90 to 110

[Michael Slade]

...even with as crazy cool as his icecream truck is, it's still not as comfy as my DISCO...

OUCH! That was the truth...it hurts a little. :violent-smiley-031:

 

[Alaska Mike]

you guys and your defender lust make me smile...

i honestly cant think of a more uncomfortable vehicle to overland in than a 90, let alone a 110.

you guys need to listen to Slade, he speaks with a wealth of experience in this area. and even with as crazy cool as his icecream truck is, it's still not as comfy as my DISCO...

While I agree with you on a practicality level, Discos just don't exude the same funk factor as a Defender or Series rig. Discos and Rangies are comfortable, capable, and make great overland platforms, but I just can't imagine John Wayne hunting a rhino from one. Flat sheetmetal is way cool, and seems to elicit a certain response that even my complaining spine and posterior can't completely erase.

As for comfort, I bet a Series rig is much less comfortable than a Defender for overland travel.

 

[marc olivares]

OUCH! That was the truth...it hurts a little. :violent-smiley-031:

LOL... absolutely no disrespect intended.

you know i love you and that behemoth rig of yours....:wavey:

 

[Maryland 110]

it wouldn't hurt to post some pics of your adventures in UNF

They are there. Check gallery page three- they are recent posts after the picks of the white tdi 110. If you like video's There's a couple of years of Camel Trophy as well as some awesome 110 action from around the world on the site as well.
There's no naration under the pics yet but some pics of the green 110 pivoting on a bolder on its rock slider (thought I had ripped the side off the truck) and an articulation picture with the front axle stuffed up and the rear axle all the way down. Never touched the winch all weekend ( a guy we were with in a well setup 90 had to use his Husky several times to get over the same obsticals). The truck is on 285/75/16 BFG MT KM2's with three inches of lift (OME) and a 4 liter toyota land cruiser diesel engine for power. She's a beast.

www.DividingCreekRoverImports.com

 

[RoverMack]

you guys and your defender lust make me smile...

i honestly cant think of a more uncomfortable vehicle to overland in than a 90, let alone a 110.

Well there is always the 109,
comfort was shall we say 'limited',
I love the defender, but with the on road miles to reach the "trails" and retain my sons sense of humor there are prehaps better choices. From my point of view after driving series and defender models you really appreciate the comfort of the RR and Disco after the first 10 hour stint behind the wheel.

 

[gjackson]

:lurk:

You could take the glass half empty view:

1. Aquire rusty 1983 110 from England
2. Take it apart
3. Replace frame
4. Replace bulkhead
5. Replace doors
6. Replace engine
7. Replace tranny
8. Replace t-case
9. Replace axles
10. Replace everything else
11. Watch bank account evaporate
12. Watch marriage dissolve
13. Watch NAS 110's price drop below what you have already spent
14. Have a truck that still isn't as good as an NAS 110
15. Regret not getting a Land Cruiser

How do I know this will happen? Don't ask.

But I prefer the other view:

1. Hire a lawyer
2. Develop a plan
3. Acquire a Defender 110 based on 2 (shouldn't cost more than $25k)
4. Outfit it for the expedition of your dreams
5. Ship or drive it to the continent of your choice
6. Spend 6 to 12 months being amazed and astounded and having the time of your life
7. Watch your bank account evaporate
8. Experience your marriage strengthen
9. Watch NAS 110 prices drop to what you have already spent
10. Be amused at #9 as you have the vehicle of your dreams and you intend to use it for overlanding for years to come; resale was not part of #2
11. Be thankful that you got a 110 and smile at those who suggest a LC would have been better.

How do I know this can happen? Just ask . . .

cheers

 

[gjackson]

you guys and your defender lust make me smile...

Me too

i honestly cant think of a more uncomfortable vehicle to overland in than a 90, let alone a 110.

I can. I'd have a hard time coming up with something more comfortable than my 110. But then I've always had a strange comfort level!

cheers

 

[stevenmd]

I grew up driving farm vehicles so a 109 or 110 should feel just right to me. I hate driving my wife's Benz. It is too smooth.

 

[EricWS]

I'd take fuel price into account whatever your choose. Fuel prices aren't going to go back down in price...

 

[stevenmd]

2. Develop a plan
10. Be amused at #9 as you have the vehicle of your dreams and you intend to use it for overlanding for years to come; resale was not part of #2
11. Be thankful that you got a 110 and smile at those who suggest a LC would have been better.

How do I know this can happen? Just ask . . .

cheers

...and that, my friend, is why I ask all these 90/109/110 questions. I have a love affair with rovers and only others who are so enamored with them can understand.

 

[stevenmd]

I'd take fuel price into account whatever your choose. Fuel prices aren't going to go back down in price...

If I were concerned about that my original question would have been "How feasible is it to turn a 90 into a Prius?" :victory:

 

[Michael Slade]

:lurk:

You could take the glass half empty view:

I think that we're all trying to get to the same place, that is having a fabulously wonderful life-changing experience traveling the world in our Land Rovers. You have had proven success doing it your way, which I have to admire.

What I am trying to get the OP to see is that the road he wants to take turning a 110 from over there into a 110 that he can use comfortably and reliably over here. The years and $$$ he will spend doing such an excercise could potentially distract and drain him from the expeditions he wants to pursue.

Glass-half-full view:

The years and $$$ he will spend building his truck into something he knows intimately, can service himself and look at as a 'tuition' and an 'internship' for building the kind of truck he has fallen in love with.

Either way there is a pro and a con. I'm just trying to show him that in my experience it is a long and painful road (perfect for a LR nut) to try and get through.

 

[gjackson]

No worries Michael! I was mainly poking fun. I may have done it poorly. You have a vast amount of experience with the marque, and I'm not bashing that.

It comes down to what people want from the vehicle. I see a lot of people trying to get a 110 hoping that it will make them rich when they sell it. If that's what you are hoping, then run. If you are looking for a 110 because it is a very capable and well appointed expedition vehicle that can give years of great service, then that's where to start.

Will it be easy? No
Will it be cheap? Most likely not.
Can it be done? Absolutely.

cheers

 

[Alaska Mike]

It comes down to what people want from the vehicle. I see a lot of people trying to get a 110 hoping that it will make them rich when they sell it. If that's what you are hoping, then run. If you are looking for a 110 because it is a very capable and well appointed expedition vehicle that can give years of great service, then that's where to start.

Will it be easy? No
Will it be cheap? Most likely not.
Can it be done? Absolutely.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

My take is that if you own neither the 90 or the 110, there are better options. Let's be honest, the Rover engine and drivetrain components aren't the best available. For instance, the engines aren't known for their longevity, fuel efficiency (premium fuel and bad gas mileage), or power. All of these factors have a direct impact on modern expeditions. A project of this magnitude gives you infinite possibilities, and you shouldn't feel limited to Rover-only components. The resulting 110 will not be "correct" no matter which route you take (except restoration). I feel that will be less of a priority to the average Land Rover owner, as parts reserves dry up or become expensive and cheaper LHD models become more common. Modern turbo diesel options become possible, axle upgrades and conversions are readily available, and the transmission/transfercase possibilities are only limited by what you can adapt and squeeze into the space you have available. Parts availability isn't the reason for not swapping that it once was, and I'm of the fix it once and fix it right crowd. Will it still be a Rover? I think it will, and I bet TeriAnn and Mercedesrover would agree.

I can't see taking an otherwise serviceable 90 off of the road unless (like a previous poster) you have so much money and sweat into it that you can't bear to part with it and need more space. That's just me. I want to see as many NAS spec Rovers on the road as possible.

 

[stevenmd]

The reasons why I want a 109 or 110 are as follows:
1 - We have 5 kids. Yes, you read that right. #5 is due in January.
2 - I am a rover fanatic.
3 - I know the pains of rover ownership and it does not scare me. In fact, I find that part of the adventure.
4 - Preparing, traveling, repairing, etc. are all part of getting there. It's not just the destination.
5 - I have no plans on selling the 109 or 110 to make money. I have no plans of selling it at all.
6 - My wife finds the idea of driving a RHD vehicle kind of cool too.
7 - I could probably go on forever.

In case I was not clear enough in the opening post, I do NOT want any other vehicle than a rover. I am looking for the best route, not necessarily the cheapest but not the most expensive either, the attain a rover that will meet my needs for traveling with all the family together to any particular destination, whether it be the grocery store, out to dinner, to Yosemite, or any camping destination.

With a large family I will have no choice but to tow some sort of trailer to haul the gear so changing the drive train is a reality, whether it is the 2.5 in the 109 or the 3.5 in the 110.

Hopefully this clears up the direction I am trying to go with my initial questions.

Thanks.