ajctraveler
New Member
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- 56
Hey everyone, I wanted to introduce myself and say that I'm proud to say that I'll soon be the owner of a new Land Rover Defender 110 (Utility). I placed the order here in the UK (I'm from NYC), and I should take delivery at the start of November.
I'm preparing to embark on an overland tour of the world for a few years, and this is the vehicle I have chosen for the journey. Originally I was looking at a Toyota Land Cruiser 150, but I just couldn't get myself to love it. It seemed too much like it blended in at the supermarkets back home, driven by soccer-moms with their kids in tow. I know they're capable as anything, but it just didn't speak to me. The Defender on the other hand looks and feels like the right vehicle for the mammoth undertaking and I'm really psyched to take delivery and get things started.
So a little bit of background, I'm from NYC, spent the last 6 years doing the corporate/office thing and I finally got fed up and decided to hit the road full time. It's been four months in Europe so far with a leased Renault and the way I see it, it will be another few years at least before I am ready to settle down again. My last car was a 2012 Nissan GT-R, before that an 07 Porsche turbo, so going into a Renault Modus has been quite the transition. 630hp (modified) to 75hp isn't an easy downgrade. But I test drove the Defender and it really feels fitting for this trip.
After I take delivery of the car in November, I'll either head to Southeast Asia or Africa, I'm sort of on the fence at the moment, but over the course of things, this car is going to be everywhere, so keep that in mind.
So, now that the major decision has been made and the car is being built, I would love some advice on what you all think should come next. I got quite a few factory options/accessories. But I'm sure there is a ton of aftermarket stuff that would be helpful as well. I've already measured out the interior and I'm sketching out some ideas for storage cabinets and a sleeping platform.
So, any advice would be appreciated, but what I am thinking so far is:
What add-ons are a MUST?
What add-ons might be helpful?
What material should I build the platform/cabinets out of?
What websites are best for ordering accessories?
Who makes the best refrigerator?
Also, I've been told that Land Rovers aren't quite bulletproof, so what known issues are there that I could possibly address before leaving, and barring that, what are some common problems that maybe I can best prepare myself for before being out in "the wilderness". Are there any specific spare parts or replacements that I should keep stocked? One friend was concerned about "electrical gremlins" in Rovers specifically.
I'm sure there will be more questions, but those are the ones off the top of my head.
Thank you all for the advice,
Tony
I'm preparing to embark on an overland tour of the world for a few years, and this is the vehicle I have chosen for the journey. Originally I was looking at a Toyota Land Cruiser 150, but I just couldn't get myself to love it. It seemed too much like it blended in at the supermarkets back home, driven by soccer-moms with their kids in tow. I know they're capable as anything, but it just didn't speak to me. The Defender on the other hand looks and feels like the right vehicle for the mammoth undertaking and I'm really psyched to take delivery and get things started.
So a little bit of background, I'm from NYC, spent the last 6 years doing the corporate/office thing and I finally got fed up and decided to hit the road full time. It's been four months in Europe so far with a leased Renault and the way I see it, it will be another few years at least before I am ready to settle down again. My last car was a 2012 Nissan GT-R, before that an 07 Porsche turbo, so going into a Renault Modus has been quite the transition. 630hp (modified) to 75hp isn't an easy downgrade. But I test drove the Defender and it really feels fitting for this trip.
After I take delivery of the car in November, I'll either head to Southeast Asia or Africa, I'm sort of on the fence at the moment, but over the course of things, this car is going to be everywhere, so keep that in mind.
So, now that the major decision has been made and the car is being built, I would love some advice on what you all think should come next. I got quite a few factory options/accessories. But I'm sure there is a ton of aftermarket stuff that would be helpful as well. I've already measured out the interior and I'm sketching out some ideas for storage cabinets and a sleeping platform.
So, any advice would be appreciated, but what I am thinking so far is:
What add-ons are a MUST?
What add-ons might be helpful?
What material should I build the platform/cabinets out of?
What websites are best for ordering accessories?
Who makes the best refrigerator?
Also, I've been told that Land Rovers aren't quite bulletproof, so what known issues are there that I could possibly address before leaving, and barring that, what are some common problems that maybe I can best prepare myself for before being out in "the wilderness". Are there any specific spare parts or replacements that I should keep stocked? One friend was concerned about "electrical gremlins" in Rovers specifically.
I'm sure there will be more questions, but those are the ones off the top of my head.
Thank you all for the advice,
Tony
