Speechless! A rare approach in the 4x4 world these days. Function before fashion, budget before bling. I’ve seen sooooo many off road videos but this is by far the best I’ve seen. Liked 👍and Subscribed.
As another, let's be honest, older guy, what a joy to see someone who has come to so many of the same conclusions as one's self. I agree about drawer systems, I too use really useful boxes and agree that the simplest solution is always the best. I too , write a list on every trip of things that can be improved and that list will probably never end. i do envy your instruments but I have never had problems without some you have. I have awinch and have only ever used it to rescue other people, as you say, just because a vehicle can do it doesn't mean you have to. Overlanding the protection of your vehicle is your first priority and the second.
Age is in the mind. There's an Australan guy who publishes good channel about roaming the outback. He says he wouldn't dare to climb on to a roof rack for fear of falling off and injuring himself. He is more than 30 years younger than me. It makes me smile. I fully agree about the importance of protecting one's vehicle. This is one of the major themes in Tom Sheppard's Expedition Handbook.
“I can’t remember the last time I needed to drive over a storage box”........ if I am lucky enough to ever cross paths, I will say hello for sure. May your travels be safe Sir ✌️😎
I enjoyed the tour of your Land Rover. Thank you! All the bases covered, to be able to undertake a successful trip, anywhere! Very practicle, efficient and sensible rig 👍
Thanks for that. I am just me and I tell just the way I see it, good or bad. Unfortunately I seem to disagree with the opinion formers much of the time :-(
What a brilliant video! Your straightforward honesty and sound logic are a breath of fresh air when one is drowning in videos extolling the virtues of one gadget or gizmo or the new "must have" to be a proper overlander. I confess..I do have a winch and have only used it in anger on a handful of occasions, I also have "wolf" boxes....but mine are SA army ammo boxes, brown in colour and smuggled into the UK during my time working in Botswana :-) they do fit nicely underneath my home made shelf system. Definitely subscribed👍🙌
I find that the latest "must have" gadget is an induction cooker which requires a 2kW inverter, 300Ah batteries (lithium of course), a charging and battery management system to suit, and shore power which means a generator if there"s no hook up available. And all of this to replace a $50 gas cooker which probably works better in any case. The overlanding world is a very odd place indeed. PS you are forgiven for the Wolf boxes. I was just having a quiet prod.
Real overlanders? There are many in the community who think that unless you have spent at least £30,000 on upgrades you don't qualify. I doubt if I spent much more than a tenth of that on this old bus so I don't qualify for the badge. However she does the job just fine.
Bless you for sharing your wonderful wisdom! My wife and I are looking to purchase our first Defender 90 (First Land Rover to be precise!) and we are very excited. I don't like to buy into the "newest and greatest new gadget" but I find myself sometimes going down that road and I must snap myself out of it. Now I'm going to watch all you other videos and try to absorb as much as I can! By the way, We recently moved to Portugal (from Canada) and it would be awesome to meet up on your way south to Portugal. Cheers
Which part of Portugal? My property there is in the Alentejo. The Defender is currently in South Africa. I have total confidence that my modest set up, without all the gadjets and gizmos, will have everything I need for the trip here. If you are looking to buy a Defender in Portugal there are a reasonable number if you are prepared to be patient. The big advantage is that if you can find a good one it will be rust free. Also remember that a 90 is very tight for overlanding and a 110 is better suited for most travellers Good travels friend.
@@defendermodsandtravels We were in Lagos for a couple months, but now we are looking for a place in and around Lisbon. I agree that being patient is very important and I'm trying to find the best example that is within my budget. It's frustrating how much more expensive cars are here compared to Spain, but it is what it is. I was debating between the 110 and 90 (I even considered a soft dash 300tdi Range Rover classic and upgrade the 2 pin diff with 4 pin, a small lift and skinny tall tires, it has good A/C and heat haha) However, when I factor the cost (clean 110 costs 35kEuro+, 90 28kEuro+, and a RRC 25k). We're kind of "gently" guided towards the 90 haha.
@@reddemon1923 Good luck with the search.. I agree that the standard Rover diff is very weak and needs to be upgraded (note it actually has one pin / 2 satellite gears although is often called "2 pin"). The two pin / 4 gear diffs are pretty rare. I installed an Ashcroft limited slip diff at the rear. This is v. strong, not too expensive and of course gives added traction. It's a worthwhile mod. For further strength I had the crown wheel pegged. Look at the Ashcroft web site for more info.
Loved this video, specially your frank and to the point evaluation of certain products/people found in the 'off road' world. Think your Landy is one of the most practical for the purpose it is being used. Great travels !!
No nonsense vehicle with an experienced no nonsense owner. Been there, got the teeshirt , and did it without titanium this and stainless that. Sensible solutions and not a kitchen sink in sight. Respect!
No kitchen sink (just a plastic wash bowl) and certainly no induction hob with associated mini power station unlike others. I have a toilet trowél and a garden sprayer shower too.
@@defendermodsandtravels you can wash your feet in a washing up bowl. Do the dishes and Chuck the water. Have a shave with the bowl on the wing and use the wing mirrors with the Brecon hills in front of you Can’t do that with a pathetic little fixed sink!
@defendermodsandtravels Well, hopefully not, given you didn't take a tumble off the roof and don't seem set on making a plastic submarine. I've joined the club that can attest that the biggest Unimog hazard is falling off; not something I aim to repeat.
You are too kind in your praise - I am a rank amateur in making videos. Regarding vehicle preparation etc I don't always follow the herd but it works for me. Thanks again Steven.
Maintenance not too bad so long as you are on top of it and not on the back foot. I am not sure other marques are actually any better. In the UK LR spares are plentiful and reasonably priced and that helps a lot.
Excellent video. Love the truck also. You're right about it depends where you live for parts etc. I live in California and although there are a quite a few old Rovers around I don't think I would purchase one (even though I do have an MG midget).
Well done no messing video, and practical , I to have a defender although a110 ,again it like yours is a multi purpose vehicle, and has carried and towed all its life , I do have a winch , which I have used throughout the twenty years that I ha ve owned the landrover, it's a huskey superwinch, and has never let me. down, but everyone to there own .safe travels .
Perfect !!! Hope to see you somewhere on that planet and I'll come around - you put it all together so good - you deserve tons of people following as you really have to tell something worth... I also did not yet run over my boxes up to now.. stay 'simple' and invest where needed - glad I found your channel - cheers axel
Fantastic setup - good man. I too use Really Useful Boxes in my Defender 90 setup, they are entirely adequate for the purpose. Really like some of your solutions.
Practical advice obviously based on wide experience. I use Land Rovers on a daily basis for work (110 & Discovery 300 TDI) and I agree with your reasons for choosing a Land Rover for operating in the UK. Plus, they have a characteristic lacking in most other 4x4s. I agree that a lot of after-market accessories are overpriced, and are often bought for the bling factor, rather than being wholly practical. Also, many other videos of off- road vehicles feature presenters who are driven by the desire to promote the firms that have supplied them with free kit. If you mention a manufacturer/supplier, I get the impression that it is for the most sound of reasons, ie, the gear is fit for purpose.
You are indeed correct that I don't get showered with free, expensive accessories through my hobby YT channel. Even if that happened I would of course give an honest opinion on the accessory, good or bad.
Thanks for your kind comment. The content of these videos doesn't appeal to all but if you are an engineer too (what discipline?) you might appreciate it. If I was chasing numbers I'd make videos about unboxing hugely expensive and completely unnecessary accessories :-)
@@defendermodsandtravels I am a "mature age" mechanical engineering student, passionate about overlanding. I haven't done recordings of my trips apart from photos. Please stick to do what you like best and I am sure that you'll have more and more people following you. Cheers Giacomo
@@Maedetto There are masses of vdeos about overlanding but practically none taking a technical viewpoint. It's a very small niche. However I am not going to try to emulate others because there are many better video makers than me. BTW you can make an excellent video from stills. Look at the video by Fleming Yachts about a trip to Africa in an old truck. Keep up your studies - it's never too late to learn. Knowledge is always valuable.
@@defendermodsandtravels i have been following most of the channels you mentioned (in regards of overlanding) and always tried avoiding the sales biased channel. Like you said, I agree that there is a lack of technical approach in this field, but for this small niche your content is pure gold. I will check the video you recommended. Thanks for the pointer. Regards Giacomo
Thanks for the in depth walk through. I love the no nonsense approach you have to real traveling. I do agree that you may have been better off with a 110. Well done making the 90 work though. I plan to do some trips in my old 109 1968 ute and will have a similar approach in $ to value. Thanks for the great videos.
Better the devil you know than the one you don''t. I couldn't face converting another vehicle and also making it reliable. Other big advantage of the 90 is the manoeuvrability. I often find I have to extricate myself from very tight spaces which wouldn't be possible with a larger vehicle. Reliability will be the subject of a future video.
You flatter me. I am just a slightly old fashioned Defender owner and a very amateur video maker but I have a great time on my travels and it costs a fraction of what the so-called experts pay. There's more to come. I'll be debunking a few more myths next time.
I am happy to pay the necessary money for good quality parts and accessories which add value to the vehicle but not for over-priced stuff which has little function. I enjoy the Road Chose Me channel where the author, Dan Grec, says that when he goes to overlanding shows he finds that most of the kit on offer has a total disconnect with what he actually needs when on a major trip. As you can see, I have ended up with a combination of bought in and self made accessories, and I rarely buy from the big name brands. I think that the things I have made myself are better than anything available in the market.
Excelente video, magnífico vehículo y gran maestro del mundo viajero 4x4. Grandes consejos y experiencia!! Saludos y mucha salud para que siga compartiendo sus experiencias !! 👏 👏 👍👍
Nice set up . Suit requirements without paying over the odds . Know your own gear. You have done the miles and the time to know how it works and if necessary get it home or how to fix it.
travels yertravels me and my mates have had loads of them I have a discovery 1 300tdi o proper look after it iv had it 7 years now and will never get rid it's with me until the end. I have vw transporter me and partner and 2kids we go all over camping we love the out doors. I'd love to do a my discovery bit like yours. All the best mate
good one, though my experience with winches is very different and I would never travel without one it has save our bacon on many occasions and it certainly has never encouraged us to take risks we would not take otherwise.
In reality your type of overlanding and mine are very different. I rarely go down tracks, however bad, which aren't used by the locals. Even in it's fairly standard form the Defender is much more capable than most vehicles using the tracks. I get into trouble occasionally but not very often. I have to be cautious because I usually travel alone.
@@defendermodsandtravels yes fair call mate single vehicle travel is very different and as you mention on most tracks where locals drive you will have likely the most capable vehicle with the Defender
@@rao180677 Minha herdade fica perto de Ferrerira do Alentejo, não muito perto de Aveiro! Deixe me pensar. Irei para Portugal daqui um mês mas estarei trabalhando muito sem muito tempo disponível. Se quiser mandar mais mensagens talvez seja melhor por email (billnich1950@gmail.com).
Nice defender! Quick question, I've never seen that radiator you have on the bulkhead before, did it come with your vehicle or is it something one can buy?
The winterised ex-military Defenders have a couple of these radiators in the rear tub to warm the squaddies' feet. When I fitted the water tank and storage boxes in the rear I had to take them out and I put the better one on the rear bulkhead. I imagine you might be able to locate one at one of the ex-military dealers (PA Blanchard or LR Series). I still have one somewhere but it has been well kicked by the squaddies.
Thank you for sharing your LR and you points of view which I share to the largest extent. I have owned my 3rd LR Discovery 300Tdi since 2000 (bought the "old/new" one since 98 was the last electronic free version). I see my Discovery with similar eyes and drove it in Africa, Asia & Europe keeping it as OME as possible. I saw one gadget you didn't mention the "Racor Water Seperator"! Is it to separate the water from the fuel - diesel I suppose? There should be already one on the chassis near the right rear wheel!?
Hi Georg, I once had the unpleasant experience of being sold contaminated diesel in Hungary. The water overwhelmed the sedimenter and fuel filter and went through the injector pump and injectors. It also destroyed the fuel lift pump. Although I was able to get going again and return home the fuel system had to be completely refurbished or replaced at considerable trouble and expense. I have replaced the sedimentor with a prefilter with a transparent bowl so I can see if there's contamination. The unit you refer to is a water in fuel alarm so I can stop before any water reaches the engine. If you don't have this you don't know you have a problem until the engine starts misfiring. You will find a couple of videos on Contaminated Diesel on my channel which tell the whole story.
I don't agree with your comment about the compressor. Many people buy high powered compressors just to have the luxury (and bragging rights) of reinflating their tyres in double quick time. I have also known 4x4 owners buy these compressors because they look the part but have never actually used them in anger. I recently came through Eurotunnel and met an owner with the most immaculate and expensively kitted out Defender you could imagine which has never been off road.
@@defendermodsandtravels yes, fair enough, I was just reading the description of the compressor. I will be going for one like yours! Good video, and refreshing approach to vehicle preparation. thanks a lot.
@@johnstidworthy3370 Just get a reliable compressor able to inflate 4x4 tyres without overheating. If they take a bit longer then no worries, you can sit and admire the countryside for a few minutes.
@@defendermodsandtravels that could be a video in iteself, what spares to carry. Im currenly debating between gas and some other fuel (diesel probably) for cooking. I dont like that gas can explode. I was telling other 4x4 enthusiasts about your soil mechanics video, im a big fan of the unusual angle, when everyone else is just thinking about tyres.
Hi, I bought this from boab.biz who are one of the expedition equipment vendors however their website doesn't seem to be there any more. I'm not sure I could recommend the Foxwing awning to anyone. Have a look at my video on the subject: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1TNrZX9dF2M.html
I’m just about to order a cheque plate storage box from Metallics uk and thought I’d ask how you attach them to the roof rack so they don’t get stolen. Thanks
I have bolted them down through the grating deck and through the side bars of the roof rack. I could use tamper proof nuts but I haven't bothered. Someone would need to be clambering around on the roof with some spanners in order to get them down and I'm not sure that's a very likely theft in most places. However it is a consideration. Thanks for the comment.
:)Perfect! I've always been a Land Rover fan! :) My father drove a Land Rover Series 3 Diesel ... that was a long time ago .. he knew about it well but I can't ask him anymore because he died 3 years ago ... I'm already planning to sell my Suzuki Jimny FJ mini Expedition and I'm looking for a Land Rover 90 ... which machines would you advise me? ... TDI200, TDI 300, TD5 or 2.4 TD. I hear that the TDI 300 are reliable ... is that correct? Thanks for the answer.. Greetings from Germany :) Sorry I'm so good at English, I used google translation
Hi, thanks for the connent. Any of the engines mentioned will do the job. The 200 tdi was the first decent LR diesel. The main drawback is that parts are getting scarce. Brett at Roaming the Outback uses a 30 yr old 200 tdi with few problems. The 300 tdi is a more refined version of the 200 tdi and spares are still plentiful. There was a problem with the cambelts on the early engines and Land Rover released an upgrade kit. If you get a 300 tdi make sure it has the later cambelt design. Other points? It has an Al cylinder head which will distort if the engine overheats. The water pump is mounted high and iis ineffective if you allow the water level to fall so be vigilant. The Td5 had about 25% more power than the Tdi engines and it can be chipped for even more power. It was the first Defender with electronics so if you are doing an overland trip it would be wise to carry a spare ECU. I don't know much about the Tdci except that it came from the Ford Transit van ao it's a very common engine. Best of luck finding a good Defender.
@@defendermodsandtravels Many thanks for the answer. Then look for a good TDi 300. The best is the last TDi 300 model series before TD5 came out and I have to look for it. Greetings from Tom :)
Disrespectful comment. This chap probably has more life experiences, and off road driving time than you. If you take the trouble to listen (rather than make half-assed "funny" remarks) then you may learn something useful about practical adventure travelling, whatever your choice of vehicle. His presentation style may not float your boat, but it's obviously based on real world experience. Ignore the aquired knowledge of your elders at your peril.
New subscriber in Alaska who had the good fortune of stumbling upon your channel. I do say that your's is more informative than the young women's channels showing more skin and less intelligence, but you won't be getting the 1 Million+ subs that they do, either. Oh well, so be it. Less drama and more usable info. Cheers 🍻