Prepping a camel trophy defender 110 for around the world...

[The Rover Shop]

Well we now have well over 8000 miles on her and I am pleased to say everything is working well, broke a rear suspension frame mount when I hit a very big pothole going down a mountain pass in Mexico.. Easily welded back on better than new by a local welder.. Spun the centre out of a clutch plate and managed to find a substitute clutch plate in the town we broke it in in the middle of Baja.. Turns out a ford ranger clutch disc is almost exactly the same.. Slightly smaller outside diameter but is still working well... The other day going up some very steep granite rock hill climb (coyote canyon) in a place outside of borrego springs California I managed to rip all 4 engine and trans mounts in half.. Seems the kaiser locking diffs allow me to get so much traction to the ground the mounts were the next weak link to break... Ratchet strapped them in place and headed back down.. All in all it seems the mods are working great, tweaking and refining small bits here and there.. Into 20-30 degree weather so now getting to play with the webasto diesel fire heater ducted into the roof top tent, it's actually too powerful for this kind of weather and we go from freezing in the tent to turning it into a sauna, does great to keep the moisture out though...

 

[REDrum]

Not sure what your schedule is like for the summer months, Shayne, but you may want to give this event a little consideration:

http://www.vermontoverland.com/vot/

Would be great to see you and your rig up here

 

[The Rover Shop]

Man.. That would be awesome and I know a team mate who would probably do it with me.. I will be heading to Alaska mid year and then over to Vermont but don't expect to be there until September October period...

 

[overlander]

,.. Spun the centre out of a clutch plate and managed to find a substitute clutch plate in the town we broke it in in the middle of Baja.. Turns out a ford ranger clutch disc is almost exactly the same..

Hey, M&D Engineering has an uprated clutch disk that fits the Rover TDI flywheel for 2.8 TGV applications like mine. This kit solves this exact problem. I have this new clutch kit in a crate with my ashcroft r380 enroute to me now from UK. They sell their clutch kit on ebay now.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Are you planning to go across Montana during your travels? I'd definitely tag along in my Disco for a stretch

 

[ZG]

If you head up to VT for the trophy event you could be my partner!

 

[NCLRbear]

Can I ask where you got the cargo net? I really like that idea.

 

[The Rover Shop]

No.. You can't ..... Actually pm replied to.. Lol..

 

[spikemd]

Nice build Shayne. I heard you may be joining the NorCal Rover club while we are in Death Valley. Would be great to see the CT in person. I can't wait to get down there!

 

[The Rover Shop]

Yep.. Looks like we will be there.. Heading out that way in the next couple of days..

 

[The Rover Shop]

Well after doing 10000 miles or so through Mexico and Baja and Southern California etc we have broken some stuff and decided that other stuff needs to be improved... Going up the granite steps in coyote canyon I sheared all 4 engine and trans mounts in half.. Completely separating 3 out of 4... A quick trail fix by lashing the engine down to the frame got me back out of the canyon..

I managed to find an excellent product by urban offroad who makes some really cool stuff.. These new mounts are internally hook linked so they can only stretch so far and then the metal hooks stop them from coming apart far enough to separate the rubber.. The rubber isn't rubber anymore.. It seems to be made of a more neoprene substance.. These installed right in and seem to be holding up just fine so far..

They do seem to be a little more stiff than stock ones and transmit a bit more engine vibrations.. But instead of having my engine rip out of its holders on a tough uphill climb.. I will make the compromise..

 

[The Rover Shop]

Found that on some heavy articulation the front springs would pop out of their holders and rub a groove in the tyres.. So I installed some terrafirma front spring relocation cones..due to my heavy duty shock towers this also meant I needed to install the terrafirma stud plates as they have longer studs to allow easier fitment..

 

[The Rover Shop]

Pulled out the coolant operated additional heater that I arduously installed a while ago and installed a webasto diesel fire heater into the section where I had previously installed the coolant one.. I have found that the Diesel engine in cold weather has enou trouble getting up to temperature without an additional heater cooling the engine down.. This way even if I leave the truck parked somewhere I can still be running the webasto and come back to a toasty warm car after many hours.. Also when sleepimg inside the truck in really cold climates we can keep toasty warm all nite long..

 

[spikemd]

DV2013 with NCLR Club

Shayne, was great to meet you and Sandra in Death Valley with the NorCal Land Rover Club. It was an incredible week and Ella didn't want to go home. Thanks for all the help and good times. We made it slowly to Baker and I bought a used tire to get me the rest of the way home without further issues. Will definitely be upgrading the tires to 32s or 33s now after the sidewall blow out and slow leak in the rear.

Here are a few pics of your CT in Death Valley. I will work on getting the videos uploaded soon.

Near Striped Butte:


Playing in the Dumont Dunes with Chris's CT:


Two CT rears in the dunes:


Stopping for lunch at Newman Cabin on the way to Baker Ranch, made famous by Charles Manson:


The NCLR group at Ballarat stopping for a cold drink with Rocky:

 

[David.gamble]

Only just join this site. A truly inspirational thread.

Good luck!