A few Q's from a prospective 130 owner

[POD]

I have been giving some consideration to what is the ideal vehicle for my multiple uses, at this stage I am leaning towards a 130 dual cab TD5. Been driving an 88 Rangie for the past 11 years and it is well overdue for replacement; I have actually bought a 94 classic as a replacement ( figured I could accessorise it with the bits I've accumulated on the 88) but I'm having serious second thoughts about sacrificing a pristine car to serious offroad use, when it is probably not the best vehicle for all of my purposes.
My usage needs include:
Work commute of 65Km each way, all on highway with 100km/h speed limit.
Frequent local bush trips; family high-country camping, some deer hunting and trout fishing, firewood getting and recreational 4wd'ing.
Occasional (biannual or thereabouts) outback expeditions, the more remote the better.
3 older teenagers at home at the moment, so looking to the not-too-distant future of 'Darby and Joan' camping and outback touring.
Our outback trips have involved towing a home-built camper trailer. The last Kimberley trip made me very envious of those who were not towing a trailer. I reckon a demountable camper carried on a 130 tray would be the absolute ideal. Being able to go out and get a load of firewood without towing my tandem trailer is another attraction. The big payload for family camping trips. And I just can't bear the thought of my beautiful new (to me) Rangie ending up looking like it's predecessor does after 11 years of merciless use. So I'm considering trading them both on a 130 dual cab and building a camper to go on the back.
The questions in my mind are,
1; Does the extra wheelbase of the 130 present significant problems for mountain trail work, i.e. will I find myself unable to go where the rangie used to go because the 130 has a big turn radius and small ramp-over?
2; Would i really be able to live with a defender on a long highway commute, i.e. are they a chore to drive on the highway?
3; what is the best model to look for and how much should I pay?
4; what are the comparison issues between TDi and TD5 models?

I know a farmer who has a TDi 130 who will let me take it for a drive, but I don't think he would be able to answer these questions as his use is mainly farm work, so any help from the forum would be much appreciated. Any insights into pros and cons of these vehicles will also be gratefully received.
Pete

[EchiDna]

well I can only say borrow that 130 from the Farmer for a weekend and take it on a shortish trip away and return it with a full tank of fuel in return. Each of your questions is somewhat personal because only you can determine the answer!

Personally I love the driving position, others hate it. Some have electronics in their motors (TD5) while others don't (300 TDi). Both are efficient and really capable for touring and for families, but might not have the headroom in the back for tall teenage kids... yes the wheel base does make tight tracks "tighter" and does reduce your ramp over, but depending how you drive, neither may be a problem...

good luck

[Col.Coleman]

Mate I have a 130DC Td5 and use it for everything.
I commute everyday in it for work in the city, drive it long distances on a regular basis and use it for play.
Sometimes the length is good, sometimes not.
Good.
More room.
More payload.
Smaller cab, air works better
Long wheel base is great over rough ground and when touring

Bad
Drags it's guts(sometimes)

Search my posts for pics and examples of use. Love it and the Td5.

CC

[Psimpson7]

1; Does the extra wheelbase of the 130 present significant problems for mountain trail work, i.e. will I find myself unable to go where the rangie used to go because the 130 has a big turn radius and small ramp-over?
2; Would i really be able to live with a defender on a long highway commute, i.e. are they a chore to drive on the highway?
3; what is the best model to look for and how much should I pay?
4; what are the comparison issues between TDi and TD5 models?

1. they are big, but then the steering lock on a 90 is crap, so you may have to do a bit of shunting.

2. I would say so. Try sitting on one. I drive everywhere with teh drivers window open!

3. latest, best looked after, lowest Km one you can find.

4. can of worms ..... open. Id say go for a TD5.

[POD]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I'll see if I can borrow the vehicle for a couple of days and do a trip, but I would not want to put a borrowed vehicle through it's paces off-road so will of course not be able to evaluate it's abilities there. I drove one of the current model top-of-the-line 110 wagons a few weeks ago- a friend had it as a demo for the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in the right-arm room over a couple of earlier vehicles I drove about 12 years ago. I could actually rest my arm on the sill quite comfortably. I presume the 130 D/Cs of early TD5 vintage would be more like the old 110 County than this? Also, when did the TD5 begin production?

[Col.Coleman]

99 was the start of the Td5's.

In all seriousness, the arm and hand brake thing is overblown. To sit in one for 5 minutes is a whole lot different to owning one and driving it everyday. You adapt really quickly and it doesn't bother you. In fact off road it is a bonus as you brace yourself against the pillar, and can easily look out the window to see front wheel placement.

just my thoughts.

CC

[The ho har's]

well...pod....go here we bought a 130 for touring...fuel economy is brilliant and we found it great for all our needs

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-t...per-build.html

Mrs ho har

[George130]

If it helps I commute 160km a day and my 130 is my main vehicle.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

The Defender is cramped compared to a modern disco, but as others say you very quickly get used to it, and, as others have said the issue is significantly over-exaggerated.

I would definately go for a TD5 variant if you are using it everyday - no question, I wouldnt even consider a Tdi.

Yes turning circle is less than your rangie and significantly less than a 90, but the extra space you gain is well worth the extra shunt to turn round (unless you do 3 poin turns for a living!?!?!?).


How comfy are they? Well, given Im sat in northern England at the moment... If i had the time and money Id happily walk outside, turn the key and set off to see you in mine!

Hope that helps.
Jon

[POD]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies. This is very encouraging.
Mrs Ho-Har, I was looking at your camper build a couple of days ago, fantastic job and close to my ideal. Got back from an expedition (GRR, Tanami, Gregory NP) about 9 weeks ago and have been mulling over how to make it happen without towing; hence the fact that I'm thinking 130. Seems impossible for me to go camping without thinking how to do it better next time- I'm sure I'm not Robinson Crusoe there. Funnily enough, your camper is almost exactly what I've been envisaging as the ideal setup. Not sure whether yours is easily demountable, but my ideal tray camper would be very much like yours and with the vehicle able to be easily driven out from under it with all the necessaries for day tripping still on board. Coming back to camp and finding the whole lot gone would be a worry though. There was a 'yota tray in one of the Kimberley campgrounds which appeared to demount like this- didn't get a good look at how they had set it up. The ute had a standard steel tray when the camper was off.
I'm wondering whether you guys considered mounting your rear canopy poles back to the camper to eliminate ropes and pegs altogether?