Portals under a Expedition Defender
- Thread starter Oilworker
- Start date
Wanderlusty
Explorer
Don't know of any Defenders on here that have done portals, but here is some info on an 80 series LC that used Volvo portals. Perhaps a start.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=953
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1803
They seem a better fit for that size vehicle, and I think the Defender is comparably sized, than, say, a Unimog portal axle.
Hope you can find what you need, or that someone more knowledgeable chimes in.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=953
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1803
They seem a better fit for that size vehicle, and I think the Defender is comparably sized, than, say, a Unimog portal axle.
Hope you can find what you need, or that someone more knowledgeable chimes in.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
A friend of mine has a set of Volvos under his 88" Series III. Very cool looking and good off-road, but not what I would call an "expedition" vehicle. Top speed is about 40-45 and it's very unstable at speed. Keep in mind how short the wheel-base is you're dealing with.
It can be done and would work well if your trips are ALL off-road and at slow speeds. Consider it a trailer queen other than that.
jim
It can be done and would work well if your trips are ALL off-road and at slow speeds. Consider it a trailer queen other than that.
jim
Scott Brady
Founder
I am more interested in the expeditions... 
Please tell us more, and how we can help.
Please tell us more, and how we can help.
TeriAnn
Explorer
Oilworker said:
Volvo C303 portal axles will likely be the easiest to fit, but they will require a lot of engineering and fabrication.
It might be cheaper just to buy and drive a Volvo C303 or a bigger MOG. Everything is already engineered and tested and both are very capable vehicle types.
Mercedesrover
Explorer
I don't know any portal-axle truck, engineered of fabricated, that will take you down the road at 70mph. 55, maybe, but it would be a scary ride.
kodiak1232003
Adventurer
x2 on the expo information..what kind of trip makes you think you'll need portals, as i've seen defenders do well in pretty much any terrain...
mebbe put your money into good lockers, wading mods, a front and rear winch and an upgraded charging system.
that setup has gotten lots of folks through lots of terrain...
now if you're thinking iceland with its snow,ice and slushy ashfall, flotation tires are the way to go. there is very little resistance and therefore very little strain on your parts, if your tires are big enough to just float.
narrow(or even wide) 35-37's are WAAY too small for that type of terrain even with clearance.
look on youtube for some vids of trucks with 35's going through iceland. i'll bet it's the trucks with 38-44" float tires that are pulling them out..haha
mebbe put your money into good lockers, wading mods, a front and rear winch and an upgraded charging system.
that setup has gotten lots of folks through lots of terrain...
now if you're thinking iceland with its snow,ice and slushy ashfall, flotation tires are the way to go. there is very little resistance and therefore very little strain on your parts, if your tires are big enough to just float.
narrow(or even wide) 35-37's are WAAY too small for that type of terrain even with clearance.
look on youtube for some vids of trucks with 35's going through iceland. i'll bet it's the trucks with 38-44" float tires that are pulling them out..haha
david despain
Adventurer
you could look to maxi-drive in australia for drop boxes, but they are not cheap either.
greg davis has a volvo portals under a DII. i think that build is on pirate somewhere.
but the i think old saying about "if you have to ask,...." really applies to this
greg davis has a volvo portals under a DII. i think that build is on pirate somewhere.
but the i think old saying about "if you have to ask,...." really applies to this
Robthebrit
Explorer
Mercedesrover said:
Lots of mogs will do 70 and be safe doing it, there are inherent dangers of doing 70 in a big truck which causes most mog owns to keep it slow, you are more likely to get busted in a big truck.
Many options are available, get a u500, get a 1300L (or other SBU) with a claus overdrive and/or fast axles, get an older round cab diesel with fast axles. Put 365/80r20's on them and most of the these options will do 70mph (u500 is limited to 70), typically power will become an issue before you hit max speed and this can be overcome to a large extent by messing with the engine.
My camper will mechanically do 70 but its normally power limited due to the weight and it brick like shape. I normally do 55 at 2400rpm, this gives good peformance, not bad oil consumption and keeps the noise down. The rev limit is 3000 which puts me at 68.75mph and I don't have the big tires which give another 10% putting me at a possible 76. The oil and fuel consumption will go through the roof.
As for using just axles it a difficult path and there are problems everywhere:
All of the above options are too big and too heavy to put under a defender. The unsprung weight going over washboard will tear the frame apart. Just 4 mog tires and rims will weigh about 1200 pounds, with 2 full axles you can add another 1500-2000 pounds. Have you seen a mogs frame and the size of the components that hold the axles on?
If you use a full mog axle with the brakes then you'll have to run 20 inch rims otherwise you won't clear the calipers, even with 20inch mog rims you only have a fraction of an inch between the caliper and the inner wheel. This will cause major clearance problems especially on the front because mog axles have a really sharp steering angle at full lock.
If you use 404 axles they'll have drum brakes, if you want disks then its a lot of work and a lot of money to convert them. After all that effort you'll probably break them trying to do 70 because they were never made to go that fast and there is only a small amount of oil and minimal cooling surfaces in the hubs.
You'll have most of the same problems with volvo axles although they are smaller and lighter. Ultimately you'll make a good rock crawler and a terrible expedition vehicle.
Rob
overlander
Expedition Leader
Mercedesrover said:
H1 Hummers are portal, and we did 70 all the time. Thanks to IED's, it's doing less than 70 that gets really scary.
FourByLand
Expedition Leader
http://www.slickrockfabrication.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D90skid
Maybe you can contact these guys and see what they used for this 90.
Please tell more about your plans.
Maybe you can contact these guys and see what they used for this 90.
Please tell more about your plans.
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
What a GREAT shot! Welcome, by the way, to ExPo!!! :wings:
Oilworker said:Thanx.
I want to install Volvo Portals under my 110SW
I wont accept a max speed of 45mph. I will do a lot of offroad driving and with some load as well. My prefered max speed would be 70mph.
The current weight is 2478kg with a 100l diesel and a case of spares.
Thanx, Robert
laurie-the-lorry
Adventurer
I am more interested in the expeditions...
Please tell us more, and how we can help.
__________________
Scott Brady
guide@expeditionswest.com
Expeditions West
The trip is for Siberia in The planned Exhibition Section. Personally I am still unsure as to why you would want to add all that weight and expense and complication to head Off on that Journey. Just carrying the parts for the expected breakages would scare the hell out of me. And As you are well aware you already are going to be weighted down with 1500 mile plus range in diesel.
Their are many different options on strengthening the notoriously weak defender Axel's. But these are options I have used for Challenge events not Expeditions. Drive to the trucks limitations as you do on all expeditions and you will be fine.
An alternative however is to put Nissan GR axles on. I Have these on my Tom Cat, giving a Huge Width and massive strength ( As proven many many times in the Paris Dakar) Not a cheap option But pretty bullet proof. And you can link To Range rover Suspension arms. As I did onto My 2002 110 chassis. If you are interested in this as an option I can post some pic's. Its an easy (Ish) Fabrication. And with ARB'S these axles are real real strong.
But they do add weight. Although its a balancing act between weight and strength. If it were me I would Stay With the KISS principle,
Please tell us more, and how we can help.
__________________
Scott Brady
guide@expeditionswest.com
Expeditions West
The trip is for Siberia in The planned Exhibition Section. Personally I am still unsure as to why you would want to add all that weight and expense and complication to head Off on that Journey. Just carrying the parts for the expected breakages would scare the hell out of me. And As you are well aware you already are going to be weighted down with 1500 mile plus range in diesel.
Their are many different options on strengthening the notoriously weak defender Axel's. But these are options I have used for Challenge events not Expeditions. Drive to the trucks limitations as you do on all expeditions and you will be fine.
An alternative however is to put Nissan GR axles on. I Have these on my Tom Cat, giving a Huge Width and massive strength ( As proven many many times in the Paris Dakar) Not a cheap option But pretty bullet proof. And you can link To Range rover Suspension arms. As I did onto My 2002 110 chassis. If you are interested in this as an option I can post some pic's. Its an easy (Ish) Fabrication. And with ARB'S these axles are real real strong.
But they do add weight. Although its a balancing act between weight and strength. If it were me I would Stay With the KISS principle,