TeriAnn
Explorer
SaMingTRD said:
I haven't a clue as to why people build cadet branches of Land Rovers up for expedition style travel. That puzzles me too when I bother to think about it.
But if you look at the main Land Rover branch, from Series one through Defender you will see a rugged vehicle that can be literally rebuilt on the trail with little more than a screw driver and adjustable spanner. These vehicles are about as close as you can get to the ultimate 4X4 tinker toy set. The rectangular design allows for dense interior packing. Bolt & rivet on panels can be swapped out, easily modified and replaced with other things. These vehicles can be easily converted into specialists. Optimized for most any role.
Put a 1948 Land Rover next to a 2008 Defender and there is no mistaking the design continuity. 60 years of refining a good design. The Series II was introduced in 1958 with the same basic body and frame style as has the newest Defender. There is a surprisingly large number of parts that will interchange across 50 years of production. During those years most of the changes have been to meet increased safety requirements and upgrade off road ability. There were many special variations built over the last 60 years creating a rich combination of bolt on parts that can be used to build a specialist vehicle.
This is my 1960 Land Rover. It came from the factory with a front axle housing stamped as made in 1958. This Series II Land Rover started out as a pickup. Over the years I have converted it to a pop up camper using mostly Land Rover parts from various years and models, including Defender parts. This vehicle is 48 years old and is going stronger than when she was new. You don't see that much in other brands. But it is not uncommon in Land Rovers.
Parts of these vehicles are seriously overbuilt and parts are more fragile than they should be. But the weak parts are well known as are multiple ways to strengthen them.
To the British, 100 years is a short time and 100 miles is a long way. Most 50's & 60's British vehicles were mostly designed to require service about twice a year. Therefore standard service intervals are 3000 miles. Land Rovers need to be serviced a lot more frequently that most other vehicles to stay in top functional condition. A lot of people don't service them frequently enough and end up with quirky unreliable vehicles. The old adage "take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you" is very true for Series and Defender Land Rovers. Reliability is a matter of upgrading the factory weak points and frequent preventative maintenance per the factory maintenance schedule. A lot more work than keeping a Toyota going for sure.
It has been said that Land Rovers were the first motorized vehicle that most peoples of the third world first saw. It has also be said that Series Land Rovers have more charisma in a single lug nut that most other brands could ever aspire to.
They question could be posed why not use one as the basis of a long range expedition vehicle?
SaMingTRD said:
That could be a good reason. I think Series Land Rovers are optimized for a driver that is 5'8" tall. As you get taller they be come progressively more cramped. I would suggest around 6' or 6'1" as about the maximum hight for anyone hoping for any kind of comfort in a Series rig. Defenders can handle taller people. You could sleep inside a D90 with a stretcher style bed that fits inside over the passenger seat. There should be just enough space for you to lay down in the back of a 2 door D110. Other than that there are always roof top tents or some creative body modifications.
Should I mention that you should be at least a little masochistic in order to be happy with a Series Land Rover or a Defender and to have a lot more money than sense to find joy in owning any of the others.
And whatever the version of Land Rover, if it is used for off road travel, the owners tend to be nice people. Masochistic, self reliant, at least a sigma off normal (you need to be at least 2 sigma off normal to be a Series owner) to the point where some might say eccentric or just plain nutters. But whatever else you might be tempted to call Land Rover owners who take their Land Rovers off road as a group, "good people" also works.
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