Defender 90 Arriving - what next?

[Tikka7mm08]

Land Rover Defender 90 Tdci 2008 | Trade Me

Hi all, my 78 Series 3 is about to be joined by a new daily driver replacing the '07 Hilux D4D. I have added a snorkel and wondering what might be the best order in terms of priority for the following items:

- Road tires to A/T or mud (not keen on this until the current ones wear down a bit!)
- Winch bar/winch (love a tubular one but can't source in NZ, and scared of the freight from the UK)
- Suspension upgrade (necessary given the factory suspension should be pretty good?)
- Magnum chip or KW kit from Diesel Chip, Tuning chip, Diesel Power Chips
- Roof rack with LED light bar (very hard to source in NZ, recommendations?)
- Other stuff to improve look, performance, comfort?

I realize this a bit open ended but I thought you might enjoy sharing your "if I was doing it again" learnings

The truck will normally be driven the airport each week, and play on the farm in mud and hills in the weekend (once our drought breaks).

Cheers
Bob

[Loubrey]

Hi Bob,

Very tidy looking little unit with low km's for the year! Is it a South African import (km instead of miles) or did they sell 90's in NZ in 2008?

Those General Grabbers are actually quite remarkable on performance. Really quiet and smooth on the road and superb on rocks and sand. They do clog a bit in the mud, but you can't have everything. You might be waiting for a while to change them as well though as they are good for around 80,000km's depending on used.

The main thing on a Puma IMO is protecting the underside. Devon 4x4 in the UK Shop Online does a transmission guard as well as a protective housing for the fuel cooler, both slightly vulnerable, especially on rocks and areas where logs or branches can knock up into the underside. While you're at it you might as well throw in for a Mantec steering guards and snorkel (if those are scarce in NZ). You would be surprised at how little freight would be on those 4 items!

Unless you want to exceed the 90's listed load capacity, the standard suspension is fine.

From personal research the best power upgrades appear to be BAS and Alive tuning systems. They both do the upgrades over the internet and e-mail with multiple "maps" depending on your requirements and the reports here on the forum is really good.

I would hold off on the barwork and winch mountings until you've felt the 90 capabilities. I have in 3 years only needed my winch 4 times and every one of those was to recover a non-Land Rover in the driving group. Without wanting to invoke ill luck on myself, the 90 is very difficult to get stuck...

There are lots of bits and do-hahs you can add to personalise and cosmetically enhance the car, but again I would trawl the UK websites as their service is mostly very good and I've only had professional service of the likes of Devon 4x4.

Hope this is the sort of opinion you're after and good luck with the buy!

Cheers,

Lou

[Tikka7mm08]

Thanks Lou - good advice. Its an import from the UK actually. I just managed to source the workshop manual off the net, very comprehensive. Have 3 kids (and one wife) and in deep trouble for getting a 4 seater while she was away on a girl's trip to Sydney, so need to source a pair of tip up sets pronto!

[Samblers]

Roof rack is handy if you want to carry recovery gear and the like - not much space in the back of a 90.

I just fitted a Hannibal one, but also considered Dolium/ Windcheetah.

Also fitted checkerplate on wings and bonnet making roofrack access easier. The car has basically turned into the worlds most over-engineered ladder for accessing my garage roof-space storage system

[Tikka7mm08]

LOL. Those Dolium and frontrunner look great.

[Samblers]

Very happy with the Hannibal so far though.

Not quite so sure about the 4 month wait

[Tikka7mm08]

Ouch. Love the look of a 2m Patriot rack and ladder on the 90.

[holsd90]

I'm an ex-ChCh 4WD'r so am well acquainted with the landscape.
I drive a 90 so understand how they'll go together.
My choice would be good recovery points, mud tyres, underside protection, water-proof snorkel and recovery gear. Unless you go out alone, winch would not be high on the list. Again, unless you are taking a lot of gear, no need for roof rack. The 90 has sufficient power in turbo form I doubt you'd need the power upgrade for the work you're doing. Low range is so good for the mud work and rock crawling you'll be fine. Suspension upgrade would be good. Upgrade the sound system!

[juddy]

Very happy with the Hannibal so far though.

Not quite so sure about the 4 month wait

Yes that was along wait, Our Patriot racks are alittle more expensive, but there always in stock, with a average 7/14 day delivery time frame.