal as well apparently.

I'd image a Defer TC 130 with 1500kg pay load, you can chuck as much Ikea as you want in the back and it will do the job.

[Sitec]

The tray on my 130 is 1850 x 1850, as said before, not enough to sleep on but put a canopy on it and mount a roof tent up there and you still have room for a roof rack on the cab and an empty tray for all your gear. Avoid the Td5 with more than 180000 on the clock (I only say that as mine is being an annoyance at the moment.. Head gasket last month and now injectors... debris from the head skim!!). I'm looking for an original tub if you end up buying one and want a tray! Good luck.