6-Wheel Drive Discovery II - Am I totally mad ?

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@dave658 - Thanks for the update - Really enjoy reading about progress. :)

As for how technical this all is - I'm with Hicap Phil - tis your fred - you carry on :):) ;)

Although it seems like a lifetime ago, I was an operator on a decent Unix system for a while, so I get some of it - and it's all interesting no matter what :)
 
General-ish Enquiry.
I would like to make a soft overlander. But based on a LR of some sort, opposed to a Lorry.
Initially I had thought of getting a 130 converted to 6x6 by someone like Foley and then having a camper body built on the back. I see lots of camper bodies on the back of land rovers and they always look like they are sagging to me.
I have seen a few people convert LR's to 6x6 but they always seem to spend half the time, fixing things wrong with land rovers, engines, gearboxes, rust, and the interiors. Then I thought, why not just take a modern vehicle, which is already reliable - ish and very comfortable and cut the back off and make that a pick up shell fit for a camper body.

Do I sound crazy?

The best car I ever had was a L322 Vogue and they are cheap as chips second hand, where defenders are expensive. But I understand they don't have a chassis. I gather the best modern LR with a chassis is the Discovery 4? Is that correct?

I know that the RAF and Supacat did some 6x6 discoveries! Can I ask peoples opinion if they think, this could even be a starter?

I'm aware that you guys will be a lot more informed than me. Thank you for your wisdom.

PS. Would love to know how @dave658 is getting on too.

Regards
 
rob_bell said:
RRS is basically a Disco 4 with a different body - and you may find one at a cheaper price than the Disco?

Interesting idea :)
Click to expand...
Thanks. I actually hate the looks of the RRS and I hated the one I had years ago. I would ideally love a Defender, but they are too expensive and it seems needy. The Discovery 4 is quite a handsome truck?
 
The 6x6 drive that Foley use is very expensive , and then you also have cost of building a box , and modding chassis , by the time you have built a 6x6 on a landy of any sort you will be over 3500kg . I looked at changing my 110 to 6x6 but worked out for what you end up with wasn't worth the expense . Best bang for buck is 130Hicap with demountable and stay 4x4 . I am currently converting Bucher Duro 6x6 to MoHo . There are some for sale here http://www.ljacksonandco.co.uk/index.php/search-m/article/40273-mowag-duro-ii-6x6
 
tacr2man said:
The 6x6 drive that Foley use is very expensive , and then you also have cost of building a box , and modding chassis , by the time you have built a 6x6 on a landy of any sort you will be over 3500kg . I looked at changing my 110 to 6x6 but worked out for what you end up with wasn't worth the expense . Best bang for buck is 130Hicap with demountable and stay 4x4 . I am currently converting Bucher Duro 6x6 to MoHo . There are some for sale here http://www.ljacksonandco.co.uk/index.php/search-m/article/40273-mowag-duro-ii-6x6
Click to expand...

Blimey, class 2 that :eek:

I agree with 5th wheel de-mountable unit is best bang fo buck.

100% best one I ever seen.

download (9).jpeg
 
tacr2man said:
The 6x6 drive that Foley use is very expensive , and then you also have cost of building a box , and modding chassis , by the time you have built a 6x6 on a landy of any sort you will be over 3500kg . I looked at changing my 110 to 6x6 but worked out for what you end up with wasn't worth the expense . Best bang for buck is 130Hicap with demountable and stay 4x4 . I am currently converting Bucher Duro 6x6 to MoHo . There are some for sale here http://www.ljacksonandco.co.uk/index.php/search-m/article/40273-mowag-duro-ii-6x6
Click to expand...
I love anything ex military, but I mainly want to use something more regularly. And the ex miliary truck, whilst cool, are too big for the UK. Also I like the idea of demounting a box and still having a usable wagon. Really I am interested in exploring a base vehicle as a Disco rather than a 110/130? It does seem more people prefer converting the old landies, but I am wondering why? Also Discoveries and RRS are much cheaper to buy.
 
BiffaBeau said:
I love anything ex military, but I mainly want to use something more regularly. And the ex miliary truck, whilst cool, are too big for the UK. Also I like the idea of demounting a box and still having a usable wagon. Really I am interested in exploring a base vehicle as a Disco rather than a 110/130? It does seem more people prefer converting the old landies, but I am wondering why? Also Discoveries and RRS are much cheaper to buy.
Click to expand...
Why not do a flat bed or pick up with a fifth wheel or shoe on the bed instead?
 
BiffaBeau said:
General-ish Enquiry.
I would like to make a soft overlander. But based on a LR of some sort, opposed to a Lorry.
Initially I had thought of getting a 130 converted to 6x6 by someone like Foley and then having a camper body built on the back. I see lots of camper bodies on the back of land rovers and they always look like they are sagging to me.
I have seen a few people convert LR's to 6x6 but they always seem to spend half the time, fixing things wrong with land rovers, engines, gearboxes, rust, and the interiors. Then I thought, why not just take a modern vehicle, which is already reliable - ish and very comfortable and cut the back off and make that a pick up shell fit for a camper body.

Do I sound crazy?

The best car I ever had was a L322 Vogue and they are cheap as chips second hand, where defenders are expensive. But I understand they don't have a chassis. I gather the best modern LR with a chassis is the Discovery 4? Is that correct?

I know that the RAF and Supacat did some 6x6 discoveries! Can I ask peoples opinion if they think, this could even be a starter?

I'm aware that you guys will be a lot more informed than me. Thank you for your wisdom.

PS. Would love to know how @dave658 is getting on too.

Regards
Click to expand...

If you mean D4 the Navy had converted to a fifth wheel and demountable body it was only 6x4, for the extra weight, not 6x6 which is a trickier prospect.

The most costly and time consuming part of the project would be making a camper body that was aesthetically pleasing. I have built vehicle projects and a camper demountable for a Jap style pickup and with a fair idea of the time and money involved I'd struggle to envisage the superior driving experience, my own very strong love of Land Rovers and any value or customisation I could add to the camper build as being sufficient to justify what would be a very substantial investment in time and money over buying a powerful modern Jap type pickup, like a Ranger or Amarok and demountable camper off the shelf and beefing up the anti roll bar and adding air suspension to the rear axle along with improving refinement a bit with additional soundproofing - both very straightforward jobs in comparison.
 
dave658 said:
I'm a little blocked at the present by another project. I have a spare D2 chassis waiting to accept the bodyshell while I do the mods, and I've figured out the safest way to transfer the bodyshell is with a crane, but the crane needs to go exactly where my other project vehicle is currently sitting, so I have needed to get that complete before I can lift off the body on this one. I have all the cables measured out and all the parts I need to do a really complete and through job, just need the access :)
Click to expand...

See if you can find any local HGV repair place with mobile column lifts (most will have these) you could tuck in the corner of and pay them a sensible amount to rent the space. As they're mobile you can take them to the vehicle so you won't occupy a, for example, two post lift repair bay - I use these to lift bodies on RRS and LR3s and just hold the body raised with a couple of box sections across two pairs of tall axle stands in order to remove the column lifts to another job.
I don't know you might have mates rates/favour on a crane or hiab but they are surprisingly pricey if you don't. I'm guessing as never done it but suspect trying to realign the body to the chassis by crane won't be as straightforward as lowering back down by lift.
Mobile column lifts
 
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Rangie Disco Sportsman said:
If you mean D4 the Navy had converted to a fifth wheel and demountable body it was only 6x4, for the extra weight, not 6x6 which is a trickier prospect.

The most costly and time consuming part of the project would be making a camper body that was aesthetically pleasing. I have built vehicle projects and a camper demountable for a Jap style pickup and with a fair idea of the time and money involved I'd struggle to envisage the superior driving experience, my own very strong love of Land Rovers and any value or customisation I could add to the camper build as being sufficient to justify what would be a very substantial investment in time and money over buying a powerful modern Jap type pickup, like a Ranger or Amarok and demountable camper off the shelf and beefing up the anti roll bar and adding air suspension to the rear axle along with improving refinement a bit with additional soundproofing - both very straightforward jobs in comparison.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the one that had the camper body that was demountable... was up for sale a few years ago £85 grand springs to mind... Foley 4x4 might have been the sellers...would need to dig out Mag to confirm...
 
This whole thread has been an emotional rollercoaster. She is a beauty, the bravery with what you've done is simply impressive.

I hope to see you getting her road legal. Hell of a prototype for your ECUs.
 
Wow is all I can say. You definitely know your stuff. To under take such a job is fantastic. I love cars having just bought an ex MOD Defender 110 RHD A2 Snatch armoured which needless to say is fantastic other than very slow but it will never have rust problems was my main reason for buying it.
I will keep following you. Best wishes, Tonybell.
 
Hi every body I am Tonybell and have just bought an ex MOD 2006 Defender RHD 110 Snatch 2 Armoured for the simple reason it will never rust and has only done 8300 miles. Only problem is I never realised the windows don't open as they are bullet proof and about an inch thick and one is very foggy so I need to replace the glass. Has any body got any ideas. Does not have to be bullet proof. Will any Defender door fit my Defender?
 
Tonybell said:
Hi every body I am Tonybell and have just bought an ex MOD 2006 Defender RHD 110 Snatch 2 Armoured for the simple reason it will never rust and has only done 8300 miles. Only problem is I never realised the windows don't open as they are bullet proof and about an inch thick and one is very foggy so I need to replace the glass. Has any body got any ideas. Does not have to be bullet proof. Will any Defender door fit my Defender?
Click to expand...

I think you really nee to post this in the defender section of the forum

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/defender-90-110-130.7/
 
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