Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day all,

what do people think of defenders. I love them, and I want one but they are too expensive for me

+ I have 4.1's etc in the RR diffs and defender has salisbury...still want one though

110 too long for off roading ?? bad turning circle? i want to fit 35's (no matter want truck I have)

So the 90 project has been canned then?

I have a 1987 3.9 ISUZU 110 county which is a fantastic truck and fits 33's no problem (had a slight spring lift when I got it). It is a great truck both on and off road and you could fit 35's with a bit of lifting and cutting.

However I do most of my harder-core offroading in a 1968 IIA x-army ute that has been fairly modified - has 33's, a rear MD locker (and shaved Sals.) stage one front end, 50:1 first low, and much mre wheel travel than the county. Power could be a bit better and gearing could be a bt lower - especially since I plan to fit 36" wheels (and a few other things) when I get back from Germany.

I think 109"/110" wheelbase is perfect offroad for what I do. Sometimes manouvering is a bit of a hassle but there have been plenty of times I have walked up a hill where a 100" wb truck gets hung up in holes.

Something I have considered doing would be buying a cheap county and converting it into a single cab ute (with little or no tray) for off-roading. It would be extremely good offroad and you can sell the wagon body. The V8's are very cheap now, especially the ones with a bit of body rust. Some 200Tdi utes turn up cheaply occasionally too. Doing the sort of driving I do with a wagon body would be too easy to damage/roll.

The disadvantage with defenders though is the weaker inner axles. They are the same size as a rover 10-spline at the cv end, just with more splines (32?). You would need to upgrade to longfielded AEU2522's or Longfielded Hilux CV's to have decent strength with 35's.

3wj just sold a 2000+ td5 defender (not extreme) for about $25k.
not a bad price.
i bpught my 94 fender ute for $10k with lockers.
cheap fenders are around you just have too look and maybe put up with a crappy body of a rough interior.
david

Ben, not fully canned but i think it is too short.

have RR at moment running gas, was thinking of fitting the 300tdi to it, but I love the Series landy look at coils, but 110 might be abit long, RR is okay turning circle with large tyres, but defender 110 would be worse

trying to decided whats best.

I want a diesel Rover of some sort for touring around Australia, but also want good off road ability. was thinking of building a 100" defender with my V8 and gas and fit the 300tdi to the RR...still not sure. or maybe get a 110 defender to put 300tdi in and make my RR the beasty off road rig.....Too many options !!!

Defender 2000 Extreme`:
Great off roading, size no problem as they sit so high as standard.
Turning circle 3 football fields (nearly about 12m).
Economy fair.
Parts, bloody dear for TD5, but hey tdi parts were to start with too.
Great power for a small diesel.
Poor ergonomics for the 21st century. No excuse this day and age for not being comfortable, not needing all whiz bang gadgets and plastics though.